Integrated management of residues from tomato production: Recovery of value-added compounds and biogas production in the biorefinery context.

The biorefinery approach must be boosted in the management of agro-residues in the future. The present study aims to investigate the valorization of tomato production residues, namely rotten tomato (unfit for consumption - RT), green tomato (GT), and tomato branches (TB). The assessment involves the recovery of value-added compounds through the extraction process followed by biogas production through anaerobic digestion. A thorough characterization of the three residues (RT, GT, and TB) was carried out, including the identification of volatile compounds by solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The volatiles analysis revealed the presence of flavor enhancer compounds and molecules with insecticidal properties. A solid-liquid extraction with ethanol allowed the recovery of value-added compounds in the extracts, in particular phenolic compounds, ß-carotene, and lycopene, which contributed to the antioxidant activity. RT and TB extracts were found to be richer in total phenolic compounds (~27 mg GAE/gdb dry basis) and exhibited higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.911 and 0.745 mg/mL). The tomato branches extract had the highest concentration of carotenoids with 37.23 and 3.08 mg/kgdb of ß-carotene and lycopene, respectively. The biochemical methane potential (BMP) was assessed in sealed reactors operating in anaerobic conditions for all the raw (RT, GT, and TB) and extracted substrates waste (RTe, GTe, and TBe). While the BMP of RT and GT was in the range of 232-285 mL CH4/g VS, a lower value of 141 mL CH4/g VS was obtained for TB. The methane production for each pair of raw and extracted substrates (RT/RTe, GT/GTe, and TB/TBe) was considered statistically similar at a 95 % confidence level. Overall, the value-added compounds recovery through ethanolic extraction did not compromise the methane production of the materials.

Toxicity of the bionematicide 1,4-naphthoquinone on non-target soil organisms.

The main goal of the present study was to evaluate the ecotoxicological effects of 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NTQ), a natural-origin compound presenting nematicidal activity, that can be obtained from walnut husk, in plants and soil invertebrates, including non-target soil nematode communities. This research was part of an ongoing project that aims to develop environmentally-friendly nematicides obtained from agricultural residues. The battery of ISO tests included emergence and growth of corn (Zea mays) and rape (Brassica napus); avoidance with the earthworm Eisenia andrei and the collembolan Folsomia candida; and reproduction with the previous species plus the enchytraeid Enchytraeus crypticus. A novel soil nematode community assay was also performed. ISO tests and nematode assays were conducted using a natural uncontaminated soil that was spiked with a range of 1,4-NTQ concentrations. Toxicity of 1,4-NTQ was found for all test-species and the most sensitive were F. candida and E. andrei. After 7 days of exposure to 1,4-NTQ, nematode abundance decreased along the concentration gradient, and a partial recovery was observed after 14 days (1,4-NTQ <48 mg kg-1 soil). The number of nematode families consistently decreased in both periods. Overall, results indicate that a 1,4-NTQ concentration of <20 mg kg-1 could be environmentally safe but preliminary data suggest that it might be ineffective for the target-nematodes, root-knot nematodes, Meloidogyne spp., and root-lesion nematodes, Pratylenchus spp. In addition, if higher dosages of 1,4-NTQ bionematicide are necessary, the potential recovery of non-target organisms under real field scenarios also needs to be assessed.

Multifactor analysis on the effect of collagen concentration, cross-linking and fiber/pore orientation on chemical, microstructural, mechanical and biological properties of collagen type I scaffolds.

This work evaluates the effect of processing variables on some physicochemical and mechanical properties of multi- and unidirectional laminar collagen type I scaffolds. The processing variables considered in this study included microstructure orientation (uni- and multidirectional fiber/pore controlled by freeze-drying methodology), cross-linking (chemical - using genipin and glutaraldehyde, and physical - using a dehydrothermal method), and collagen concentration (2, 5 and 8mg/ml). The biocompatibility of the scaffolds obtained in each of the evaluated manufacturing processes was also assessed. Despite previous research on collagen-based platforms, the effects that these processing variables have on the properties of collagen scaffolds are still not completely understood. Unidirectional scaffolds presented higher resistance to failure under stress than multidirectional ones. The cross-linking degree was found to decrease when the concentration of collagen increased whilst using chemical cross-linkers, and to increase with the concentration of collagen for the dehydrothermal cross-linked scaffolds. Pore orientation indexes of both unidirectional and multidirectional scaffolds were not influenced by collagen concentration. Cross-linked scaffolds were more hydrophobic than non-cross-linked ones, and presented water vapor permeability adequate for use in low-to-moderate exuding wounds. Pore size ranges were compatible with cell in-growth, independently of the employed cross-linking and freezing methodologies. Moreover, scaffolds cross-linked with glutaraldehyde presented higher in-growth of primary oral mucosa fibroblasts than those cross-linked with genipin or with the dehydrothermal treatment. This multi-factor analysis is expected to contribute to the design of collagen type I platforms, which are usable on several potential soft tissue-engineering applications.

Dexamethasone-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)/silica nanoparticles composites prepared by supercritical CO2 foaming/mixing and deposition.

A supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2)-assisted foaming/mixing method (SFM) was implemented for preparing dexamethasone (DXMT)-loaded poly(ε-caprolactone)/silica nanoparticles (PCL/SNPs) composite materials suitable for bone regeneration. The composites were prepared from PCL and mesoporous SNPs (MCM-41/SBA-15) by means of scCO2-assisted SFM at several operational pressures, processing times and depressurization conditions. DXMT was loaded into SNPs (applying a scCO2 solvent impregnation/deposition method - SSID) and into PCL/SNPs composites (using the SFM method). The effects of the employed operational and compositional variables on the physicochemical and morphological features as well as in the in vitro release profiles of DXMT were analyzed in detail. This work demonstrates that the above-referred scCO2-based methods can be very useful for the preparation of DXMT-loaded PCL/SNPs composites with tunable physicochemical, thermomechanical, morphological and drug release properties and suitable for hard-tissue regeneration applications.

Development of natural-based wound dressings impregnated with bioactive compounds and using supercritical carbon dioxide.

Film- and foam-like structures of N-carboxybutylchitosan (CBC) and of agarose (AGA) were prepared and characterized in order to evaluate their potential application as topical membrane-type wound dressing materials, mostly regarding their sustained release capacities and fluid handling properties. Polymeric biomaterials were loaded with two natural-origin bioactive compounds (quercetin and thymol, which present anti-inflammatory and anaesthetic properties, respectively), separately or as a mixture of these two substances, and using a supercritical solvent impregnation (SSI) method. Impregnation experiments were carried out with supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) at 10 and 20 MPa, and at 303 and 323 K. Ethanol (10%, v/v) was employed as a co-solvent whenever quercetin was used. Release kinetic studies were performed for all prepared systems and the obtained results showed that higher amounts of quercetin and/or thymol were loaded when higher pressures and temperatures were employed. Results showed that the separated and the simultaneous SSI loading of these two bioactive substances into CBC and AGA is a feasible and advantageous process and that the relative loaded amounts of these substances can be "tuned" simply by changing the operational pressure-temperature conditions. Quercetin presented more sustained release profiles which can be justified by its higher molecular volume and by its lower water solubility as well as by the specific favourable interactions that can be established between quercetin and CBC. Obtained results showed that the employed SSI process also promoted the size reduction of loaded quercetin particles which can significantly improve the solubility of this compound in aqueous solutions. In addition, prepared systems presented adequate water sorption and water vapor sorption capacities as well as water vapor transmission rates that were in the typical and desired ranges for commercial wound dressings.

Historia del tratamiento de la Sífilis / The history of Syphilis´ treatment

El nombre sífilis proviene del griego siph: cerdo y philus: amor. Recuerda al personaje de una obra, llamado Syphilo, que fue castigado por los dioses a sufrir una terrible enfermedad. Se analizan los datos sobre la sífilis en la antigüedad (que difieren según su fuente). Su mención en la Edad Media, su controversial origen, la ayuda de los paleopatólogos para encontrarlo. Luego de la Revolución Francesa y el inicio de la Edad Contemporánea, el porcentaje de enfermos fue creciendo y se acentuó la segregación de los mismos por la sociedad. Desde el año 1500 hasta principios del siglo XX el tratamiento de la sífilis dependía del mercurio. Tenía una gran variedad de formas de aplicación. La vía tópica: el ungüento gris, en calomelano o tabletas, en inyecciones, en fricciones y fumigaciones en donde el mercurio se introducía en el cuerpo por lo pulmones. Se adjudicó a la madera del guayaco pretendidas características curativas, que no poseía. Los ioduros se utilizaron para el terciarismo. Ehrlich en 1907, patentó el compuesto 606 o Salvarsan y en 1910, el Neo-Salvarsan o Arsfenamina (compuesto 914). Por estos descubrimientos recibió el Premio Nobel. En 1887, Julios Wagner Jauregg sugirió que la fiebre terapéuticamente inducida era útil en el tratamiento de enfermos psicóticos. En 1912 publicó sus satisfactorios resultados al tratar la paresias con una combinación de mercurio-iodo y tuberculina de Koch. En 1917 ingresó a su servicio un enfermo de malaria, con cuya sangre escarificaron la piel palúdica de tres paréticos, en lugar de darle inmediatamente quinina. Por ello fue galardona con el Premio Nobel. Se utilizó luego el bismuto, a partir de 1922, pero posteriormente fue sustituido por las sulfamidas, de aplicación dificultosa. El avance terapéutico más importante ocurrió en 1943, año en que se comenzó a utilizar la penicilina por Mahoney y colaboradores. Luego se confirmó la eficacia de la tetraciclina para los alérgicos a la penicilina. Últimamente se confirmó la eficacia de la azitromicina en dosis de 500mg cada día, durante los 10 días o el régimen de 500mg en días alternos.

The name Syphilis comes from greek language: Siph: Pig and Philus: Love, meaning, in honor of the Sheppard of a story where the Character, Named Syphilo, is punished by the gods to suffer a terrible disease. Data about Syphilis was analized in ancient times (which differ according to the source). Its mention in the middle age, its controversial origin, the help provided from paleopathologists to find it. When the French revolution and the beginning of the contemporary age began, the percentage of sick people grew. The segregation of these is proved by the society. From the year 1500 to the beginnings of the XX century, the treatment of Syphilis depended on mercury. There were a great variety of application methods: topical: the grey ointment, in «calomelanos or tabs¼, in injections, in frictions and fumigations where the mercury was introduced in the body by the lungs. Guayacos wood was named with curative features which it did not posses. The iodides were used for tertiary syphilis. In 1907, Ehrlich formulates the 606 compound or Salvarsan and in 1910 the Neo-Salvarsan or Arsfenamina or compound 914.Due to these discoveries he received the nobel prize. In 1887, Julius Wagner of Jauregg suggested that: the inducted therapeutic fiber was useful in the treatment of the psychosis. In 1912 he published his satisfactory results in treating the paresis with a combination of mercury and iodides and tuberculin of Koch. In 1917 he treated a patient who had malaria and instead of giving him immediately quinine, he made a scarification with his paludic blood the skin of 3 paretic patients. Because of this he was awarded with the nobel prize. Since 1922 bismuth was used, but then it was substituted by the sulphamidas of difficult application. The most important therapeutical advance happened in 1943, year in which penicillin was put in use by Mahoney and col. Later it was confirmed the efficiency of the tetracycline for the penicillin-allergic patients. Lately it has been confirmed the efficiency of the azithromizine in 500 mg dosis each day during 10 days or the regimen of 500 mg in alternate days.

Lesiones cutáneas producidas por citomegalovirus / Cutaneous manifestations of cytomegalovirus

El citomegalovirus pertenece a la familia de los Herpes virus. En este artículo se revisan las manifestaciones cutáneas por citomegalovirus en el huésped inmunocomprometido y en el inmunocompetente, la infección congénita y los síndromes pediátricos. Esta era de transplantes y de síndromes de inmunodeficiencia adquirida ha forzado a los médicos a tener más en cuenta las infecciones por citomegalovirus. Se necesitan más investigaciones para explicar la relación entre CMV y alopecía areata

Lesiones cutáneas producidas por citomegalovirus / Cutaneous manifestations of cytomegalovirus

El citomegalovirus pertenece a la familia de los Herpes virus. En este artículo se revisan las manifestaciones cutáneas por citomegalovirus en el huésped inmunocomprometido y en el inmunocompetente, la infección congénita y los síndromes pediátricos. Esta era de transplantes y de síndromes de inmunodeficiencia adquirida ha forzado a los médicos a tener más en cuenta las infecciones por citomegalovirus. Se necesitan más investigaciones para explicar la relación entre CMV y alopecía areata

[Evaluation of 3 therapeutic schedules with N-methyl-glucamine antimonate in the treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Para, Brazil]. / Avaliação de três esquemas terapêuticos com o antimoniato de N-metil-glucamina no tratamento da leishmaniose visceral no estado do Pará, Brasil.

We have evaluated, in a retrospective manner, three chemotherapeutic schemes with meglumine antomoniate (Glucantime) use in the treatment of 43 autochthonous cases of visceral leishmaniasis in children in the age-group of 1-12 years old, during the period 1985-1990. Of the 43 cases, 28 (group A) were treated with 40mg/SbV/kg given IV at intervals of 48 hours, in courses of 15 applications (scheme I); 8 (group B) were treated with 40 mg/SbV/kg given IV daily during 15 days (scheme II), and 7 (group C) were treated with 20 mg/SbV/kg given IV daily during 15 days (scheme III). With the criteria for cure based essentially on clinical examination, we admitted that the scheme III would be the preferred for these reasons: a) it produces the same cure-rate as those schemes which use double this dosage, b) in relation to positive results it is less expensive, c) the scheme can be used for more extended periods, with less risk of toxic effects, and d) there has till now been no evidence of the development of resistance to treatment using this scheme, at least in our particular area of study (Pará).

Dermatoficia por microsporum canis en un recién nacido / A case of tinea by microsporum canis in a newborn

Se comunica el caso de un recién nacido que presentó una dermatoficia por microsporum canis en el cuero cabelludo. Se observaron múltiples lesiones eritematoanulares que se agrupan en las áreas parietotemporales. El niño había tenido contacto con felinos una semana antes de la consulta. Se realizó tratamiento tópico con buen resultado. Se ha registrado un incremento en la frecuencia de las microsporias y el gato es el agente trasmisor más importante

Dermatoficia por microsporum canis en un recién nacido / A case of tinea by microsporum canis in a newborn

Se comunica el caso de un recién nacido que presentó una dermatoficia por microsporum canis en el cuero cabelludo. Se observaron múltiples lesiones eritematoanulares que se agrupan en las áreas parietotemporales. El niño había tenido contacto con felinos una semana antes de la consulta. Se realizó tratamiento tópico con buen resultado. Se ha registrado un incremento en la frecuencia de las microsporias y el gato es el agente trasmisor más importante