Preparation and characterization of cellulose fibers from Meghatyrsus maximus: Applications in its chemical derivatives.

Non-wood lignocellulosic fibers have emerged and are becoming increasingly important as an alternative source of cellulose for derivatives, functional materials, and biofuels. This work aimed, to obtain cellulose from Meghatyrsus maximus grass with adequate properties through an alkaline delignification and alkaline hydrogen peroxide bleaching. Meghatyrsus maximus was chemically characterized as lignocellulosic biomass, which consisted of 45.0 %, cellulose, 35.0 % hemicellulose, and 20.0 % lignin. The obtained cellulose was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The alpha-cellulose content was 98.50 % with a crystallinity of 61.0 %. The morphological study by scanning electron microscopy images indicates a clean surface and removal of non-cellulosic components present in the initial raw fibers. These results showed that high-quality cellulose was obtained and is comparable to a commercial alpha-cellulose, highlighting Meghatyrsus maximus as an alternative source of lignocellulosic fibers.

Economic costs of severe seasonal influenza in Colombia, 2017-2019: A multi-center analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic burden of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) in lab-confirmed influenza patients from a low-income country setting such as Colombia. METHODS: A bottom-up costing analysis, from both third payer and social perspectives, was conducted. Direct costs of care were based on the review of 227 clinical records of lab-confirmed influenza inpatients in six facilities from three main Colombian cities. Resources were categorized as: length of stay (LOS), diagnostic and laboratory tests, medications, consultation, procedures, and supplies. A survey was designed to estimate out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) and indirect costs covered by patients and their families. Cost per patient was estimated with the frequency of use and prices of activities, calculating median and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) with bootstrapping. Total costs are expressed as the sum of direct medical costs, OOPE and indirect costs in 2018 US dollars. RESULTS: The media direct medical cost per SARI lab-confirmed influenza patient was US$ 700 (95% CI US$ 552-809). Diagnostic and laboratory tests correspond to the highest cost per patient (37%). Median OOPE and indirect costs per patient was US$ 147 (95% CI US$ 94-202), with the highest costs for caregiver expenses (27%). Total costs were US$ 848 (95% CI US$ 646-1,011), OOPE and indirect costs corresponded to 17.4% of the total. The median of direct medical costs per patient was three times higher in elderly patients. CONCLUSION: SARI influenza costs impose a high economic burden on patients and their families. The results highlight the importance of strengthening preventive strategies nationwide in the age groups with higher occurrence and incurred health costs.

Quantitative Subcellular Proteomics of the Orbitofrontal Cortex of Schizophrenia Patients.

Schizophrenia is a chronic disease characterized by the impairment of mental functions with a marked social dysfunction. A quantitative proteomic approach using iTRAQ labeling and SRM, applied to the characterization of mitochondria (MIT), crude nuclear fraction (NUC), and cytoplasm (CYT), can allow the observation of dynamic changes in cell compartments providing valuable insights concerning schizophrenia physiopathology. Mass spectrometry analyses of the orbitofrontal cortex from 12 schizophrenia patients and 8 healthy controls identified 655 protein groups in the MIT fraction, 1500 in NUC, and 1591 in CYT. We found 166 groups of proteins dysregulated among all enriched cellular fractions. Through the quantitative proteomic analysis, we detect as the main biological pathways those related to calcium and glutamate imbalance, cell signaling disruption of CREB activation, axon guidance, and proteins involved in the activation of NF-kB signaling along with the increase of complement protein C3. Based on our data analysis, we suggest the activation of NF-kB as a possible pathway that links the deregulation of glutamate, calcium, apoptosis, and the activation of the immune system in schizophrenia patients. All MS data are available in the ProteomeXchange Repository under the identifier PXD015356 and PXD014350.

Efecto de los procesos de congelación y descongelación sobre los almidones en un alimento a base de maíz / Effect of the freezing and thawing processes on starches in a corn-based food

RESUMEN Se decidió estudiar el efecto que la cocción y el congelamiento sucesivos tiene sobre contenido de almidones y el índice glicémico (IG) de un alimento a base de harina de maíz (bollo). Se elaboró el alimento y se sometió congelamiento y cocción un par de veces. El contenido de almidones se comparó con el de la harina de maíz pre-cocida y se encontraron diferencias significativas (F = 5,84; p = 0,005), con un incremento importante del contenido de almidón resistente debido a los tratamientos térmicos. Se elaboraron curvas de glicemia a una muestra de individuos sanos, a los que se dio a consumir el alimento sometido a los diferentes tratamientos y pan integral. Se encontraron diferencias significativas (F= 4,21; p= 0,034) y un IG de 67,9 para el bollo sometido a tres procesos de cocción y dos congelamientos. Indicativo de que los procesos térmicos provocaron la aparición de una proporción de almidón retrogradado equivalente a fibra dietética que puede ser beneficioso para el organismo.

ABSTRACT We studied the effect that subsequent cooking and freezing has on the starch content and the glycemic index (GI) of a corn flour-based food (bun). The food was made and exposed to cooking and freezing a couple of times. The starch content was compared with that of precooked corn flour and significant differences were found (F = 5.84; p = 0.005), with an important increase in the retrograded starch content due to thermic treatments. Glycemic response curves were conducted for a sample of healthy individuals, who consumed the food submitted to the treatments and wholegrain bread. Significant differences were found (F = 4.21; p= 0.034) and a GI of 67.9 for the bun submitted to three cooking and two freezing processes. Results suggest that the thermic treatments induced the appearance of a retrograded starch proportion equivalent to dietary fiber which could be beneficial for the body.

Synaptosomal Proteome of the Orbitofrontal Cortex from Schizophrenia Patients Using Quantitative Label-Free and iTRAQ-Based Shotgun Proteomics.

Schizophrenia is a chronic and incurable neuropsychiatric disorder that affects about one percent of the world population. The proteomic characterization of the synaptosome fraction of the orbitofrontal cortex is useful for providing valuable information about the molecular mechanisms of synaptic functions in these patients. Quantitative analyses of synaptic proteins were made with eight paranoid schizophrenia patients and a pool of eight healthy controls free of mental diseases. Label-free and iTRAQ labeling identified a total of 2018 protein groups. Statistical analyses revealed 12 and 55 significantly dysregulated proteins by iTRAQ and label-free, respectively. Quantitative proteome analyses showed an imbalance in the calcium signaling pathway and proteins such as reticulon-1 and cytochrome c, related to endoplasmic reticulum stress and programmed cell death. Also, it was found that there is a significant increase in limbic-system-associated membrane protein and α-calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, associated with the regulation of human behavior. Our data contribute to a better understanding about apoptosis as a possible pathophysiological mechanism of this disease as well as neural systems supporting social behavior in schizophrenia. This study also is a joint effort of the Chr 15 C-HPP team and the Human Brain Proteome Project of B/D-HPP. All MS proteomics data are deposited in the ProteomeXchange Repository under PXD006798.