Bioreactor for microalgal cultivation systems: strategy and development

Microalgae are important natural resources that can provide food, medicine, energy and various bioproducts for nutraceutical, cosmeceutical and aquaculture industries. Their production rates are superior compared to those of terrestrial crops. However, microalgae biomass production on a large scale is still a challenging problem in terms of economic and ecological viability. Microalgal cultivation system should be designed to maximize production with the least cost. Energy efficient approaches of using light, dynamic mixing to maximize use of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nutrients and selection of highly productive species are the main considerations in designing an efficient photobioreactor. In general, optimized culture conditions and biological responses are the two overarching attributes to be considered for photobioreactor design strategies. Thus, fundamental aspects of microalgae growth, such as availability of suitable light, CO2 and nutrients to each growing cell, suitable environmental parameters (including temperature and pH) and efficient removal of oxygen which otherwise would negatively impact the algal growth, should be integrated into the photobioreactor design and function. Innovations should be strategized to fully exploit the wastewaters, flue-gas, waves or solar energy to drive large outdoor microalgae cultivation systems. Cultured species should be carefully selected to match the most suitable growth parameters in different reactor systems. Factors that would decrease production such as photoinhibition, self-shading and phosphate flocculation should be nullified using appropriate technical approaches such as flashing light innovation, selective light spectrum, light-CO2 synergy and mixing dynamics. Use of predictive mathematical modelling and adoption of new technologies in novel photobioreactor design will not only increase the photosynthetic and growth rates but will also enhance the quality of microalgae composition. Optimizing the use of natural resources and industrial wastes that would otherwise harm the environment should be given emphasis in strategizing the photobioreactor mass production. To date, more research and innovation are needed since scalability and economics of microalgae cultivation using photobioreactors remain the challenges to be overcome for large-scale microalgae production

Prevalence of Anemia in Children Three to 12 Months Old in a Health Service in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil La prevalencia de anemia en niños de 3 a 12 meses de vida en un servicio de salud de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil Prevalência de anemia em crianças de 3 a 12 meses de vida em um serviço de saúde de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency among children. This cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study is part of a multicenter project, which verified the prevalence of anemia in children aged three to 12 months, treated by a health service unit in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Interviews with mothers and determining hemoglobin dosage were carried out with 121 children who participated in the study. Two international criteria were adopted as parameters of anemia according to the children's age. Descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and associations were used for data analysis. The prevalence of anemia among 69 children aged three to 5 months was 20.2% and 48.0% among 52 children aged six to 12 months. The total prevalence of anemia was 32.2%. There was significant association between anemia and children's age, and anemia and the consumption of liquid cow's milk.<br>Entre las carencias nutricionales de niños, la anemia ferropénica es la más frecuente. Estudio transversal, descriptivo, cuantitativo es un extracto de un proyecto multicéntrico que verificó la prevalencia de anemia en niños de 3 a 12 meses de edad, en un servicio de salud de Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil. Fueron realizadas entrevistas y dosificación de hemoglobina en los 121 niños. Dos criterios internacionales fueron adoptados como parámetro de anemia, de acuerdo con la edad del niño. Estadística descriptiva, medidas de tendencia central y testes de asociación fueron usados para el análisis de datos. La prevalencia de anemia en los 69 niños de 3 a 5 meses fue del 20,2%, y en los 52 niños de 6 a 12 meses fue del 48,0%. En total, la prevalencia de anemia fue del 32,2%. Encontró asociación significativa entre anemia y edad del niño y anemia y el consumo de leche de vaca liquido.<br>Das carências nutricionais entre crianças, a anemia ferropriva constitui-se no evento mais frequente. Este é um estudo transversal, descritivo, quantitativo, recorte de um projeto multicêntrico, que verificou a prevalência de anemia em crianças de 3 a 12 meses, em um serviço de saúde em Ribeirão Preto, SP. Foram realizadas entrevistas e dosagem de hemoglobina de 121 crianças que participaram do estudo. Adotaram-se dois critérios internacionais como parâmetros de anemia, de acordo com a idade da criança. Para a análise dos dados foram utilizadas estatística descritiva, medidas de tendência central e associações. A prevalência de anemia nas 69 crianças de 3 a 5 meses foi de 20,2% e naquelas 52, de 6 a 12 meses, foi de 48%. A prevalência total de anemia foi de 32,2%. Encontrou-se associação significativa entre anemia e idade da criança e anemia e uso de leite de vaca fluido

Desnutrição energético-protéica e cárie dentária na primeira infância Protein-energy malnutrition and early childhood caries

Este estudo tem por objetivo investigar a relação existente entre a desnutrição energético-protéica e a cárie dentária precoce na primeira infância. Trata-se de uma comunicação, para a qual foi realizada uma revisão da literatura, a partir de análise documental de produção bibliográfica, baseada em levantamentos de periódicos e consultas a livros. Verificou-se que a cárie precoce na infância é altamente prevalente nas comunidades de baixa renda, nas quais a desnutrição é um fator comum e de grande relevância. Estudos mostram que crianças desnutridas tendem a apresentar defeitos estruturais no esmalte do dente, como também estão predispostas a um maior risco à cárie dentária. Portanto, uma deficiência energético-protéica durante a fase de desenvolvimento dentário (odontogênese) tem demonstrado uma maior suscetibilidade à cárie dentária, atraso na cronologia de erupção e defeitos estruturais do esmalte (hipoplasia de esmalte), hipofunção das glândulas salivares e mudança na composição da saliva. Estes fatores podem ser os mecanismos pelos quais a desnutrição associa-se à cárie. Em conclusão, os estudos sugerem que a deficiência energético-protéica durante a odontogênese gera atraso na cronologia de erupção e defeitos estruturais no esmalte (hipoplasia), além de poder afetar as glândulas salivares, aumentando o risco de ocorrência da doença cárie. Estudos investigando associações entre desnutrição e cárie na primeira infância são de grande relevância para ampliar o conhecimento desta doença e o desenvolvimento de ações de promoção e de prevenção desse problema de saúde pública com aplicações nas áreas de nutrição e odontologia.<br>This study aimed to investigate the relationship between protein-energy malnutrition and early childhood caries. For this communication, a review of the literature was performed, based on documental analysis of bibliographic searches, surveys of scientific journals and books. Early childhood caries was found to be highly prevalent in low income communities, where malnutrition is a common factor of great relevance. Studies have shown that malnourished children have a tendency to develop structural enamel defects, which predisposes towards a higher risk of experiencing dental caries. Therefore, protein-energy malnutrition during tooth development (odontogenesis) is associated with increased caries susceptibility, delayed eruption and structural enamel defects (enamel hypoplasia). In conclusion, the studies suggest that protein-energy malnutrition during odontogenesis leads to delayed eruption and structural enamel defects (hypoplasia), in addition to possibly affecting the salivary glands, increasing the risk for dental caries. Studies investigating associations between malnutrition and caries in early childhood are of great relevance to expand the knowledge on this illness and the development of health-promoting and preventive activities for this public health problem, with a vast repercussion in the fields of nutrition and dentistry

Quality of Life in Survivors of Childhood Cancer: a Systematic Review of the Literature (2001–2008)

Purpose The purpose of this paper was to provide a comprehensive, contemporary systematic review of studies that have examined the quality of life (QOL) of survivors of childhood cancer in order to extend upon the findings of earlier reviews. Materials and methods A review was conducted that used the databases MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL. Articles were included that were published in English between 2001 and 2008 and used quantitative measures and statistical tests to compare health-related quality of life (HRQL) or QOL of childhood cancer survivors with population norms or matched comparison groups. Results Thirteen studies were identified. Findings were contradictory across studies, yet by and large, reflected those of past reviews. In general, survivors’ scores on subscales representing physical, psychological, and social domains of HRQL/QOL were similar to comparisons, with the greatest differences being in physical well-being. Key personal and environmental factors were negatively correlated with the three domains across studies for survivors including: older age at diagnosis, longer time since diagnosis, certain cancer and treatment types, female gender, and a number of socioeconomic factors. Conclusions Lack of comparability across studies remains a problem due to wide variation in study focus and designs. Conceptual and methodological issues include: use of numerous HRQOL and QOL measures, lack of distinction between conceptualization and measurement of HRQL and QOL, lack of initial qualitative input from survivors about QOL, little examination of the influence of environmental factors on QOL, little attention to survivors’ satisfaction with life quality, use of small heterogeneous samples, and need for population-based longitudinal studies

Fundamentals and Applications of Chitosan

International audienceChitosan is a biopolymer obtained from chitin, one of the most abundant and renewable material on Earth. Chitin is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the exoskeletons of arthropods, such as crustaceans, e.g. crabs, lobsters and shrimps, and insects, the radulae of molluscs, cephalopod beaks, and the scales of fish and lissamphibians. The discovery of chitin in 1811 is attributed to Henri Braconnot while the history of chitosan dates back to 1859 with the work of Charles Rouget. The name of chitosan was, however, introduced in 1894 by Felix Hoppe-Seyler. Because of its particular macromolecular structure, biocompatibility, biode-gradability and other intrinsic functional properties, chitosan has attracted major scientific and industrial interests from the late 1970s. Chitosan and its derivatives have practical applications in food industry, agriculture, pharmacy, medicine, cos-metology, textile and paper industries, and chemistry. In the last two decades, chito-san has also received much attention in numerous other fields such as dentistry, ophthalmology, biomedicine and bio-imaging, hygiene and personal care, veterinary medicine, packaging industry, agrochemistry, aquaculture, functional textiles and cosmetotextiles, catalysis, chromatography, beverage industry, photography, wastewater treatment and sludge dewatering, and biotechnology. Nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals are actually growing markets, and therapeutic and biomedical products should be the next markets in the development of chitosan. Chitosan is also the N. Morin-Crini (*) · Laboratoire Chrono-environnement, UMR 6249, UFR Sciences et Techniques