Colorectal cancer ranks third globally,with a high mortality rate.In the United States,and different countries in Europe,organized population screenings exist and include people between 50 and 74 years of age.These sc...Colorectal cancer ranks third globally,with a high mortality rate.In the United States,and different countries in Europe,organized population screenings exist and include people between 50 and 74 years of age.These screenings have allowed an early diagnosis and consequently an improvement in health indicators.Colon and rectal cancer(CRC)is a disease of particular interest due to the high global burden associated with it and the role attributed to prevention and early diagnosis in reducing morbidity and mortality.This study is a review of CRC pathology and includes the most recent scientific evidence regarding this pathology,as well as a diagnosis of the epidemiological situation of CRC.Finally,the recommendation from a public health perspective will be discussed in detail taking into account the context and the most current recommendations.展开更多
The nutritional composition and bioactive properties of roots and rhizomes of Asparagus stipularis were evaluated.Antioxidant activity of extracts obtained by infusion was evaluated using free radicals scavenging and ...The nutritional composition and bioactive properties of roots and rhizomes of Asparagus stipularis were evaluated.Antioxidant activity of extracts obtained by infusion was evaluated using free radicals scavenging and reducing power methods.Porcine liver primary cell was used to check the hepatotoxicity of infusions.Results revealed that Asparagus samples are likely a source of nutrients,such as dietary fibre and essential fatty acids.HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS characterization of infusions allowed the identification and quantitation of 7 phenolic compounds,all hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives,with caffeic acid as the most abundant.Roots infusion contained the highest amounts of these compounds.It also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in all assays,with EC_(50) values of 0.44±0.01,0.98±0.03 and 0.64±0.01 mg/mL for DPPH,ABTS and FRAP assays,respectively,with no toxicity towards PLP2 primary cell cultures(GI_(50)>400μg/mL).PLGA nanoparticles loaded with root extract were prepared using solvent-evaporation double emulsion method.Nanoparticles size was about 260 nm and a polydispersity index around 0.1,with a zeta potential of about-36 mV,as well as a good encapsulation efficiency of approximately 83%.Their morphology was analysed by SEM and spherical polymeric nanoparticles with a smooth surface were observed.FTIR and DSC were also performed,which allowed corroborating the efficacy of the encapsulation and to confirm the production of a stable and robust system to load Asparagus extracts.The developed nanoparticles are expected to be used as delivery systems for bioactive compounds of A.stipularis and they could be used as an innovative dietary supplement.展开更多
Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome related to unintentional weight loss and to loss of muscle and fat mass. In head and neck cancer (HNC) its incidence is important and not only related to a deficient intake of foo...Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome related to unintentional weight loss and to loss of muscle and fat mass. In head and neck cancer (HNC) its incidence is important and not only related to a deficient intake of food due to the impact of the disease in the vital functions. A complex disturbance in the normal metabolism of the patient promotes a persistent inflammatory state and a shifting in the metabolism balance toward a catabolic predominance affecting primarily the skeletal muscle. This leads to severe impairment of the functional, emotional and social status and quality of life of the patients that will compromise response to treatment and the disease prognosis. Understanding this deleterious syndrome and mainly identifying it in early stages of the disease is of a major importance in achieving better outcomes to head and neck cancer patients. This study pretends to identify clinical aspects related to cachexia in HNC in a clinical perspective for application on the routine clinical practice. In our study, 30 HNC patients were enrolled and evaluated in terms of nutritional values (actual and loss of weight in the past 6 months, body mass index (BMI), nutritional risk index (NRI), malnutrition universal screening tool), serum biochemical markers (albumin, total proteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and myostatin) and health related quality of life (HRQoL) evaluation (using European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaires (QLQ): EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-HN43). A minimum follow-up of 48 months was considered for all patients. Our results showed that NRI is a good and sensitive index to identify cachexia. This index uses two parameters, one constitutional (loss of weight) and one biochemical (level of serum albumin). According to this criterion, 16 patients were assigned to the No-cachexia group and 14 patients to the Cachexia group. Significant differences in the con展开更多
Algae(and their extracts)are increasingly important for pharmaceutical applications due to the diversity of useful compounds they contain.The genus Fucus contains one of the most studied species,Fucus vesiculosus.The ...Algae(and their extracts)are increasingly important for pharmaceutical applications due to the diversity of useful compounds they contain.The genus Fucus contains one of the most studied species,Fucus vesiculosus.The species F.ceranoides differs from the others of the genus by presenting longitudinal air-vesicles and a capacity to survive at low salinities.It is an alga that inhabits the Mondego River estuary(Portugal),at the southern limit of its distribution,and can serve as a role model to understand the effect of a salt gradient on the production of bioactive compounds.We assessed the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of different F.ceranoides extracts(e.g.methanolic,aqueous and polysaccharide)prepared from samples harvested from two different zones to evaluate if the adaptation of F.ceranoides to different salinity levels influenced its chemical composition.The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined using 1,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)and 2.2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS)radicals.These assays demonstrated that the methanolic extract of lyophilized F.ceranoides that grew at low salinities was the most bioactive,i.e.DPPH(IC 50=50.39μg/mL)and ABTS(TEAC=2.42).The total phenolic content(Folin-Ciocalteu method)and the methanolic extract of the lyophilized F.ceranoides collected from a low salinity habitat exhibited the highest phenolic content(PGE=49.48μg/mg of lyophilized extract)amongst those sampled.Thin layer chromatography(TLC)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)were used for the identification of compounds in the extracts.This characterization allowed confirmation that the various extracts contained almost the same compounds but with notable quantitative differences.Based on these results,we conclude that there were differences in the quantity of the compounds due to the effect of salinity.The drying methods used were also found to have influenced the quality of the extracted compounds.展开更多
Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are increasingly affecting individuals’quality of life,thus increasing their cost to social and health systems.These diseases have overlapping mechanisms,such as oxidat...Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are increasingly affecting individuals’quality of life,thus increasing their cost to social and health systems.These diseases have overlapping mechanisms,such as oxidative stress,protein aggregation,neuroinflammation,neurotransmission impairment,mitochondrial dysfunction,and excitotoxicity.Currently,there is no cure for neurodegenerative diseases,and the available therapies have adverse effects and low efficacy.For neuropsychiatric disorders,such as depression,the current therapies are not adequate to one-third of the patients,the so-called treatmentresistant patients.So,searching for new treatments is fundamental.Medicinal plants appear as a strong alternative and complement towards new treatment protocols,as they have been used for health purposes for thousands of years.Thus,the main goal of this review is to revisit the neuroprotective potential of some of the most predominant medicinal plants(and one fungus)used in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),focusing on their proven mechanisms of action and their chemical compositions,to give clues on how they can be useful against neurodegeneration progression.展开更多
In the blossoming field of Cd-free semiconductor quantum dots(QDs),ternary Ⅰ-Ⅲ-VI QDs have received increasing attention due to the ease of the environmentally friendly synthesis of high-quality materials in water,t...In the blossoming field of Cd-free semiconductor quantum dots(QDs),ternary Ⅰ-Ⅲ-VI QDs have received increasing attention due to the ease of the environmentally friendly synthesis of high-quality materials in water,their high photoluminescence(PL)quantum yields(QYs)in the red and near infrared(NIR)region,and their inherently low toxicity.Moreover,their oxygen-insensitive long PL lifetimes of up to several hundreds of nanoseconds close a gap for applications exploiting the compound-specific parameter PL lifetime.To overcome the lack of reproducible synthetic methodologies and to enable a design-based control of their PL properties,we assessed and modelled the synthesis of high-quality MPA-capped AglnS2/ZnS(AlS/ZnS)QDs.Systematically refined parameters included reaction time,temperature,Ag:In ratio,S:In ratio,Zn:In ratio,MPA:ln ratio,and pH using a design-of-experiment approach.Guidance for the optimization was provided by mathematical models developed for the application-relevant PL parameters,maximum PL wavelength,QY,and PL lifetime as well as the elemental composition in terms of Ag:ln:Zn ratio.With these experimental data-based models,MPA:ln and Ag:ln ratios and pH values were identified as the most important synthesis parameters for PL control and an insight into the connection of these parameters could be gained.Subsequently,the experimental conditions to synthetize QDs with tunable emission and high QY were predicted.The excellent agreement between the predicted and experimentally found PL features confirmed the reliability of our methodology for the rational design of high quality AlS/ZnS QDs with defined PL features.This approach can be straightforwardly extended to other ternary and quaternary QDs and to doped QDs.展开更多
Catalytic transfer hydrogenation(CTH)is a green and efficient pathway for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes and ketones.However,managing the abilities of solid catalysts to adsorb substrates and to conv...Catalytic transfer hydrogenation(CTH)is a green and efficient pathway for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes and ketones.However,managing the abilities of solid catalysts to adsorb substrates and to convert them into desired products is a challenging task.Herein,we report the synthesis of carbon coated LaFe_(0.92)Pd_(0.08)O_(3) composites(LFPO-8@C)for CTH of benzaldehyde(BzH)into benzyl alcohol(BzOH),using isopropanol(IPA)as hydrogen source.The coating with carbon improves the ability to adsorb/transfer reactants from solution to active sites,and the doping of Pd2+at Fe3+site strengthens the ability of LaFeO_(3) to convert BzH into BzOH.A balanced point between them(i.e.,abilities to adsorb BzH and to convert BzH into BzOH)is obtained at LFPO-8@C,which exhibits a BzOH formation rate of 3.88 mmol·gcat^(-1)·h^(-1) at 180℃ for 3 h,which is 1.50 and 2.72 times faster than those of LFPO-8 and LaFeO_(3)@C.A reaction mechanism is proposed,in which the acidic sites(e.g.,Fe^(4+),oxygen vacancy)are used for the activation of C=O bond of BzH and O-H bond of IPA,and the basic sites(e.g.,lattice oxygen)for the activation ofα-H(O-H)bond of IPA.展开更多
The electrocatalytic synthesis of C-N coupling compounds from CO_(2) and nitrogenous species not only offers an effective avenue to achieve carbon neutral-ity and reduce environmental pollution,but also establishes a ...The electrocatalytic synthesis of C-N coupling compounds from CO_(2) and nitrogenous species not only offers an effective avenue to achieve carbon neutral-ity and reduce environmental pollution,but also establishes a route to synthesize valuable chemicals,such as urea,amide,and amine.This innovative approach expands the application range and product categories beyond simple carbona-ceous species in electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction,which is becoming a rapidly advancing field.This review summarizes the research progress in electrocatalytic urea synthesis,using N_(2),NO_(2)^(-),and NO_(3)^(-)as nitrogenous species,and explores emerging trends in the electrosynthesis of amide and amine from CO_(2) and nitro-gen species.Additionally,the future opportunities in this field are highlighted,including electrosynthesis of amino acids and other compounds containing C-N bonds,anodic C-N coupling reactions beyond water oxidation,and the catalytic mechanism of corresponding reactions.This critical review also captures the insights aimed at accelerating the development of electrochemical C-N coupling reactions,confirming the superiority of this electrochemical method over the traditional techniques.展开更多
Background:Pain associated with cancer is one of the greatest causes of reduced quality of life in patients.Acupuncture is one of the treatments used to address this issue,with the great advantage of having little or ...Background:Pain associated with cancer is one of the greatest causes of reduced quality of life in patients.Acupuncture is one of the treatments used to address this issue,with the great advantage of having little or no side effects,especially when compared with pharmacological pain-killers.Objective:The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for cancer pain.Search strategy:Six electronic databases(PubMed,EBSCO,Cochrane Library,Scielo,b-On and Scopus)were searched for relevant articles about pain relief in cancer patients from their beginning until 2022using MeSH terms such as“acupuncture,”“electroacupuncture,”“ear acupuncture,”“acupuncture analgesia,”“oncological pain,”and“cancer pain.”Inclusion criteria:Studies included were randomized controlled trials(RCTs)where acupuncture was compared with no treatment,placebo acupuncture or usual care.Data extraction and analysis:Three independent reviewers participated in data extraction and evaluation of risk of bias,and a meta-analysis was conducted.The primary outcome was pain intensity,measured with the visual analog scale,numeric rating scale,or brief pain inventory.Secondary outcomes also assessed were quality of life,functionality,xerostomia,pain interference,and analgesic consumption.Results were expressed as standardized mean difference(SMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI).Results:Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1124 participants were included in the meta-analysis,with the majority of the studies presenting a low or unclear risk of bias.Acupuncture was more effective in reducing pain than no treatment(SMD=–0.90,95%CI[–1.68,–0.12]),sham acupuncture(SMD=–1.10,95%CI[–1.59,–0.61])or usual care(SMD=–1.16,95%CI[–1.38,–0.93]).Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that acupuncture may be an effective intervention to reduce pain associated with cancer.Despite some limitations due to the low quality and small sample size of some included studies,展开更多
Dialysis plays a crucial role in the purification of nanomaterials but its impact on the structural properties of carbon nanomaterials was never investigated.Herein,a carbon-based nanomaterial generated electrochemica...Dialysis plays a crucial role in the purification of nanomaterials but its impact on the structural properties of carbon nanomaterials was never investigated.Herein,a carbon-based nanomaterial generated electrochemically in potassium phosphate buffer,was characterized before and after dialysis against pure water.It is shown that dialysis affects the size of the carbon domains,structural organization,surface functionalization,oxidation degree of carbon,and grade of amorphicity.Accordingly,dialysis drives the nanomaterial organization from discrete roundish carbon domains,with sizes ranging from 70 to 160 nm,towards linear stacking structures of small nanoparticles(<15 nm).In parallel,alcohol and ether(epoxide)surface groups evolve into more oxidized carbon groups(e.g.,ketone and ester groups).Investigation of the as-prepared nanomaterial by electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)revealed a resonance signal consistent with carbon-oxygen centred radicals.Additionally,this study brings to light the selective affinity of the carbon nanomaterial under study to capture Na^(+)ions,a property greatly enhanced by the dialysis process,and its high ability to trap oxygen,particularly before dialysis.These findings open new perspectives for the application of carbon-based nanomaterials and raise awareness of the importance of structural changes that can occur during the purification of carbon-based nanomaterials.展开更多
Natural minerals,abundant and easily obtained through simple physical processing,offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for dyeing wastewater disposal and air pollution treatment.This study inves...Natural minerals,abundant and easily obtained through simple physical processing,offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for dyeing wastewater disposal and air pollution treatment.This study investigates the photocatalytic removal of NO using natural different types of dyes,loaded on natural sand,under visible light illumination.By examining various coating concentrations of dyes and sand weights,we discovered that sand loaded with Rhodamine B(RhB)exhibits high activity for the photo-oxidation of NO.A combination results of X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)and thermogravimetric(TG)analyses confirm the presence of SiO_(2),CaCO_(3),Al_(2)O_(3)and iron oxides as the main components of the sand.Furthermore,studying RhB-loaded individual components reveals that CaCO_(3)plays a crucial role in enhancing the NO removal rate.Experimental results and theoretical calculations demonstrate the establishment of a directional charge transfer channel from CaCO_(3)to RhB,facilitating the adsorption and activation of molecular NO and O_(2).This work not only promotes the utilization of natural mineral resources but also enriches the fields of environmental photochemistry and semiconductor photocatalysis.展开更多
A bio-inspired strategy has recently been developed for camouflaging nanocarriers with biomembranes,such as natural cell membranes or subcellular structure-derived membranes.This strategy endows cloaked nanomaterials ...A bio-inspired strategy has recently been developed for camouflaging nanocarriers with biomembranes,such as natural cell membranes or subcellular structure-derived membranes.This strategy endows cloaked nanomaterials with improved interfacial properties,superior cell targeting,immune evasion potential,and prolonged duration of systemic circulation.Here,we summarize recent advances in the production and application of exosomal membrane-coated nanomaterials.The structure,properties,and manner in which exosomes communicate with cells are first reviewed.This is followed by a discussion of the types of exosomes and their fabrication methods.We then discuss the applications of biomimetic exosomes and membrane-cloaked nanocarriers in tissue engineering,regenerative medicine,imaging,and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.Finally,we appraise the current challenges associated with the clinical translation of biomimetic exosomal membrane-surface-engineered nanovehicles and evaluate the future of this technology.展开更多
Fungi and bacteria afflict humans with innumerous pathogen-related infections and ailments.Most of the commonly employed microbicidal agents target commensal and pathogenic microorganisms without discrimination.To dis...Fungi and bacteria afflict humans with innumerous pathogen-related infections and ailments.Most of the commonly employed microbicidal agents target commensal and pathogenic microorganisms without discrimination.To distinguish and fight the pathogenic species out of the microflora,novel antimicrobials have been developed that selectively target specific bacteria and fungi.The cell wall features and antimicrobial mechanisms that these microorganisms involved in are highlighted in the present review.This is followed by reviewing the design of antimicrobials that selectively combat a specific community of microbes including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains as well as fungi.Finally,recent advances in the antimicrobial immunomodulation strategy that enables treating microorganism infections with high specificity are reviewed.These basic tenets will enable the avid reader to design novel approaches and compounds for antibacterial and antifungal applications.展开更多
With the rapid development of industry,volatile organic compounds(VOCs)are gaining attention as a class of pollutants that need to be eliminated due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health.Catalyt...With the rapid development of industry,volatile organic compounds(VOCs)are gaining attention as a class of pollutants that need to be eliminated due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health.Catalytic combustion is the most popular technology used for the removal of VOCs as it can be adapted to different organic emissions under mild conditions.This review first introduces the hazards of VOCs,their treatment technologies,and summarizes the treatment mechanism issues.Next,the characteristics and catalytic performance of perovskite oxides as catalysts for VOC removal are expounded,with a special focus on lattice distortions and surface defects caused by metal doping and surface modifications,and on the treatment of different VOCs.The challenges and the prospects regarding the design of perovskite oxides catalysts for the catalytic combustion of VOCs are also discussed.This review provides a reference base for improving the performance of perovskite catalysts to treat VOCs.展开更多
Nowadays,food security is a global concern and a great scientific challenge.Agro-industrial by-products can be used as potential ingredients of innovative food products,contributing to solve this societal demand.By-pr...Nowadays,food security is a global concern and a great scientific challenge.Agro-industrial by-products can be used as potential ingredients of innovative food products,contributing to solve this societal demand.By-products of high specialty oils processing,for instance,have remarkable nutritional and organoleptic properties.Accordingly,the partially delipidified almond flour(PDAF)remaining from almond oil extraction,was used as an alternative ingredient in a highly appreciated almond-based cookie(“almendrados”).For comparison purposes,four different“almendrados”formulations(one industrial,two with PDAF,and one with whole almond flour),were compared regarding nutritional composition,vitamin E and fatty acids profiles.To assess the cookie sensory properties,seventy-four consumers evaluated“appearance”,“taste”,“sweetness”,“crunchiness”,“hardness”,“overall quality”using adequate hedonic scales.Fat and protein levels showed significant differences among industrial and the other three samples.Cookies with PDAF presented similar tocopherols and fatty acids to the traditional(more expensive)formulation,besides reaching the highest scores on“appearance”,“sweetness”,“hardness”,“overall quality”and“buying predisposition”parameters.Accordingly,the incorporation of PDAF might represent an effective way of adding value to an industrial by-product,while providing a pleasant novel cookie formulation.展开更多
The application of novel methodologies to the synthesis of nanomaterials is still a challenge in many different technological and scientific fields.New efficient and reproducible synthetic methodologies,that produce f...The application of novel methodologies to the synthesis of nanomaterials is still a challenge in many different technological and scientific fields.New efficient and reproducible synthetic methodologies,that produce fewer residues and reduce the cost of raw materials must be developed.In the present work,we have explored the attractive possibility to apply the cheap iron (Ⅱ) sulphate salt in the reduction process of the K2PtCl4 to produce colloids suspensions.The synthesis took places in water and was assisted by sodium citrate (SC) using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surfactant.The adjustment of this novelty process allows obtaining well-dispersed and sub-20 nm dendrimer-type platinum nanoparticles (Pt D-NPs).The nano-dendrimers produced have been characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS),transmission electron microscopy (TEM),high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM),XRD spectroscopy,inductive couple plasma (ICP) analysis,Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy.Interesting conformational results derived from the size and shape will be discussed.Catalytic application of the Pt D-NPs has been explored in the reduction of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) to p-aminophenol (p-AP) in aqueous media at room temperature obtained TOF value of 253 min^-1.Finally,our Pt D-NPs were tested as artificial metalloenzyme showing catechol oxidase activity for oxidation of L-DOPA.展开更多
The development of biotechnology-based active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as GLP-1 analogs, brought changes in type 2 diabetes treatment options. For better therapeutic efficiency, these active pharmaceutical ing...The development of biotechnology-based active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as GLP-1 analogs, brought changes in type 2 diabetes treatment options. For better therapeutic efficiency, these active pharmaceutical ingredients require appropriate administration, without the development of adverse effects or toxicity. Therefore, it is required to develop several quantification methods for GLP-1 analogs products, in order to achieve the therapeutic goals, among which ELISA and HPLC arise. These methods are developed, optimized and validated in order to determine GLP-1 analogs, not only in final formulation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, but also during preclinical and clinical trials assessment. This review highlights the role of ELISA and HPLC methods that have been used during the assessment for GLP-1 analogs, especially for exenatide.展开更多
This work investigates the effect of cerium substation into strontium cobalt perovskites(CeSrCoO)for the oxidative degradation of OrangeⅡ(OII)in dark ambient conditions without the aid of any external stimulants such...This work investigates the effect of cerium substation into strontium cobalt perovskites(CeSrCoO)for the oxidative degradation of OrangeⅡ(OII)in dark ambient conditions without the aid of any external stimulants such as light,heating or chemical additives.The OII degradation rate by CeSrCoO reached 65%in the first hour,whilst for the blank sample without cerium(SrCoO)took over 2 hr to reach the same level of OII degradation.Hence,the cerium substitution improved the catalytic activity of the perovskite material,mainly associated with the Ce0.1Sr0.9CoO3 perovskite phase.Upon contacting CeSrCoO,the-N=Nazo bonds of the OII molecules broke down resulting in electron donation and the formation of by-products.The electrons are injected into the CeSrCoO and resulted in a redox pair of Co3+/Co2+,establishing a bridge for the electron transfer between OII and the catalysts.Concomitantly,the electrons also formed reactive species(·OH)responsible for OII degradation as evidenced by radical trapping experiment.Reactive species were formed via the reaction between 02 and donated electrons from OII with the aid of cobalt redox pair.As the prepared materials dispensed with the need for light irradiation and additional oxidants,it opens a window of environmental applications for treating contaminated wastewaters.展开更多
Development of synthetic bone substitutes has arisen as a major research interest in the need to find an alternative to autologous bone grafts.Using an ovine model,the present pre-clinical study presents a synthetic b...Development of synthetic bone substitutes has arisen as a major research interest in the need to find an alternative to autologous bone grafts.Using an ovine model,the present pre-clinical study presents a synthetic bone graft(BonelikeVR)in combination with a cellular system as an alternative for the regeneration of non-critical defects.The association of biomaterials and cell-based therapies is a promising strategy for bone tissue engineering.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)from human dental pulp have demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo to interact with diverse biomaterial systems and promote mineral deposition,aiming at the reconstruction of osseous defects.Moreover,these cells can be found and isolated from many species.Non-critical bone defects were treated with BonelikeVR with or without MSCs obtained from the human dental pulp.Results showed that BonelikeVR and MSCs treated defects showed improved bone regeneration compared with the defects treated with BonelikeVR alone.Also,it was observed that the biomaterial matrix was reabsorbed and gradually replaced by new bone during the healing process.We therefore propose this combination as an efficient binomial strategy that promotes bone growth and vascularization in non-critical bone defects.展开更多
文摘Colorectal cancer ranks third globally,with a high mortality rate.In the United States,and different countries in Europe,organized population screenings exist and include people between 50 and 74 years of age.These screenings have allowed an early diagnosis and consequently an improvement in health indicators.Colon and rectal cancer(CRC)is a disease of particular interest due to the high global burden associated with it and the role attributed to prevention and early diagnosis in reducing morbidity and mortality.This study is a review of CRC pathology and includes the most recent scientific evidence regarding this pathology,as well as a diagnosis of the epidemiological situation of CRC.Finally,the recommendation from a public health perspective will be discussed in detail taking into account the context and the most current recommendations.
基金ALIMNOVA Research Group(UCM GR105/18)Spanish Government through the project PID2019-109365RA-I00+7 种基金Foundation for Science and Technology(FCT,Portugal)for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO(UIDB/00690/2020)LAQV(UIDB/50006/2020)CCMar(UIDB/04326/2020)CBIOS(UIDB/04567/2020)iBB-IST(UIDB/04565/2020)National funding by FCT,P.I.,through the institutional scientific employment program-contractFEDER-Interreg Espana-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_Efinancially supported by the Spanish Government through the project AGL2015-64522-C2-2-R.
文摘The nutritional composition and bioactive properties of roots and rhizomes of Asparagus stipularis were evaluated.Antioxidant activity of extracts obtained by infusion was evaluated using free radicals scavenging and reducing power methods.Porcine liver primary cell was used to check the hepatotoxicity of infusions.Results revealed that Asparagus samples are likely a source of nutrients,such as dietary fibre and essential fatty acids.HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS characterization of infusions allowed the identification and quantitation of 7 phenolic compounds,all hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives,with caffeic acid as the most abundant.Roots infusion contained the highest amounts of these compounds.It also exhibited the highest antioxidant activity in all assays,with EC_(50) values of 0.44±0.01,0.98±0.03 and 0.64±0.01 mg/mL for DPPH,ABTS and FRAP assays,respectively,with no toxicity towards PLP2 primary cell cultures(GI_(50)>400μg/mL).PLGA nanoparticles loaded with root extract were prepared using solvent-evaporation double emulsion method.Nanoparticles size was about 260 nm and a polydispersity index around 0.1,with a zeta potential of about-36 mV,as well as a good encapsulation efficiency of approximately 83%.Their morphology was analysed by SEM and spherical polymeric nanoparticles with a smooth surface were observed.FTIR and DSC were also performed,which allowed corroborating the efficacy of the encapsulation and to confirm the production of a stable and robust system to load Asparagus extracts.The developed nanoparticles are expected to be used as delivery systems for bioactive compounds of A.stipularis and they could be used as an innovative dietary supplement.
文摘Cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome related to unintentional weight loss and to loss of muscle and fat mass. In head and neck cancer (HNC) its incidence is important and not only related to a deficient intake of food due to the impact of the disease in the vital functions. A complex disturbance in the normal metabolism of the patient promotes a persistent inflammatory state and a shifting in the metabolism balance toward a catabolic predominance affecting primarily the skeletal muscle. This leads to severe impairment of the functional, emotional and social status and quality of life of the patients that will compromise response to treatment and the disease prognosis. Understanding this deleterious syndrome and mainly identifying it in early stages of the disease is of a major importance in achieving better outcomes to head and neck cancer patients. This study pretends to identify clinical aspects related to cachexia in HNC in a clinical perspective for application on the routine clinical practice. In our study, 30 HNC patients were enrolled and evaluated in terms of nutritional values (actual and loss of weight in the past 6 months, body mass index (BMI), nutritional risk index (NRI), malnutrition universal screening tool), serum biochemical markers (albumin, total proteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, urea, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and myostatin) and health related quality of life (HRQoL) evaluation (using European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaires (QLQ): EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-HN43). A minimum follow-up of 48 months was considered for all patients. Our results showed that NRI is a good and sensitive index to identify cachexia. This index uses two parameters, one constitutional (loss of weight) and one biochemical (level of serum albumin). According to this criterion, 16 patients were assigned to the No-cachexia group and 14 patients to the Cachexia group. Significant differences in the con
基金the support of Fundacao para a Ciência e Tecnologia(FCT),through the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2013 granted to MAREfunding from European Structural&Investment Funds through the COMPETE ProgrammeNational Funds through FCT-Fundacao para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under the Programme(No.SAICTPAC/0019/2015)
文摘Algae(and their extracts)are increasingly important for pharmaceutical applications due to the diversity of useful compounds they contain.The genus Fucus contains one of the most studied species,Fucus vesiculosus.The species F.ceranoides differs from the others of the genus by presenting longitudinal air-vesicles and a capacity to survive at low salinities.It is an alga that inhabits the Mondego River estuary(Portugal),at the southern limit of its distribution,and can serve as a role model to understand the effect of a salt gradient on the production of bioactive compounds.We assessed the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of different F.ceranoides extracts(e.g.methanolic,aqueous and polysaccharide)prepared from samples harvested from two different zones to evaluate if the adaptation of F.ceranoides to different salinity levels influenced its chemical composition.The antioxidant activity of the extracts was determined using 1,2-diphenyl-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH)and 2.2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS)radicals.These assays demonstrated that the methanolic extract of lyophilized F.ceranoides that grew at low salinities was the most bioactive,i.e.DPPH(IC 50=50.39μg/mL)and ABTS(TEAC=2.42).The total phenolic content(Folin-Ciocalteu method)and the methanolic extract of the lyophilized F.ceranoides collected from a low salinity habitat exhibited the highest phenolic content(PGE=49.48μg/mg of lyophilized extract)amongst those sampled.Thin layer chromatography(TLC)and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)were used for the identification of compounds in the extracts.This characterization allowed confirmation that the various extracts contained almost the same compounds but with notable quantitative differences.Based on these results,we conclude that there were differences in the quantity of the compounds due to the effect of salinity.The drying methods used were also found to have influenced the quality of the extracted compounds.
基金supported by projects REQUIMTE/LAQV-UIDB/50006/2020,UIDP/50006/2020,and LA/P/0008/2020 financed by FCT/Ministério da Ciência,Tecnologia e Ensino Superior(MCTES),through national funds。
文摘Neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases are increasingly affecting individuals’quality of life,thus increasing their cost to social and health systems.These diseases have overlapping mechanisms,such as oxidative stress,protein aggregation,neuroinflammation,neurotransmission impairment,mitochondrial dysfunction,and excitotoxicity.Currently,there is no cure for neurodegenerative diseases,and the available therapies have adverse effects and low efficacy.For neuropsychiatric disorders,such as depression,the current therapies are not adequate to one-third of the patients,the so-called treatmentresistant patients.So,searching for new treatments is fundamental.Medicinal plants appear as a strong alternative and complement towards new treatment protocols,as they have been used for health purposes for thousands of years.Thus,the main goal of this review is to revisit the neuroprotective potential of some of the most predominant medicinal plants(and one fungus)used in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM),focusing on their proven mechanisms of action and their chemical compositions,to give clues on how they can be useful against neurodegeneration progression.
基金This work received financial support from the European Union(FEDER funds POCI/01/0145/FEDER/007265)National Funds(FCT/MEC,Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia and Ministerio da Educacao e Ciencia)under the Partnership Agreement PT2020 UID/QUI/50006/2013 and through the FCT PhD Programmes and by Programa Operacional Potencial Humano(POCH)+2 种基金specifically by the BiotechHealth Programme(Doctoral Programme on Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Applied to Health Sciences),reference PD/00016/2012.J.X.S.thanks FCT and POPH for his PhD grant(SFRH/BD/98105/2013)K.D.W.acknowledges the European Unions Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No.846764URG gratefully acknowledges financial support by the German Research Council(DFG,grant RE1203/12-3).
文摘In the blossoming field of Cd-free semiconductor quantum dots(QDs),ternary Ⅰ-Ⅲ-VI QDs have received increasing attention due to the ease of the environmentally friendly synthesis of high-quality materials in water,their high photoluminescence(PL)quantum yields(QYs)in the red and near infrared(NIR)region,and their inherently low toxicity.Moreover,their oxygen-insensitive long PL lifetimes of up to several hundreds of nanoseconds close a gap for applications exploiting the compound-specific parameter PL lifetime.To overcome the lack of reproducible synthetic methodologies and to enable a design-based control of their PL properties,we assessed and modelled the synthesis of high-quality MPA-capped AglnS2/ZnS(AlS/ZnS)QDs.Systematically refined parameters included reaction time,temperature,Ag:In ratio,S:In ratio,Zn:In ratio,MPA:ln ratio,and pH using a design-of-experiment approach.Guidance for the optimization was provided by mathematical models developed for the application-relevant PL parameters,maximum PL wavelength,QY,and PL lifetime as well as the elemental composition in terms of Ag:ln:Zn ratio.With these experimental data-based models,MPA:ln and Ag:ln ratios and pH values were identified as the most important synthesis parameters for PL control and an insight into the connection of these parameters could be gained.Subsequently,the experimental conditions to synthetize QDs with tunable emission and high QY were predicted.The excellent agreement between the predicted and experimentally found PL features confirmed the reliability of our methodology for the rational design of high quality AlS/ZnS QDs with defined PL features.This approach can be straightforwardly extended to other ternary and quaternary QDs and to doped QDs.
基金support provided by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.42277485,21976141,22102123)the Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province(No.2021CFA034)+3 种基金the Department of Education of Hubei Province(Nos.T2020011,Q20211712)the Opening Project of Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass Fibers and Eco-Dyeing&Finishing(Nos.STRZ202202,STRZ202101)is gratefully acknowledged.S.A.C.C.acknowledges Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(FCT)Portuqal for Scientific Employment Stimulus-Institutional Call(CEEC-INST/00102/2018)and Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES(UIDB/50006/2020,UIDP/5006/2020).
文摘Catalytic transfer hydrogenation(CTH)is a green and efficient pathway for selective hydrogenation of unsaturated aldehydes and ketones.However,managing the abilities of solid catalysts to adsorb substrates and to convert them into desired products is a challenging task.Herein,we report the synthesis of carbon coated LaFe_(0.92)Pd_(0.08)O_(3) composites(LFPO-8@C)for CTH of benzaldehyde(BzH)into benzyl alcohol(BzOH),using isopropanol(IPA)as hydrogen source.The coating with carbon improves the ability to adsorb/transfer reactants from solution to active sites,and the doping of Pd2+at Fe3+site strengthens the ability of LaFeO_(3) to convert BzH into BzOH.A balanced point between them(i.e.,abilities to adsorb BzH and to convert BzH into BzOH)is obtained at LFPO-8@C,which exhibits a BzOH formation rate of 3.88 mmol·gcat^(-1)·h^(-1) at 180℃ for 3 h,which is 1.50 and 2.72 times faster than those of LFPO-8 and LaFeO_(3)@C.A reaction mechanism is proposed,in which the acidic sites(e.g.,Fe^(4+),oxygen vacancy)are used for the activation of C=O bond of BzH and O-H bond of IPA,and the basic sites(e.g.,lattice oxygen)for the activation ofα-H(O-H)bond of IPA.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China,Grant/Award Numbers:42277485,21976141,22272197,22102184,22102136,U22A20392Natural Science Foundation of Hubei Province,Grant/Award Numbers:2022CFB1001,2021CFA034+1 种基金Department of Education of Hubei Province,Grant/Award Numbers:Q20221701,Q20221704Joint Fund of Yulin University and Dalian National Laboratory for Clean Energy,Grant/Award Number:YLU-DNL Fund 2022008。
文摘The electrocatalytic synthesis of C-N coupling compounds from CO_(2) and nitrogenous species not only offers an effective avenue to achieve carbon neutral-ity and reduce environmental pollution,but also establishes a route to synthesize valuable chemicals,such as urea,amide,and amine.This innovative approach expands the application range and product categories beyond simple carbona-ceous species in electrocatalytic CO_(2) reduction,which is becoming a rapidly advancing field.This review summarizes the research progress in electrocatalytic urea synthesis,using N_(2),NO_(2)^(-),and NO_(3)^(-)as nitrogenous species,and explores emerging trends in the electrosynthesis of amide and amine from CO_(2) and nitro-gen species.Additionally,the future opportunities in this field are highlighted,including electrosynthesis of amino acids and other compounds containing C-N bonds,anodic C-N coupling reactions beyond water oxidation,and the catalytic mechanism of corresponding reactions.This critical review also captures the insights aimed at accelerating the development of electrochemical C-N coupling reactions,confirming the superiority of this electrochemical method over the traditional techniques.
文摘Background:Pain associated with cancer is one of the greatest causes of reduced quality of life in patients.Acupuncture is one of the treatments used to address this issue,with the great advantage of having little or no side effects,especially when compared with pharmacological pain-killers.Objective:The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the current evidence regarding the efficacy of acupuncture for cancer pain.Search strategy:Six electronic databases(PubMed,EBSCO,Cochrane Library,Scielo,b-On and Scopus)were searched for relevant articles about pain relief in cancer patients from their beginning until 2022using MeSH terms such as“acupuncture,”“electroacupuncture,”“ear acupuncture,”“acupuncture analgesia,”“oncological pain,”and“cancer pain.”Inclusion criteria:Studies included were randomized controlled trials(RCTs)where acupuncture was compared with no treatment,placebo acupuncture or usual care.Data extraction and analysis:Three independent reviewers participated in data extraction and evaluation of risk of bias,and a meta-analysis was conducted.The primary outcome was pain intensity,measured with the visual analog scale,numeric rating scale,or brief pain inventory.Secondary outcomes also assessed were quality of life,functionality,xerostomia,pain interference,and analgesic consumption.Results were expressed as standardized mean difference(SMD)with 95%confidence interval(CI).Results:Sixteen RCTs with a total of 1124 participants were included in the meta-analysis,with the majority of the studies presenting a low or unclear risk of bias.Acupuncture was more effective in reducing pain than no treatment(SMD=–0.90,95%CI[–1.68,–0.12]),sham acupuncture(SMD=–1.10,95%CI[–1.59,–0.61])or usual care(SMD=–1.16,95%CI[–1.38,–0.93]).Conclusion:The results of this study suggest that acupuncture may be an effective intervention to reduce pain associated with cancer.Despite some limitations due to the low quality and small sample size of some included studies,
基金FCT(Portugal's Foundation for Science and Technology)for financial support through the CQ-VR(UIDB/00616/2020,UIDP/00616/2020),CQE/Institute of Molecular Sciences(UIBD/00100/2020,UIPD/00100/2020 and LA/P/0056/2020),Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences-iBB/Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy-i4HB(UIDB/04565/2020,UIDP/04565/2020,and LA/P/0140/2020)FCT,MCTES,ESF,and EU through the individual research Ph.D.for the Ph.D.scholarship(SFRH/BD/138425/2018)+1 种基金FCT for funding through the Scientific Employment Stimulus—Institutional Call(Ref.CEECINST/00136/2021)the EPSRC funded National Research Facility(EP/W014521/1)。
文摘Dialysis plays a crucial role in the purification of nanomaterials but its impact on the structural properties of carbon nanomaterials was never investigated.Herein,a carbon-based nanomaterial generated electrochemically in potassium phosphate buffer,was characterized before and after dialysis against pure water.It is shown that dialysis affects the size of the carbon domains,structural organization,surface functionalization,oxidation degree of carbon,and grade of amorphicity.Accordingly,dialysis drives the nanomaterial organization from discrete roundish carbon domains,with sizes ranging from 70 to 160 nm,towards linear stacking structures of small nanoparticles(<15 nm).In parallel,alcohol and ether(epoxide)surface groups evolve into more oxidized carbon groups(e.g.,ketone and ester groups).Investigation of the as-prepared nanomaterial by electron paramagnetic resonance(EPR)revealed a resonance signal consistent with carbon-oxygen centred radicals.Additionally,this study brings to light the selective affinity of the carbon nanomaterial under study to capture Na^(+)ions,a property greatly enhanced by the dialysis process,and its high ability to trap oxygen,particularly before dialysis.These findings open new perspectives for the application of carbon-based nanomaterials and raise awareness of the importance of structural changes that can occur during the purification of carbon-based nanomaterials.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.52370109,51808080 and 21707036)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(No.2022M710830)+8 种基金the Venture and Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees(No.cx2022005)the Natural Scienceof CQ CSTC(No.CSTB2022NSCQMSX1267)Chongqing Natural Science Postdoctoral Fund(No.cstc2019jcyj-bsh0107)the Research Project of Chongqing Education Commission Foundation(Nos.KJQN201800826,KJQN202000818 and KJQN202200830&KJQN201800840)the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission of China(No.KJZD-K202100801)the Post-doctoral Program Funded by Chongqing,Chongqing University Innovation Research Group project(No.CXQT21023)the High Level Talent Scientific Research Startup Project of Chongqing Technology and Business University(No.1956044)support from FCT/MCTES(Fundacao para a Ciência e Tecnologia and Ministério da Ciência,Tecnologia e Ensino Superior)(Nos.UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020)for the Scientific Employment Stimulus-Institutional Call(No.CEECINST/00102/2018)。
文摘Natural minerals,abundant and easily obtained through simple physical processing,offer a cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution for dyeing wastewater disposal and air pollution treatment.This study investigates the photocatalytic removal of NO using natural different types of dyes,loaded on natural sand,under visible light illumination.By examining various coating concentrations of dyes and sand weights,we discovered that sand loaded with Rhodamine B(RhB)exhibits high activity for the photo-oxidation of NO.A combination results of X-ray diffraction(XRD),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR)and thermogravimetric(TG)analyses confirm the presence of SiO_(2),CaCO_(3),Al_(2)O_(3)and iron oxides as the main components of the sand.Furthermore,studying RhB-loaded individual components reveals that CaCO_(3)plays a crucial role in enhancing the NO removal rate.Experimental results and theoretical calculations demonstrate the establishment of a directional charge transfer channel from CaCO_(3)to RhB,facilitating the adsorption and activation of molecular NO and O_(2).This work not only promotes the utilization of natural mineral resources but also enriches the fields of environmental photochemistry and semiconductor photocatalysis.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51808080)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M710830)+4 种基金the Venture and Innovation Support Program for Chongqing Overseas Returnees(cx2022005)the Natural Science Foundation Project of CQ CSTC(CSTB2022NSCQ-MSX1267)the Science and Technology Research Program of Chongqing Municipal Education Commission of China(KJQN201800826&KJZD-K202100801)the Post-doctoral Program Funded by Chongqing,Chongqing University Innovation Research Group project(CXQT21023)Funda??o para a Ciência e a Tecnologia/Ministério da Ciência,Tecnologia e Ensino Superior(Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology/Ministery for Science,Technology and Higher Education)(CEECINST/00102/2018,UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020 from LAQV)。
基金supported by the Fundacao para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (SFRH/BD/148771/2019,2021.05914.BD, PTDC/BTM-MAT/4738/2020)the European Research CouncilDERC Starting Grant (848325).
文摘A bio-inspired strategy has recently been developed for camouflaging nanocarriers with biomembranes,such as natural cell membranes or subcellular structure-derived membranes.This strategy endows cloaked nanomaterials with improved interfacial properties,superior cell targeting,immune evasion potential,and prolonged duration of systemic circulation.Here,we summarize recent advances in the production and application of exosomal membrane-coated nanomaterials.The structure,properties,and manner in which exosomes communicate with cells are first reviewed.This is followed by a discussion of the types of exosomes and their fabrication methods.We then discuss the applications of biomimetic exosomes and membrane-cloaked nanocarriers in tissue engineering,regenerative medicine,imaging,and the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.Finally,we appraise the current challenges associated with the clinical translation of biomimetic exosomal membrane-surface-engineered nanovehicles and evaluate the future of this technology.
文摘Fungi and bacteria afflict humans with innumerous pathogen-related infections and ailments.Most of the commonly employed microbicidal agents target commensal and pathogenic microorganisms without discrimination.To distinguish and fight the pathogenic species out of the microflora,novel antimicrobials have been developed that selectively target specific bacteria and fungi.The cell wall features and antimicrobial mechanisms that these microorganisms involved in are highlighted in the present review.This is followed by reviewing the design of antimicrobials that selectively combat a specific community of microbes including Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains as well as fungi.Finally,recent advances in the antimicrobial immunomodulation strategy that enables treating microorganism infections with high specificity are reviewed.These basic tenets will enable the avid reader to design novel approaches and compounds for antibacterial and antifungal applications.
基金the following organisations is gratefully acknowledged:the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.21976141,22102123,42277485)the Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province(Grant No.2021CFA034)+3 种基金the Department of Education of Hubei Province(Grant Nos.T2020011,Q20211712)the Opening Project of Hubei Key Laboratory of Biomass Fibers and Eco-Dyeing&Finishing(Grant No.STRZ202101)and the South Africa National Research Foundation(No.137947)SACC acknowledges Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(FCT),Portugal for Scientific Employment Stimulus-Institutional Call(Grant No.CEECINST/00102/2018)Associate Laboratory for Green Chemistry-LAQV financed by national funds from FCT/MCTES(Grant Nos.UIDB/50006/2020 and UIDP/5006/2020).
文摘With the rapid development of industry,volatile organic compounds(VOCs)are gaining attention as a class of pollutants that need to be eliminated due to their adverse effects on the environment and human health.Catalytic combustion is the most popular technology used for the removal of VOCs as it can be adapted to different organic emissions under mild conditions.This review first introduces the hazards of VOCs,their treatment technologies,and summarizes the treatment mechanism issues.Next,the characteristics and catalytic performance of perovskite oxides as catalysts for VOC removal are expounded,with a special focus on lattice distortions and surface defects caused by metal doping and surface modifications,and on the treatment of different VOCs.The challenges and the prospects regarding the design of perovskite oxides catalysts for the catalytic combustion of VOCs are also discussed.This review provides a reference base for improving the performance of perovskite catalysts to treat VOCs.
基金The work was supported by UID/QUI/50006/2019 and UID/AGR/00690/2019 with funding from FCT/MCTES.J.C.M.Barreira is grateful for his CEEC contract.M.Antónia Nunes(SFRH/BD/130131/2017)F.B.Pimentel(SFRH/BD/109042/2015)thank FCT and European Social Fund through Programa Operacional Capital Humano.
文摘Nowadays,food security is a global concern and a great scientific challenge.Agro-industrial by-products can be used as potential ingredients of innovative food products,contributing to solve this societal demand.By-products of high specialty oils processing,for instance,have remarkable nutritional and organoleptic properties.Accordingly,the partially delipidified almond flour(PDAF)remaining from almond oil extraction,was used as an alternative ingredient in a highly appreciated almond-based cookie(“almendrados”).For comparison purposes,four different“almendrados”formulations(one industrial,two with PDAF,and one with whole almond flour),were compared regarding nutritional composition,vitamin E and fatty acids profiles.To assess the cookie sensory properties,seventy-four consumers evaluated“appearance”,“taste”,“sweetness”,“crunchiness”,“hardness”,“overall quality”using adequate hedonic scales.Fat and protein levels showed significant differences among industrial and the other three samples.Cookies with PDAF presented similar tocopherols and fatty acids to the traditional(more expensive)formulation,besides reaching the highest scores on“appearance”,“sweetness”,“hardness”,“overall quality”and“buying predisposition”parameters.Accordingly,the incorporation of PDAF might represent an effective way of adding value to an industrial by-product,while providing a pleasant novel cookie formulation.
文摘The application of novel methodologies to the synthesis of nanomaterials is still a challenge in many different technological and scientific fields.New efficient and reproducible synthetic methodologies,that produce fewer residues and reduce the cost of raw materials must be developed.In the present work,we have explored the attractive possibility to apply the cheap iron (Ⅱ) sulphate salt in the reduction process of the K2PtCl4 to produce colloids suspensions.The synthesis took places in water and was assisted by sodium citrate (SC) using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a surfactant.The adjustment of this novelty process allows obtaining well-dispersed and sub-20 nm dendrimer-type platinum nanoparticles (Pt D-NPs).The nano-dendrimers produced have been characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS),transmission electron microscopy (TEM),high-resolution TEM (HR-TEM),XRD spectroscopy,inductive couple plasma (ICP) analysis,Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy.Interesting conformational results derived from the size and shape will be discussed.Catalytic application of the Pt D-NPs has been explored in the reduction of p-nitrophenol (p-NP) to p-aminophenol (p-AP) in aqueous media at room temperature obtained TOF value of 253 min^-1.Finally,our Pt D-NPs were tested as artificial metalloenzyme showing catechol oxidase activity for oxidation of L-DOPA.
文摘The development of biotechnology-based active pharmaceutical ingredients, such as GLP-1 analogs, brought changes in type 2 diabetes treatment options. For better therapeutic efficiency, these active pharmaceutical ingredients require appropriate administration, without the development of adverse effects or toxicity. Therefore, it is required to develop several quantification methods for GLP-1 analogs products, in order to achieve the therapeutic goals, among which ELISA and HPLC arise. These methods are developed, optimized and validated in order to determine GLP-1 analogs, not only in final formulation of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, but also during preclinical and clinical trials assessment. This review highlights the role of ELISA and HPLC methods that have been used during the assessment for GLP-1 analogs, especially for exenatide.
基金the China Scholarship Council and The University of Queensland scholarshipsAustralian Research Council(ARC)financial support(No.FT130100405)support from the ARC via the Future Fellowship Program(No.FT130100405)
文摘This work investigates the effect of cerium substation into strontium cobalt perovskites(CeSrCoO)for the oxidative degradation of OrangeⅡ(OII)in dark ambient conditions without the aid of any external stimulants such as light,heating or chemical additives.The OII degradation rate by CeSrCoO reached 65%in the first hour,whilst for the blank sample without cerium(SrCoO)took over 2 hr to reach the same level of OII degradation.Hence,the cerium substitution improved the catalytic activity of the perovskite material,mainly associated with the Ce0.1Sr0.9CoO3 perovskite phase.Upon contacting CeSrCoO,the-N=Nazo bonds of the OII molecules broke down resulting in electron donation and the formation of by-products.The electrons are injected into the CeSrCoO and resulted in a redox pair of Co3+/Co2+,establishing a bridge for the electron transfer between OII and the catalysts.Concomitantly,the electrons also formed reactive species(·OH)responsible for OII degradation as evidenced by radical trapping experiment.Reactive species were formed via the reaction between 02 and donated electrons from OII with the aid of cobalt redox pair.As the prepared materials dispensed with the need for light irradiation and additional oxidants,it opens a window of environmental applications for treating contaminated wastewaters.
基金This research was supported by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte(ON.2–O Novo Norte),QREN,FEDER with the project‘iBone Therapies:Terapias inovadoras para a regenerac¸~ao o´ssea’,ref.NORTE-01-0247-FEDER-003262,and by the programme COMPETE–Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade,Projects PEst-OE/AGR/UI0211/2011 and PEst-C/EME/UI0285/2013 funding from FCT.This research was also supported by Programa Operacional Competitividade e Internacionalizac¸~ao(P2020),Fundos Europeus Estruturais e de Investimento(FEEI)and FCT with the project‘BioMate—A novel bio-manufacturing system to produce bioactive scaffolds for tissue engineering’with reference PTDC/EMS-SIS/7032/2014 and by COMPETE 2020,from ANI—Projectos ID&T Empresas em Copromoc¸~ao,Programas Operacionais POCI,by the project‘insitu.Biomas-Reinvent biomanufacturing systems by using an usability approach for in situ clinic temporary implants fabrication’with the reference POCI-01-0247-FEDER-017771.The research was also supported by the research project‘BEPIM III–Microdispositivos me´dicos com capacidades osteintegradoras por micoPIM’,with the reference POCI-01-0247-FEDER-017935,from Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional(FEDER),by the Programa Operacional da Competitividade&Internacionalizac¸~ao.Ana Rita Caseiro(SFRH/BD/101174/2014)acknowledges FCT,for financial support.
文摘Development of synthetic bone substitutes has arisen as a major research interest in the need to find an alternative to autologous bone grafts.Using an ovine model,the present pre-clinical study presents a synthetic bone graft(BonelikeVR)in combination with a cellular system as an alternative for the regeneration of non-critical defects.The association of biomaterials and cell-based therapies is a promising strategy for bone tissue engineering.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)from human dental pulp have demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo to interact with diverse biomaterial systems and promote mineral deposition,aiming at the reconstruction of osseous defects.Moreover,these cells can be found and isolated from many species.Non-critical bone defects were treated with BonelikeVR with or without MSCs obtained from the human dental pulp.Results showed that BonelikeVR and MSCs treated defects showed improved bone regeneration compared with the defects treated with BonelikeVR alone.Also,it was observed that the biomaterial matrix was reabsorbed and gradually replaced by new bone during the healing process.We therefore propose this combination as an efficient binomial strategy that promotes bone growth and vascularization in non-critical bone defects.
