Activity

Lettuce is the most consumed leafy vegetable though the most popular varieties have a low nutritional value. Our objective was to accurately quantify vitamin C and anthocyanins in wild relatives, and commercial and traditional varieties. Wild species and traditional varieties contained more total ascorbic acid (TAA) than commercial varieties (21% and 8%, respectively). In contrast, commercial varieties had significantly higher content of anthocyanins than traditional varieties and wild species (6 and 8 times more, respectively). TAA was significantly higher in green than in red lettuces (18%). TAA was also significantly higher in the leaves of two wild species than in stems. Pirfenidone Cyanidin 3-O-(6′-O-malonylglucoside) was the most abundant anthocyanin (97%), present in most samples. The rankings of accessions by vitamin C and anthocyanin contents can be useful for consumers worried about the impacts of food on their wellbeing and for breeders aiming to improve lettuce by biofortification with health-promoting compounds.Formononetin (FORM) is an isoflavone from the group of phytoestrogens that exhibits a broad spectrum of physiological effects beneficial to health through dependent and independent mechanisms of estrogen. This article aimed to present FORM main functions and future prospects for applications in different areas. Scientific publications and patents dated between 1998 and 2019 were analyzed. FORM has potential as an active compound of interest to product development for the industries of food, medicine, and cosmetics, among others. Moreover, in the medical area, this active compound has shown potential in the prevention and treatment of several diseases, including chronic ones, such as cancer, obesity, and neurodegenerative diseases.Stinging nettle is appreciated for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which renders the plant a popular ingredient in a healthy diet in form of salads or smoothies. The most common use, presumably, is of dried leaves as ingredient in tea mixtures. The plant’s health benefits are attributed primarily to phenolic phytochemicals. Here we describe the characterization and quantification of a phylloxanthobilin (PxB), a yellow chlorophyll catabolite, in nettle tea. Despite their abundance in the plant kingdom, chlorophyll catabolites have been overlooked as phytochemicals and as part of human nutrition. Our investigations of tea reveal that one cup of nettle tea contains about 50 µg of PxB with large variations depending on the supplier. When investigating the bioactivities of PxB, our observations show that PxB has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities comparable to known bioactive small molecules found in nettle, indicating the phylloxanthobilin to be an overlooked ingredient of nettle tea.This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) on the basic properties of soy protein isolate films, and especially to propose the corresponding formation mechanism. Tensile strength, barrier properties, and water resistance were effectively improved after the formation of nanocomposite films. Incorporating CNC could restrict water mobility and improve the viscoelastic properties of films. Appropriate content of CNC (0.50% and 0.75%) promoted the construction of a more homogeneous and compact film structure, which may be attributed to the CNC-induced conformational modifications and the enhanced hydrophobic and hydrogen-bond interactions. While excessive CNC (1.00%) was not conducive to the integrity and continuity of film structures, resulting in the weakened functional properties. The obtained films were able to decrease total viable counts and total volatile basic nitrogen of stored pork, and extend the shelf-life of strawberry. This work offers a theoretical basis for the application of CNC in packaging industry.Galectin-3 plays a crucial role in cancerogenesis; its targeting is a prospective pathway in cancer diagnostics and therapy. Multivalent presentation of glycans was shown to strongly increase the affinity of glycoconjugates to galectin-3. Further strengthening of interaction with galectin-3 may be accomplished using artificial glycomimetics with apt aryl substitutions. We established a new, as yet undescribed chemoenzymatic method to produce selective C-3-substituted N,N’-diacetyllactosamine glycomimetics and coupled them to human serum albumin. From a library of enzymes, only β-N-acetylhexosaminidase from Talaromyces flavus was able to efficiently synthesize the C-3-propargylated disaccharide. Various aryl residues were attached to the functionalized N,N’-diacetyllactosamine via click chemistry to assess the impact of the aromatic substitution. In ELISA-type assays with galectin-3, free glycomimetics exhibited up to 43-fold stronger inhibitory potency to Gal-3 than the lactose standard. Coupling to human serum albumin afforded multivalent neo-glycoproteins with up to 4209-fold increased inhibitory potency per glycan compared to the monovalent lactose standard. Surface plasmon resonance brought further information on the kinetics of galectin-3 inhibition. The potential of prepared neo-glycoproteins to target galectin-3 was demonstrated on colorectal adenocarcinoma DLD-1 cells. We investigated the uptake of neo-glycoproteins into cells and observed limited non-specific transport into the cytoplasm. Therefore, neo-glycoproteins primarily act as efficient scavengers of exogenous galectin-3 of cancer cells, inhibiting its interaction with the cell surface, and protecting T-lymphocytes against galectin-3-induced apoptosis. The present neo-glycoproteins combine the advantage of a straightforward synthesis, selectivity, non-toxicity, and high efficiency for targeting exogenous galectin-3, with possible application in the immunomodulatory treatment of galectin-3-overexpressing cancers.Triciribine (TCN) is a tricyclic nucleoside analog of adenosine and an inhibitor of Akt kinase. Triciribine 5′-monophosphate (TCNP) is a water-soluble analog of Triciribine and has progressed to Phase I and II clinical trials in oncology. TCNP is also an endogenous anabolite of TCN similar to other nucleoside phosphates. Clinical development of TCNP has been hampered by high pharmacokinetic variability due to complex interplay of TCN-TCNP conversion and reconversion in plasma, erythrocytes (RBC) and peripheral organs. TCN has been demonstrated to be an efficacious agent in mice models of acute lung injury at low doses (0.5 mg/kg/day) although its pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship remained unclear. We have developed and validated a sensitive, specific and robust LC/MS/MS assay for quantitation of TCN and TCNP in plasma and RBC. Using a simple protein precipitation method, quantitation of these analytes was accomplished with recoveries exceeding 85% and with a run time of 4 min. This assay was used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of TCN and TCNP in mice after single dose intravenous administration at 1, 3 and 10 mg/kg. TCNP accumulates in RBC, has low clearance and a half-life of 18 to 23 h. Unlike other nucleoside phosphates, TCNP was found to be relatively stable in mice plasma serving as a secondary depot. TCN levels were low and with high clearance relative to hepatic blood flow. A combination of sustained levels of TCNP in RBC and plasma serves as a depot for TCN to elicit robust therapeutic activity in acute lung injury mice models.

One possible complication after mechanical thrombectomy is hemorrhage. In conventional CT it is often difficult to differ between extravasation of iodinated contrast medium and blood. link2 This differentiation, however, is essential for treatments with anticoagulants and antiplatelets.

To evaluate dual-layer spectral Computed Tomography (DLSCT) for the differentiation between intracranial hemorrhage and iodinated contrast medium in ischemic stroke patients after mechanical thrombectomy.

First, in vitro experiments were performed. Then, head CT images of 47 patients after mechanical thrombectomy were analyzed. Virtual non-contrast (VNC) images and iodine density maps (IDM) were calculated and evaluated. Region of interests (ROIs) analyses were performed. Sensitivity and specificity as well as ROC curves were calculated.

IDM and VNC images enabled clear differentiation between blood and iodine and reliable quantification of different iodine concentrations in vitro. A total of 23 hyperdense areas were detected in 13 patients, classified as hemorrhage (n=7), iodinated contrast medium (n=4) and a mixture of both (n=12). Sensitivity and specificity for the detection of blood was 100%.

DLSCT enables differentiation between intracranial hemorrhage and iodinated contrast medium in patients after mechanical thrombectomy and might improve diagnostic imaging in post-interventional stroke patients.

DLSCT enables differentiation between intracranial hemorrhage and iodinated contrast medium in patients after mechanical thrombectomy and might improve diagnostic imaging in post-interventional stroke patients.

Motivation is a fundamental element of human behavior and learning. We believe that this aspect has not been sufficiently addressed in the field of simulation-based learning in nursing.

The aim of this study was to explore the views and perspectives of students involved in simulation-based learning related to their process of motivation. Also, to identify the motivational elements they perceived, as well as the aspects that could reduce their motivation in the simulation sessions.

A qualitative study was conducted based on content analysis from 7 focus groups composed of simulation students (n=101).

The study obtained 26 subcategories, 10 categories, and 2 emerging themes (in total, 17 motivational elements and 7 demotivational elements).

The motivational elements were related with the non-directive/imposing style of the facilitator, the adequate structure and planning of the sessions, the possibility of transferring what was learned to the real world, and especially the atmosphere created in the simulation session. The main demotivational elements were directed simulation, an uncomfortable environment, and the planning and structure of the sessions (with an excessive theoretical content or with stringent evaluations).

The motivational elements were related with the non-directive/imposing style of the facilitator, the adequate structure and planning of the sessions, the possibility of transferring what was learned to the real world, and especially the atmosphere created in the simulation session. The main demotivational elements were directed simulation, an uncomfortable environment, and the planning and structure of the sessions (with an excessive theoretical content or with stringent evaluations).

Concepts such as racism, oppression and social justice are critical curricular inclusions in nursing education. However, traditional approaches to nursing education often fail to produce the desired reflection and change amongst students. There is an urgent need to develop nursing educators that can step outside the rigidity of the curricular status quo and engage students with pedagogies that support critical reflection, analysis and action. link3 Participatory, experiential and interactive theatrical methods rooted in critical pedagogy, such as Theatre of the Oppressed (TO) and Forum Theatre (FT) may prove more effective at engendering reflection, analysis and action.

The study explores health care providers’ (including nurses, nurse educators and allied health professionals) and nursing students’ experiences, reflections and usefulness of TO and FT as nursing pedagogies.

Influenced by Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed and Boal’s Theatre of the Oppressed, this study was conducted on a Western Canadian university campus.