44 research outputs found
Application of edible alginate films with pineapple peel active compounds on beef meat preservation
Alginate-based edible films containing natural antioxidants from pineapple peel were
applied in the microbial spoilage control, color preservation, and barrier to lipid oxidation of
beef steaks under storage at 4 C for five days. Di erent stabilization methods of pineapple peel
compounds were used before incorporation into alginate films, including extracted compounds with
an hydroalcoholic solvent encapsulated in microparticles, microparticles produced by spray-drying
pineapple peel juice, and particles obtained by milling freeze dried pineapple peel. Bioactive films
exhibited higher antioxidant activity (between 0.15 mol to 0.35 mol FeSO4.7H2O/g dried film) than
the alginate film without these compounds (0.02 mol FeSO4.7H2O/g dried film). Results showed
that control films without active compounds had no significant e ect on decreasing the microbial load
of aerobic mesophilic and Pseudomonas spp., while the films containing encapsulated hydroalcoholic
extract showed a significant inhibitory e ect on microbial growth of meat at two days of storage.
Alginate films containing peel encapsulated extract were e ective for maintaining the color hue and
intensity of red beef meat samples. Pineapple peel antioxidants have the potential to retard lipid
oxidation in meat samples, and the possibility of incorporation of a higher amount of pineapple peel
bioactive compounds in the films should be investigatedinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Delignification of Cistus ladanifer biomass by organosolv and alkali processes
Residues of Cistus ladanifer obtained after commercial steam distillation for essential oil
production were evaluated to produce cellulose enriched solids and added-value lignin-derived
compounds. The delignification of extracted (CLRext) and extracted and hydrothermally pretreated
biomass (CLRtreat) was studied using two organosolv processes, ethanol/water mixtures (EO), and
alkali-catalyzed glycerol (AGO), and by an alkali (sodium hydroxide) process (ASP) under different
reaction conditions. The phenolic composition of soluble lignin was determined by capillary zone
electrophoresis and by Py-GC/MS, which was also used to establish the monomeric composition of
both the delignified solids and isolated lignin. The enzymatic saccharification of the delignified solids
was also evaluated. The ASP (4% NaOH, 2 h) lead to both the highest delignification and enzymatic
saccharification (87% and 79%, respectively). A delignification of 76% and enzymatic hydrolysis
yields of 72% were obtained for AGO (4% NaOH) while EO processes led to lower delignification
(maximum lignin removal 29%). The residual lignin in the delignified solids were enriched in Gand
H-units, with S-units being preferentially removed. The main phenolics present in the ASP and
AGO liquors were vanillic acid and epicatechin, while gallic acid was the main phenolic in the EO
liquors. The results showed that C. ladanifer residues can be a biomass source for the production of
lignin-derivatives and glucan-rich solids to be further used in bioconversion processesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Investigation of potential respiratory adverse effects of micro/nanofibrillated cellulose and cellulose nanocrystals using human lung cell lines.
Abstract publicado em: Environ Mol Mutagen. 2022 Aug;63(Suppl 1):72-73. (Abstracts from the 13th International Conference on Environmental Mutagens and 53rd Annual Meeting of the Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society). https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/10982280/2022/63/S1Micro/nanofibrillated (CMF/CNF) and nanocrystalline (CNC) celluloses are innovative materials with enormous potential for industrial and biomedical applications. Their expanding production/application urges the investigation of their safety for human health.
This study aimed at investigating the potential respiratory outcomes of two CMF/CNF and one CNC produced from bleached Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulp using human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells grown in monoculture or co-cultured with THP-1 monocyte-derived macrophages, by assessing their cellular uptake, cytotoxic, immunotoxic, genotoxic, and epigenetic effects.
The nanocelluloses were characterized for their physicochemical properties: CMF displays a low percentage of nanofibrils while CNF comprises 100% fibrils with a diameter (D) circa 11 nm; CNC consists of nanorods with D of 4-5 nm and aspect ratio around 42. TEM analysis evidenced that CMF and CNF were internalised into A549 cells whereas CNC were not. Neither cytotoxicity (colorimetric and clonogenic assays) nor ROS induction was observed for any of the nanocelluloses. CMF caused chromosomal alterations (in vitro micronucleus assay) in A549 cells while negative results were obtained in co-culture and for the other micro/nanocelluloses in mono- or co-culture. Results in progress of DNA damage and gene mutation analyses will complement mutagenesis assessment. Additionally, potential inflammatory and epigenetic effects are being evaluated.
These results contribute to the weight of evidence of nanocelluloses biological effects and knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms. Such information will drive the synthesis of the safest nanocelluloses,thus minimising potential negative impacts of their use on human and environmental health.FCT/MCTES through nacional funds (PTDC/SAU-PUB/32587/2017; UIDP/00009/2020; UIDB/00009/2020; 020.07168.BD)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Nanocellulose toxicity in vitro models: contributing to its safety assessment to human health
As nanoceluloses são nanomateriais inovadores com potencial para uma
vasta gama de aplicações industriais e biomédicas. No entanto, a expansão da sua produção tem vindo a suscitar preocupações quanto aos possíveis efeitos, a longo prazo, na saúde humana. Este estudo teve como
objetivo avaliar a segurança de algumas nanoceluloses produzidas a partir de matéria-prima nacional, através da caracterização da sua potencial
toxicidade em células de mamífero. Para tal, testaram-se duas celuloses
nano /microfibrilares (CNF e CMF ) e uma celulose nanocristalina (CNC).
Analisou-se a citotoxicidade usando ensaios colorimétricos e o ensaio
clonogénico, e a genotoxicidade pelo ensaio do micronúcleo in vitro em
células pulmonares de mamífero (A549 e V79 ) e em osteoblastos humanos ( MG-63 ). A indução de espécies reativas de oxigénio (ROS) e a internalização celular foram também estudadas nas células A549. Observou-
-se citotoxicidade no ensaio clonogénico, principalmente no caso da
CNC, mas não nos restantes ensaios, não havendo também indução de
ROS. Todas as nanoceluloses revelaram efeitos genotóxicos nalgumas
concentrações, uma vez que induziram micronúcleos e /ou pontes nucleoplásmicas num dos modelos celulares. Para além disso, visualizou-se
a internalização da CNF e CMF, mas não da CNC, em células A549. Esta
primeira avaliação toxicológica veio contribuir para prevenir a exposição
a materiais celulósicos potencialmente perigosos, procurando impulsionar o desenvolvimento de materiais inovadores e mais seguros.Nanocelluloses are innovative nanomaterials with potential for a wide
range of industrial and biomedical applications. However, the expansion
of its production has raised concerns about their possible long-term effects on human health. This study aimed to evaluate the safety of various
nanocelluloses through the characterization of their potential toxicity
in mammalian cells. Two samples of nano/microfibrillar celluloses with
different pre-treatments (CNF and CMF) and a nanocrystalline cellulose
(CNC) were tested. The cytotoxicity of the nanocelluloses was analyzed
using colorimetric assays and the clonogenic assay, and genotoxicity by the in vitro micronucleus assay in human alveolar epithelial cells (A549),
human osteoblasts (MG-63) and Chinese hamster fibroblasts (V79).
Induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cellular internalization
were also studied in A549 cells. Cytotoxicity was observed through the
clonogenic assay, mainly in the case of CNC, but not in the remaining
assays, with no induction of ROS. All nanocelluloses, at some of the
concentrations tested, induced micronuclei and/or nucleoplasmic bridges in one of the cellular models. Furthermore, the internalization of CNF
and CMF, but not of CNC was visualized in A549 cells. These results aim
to contribute to preventing exposure to potentially hazardous cellulosic
materials, seeking to boost the development of innovative and safer
materials.Projeto ToxApp4NanoCELFI – Uma abordagem de toxicologia
preditiva para a caracterização dos potenciais efeitos respiratórios de fibras de nanocelulose funcionalizadas num sistema de co-cultura (PTDC/SAU-PUB/32587/2017).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Exposure to methylmercury and fish consumption: issuing national recommendations, 2023
Considerando que o consumo de pescado é uma fonte importante de exposição
ao metilmercúrio, a Comissão Europeia recomendou aos Estados-
-membros que estabelecessem recomendações para o seu consumo. Assim,
tendo sido criado um grupo de trabalho, é objetivo deste artigo apresentar
o trabalho desenvolvido para a elaboração das recomendações de consumo
de pescado adaptadas à população portuguesa, tendo em conta o padrão
nacional de consumo de peixe e as espécies consumidas.
A definição das recomendações assentou na realização de um estudo de
avaliação de risco-benefício associado ao consumo de pescado. Esta metodologia
permitiu identificar dois grupos populacionais sujeitos a recomendações
distintas: para a população em geral recomenda-se uma frequência de
consumo de 4 a 7 vezes por semana e, para a população vulnerável, uma
frequência de 3 a 4 vezes por semana das espécies com médio e baixo teor
de mercúrio, devendo ser evitado o consumo das espécies com elevado teor
de mercúrio.
Estas recomendações foram divulgadas num evento público e deverão ser
alvo de esforços adicionais para chegarem à população vulnerável, constituída
por mulheres grávidas, mulheres a amamentar e crianças até aos 10
anos.Consider ing that fish consumption is an important source of exposure to
methylmercury, the European Commission recommended Member States
to establish recommendations for i ts consumption. Therefore, having
created a working group, the objective of this article is to present the
work developed to prepare fish consumption recommendations adapted
to the Por tuguese population.
The def ini t ion of the recommendat ions was based on car r ying out
a risk-benef it assessment study associated wi th f ish consumpt ion.
This methodology made it possible to identify two populat ion groups
subjected to di f ferent recommendat ions: for the general population, a
frequency of consumpt ion of 4 to 7 times per week is recommended and
for the vulnerable populat ion, a frequency of 3 to 4 t imes per week for species wi th medium and low mercury content and the avoidance of the
consumpt ion of species with high mercury content is advised.
These recommendations were released at a public event and should be the
target of additional efforts to reach the vulnerable population, consisting of
pregnant women, breast feeding women and children up to 10 years of age.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Factors associated with mortality in a neonatal intensive care unit
Aims: To describe the factors associated with mortality of newborns hospitalized in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the period from 2012 to 2015.
Methods: This was a descriptive, quantitative study of secondary data, correlated with the causes of death and hospitalization according to classification by ICD-10. The categorical variables were presented in absolute and relative frequencies, with measurements of central tendency and dispersion. Evaluation of the factors associated with neonatal death was made by the logit model of analysis with correction of robust errors by the statistical program Stata 12.0, considering values of p<0.05 and interval of confidence of 95%.
Results: Of the 563 newborns, 58.6% were of the male sex; 89.0% were early newborns, 73.0% were premature. 181 newborns died (32.3%). The main causes of hospitalization were: difficulties during birth, conditions of birth and immaturity (45.0%), pathologies associated with the respiratory system (21.1%), congenital malformations (9.7%). The main causes of death were: septicemia of the NB (40.4%), respiratory discomfort of the NB (22.4%). The significant associations for mortality were the use of ventilatory supports: Mechanical Ventilation (p=0.001), Hallo (p=0.000), CPAP (p=0.000), VNI (p=0.005).
Conclusions: The major risk factors for neonatal mortality were associated with septicemia and use of mechanical ventilation
Diagnosis, Prognosis and Treatment of Canine Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mast Cell Tumors
Mast cell tumors (MCTs) are hematopoietic neoplasms composed of mast cells. It is highly common in dogs and is extremely important in the veterinary oncology field. It represents the third most common tumor subtype, and is the most common malignant skin tumor in dogs, corresponding to 11% of skin cancer cases. The objective of this critical review was to present the report of the 2nd Consensus meeting on the Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Treatment of Canine Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mast Cell Tumors, which was organized by the Brazilian Association of Veterinary Oncology (ABROVET) in August 2021. The most recent information on cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs is presented and discussed
Congenital malformations in neonates: analysis of morbidity and associated factors
Objective: To evaluate the neonatal morbidity due to congenital malformations in the city of Petrolina-PE, from 2008 to 2013.
Methods: A descriptive study with data from the Information System on Live Births (Sinasc). The analyzes were carried out through frequency distribution and measures of central tendency and dispersion. The associations were tested by the Pearson and Kruskal Wallis chi-square tests. Significance was set at 5% and 95% confidence.
Results: 436 cases of congenital malformations were recorded in the study period, with 2011 being the highest occurrence year. The mothers of the newborns were young (25.2 years old), single, upper level of education and household. In general multiparous, with single gestation, vaginal delivery and performed up to six prenatal visits. The newborns were males, at 39 weeks or more of gestation and with normal weight (> = 2500g). The malformations of the musculoskeletal system were the most frequent followed by the genitourinary system. Congenital malformations were especially associated with neonatal characteristics such as gender and weight. In all causes the mean weight was greater than 2500g (p <0.05). The causes of malformation of greater occurrence in both sexes were osteomuscular (p <0.05). The aspects of the mother did not present significant differences in the present study (p> 0.05).
Conclusion: The present study evidenced relevant aspects in the occurrence of morbidities due to congenital malformations, directing to a greater attention the occurrence of these diseases especially in relation to the newborn