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Increasing exposure to unfavorable temperatures and water deficit imposes major constraints on most crops worldwide. Despite several studies regarding coffee responses to abiotic stresses, transcriptome modulation due to simultaneous stresses remains poorly understood. This study unravels transcriptomic responses under the combined action of drought and temperature in leaves from the two most traded species: Coffea canephora cv. Conilon Clone 153 (CL153) and C. arabica cv. Icatu. Substantial transcriptomic changes were found, especially in response to the combination of stresses that cannot be explained by an additive effect. A large number of genes were involved in stress responses, with photosynthesis and other physiologically related genes usually being negatively affected. In both genotypes, genes encoding for protective proteins, such as dehydrins and heat shock proteins, were positively regulated. Transcription factors (TFs), including MADS-box genes, were down-regulated, although responses were genotype-dependent. In contrast to Icatu, only a few drought- and heat-responsive DEGs were recorded in CL153, which also reacted more significantly in terms of the number of DEGs and enriched GO terms, suggesting a high ability to cope with stresses. This research provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying leaf Coffea responses to drought and heat, revealing their influence on gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Grape agri-food wastes, such as skin, seeds, and other discarded by-products, contain phytochemical compounds that offer potential health benefits. Methods: This study aimed to investigate the polyphenol composition and bioactivities of different extracts obtained from grape marc and seeds, with the goal of exploring their potential for application as natural food additives. Results: Regardless of the extraction method used (dynamic maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)), all extracts exhibited relatively high concentrations of phenolic compounds. The chemical characterization of the extracts revealed the presence of specific compounds and chemical groups associated with each extraction methodology. Moreover, the extracts displayed satisfactory antioxidant activities, especially in inhibiting lipoperoxidation as assessed by the TBARS assay. Additionally, the extracts demonstrated effective inhibition against different strains of bacteria and fungi known as food contaminants. Taken together, these findings indicate that those extracts have the potential to be tested as natural antioxidants and preservatives with sustainable origins in food and beverage systems. Among the extraction methods evaluated, traditional maceration and UAE provided extracts with the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Conclusions: Our results suggest the opportunity to explore grape marc and seeds discarded by the winery industry in Portugal as natural sources of bioactive compounds, which could be employed as functional food ingredients or technological additives. The valorization of grape biowastes offers a promising strategy to reduce waste and harness their potential health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opportunities for the valorisation of agro-industrial residues of the chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) production chain have been fostered with the production of multifunctional polyphenol-rich extracts with the potential to be introduced as natural additives or active components in several products. Nonetheless, it is crucial to explore the feasibility of different extracts from the various by-products for these applications through the exhaustive study of their composition and bioactivities without losing sight of the sustainable character of the process. This work aimed at the screening of the phenolic compound composition and bioactivities of different green extracts of chestnut burs, shells and leaves, as the first step to establish their potential application as natural ingredients, primarily as food preservatives. To this end, maceration (MAC) as a conventional extraction method besides ultrasound and microwave-assisted extractions (UAE and MAE) was employed to obtain the extracts from chestnut by-products using water (W) and hydroethanolic solution (HE) as solvents. Phenolic compounds were analysed by HPLC-DAD-(ESI-)MS/MS; the antioxidant capacity was assessed by colourimetric assays, and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated against several strains of food-borne bacteria and fungi. The leaf extracts obtained by MAC-HE and UAE-HE presented the highest concentration of phenolic compounds (70.92 ± 2.72 and 53.97 ± 2.41 mg.g−1 extract dw, respectively), whereas, for burs and shells, the highest recovery of total phenolic compounds was achieved by using UAE-HE and UAE-W (36.87 ± 1.09 and 23.03 ± 0.26 mg.g−1 extract dw, respectively). Bis-HHDP-glucose isomers, chestanin and gallic acid were among the most abundant compounds. Bur extracts (MAC-HE and UAE-HE) generally presented the highest antioxidant capacity as measured by TBARS, while the best results in DPPH and reducing power assays were found for shell extracts (MAE-W and MAC-HE). Promising antibacterial activity was noticed for the aqueous extracts of burs, leaves and hydroethanolic extracts of shells, with emphasis on the MAE-W extract of burs that showed bactericidal activity against E. cloacae, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus (MBC 5 mg.mL−1). Overall, it can be concluded that chestnut by-products, including burs, shells and leaves, are sources of polyphenolic compounds with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The choice of extraction method and solvent greatly influenced the composition and bioactivity of the extracts. These findings highlight the potential of chestnut by-products for the development of natural additives, particularly for food preservation, while also emphasizing the importance of sustainable utilization of agricultural waste materials. Further research is warranted to optimize extraction techniques and explore additional applications for these valuable bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Limonium Mill. (sea lavenders) includes species with sexual and apomixis reproductive strategies, although the genes involved in these processes are unknown. To explore the mechanisms beyond these reproduction modes, transcriptome profiling of sexual, male sterile, and facultative apomictic species was carried out using ovules from different developmental stages. In total, 15,166 unigenes were found to be differentially expressed with apomictic vs. sexual reproduction, of which 4275 were uniquely annotated using an Arabidopsis thaliana database, with different regulations according to each stage and/or species compared. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated that genes related to tubulin, actin, the ubiquitin degradation process, reactive oxygen species scavenging, hormone signaling such as the ethylene signaling pathway and gibberellic acid-dependent signal, and transcription factors were found among differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between apomictic and sexual plants. We found that 24% of uniquely annotated DEGs were likely to be implicated in flower development, male sterility, pollen formation, pollen-stigma interactions, and pollen tube formation. The present study identifies candidate genes that are highly associated with distinct reproductive modes and sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of apomixis expression in Limonium sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology-based strategies have played a pivotal role in innovative products in different technological fields, including medicine, agriculture, and engineering. The redesign of the nanometric scale has improved drug targeting and delivery, diagnosis, water treatment, and analytical methods. Although efficiency brings benefits, toxicity in organisms and the environment is a concern, particularly in light of global climate change and plastic disposal in the environment. Therefore, to measure such effects, alternative models enable the assessment of impacts on both functional properties and toxicity. Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode model that poses valuable advantages such as transparency, sensibility in responding to exogenous compounds, fast response to perturbations besides the possibility to replicate human disease through transgenics. Herein, we discuss the applications of C. elegans to nanomaterial safety and efficacy evaluations from one health perspective. We also highlight the directions for developing appropriate techniques to safely adopt magnetic and organic nanoparticles, and carbon nanosystems. A description was given of the specifics of targeting and treatment, especially for health purposes. Finally, we discuss C. elegans potential for studying the impacts caused by nanopesticides and nanoplastics as emerging contaminants, pointing out gaps in environmental studies related to toxicity, analytical methods, and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major constraint to plant growth and productivity worldwide and will aggravate as water availability becomes scarcer. Although elevated air [CO2] might mitigate some of these effects in plants, the mechanisms underlying the involved responses are poorly understood in woody economically important crops such as Coffea. This study analyzed transcriptome changes in Coffea canephora cv. CL153 and C. arabica cv. Icatu exposed to moderate (MWD) or severe water deficits (SWD) and grown under ambient (aCO2) or elevated (eCO2) air [CO2]. We found that changes in expression levels and regulatory pathways were barely affected by MWD, while the SWD condition led to a down-regulation of most differentially expressed genes (DEGs). eCO2 attenuated the impacts of drought in the transcripts of both genotypes but mostly in Icatu, in agreement with physiological and metabolic studies. A predominance of protective and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging-related genes, directly or indirectly associated with ABA signaling pathways, was found in Coffea responses, including genes involved in water deprivation and desiccation, such as protein phosphatases in Icatu, and aspartic proteases and dehydrins in CL153, whose expression was validated by qRT-PCR. The existence of a complex post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism appears to occur in Coffea explaining some apparent discrepancies between transcriptomic, proteomic, and physiological data in these genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcomas are rare malignant mesenchymal neoplasms, and the knowledge of tumor biology and genomics is scarce. Chemotherapy is the standard of care in advanced disease, with poor outcomes. Identifying actionable genomic alterations may offer effective salvage therapeutic options when previous lines have failed. Here, we report a retrospective cohort study of sarcoma patients followed at our center and submitted to comprehensive genomic profiling between January 2020 and June 2021. Thirty patients were included, most (96.7%) with reportable genomic alterations. The most common alterations were linked to cell cycle regulation (TP53, CDKN2A/B, and RB1 deletions and CDK4, MDM2, and MYC amplifications). Most patients (96.7%) had microsatellite stability and low tumor mutational burden (≤10 muts/megabase (Mb); median 2 Muts/Mb). Two-thirds of patients had actionable mutations for targeted treatments, including five cases with alterations amenable to targeted therapies with clinical benefit within the patient's tumor type, ten cases with targetable alterations with clinical benefit in other tumor types, and five cases with alterations amenable to targeting with drugs under investigation in a clinical trial setting. A significant proportion of cases in this study had actionable genomic alterations with available targeted drugs. Next-generation sequencing is a feasible option for identifying molecular drivers that can provide therapeutic options for individual patients. Molecular Tumor Boards should be implemented in the clinical practice to discuss genomic findings and inform clinically relevant targeted therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change and the accelerated rate of population growth are imposing a progressive degradation of natural ecosystems worldwide. In this context, the use of pioneer trees represents a powerful approach to reverse the situation. Among others, N2-fixing actinorhizal trees constitute important elements of plant communities and have been successfully used in land reclamation at a global scale. In this study, we have analyzed the transcriptome of the photosynthetic organs of Casuarina glauca (branchlets) to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying salt stress tolerance. For that, C. glauca plants supplied either with chemical nitrogen (KNO3+) or nodulated by Frankia (NOD+) were exposed to a gradient of salt concentrations (200, 400, and 600 mM NaCl) and RNA-Seq was performed. An average of ca. 25 million clean reads was obtained for each group of plants, corresponding to 86,202 unigenes. The patterns of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) clearly separate two groups: (i) control- and 200 mM NaCl-treated plants, and (ii) 400 and 600 mM NaCl-treated plants. Additionally, although the number of total transcripts was relatively high in both plant groups, the percentage of significant DEGs was very low, ranging from 6 (200 mM NaCl/NOD+) to 314 (600 mM NaCl/KNO3+), mostly involving down-regulation. The vast majority of up-regulated genes was related to regulatory processes, reinforcing the hypothesis that some ecotypes of C. glauca have a strong stress-responsive system with an extensive set of constitutive defense mechanisms, complemented by a tight mechanism of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation. The results suggest that the robustness of the stress response system in C. glauca is regulated by a limited number of genes that tightly regulate detoxification and protein/enzyme stability, highlighting the complexity of the molecular interactions leading to salinity tolerance in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) prognosis is disappointing, with current treatment strategies being based on a "fit for all" principle and not taking distinct sarcoma subtypes specificities and genetic/metabolic differences into consideration. The paucity of precision therapies in STS reflects the shortage of studies that seek to decipher the sarcomagenesis mechanisms. There is an urge to improve STS diagnosis precision, refine STS classification criteria, and increase the capability of identifying STS prognostic biomarkers. Single-omics and multi-omics studies may play a key role on decodifying sarcomagenesis. Metabolomics provides a singular insight, either as a single-omics approach or as part of a multi-omics strategy, into the metabolic adaptations that support sarcomagenesis. Although STS metabolome is scarcely characterized, untargeted and targeted metabolomics approaches employing different data acquisition methods such as mass spectrometry (MS), MS imaging, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy provided important information, warranting further studies. New chromatographic, MS, NMR-based, and flow cytometry-based methods will offer opportunities to therapeutically target metabolic pathways and to monitorize the response to such metabolic targeting therapies. Here we provide a comprehensive review of STS omics applications, comprising a detailed analysis of studies focused on the metabolic landscape of these tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gelidium corneum (Giant Gelidium or Atlantic agar) is a well-known red seaweed harvested for its high-quality agar content. Agar is a mixture of the polysaccharides used in the food industry as a gelling, thickener, clarifying, and stabilizer agent. The best agar quality is also used in the laboratory as bacteriological agar. Yet, in recent years, the species has been studied for many other applications. Examples of uses are pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food supplements, bioremediation, biofuels, biofertilizers and biostimulants, biomaterials, and nanocrystals, among others. The use of this biomass, though, raises concerns about the sustainability of the resource, since this is not a cultivated species, being harvested in the wild. Thus, other uses of G. corneum biomass increase pressure on wild stocks already stressed due to climate change. However, in a biorefinery approach, a new trend is emerging, using waste biomass rather than harvested biomass to produce new bio-based materials. These are smart solutions that transform waste into innovative products, useful for various sectors of society while reducing the impact of biomass exploitation. The aim of this review paper, thus, is to address the current state of G. corneum biology, ecology, threats, its current uses and market, and the ongoing research on innovative proposals in a circular economy framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic hyphomycetes are key microbial decomposers of allochthonous organic matter in freshwater ecosystems. Although their importance in carbon flow and food webs in streams is widely recognized, there are still gaps in our understanding of their molecular diversity and distribution patterns. Our study utilized the growing database of ITS rDNA barcodes of aquatic hyphomycetes (1252 sequences) and aimed to (i) produce new barcodes for some lesser-known taxa; (ii) clarify the taxonomic placement of some taxa at the class or order level, based on molecular data; and (iii) provide insights into the biogeographical origins of some taxa. This study increased the number of aquatic hyphomycete species with available ITS barcodes from 119 (out of ~300 species described) to 136. Phylogenetically, the 136 species were distributed between 2 phyla, 6 classes, and 10 orders of fungi. Future studies should strive to increase the database of ITS sequences, especially focusing on species with unclear phylogenetic relationships (incertae sedis) and with few sequences available. The geographical distribution of species with available ITS sequences included 50 countries from five continents, but 6 countries had more than 20 species associated, showing a bias toward the northern hemisphere, likely due to sampling bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Some locally advanced pelvic bone tumors are deemed unresectable and, as such, not suitable for curative surgery. In this setting, treatment options are generally limited and not unanimous, with decisions being made on an individual basis after multidisciplinary discussion. Ultimately, and notwithstanding the bright prospects raised by novel therapeutic approaches, treatment should be patient-tailored, weighing a panoply of patient- and tumor-related factors. Bone sarcomas (BS) are rare mesenchymal tumors usually located in the extremities and pelvis. While surgical resection is the cornerstone of curative treatment, some locally advanced tumors are deemed unresectable and hence not suitable for curative intent. This is often true for pelvic sarcoma due to anatomic complexity and proximity to vital structures, making treatment options for these tumors generally limited and not unanimous, with decisions being made on an individual basis after multidisciplinary discussion. Several studies have been published in recent years focusing on innovative treatment options for patients with locally advanced sarcoma not amenable to local surgery. The present article reviews the evidence regarding the treatment of patients with locally advanced and unresectable pelvic BS, with the goal of providing an overview of treatment options for the main BS histologic subtypes involving this anatomic area and exploring future therapeutic perspectives. The management of unresectable localized pelvic BS represents a major challenge and is hampered by the lack of comprehensive and standardized guidelines. As such, the optimal treatment needs to be individually tailored, weighing a panoply of patient- and tumor-related factors. Despite the bright prospects raised by novel therapeutic approaches, the role of each treatment option in the therapeutic armamentarium of these patients requires solid clinical evidence before becoming fully established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmetics, like any product containing water and organic/inorganic compounds, require preservation against microbial contamination to guarantee consumer’s safety and to increase their shelf-life. The microbiological safety has as main goal of consumer protection against potentially pathogenic microorganisms, together with the product’s preservation resulting from biological and physicochemical deterioration. This is ensured by chemical, physical, or physicochemical strategies. The most common strategy is based on the application of antimicrobial agents, either by using synthetic or natural compounds, or even multifunctional ingredients. Current validation of a preservation system follow the application of good manufacturing practices (GMPs), the control of the raw material, and the verification of the preservative effect by suitable methodologies, including the challenge test. Among the preservatives described in the positive lists of regulations, there are parabens, isothiasolinone, organic acids, formaldehyde releasers, triclosan, and chlorhexidine. These chemical agents have different mechanisms of antimicrobial action, depending on their chemical structure and functional group’s reactivity. Preservatives act on several cell targets; however, they might present toxic effects to the consumer. Indeed, their use at high concentrations is more effective from the preservation viewpoint being, however, toxic for the consumer, whereas at low concentrations microbial resistance can develop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Patients with bone metastases often suffer with complications, such as bone fractures, which have a substantial negative impact on clinical outcomes. To optimize clinical results, a tailored approach should be defined for managing impending or pathologic fractures in each individual case. The ability to control systemic disease, the extent, location and nature of bone metastases, and the biology of the underlying tumor, are the main factors that will define the strategy to follow. Advances in medical and surgical treatment have played a major role in increasing the survival rates of cancer patients with metastatic bone disease. The clinical course of patients with bone metastases is often impaired by bone complications, such as bone fractures, which have a substantial negative impact on clinical outcomes. To optimize clinical results and prevent a detrimental impact on patients' health, a tailored approach should be defined for any given patient. The optimal management of impending or pathologic fractures is unknown and relies on a multidisciplinary approach to tailor clinical decisions to each individual patient. The ability to control systemic disease, the extent, location and nature of bone metastases, and the biology of the underlying tumor, are the main factors that will define the strategy to follow. The present review covers the most recent data regarding impending and pathologic fractures in patients with bone metastases, and discusses the medical and surgical management of patients presenting with metastatic bone disease in different clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural colorants is needed to overcome consumer concerns regarding synthetic food colorants′ safety. However, natural pigments have, in general, poor stability against environmental stresses such as temperature, ionic strength, moisture, light, and pH, among others. In this work, water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) emulsions were used as protective carriers to improve color stability of a hydrophilic Sambucus nigra L. extract against pH changes. The chemical system comprised water and corn oil as the aqueous and oil phases, respectively, and polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), Tween 80, and gum Arabic as stabilizers. The primary emulsion was prepared using a W1/O ratio of 40/60 (v/v). For the secondary emulsion, W1/O/W2, different (W1/O)/W2 ratios were tested with the 50/50 (v/v) formulation presenting the best stability, being selected as the coloring system to test in food matrices of different pH: natural yogurt (pH 4.65), rice drink (pH 6.01), cow milk (pH 6.47), and soy drink (pH 7.92). Compared to the direct use of the extract, the double emulsion solution gave rise to higher color stability with pH change and storage time, as corroborated by visual and statistical analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic hyphomycetes are key microbial decomposers in freshwater that are capable of producing extracellular enzymes targeting complex molecules of leaf litter, thus, being crucial to nutrient cycling in these ecosystems. These fungi are also able to assimilate nutrients (e.g., nitrogen) from stream water, immobilizing these nutrients in the decomposing leaf litter and increasing its nutritional value for higher trophic levels. Evaluating the aquatic hyphomycete functional genetic diversity is, thus, pivotal to understanding the potential impacts of biodiversity loss on nutrient cycling in freshwater. In this work, the inter- and intraspecific taxonomic (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region) and functional (nitrate reductase gene) diversity of 40 aquatic hyphomycete strains, belonging to 23 species, was evaluated. A positive correlation was found between the taxonomic and nitrate reductase gene divergences. Interestingly, some cases challenged this trend: Dactylella cylindrospora (Orbiliomycetes) and Thelonectria rubi (Sordariomycetes), which were phylogenetically identical but highly divergent regarding the nitrate reductase gene; and Collembolispora barbata (incertae sedis) and Tetracladium apiense (Leotiomycetes), which exhibited moderate taxonomic divergence but no divergence in the nitrate reductase gene. Additionally, Tricladium chaetocladium (Leotiomycetes) strains were phylogenetically identical but displayed a degree of nitrate reductase gene divergence above the average for the interspecific level. Overall, both inter- and intraspecific functional diversity were observed among aquatic hyphomycetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water scarcity is the most significant factor limiting coffee production, although some cultivars can still have important drought tolerance. This study analyzed leaf transcriptomes of two coffee cultivars with contrasting physiological responses, Coffea canephora cv. CL153 and Coffea. arabica cv. Icatu, subjected to moderate (MWD) or severe water deficits (SWD). We found that MWD had a low impact compared with SWD, where 10% of all genes in Icatu and 17% in CL153 reacted to drought, being mainly down-regulated upon stress. Drought triggered a genotype-specific response involving the up-regulation of reticuline oxidase genes in CL153 and heat shock proteins in Icatu. Responsiveness to drought also included desiccation protectant genes, but primarily, aspartic proteases, especially in CL153. A total of 83 Transcription Factors were found engaged in response to drought, mainly up-regulated, especially under SWD. Together with the enrollment of 49 phosphatases and 272 protein kinases, results suggest the involvement of ABA-signaling processes in drought acclimation. The integration of these findings with complementing physiological and biochemical studies reveals that both genotypes are more resilient to moderate drought than previously thought and suggests the existence of post-transcriptional mechanisms modulating the response to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Valorization of industrial low-value side-streams are of great interest, contributing to boosts in the circular economy. In this context, lignin side-streams of the pulp and paper industry were oxypropylated to produce biobased polyols and tested in the synthesis of rigid polyurethane (RPU) foams. E. globulus lignins, namely a lignin isolated from an industrial Kraft black liquor and depolymerized lignins obtained as by-products of an oxidation process, were used. RPU foams, synthesized with 100% lignin-based polyols and using a 1.1 NCO/OH ratio, were characterized concerning apparent density, morphology, thermal conductivity, thermal stability, and heat release rate (HRR). Foams containing the lignin-based polyols presented densities varying from 44.7 to 112.2 kg/m3 and thermal conductivity in the range of 37.2–49.0 mW/mK. For the reference foam (sample produced with 100% wt. Daltofoam TP 32015 polyol), values of 70.9 kg/m3 and 41.1 mW/mK were obtained, respectively. The achieved results point out the viability of using the generated lignin-based polyols at 100% content in RPU foams, mainly when depolymerized lignins are used. Moreover, fire retardancy was favored when the lignin-based polyols were introduced. The proposed strategies can contribute to establishing the integrated pulp and paper biorefinery concept where material synthesis (polyols and RPU foams) can be combined with chemical production (vanillin and syringaldehyde). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast array of metabolic adaptations that cancer cells are capable of assuming, not only support their biosynthetic activity, but also fulfill their bioenergetic demands and keep their intracellular reduction–oxidation (redox) balance. Spotlight has recently been placed on the energy metabolism reprogramming strategies employed by cancer cells to proliferate. Knowledge regarding soft tissue and bone sarcomas metabolome is relatively sparse. Further characterization of sarcoma metabolic landscape may pave the way for diagnostic refinement and new therapeutic target identification, with benefit to sarcoma patients. This review covers the state-of-the-art knowledge on cancer metabolomics and explores in detail the most recent evidence on soft tissue and bone sarcoma metabolomics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the importance of colour in the general acceptance or rejection of a product, the use of colorants is a widespread practice, particularly in the food industry. At the same time, with the increasing consumers' awareness of the health effects that some artificial colorants can exert, there is a growing tendency to prioritize foodstuffs containing natural additives. In this work, Morus nigra L. and Rubus fruticosus L. fruit juices were characterized in terms of anthocyanins, organic acids, free sugars, and tocopherols, as also regarding their bioactive properties. Given their richness in anthocyanins, this study also aimed to prepare different solid colouring formulations by the spray-drying technique, using as stabilizers maltodextrin and arabic gum. Six free sugars and two organic acids were detected in the fruit juices, as well as the four tocopherol isoforms. Two cyanidin derivatives were found in M. nigra (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and cyanidin-O-rhamnoside) and other four in R. fruticosus (cyanidin-O-hexoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-O-pentoside, and cyanidin-3-O-dioxaloilglucoside). The developed colouring formulations revealed a good stability over time, in terms of anthocyanin concentration and colour parameters, and revealed to be safe for consumption, either concerning their low microbial load and lack of cytotoxicity. Thus, they represent a promising natural alternative to the massively used artificial colorants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microencapsulation procedures have recently focused attention on designing novel microspheres via green synthesis strategies. The use of chitosan (CS) as an encapsulating material has increased interest due to its unique bioactive properties and the various crosslinking possibilities offered by their functional groups. The consolidation of the microspheres by physical crosslinking using sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP) combined with chemical crosslinking using vanillin (VA) open new opportunities in the framework of green dual crosslinking strategies. The developed strategy, a straightforward technique based on an aqueous medium avoiding complex separation/washing steps, offers advantages over the processes based on VA, mostly using water-in-oil emulsion approaches. Thus, in this work, the combination of TPP crosslinking (3, 5, and 10 wt.%) via spray-coagulation technique with two VA crosslinking methods (in situ and post-treatment using 1 wt.% VA) were employed in the preparation of microspheres. The microspheres were characterized concerning morphology, particle size, physicochemical properties, thermal stability, and swelling behavior. Results revealed that the combination of 5 wt.% TPP with in situ VA crosslinking led to microspheres with promising properties, being an attractive alternative for natural bioactives encapsulation due to the green connotations associated with the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lecithins of different origins and compositions were used for the liposomal encapsulation of carvacrol within the framework of the development of active films for food packaging. Liposomes were incorporated into aqueous polymeric solutions from fully (F) and partially (P) hydrolysed Poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) to obtain the films by casting. The particle size distribution and ζ-potential of the liposomal suspensions, as well as their stability over time, were evaluated. Liposomal stability during film formation was analysed through the carvacrol retention in the dried film and the film microstructure. Subtle variations in the size distributions of liposomes from different lecithins were observed. However, the absolute values of the ζ-potential were higher (−52, −57 mV) for soy lecithin (SL) liposomes, followed by those of soy lecithin enriched with phosphatidylcholine (SL-PC) (−43, −50 mV) and sunflower lecithin (SFL) (−33, −38 mV). No significant changes in the liposomal properties were observed during the study period. Lyotropic mesomorphism of lipid associations and carvacrol leakage occurred to differing extents during the film drying step, depending on the membrane lipid composition and surface charge. Liposomes obtained with SL-PC were the most effective at maintaining the stability of carvacrol emulsion during film formation, which led to the greatest carvacrol retention in the films, whereas SFL gave rise to the least stable system and the highest carvacrol losses. P-PVA was less sensitive to the emulsion destabilisation due to its greater bonding capacity with carvacrol. Therefore, P-PVA with carvacrol-loaded SL-PC liposomes has great potential to produce active films for food packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yogurt is a nutritious food that is regularly consumed in many countries around the world and is widely appreciated for its organoleptic properties. Despite its contribution to human dietary requirements, yogurt in its traditional recipe is a poor source of fat-soluble vitamins. To respond to consumer demands and further increase the nutritional value of this product, this work aimed to fortify yogurt with vitamin E by using emulsification as the method of encapsulation. The effects of thermal processing and chilled storage on the physicochemical stability of the yogurt-based beverage was investigated. Vitamin E was only minorly affected by bulk pasteurization at 63 °C for 30 min and remained stable during storage at 4 °C for 28 days. Fortified samples showed increased in vitro antioxidant activity compared with non-fortified samples. Lactic acid bacterial counts were above the minimum recommended levels (>106 cfu/g) after processing and storage. In conclusion, this work has demonstrated that emulsification can be an effective strategy for developing yogurt-based products fortified with fat soluble vitamins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyurethanes and polyurethane-ureas, particularly their water-based dispersions, have gained relevance as an extremely versatile area based on environmentally friendly approaches. The evolution of their synthesis methods, and the nature of the reactants (or compounds involved in the process) towards increasingly sustainable pathways, has positioned these dispersions as a relevant and essential product for diverse application frameworks. Therefore, in this work, it is intended to show the progress in the field of polyurethane and polyurethane-urea dispersions over decades, since their initial synthesis approaches. Thus, the review covers from the basic concepts of polyurethane chemistry to the evolution of the dispersion's preparation strategies. Moreover, an analysis of the recent trends of using renewable reactants and enhanced green strategies, including the current legislation, directed to limit the toxicity and potentiate the sustainability of dispersions, is described. The review also highlights the strengths of the dispersions added with diverse renewable additives, namely, cellulose, starch or chitosan, providing some noteworthy results. Similarly, dispersion's potential to be processed by diverse methods is shown, evidencing, with different examples, their suitability in a variety of scenarios, outstanding their versatility even for high requirement applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a rare condition with very poor prognosis in a metastatic setting. Basic research has enabled a better understanding of OS pathogenesis and the discovery of new potential therapeutic targets. Phase I and II clinical trials are already ongoing, with some promising results for these patients. This article reviews OS pathogenesis and new potential therapeutic targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As atmospheric [CO2] continues to rise to unprecedented levels, understanding its impact on plants is imperative to improve crop performance and sustainability under future climate conditions. In this context, transcriptional changes promoted by elevated CO2 (eCO2) were studied in genotypes from the two major traded coffee species: the allopolyploid Coffea arabica (Icatu) and its diploid parent, C. canephora (CL153). While Icatu expressed more genes than CL153, a higher number of differentially expressed genes were found in CL153 as a response to eCO2. Although many genes were found to be commonly expressed by the two genotypes under eCO2, unique genes and pathways differed between them, with CL153 showing more enriched GO terms and metabolic pathways than Icatu. Divergent functional categories and significantly enriched pathways were found in these genotypes, which altogether supports contrasting responses to eCO2. A considerable number of genes linked to coffee physiological and biochemical responses were found to be affected by eCO2 with the significant upregulation of photosynthetic, antioxidant, and lipidic genes. This supports the absence of photosynthesis down-regulation and, therefore, the maintenance of increased photosynthetic potential promoted by eCO2 in these coffee genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to produce and optimize a Cordyceps militaris-based oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion (NE) encapsulated in sea buckthorn oil (SBT) using an ultrasonication process. Herein, a nonionic surfactant (Tween 80) and chitosan cosurfactant were used as emulsifying agents. The Cordyceps nanoemulsion (COR-NE) was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and field-emission transmission electron microscope (FE-TEM). The DLS analyses revealed that the NE droplets were 87.0 ± 2.1 nm in diameter, with a PDI value of 0.089 ± 0.023, and zeta potential of −26.20 ± 2. The small size, low PDI, and stable zeta potential highlighted the excellent stability of the NE. The NE was tested for stability under different temperature (4 °C, 25 °C, and 60 °C) and storage conditions for 3 months where 4 °C did not affect the stability. Finally, in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity were assessed. The results suggested that the NE was not toxic to RAW 264.7 or HaCaT (human keratinocyte) cell lines at up to 100 µL/mL. Anti-inflammatory activity in liposaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells was evident at 50 µg/mL and showed inhibition of NO production and downregulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression. Further, the NE exhibited good antioxidant (2.96 ± 0.10 mg/mL) activity and inhibited E. coli and S. aureus bacterial growth. Overall, the COR-NE had greater efficacy than the free extract and added significant value for future biomedical and cosmetics applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-carotene loaded bio-based nanoparticles (NPs) were produced by the solvent-displacement method using two polymers: zein and ethylcellulose. The production of NPs was optimised through an experimental design and characterised in terms of average size and polydispersity index. The processing conditions that allowed to obtain NPs (<100 nm) were used for β-carotene encapsulation. Then β-carotene loaded NPs were characterised in terms of zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed for further morphological and chemical characterisation. In the end, a static in vitro digestion following the INFOGEST protocol was performed and the bioaccessibility of β-carotene encapsulated in both NPs was determined. Results show that the best conditions for a size-controlled production with a narrow size distribution are lower polymer concentrations and higher antisolvent concentrations. The encapsulation of β-carotene in ethylcellulose NPs resulted in nanoparticles with a mean average size of 60 ± 9 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 74 ± 2%. β-carotene loaded zein-based NPs resulted in a mean size of 83 ± 8 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 93 ± 4%. Results obtained from the in vitro digestion showed that β-carotene bioaccessibility when encapsulated in zein NPs is 37 ± 1%, which is higher than the value of 8.3 ± 0.1% obtained for the ethylcellulose NPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a global health challenge. There are drawbacks to conventional chemotherapy such as poor bioavailability, development of drug resistance and severe side effects. Novel drug delivery system may be an alternative to optimize therapeutic effects. When such systems consist of natural materials, they offer important advantages: they are usually highly biocompatible, biodegradable, nontoxic and nonimmunogenic. Furthermore, natural materials can be easily modified for conjugation with a wide range of therapeutic agents and targeting ligands, according to the therapeutic purpose. This article reviews different natural ingredients and their applications in drug delivery systems for cancer therapy. Firstly, an overview of the polysaccharides and protein-based polymers that have been extensively investigated for drug delivery are described. Secondly, recent advances in using various natural ingredient-based polymeric nanoparticles for cancer therapy are reviewed. The characteristics of these delivery systems are summarized, followed by a discussion of future development and clinical potential. This review aims to summarize current knowledge and provide a basis for developing effective tailor-made formulations for cancer therapy in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this work is to increase the nutritional quality of gluten-free (GF) bread by addition of Tetraselmis chuii microalgal biomass, a sustainable source of protein and bioactive compounds. The impact of different levels of T. chuii (0%—Control, 1%, 2% and 4% w/w) on the GF doughs and breads' structure was studied. Microdough-Lab mixing tests and oscillatory rheology were conducted to evaluate the dough´s structure. Physical properties of the loaves, total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH and FRAP) of the bread extracts were assessed. For the low additions of T. chuii (1% and 2%), a destabilising effect is noticed, expressed by lower dough viscoelastic functions (G' and G") and poor baking results. At the higher level (4%) of microalgal addition, there was a structure recovery with bread volume increase and a decrease in crumb firmness. Moreover, 4% T. chuii bread presented higher total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity when compared to control. Bread with 4% T. chuii seems particularly interesting since a significant increase in the bioactivity and an innovative green appearance was achieved, with a low impact on technological performance, but with lower sensory scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study reports on the encapsulation of Elsholtzia ciliata ethanolic extract by freeze-drying method using skim milk, sodium caseinate, gum Arabic, maltodextrin, beta-maltodextrin, and resistant-maltodextrin alone or in mixtures of two or four encapsulants. The encapsulation ability of the final mixtures was evaluated based on their microencapsulating efficiency (EE) of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and the physicochemical properties of freeze-dried powders. Results showed that the freeze-dried powders produced using two encapsulants have a lower moisture content, but higher solubility, Carr index, and Hausner ratio than freeze-dried powders produced using only one encapsulant in the formulation. The microencapsulating efficiency of TPC also varied depending on encapsulants used. The lowest EE% of TPC was determined with maltodextrin (21.17%), and the highest with sodium caseinate (83.02%). Scanning electron microscopy revealed that freeze-drying resulted in the formation of different size, irregular shape glassy particles. This study demonstrated good mucoadhesive properties of freeze-dried powders, which could be incorporated in buccal or oral delivery dosage forms. In conclusion, the microencapsulation of E. ciliata ethanolic extract by freeze-drying is an effective method to produce new value-added pharmaceutical or food formulations with polyphenols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions have high potential for several industrial areas as delivery systems of hydrophilic compounds. In general, they are less studied than oil-in-water (O/W) systems, namely in what concerns the so-called fluid systems, partly due to problems of instability. In this context, this work aimed to produce stable W/O emulsions from a natural oil, sweet almond oil, to be further tested as vehicles of natural hydrophilic extracts, here exemplified with an aqueous cinnamon extract. Firstly, a base W/O emulsion using a high-water content (40/60, v/v) was developed by testing different mixtures of emulsifiers, namely Tween 80 combined with Span 80 or Span 85 at different contents. Among the tested systems, the one using a 54/46 (v/v) Span 80/Tween 80 mixture, and subjected to 12 high-pressure homogenizer (HPH) cycles, revealed to be stable up to 6 months, being chosen for the subsequent functionalization tests with cinnamon extract (1.25–5%; w/v; water-basis). The presence of cinnamon extract leaded to changes in the microstructure as well as in the stability. The antimicrobial and antioxidant analysis were evidenced, and a sustained behavior compatible with an extract distribution within the two phases, oil and water, in particular for the higher extract concentration, was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirulina platensis contains several compounds showing nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Recently, a series of peptides able to reduce the blood pressure level and to enhance the endothelial vasorelaxation was isolated from the hydrolyzed highly water-soluble Spirulina extract (HSE). However, HSE shows critical organoleptic characteristics also having poor intestinal permeability, limiting absorption when orally delivered. This research aims to overcome the critical issues through the encapsulation of HSE in Chitosan/Mannitol—(CM)-based microparticles by spray drying. The produced powders (CM-HSE) showed good process yield (≈70%) and encapsulation efficiency (≈100%) also having good derived flow properties as well as stability up to six months storage. The microparticles constituting the spray-dried powder resulted in an amorphous micrometric state (d50 ≈ 14 µm) able to retain dark colour and unpleasant smell of raw HSE. Moreover, the in vitro permeation study by Franz cell indicated that the engineered microparticles are able to enhance the permeation of HSE through an intestinal biomimetic barrier (551.13 μg/cm2 CM-HSE vs. 315.46 μg/cm2 HSE at 270 min). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lonicera caerulea L. (haskap) berries are widely known for their richness in anthocyanins. In this study, such fruits were assessed for their nutritional and chemical composition, but also as sources of anthocyanins with great colouring properties to be applied in foodstuff. Haskap presented high levels of water, four free sugars (mainly fructose and glucose), five organic acids (mainly citric, malic, and quinic), α- and γ-tocopherol, twenty fatty acids (with prevalence of linoleic acid), and eight phenolic compounds, among which six were anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin-3-O-glucoside). The extract presented great antioxidant properties, evaluated through TBARS and OxHLIA assays, as well as antimicrobial capacity against six bacteria and six fungi. Two colourants were obtained by spray-drying haskap juice with maltodextrin and a mixture of maltodextrin and arabic gum. These formulations were stable over 12 weeks of storage at room and refrigerated temperature, without significant variations in colour parameters and in anthocyanins concentration. They were considered safe for consumption once neither microbial contamination nor cytotoxicity in non-tumour cells were detected. The results obtained allow for the consideration of haskap as a promising source of colourants to be applied not only in the food industry, but also in other fields that rely on artificial colourants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the effect of extreme temperatures and elevated air (CO 2 ) is crucial for mitigating the impacts of the coffee industry. In this work, leaf transcriptomic changes were evaluated in the diploid C. canephora and its polyploid C. arabica , grown at 25 °C and at two supra-optimal temperatures (37 °C, 42 °C), under ambient (aCO 2 ) or elevated air CO 2 (eCO 2 ). Both species expressed fewer genes as temperature rose, although a high number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed, especially at 42 °C. An enrichment analysis revealed that the two species reacted differently to the high temperatures but with an overall up-regulation of the photosynthetic machinery until 37 °C. Although eCO 2 helped to release stress, 42 °C had a severe impact on both species. A total of 667 photosynthetic and biochemical related-DEGs were altered with high temperatures and eCO 2 , which may be used as key probe genes in future studies. This was mostly felt in C. arabica , where genes related to ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO) activity, chlorophyll a-b binding, and the reaction centres of photosystems I and II were down-regulated, especially under 42°C, regardless of CO 2 . Transcriptomic changes showed that both species were strongly affected by the highest temperature, although they can endure higher temperatures (37 °C) than previously assumed.

The presence of age-related comorbidities prone elderly patients to the phenomenon of polypharmacy and consequently to a higher risk of nonadherence. Thus, this paper aims to characterize the medication consumption profile and explore the relationship of beliefs and daily medication management on medication adherence by home-dwelling polymedicated elderly people. A questionnaire on adherence, managing, and beliefs of medicines was applied to polymedicated patients with ≥65 years old, in primary care centers of the central region of Portugal. Of the 1089 participants, 47.7% were considered nonadherent. Forgetfulness (38.8%), difficulties in managing medication (14.3%), concerns with side effects (10.7%), and the price of medication (9.2%) were pointed as relevant medication nonadherence-related factors. It was observed that patients who had difficulties managing medicines, common forgetfulness, concerns with side effects, doubting the need for the medication, considered prices expensive, and had a lack of trust for some medicines had a higher risk of being nonadherent. This study provides relevant information concerning the daily routine and management of medicines that can be useful to the development of educational strategies to promote health literacy and improve medication adherence in polymedicated home-dwelling elderly.