Circular economyeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a sustainable source of glucans and its safety for skincare application.

Glucans, a polysaccharide naturally present in the yeast cell wall that can be obtained from side streams generated during the fermentation process, have gained increasing attention for their potential as a skin ingredient. Therefore, this study focused on the extraction method to isolate and purify water-insoluble glucans from two different Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains: an engineered strain obtained from spent yeast in an industrial fermentation process and a wild strain produced through lab-scale fermentation. Two water-insoluble extracts with a high glucose content (> 90 %) were achieved and further subjected to a chemical modification using carboxymethylation to improve their water solubility. All the glucans' extracts, water-insoluble and carboxymethylated, were structurally and chemically characterized, showing almost no differences between both yeast-type strains. To ensure their safety for skin application, a broad safety assessment was undertaken, and no cytotoxic effect, immunomodulatory capacity (IL-6 and IL-8 regulation), genotoxicity, skin sensitization, and impact on the skin microbiota were observed. These findings highlight the potential of glucans derived from spent yeast as a sustainable and safe ingredient for cosmetic and skincare formulations, contributing to the sustainability and circular economy.

ß-Glucan extracts as high-value multifunctional ingredients for skin health: A review.

ß-Glucans, which are naturally present in cereals, yeast, and mushrooms, have gained attention as a potential natural source for functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Due to the availability of ß-glucans from several sources, different extraction methods can be employed to obtain high purity extracts that can be further modified to enhance their solubility or other biological properties. Apart from their known ability to interact with the immune system, ß-glucans possess specific properties that could benefit overall skin health and prevent age-related signs, including soothing and antioxidant activities. As a result, the use of ß-glucans to mitigate damage caused by environmental stressors or skin-related issues that accelerate skin aging or trigger chronic inflammation may represent a promising, natural, eco-friendly, and cost-effective approach to maintaining skin homeostasis balance. This review outlines ß-glucan extraction methodologies, molecular structure, functionalization approaches, and explores skin-related benefits of ß-glucans, along with an overview of related products in the market.

Cannabidiol and Cannabigerol Exert Antimicrobial Activity without Compromising Skin Microbiota.

Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) are two pharmacologically active phytocannabinoids of Cannabis sativa L. Their antimicrobial activity needs further elucidation, particularly for CBG, as reports on this cannabinoid are scarce. We investigated CBD and CBG's antimicrobial potential, including their ability to inhibit the formation and cause the removal of biofilms. Our results demonstrate that both molecules present activity against planktonic bacteria and biofilms, with both cannabinoids removing mature biofilms at concentrations below the determined minimum inhibitory concentrations. We report for the first time minimum inhibitory and lethal concentrations for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli (ranging from 400 to 3180 µM), as well as the ability of cannabinoids to inhibit Staphylococci adhesion to keratinocytes, with CBG demonstrating higher activity than CBD. The value of these molecules as preservative ingredients for cosmetics was also assayed, with CBG meeting the USP 51 challenge test criteria for antimicrobial effectiveness. Further, the exact formulation showed no negative impact on skin microbiota. Our results suggest that phytocannabinoids can be promising topical antimicrobial agents when searching for novel therapeutic candidates for different skin conditions. Additional research is needed to clarify phytocannabinoids' mechanisms of action, aiming to develop practical applications in dermatological use.

Application of cryolipolysis in adipose tissue: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Cryolipolysis is characterized by localized and controlled cooling of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, in a non-invasive way, causing a localized panniculitis, followed by adipocyte death by apoptosis and, consequently, a decrease in adipose tissue in the treated area. AIM(S): To evaluate the scientific evidence and methodological qualities about effects, adverse reactions, and level of satisfaction of cryolipolysis for the reduction of subcutaneous adipose tissue. METHODS: A systematic review was carried out according to the PRISMA recommendation. Searches were conducted in different databases. We included studies that used a randomized control and self-control design and were carried out in humans. Articles published in English and Portuguese were screened, with no time limit regarding the year of publication. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Rob2 scale. RESULTS: Of 381 articles, seven were considered eligible for inclusion. After applying the Cochrane Rob2 scale, five studies were included in the final sample. Most studies showed significant results for cryolipolysis in reducing localized fat. The incorporation of a dietary program into the treatment was shown to contribute to a significant improvement in the lipid profile and liver enzymes, which does not happen when cryolipolysis is applied in isolation. Rare adverse effects have been identified, but never persisting beyond a month. CONCLUSIONS: Cryolipolysis is an effective technique for reducing localized fat, safe, and well tolerated, with most participants satisfied at the end of the treatment. However, more randomized controlled studies should be carried out, since there is a limited number of articles with good methodological quality.

Impact of Simulated Human Gastrointestinal Digestion on the Bioactive Fraction of Upcycled Pineapple By-Products.

Pineapple by-products (peels and stems) from fruit processing industries were evaluated to understand its potential application as a functional food. Therefore, the bioactive compounds of pineapple by-products were characterized for prebiotic and antioxidant activities. A total characterization of soluble carbohydrates profile (simples and complex carbohydrates), as well as polyphenols was performed, after removal of enzymatic fraction from pineapple crude juice, allowing the decrease of proteolytic activity and improving the other biological activities. Results showed that pineapple liquid fraction, from stem and peels, can be applied as a prebiotic enhancer, promoting the growth of five probiotic microorganisms (two strains of Lactobacillus sp. and three strains of Bifidobacterium sp.), as a single carbohydrate source. Moreover, through HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) analysis, 10 polyphenols were identified in pineapple liquid fractions, with some expected differences between both evaluated by-products. Gastrointestinal tract was simulated, in a continuous mode to understand the impact of pH changes and gastrointestinal enzymes into pineapple liquid fractions. Results showed a digestion of high molecular weight polysaccharides into small molecular weight tri-, di-, and monosaccharides. There was an increase of samples antioxidant activity through the gastrointestinal stage, followed by the release of specific polyphenols, such as chlorogenic, coumaric, and ferulic acids. The prebiotic activity did not improve throughout the simulation, in fact, the prebiotic potential decreased throughout the different stages.

In Situ Forming Silk Sericin-Based Hydrogel: A Novel Wound Healing Biomaterial.

In situ cross-linked hydrogels have the advantage of effectively fulfilling the wound in its shape and depth. Amongst the new generation of natural-based biopolymers being proposed for wound care and skin regeneration, silk sericin is particularly interesting due to its exceptional properties such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antioxidant behavior, among others. In this study, a new enzyme-mediated cross-linked hydrogel composed of silk sericin is proposed for the first time. The developed hydrogel cross-linking strategy was performed via horseradish peroxidase, under physiological conditions, and presented gelling kinetics under 3 min, as demonstrated by its rheological behavior. The hydrogels presented a high degree of transparency, mainly due to their amorphous conformation. Degradation studies revealed that the hydrogels were stable in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) (pH 7.4) for 17 days, while in the presence of protease XIV (3.5 U/mg) and under acute and chronic physiological pH values, the stability decreased to 7 and 4 days, respectively. During protease degradation, the present sericin hydrogels demonstrated antioxidant activity. In vitro studies using an L929 fibroblast cell line demonstrated that these hydrogels were noncytotoxic, promoting cell adhesion and massive cell colonization after 7 days of culture, demonstrating that cells maintained their viability and proliferation. In addition, the application of sericin-based hydrogel in an in vivo diabetic wound model validated the feasibility of the in situ methodology and demonstrated a local anti-inflammatory effect, promoting the healing process. This study presents a simple, fast, and practical in situ approach to produce a sericin-based hydrogel able to be applied in low exudative chronic wounds. Moreover, the study herein reported fosters the valorization of a textile industrial by-product by its integration in the biomedical field.

Effect of one session of aerobic exercise associated with abdominal laser therapy in lipolytic activity, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers.

BACKGROUND: Increased abdominal fat and sedentary lifestyles contribute to cardiovascular disease risk. The combination of exercise and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) appears to be an innovative method to increase the lipolytic rate of abdominal adipocytes, in order to reduce abdominal fat. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of one session of aerobic exercise associated with abdominal laser therapy in lipolytic activity, profile lipid, and inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein-CRP). METHODS: Experimental randomized controlled study in 36 participants of female sex divided into three groups: placebo group (PG) (n = 12), experimental group 1 (EG1) (n = 11), and experimental group 2 (EG2) (n = 13). The EG1 and EG2 performed the laser therapy protocol followed by 50 minutes of aerobic exercise on cycle ergometer, of 45%-55% of reserve heart rate; however, in EG2 the laser therapy was applied without power. The PG only performed the laser therapy protocol without power. The anthropometric measures were evaluated, and all participants were subject to blood samples at the beginning and at the end of the intervention for measure glycerol, lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL), and CRP. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the groups in the quantitative variables and Fisher's test to compare the groups in the qualitative variables. To compare the variables between moments (M0 and M1), we used the t test for paired samples. RESULTS: In the group that performed physical exercise and lipolytic laser and in the group that performs only physical exercise, there was a significant increase in glycerol mobilization between M0 and M1 (P < .001). The same did not occur in the placebo group. Regarding the CRP levels and lipidic profile, no significant differences were observed between moments in the experimental groups. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that one session of aerobic exercise associated with LLLT and one session of aerobic exercise appears to be able to increase the lipolytic activity. However, it appears that LLLT does not provide increased value to the aerobic physical exercise by itself in lipolysis process.

Effect of an aerobic exercise session combined with abdominal radiofrequency on lipolytic activity in women: Randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND: Abdominal adiposity is a cardiovascular risk factor; it is assumed that the combination of radiofrequency and physical exercise may decrease this excess of adipose tissue. PURPOSE: To understand whether an aerobic physical exercise session associated with abdominal radiofrequency increases the level of lipolytic activity. METHODOLOGY: The study analyzes the effect of a combined aerobic exercise session with radiofrequency. Participants were 30 healthy female volunteers, aged 18-28 years, randomly assigned to an experimental group and placebo group. They were characterized by a sociodemographic questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Food Frequency Questionnaire. The groups performed an abdominal radiofrequency session followed by moderate aerobic exercise, assessing glycerol concentration and lipid profile values before and after the intervention. In the experimental group, a percentage of potency was used that allowed to maintain the temperature between 40º C and 42º C to the epidermis. In the placebo group, the power of the radiofrequency was 0 Watt. To compare results, Student's t test was used for a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: There were no significant changes in glycerol concentrations between groups (P > 0.05). There were no changes in the lipid profile of both groups after the intervention (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The association of exercise with radiofrequency did not present an increased effect on lipolytic activity when compared to the isolated exercise. The application of this technique is a safe intervention.

Impact of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the chemical composition, bioactive properties, and cytotoxicity of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Syrah grape pomace extract.

Grape pomace (GP) is a major byproduct worldwide, and it is well known for its bioactive compounds, such as fibers and phenolic compounds, that are popular for their impact upon human health, including gastrointestinal health. The objective of this work was to evaluate the chemical composition and biological activities of an enzymatic GP extract, as well as to investigate how gastrointestinal digestion (GID) modulates these properties. GP extract was previously produced using an enzymatic cocktail with xylanase activity and was then exposed to simulated conditions of GID, characterized for its chemical composition, and screened for antimicrobial, prebiotic, and antioxidant activities. The safety of this ingredient after GID was also assessed. GP extract presented high contents of dietary fiber and other carbohydrates, including xylooligosaccharides, in addition to minerals and phenolic compounds. In vitro simulated GID revealed that xylobiose was resistant to gastric conditions, unlike phenolic compounds. The use of 2% (w/v) of this ingredient proved to be a potential carbon source that could be fermented by Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium spp, even after digestion. The extract also exhibited strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; however, after GID, the antioxidant capacity decreased, and the antimicrobial capacity was strongly reduced or lost. Furthermore, the extract safety was also guaranteed on Caco-2 intestinal cells. This novel and green GP extract proved to be composed of relevant bioactive molecules, including xylooligosaccharides, polyphenols, organic acids, and minerals, which provided different biological properties; it has potential applications in the food industry such that it can be used as an ingredient in the development of new functional foods.

Chemical and structural characterization of Pholiota nameko extracts with biological properties.

Edible mushrooms including Pholiota nameko are excellent sources of extractable bioactive compounds with much to explore. Enzymatic extractions with Cellulase and Viscozyme were responsible for highest extraction yields (67-77%). No strong antioxidant activity was observed although extracts were able to scavenge ABTS(+) and OH(+). Potential prebiotic activity was observed in all extracts, some increasing 1.4-2 Log cycles of Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 and Bifidobacterium animalis BB12. 30-50% α-glucosidase inhibition was observed in ultrasound, Flavourzyme and Cellulase extracts. Flavourzyme and Cellulase extracts are richer in macro (Mg, K and P) and micro elements (Zn, Mn and Fe) in comparison to mushroom. Monosaccharides content and profile varied slightly among both extracts with predominance of glucose, galactose and mannose with no uronic acids detection; Flavourzyme extract reported higher free amino acids content. Presence of α and ß-glycosidic structures such as glucans and glucan-protein complexes are among the polysaccharides found in both extracts.

Photoscreening for amblyogenic risk factors in 1-year-olds: results from a single center in Portugal over a 9-year period.

PURPOSE: To report the experience of a single center in photoscreening 1-year-olds for amblyogenic risk factors over a 9-year period and to estimate amblyopia prevalence in this population. METHODS: The records of 11,029 children 11-18 months of age who were screened for amblyogenic risk factors at Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga between 2004 and 2012 were reviewed. Measurements were performed with MTI (until 2008) and plusoptiX S04 (from 2009). The screening results were evaluated according to criteria adapted from Donahue and colleagues. RESULTS: The screening was negative in 8,985 children (82%), positive in 519 (5%), unreadable in 201 (2%), and borderline in 1,324 (12%). The overall positive predictive value (PPV) for the presence of at least one amblyogenic risk factor was 56.8%. The estimated prevalence of meaningful refractive errors in this population was 2.2%; of strabismus, 0.3%. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of unreadable screenings was low. The overall PPV was lower than other large studies, at older ages, but higher than those of the same-age children. Considering the potential benefits of early intervention in preventing the development of amblyopia, this study demonstrates the feasibility of screening 1-year-olds.

Impact of enzyme- and ultrasound-assisted extraction methods on biological properties of red, brown, and green seaweeds from the central west coast of Portugal.

Seaweeds are an excellent source of bioactive compounds, and therefore the use of sustainable and food compatible extraction methods such as enzyme-assisted (EAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction were applied on Sargassum muticum, Osmundea pinnatifida, and Codium tomentosum. Extracts were evaluated for proximate characterization and biological properties. Higher extraction yields were observed for C. tomentosum EAE (48-62%; p < 0.05 for Cellulase and Viscozyme), followed by O. pinnatifida (49-55%; p < 0.05 except Alcalase) and S. muticum (26-31%; p < 0.05). S. muticum extracts presented the highest nitrogen (25 ± 2 mg/glyoph extract) and total phenolics (261 ± 37 µgcatechol equiv/glyoph extract) contents, whereas higher sugars (78 ± 14 mgglucose equiv/glyoph extract) including sulfated polysaccharide (44 ± 8 mgNa2SO4 acid/glyoph extract) contents characterized O. pinnatifida extracts. A higher effect on hydroxyl-radical scavenging activity (35-50%) was observed for all extracts, whereas S. muticum Alcalase and C. tomentosum Cellulase extracts exhibited higher prebiotic activity than fructooligosaccharides. O. pinnatifida and C. tomentosum EAE showed inhibitory potential against α-glucosidase (38-49%).

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension and oxaliplatin: a causal association?

We report a case of a 54-year-old woman presented at the emergency service with complaints of transitory visual obscurations for four days, and headache, nausea and occasional vomiting in the last two months. She had been diagnosed of colorectal cancer one year ago and she was on treatment with oxaliplatin on a FOLFOX schedule. On ophthalmic examination, the vision was of 20/20 in both eyes and bilateral disc swelling was noted. The neurologic examination was normal. Magnetic resonance revealed no changes. A diagnostic lumbar puncture demonstrated an elevated opening pressure of 290 mm H2O with normal compounds. Due to the suspicion of ocular toxicity, oxaliplatin treatment was stopped. Treatment with oral acetazolamide was started and maintained for one month. In three weeks ocular and systemic symptoms totally disappeared and disc swelling gradually improved in the following months. Ocular toxicity has been reported as an infrequent adverse effect of oxaliplatin, but intracranial idiopathic pressure has not yet been described. Findings in this case suggest that oxaliplatin could be the cause for these symptoms. As the use of oxaliplatin is increasing as first-line treatment in colorectal cancer, we have to be alert to its potential toxicity.

Natural extracts into chitosan nanocarriers for rosmarinic acid drug delivery.

CONTEXT: Nanotechnology can be applied to deliver and protect antioxidants in order to control the oxidative stress phenomena in several chronic pathologies. Chitosan (CS) nanoparticles are biodegradable carriers that may protect antioxidants with potent biological activity such as rosmarinic acid (RA) in Salvia officinalis (sage) and Satureja montana (savory) extracts for safe and innovative therapies. OBJECTIVE: Development and characterization of CS nanoparticles as a stable and protective vehicle to deliver RA for medical applications using natural extracts as sage and savory. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antioxidant-CS based nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP), at pH 5.8 with a mass ratio of 7:1 (CS:TPP), with a theoretical antioxidant-CS loading of 40-50%. The nanoparticles were then characterized by different methods such as photon correlation spectroscopy, laser Doppler anemometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC), association efficiency, and antioxidant activity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Individual and small sizing nanoparticles, around 300 nm, were obtained. SEM confirmed smooth and spherical nanoparticles after freeze-drying. No chemical interactions were found between antioxidants and CS, after encapsulation, by DSC and FTIR. The association efficiency was 51.2% for RA (with 40% loading) and 96.1 and 98.2% for sage and savory nanoparticles, respectively (both with 50% loading). Antioxidant activity values were higher than 0.0348 eq [Asc. Ac.] g/L/g extract and 0.4251 µmol/eq Trolox/g extract. CONCLUSION: The extracts under study are promising vehicles for RA drug delivery in CS nanocarriers.

Novel whey-derived peptides with inhibitory effect against angiotensin-converting enzyme: in vitro effect and stability to gastrointestinal enzymes.

Whey protein concentrate (WPC) was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis by proteases from the flowers of Cynara cardunculus, and the resulting angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory effect was monitored. The whole WPC hydrolysate exhibited an IC(50) value of 52.9 ± 2.9 µg/mL, whereas the associated peptide fraction with molecular weight below 3 kDa scored 23.6 ± 1.1 µg/mL. The latter fraction was submitted to RP-HPLC, and 6 fractions were resolved that exhibited ACE-inhibitory effects. Among the various peptides found, a total of 14 were identified via sequencing with an ion-trap mass spectrometer. Eleven of these peptides were synthesized de novo--to validate their ACE-inhibitory effect, and also to ascertain their stability when exposed to simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Among them, three novel, highly potent peptides were found, corresponding to α-lactalbumin f(16-26)--with the sequence KGYGGVSLPEW, α-lactalbumin f(97-104) with DKVGINYW, and ß-lactoglobulin f(33-42) with DAQSAPLRVY; their IC(50) values were as low as 0.80 ± 0.1, 25.2 ± 1.0 and 13.0 ± 1.0 µg/mL, respectively. None of them remained stable in the presence of gastrointestinal enzymes: they were partially, or even totally hydrolyzed to smaller peptides--yet the observed ACE-inhibitory effects were not severely affected for two of those peptides.