Optimization of a Microencapsulation Process Using Oil-in-Water (O/W) Emulsion to Increase Thermal Stability of Sulforaphane.

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a bioactive compound widely studied for its potential applications in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and food industries since it offers health benefits due to its nature as a Phase 2 enzyme inducer. Its application in the food industry has been limited because SFN is unstable at high temperatures in an aqueous milieu. An option to increase SFN stability and protect it from thermal degradation is microencapsulation. The aim of this work was to optimize a microencapsulation process using oil-in-water emulsion to increase the thermal stability of SFN. The operation conditions that gave the highest entrapment efficiency were determined via experimental design and response surface methodology. Thermal degradation of microencapsulated SFN was studied at 37, 50, 60, and 70 °C. The optimum microencapsulation conditions were 8 min stirring, SFN/Gum Arabic ratio of 0.82, and surfactant/oil ratio of 1.0, resulting in an entrapment efficiency of 65%, which is the highest reported so far. The thermal stability of microencapsulated SFN was greatly enhanced compared with free SFN, with a 6-fold decrease in the degradation kinetic constant and a 41% increase in the activation energy. These results will contribute to a more efficient incorporation of SFN in various food matrices and explore new microencapsulation technologies to maximize the efficiency and stability of SFN.

Maximization of Sulforaphane Content in Broccoli Sprouts by Blanching.

Broccoli sprouts are a recognized source of health-promoting compounds, such as glucosinolates, glucoraphanin, and sulforaphane (SFN). Maximization of SFN content can be achieved by technological processing. We investigated the effect of blanching conditions to determine the optimal treatment that maximizes sulforaphane content in broccoli sprouts. Broccoli seeds (cv. Traditional) grown under controlled conditions were harvested after 11 days from germination and subjected to different blanching conditions based on a central composite design with temperature and time as experimental factors. Results were analyzed by ANOVA followed by a Tukey test. The optimum conditions were identified through response surface methodology. Blanching increased sulforaphane content compared with untreated sprouts, agreeing with a decrease in total glucosinolates and glucoraphanin content. Temperature significantly affected SFN content. Higher temperatures and shorter immersion times favor glucoraphanin hydrolysis, thus increasing SFN content. The optimum conditions were blanching at 61 °C for 4.8 min, resulting in 54.3 ± 0.20 µmol SFN/g dry weight, representing a 3.3-fold increase with respect to untreated sprouts. This is the highest SFN content reported for sprouts subjected to any treatment so far. The process described in this work may contribute to developing functional foods and nutraceuticals that provide sulforaphane as an active principle.

Insights about stabilization of sulforaphane through microencapsulation.

The health-promoting properties of sulforaphane (SFN) are well known, however its instability is still a hurdle for its incorporation into food matrices. SFN can be stabilized by microencapsulation, technique sparingly explored for isothiocyanates so far. This review summarizes the advances in microencapsulation of SFN and other isothiocyanates. Encapsulation efficiency and degradation rate of sulforaphane in different systems are compared and discussed. Ionic gelation and complex coacervation seem more adequate for SFN, both underexplored until now. Drying conditions after chemical encapsulation are determinant, most likely related to thermal degradation of SFN. The current information is insufficient to identify the most adequate encapsulation system and the optimal process conditions to stabilize SFN aiming at its incorporation into food matrices. Accordingly, encapsulation conditions should be investigated, which arises as a new research line. Stability studies are encouraged since this information will help in designing SFN microencapsulation strategies that extend the industrial application of this promising health-promoting compound.

Estrategia metodológica para el desarrollo del pensamiento a través de los niveles de lectura / Methodological strategy for the development of thought through the reading levels

Se efectuó una investigación cuantitativa y cualitativa, descriptiva y transversal, de estudiantes y docentes del octavo, noveno y décimo años de Educación General Básica Superior en la Unidad Educativa Particular Cinco de Mayo de la ciudad de Chone, Ecuador, de enero a junio del 2014, con vistas a elaborar una estrategia metodológica para el desarrollo del pensamiento en ellos, sobre la base de la aplicación de los 6 niveles de lectura. En la serie se obtuvo que la minoría de los estudiantes poseyeran desarrollo de las destrezas lectoras, comprendían con facilidad los textos y su idea principal y leían un escrito tantas veces como fuera necesario hasta entenderlo. Con la aplicación de esta estrategia metodológica se pretende que el alumno realice una lectura inteligente, crítica y creadora, de manera que se desarrolle su pensamiento y así se propicie una mejoría en su modo de actuación(AU)

A quantitative and qualitative, descriptive and cross-sectional investigation of students and teaching staff at eighth, ninth and tenth years from the Higher Basic General Education in the Particular Educational Unit in Chone city, Ecuador, was carried out from January to June, 2014, with the aim of elaborating a methodological strategy for the development of thought in them, on the base of the use of the 6 reading levels. In the series it was obtained that the minority of the students possessed development of the reading skills, they understood the texts with easiness and their main ideas, and they read a writing as many times as necessary, until understanding it. With the use of this methodological strategy it is intended that the student carries out an intelligent, critical and creative reading, so as to develop his thought, and an improvement is propitiated in his way of performing(AU)

Estrategia metodológica para el desarrollo del pensamiento a través de los niveles de lectura / Methodological strategy for the development of thought through the reading levels

Se efectuó una investigación cuantitativa y cualitativa, descriptiva y transversal, de estudiantes y docentes del octavo, noveno y décimo años de Educación General Básica Superior en la Unidad Educativa Particular "Cinco de Mayo" de la ciudad de Chone, Ecuador, de enero a junio del 2014, con vistas a elaborar una estrategia metodológica para el desarrollo del pensamiento en ellos, sobre la base de la aplicación de los 6 niveles de lectura. En la serie se obtuvo que la minoría de los estudiantes poseyeran desarrollo de las destrezas lectoras, comprendían con facilidad los textos y su idea principal y leían un escrito tantas veces como fuera necesario hasta entenderlo. Con la aplicación de esta estrategia metodológica se pretende que el alumno realice una lectura inteligente, crítica y creadora, de manera que se desarrolle su pensamiento y así se propicie una mejoría en su modo de actuación.

A quantitative and qualitative, descriptive and cross-sectional investigation of students and teaching staff at eighth, ninth and tenth years from the Higher Basic General Education in the Particular Educational Unit in Chone city, Ecuador, was carried out from January to June, 2014, with the aim of elaborating a methodological strategy for the development of thought in them, on the base of the use of the 6 reading levels. In the series it was obtained that the minority of the students possessed development of the reading skills, they understood the texts with easiness and their main ideas, and they read a writing as many times as necessary, until understanding it. With the use of this methodological strategy it is intended that the student carries out an intelligent, critical and creative reading, so as to develop his thought, and an improvement is propitiated in his way of performing.

Contexto sociofamiliar de adolescentes ecuatorianos perpetradores de actividades delictivas / Social family context of Ecuadorian adolescents perpetrators of criminal activities

Se realizó una investigación cualitativa, descriptiva y transversal, en la ciudad de Manta, República de Ecuador, durante el 2014, con vistas a describir la influencia de las categorías: conflicto familiar, acompañamiento familiar y poca ocupación de los adolescentes en el tiempo libre, para lo cual se tomó una población de 20 jóvenes perpetradores de actividades delictivas, insertados en los programas de Justicia Restaurativa, el coordinador del área Psicosocial y el Director de la Dirección Nacional de Policía Especializada para Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes. Con los resultados de la serie se evidenció que todas las categorías analizadas influenciaron considerablemente en el comportamiento delictivo de los adolescentes(AU)

A qualitative, descriptive and cross sectional investigation was carried out in Manta city, Republic of Ecuador, during the 2014, with the aim of describing the influence of the categories: family conflict, family companions and scarce occupation of adolescents in their free time, for which a population of 20 young perpetrators with criminal activities , who were inserted in the programs of Restorative Justice, as well as the Coordinator of the Psychosocial Area and the Director of the National Leadership of the Specialized Police in Children and Adolescents were selected. With the results of the series it was evidenced that all the analyzed categories influenced considerably in the criminal behavior of the adolescents(AU)

Contexto sociofamiliar de adolescentes ecuatorianos perpetradores de actividades delictivas / Social family context of Ecuadorian adolescents perpetrators of criminal activities

Se realizó una investigación cualitativa, descriptiva y transversal, en la ciudad de Manta, República de Ecuador, durante el 2014, con vistas a describir la influencia de las categorías: conflicto familiar, acompañamiento familiar y poca ocupación de los adolescentes en el tiempo libre, para lo cual se tomó una población de 20 jóvenes perpetradores de actividades delictivas, insertados en los programas de Justicia Restaurativa, el coordinador del área Psicosocial y el Director de la Dirección Nacional de Policía Especializada para Niños, Niñas y Adolescentes. Con los resultados de la serie se evidenció que todas las categorías analizadas influenciaron considerablemente en el comportamiento delictivo de los adolescentes.

A qualitative, descriptive and cross sectional investigation was carried out in Manta city, Republic of Ecuador, during the 2014, with the aim of describing the influence of the categories: family conflict, family companions and scarce occupation of adolescents in their free time, for which a population of 20 young perpetrators with criminal activities , who were inserted in the programs of Restorative Justice, as well as the Coordinator of the Psychosocial Area and the Director of the National Leadership of the Specialized Police in Children and Adolescents were selected. With the results of the series it was evidenced that all the analyzed categories influenced considerably in the criminal behavior of the adolescents.

Carcinoma papilar en un quiste tirogloso: reporte de un caso / Papilary carcinoma in a thyroglossal cyst: report of a case

Comunicar nuestra experiencia con un caso de carcinoma papilar en un quiste del conducto tirogloso. Recolección de información de la historia clínica respecto a datos demográficos, clínicos, estudios complementarios, hallazgos en la cirugía y evolución posterior de una paciente femenina de 62 años con diagnóstico de quiste tirogloso, cuyo estudio histipatológico reportó carcinoma papilar en un quiste tirogloso. Servicio de Cirugía General Número 1, Servicio Autónomo del Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo (H.U.M). El carcinoma del conducto tirogloso se presenta como una masa benigna en el 70 por ciento de los casos, pero si se asocia a disfonía, disfagia, pérdida de peso, o hay cambios bruscos en el patrón de crecimiento se debe sospechar malignidad. El diagnóstico se realiza habitualmente en el transoperatorio o con el estudio anatomopatológico de la pieza definitiva, siendo el carcinoma papilar el tipo histológico más frecuente. La técnica de Sitrunk es el tratamiento de elección, pero si existe patología maligna asociada al tiroides, o existen ganglios linfáticos positivos, respectivamente, están indiacadas. El carcinoma del conducto tirogloso es una entidad infrecuente, diagnósticada transoperatoriamente o con el estudio anatomopatológico definitivo de la pieza quirúrgica. El tratamiento debería incluir la tiriodectomía total para facilitar el tratamiento con yodo radioactivo y el seguimiento ulterior

[Evaluation of hepatic resections in patients with benign and malignant lesions]. / Evaluación de las resecciones hepáticas en pacientes con lesiones benignas y malignas.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate hepatic resections in patient with benign and malignant lesions during the years 1997 to 2002 at the Autonomous University Hospital Service of Maracaibo, Venezuela. MATERIALS: We carried out 18 hepatic resections for benign and/or malignant lesions; traumatic and infectious lesions were excluded. RESULTS: The female sex prevailed with 77.7% and age ranged between third and fourth decade. Three asymptomatic patients (16.6%) and 83.3% symptomatic; pain in upper hemiabdomen 80%. Ultrasonography was employed in 94.4% of cases, CT 83.3%, FNAB 27.7%, arteriography 22.2%, Echo-Doppler 16.6%, laparoscopy 11.1%, hepatic scintigraphy and ERCP, 5.5%. Minor resections represented 61.1%. Major hepatic resections represented 38.8%, with prevalence of left hepatectomy (33.3%). Blood loss was greatest in major hepatic resections with average of 1,242.9 +/- 827.8 ml. Pringles maneuver was carried out in 90% with duration average of 8.5 min; morbidity was 16.6%. Benign tumours prevailed with 66.6%. CONCLUSION: The technique of resection with intraparenchymatous identification of pedicles makes it the most successful technique for hepatic resections.