Effect of microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity on the extractionof phenolic compounds and antioxidant properties of blackberries (Rubusspp.): scale-Up extraction.

The phenolic compounds of blackberries extracted with organic solvents cause environmental damage. Therefore, the objective of thepresent study was to verify if microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity obtain a blackberry extract with a high concentration of phenoliccompounds and antioxidant capacity without the addition of any solvent. The results showed that it was possible to reach the objectivewith 500 W and 10 min of extraction by employing a method that meets green chemistry principles. The extract has a lower cost thanthe exhaustive method, is microbiologically safe, and is mainly composed of anthocyanins (85%). The presence of 5 anthocyanins and17 non-anthocyanin phenolic compounds were identified, including hydroxyresveratrol, which was first extracted in blackberries bymicrowave hydrodiffusion and gravity. The phenolic compound content and antioxidant capacity were lower in the last fractions,which reduced the extraction time to 8 min. The coproduct showed phenolic, antioxidant capacity, and microbiological quality. Thisstudy presented a fast, efficient, economical, sustainable, and solvent-free method to extract phenolic compounds from blackberries.Published online: 20 November 2020

Using Transcription Modules to Identify Expression Clusters Perturbed in Williams-Beuren Syndrome

The genetic dissection of the phenotypes associated with Williams-Beuren Syndrome (WBS) is advancing thanks to the study of individuals carrying typical or atypical structural rearrangements, as well as in vitro and animal studies. However, little is known about the global dysregulations caused by the WBS deletion. We profiled the transcriptomes of skin fibroblasts from WBS patients and compared them to matched controls. We identified 868 differentially expressed genes that were significantly enriched in extracellular matrix genes, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, as well as genes in which the products localize to the postsynaptic membrane. We then used public expression datasets from human fibroblasts to establish transcription modules, sets of genes coexpressed in this cell type. We identified those sets in which the average gene expression was altered in WBS samples. Dysregulated modules are often interconnected and share multiple common genes, suggesting that intricate regulatory networks connected by a few central genes are disturbed in WBS. This modular approach increases the power to identify pathways dysregulated in WBS patients, thus providing a testable set of additional candidates for genes and their interactions that modulate the WBS phenotypes

Application of polymeric nanoparticles in food sector

Nanotechnology presents opportunities to create new and better products. Nano technology has huge impact in many applications including food industry. Product of nanotechnology, such as polymeric nanoparticle, can be utilized to improve food quality by extending food shelf life, increase food safety, lower the cost and enhance the nutritional benefits. This chapter provides an overview of the properties of polymeric nanoparticle, preparation techniques, as well as the role polymeric nano-particles in the food industr

Influence of Nucleoshuttling of the ATM Protein in the Healthy Tissues Response to Radiation Therapy: Toward a Molecular Classification of Human Radiosensitivity.

PURPOSE: Whereas post-radiation therapy overreactions (OR) represent a clinical and societal issue, there is still no consensual radiobiological endpoint to predict clinical radiosensitivity. Since 2003, skin biopsy specimens have been collected from patients treated by radiation therapy against different tumor localizations and showing a wide range of OR. Here, we aimed to establish quantitative links between radiobiological factors and OR severity grades that would be relevant to radioresistant and genetic hyperradiosensitive cases. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Immunofluorescence experiments were performed on a collection of skin fibroblasts from 12 radioresistant, 5 hyperradiosensitive, and 100 OR patients irradiated at 2 Gy. The numbers of micronuclei, γH2AX, and pATM foci that reflect different steps of DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) recognition and repair were assessed from 10 minutes to 24 hours after irradiation and plotted against the severity grades established by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events and the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. RESULTS: OR patients did not necessarily show a gross DSB repair defect but a systematic delay in the nucleoshuttling of the ATM protein required for complete DSB recognition. Among the radiobiological factors, the maximal number of pATM foci provided the best discrimination among OR patients and a significant correlation with each OR severity grade, independently of tumor localization and of the early or late nature of reactions. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are consistent with a general classification of human radiosensitivity based on 3 groups: radioresistance (group I); moderate radiosensitivity caused by delay of nucleoshuttling of ATM, which includes OR patients (group II); and hyperradiosensitivity caused by a gross DSB repair defect, which includes fatal cases (group III)