Characterization of Melanoidins and Color Development in Dulce de Leche, a Confectionary Dairy Product With High Sucrose Content: Evaluation of pH Effect, an Essential Manufacturing Process Parameter.

The effect on color of the initial pH employed in dulce de leche (DL) production was evaluated through physicochemical and spectroscopical characterization of the melanoidins formed in the process. Melanoidins originated at pH values of 6.5, 7.0, and 7.5, and they were released by the enzymatic hydrolysis of the protein backbone and purified by gel filtration. They showed a significant degree of polydispersity, in general, with molecular weights (MWs) below 1,800 Da. DL produced at a higher pH released melanoidins with higher average MW after the enzymatic hydrolysis. They also presented darker colors (dE*ab, C*), more closely resembling those typical of the commercial product. Analysis of the fractions isolated by gel filtration using HPLC-DAD and multinuclear NMR showed an heterogeneous and complex composition. Even though structurally related, the 1H NMR spectra of melanoidins showed a higher degree of aromaticity at higher pH values. In conclusion, the pH employed in DL production affects the amount and structure of the colored products originated by MR reactions, and thus the color of the final product.

Are antiangiogenics a good 'partner' for immunotherapy in ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer (OC) is associated with poor survival because there are a limited number of effective therapies. Two processes key to OC progression, angiogenesis and immune evasion, act synergistically to promote tumor progression. Tumor-associated angiogenesis promotes immune evasion, and tumor-related immune responses in the peritoneal cavity and tumor microenvironment (TME) affect neovascular formation. Therefore, suppressing the angiogenic pathways could facilitate the arrival of immune effector cells and reduce the presence of myeloid cells involved in immune suppression. To date, clinical studies have shown significant benefits with antiangiogenic therapy as first-line therapy in OC, as well as in recurrent disease, and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor bevacizumab is now an established therapy. Clinical data with immunomodulators in OC are more limited, but suggest that they could benefit some patients with recurrent disease. The preliminary results of two phase III trials have shown that the addition of immunomodulators to chemotherapy does not improve progression-free survival. For this reason, it could be interesting to look for synergistic effects between immunomodulators and other active drugs in OC. Since bevacizumab is approved for use in OC, and is tolerable when used in combination with immunotherapy in other indications, a number of clinical studies are underway to investigate the use of bevacizumab in combination with immunotherapeutic agents in OC. This strategy seeks to normalize the TME via the anti-VEGF actions of bevacizumab, while simultaneously stimulating the immune response via the immunotherapy. Results of these studies are awaited with interest.

Caracterización de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en adultos de una zona suburbana de Posadas-Misiones / Characterization of cardiovascular risk factors in adults of a sub-urban area of the city of Posadas-Misiones / Caracterização de fatores de risco cardiovasculares em adultos de uma zona suburbana de Posadas-Misiones

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son una importante causa de morbimortalidad. Se propuso determinar la frecuencia de los principales factores de riesgo cardiovascular en individuos adultos que asistieron a un centro de atención primaria de una zona suburbana de la ciudad de Posadas-Misiones. Se evaluaron 300 individuos; 203 mujeres y 97 varones, entre 20 y 75 años. Se registraron datos personales, antropométricos y se extrajo sangre con 12 horas de ayuno para las determinaciones bioquímicas. El diagnóstico de síndrome metabólico se basó en los criterios del ATP III. La frecuencia de factores de riesgo fue: hipertensión 21,3%, prehipertensión 36,7%, síndrome metabólico 35,0%, glucemia alterada en ayunas 28,0%, tabaquismo 23,0%, exceso de peso 68,6%, obesidad abdominal 65,0%, índice de filtración glomerular disminuido 12,0%, antecedentes familiares de enfermedad cardiovascular 33,7% e hipercolesterolemia 22,0%. Según nivel de instrucción, los individuos con bajo nivel educativo presentaron mayor frecuencia de factores de riesgo respecto a los individuos con nivel medio y alto. Los resultados de este estudio alertan sobre la necesidad de la búsqueda activa de factores de riesgo para la enfermedad cardiovascular en toda la población.

Cardiovascular diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the main cardiovascular risk factors in adult individuals who attend a primary care center in a sub-urban area of the city of Posadas-Misiones. The population was composed of 300 individuals: 203 women and 97 men, age range between 20 and 75 years. Personal, anthropometric data were recorded and blood was extracted with 12 hours of fasting for biochemical determinations. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on ATP III criteria. The frequency of risk factors was: hypertension 21.3%, pre-hypertension 36.7%, metabolic syndrome 35%, altered fasting glycemia 28%, smoking 23%, over weight 68.6%, abdominal obesity 65%, decreased glomerular filtration rate 12%, family history of cardiovascular disease 33.7% and hypercholesterolemia 22%. According to the level of education, a low educational level had a higher cardiovascular risk factor frequency than medium and high-level. The results of this study warn about the need for an active search for risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the entire population.

As doenças cardiovasculares são uma causa importante não só de morbimortalidade. O objetivo foi determinar a frequência dos principais fatores de risco cardiovascular em indivíduos adultos que frequentaram um centro de atenção primária em uma área suburbana da cidade de Posadas-Misiones. 300 indivíduos foram avaliados; 203 mulheres e 97 homens, entre 20 e 75 anos de idade. Dados pessoais, antropométricos foram registrados e foi extraído sangue com 12 horas de jejum para determinações bioquímicas. O diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica foi baseado nos critérios do ATP III. A frequência dos fatores de risco foi: hipertensão 21,3%, pré-hipertensão 36,7%, síndrome metabólica 35,0%, glicemia alterada em jejum 28,0%, tabagismo 23,0%, excesso de peso 68,6%, obesidade abdominal 65,0%, taxa de filtração glomerular diminuída 12,0%, histórico familiar de doença cardiovascular 33,7% e hipercolesterolemia 22,0%. De acordo com o nível de escolaridade, indivíduos com baixo nível educacional apresentaram maior frequência dos factores de risco quando comparados com indivíduos de nível médio e alto. Os resultados deste estudo alertam para a necessidade de busca ativa de fatores de risco para a doença cardiovascular em toda a população.

Isolation and Characterization of Melanoidins from Dulce de Leche, A Confectionary Dairy Product.

Melanoidins, the brown-colored compounds formed through the Maillard reaction, are responsible for color development in dulce de leche (DL), a popular confectionary dairy product in the Río de la Plata region, particularly in Uruguay and Argentina. Color is a critical quality parameter that strongly influences consumer preference. This work aimed to develop a method to perform preliminary structural characterization of the chromophores produced by the Maillard reaction. Melanoidins are present in a water-insoluble fraction, linked to a protein backbone, conforming melanoproteins of high molecular weight. The insoluble melanoprotein fraction (10% total solids) was isolated, and the chromophores released by proteolysis and isolated by gel-permeation chromatography. The analysis of the products revealed that they present a high degree of molecular weight (MW) polydispersity, in a range of 300 to 2000 Da, where the compounds of higher molecular weight contributed the most to the color of the product. The isolated fractions were further analyzed by RP-HPLC using a diode array detector (DAD) detector. These results, together with H-NMR data, suggested that the chromophores isolated belonged to a relatively simple mixture of aromatic products with higher hydrophobic character relative to other products of the melanoprotein digestion.

Uso de paneles multigénicos en el estudio de cáncer de mama hereditario / Use of multigenic panels in the study of hereditary breast cancer

El cáncer de mama es el tipo de cáncer más frecuente y la primera causa de mortalidad asociada a cáncer en la mujer. Si bien la mayoría de los casos son esporádicos, 5 a 10% de los mismos son causados por mutaciones germinales en genes de susceptibilidad al cáncer de alta y moderada penetrancia. Dichos genes se asocian a un incremento del riesgo individual de desarrollar cáncer de 5 veces y de 2-5 veces, respectivamente. brca1 y 2 fueron los primeros genes de susceptibilidad asociados a cáncer de mama en ser identificados, y se encuentran dentro de los estudios ya aceptados por la comunidad médica y social. Mutaciones en estos genes no solo aumentan el riesgo de desarrollar cáncer de mama en comparación con la población general, sino que también se asocian a un incremento en el riesgo de desarrollar otros tipos de cáncer: ovario, páncreas, melanoma y, en hombres, próstata

Maintenance Therapy in HER2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer: A New Approach for an Old Concept.

The aim of this article is to discuss the role of maintenance therapy with chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, or bevacizumab-based combination therapy in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer. The optimization of maintenance therapy in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer must be based on disease profile (tumor subtype and endocrine-sensitive status), the prior use of bevacizumab-containing regimens, and the number of prognostic risk factors. Chemotherapy should be used in patients with triple-negative breast cancer and endocrine-resistant hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer, whereas endocrine therapy is the preferred option for patients with endocrine-sensitive hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. After first-line bevacizumab plus chemotherapy, bevacizumab may be continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, and endocrine therapy or capecitabine may be added. The goals of maintenance therapy in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer are to improve and maintain clinical response, increase time to progression, extend overall survival, relieve tumor-related symptoms, and delay the use of aggressive therapies, without compromising quality of life. Maintenance therapy, using chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, and combined therapy with bevacizumab, is a reasonable strategy to achieve these goals in patients with either triple-negative breast cancer or hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer. Ongoing clinical studies of new molecular-targeted therapies may provide additional pharmacological options for future maintenance strategies in these patients.

Antibody Profile of Colostrum and the Effect of Processing in Human Milk Banks: Implications in Immunoregulatory Properties.

BACKGROUND: When feeding preterm infants, donor milk is preferred if the mother's own milk is unavailable. Pasteurization may have detrimental effects on bioactivity, but more information is needed about its effects on the immunological compounds. Research aim: This work has two main aims: evaluate the antibody profile of colostrum and study the quantitative variations in the antibodies' level and specific reactivity after undergoing Holder pasteurization. The authors focused on immunoregulatory components of colostrum (antidietary antibodies and TGF-ß2) in the neonatal gut. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 67 donated colostrum samples at different days after delivery, both raw and pasteurized. Antibody profiles were analyzed at different times during breastfeeding, and total and specific antibodies (IgM, IgA, and IgG subclasses) were compared with tetanus toxoid and ovalbumin using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The processing effect on total and specific antibodies, as well as TGF-ß2, was evaluated by paired analyses. RESULTS: No variations in immunological compounds were observed throughout the colostrum stage. The TGF-ß2, antibodies' concentrations, and antibodies' specific reactivity after pasteurization did not vary significantly as days of lactation varied. Changes in antibody levels were dependent on isotype and IgG subclass, and IgG4 showed remarkable resistance to heating. Moreover, the effect of the pasteurization on specific reactivity was antigen dependent. CONCLUSION: The supply of relevant immunological components is stable throughout the colostrum stage. The effects of pasteurization on antibodies depend on isotype, subclass, and specificity. This information is relevant to improving the immunological quality of colostrum, especially for preterm newborns.

The role of synthetic biology in the design of microbial cell factories for biofuel production.

Insecurity in the supply of fossil fuels, volatile fuel prices, and major concerns regarding climate change have sparked renewed interest in the production of fuels from renewable resources. Because of this, the use of biodiesel has grown dramatically during the last few years and is expected to increase even further in the future. Biodiesel production through the use of microbial systems has marked a turning point in the field of biofuels since it is emerging as an attractive alternative to conventional technology. Recent progress in synthetic biology has accelerated the ability to analyze, construct, and/or redesign microbial metabolic pathways with unprecedented precision, in order to permit biofuel production that is amenable to industrial applications. The review presented here focuses specifically on the role of synthetic biology in the design of microbial cell factories for efficient production of biodiesel.

Tumor desmoide intraabdominal simulando una tumoración pancreática en una paciente con poliposis colónica familiar / Intra-abdominal desmoid tumor mimicking a pancreatic tumor in a patient with familial colonic polyposis

IntroducciónLa fibromatosis es una proliferación fibroblástica benigna con crecimiento infiltrativo local. Se clasifica en una forma superficial y en una forma profunda, también denominada tumor desmoide (TD). Esta última puede presentarse en forma esporádica o asociada a la poliposis adenomatosa familiar y síndrome de Gardner. La presentación pancreática es excepcional y sólo existen 8 casos descritos en la literatura médica.Observación clínicaMujer de 29 años con antecedentes de PCF y 2 lesiones pancreáticas. En la pieza quirúrgica se observaron 2 lesiones mal delimitadas en el páncreas con infiltración de órganos vecinos. Histológicamente, correspondían a una proliferación de estirpe mesenquimatosa de patrón fusocelular sin atipias citológicas, que se diagnosticaron de TD.DiscusiónLa etiología de la fibromatosis es desconocida. En pacientes con PCF la localización más habitual de los TD es intraabdominal siendo inusual la presentación pancreática. Esto plantea el diagnóstico diferencial con otras neoplasias del páncreas(AU)

IntroductionFibromatosis consists of a benign fibroblastic proliferation with local infiltrative growth. Two types are recognized: a superficial and a deep form, also known as desmoid tumor. The latter may occur sporadically or in association with familial adenomatous polyposis and Gardner's syndrome. Pancreatic presentation is exceptional and only eight cases have been described in the literature.Case reportWe report the case of a 29-year-old woman with a history of familial colonic polyposis and two pancreatic lesions. In the surgical specimen, two poorly defined pancreatic lesions were observed with infiltration of neighboring organs. Histologically, the lesions corresponded to mesenchymal proliferation with a fusocellular pattern without cytological atypica, which were diagnosed as desmoid tumors.DiscussionThe etiology of fibromatosis is unknown. In patients with familial colonic polyposis, the most common localization of desmoid tumor is intra-abdominal. Pancreatic presentation is unusual, requiring differential diagnosis with other pancreatic neoplasms(AU)

[Intra-abdominal desmoid tumor mimicking a pancreatic tumor in a patient with familial colonic polyposis]. / Tumor desmoide intraabdominal simulando una tumoración pancreática en una paciente con poliposis colónica familiar.

INTRODUCTION: Fibromatosis consists of a benign fibroblastic proliferation with local infiltrative growth. Two types are recognized: a superficial and a deep form, also known as desmoid tumor. The latter may occur sporadically or in association with familial adenomatous polyposis and Gardner's syndrome. Pancreatic presentation is exceptional and only eight cases have been described in the literature. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 29-year-old woman with a history of familial colonic polyposis and two pancreatic lesions. In the surgical specimen, two poorly defined pancreatic lesions were observed with infiltration of neighboring organs. Histologically, the lesions corresponded to mesenchymal proliferation with a fusocellular pattern without cytological atypica, which were diagnosed as desmoid tumors. DISCUSSION: The etiology of fibromatosis is unknown. In patients with familial colonic polyposis, the most common localization of desmoid tumor is intra-abdominal. Pancreatic presentation is unusual, requiring differential diagnosis with other pancreatic neoplasms.

Biliary cystadenocarcinoma with mesenchymal stroma.

Hepatobiliary cystadenocarcinomas (BCACs) with mesenchymal stroma are a rare cystic lesion. This tumour needs to be distinguished from benign biliary cystadenoma, which is antecedent in most cases. The treatment of choice is radical excision of the mass. The diagnostic evaluation, surgical management, pathological characteristics, treatment and follow-up of one patient with hepatobiliary cystadenocarcinoma with ovarian stroma is described. Preoperative diagnosis of BCACs is often difficult, because their clinical manifestations are similar to those of other hepatic cystic lesions. MRI is suitable for accurate characterisation of cystic biliary lesions, but distinguishing between cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma remains difficult on the basis of imaging findings. Complete surgical excision gives a relatively good chance of long-term survival because of the slow growth rate of these tumours.