Bioethanol lignin-rich residue from olive stones for electrospun nanostructures development and castor oil structuring.

This work describes the chemical and structural characterization of a lignin-rich residue from the bioethanol production of olive stones and its use for nanostructures development by electrospinning and castor oil structuring. The olive stones were treated by sequential acid/steam explosion pretreatment, further pre-saccharification using a hydrolytic enzyme, and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (PSSF). The chemical composition of olive stone lignin-rich residue (OSL) was evaluated by standard analytical methods, showing a high lignin content (81.3 %). Moreover, the structural properties were determined by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and size exclusion chromatography. OSL showed a predominance of ß-ß' resinol, followed by ß-O-4' alkyl aryl ethers and ß-5' phenylcoumaran substructures, high molecular weight, and low S/G ratio. Subsequently, electrospun nanostructures were obtained from solutions containing 20 wt% OSL and cellulose triacetate with variable weight ratios in N, N-Dimethylformamide/Acetone blends and characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Their morphologies were highly dependent on the rheological properties of polymeric solutions. Gel-like dispersions can be obtained by dispersing the electrospun OSL/CT bead nanofibers and uniform nanofiber mats in castor oil. The rheological properties were influenced by the membrane concentration and the OSL:CT weight ratio, as well as the morphology of the electrospun nanostructures.

Mapping of emerging contaminants in coastal waters research: A bibliometric analysis of research output during 1986-2022.

This bibliometric analysis provides the first overview of the literature on emerging contaminants in coastal waters. Bibexcel, Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer and the bibliometix R package software were used for bibliometric analysis and science mapping. 556 publications, published between 1986 and 2022, were retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) database. The results showed that this field of research follows Price's law of exponential growth and has exploded since 2001. Authors, journals and institutions followed Lotka's law, and Price's index (43.4 %) showed that the field is far from being obsolete. The most influential institution is the Chinese Academy of Sciences, while authors from China, USA, Japan and Singapore have the most publications and international co-authorships. The leading journal is Marine Pollution Bulletin, with a focus on Environmental Science WoS category. Hot research areas focus on risk assessment of PCBs, organochlorine compounds and personal care products in surface water and wastewater.

Osseointegration of Dental Implants in Patients with Congenital and Degenerative Bone Disorders: A Literature Review.

Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the mechanism of dental implants osseointegration in patients with congenital and degenerative genetic bone disorders. Materials and Methods: A PubMed and Scopus documents search was carried out between November 2021 in the, using words such as "osseointegration," "degenerative disease," "congenital disease," and "dental implants." Results: The thirteen articles selected dealt with dental implants osseointegration in patients with congenital and degenerative bone disorders. The influence and repercussion of these diseases on the bone system, as well as the osseointegration process were described from healing to bone remodeling. In addition, certain articles described some considerations to improve the osseointegration process in patients suffering from these types of conditions. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this literature review we can conclude that osseointegration in patients with ectodermal dysplasia and osteoporosis could be achieved. However, the planning process for dental implant placement in these patients should be more meticulous and individualized considering the degree of tissue involvement as well as the patient's age and skeletal development compared to systemically healthy patients.

Uncertainty and associated risks in the analysis of pesticides in homogeneous paprika samples.

In this study, risk estimation based on sampling and subsampling uncertainty was performed for pesticide analysis in homogeneous spice products such as paprika. The results of the subsampling were also used to estimate the minimum weight necessary in subsampling to minimize overall uncertainty. The results show that subsampling has more uncertainty than sampling in the product due to high homogeneity in the manufacturer's batch. On the other hand, results using the Monte Carlo (MC) simulation on the size of the subsample indicate that uncertainty is lower for weights between 20 and 30 g and increases for sample sizes of 100 g. A sample size of 30 g was used for saffron, and the values simulated with the MC method were confirmed.

Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy for the Treatment of Peri-implantitis: A Literature Review.

Aim: The aim of this article is to describe the existing scientific literature on photodynamic therapy (PDT) effectiveness for peri-implantitis treatment. Materials and Methods: A date-restricted electronic search strategy was performed in PubMed and Scopus databases. The following words were used: "peri-implant photodynamic therapy," "photodynamic therapy in implantology," "effectives of photodynamic therapy in peri-implantitis," "Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy," "Photodynamic Therapy for the treatment of peri-implantitis," and "Mechanical debridement and photodynamic therapy in implantology." Results: Of the 15 articles, 13 articles were selected, of which 11 were prospective and experimental studies and 2 were longitudinal. The PDT effectiveness of peri-implantitis inflammation treatment was the most reported and investigated. Conclusion: There is scientific evidence that may support the use of PDT for peri-implantitis treatments. However, even more studies would still be needed to have solid evidence.

Impact of hospital characteristics on implementation of a Pediatric Early Warning System in resource-limited cancer hospitals.

Background: Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) aid in identification of deterioration in hospitalized children with cancer but are underutilized in resource-limited settings. Proyecto EVAT is a multicenter quality improvement (QI) collaborative in Latin America to implement PEWS. This study investigates the relationship between hospital characteristics and time required for PEWS implementation. Methods: This convergent mixed-methods study included 23 Proyecto EVAT childhood cancer centers; 5 hospitals representing quick and slow implementers were selected for qualitative analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 71 stakeholders involved in PEWS implementation. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated to English, then coded using a priori and novel codes. Thematic content analysis explored the impact of hospital characteristics and QI experience on time required for PEWS implementation and was supplemented by quantitative analysis exploring the relationship between hospital characteristics and implementation time. Results: In both quantitative and qualitative analysis, material and human resources to support PEWS significantly impacted time to implementation. Lack of resources produced various obstacles that extended time necessary for centers to achieve successful implementation. Hospital characteristics, such as funding structure and type, influenced PEWS implementation time by determining their resource-availability. Prior hospital or implementation leader experience with QI, however, helped facilitate implementation by assisting implementers predict and overcome resource-related challenges. Conclusions: Hospital characteristics impact time required to implement PEWS in resource-limited childhood cancer centers; however, prior QI experience helps anticipate and adapt to resource challenges and more quickly implement PEWS. QI training should be a component of strategies to scale-up use of evidence-based interventions like PEWS in resource-limited settings.

PKD phosphorylation and COP9/Signalosome modulate intracellular Spry2 protein stability.

Spry2 is a molecular modulator of tyrosine kinase receptor signaling pathways that has cancer-type-specific effects. Mammalian Spry2 protein undergoes tyrosine and serine phosphorylation in response to growth factor stimulation. Spry2 expression is distinctly altered in various cancer types. Inhibition of the proteasome functionality results in reduced intracellular Spry2 degradation. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we show that protein kinase D (PKD) phosphorylates Spry2 at serine 112 and interacts in vivo with the C-terminal half of this protein. Importantly, missense mutation of Ser112 decreases the rate of Spry2 intracellular protein degradation. Either knocking down the expression of all three mammalian PKD isoforms or blocking their kinase activity with a specific inhibitor contributes to the stabilization of Spry2 wild-type protein. Downregulation of CSN3, a component of the COP9/Signalosome that binds PKD, significantly increases the half-life of Spry2 wild-type protein but does not affect the stability of a Spry2 after mutating Ser112 to the non-phosphorylatable residue alanine. Our data demonstrate that both PKD and the COP9/Signalosome play a significant role in control of Spry2 intracellular stability and support the consideration of the PKD/COP9 complex as a potential therapeutic target in tumors where Spry2 expression is reduced.

Contribution of critical doses of iprovalicarb, mepanipyrim and tetraconazole to the generation of volatile compounds from Monastrell-based wines.

The individual effects of iprovalicarb, mepanipyrim, and tetraconazole on the volatile composition and aromatic profile of Monastrell-based wines were evaluated. To date, no studies about the effect of these fungicides on Monastrell-based wines are available, and the effect on other grape varieties is also unknown. Fungicides were added separately in the cellar to the grape must at two concentration levels (4 and 10 mg/kg for iprovalicarb and mepanipyrim and 1 and 2.5 mg/kg for tetraconazole). The aromatic composition of the final wines was analysed by gas chromatography using flame ionisation and ion trap mass selective detectors. In the presence of fungicides, the most significant variations were observed for isoamyl acetate and 2-phenylethyl acetate (increasing between 20 and 43% compared with the control wine) and ethyl caprate and caprylate (increasing between 12 and 68%). Consequently, treated wines showed a higher global odourant intensity, with increased fresh fruit notes.

Securing access to a comprehensive diagnostic panel for children with suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Results from the Mexico in Alliance with St. Jude "Bridge Project".

Background: The "Bridge Project" is a Mexico in Alliance with St. Jude (MAS) initiative developed in 2019 to improve access, accuracy, and timeliness of specialized diagnostic studies for patients with suspected acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The project strategy relies on service centralization to improve service delivery, biological characterization, risk-group classification, and support proper treatment allocation. Methods: This is an ongoing prospective multisite intersectoral quality improvement (QI) project available to all patients 0-18 years of age presenting with suspected ALL to the 14 actively participating institutions in 12 Mexican states. Institutions send specimens to one centralized laboratory. From a clinical standpoint, the project secures access to a consensus-derived comprehensive diagnostic panel. From a service delivery standpoint, we assess equity, timeliness, effectiveness, and patient-centeredness. From an implementation science standpoint, we document feasibility, utility, and appropriateness of the diagnostic panel and centralized approach. This analysis spans from July 2019 to June 2023. Results: 612 patients have accessed the project. The median age was 6 years (IQR 3-11), and 53% were males. 94% of the specimens arrived within 48 hours, which documents the feasibility of the centralized model, and 100% of the patients received precise and timely diagnostic results, which documents the effectiveness of the approach. Of 505 (82.5%) patients with confirmed ALL, 463/505 (91.6%) had B-cell ALL, and 42/505 (8.3%) had T-cell ALL. High-hyperdiploidy was detected by DNA index in 36.6% and hypodiploidy in 1.6%. 76.6% of the patients had conclusive karyotype results. FISH studies showed t(12;21) in 15%, iAMP21 in 8.5%, t(1;19) in 7.5%, t(4;11) in 4.2%, t(9;22) in 3.2%, del(9)(p21) in 1.8%, and TRA/D (14)(q11.2) rearrangement in 2.4%. Among B-cell ALL patients, 344/403 (85.1%) had Day 15 MRD<1% and 261/305 (85.6%) Day 84 MRD<0.01. For T-cell ALL patients 20/28 (71.4%) had Day 29 MRD<0.01% and 19/22 (86.4%) Day 84 MRD<0.01%. Conclusions: By securing access to a standardized consensus-derived diagnostic panel, the Bridge Project has allowed better characterization of childhood ALL in Mexico while producing unprecedented service improvements and documenting key implementation outcomes. We are using these results to inform iterative changes to the diagnostic panel and an associated treatment guideline (MAS-ALL18).

Importancia del procesamiento de imágenes en radioterapia desde la perspectiva del análisis de riesgo

RESUMEN Fundamento: el procesamiento de imágenes es clave en la planificación de tratamientos de radioterapia con haces externos. En su ejecución pueden ocurrir errores humanos y fallos de equipos, que conllevan, entre otros efectos, a interpretaciones erróneas de imágenes diagnósticas, errores de contorneo de blancos, sobredosis a tejidos sanos o subdosis a tejidos tumorales, lo cual significa poner en riesgo a los pacientes sometidos a estas prácticas. Objetivo: caracterizar los riesgos asociados a los factores tecnológicos y humanos relacionados con el procesamiento de imágenes que pueden afectar a los pacientes sometidos a tratamientos de radioterapia con haces externos. Métodos: como base de estudio se empleó la práctica de radioterapia de intensidad modulada. Para caracterizar los iniciadores y las medidas de defensa relacionados con este procesamiento, se emplearon modelos de riesgo basados en análisis de modos y efectos de fallo y matriz de riesgo de la práctica de referencia, que fueron procesados con el software SECURE-MR-FMEA. Resultados: los análisis de sensibilidad sobre los modelos de radioterapia de intensidad modulada mostraron los efectos sobre el riesgo de los fallos asociados al procesamiento de imágenes. Conclusiones: se confirmó la importancia de aplicar el análisis de riesgo en el procesamiento de imágenes para elevar la seguridad de los pacientes durante los tratamientos de radioterapia con haces externos.

ABSTRACT Background: image processing is the key in planning external beam radiotherapy treatments. In its execution, human errors and equipment failures can occur, which lead, among other effects, to erroneous interpretations of diagnostic images, target contouring errors, overdose of healthy tissues or underdose of tumor tissues, which means putting patients at risk patients subjected to these practices. Objective: to characterize the risks associated with technological and human factors related to image processing that can affect patients undergoing radiotherapy treatments with external beams. Methods: intensity modulated radiotherapy was used as the basis of the study. To characterize the initiators and defense measures related to this processing, risk models were used based on analysis of failure modes and effects and the risk matrix of the reference practice, which were processed with the SECURE-MR-FMEA software. Results: the sensitivity analyzes on the intensity-modulated radiotherapy models showed the effects on the risk of failures associated with image processing. Conclusions: the importance of applying risk analysis in image processing to increase patient safety during external beam radiotherapy treatments was confirmed.

Oleuropein Degradation Kinetics in Olive Leaf and Its Aqueous Extracts.

Although olives leaves are currently considered a waste material from oil mills, they have great potential to be transformed into by-products due to their high oleuropein content. Oleuropein is a glycoside precursor of hydroxytyrosol, which is the phenolic compound with the highest antioxidant capacity in nature and which is associated with multiple health benefits. For this reason, the demand for oleuropein is growing in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food sectors. The objective of this study is to determine the stability of oleuropein in olive leaves from oil mills in solid and aqueous forms under different conditions of temperature, relative humidity and lighting. The results indicate that the degradation of oleuropein conforms well to first-order kinetics. The rate constants at the temperatures tested in the aqueous extracts indicate activation energies from RTl to 80 °C and from 7 °C to 14 °C, as the degradation reactions were different in these ranges. Furthermore, olive leaf powder stored at any temperature with an RH ≥ 57% showed greater stability after six months, which is an encouraging result for the storage and transformation of this waste in oil mills.

Heavy Metals and Trace Elements in Human Breast Milk from Industrial/Mining and Agricultural Zones of Southeastern Spain.

Human breast milk is the most complete foodstuff for infants but can also be a potential source of exposure to toxic chemicals. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of metal pollution in the breast milk of women living in agricultural and industrial/mining areas of the Region of Murcia (Spain) that are well known for their cases of environmental pollution. Human milk samples were collected from 50 mothers and inorganic contaminants were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The mean or maximum concentrations of the different inorganic elements analyzed in breast milk, with the exception of manganese, exceeded the maximum limits established by the WHO and could constitute a high risk for pregnant mothers and their children. The breast milk of women living in the industrial/mining zone presented the highest levels of aluminum, zinc, arsenic, lead, mercury and nickel. On the contrary, the highest concentrations of manganese, chromium and iron were determined in the milk of women living in the agricultural zone. These results suggested and confirmed different profiles of environmental contamination of these areas.

Opciones terapéuticas contra el Covid-19 / Therapeutic options against Covid-19

Este documento tiene como objetivo presentar la evidencia disponible sobre las opciones terapeutas contra el Covid-19. Se presentan 2 Tablas, la primera resume la descripción de cada medicamento y la conclusión con respecto a su uso como tratamiento contra el SARS-Covid-2, de acuerdo con la evidencia disponible al momento y en la segunda tabla se muestra esta evidencia

This document aims to present the available evidence on the therapeutic options against Covid-19. Two tables are presented, the first one summarizes the description of each drug and the conclusion regarding its use as a treatment against SARS-Covid-2, according to the evidence available at the time and the second table shows this evidence

Analysis of Intact Glycosidic Aroma Precursors in Grapes by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with a Diode Array Detector.

Nowadays, the techniques for the analysis of glycosidic precursors in grapes involve changes in the glycoside structure or it is necessary the use of very expensive analytical techniques. In this study, we describe for the first time an approach to analyse intact glycosidic aroma precursors in grapes by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD), a simple and cheap analytical technique that could be used in wineries. Briefly, the skin of Muscat of Alexandria grapes was extracted using a microwave and purified using solid-phase extraction combining Oasis MCX and LiChrolut EN cartridges. In total, 20 compounds were selected by HPLC-DAD at 195 nm and taking as a reference the spectrum of phenyl ß-D-glucopyranoside, whose DAD spectrum showed a first shoulder from 190 to 230 nm and a second around 200-360 nm. After that, these glycosidic compounds were identified by High-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-qTOF-MS). Disaccharides hexose pentose were the most abundant group observed with respect to the sugars and monoterpendiols the main aglycones found.

EGFR-targeting antitumor therapy: Neuregulins or antibodies?

Malignancies such as lung, breast and pancreatic carcinomas are associated with increased expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR, and its role in the pathogenesis and progression of tumors has made this receptor a prime target in the development of antitumor therapies. In therapies targeting EGFR, the development of resistance owing to mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms, and the expression of the receptor ligands themselves are very serious issues. In this work, both the ligand neuregulin and a bispecific antibody fragment to EGFR are conjugated separately or together to the same drug-delivery system to find the most promising candidate. Camptothecin is used as a model chemotherapeutic drug and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as a delivery system. Results show that the lowest LD50 is achieved by formulations conjugated to both the antibody and the ligand, demonstrating a synergy. Additionally, the ligand location in the nucleus favors the antitumor activity of Camptothecin. The high loading capacity and efficiency convert these systems into a good alternative for administering Camptothecin, a drug whose use is otherwise severely limited by its chemical instability and poor solubility. Our choice of targeting agents allows treating tumors that express ErbB2 (Her2+ tumors) as well as Her2- tumors expressing EGFR.

CCHD Screening Implementation Efforts in Latin American Countries by the Ibero American Society of Neonatology (SIBEN).

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is among the four most common causes of infant mortality in Latin America. Pulse oximetry screening (POS) is useful for early diagnosis and improved outcomes of critical CHD. Here, we describe POS implementation efforts in Latin American countries guided and/or coordinated by the Ibero American Society of Neonatology (SIBEN), as well as the unique challenges that are faced for universal implementation. SIBEN collaborates to improve the neonatal quality of care and outcomes. A few years ago, a Clinical Consensus on POS was finalized. Since then, we have participated in 12 Latin American countries to educate neonatal nurses and neonatologists on POS and to help with its implementation. The findings reveal that despite wide disparities in care that exist between and within countries, and the difficulties and challenges in implementing POS, significant progress has been made. We conclude that universal POS is not easy to implement in Latin America but, when executed, has not only been of significant value for babies with CHD, but also for many with other hypoxemic conditions. The successful and universal implementation of POS in the future is essential for reducing the mortality associated with CHD and other hypoxemic conditions and will ultimately lead to the survival of many more Latin American babies. POS saves newborns' lives in Latin America.

Determination of pesticide residues in edible snails with QuEChERS coupled to GC-MS/MS.

A QuEChERS multi-residue GC-MS/MS method was developed for determining 160 pesticides in fresh edible snails. The method was validated according to the EU guidance SANTE/12682/2019. Twenty-seven different pesticides were quantified in the 824 samples analysed. Of these, 22.09% contained pesticide residues; in one case six different pesticides. The most frequently quantified pesticides were chlorpyrifos (108 samples), cypermethrin (50), difenoconazole (24), oxyfluorfen (13), lambda-cyhalothrin (12), tetraconazole and azoxystrobin (7). Other pesticides were found in <5 samples. Of the samples containing residues, 154 exceeded the EU legal limit. However, the estimated daily intake of pesticide residues showed that snail consumption does not represent appreciable risks to consumer health.

Science production of pesticide residues in honey research: A descriptive bibliometric study.

This work aims to provide a comprehensive study of the available research information on pesticide residues in honey through literature analysis. The research advancements within this research field from 1948 to 2019 are addressed using the Web of Science database. The results from the 685 articles analyzed indicate that this research field is in the focus of interest nowadays (Price index: 47.5%). The yearly production increased steadily from 2001 on, and authors, journals, and institutions followed Lotka's law. On the other hand, Pico, Y (Spain) (2.5%), Journal of Chromatography A (5.8%), the USA (15.0%) and Agricultural Research Service (USA) (4.0%) were the most productive author, journal, country and institution, respectively. The research hotspots of this field, according to keyword analysis, are related to the chromatographic techniques for the determination of pesticides such as imidacloprid, neonicotinoids, or coumaphos in honey and derivate products such as propolis and wax.

Characterization and comparison of Ti/TiO2-NT/SnO2-SbBi, Ti/SnO2-SbBi and BDD anode for the removal of persistent iodinated contrast media (ICM).

In this study, we investigated the impact of a TiO2 nanotube (NT) interlayer on the electrochemical performance and service life of Sb and Bi-doped SnO2-coatings synthesized on a titanium mesh. Ti/SnO2-SbBi electrode was synthetized by a thermal decomposition method using ionic liquid as a precursor solvent. Ti/TiO2-NT/SnO2-SbBi electrode was obtained by a two-step electrochemical anodization, followed by the same process of thermal decomposition. The synthesized electrodes were electrochemically characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Terephthalic acid (TA) experiments showed that Ti/SnO2-SbBi and Ti/TiO2-NT/SnO2-SbBi electrodes formed somewhat higher amounts of hydroxyl radicals (HO) compared with the mesh boron doped diamond (BDD) anode. Electrochemical oxidation experiments were performed using iodinated contrast media (ICM) as model organic contaminants persistent to oxidation. At current density of 50 A m-2, BDD clearly outperformed the synthesized mixed metal oxide (MMO) electrodes, with 2 to 3-fold higher oxidation rates observed for ICM. However, at 100 and 150 A m-2, Ti/SnO2-SbBi had similar performance to BDD, whereas Ti/TiO2-NT/SnO2-SbBi yielded even higher oxidation rates. Disappearance of the target ICM was followed by up to 80% removal of adsorbable organic iodide (AOI) for all three materials, further demonstrating iodine cleavage and thus oxidative degradation of ICM mediated by HO. The presence of a TiO2 NT interlayer yielded nearly 4-fold increase in anode stability and dislocated the oxygen evolution reaction by +0.2 V. Thus, TiO2 NT interlayer enhanced electrode stability and service life, and the electrocatalytic activity for the degradation of persistent organic contaminants.