Improving the Recovery of Phenolic Compounds from Spent Coffee Grounds (SCG) by Environmentally Friendly Extraction Techniques

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of different extraction techniques (high hydrostatic pressure-assisted extraction (HHPE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and classical solvent extraction (CSE)) on phenolic compounds from spent coffee grounds (SCG). Different HHPE parameters (300, 400 and 500 MPa at 25 °C for 5, 10 and 15 min) and UAE parameters (40%, 50%, and 60% amplitude at 25 °C for 5, 10 and 15 min) were used. These techniques were compared with CSE (at 50 °C for 30 min) according to total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AA), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The results showed that eco-friendly techniques increased the TPC and AA compared to CSE and morphological changes were verified by SEM results. Furthermore, chlorogenic and caffeic acid were also quantified by using HPLC. Chlorogenic acid was found as the main phenolic compound in spent coffee grounds (SCG). The highest chlorogenic acid was detected as 85.0 ± 0.6 mg/kg FW with UAE at 60% amplitude for 15 min. In brief, for the extraction of phenolic compounds from waste SCG eco-friendly techniques such as HHPE and/or UAE were more convenient than CSE

Assessing the Relationship between Body Composition and Spinal Curvatures in Young Adults

Introduction:&nbsp; Although&nbsp; it&nbsp; is&nbsp; thought&nbsp; that&nbsp; abdominal adiposity&nbsp; is&nbsp; one&nbsp; of&nbsp; the&nbsp; risk&nbsp; factor&nbsp; for&nbsp; postural&nbsp; deviation, such as increased lumbar lordosis, the&nbsp; studies&nbsp; in&nbsp; the&nbsp; literature&nbsp; only&nbsp; explored&nbsp; the&nbsp; effects&nbsp; of&nbsp; body mass index on spinal alignment and postural changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation with detailed body composition and spine alignment in healthy young adults. Materials and Methods:This cross-sectional study was conducted with sixty seven healthy volunteers (37 men and 30 women)&nbsp; whose&nbsp; ages&nbsp; ranged&nbsp; between 18 and 25&nbsp; years.All participants’ sagittal spinal&nbsp; curvatures of lumbar and thoracic region were measured via Spinal mouse® (Idiag, Fehraltorf,&nbsp; Switzerland).Also, body composition analysis (total fat ratio, total muscle ratio, visceral fat ratio, and body muscle ratio) estimation by means of bio electrical impedance were evaluated via Tanita Bc&nbsp; 418&nbsp; Ma&nbsp; Segmental Body Composition Analyzer (Tanita, Japan).Pearson’s correlation was used to analysis among the variables. Results:The mean lumbar lordosis and thoracic kyphosis angles were 21.02°±9.39, 41.50°±7.97,&nbsp; respectively.Statistically&nbsp; analysis&nbsp; showed&nbsp; a&nbsp; significant positive correlation between total fat ratio and&nbsp; lumbar lordosis angle (r=0.28, p=0.02).Similarly, there was a positive correlation between visceral fat ratio and lumbar lordosis angle (r=0.27, p=0.03). The thoracic kyphosis angle showed also positive correlation with total fat ratio (r=0.33,p=0.00) and visceral fat ratio (r=0.40,p=0.01).The total muscle ratio showed&nbsp; negative correlation between lumbar lordosis (r=-0.28,p=0.02) and thoracic kyphosis angles (r=-0.33,&nbsp; p=0.00), although there was no statistically correlation between trunk muscle ratio,lumbar and thoracic curvatures (p&gt;0.05).Conclusion:The&nbsp; study&nbsp; demonstrated&nbsp; that&nbsp; an&nbsp; increase&nbsp; of&nbsp; fat&nbsp; ratio&nbsp; and&nbsp; decrease&nbsp; of&nbsp; muscle&nbsp; ratio&nbsp; in abdominal region or whole body shifts the spinal alignment which may adversely affect the spinal loading.Therefore, body composition should be taken into account in spine rehabilitation.</p

Shear Wave Elastography of the Lumbar Multifidus Muscle in Patients With Unilateral Lumbar Disk Herniation

Objectives To assess lumbar multifidus muscle stiffness in patients with unilateral lumbar disk herniation (LDH) causing nerve root compression using shear wave elastography (SWE). Methods Thirty-three patients with unilateral subarticular LDH (L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1) causing nerve root compression, diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging, were enrolled in the study. Exclusion criteria were bilateral or multilevel LDH confirmed on magnetic resonance imaging, bilateral leg symptoms, and patients with a history of any spinal operation, malignancy, trauma, infection, spondylolisthesis, severe lateral recess stenosis, spinal canal stenosis, and substantial comorbidities. Two observers separately evaluated the multifidus muscle using SWE. Shear wave elastographic examinations of the muscle were performed slightly below the herniation using the spinous process of the vertebra as a landmark. The stiffness of the muscle between affected and normal sides was compared. Moreover, the correlation between the stiffness and duration of the symptoms and the correlation between the stiffness and severity of the nerve compression were also calculated. Results The mean stiffness values of the multifidus muscle on the affected side (mean +/- SD: observer 1, 14.08 +/- 3.57 kPa; observer 2, 13.70 +/- 4.05 kPa) were significantly lower compared to the contralateral side (observer 1, 18.81 +/- 3.95 kPa; observer 2, 18.28 +/- 4.12 kPa; P < .001). The muscle stiffness had a moderate negative correlation with the duration of the symptoms and the severity of the nerve compression (observer 1, r = -0.535; observer 2, r = -0.458; P < .001). Conclusions The multifidus muscle on the ipsilateral side of the LDH showed reduced stiffness values, and stiffness values were negatively correlated with the disease duration and severity of the nerve compression. Further studies might reveal the potential role of SWE of the multifidus muscle in determining clinical outcomes and assessing effectiveness treatment in patients with LDH

Multisystem langerhans cell histiocytosis with thymic involvement diagnosed with anterior mediastinal mass in a 2-month-old boy

Thymus gland involvement in Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is usually part of multi-system disease and may be more common than previously recognized. However, thymic involvement causing an anterior mediastinal mass is an extremely rare presentation of multisystem LCH. Here we report a 2-month-old-boy admitted to hospital with a giant anterior mediastinal mass with multisystem LCH involving the thymus, lungs, liver and skin. The differential diagnosis of mediastinal mass in children should also include LCH, especially multisystem disease. LCH should also be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of skin lesions in infants, even if spontaneous regression occurs

Imaging features of Burkitt lymphoma in pediatric patients

Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive and rapidly growing tumor that is curable and highly sensitive to chemotherapy. It can affect almost every tissue in the body, producing various clinical presentations and imaging appearances, according to the predilection of the different subtypes for certain sites. Awareness of its diagnostically specific imaging appearances plays an important role in rapid detection and treatment. In this pictorial review, we aimed to identify the most common imaging features of Burkitt lymphoma in pediatric patients

A Spectrum of Clinical Findings from ALPS to CVID: Several Novel LRBA Defects.

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