Characterization of an antioxidant and antimicrobial extract from cool climate, white grape marc

Valorization of agricultural waste has become increasingly important. Wastes generated by wineries are high in phenolic compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which contribute to phytotoxicity, making their immediate use for agricultural means limited. Utilizing a water-based extraction method, the phenolic compounds from winery waste were extracted and purified. The resulting extract was characterized for phenolic composition using high-pressure liquid chromatography-ultraviolet/visible and electrochemical detectors (HPLC-UV/Vis, ECD) for monomers, and spectral assessment of the tannins present using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), FT-Raman, and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) spectroscopies. The extract\u2019s antioxidant activity was assessed by the scavenging of the 2,2-diphenyl-1\u2013picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and Folin-Ciocalteu total phenolic assay, and was found to be as effective as a commercially obtained grape extract. The extract\u2019s antimicrobial efficacy was tested for minimum bactericidal concentration using Candida albicans, Escherichia coli 25922, and Staphylococcus aureus 6538, which resulted in greater efficacy against gram-positive bacteria as shown over gram-negative bacteria, which can be linked to both monomeric and tannin polyphenols, which have multiple modes of bactericidal action

Clinical Management of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms in Clinical Practice: A Formal Consensus Exercise

Many treatment approaches are now available for neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs). While several societies have issued guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of NENs, there are still areas of controversy for which there is limited guidance. Expert opinion can thus be of support where firm recommendations are lacking. A group of experts met to formulate 14 statements relative to diagnosis and treatment of NENs and presented herein. The nominal group and estimate-talk-estimate techniques were used. The statements covered a broad range of topics from tools for diagnosis to follow-up, evaluation of response, treatment efficacy, therapeutic sequence, and watchful waiting. Initial prognostic characterization should be based on clinical information as well as histopathological analysis and morphological and functional imaging. It is also crucial to optimize RLT for patients with a NEN starting from accurate characterization of the patient and disease. Follow-up should be patient/tumor tailored with a shared plan about timing and type of imaging procedures to use to avoid safety issues. It is also stressed that patient-reported outcomes should receive greater attention, and that a multidisciplinary approach should be mandatory. Due to the clinical heterogeneity and relative lack of definitive evidence for NENs, personalization of diagnostic–therapeutic work-up is crucial

Predictive and Prognostic Role of Pre-Therapy and Interim 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT Parameters in Metastatic Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumor Patients Treated with PRRT

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) is an effective therapeutic option in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor (NET). However, PRRT fails in about 15–30% of cases. Identification of biomarkers predicting the response to PRRT is essential for treatment tailoring. We aimed to evaluate the predictive and prognostic role of semiquantitative and volumetric parameters obtained from the 68Ga-DOTATOC PET/CT before therapy (bPET) and after two cycles of PRRT (iPET). A total of 46 patients were included in this retrospective analysis. The primary tumor was 78% gastroenteropancreatic (GEP), 13% broncho-pulmonary and 9% of unknown origin. 35 patients (76.1%) with stable disease or partial response after PRRT were classified as responders and 11 (23.9%) as non-responders. Logistic regression analysis identified that baseline total volume (bTV) was associated with therapy outcome (OR 1.17; 95%CI 1.02–1.32; p = 0.02). No significant association with PRRT response was observed for other variables. High bTV was confirmed as the only variable independently associated with OS (HR 12.76, 95%CI 1.53–107, p = 0.01). In conclusion, high bTV is a negative predictor for PRRT response and is associated with worse OS rates. Early iPET during PRRT apparently does not provide information useful to change the management of NET patients

Membrane-based Operations for the Fractionation of Polyphenols and Polysaccharides From Winery Sludges

The present work investigated the impact of ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes on the recovery and fractionation of polyphenolic compounds and polysaccharides from Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon wine lees. A laboratory-made flat-sheet membrane in cellulose acetate (CA400-38) was used in the UF treatment of Sangiovese wine lees; three laboratory-made flat-sheet membranes in cellulose acetate (CA316, CA316-70, CA400-22) and a polyamide commercial membrane (NF90) were used in the NF treatment of Cabernet Sauvignon wine lees. All membranes were characterized in terms of hydraulic permeability and rejection toward references solutes; the performances of the membranes were measured in terms of productivity, fouling index, cleaning efficiency and retention toward target compounds. Experimental results indicated that all UF and NF membranes were effective in separating target compounds rejecting more than 92% of polysaccharides with polyphenols preferentially permeating through the membrane. The UF membrane rejected more than 40% of total polyphenols; rejections toward non-flavonoids and flavonoids were less than 25% and 12.5%, respectively. The laboratory-made NF membranes exhibited higher permeate flux values (of the order of 11–12 L/m2h) in comparison with the commercial NF membrane, despite the observed differences in the retention of specific solutes. Among the prepared membranes the CA316 showed a total rejection toward most part of non-flavonoids and flavonoids. The experimental results support the use of UF and NF processes in a sequential design to fractionate and refine phenolic compounds from winery sludge for the production of concentrated fractions with high antioxidant activities

Comparison of different calculation techniques for absorbed dose assessment in patient specific peptide receptor radionuclide therapy

Aim: The present work concerns the comparison of the performances of three systems for dosimetry in RPT that use different techniques for absorbed dose calculation (organ-level dosimetry, voxel-level dose kernel convolution and Monte Carlo simulations). The aim was to assess the importance of the choice of the most adequate calculation modality, providing recommendations about the choice of the computation tool. Methods: The performances were evaluated both on phantoms and patients in a multi-level approach. Different phantoms filled with a 177Lu-radioactive solution were used: a homogeneous cylindrical phantom, a phantom with organ-shaped inserts and two cylindrical phantoms with inserts different for shape and volume. A total of 70 patients with NETs treated by PRRT with 177Lu-DOTATOC were retrospectively analysed. Results: The comparisons were performed mainly between the mean values of the absorbed dose in the regions of interest. A general better agreement was obtained between Dose kernel convolution and Monte Carlo simulations results rather than between either of these two and organ-level dosimetry, both for phantoms and patients. Phantoms measurements also showed the discrepancies mainly depend on the geometry of the inserts (e.g. shape and volume). For patients, differences were more pronounced than phantoms and higher inter/intra patient variability was observed. Conclusion: This study suggests that voxel-level techniques for dosimetry calculation are potentially more accurate and personalized than organ-level methods. In particular, a voxel-convolution method provides good results in a short time of calculation, while Monte Carlo based computation should be conducted with very fast calculation systems for a possible use in clinics, despite its intrinsic higher accuracy. Attention to the calculation modality is recommended in case of clinical regions of interest with irregular shape and far from spherical geometry, in which Monte Carlo seems to be more accurate than voxel-convolution methods

Interim analysis of the REASSURE (Radium-223 alpha Emitter Agent in non-intervention Safety Study in mCRPC popUlation for long-teRm Evaluation) study: patient characteristics and safety according to prior use of chemotherapy in routine clinical practice

Purpose: REASSURE is a global, prospective, non-interventional study to assess long-term safety of radium-223 in patients with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Here we report an interim analysis of patients according to previous use of chemotherapy. Methods: Radium-223 was administered in routine clinical practice. Interim safety analysis was planned after enrolment of the first 600 patients. Patient characteristics and safety data by previous administration of chemotherapy (docetaxel and/or cabazitaxel) were investigated. Results: This interim analysis included 583 patients. Median duration of observation was 7 months (range, 0–20). Nineteen patients treated with concomitant chemotherapy were excluded, 564 (97%) were eligible for exploratory analysis according to prior use of chemotherapy; 190 (34%) had previously received and completed chemotherapy, and 374 (66%) had not. In the prior versus no prior chemotherapy group, a higher proportion of patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≥2 (22% vs 11%) and > 20 metastatic lesions (26% vs 15%), median alkaline phosphatase (162.0 vs 115.0 U/L) and prostate-specific antigen (132.0 vs 40.2 ng/mL) levels were higher, and a lower proportion completed 6 radium-223 injections (45% vs 63%). Drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 63 and 48%, and haematological drug-related TEAEs in 21 and 9% of patients who had or had not previously received chemotherapy. Four drug-related deaths were reported, all in the prior chemotherapy group. Conclusions: The short-term safety profile of radium-223 in routine clinical practice was comparable to other clinical studies, irrespective of prior chemotherapy use. Haematological TEAEs occurred more frequently in the prior chemotherapy group, presumably due to decreased bone marrow function as a consequence of more advanced disease and prior exposure to cytotoxic therapy. Patients who had not previously received chemotherapy appeared to have a lower burden of disease at baseline, and a lower proportion discontinued radium-223 treatment.Purpose: REASSURE is a global, prospective, non-interventional study to assess long-term safety of radium-223 in patients with bone metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Here we report an interim analysis of patients according to previous use of chemotherapy. Methods: Radium-223 was administered in routine clinical practice. Interim safety analysis was planned after enrolment of the first 600 patients. Patient characteristics and safety data by previous administration of chemotherapy (docetaxel and/or cabazitaxel) were investigated. Results: This interim analysis included 583 patients. Median duration of observation was 7 months (range, 0–20). Nineteen patients treated with concomitant chemotherapy were excluded, 564 (97%) were eligible for exploratory analysis according to prior use of chemotherapy; 190 (34%) had previously received and completed chemotherapy, and 374 (66%) had not. In the prior versus no prior chemotherapy group, a higher proportion of patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of ≥2 (22% vs 11%) and > 20 metastatic lesions (26% vs 15%), median alkaline phosphatase (162.0 vs 115.0 U/L) and prostate-specific antigen (132.0 vs 40.2 ng/mL) levels were higher, and a lower proportion completed 6 radium-223 injections (45% vs 63%). Drug-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 63 and 48%, and haematological drug-related TEAEs in 21 and 9% of patients who had or had not previously received chemotherapy. Four drug-related deaths were reported, all in the prior chemotherapy group. Conclusions: The short-term safety profile of radium-223 in routine clinical practice was comparable to other clinical studies, irrespective of prior chemotherapy use. Haematological TEAEs occurred more frequently in the prior chemotherapy group, presumably due to decreased bone marrow function as a consequence of more advanced disease and prior exposure to cytotoxic therapy. Patients who had not previously received chemotherapy appeared to have a lower burden of disease at baseline, and a lower proportion discontinued radium-223 treatment

Eficácia de fungicidas no controle de Mancha Alvo na cultura da soja.

Resumo: A aplicação de fungicidas é umas das principais medidas de controle adotada no manejo de mancha-alvo na cultura da soja. Nas últimas safras alguns fungicidas têm se mostrado pouco eficazes no controle da doença no campo, o que pode ser uma consequencia da alta exposição de determinadas moléculas de fungicidas, favorecendo a seleção de linhagens do fungo, Corynespora cassicola, resistentes a fungicidas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a eficácia de fungicidas no controle da mancha-alvo na cultura da soja, em condições de campo. O ensaio foi conduzido na área experimental da Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril, Sinop, MT. Os fungicidas utilizados foram: Trifloxistrobina + Proticonazol, Piraclostrobina + Epoxiconazol + Fluxapiroxade, Piraclostrobina + Fluxapiroxade, Bixafen + Protioconazol + Trifloxistrobina, Tebuconazol + Picoxitrobina + Mancozebe, Azoxistrobina + Tebuconazol + Mancozebe, Oxicloreto de Cobre + Mancozebe e outros três tratamentos com diferentes concentrações de Mancozebe. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos completos casualizados, com doze tratamentos e quatro repetições. Determinou a eficácia de cada fungicida com base na porcentagem de área foliar infectada na parte inferior e superior da planta, nos estádios fenológicos R5.3 e R6. Os resultados das avaliações foram analisados estatisticamente e para as variáveis significativas, as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Scott Knott, a 5% de probabilidade. Nas duas avaliações de severidade, os tratamentos fungicidas apresentaram melhor controle de mancha alvo em relação a testemunha, exceto o tratamento fungicida Carbendazim que não diferiu significativamente da testemunha. | Abstract: The application of fungicides is one of the main control measures adopted in the management of target spot in soybean. In recent seasons some fungicides have been shown to be ineffective in controlling the disease in the field, which may be a consequence of the high exposure of certain fungicide molecules, favoring the selection of fungicide-resistant strains of the fungus Corynespora cassicola. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of fungicides in the control of target spot in soybean under field conditions. The experiment was carried out in the experimental area of Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril, Sinop, MT. The fungicides used were: Trifloxystrobin + Proticonazole, Pyraclostrobin + Epoxiconazole + Fluxapiroxade, Pyraclostrobin + Fluxapiroxade, Bixafen + Protioconazol e + Trifloxystrobin, Tebuconazol + Picoxitrobin + Mancozeb, Azoxystrobin + Tebuconazol + Mancozeb, Copper Oxychloride + Mancozeb and other three treatments with different concentrations of Mancozeb. A randomized complete block design was used, with twelve treatments and four replications. He determined the effectiveness of each fungicide based on the percentage of infected leaf area on the lower and upper parts of the plant, at the phenological stages R5.3 and R6. The results of the evaluations were analyzed statistically and for the significant variables, the means were compared by the Scott Knott test, at 5% probability. In the two severity evaluations, the fungicide treatments showed better control of target spot in relation to the control, except for the Carbendazim fungicide treatment, which did not differ significantly from the control

Eficácia de fungicidas no controle de doenças de final de ciclo e na produtividade de grãos de soja.

Resumo: O complexo de doenças foliares de final de ciclo da soja podem reduzir significativamente a qualidade e a produtividade de grãos. Sendo assim, o objetivo desse trabalho foi determinar, em condições de campo, a eficácia de fungicidas no controle dessas doenças. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos completos casualizados, com sete tratamentos e quatro repetições. Cada unidade experimental foi constituída por seis linhas de 6,0 m de comprimento espaçadas em 0,50 m entre linhas. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente, sendo as médias significativas comparadas pelo teste de Scott Knott, a 5% de probabilidade. Os tratamentos pulverizados foram: 1- testemunha (sem fungicidas); 2- trifloxistrobina + protioconazol; 3- piraclostrobina + fluxapyroxad; 4- azoxistrobina + benzovindiflupir; 5- mancozebe a 2250 g.i.a..ha-¹; 6- mancozeb a 1500 g.i.a..ha-¹ e 7- oxicloreto de cobre. As avaliações de eficácia de cada produto foram realizadas com base na porcentagem de área foliar infectada, nos estádios fenológicos R1, R5.1 e R6, no terço inferior e médio da planta. Avaliou-se também a porcentagem de desfolha, a massa de 100 grãos e a produtividade de grãos. Dentre as doenças de final de ciclo, observou-se o crestamento de cercospora e mancha parda. Os tratamentos fungicidas trifloxistrobina + protioconazol, piraclostrobina + fluxapiroxad e mancozebe, em R6 não diferiram entre si significativamente, apresentando maior eficácia de controle de doenças de final de ciclo. Em relação a produtividade, os tratamentos 3, 4, 5, 6 e 7 foram superiores a testemunha e ao tratamento 2. | Abstract: The complex of foliar diseases in the late soybean cycle can significantly reduce grain quality and productivity. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effectiveness of fungicides in controlling these diseases. A randomized complete block design was used, with seven treatments and four replications each. The experimental unit consisted of six 6.0 m long lines spaced 0.50 m between them. The data were statistically analyzed, with significant means compared using the Scott Knott test, at 5% probability. The treatments were: 1- control (without fungicides); 2- trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole; 3- pyraclostrobin + fluxapyroxad; 4- azoxystrobin + benzovindiflupyr; 5- mancozeb at 2250 g.i.a..ha-¹; 6- mancozeb at 1500 g.i.a..ha-¹ and 7- copper oxychloride. Efficacy evaluations of each product were carried out based on the percentage of infected leaf area, in the phenological stages R1, R5.1, and R6, in the lower and middle third of the plant. The percentage of defoliation, the mass of 100 grains, and grain productivity were also evaluated. Among the end-of-cycle diseases, cercospora blight and brown spot were observed. The fungicide treatments trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole, pyraclostrobin + fluxapiroxad, and mancozeb, in R6 did not differ, showing greater effectiveness in controlling late cycle diseases. Concerning productivity, treatments 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 were superior to the control and treatment 2

Desempenho de fungicidas no controle de mancha-alvo na cultura da soja.

Resumo: O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de fungicidas no controle de manchas foliares na cultura da soja, em condições de campo. O experimento conduzido na área experimental da BS Consultoria Agrícola, Sinop (MT). Os tratamentos fungicidas foram: Carbendazim, Trifloxistrobina + Protioconazol, Piraclostrobina + Epoxiconazol + Fluxapirozade, Piraclostrobina + Fluxapirozade, Bixafen + Protioconazol + Trifloxistrobina, Azoxistrobina + Tebuconazol + Mancozebe, Clorotalonil, Fluxapiroxade + Oxicloreto de Cobre e outros dois tratamentos com doses diferentes de Mancozebe. Utilizou-se o delineamento blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Cada unidade experimental foi constituída por seis linhas de 6,0 metros (m), espaçadas em 0,50 m. A eficiência de cada produto foi determinada com base na porcentagem de área foliar infectada nos estádios fenológicos R6 e R7. Também avaliou-se a produtividade de grãos (Kg.ha-¹). Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente, sendo as médias das variáveis significativas comparadas pelo teste de Scott Knott, a 5% de probabilidade. A severidade de mancha-alvo foi baixa, porém houve diferença estatística entre os tratamentos, em relação a severidade da doença e desfolha, apesar desta ter sido intensa em todos os tratamentos. A aplicação de Mancozebe (2250 g i.a ha-¹) de maneira isolada ou associada: Azoxistrobina (94 g i.a ha-¹) + Tebuconazol (112 g i.a ha-¹) + Mancozebe (1194 g i.a ha-¹), garantiu menores porcentagens de desfolha e maiores produtividades de grãos. | Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of fungicides in controlling leaf spots in soybean crops, under field conditions. The experiment was conducted in Sinop/MT, coordinated by Embrapa Agrossilvopastoril. The fungicide treatments were: control without fungicide; carbendazim (500 g a.i.ha-¹); trifloxystrobin + prothioconazole (60 + 70 g a.i. ha-¹); pyraclostrobin + epoxiconazole + fluxapyroxade (64.8 + 40 + 40 g a.i. ha-¹); pyraclostrobin + fluxapyroxade (116.55 + 58.45 g a.i.ha-¹); bixafen + prothioconazole + trifloxystrobin (62.5 + 87.5 + 75 g a.i. ha-¹); azoxystrobin + tebuconazole + mancozeb (94 + 112 + 1194 g a.i. ha-1); mancozeb (1125 g a.i.ha-¹); mancozeb (2250 g a.i./ha-¹); chlorothalonil (1000 g a.i.ha-¹); fluxapyroxad + copper oxychloride (50 + 420 g a.i.ha-¹). A randomized complete block design was used, with four replications. Each experimental unit consisted of six 6.0 meter (m) lines, spaced 0.50 m apart. The efficiency of each product was determined based on the percentage of leaf area infected at phenological stages R6 and R7. Grain productivity (kg.ha-¹) was also evaluated. The data were analyzed statistically, with the means of significant variables compared using the Scott- Knott test, at 5% probability. The target spot severity was low, however, a statistical difference between the treatments was found, as to the severity of the disease and defoliation. No difference was observed as to the yield and weight of a thousand grains between treatments, regardless of the severity degree of the disease