Phycobiliprotein from Arthrospira maxima: Conversion to nanoparticles by high-energy ball milling, structural characterization, and evaluation of their anti-inflammatory effect.

Arthrospira maxima is a source of phycobiliproteins with different nutraceutical properties, e.g. antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The current study was aimed at the elaboration, characterization, and evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of the phycobiliprotein nanoparticles extracted from Arthrospira maxima. Previously freeze-dried phycobiliproteins were milled by high-energy ball milling until reaching a nanometric size (optimal time: 4 h). Microscopy techniques were used for the characterization of the size and morphology of phycobiliproteins nanoparticles. Additionally, a spectroscopic study evidenced that nanosized reduction induced an increase in the chemical functional groups associated with its anti-inflammatory activity that was tested in a murine model, showing an immediate inflammatory effect. The novelty and importance of this contribution was to demonstrate that high energy ball milling is an emerging and green technology that can produce phycobiliprotein nanoparticles on a large-scale, without the use of organic solvents, to test their nutraceutical properties in a biological model by intragastric administration.

[The effect of nutrition on bone marrow transplantation]. / Influencia de la nutrición en el trasplante de médula ósea.

Malnutrition alone may provoke considerable immune alterations, mainly in the immunocellular function, and in particular in the T lymphocyte and macrophage-monocytic function. This gives rise to an increase in proneness to infections, which in patients subjected to bone marrow transplants, will be increased by the intense neutropenia suffered by them. This study shows the greater incidence of infection among badly nourished patients compared to nourished patients. It was also observed that short bouts of high temperature mainly occurred in a subgroup of patients with an acceptable nutritional level, which in our opinion was the cause for none of them developing the infectious illness. Finally, one of the germs most often found in these patients is Staphylococcus epidermis, and the most common method of entry is through the catheters used in the administration of medicines and artificial nutrition. Emphasis is placed on the role played by nursing in preventing this type of infection.