Clinical and economic comparative analysis of laparotomy versus laparoscopy in the first gastric bypass surgeries in a bariatric and metabolic surgery service in a city in southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: this paper aims to evaluate the main direct and indirect costs of the first laparotomies and laparoscopies in bariatric surgeries with a clinical-economical retrospective and cross-sectional analysis from 2017 to 2020 at a hospital with specialties besides the basic ones in southern Brazil. METHODS: the study sample included 26 participants. The first 13 laparotomies, and the first 13 laparoscopies performed at the bariatric surgery service of the institution were evaluated. The values evaluated in such comparison analyzed the costs of operation and hospitalization. It is important to highlight that, in addition to the cost benefit, other costs take significance in the health area, such as: cost-utility, cost-effectiveness and cost-minimization, in addition to the cost-opportunity that is reassessed in the observation of the broad context associating all the values raised here. The software used for data analysis was Excel version® 365. The economic analysis was performed evidencing the profile of the patients and the direct and indirect costs involved in each segmentation. RESULTS: the direct and indirect costs of videolaparoscopy amounted to BRL 10,108.10 and laparoscopy to the amount of BRL 12,568.14. CONCLUSION: it was concluded that laparoscopy presents more savings in the aspects of all health valuations to the detriment of laparotomy. It was concluded that the videolaparoscopy presents more savings in the aspects of all health valuations than the laparotomy.

A Microbial Co-Culturing System for Producing Cellulose-Hyaluronic Acid Composites.

In this study, a co-culture system combining bacterial cellulose (BC) producers and hyaluronic acid (HA) producers was developed for four different combinations. AAB of the genus Komagataeibacter sp. and LAB of the Lactocaseibacillus genus were used to produce BC and HA, respectively. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate changes in BC-HA composites chemical and morphological structure. Water absorption, uptake, and antibacterial properties were also tested. Outcomes highlighted a higher bacterial cellulose yield and the incorporation of hyaluronic acid into the composite. The presence of hyaluronic acid increased fiber dimension-nearly doubled for some combinations-which led to a decreased crystallinity of the composites. Different results were observed based on the BC producer and HA producer combination. However, water holding capacity (WHC) in all the samples improved with the presence of HA, while water uptake worsened. A thymol-enriched BC-HA composite showed high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli DSM 30083T and Staphylococcus aureus DSM 20231T. Results could contribute to opening new applications in the cosmetics or pharmaceutical fields.

Acetic acid bacteria in agro-wastes: from cheese whey and olive mill wastewater to cellulose.

In this study, cheese whey and olive mill wastewater were investigated as potential feedstocks for producing bacterial cellulose by using acetic acid bacteria strains. Organic acids and phenolic compounds composition were assayed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used to investigate modifications in bacterial cellulose chemical and morphological structure. Cheese whey was the most efficient feedstock in terms of bacterial cellulose yield (0.300 g of bacterial cellulose/gram of carbon source consumed). Bacterial cellulose produced in olive mill wastewater presented a more well-defined network compared to pellicles produced in cheese whey, resulting in a smaller fiber diameter in most cases. The analysis of bacterial cellulose chemical structure highlighted the presence of different chemical bonds likely to be caused by the adsorption of olive mill wastewater and cheese whey components. The crystallinity ranged from 45.72 to 80.82%. The acetic acid bacteria strains used in this study were characterized by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, allowing to assign them to Komagataeibacter xylinus and Komagataeibacter rhaeticus species. This study proves the suitability to perform sustainable bioprocesses for producing bacterial cellulose, combining the valorisation of agro-wastes with microbial conversions carried out by acetic acid bacteria. The high versatility in terms of yield, morphology, and fiber diameters obtained in cheese whey and olive mill wastewater contribute to set up fundamental criteria for developing customized bioprocesses depending on the final use of the bacterial cellulose. KEY POINTS: • Cheese whey and olive mill wastewater can be used for bacterial cellulose production. • Bacterial cellulose structure is dependent on the culture medium. • Komagataeibacter strains support the agro-waste conversion in bacterial cellulose.

Clinical and economic comparative analysis of laparotomy versus laparoscopy in the first gastric bypass surgeries in a bariatric and metabolic surgery service in a city in southern Brazil / Análise comparativa clínica e econômica das primeiras cirurgias de bypass gástrico realizado por laparotomia e bypass gástrico realizado por videolaparoscopia em um serviço de cirurgia bariátrica e metabólica de uma cidade do sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT Introduction: this paper aims to evaluate the main direct and indirect costs of the first laparotomies and laparoscopies in bariatric surgeries with a clinical-economical retrospective and cross-sectional analysis from 2017 to 2020 at a hospital with specialties besides the basic ones in southern Brazil. Methods: the study sample included 26 participants. The first 13 laparotomies, and the first 13 laparoscopies performed at the bariatric surgery service of the institution were evaluated. The values evaluated in such comparison analyzed the costs of operation and hospitalization. It is important to highlight that, in addition to the cost benefit, other costs take significance in the health area, such as: cost-utility, cost-effectiveness and cost-minimization, in addition to the cost-opportunity that is reassessed in the observation of the broad context associating all the values raised here. The software used for data analysis was Excel version® 365. The economic analysis was performed evidencing the profile of the patients and the direct and indirect costs involved in each segmentation. Results: the direct and indirect costs of videolaparoscopy amounted to BRL 10,108.10 and laparoscopy to the amount of BRL 12,568.14. Conclusion: it was concluded that laparoscopy presents more savings in the aspects of all health valuations to the detriment of laparotomy. It was concluded that the videolaparoscopy presents more savings in the aspects of all health valuations than the laparotomy.

RESUMO Introdução: o presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar os principais custos diretos e indiretos das primeiras laparotomias e videolaparoscopias em cirurgias bariátricas em uma análise clínica-econômica, retrospectiva e transversal de 2017 a 2020 em um hospital terciário do sul do Brasil. Métodos: a amostra do estudo incluiu 26 participantes. Foram avaliadas as primeiras 13 laparotomias e as primeiras 13 videolaparoscopias realizadas no serviço de cirurgia bariátrica da instituição. Os valores avaliados em tal comparação analisaram os custos da operação e da internação. É importante ressaltar que além do custo-benefício, outros custos tomam significância na área da saúde. São eles: o custo-utilidade, o custo-efetividade e o custo-minimização, além do custo-oportunidade que é reavaliado na observação do contexto amplo associando todas as valorações aqui levantadas. O software utilizado para a análise dos dados foi o Excel® versão 365. A análise econômica foi realizada evidenciando o perfil dos pacientes e os custos direto e indireto envolvidos em cada segmentação. Resultados: os custos diretos e indiretos da videolaparoscopia somaram o montante de R$ 10.108.10 e da laparoscopia o montante de R$ 12.568,14. Conclusão: concluiu-se que a videolaparoscopia apresenta mais economia nas vertentes de todas as valorizações em saúde em detrimento da laparotomia.

Defining Paenibacillus azoreducens (P8) and Acetobacter pasteurianus (UMCC 2951) strains performances in producing acetic acid.

In this study, spore-forming bacteria isolated from saccharified rice were selected for producing acetic acid. From the screening of 15 strains, P8 strain was chosen as a candidate. The strain was identified as Paenibacillus azoreducens by 16S rRNA analysis (99.85% similarity with P. azoreducens CM1T). Acetic acid is the main component of vinegar but also an industrial commodity produced by chemical synthesis. Sustainable routes for obtaining acetic acid are of great interest for decreasing the environmental impact generated by chemical syntheses. Biological acetic acid production is effective for vinegar production by acetic acid bacteria, but it cannot economically compete with the chemical synthesis for producing it as a pure commodity. Considering the need to improve the yield of pure acetic acid produced by microbial conversions, in this study, P8 strain was chosen for designing processes in different fermentation conditions. Tests were conducted in single and semi-continuous systems, using rice wine as substrate. Acetic acid produced by P8 strain was compared with that of Acetobacter pasteurianus (UMCC 2951), a strain known for producing acetic acid from rice wine. Even though the fermentation performances of P. azoreducens P8 were slightly lower than those of acetic acid bacteria usually used for vinegar production, results highlight its suitability for producing acetic acid. The final acetic acid produced by P. azoreducens P8 was 73 g/L, in a single stage fermentation, without losses. In nine cycles of semi-continuous regime the average of acetification rate was 0.814 (g/L/days). Two main attributes of P. azoreducens P8 are of relevance for producing acetic acid, namely the ability to grow at temperature higher (+ 37°C), than mesophilic acetic acid bacteria, and the absence of cytoplasmic assimilation of acetic acid. These features allow to design multiple strains cultures, in which P. azoreducens can acts as a helper strain. Based on our results, the new isolate P. azoreducens P8 can be propagated in fermenting broths for boosting acetic acid production, under the selected conditions, and used in combination with acetic acid bacteria to produce biological acetic acid, as a non-food grade commodity.

Better under stress: Improving bacterial cellulose production by Komagataeibacter xylinus K2G30 (UMCC 2756) using adaptive laboratory evolution.

Among naturally produced polymers, bacterial cellulose is receiving enormous attention due to remarkable properties, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial applications. However, the low yield, the instability of microbial strains and the limited knowledge of the mechanisms regulating the metabolism of producer strains, limit the large-scale production of bacterial cellulose. In this study, Komagataeibacter xylinus K2G30 was adapted in mannitol based medium, a carbon source that is also available in agri-food wastes. K. xylinus K2G30 was continuously cultured by replacing glucose with mannitol (2% w/v) for 210 days. After a starting lag-phase, in which no changes were observed in the utilization of mannitol and in bacterial cellulose production (cycles 1-25), a constant improvement of the phenotypic performances was observed from cycle 26 to cycle 30, accompanied by an increase in mannitol consumption. At cycle 30, the end-point of the experiment, bacterial cellulose yield increased by 38% in comparision compared to cycle 1. Furthermore, considering the mannitol metabolic pathway, D-fructose is an intermediate in the bioconversion of mannitol to glucose. Based on this consideration, K. xylinus K2G30 was tested in fructose-based medium, obtaining the same trend of bacterial cellulose production observed in mannitol medium. The adaptive laboratory evolution approach used in this study was suitable for the phenotypic improvement of K. xylinus K2G30 in bacterial cellulose production. Metabolic versatility of the strain was confirmed by the increase in bacterial cellulose production from D-fructose-based medium. Moreover, the adaptation on mannitol did not occur at the expense of glucose, confirming the versatility of K2G30 in producing bacterial cellulose from different carbon sources. Results of this study contribute to the knowledge for designing new strategies, as an alternative to the genetic engineering approach, for bacterial cellulose production.

Anti-Spoilage Activity and Exopolysaccharides Production by Selected Lactic Acid Bacteria.

In this study, eight lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains, previously isolated from traditional and gluten-free sourdoughs, and selected for their potential in improving the sensory and rheological quality of bakery products, were screened against some common spoilage agents. The anti-mould activity was tested using strains of the species Fusarium graminearum, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium paneum and Aspergillus niger. Regarding the antibacterial activity, it was assessed against four strains of the species Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes. Furthermore, LAB strains were evaluated for their ability to produce exopolysaccharides, which are gaining considerable attention for their functional properties and applicability in different food industrial applications. A strain-specific behaviour against the moulds was observed. In particular, F. graminearum ITEM 5356 was completely inhibited by all the LAB strains. Regarding the antibacterial activity, the strains Leuconostoc citreum UMCC 3011, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum UMCC 2996, and Pediococcus pentosaceus UMCC 3010 showed wide activity against the tested pathogens. Moreover, all the LAB strains were able to produce exopolysaccharides, which were preliminarily characterized. The assessed features of the LAB strains allow us to consider them as promising candidates for single or multiple starter cultures for food fermentation processes.

Date Fruits as Raw Material for Vinegar and Non-Alcoholic Fermented Beverages.

Currently, foods and beverages with healthy and functional properties, especially those that claim to prevent chronic diseases, are receiving more and more interest. As a result, numerous foods and beverages have been launched onto the market. Among the products with enhanced properties, vinegar and fermented beverages have a high potential for growth. Date palm fruits are a versatile raw material rich in sugars, dietary fibers, minerals, vitamins, and phenolic compounds; thus, they are widely used for food production, including date juice, jelly, butter, and fermented beverages, such as wine and vinegar. Furthermore, their composition makes them suitable for the formulation of functional foods and beverages. Microbial transformations of date juice include alcoholic fermentation for producing wine as an end-product, or as a substrate for acetic fermentation. Lactic fermentation is also documented for transforming date juice and syrup. However, in terms of acetic acid bacteria, little evidence is available on the exploitation of date juice by acetic and gluconic fermentation for producing beverages. This review provides an overview of date fruit's composition, the related health benefits for human health, vinegar and date-based fermented non-alcoholic beverages obtained by acetic acid bacteria fermentation.

Candidate Acetic Acid Bacteria Strains for Levan Production.

In this study, twelve strains of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) belonging to five different genera were tested for their ability to produce levan, at 70 and 250 g/L of sucrose concentration, respectively. The fructan produced by the bacterial strains was characterized as levan by NMR spectroscopy. Most of the strains produced levan, highlighting intra- and inter-species variability. High yield was observed for Neoasaia chiangmaiensis NBRC 101099 T, Kozakia baliensis DSM 14400 T and Gluconobacter cerinus DSM 9533 T at 70 g/L of sucrose. A 12-fold increase was observed for N. chiangmaiensis NBRC 101099 T at 250 g/L of sucrose concentration. Levan production was found to be affected by glucose accumulation and pH reduction, especially in Ko. baliensis DSM 14400 T. All the Gluconobacter strains showed a negative correlation with the increase in sucrose concentration. Among strains of Komagataeibacter genus, no clear effect of sucrose on levan yield was found. Results obtained in this study highlighted the differences in levan yield among AAB strains and showed interdependence between culture conditions, carbon source utilization, and time of incubation. On the contrary, the levan yield was not always related to the sucrose concentration.

Assessing effectiveness of Komagataeibacter strains for producing surface-microstructured cellulose via guided assembly-based biolithography.

In this study, a medical device made of surface microstructured bacterial cellulose was produced using cellulose-producing acetic acid bacteria wild-type strains in combination with guided assembly-based biolithography. The medical device aims at interfering with the cell's focal adhesion establishment and maturation around implantable devices placed in soft tissues by the symmetrical array on its surface. A total of 25 Komagataeibacter strains was evaluated over a three-step selection. In the first step, the ability of strains to produce a suitable bacterial cellulose layer with high production yield was examined, then nine strains, with a uniform and smooth layer of bacterial cellulose, were cultured in a custom-made silicone bioreactor and finally the characteristics of the symmetrical array of topographic features on the surface were analysed. Selected strains showed high inter and intra species variability in bacterial cellulose production. The devices obtained by K2G30, K1G4, DSM 46590 (Komagataeibacter xylinus), K2A8 (Komagataeibacter sp.) and DSM 15973T (Komagataeibacter sucrofermentas) strains were pouched-formed with hexagonal surface pattern required for reducing the formation of fibrotic tissue around devices, once they are implanted in soft tissues. Our findings revealed the effectiveness of the selected Komagataeibacter wild-type strains in producing surface microstructured bacterial cellulose pouches for making biomedical devices.

A New Ciboria sp. for Soil Mycoremediation and the Bacterial Contribution to the Depletion of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons.

A Ciboria sp. strain (Phylum Ascomycota) was isolated from hydrocarbon-polluted soil of an abandoned oil refinery in Italy. The strain was able to utilize diesel oil as a sole carbon source for growth. Laboratory-scale experiments were designed to evaluate the use of this fungal strain for treatment of the polluted soil. The concentration of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in the soil was 8,538 mg/kg. Mesocosms containing the contaminated soil were inoculated with the fungal strain at 1 or 7%, on a fresh weight base ratio. After 90 days of incubation, the depletion of TPH contamination was of 78% with the 1% inoculant, and 99% with the 7% inoculant. 16S rDNA and ITS metabarcoding of the bacterial and fungal communities was performed in order to evaluate the potential synergism between fungi and bacteria in the bioremediation process. The functional metagenomic prediction indicated Arthrobacter, Dietzia, Brachybacerium, Brevibacterium, Gordonia, Leucobacter, Lysobacter, and Agrobacterium spp. as generalist saprophytes, essential for the onset of hydrocarbonoclastic specialist bacterial species, identified as Streptomyces, Nocardoides, Pseudonocardia, Solirubrobacter, Parvibaculum, Rhodanobacter, Luteiomonas, Planomicrobium, and Bacillus spp., involved in the TPH depletion. The fungal metabolism accelerated the onset of specialist over generalist bacteria. The capacity of the Ciboria sp. to deplete TPH in the soil in treatment was also ascertained.

Yeasts and Lactic Acid Bacteria for Panettone Production: An Assessment of Candidate Strains.

The recovery of yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) involved in sourdough fermentation is the first step in the selection of starters with suitable technological aptitude and capable of producing desired aromas and/or aromatic precursors. In this work, two sourdoughs samples (MA and MB) and the derived doughs (samples A and B) were collected from a bakery during artisanal Panettone manufacture. Yeasts and bacteria were isolated at different fermentation steps on selective agar media. A total of 77 isolates were obtained and characterized. Representative strains of yeasts and LAB were identified by sequencing the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rRNA and the 16S rRNA genes, respectively. Moreover, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced in the collected samples were detected and correlated to the species found in the same samples. The results highlighted the occurrence of Kazachstania humilis in both samples A and B, while Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains were detected only in samples B. Among LAB, Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis was the main species detected in both sourdoughs. Furthermore, strains belonging to the species Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Furfurilactobacillus rossiae, Lactobacillus parabuchneri, Leuconostoc citreum, and Leuconostoc mesenteroides were assessed in the dough samples.

Comparative analysis between prevention and treatment costs for gestational diabetes mellitus in primary and tertiary health care in a city in Southern Brazil / Análise comparativa entre os custos de prevenção e tratamento do diabetes mellitus gestacional na assistência à saúde primária e terciária em uma cidade do Sul do Brasil

Objective: The present study's purpose is to evaluate the economic context in which the Brazilian public health system, the only universal public health system with more than 200 million users, stands out. This evaluation will be made through the lens of the execution of gestational health care services in a city of approximately 500 thousand inhabitants in southern Brazil. The care costs of patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) will be compared to those of patients without GDM, analyzing the different economic valuation methods. And lastly, there was an intent to explore the generated costs in the context of economic valuation applied to health to comprehend better the complexity of the union of the financial and health areas to optimize the services offered. Methods: For the economic context in health, an analysis of health investments was performed through the Transparency Portal. The costs involved in preventing GDM were raised by the Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) table of procedures performed ordinarily in low-risk pregnancies. The expenses involved in DMG patients were increased at the High-Risk Pregnancy and Fetal Medicine Clinic of DMG patients. Results: Preventing GDM is more cost-effective, cost-minimizing, and cost-useful than treating patients diagnosed with GDM. Conclusion: The result is an extremely interesting costopportunity, given the economic context in which it is presented

Objetivo: O presente estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o contexto econômico em que se encontra o sistema público de saúde brasileiro, único sistema público universal de saúde com mais de 200 milhões de usuários. Essa avaliação será feita sob a ótica da execução de serviços de saúde gestacional em um município de aproximadamente 500 mil habitantes no Sul do Brasil. Os custos assistenciais de pacientes com diabetes mellitus gestacional (DMG) serão comparados aos de pacientes sem DMG, analisando os diferentes métodos de valoração econômica. Também serão analisados os custos gerados no contexto da valoração econômica aplicada à saúde para uma melhor com preensão da complexidade da união das áreas econômica e da saúde com o objetivo de otimizar os serviços oferecidos. Métodos: Para a contextualização econômica em saúde, foi feita a análise dos investimentos em saúde pelo Portal da Transparência. Os custos envolvidos na prevenção da DMG foram levantados pela tabela de procedimentos realizados ordinariamente em gestações de baixo risco do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Os custos envolvidos em pacientes com DMG foram levantados no Ambulatório de Gestação de Alto Risco e Medicina Fetal de pacientes com DMG. Resultados: Prevenir o DMG apresenta maiores custo-benefício, custo-efetividade, custo-minimização e custo-utilidade em comparação com o tratamento das pacientes com o diagnóstico de DMG. Conclusão: O resultado é um custo-oportunidade extremamente interessante, dado o contexto econômico em que se apresenta

Polyvinylpyrrolidone/Montmorillonite/Zinc Oxide Bionanosystems Prepared by Spray Drying.

In this study, microparticles of bionanomaterials were obtained by polyvinylpyrrolidone, montmoril-lonite, and zinc oxide bionanosystems produced through solution intercalation technique combined with a spray-drying process, aiming for possible application as drug delivery systems. The final microparticles obtained were evaluated in terms of their production yield, which varies between 39.2% and 56.9%. Thermal analysis showed no major changes in Tg of the nanocomposites, compared to the pure PVP polymer. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed a pseudo-spherical shape and confirmed the micrometric size of the microparticles. Transmission electron microscopy analysis corroborated the embedding of montmorillonite and ZnO within the polymer phase. Nuclear magnetic resonance and X-rays diffraction were used to study the nanoparticles dispersion, indicating a predominant intercalated morphology. This study suggests that the applied methodology is suitable for the high yields synthesis of nanocomposites PVP based microparticles with uniform size and shape, which can be promising for the production of a new drug delivery system.

The environmental, economic and social sustainability in dental clinics and offices: a systematic review / A sustentabilidade ambiental, econômica e social nas clínicas e consultórios odontológicos: uma revisão sistemática

Not only in Brazil, but there is a worldwide movement in search of environmental sustainability, due to the scarcity of natural resources. Therefore, this research asks: Is environmental, economic and social sustainability inserted in dental clinics and offices? In order to answer the guiding question of this study, a systematic review of the literature was carried out following the methodological guidelines outlined by PRISMA. The search for the articles occurred in the PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases. In this research, gray literature was added. The search strategy developed in the databases identified a total of 749 articles. Of these, 647 articles were excluded for not including dental clinics or offices as the object of study, but other areas of Health; in addition, 32 were excluded because they were duplicated. The resulting 70 articles were submitted to full text analysis; of the 53 studies, 28 were included in this research and 25 were excluded. According to the researched literature, there is growing interest and effort among dental professionals in search of sustainability in dental clinics. Although, often, the lack of knowledge and information is not the problem, but putting such knowledge into practice.

Não apenas no Brasil, mas há um movimento mundial em busca de uma sustentabilidade ambiental, devido à escassez de recursos naturais. Portanto, esta pesquisa questiona: A sustentabilidade ambiental, econômica e social está inserida nas clínicas e consultórios odontológicos? A fim de responder à questão norteadora deste estudo, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática na literatura seguindo as diretrizes metodológicas delineadas pelo PRISMA. A busca pelos artigos ocorridos nas bases de dados PubMed, Web of Science e Scopus. Nesta pesquisa, foi criado, ainda, a literatura cinza. A estratégia de busca desenvolvida nas bases de dados identificou um total de 749 artigos.Desses, 647 artigos foram excluídos por não incluir clínicas ou consultórios odontológicos como objeto de estudo, e sim outras áreas da Saúde; além disso, 32 foram excluídos por estarem duplicados. Os 70 artigos fundidos foram elaborados à análise de texto completo; dos 53 estudos, 28 foram incluídos nesta pesquisa e 25 foram excluídos. De acordo com a literatura pesquisada, há interesse e esforço crescente entre os profissionais da Odontologia em busca de sustentabilidade nas clínicas odontológicas. Embora, muitas vezes, a falta de conhecimento e de informação não seja o problema, e sim pôr em tal conhecimento prática.

Bioconservation of iron and enhancement of antioxidant and antibacterial properties of chicken gizzard protein hydrolysate fermented by Pediococcus acidilactici ATTC 8042.

BACKGROUND: The poultry industry is one of the fastest growing sectors, and it generates considerable quantities of chicken gizzards (CG) every day. However, due to their hard texture and high microbial load, and due to cultural beliefs, they are not preferred by consumers. Chicken gizzards are a substantial source of proteins, iron, and other nutrients, which can be used effectively to produce nutraceuticals, rich in peptides (antioxidants and antibacterial), bio-iron, essential free amino acids, and fatty acids vital for human health. RESULTS: Lactic acid fermentation of CG by Pediococcus acidilactici ATTC 8042 increased the antioxidant activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiaziline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) by up to 26 times compared with unfermented CG (P < 0.05). The amount of hydrolysis and solvents (ethanol and water) used for extracting protein hydrolysates significantly affected the antioxidant properties. Moreover, fermented CG showed a negligible reduction in bio-iron (2-3%) compared with heat-processed CG (85 °C for 15 min), in which bio-iron was reduced by up to 20.3% (P < 0.05). The presence of unsaturated fatty acids such as C20:4 and C22:4 n-6 indicated a low level of lipid oxidation. CONCLUSION: Fermented CG, with its reasonably high antioxidant and antibacterial activity, together with a substantial amount of bio-iron and other nutritional components can serve as a functional food or feed additive to reduce oxidative stress and to treat iron deficiency. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Valorization of cheese whey using microbial fermentations.

Cheese whey (CW), the liquid resulting from the precipitation and removal of milk casein during cheese-making, and the second cheese whey (SCW) derived from the production of cottage and ricotta cheeses are the main byproducts of dairy industry. The major constituent of CW and SCW is lactose, contributing to the high BOD and COD content. Because of this, CW and SCW are high-polluting agents and their disposal is still a problem for the dairy sector. CW and SCW, however, also consist of lipids, proteins, and minerals, making them useful for production of various compounds. In this paper, microbial processes useful to promote the bioremediation of CW and SCW are discussed, and an overview on the main whey-derived products is provided. Special focus was paid to the production of health-promoting whey drinks, vinegar, and biopolymers, which may be exploited as value-added products in different segments of food and pharmaceutical industries.

Genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of K1G4: a new Komagataeibacter strain producing bacterial cellulose from different carbon sources.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of a new Komagataeibacter xylinus strain in producing bacterial cellulose from glucose, mannitol and glycerol, and to assess the genome sequencing with special focus on bacterial cellulose related genes. RESULTS: Bacterial cellulose production during 9 days of cultivation was tested in glucose, mannitol and glycerol, respectively. Differences in the bacterial cellulose kinetic formation was observed, with a final yield of 9.47 g/L in mannitol, 8.30 g/L in glycerol and 7.57 g/L in glucose, respectively. The draft genome sequencing of K1G4 was produced, revealing a genome of 3.09 Mbp. Two structurally completed cellulose synthase operons and a third copy of the catalytic subunit of cellulose synthase were found. By using phylogenetic analysis, on the entire rRNA operon sequence, K1G4 was found to be closely related to Komagataeibacter xylinus LMG 1515T and K. xylinus K2G30. CONCLUSIONS: The different yields of bacterial cellulose produced on glucose, mannitol and glycerol can be correlated with the third copy of bcsAB operon harboured by K1G4, making it a versatile strain for industrial applications.

Preservation, Characterization and Exploitation of Microbial Biodiversity: The Perspective of the Italian Network of Culture Collections.

Microorganisms represent most of the biodiversity of living organisms in every ecological habitat. They have profound effects on the functioning of any ecosystem, and therefore on the health of our planet and of human beings. Moreover, microorganisms are the main protagonists in food, medical and biotech industries, and have several environmental applications. Accordingly, the characterization and preservation of microbial biodiversity are essential not only for the maintenance of natural ecosystems but also for research purposes and biotechnological exploitation. In this context, culture collections (CCs) and microbial biological resource centres (mBRCs) are crucial for the safeguarding and circulation of biological resources, as well as for the progress of life sciences. This review deals with the expertise and services of CCs, in particular concerning preservation and characterization of microbial resources, by pointing to the advanced approaches applied to investigate a huge reservoir of microorganisms. Data sharing and web services as well as the tight interconnection between CCs and the biotechnological industry are highlighted. In addition, guidelines and regulations related to quality management systems (QMSs), biosafety and biosecurity issues are discussed according to the perspectives of CCs and mBRCs.