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Natural products from mushrooms, plants, microalgae, and cyanobacteria have been intensively explored and studied for their preventive or therapeutic potential. Among age-related pathologies, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases) represent a worldwide health and social problem. Since several pathological mechanisms are associated with neurodegeneration, promising strategies against neurodegenerative diseases are aimed to target multiple processes. These approaches usually avoid premature cell death and the loss of function of damaged neurons. This review focuses attention on the preventive and therapeutic potential of several compounds derived from natural sources, which could be exploited for their neuroprotective effect. Curcumin, resveratrol, ergothioneine, and phycocyanin are presented as examples of successful approaches, with a special focus on possible strategies to improve their delivery to the brain.

Keratins and corneous proteins are key components of biomaterials used in a wide range of applications and are potential substitutes for petrochemical-based products. Horns, hooves, feathers, claws, and similar animal tissues are abundant sources of a- keratin and corneous b- proteins, which are by-products of the food industry. Their close association with the meat industry raises environmental and ethical concerns regarding their disposal. To promote an eco-friendly and circular use of these materials in novel applications, efforts have focused on recovering these residues to develop sustainable, non-animal- related, affordable, and scalable procedures. Here, we review and examine biotechnological methods for extracting and expressing a- keratins and corneous b- proteins in microorganisms. This review highlights consolidated research trends in biomaterials, medical devices, food supplements, and packaging, demonstrating the keratin industry's potential to create innovative value-added products. Additionally, it analyzes the state of the art of related intellectual property and market size to underscore the potential within a circular bioeconomic model. (c) 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Society for Environmental Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Mismanaged plastics, upon entering the environment, undergo degradation through physicochemical and/or biological processes. This process often results in the formation of microplastics (MPs), the most prevalent form of plastic debris (<1 mm). MPs pose severe threats to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, necessitating innovative strategies for effective remediation. Some photosynthetic microorganisms can degrade MPs but there lacks a comprehensive review. Here we examine the specific role of photoautotrophic microorganisms in water and soil environments for the biodegradation of plastics, focussing on their unique ability to grow persistently on diverse polymers under sunlight. Notably, these cells utilise light and CO2 to produce valuable compounds such as carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins, showcasing their multifaceted environmental benefits. We address key scientific questions surrounding the utilisation of photosynthetic microorganisms for MPs and nanoplastics (NPs) bioremediation, discussing potential engineering strategies for enhanced efficacy. Our review highlights the significance of alternative biomaterials and the exploration of strains expressing enzymes, such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) hydrolases, in conjunction with microalgal and/or cyanobacterial metabolisms. Furthermore, we delve into the promising potential of photo-biocatalytic approaches, emphasising the coupling of plastic debris degradation with sunlight exposure. The integration of microalgal-bacterial consortia is explored for biotechnological applications against MPs and NPs pollution, showcasing the synergistic effects in wastewater treatment through the absorption of nitrogen, heavy metals, phosphorous, and carbon. In conclusion, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on the use of photoautotrophic cells for plastic bioremediation. It underscores the need for continued investigation into the engineering of these microorga

Since the mid-1960s, methylotrophic yeast Komagataella phaffii (previously described as Pichia pastoris) has received increasing scientific attention. The interest for the industrial production of proteins for different applications (e.g., feed, food additives, detergent, waste treatment processes, and textile) is a well-consolidated scientific topic, and the importance for this approach is rising in the current era of environmental transition in human societies. This review aims to summarize fundamental and specific information in this scientific field. Additionally, an updated description of the relevant products produced with K. phaffii at industrial levels by a variety of companies—describing how the industry has leveraged its key features, from products for the ingredients of meat-free burgers (e.g., IMPOSSIBLETM FOODS, USA) to diabetes therapeutics (e.g., Biocon, India)—is provided. Furthermore, active patents and the typical workflow for industrial protein production with this strain are reported.

Calcium (Ca) dynamics between casein micelles (CM) and serum phase (SP) in pasteurised skim milk were characterised by temperature dependence (4-35 degrees C) of Ca partition between phases and rate of formation of ionic calcium (Ca2+) in SP. Increase in Ca2+ during storage was characterised by two kinetic models: (1) 4-20 degrees C, with two parallel first order reactions, a fast dominating for first 3 h and a slower between 3 and 8 h, negative energies of activation (-22 kJ mol-1 and -48 kJ mol-1, respectively) explained by endothermic binding of Ca2+ to CM for the slow reaction and by endothermic Ca2+ binding to ligands in SP; (2) 4-35 degrees C, decrease in rate of Ca2+ formation with increasing temperature assigned to reversible endothermic association of serum Ca2+ to phosphate and 3-casein. 3-Casein release from CM decreased like Ca2+, suggesting interaction between 3-casein and Ca2+ during transfer from CM to SP.(c) 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

With increasing awareness of the impact of food on the climate, consumers are gradually changing their dietary habits towards a more plant-based diet. While acceptable products have been developed in meat analogues and non-fermented dairy products, alternative fermented dairy products such as yogurt and particularly ripened hard and semi-soft cheese products are not yet satisfactory. Since the cheese category has such a broad range of flavors and applications, it has proven complicated to find plant-based sources able to mimic them in terms of texture, meltability, ripening and flavor. Moreover, plant-based dairy alternatives do not provide the same nutritional supply. New technological approaches are needed to make cheese production more sustainable, which should be integrated in the already existing conventional cheese production to ensure a fast and cost-efficient transition. This can be tackled by incorporating plant-based components into the milk matrix, creating so-called “hybrid cheeses”. This review will discuss the challenges of both animal- and plant-based cheese products and highlight how the combination of both matrices can associate the best properties of these two worlds in a hybrid product, reviewing current knowledge and development on the matter. Emphasis will be drawn to the selection and pre-processing of raw materials. Furthermore, the key challenges of removing the off-flavors and creating a desirable cheese flavor through fermentation will be discussed.

With increasing awareness of the impact of food on the climate, consumers are gradually changing their dietary habits towards a more plant-based diet. While acceptable products have been developed in meat analogues and non-fermented dairy products, alternative fermented dairy products such as yogurt and particularly ripened hard and semi-soft cheese products are not yet satisfactory. Since the cheese category has such a broad range of flavors and applications, it has proven complicated to find plant-based sources able to mimic them in terms of texture, meltability, ripening and flavor. Moreover, plant-based dairy alternatives do not provide the same nutritional supply. New technological approaches are needed to make cheese production more sustainable, which should be integrated in the already existing conventional cheese production to ensure a fast and cost-efficient transition. This can be tackled by incorporating plant-based components into the milk matrix, creating so-called “hybrid cheeses”. This review will discuss the challenges of both animal- and plant-based cheese products and highlight how the combination of both matrices can associate the best properties of these two worlds in a hybrid product, reviewing current knowledge and development on the matter. Emphasis will be drawn to the selection and pre-processing of raw materials. Furthermore, the key challenges of removing the off-flavors and creating a desirable cheese flavor through fermentation will be discussed.

Pre-heated milk was gelled by acidification at 60, 70, 80, and 90 °C, to pH 5.2 or 4.6. The resultant milk gels were characterised in terms of composition, molecular protein bonds, and water mobility. The protein network structure of the gels was mainly governed by calcium bonds (30–63%), independent of the acidification temperature and pH. However, acidification temperature affected the aggregation kinetics and buffer capacity of the milk. Increased temperature led to an increase in total calcium in the gels (187% and 71% for pH 5.2 and 4.6 respectively) since colloidal calcium phosphate dissociated to a lesser degree, increasing the calcium bonds in the protein structure network. The largest water population in the gels was assigned to protons entrapped within the protein network, and the transverse relaxation time decreased with both increase in acidification temperature and decrease of pH, due to the increasing density of the gel aggregates.

Objective Epicutaneo-caval catheters (ECCs) are essential for the care of sick infants who require long-term medical and nutritional management. The aim of this study was to investigate the use of real-time ultrasound as an alternative to X-rays to reduce the incidence of primary malpositions during catheter insertion.Study Design Data on ECCs were retrospectively collected in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit. Catheter were analyzed considering the tip location technique (standard chest-abdominal radiograph vs real-time ultrasound)Results A total of 248 ECCs were analyzed. Of these, 118 catheters had primary malposition (47.6%). The tip of 165 catheters was assessed using standard chest-abdominal X-rays and 107 (64.8%) were found to be in an inappropriate location. In the group of 83 catheters that were placed using real-time ultrasound for tip location, only 11 catheters (13.2%) had primary malposition. The rate of malposition among the two groups showed a statistically significant difference ( p < 0.001). Hypothetically, 300 chest X-rays could have been saved if real-time ultrasound had been used to locate the tip, reducing radiation exposure to infants.Conclusion The use of a real-time ultrasound may be beneficial in reducing primary catheter malpositions compared with conventional radiography. In addition, secondary malpositions and catheter-related complications can be monitored over time.

Objective To evaluate the role of cyanoacrylate glue in reducing dislodgement of umbilical venous catheters (UVCs).Study design This was a single-center, randomized, controlled, nonblinded trial. All infants requiring an UVC according to our local policy were included in the study. Infants with a UVC with a centrally located tip as verified by real-time ultrasound examination were eligible for the study. Primary outcome was the safety and efficacy of securement by cyanoacrylate glue plus cord-anchored suture (SG group) vs securement by suture alone (S group), as measured by reduction in dislodgment of the external tract of the catheter. Secondary outcomes were tip migration, catheter-related bloodstream infection, and catheter-related thrombosis.Results In the first 48 hours after UVC insertion, dislodgement was significantly higher in the S group than in the SG group (23.1% vs 1.5%; P < .001). The overall dislodgement rate was 24.6% in the S group vs 7.7% in the SG group (P = .016). No differences were found in catheter-related bloodstream infection and catheter-related thrombosis. The incidence of tip migration was similar in both groups (S group 12.2% vs SG group 11.7%).Conclusions In our single-center study, cyanoacrylate glue was safe and effective for securement of UVCs, and particularly effective in decreasing early catheter dislodgments.

Chest and abdominal X-rays after the insertion of an epicutaneo-caval catheter in infants are the standard method of checking the tip location in many neonatal intensive care units. The role of ultrasound in the tip location of the epicutaneo-caval catheter in neonates has been the subject of many recent studies. This systematic review investigates the accuracy of epicutaneo-caval catheter tip location by comparing ultrasound and conventional radiology. We performed a systematic literature search in multiple databases. The selection of studies yielded nineteen articles. The systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-analysis). The analyses showed that ultrasound is a better imaging technique for epicutaneo-caval catheter tip location in the neonatal intensive care unit than conventional radiology. By improving operator training and selecting a standardized echography protocol, ultrasound could become the gold standard for visualizing the epicutaneo-caval catheter tip in the neonatal intensive care unit. This would have some important benefits: (1) increased accuracy in tip location (2); a more rapid use of the central venous access (3); and a significant reduction in radiation exposure.

In most NICUs, the choice of the venous access device currently relies upon the operator's experience and preferences. However, considering the high failure rate of vascular devices in the neonatal population, such clinical choice has a critical relevance and should preferably be based on the best available evidence. Though some algorithms have been published over the last 5 years, none of them seems in line with the current scientific evidence. Thus, the GAVePed-which is the pediatric interest group of the most important Italian group on venous access, GAVeCeLT-has developed a national consensus about the choice of the venous access device in the neonatal population. After a systematic review of the available evidence, the panel of the consensus (which included Italian neonatologists specifically experts in this area) has provided structured recommendations answering four sets of questions regarding (1) umbilical venous catheters, (2) peripheral cannulas, (3) epicutaneo-cava catheters, and (4) ultrasound-guided centrally and femorally inserted central catheters. Only statements reaching a complete agreement were included in the final recommendations. All recommendations were also structured as a simple visual algorithm, so as to be easily translated into clinical practice.Conclusion: The goal of the present consensus is to offer a systematic set of recommendations on the choice of the most appropriate vascular access device in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Centrally inserted central catheters (CICCs) are placed by ultrasound guided puncture of the internal jugular or brachio-cephalic vein. It is crucial to achieve a good level of sedation and analgesia in order to keep the babies still thus reducing the risk of procedural failure. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the combination of ketamine and fentanyl during the CICC placement procedure. We retrospectively collected data from 72 infants who underwent CICC insertion after sedation with KetaFent protocol. The primary outcome was to assess the success of the procedure defined as CICC placement. Secondary outcome was intubation during the procedure in non-ventilated infants (noninvasive ventilation or spontaneous respiration), need for repeat doses of study medications to complete the procedure, time to complete the procedure, the level of analgesia assessed using vital parameters. The procedure was completed in 100% of cases. There were no cases of hypotension during and at the end of the procedure. No intubation was performed on non-ventilated infants. The combination of ketamine and fentanyl for sedation and analgesia in infants requiring insertion of a CICC is 100% successful. It is associated with a low risk of side effect like apnea and intubation. Insertion of a central venous catheter is a painful procedure for infants. Adequate sedation is mandatory to keep the baby still thus reducing the risk of procedural failure.

The appropriate type of vascular access device, peripheral or central, is chosen in order to accommodate the needs of the neonate (parenteral nutrition, intravenous medication, etc.). The choice of vascular access is also related to many other factors such as gestational age, birth weight, comorbidities, previous history of infusion therapy, and ability/resources available for inserting and maintaining the device. As general rule, the vascular access device should be of the smallest outer diameter with the fewest number of lumens and should be the least invasive as possible, still considering the prescribed intravenous therapy. Peripheral venous access (PVA) is certainly the less invasive venous access device; though, venous cannulation may be a challenging procedure especially in small preterm neonates, even under perfect conditions (i.e., in ventilated and sedated

Background: Placement of peripheral intra-venous cannulas and epicutaneo-caval catheters is routinely performed in in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and both devices require visible superficial veins easy to cannulate. NICU patients are intrinsically characterized by poor and fragile vein asset, so that puncture and cannulation of superficial veins is often a challenge even for trained clinicians and cannulation frequently results in a stressful, painful, difficult procedure. Methods and results: Rapid Superficial Vein Assessment is meant to offer a systematic pre-procedural evaluation of all superficial veins of the newborn, so to allow a rational choice of the best insertion site, tailored on the single patient, and optimized for the specific type of venous access device. The superficial veins are examined systematically, both with and without NIR technology, exploring seven skin areas in the following order: (1) medial malleolus, (2) lateral malleolus, (3) retro-popliteal fossa, (4) back of the hand and wrist, (5) antecubital fossa, (6) anterior scalp surface, and (7) posterior scalp surface. Conclusions: The aim of the protocol is to increase the first attempt success rate and reduce the duration of the procedure, the number of attempts for single patient and possibly to limit complications, stress, and pain in neonates.

The umbilical venous catheter (UVC) is one of the most commonly used central lines in neonates. It can be easily inserted soon after birth providing stable intravenous access in infants requiring advanced resuscitation in the delivery room or needing medications, fluids, and parenteral nutrition during the 1st days of life. Resident training is crucial for UVC placement. The use of simulators allows trainees to gain practical experience and confidence in performing the procedure without risks for patients. UVCs are easy to insert, however when the procedure is performed without the use of ultrasound, there is a quite high risk, up to 40%, of non-central position. Ultrasound-guided UVC tip location is a simple and learnable technique and therefore should be widespread among all physicians. The feasibility of targeted training on the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for UVC placement in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) among neonatal medical staff has been demonstrated. Conversely, UVC-related complications are very common and can sometimes be life-threatening. Despite UVCs being used by neonatologists for over 60 years, there are still no standard guidelines for assessment or monitoring of tip location, securement, management, or dwell time. This review article is an overview of the current knowledge and evidence available in the literature about UVCs. Our aim is to provide precise and updated recommendations on the use of this central line.

Background: The correct position of the tip of a central venous access device is important in all patients, and especially in neonates. The traditional method of tip location (approximated intra-procedural length estimation + post procedural chest X-ray) is currently considered inaccurate and not cost-effective by most recent guidelines, which recommend the adoption of tip location by intracavitary electrocardiography (IC-ECG) whenever possible. Methods: This study prospectively investigated the applicability, the feasibility, the accuracy, and the safety IC-ECG for tip location in neonates requiring insertion of ultrasound-guided centrally inserted central venous catheters (CICCs) with caliber 3Fr or more. All catheter tip locations were verified using simultaneously both IC-ECG and ultrasound-based tip location, using the Neo-ECHOTIP protocol. Results: A total of 105 neonates were enrolled. The applicability of IC-ECG was 100% since a P wave was evident on the surface ECG of all neonates recruited for the study. The feasibility was also 100% since an increase of the P-wave was detected in all cases. The accuracy was also 100%, since a perfect match between IC-ECG based tip location and ultrasound-based tip location was found. There were no adverse events directly or indirectly related to the IC-ECG technique; no arrhythmias occurred. Conclusions: When applied to ultrasound guided CICCs, tip location by IC-ECG is applicable and feasible in neonates, and it is safe and accurate.

the high success rate in tip location. This is probably secondary to the appropriate training of the health care providers in the use of ultrasound scans and to the adoption of a well-defined protocol for tip location. We have previously proposed a very similar approach,2 developing a protocol, “Neo-ECHOTIP,” which includes the use of 3 different acoustic windows (apical 4-chamber view, bicaval subcostal view, high right parasternal longitudinal view) plus a small flush of normal saline (so-called “bubble test”), so to increase the accuracy of tip visualization.

ObjectiveRecently, a novel approach to imaging Superior Vena Cava (SVC) flow has been presented, showing better repeatability and better agreement with MRI-derived SVC flow measures. The objective was to establish normal values of SVC flow with the novel approach in the first 48 h of life. Study DesignThis was a prospective, observational study. All infants with gestational age (GA) less than 31 weeks were eligible. Echocardiographic evaluation was performed at 5, 12, 24, 48 h of postnatal life. A subgroup of uncomplicated infants was studied to define a normal range for SVC flow. ResultsForty-five infants were enrolled. We estimated normative values in a subgroup of 31 uncomplicated infants. The median SVC flow significantly increases from 83 ml/kg/min at 5 h of life to 153 ml/kg/min at 48 h (p < .001). ConclusionUsing the novel approach we derived normal values of SVC flow in a cohort of uncomplicated preterm population at high risk for developing IVH.