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This work describes research focused on the recovery of ellagic acid (EA) using solid-state fermentation-assisted extraction (SSF) with Aspergillus niger GH1 and Mexican rambutan peel as support. Several culture conditions (temperature, initial moisture, levels of inoculum, and concentration of salts) were evaluated using a Placket–Burman design (PBD) for screening culture factors followed by a central composite design (CCD) for enhancing the EA. Antioxidant activity and polyphenol content were evaluated in SSF. Temperature (28.2 °C), inoculum (2 × 107 spores/g), and NaNO3 (3.83 g/L) concentration were identified as a significant parameter for EA in SSF. This enhancing procedure resulted in an increase in EA recovery [201.53 ± 0.58–392.23 ± 17.53 mg/g] and, with two steps of purification, [396.9 ± 65.2 mg/g] of EA compound was recovered per gram of recovered powder. Fermentation extracts reflect inhibition of radicals and the presence of polyphenol content. This work proposes to identify the ideal conditions of fermentation in order to obtain a higher yield high-quality compound from agro-industrial wastes through SSF.

Whey is an excellent source of proteins, with a high biological value and essential elements in addition to the proteins it contains. Additionally, it possesses a number of characteristics that are exclusive to it. Whey has been “rediscovered” in recent years and is now being used in a wider variety of food recipes as a result of the features discussed here in the present review paper. It’s possible that using whey instead of the “nutrient goldmine” will be more “economical.” Consumers who are educated on the role that whey plays in human nutrition and are aware of its significance are more likely to be interested in purchasing food products that include whey. Due to the nutritional and functional features that whey possesses, it has been included into a wide variety of food compositions, such as dairy-based products, biofunctional components, confectionary products, and beverages that are both refreshing and nutritious. In this review, several types of food products and beverages containing whey that have been produced so far by researchers from all over the world are described, along with their processing characteristics, sensory attributes, and commercial potential. Moreover, this paper delves into the potential applications of probiotic and functional whey-based products within the realms of biofunctional and therapeutic relevance.

In ontology engineering, reusing (or extending) ontologies poses a significant challenge, requiring revising their ontological commitments and ensuring accurate representation and coherent reasoning. This study aims to address two main objectives. Firstly, it seeks to develop a methodological approach supporting ontology extension practices. Secondly, it aims to demonstrate its feasibility by applying the approach to the case of extending qualitative spatial reasoning (QSR) theories. Key questions involve effectively interpreting spatial extensions while maintaining consistency. The framework systematically analyzes extensions of formal ontologies, providing a reconstruction of a qualitative calculus. Reconstructed qualitative calculus demonstrates improved interpretative capabilities and reasoning accuracy. The research underscores the importance of methodological approaches when extending formal ontologies, with spatial interpretation serving as a valuable case study.

Modern cancer diagnostics and treatment options have greatly improved survival rates; the illness remains a major cause of mortality worldwide. Current treatments for cancer, such as chemotherapy, are not cancer-specific and may cause harm to healthy cells; therefore, it is imperative that new drugs for cancer be developed that are both safe and effective. It has been found that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the potential to produce bacteriocins, which could potentially offer a promising alternative for cancer treatment. They have been shown in several studies to be effective against cancer cells while having no effect on healthy cells. More research is needed to fully understand the potential of LAB bacteriocins as anti-cancer medicines, to find the appropriate dose and delivery route, and to conduct clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the products in human patients, as is suggested by this work. Furthermore, LAB bacteriocins may evolve into a significant new class of anti-cancer drugs and food products. Patients with cancer may have a safe and effective alternative treatment option in the form of anti-cancer foods and drugs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to provide an in-depth analysis of the recent breakthroughs and potential future technical advancements of significant bacteriocins that are produced by LAB, how these bacteriocins function, and how these bacteriocins may be utilized as an anti-cancer agent. In addition, the current analysis emphasizes the significant constraints and boundaries that bacteriocins face when they are used as an anti-cancer factor.

Introduction: Holistic dentistry is part of the biological or neurofocal medicine, directed to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment related to the diseases of the stomatognatic system in correlation with other anatomical structures, in order to treat the patient in an integral way, in body, mind and soul. Objective: To identify the presence of chronic gingivitis and other interference fields in patients with shoulder arthritis. Methods: An observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study of 24 patients with shoulder arthritis was carried out, who belonged to the health area of Carlos Juan Finlay Teaching Polyclinic in Santiago de Cuba. They were assisted in Mártires del Moncada Teaching Provincial Stomatological Clinic, from November, 2021 to May, 2022. Results: In the series there was a prevalence of the female sex (62.5%) and the 35-59 age group (75.0%). In a same way, most of the patients suffered from chronic gingivitis (87.5%), as long as the other mostly found interference fields were the dentobacterial plaque (100%) and dental cavity (58.3%) that were in all the molars according to the hologram of the German teeth microsystem. Conclusions: Severe chronic gingivitis, dentobacterial plaque and dental cavity were the most frequently identified interference fields in the case material, which were associated to the shoulder arthritis in patients.

Agaves are plants native to North America that sustain life in arid and semiarid ecosystems. Previous studies revealed that cultivated plants of Agave tequilana had lower microbial diversity and functionality than wild Agave species. Here, we tested if synthetic communities (syncoms), based on microbial hubs or taxa with enriched microbial functions, could increase microbial diversity, plant health, and productivity in A. tequilana. We applied 10 syncoms to the phyllospheres of 6-month-old plants of A. tequilana in the field and monitored their development for 2 years. Amplicon sequencing of 16S-rRNA-V4 and ITS2 revealed that the inoculated syncoms played a negligible or minor role in the assembly of the prokaryotic and eukaryotic phyllospheric communities associated with A. tequilana, respectively. However, syncoms based on microbial hubs, particularly those observed in the phyllosphere associated with wild A. salmiana (PFCS), promoted microbial communities with higher alpha diversity. Some of these syncom-derived phyllospheric communities consumed a greater variety of carbon sources; had more complex co-occurrence networks; and increased the content of sugars (oBrix, a measure of productivity in agaves) in the stem and changed the leaf metabolome. Our work demonstrates that the application of syncoms formulated based on predicted microbe–microbe interactions and metagenomic analyses of microbial communities in cultivated and wild plant species represents an effective tool to improve the sustainability and productivity of crops in arid ecosystems. [Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

The Mexican oregano by-products are a source of bioactive molecules (polyphenols) that could be extracted using solid-state fermentation (SSF). This study fermented the by-products via SSF (120 h) with a lactic acid bacteria (LAB) Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Sequentially, a bioactive and chemical determination was made according to the phenolic content, antioxidant activity (DPPH●/FRAP), bioactive properties (α-amylase inhibition and antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli), and chemical composition (HPLC-MS). The results showed that the total phenolics and flavonoid content, as well as the antioxidant activity, increased (0.60, 2.55, and 3.01 times, respectively) during the SSF process compared with unfermented material. Also, the extracts showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli and α-amylase inhibition. These inhibitory results could be attributed to bioactive compounds identified via HPLC, such as gardenin B, trachelogenin, ferulic acid, and resveratrol 3-O-glucoside. Therefore, the application of L. mesenteroides under SSF on oregano by-products comprises an eco-friendly strategy for their valorization as raw materials for the recovery of phenolic compounds that could be natural alternatives against synthetic antioxidant and antimicrobial agents, promoting a more circular and sustainable supply system within the oregano industry.

This study investigated the recovery of polyphenolic compounds such as punicalagin, punicalin, and ellagic acid via solid-state fermentation (SSF)-assisted extraction from pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.) using Aspergillus niger GH1 and Saccharomhyces cerevisiae. Food processing has contributed to the increase in agroindustrial wastes, which has become a global concern due to environmental protection. However, these wastes can be valorized via the extraction of high-value components such as bioactive compounds. Ellagitannins extracted during the bioprocesses were identified via the HPLC–MS technique and quantified via total polyphenols (hydrolyzable and condensed assays). Enzymatic activities were tested. HPLC–MS analysis showed a decrease in the levels of punicalagin, the formation of punicaline, and the accumulation of ellagic acid during fermentation kinetics. The present study compares two different bioprocesses in order to obtain, from agroindustrial wastes, high-added-value compounds using SSF-.

Abstract Background Oblique course of some left accessory pathways is rare An incomplete electrophysiological study may confuse us between an oblique accessory pathway or the presence of two accessory pathways. The proximity of all atrial and ventricular electrograms, at each pole of the catheter, within the coronary sinus may be a novel finding. Case presentation A 68-year-old woman patient presented arrhythmias with hypotension requiring electrical cardioversion. Her electrocardiogram (ECG) was interpreted as atrial fibrillation by accessory pathway. We performed with the protocol of ablation stablished in our laboratory: two punctures on the right femoral vein with placement of introducers (8F and 7F) by Seldigner technique and one puncture on the left femoral vein (7F). The study was performed with BIOTRONIK technology (Multicath study catheter), a non-deflectable 7F quadripolar catheter with 2 mm tip electrode to record the His electrogram, a non-deflectable decapolar catheter with 5 pairs of coronary sinus (CS) electrodes. Accessory pathway mapping was performed in right and left cavities and within the CS. All electrograms into CS showed short AV from proximal to distal CS. Finally, ablation of two accessory pathway recordings was achieved at two distant epicardial points within the CS. Conclusions Ablation at two distant sites, one on the ventricular side and the other on the mitral annulus, suggests the presence of an oblique accessory pathway and at the same time the differential diagnosis of the presence of two accessory pathways. In our point of view according the above, we consider this is a very rare case of oblique AP with epicardial trajectory. The sequence of electrograms (in this case) along the CS has not been seen before in the literature reviewed. It is important, regardless of the urgency, to follow diagnostic and therapeutic protocols in invasive electrophysiology.

The Cucurbitaceae family is an extensive group of fruits and vegetables that exhibit common characteristics; for example, they are farmed on a global scale and exhibit a wide range of applications, including fresh consumption and use in various food and beverage products. As is frequent, many species or genera share a common name, and this can lead to some confusion when looking for information about a specific variety. In this review, we describe the findings about the biological activity, like antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties, of two genera of this family, Cucumis and Momordica, which have been characterized and evaluated in several research studies and regarding which information is readily accessible. Those activities rely on the various physicochemical qualities and nutritional content of each variety, including factors like β-carotene and polyphenols, among others. The goal of this review is to provide a rapid search for each activity examined in the literature, enabling future research on their potential uses in functional foods and nutraceutical supplements.

Background: Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) is a fruit native to South Asia, and currently can grown in tropical and subtropical areas, including Mexico, which produces approximately seven thousand metric tons per year. Pomegranate stands out for its rich flavor and functional properties, which is why it has gained acceptance in different countries in the marketing of assorted products such as jellies, jams, drinks, and its effectiveness against diseases and pathogenic microorganisms. Scope and approach: This review summarizes information about the bioactive compounds of pomegranate and its nutritional properties as functional food, with emphasis on its by-products (aril, seed, and peel). Punica granatum contains bioactive compounds, the peel has a higher content of these compounds and in vitro biological properties reported by different authors. Key findings and conclusions: Pomegranate and its by-products have functional properties, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and antiviral, even against SARS COV-2 virus in vitro studies; activities attributed to punicalagin, punicalin, ellagic acid, punicic acid, and anthocyanins. It is important to further analyze this fruit's functional and nutritional effects, especially the peel. To study the mechanisms involved, to develop industrial processes for the development of a nutraceutical or functional food product.

Fundamento: la Chlamydia trachomatis es el agente causal de una de las infecciones de transmisión sexual más comunes en el mundo. Provoca cervicitis, endometritis y salpingitis; las secuelas incluyen enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica, embarazo ectópico e infertilidad por obstrucción tubárica.Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de infección por Chlamydia trachomatis en pacientes sometidas a técnicas de reproducción asistida.Métodos: estudio de serie de casos desarrollado en el Hospital General Universitario Dr. Gustavo Aldereguía Lima, de Cienfuegos, durante el periodo comprendido del 2016- 2018. Incluyó pacientes sometidas a técnicas de reproducción asistida que estaban infestadas con Chlamydia trachomatis. Se analizaron las variables edad, antecedentes patológicos personales y ginecobstétricos, número de parejas sexuales, años de infertilidad, antecedentes de uso de dispositivo intrauterino, antecedentes de enfermedad inflamatoria pélvica, resultado del test de Chlamydia, así como criterio o no de fertilización in vitro, como indicador de que ocurrió daño a nivel de las trompas.Resultados: la edad estuvo comprendida entre los 19 y 40 años, con promedio de 35,7 años. El germen se detectó en el 42 % de las parejas, con predominio de las de Cienfuegos. El 47,6 % de las pacientes que tenían una chlamydiasis refirió haber tenido de una a tres parejas. El 54 %, por su afectación, requería de fertilización in vitro. Hubo una alta incidencia en el tiempo siendo infértiles, con el 72,6 % con más de cuatro años.Conclusiones: las infecciones por Chlamydia trachomatis pueden influir en la fertilidad de las mujeres.

Analyse the evidence provided regarding neonatal and obstetric complications derived from gestational diabetes. A systematic search of the scientific literature, PUBMED, ScienceDirect was carried out with various search strategies guaranteeing the completeness and reproducibility of the phases of the PRISMA guide. 13 studies were included, 10 simultaneously evaluated obstetric and neonatal complications, the rest (3) evaluated only neonatal complications. The prevalence of GDM (gestational diabetes mellitus) was 12.5% (65,852 of 527,351) Obstetric complications include: emergency caesarean section (OR 1.1 to 2.37), preeclampsia with an OR range of 1.1 to 2.96, and prematurity (OR 1.1 to 2.3). The most frequent neonatal complications are: macrosomia with an OR range of 1.2 to 5.2, with a prevalence of 10.3%; while hypoglycaemia is the one with the highest risk (OR 3.19-11.97), other complications include greater height for gestational age OR 1.3 to 3.43; perinatal asphyxia (OR 1.2-3.4); shoulder dystocia (OR 1.3-2.56); respiratory distress (OR 1.3-2) and hyperbilirubinemia (OR 1.02-1.39). No increased risk of perinatal death was found, the reported OR range is 0.7-0.8. Both obstetric and neonatal gestational diabetes complications are very prevalent and may require intensive care, being a highly relevant public health problem. Although an efficient screen for the early detection of gestational diabetes has been established, greater efforts are required to comply with it and to avoid these complications.

This study is the first record of medicinal plants in the southwest of the Coahuila state, an arid zone where extreme dry conditions prevail. One hundred twenty-two residents (in sixteen communities) were interviewed. The residents were questioned with a questionnaire-guided ethnomedical survey protocol about the various plants used. Seventy-seven species of medicinal plants belonging to 36 botanical families were cited. The highest use-value (UV) was calculated for Lippia graveolens Kunth (0.30); Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. (0.20); Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. (0.16); Mentha spicata L. (0.15) and Salvia officinalis L. (0.10). Informant consensus factor (ICF) about usages of medicinal plants ranges from 0.41 to 0.80; the highest level of agreement was determined between the informants and Respiratory System Diseases (0.80). The highest fidelity level (FL) values (100%) were identified in Flourensia cernua DC., Artisia ludoviciana Nutt., and Parthenium incanum Kunth to Gastro-intestinal System Diseases; Eucalyptus abdita Brooker & Hopper, Bougainvillea berberidifolia Heimerl, and Lippia graveolens Kunth to Respiratory System Diseases (RSD) and Cyclolepis genistoides D.Don and Ephedra antisyphilitica Berland. ex C.A.Mey. to Obstetrics, Gynecology and Urinary tract Diseases. These last two medicinal plant species (“palo azul” and “pitoreal”) used by the rural communities in Viesca in the treatment of urinary tract infections and kidney stones have not been reported previously. These findings can provide new research directions for further phytochemical studies. The present study revealed that the residents are rich in ethno-medicinal knowledge and actively use medicinal plants to treat various diseases. New phytochemical and pharmacological research are needed to confirm the therapeutic potential and safety of the identified plants.

Em 2020, a pandemia de SARS-COVID 19 causou o fechamento de escolas devido às medidas de confinamento declaradas pelo estado mexicano. O Ministério da Educação Pública implementou o Programa "Aprender em Casa" para dar continuidade à educação a distância em nível básico. Esse programa gerou transformações na vida das mulheres cuja responsabilidade delegaram às atividades escolares. O objetivo deste artigo é analisar as mudanças e efeitos derivados do programa "Aprenda em Casa" na vida das mães por meio da aplicação de uma pesquisa nacional. Entre os corredores destacamos que as medidas de confinamento escolar implicam um reforço do domínio patriarcal capitalista ao mesmo tempo que impõem uma sobrecarga ao trabalho de cuidado feminino enquanto assumem privadamente as necessidades materiais e mentais e reduzem os custos do Estado para garantir uma educação a distância de qualidade.

ABSTRACT Objective: Thyroid volume varies within each population according to different clinical and biochemical factors and can change during pregnancy. The present investigation was aimed to determine the reference values for thyroid volume in pregnant women and their predictive factors. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 360 healthy pregnant women. The following variables were examined: maternal age, gestational age, skin color, current smoking status, parity, use of iodinated supplements, body mass index, thyrotropin, total and free thyroid hormones, thyroglobulin, antithyroid antibodies, chorionic gonadotropin, cholesterol and triglycerides. Results: The mean thyroid volume was 5.3 ± 1.3 mL, 5.4 ± 1.6 mL and 5.6 ± 2.5 mL in the first trimester, second trimester and third trimester, respectively. The reference interval was 2.47-9.49 mL in the first trimester, 3.17-9.01 mL in the second trimester, and 3.00-12.38 mL in the third trimester. Free triiodothyronine and triglycerides were predictors of thyroid volume (corrected R2 = 0.12; p = 0.000). Conclusion: This study is the first to determine the reference values for thyroid volume and its predictive factors in pregnant women from Cuba, a Caribbean island with sustainable elimination of iodine deficiency disorders.

The present paper resumes a qualitative analysis of the expectations and difficulties regarding the entry and permanence in higher education that indigenous youth from four purhepecha communities in Michoacan, Mexico perceive. A qualitative research was carried out 30 semi-structured interviews and four focus groups with young high school students were applied. Also, eight interviews with teachers adn community leaders. The main concerns are the family socioeconomic situation, as well as the existing tensions between personal and community expectations, where gender appears as an important category. On the other hand, university education is linked to social mobility, the possibility of autonomy in decisión-making and the posible anguish and discomfort of leaving the family and living differently when leaving the community is recognized.

Introduction and Objectives: The electrocardiogram continues to be essential in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, and a useful tool in arrhythmic risk stratification. We aimed to determine which electrocardiographic variables can successfully predict the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) in patients following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: We performed an observational study including 667 patients with STEMI admitted to the University Hospital in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. Demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, and clinical variables were recorded. Electrocardiographic variables included QT interval duration (measured and corrected) and QT dispersion, QRS duration and dispersion, JT interval duration and ST-segment elevation magnitude. We also determined left ventricular ejection fraction and glomerular filtration rate. A binary statistical regression model and a regression tree were used to determine the variables that successfully predicted VA. Results: VA occurred in 92 (13.8%) patients, within the first 48 hours in 68 (73.9%) and after this period in 24 (26.1%) patients. The variables associated with VA were QT interval duration >529 ms and QT dispersion >66 ms, QRS dispersion >50 ms, and the presence of ST-segment elevation in six or more leads. Conclusions: The main predictor of VA occurring during the initial 48 hours was QT interval duration, while, after this period, it was QRS dispersion. Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: O eletrocardiograma continua a ser essencial no diagnóstico de enfarte agudo do miocárdio e é uma ferramenta útil na estratificação de risco de arritmias. O nosso objetivo consistiu em determinar quais as variáveis eletrocardiográficas que podem prever a ocorrência de arritmias ventriculares em doentes pós-enfarte do miocárdio com elevação do segmento ST. Métodos: Efetuámos um estudo observacional em 667 doentes com enfarte do miocárdio com elevação do segmento ST admitidos no University Hospital de Sancti Spíritus, Cuba. As variáveis demográficas, os fatores de risco cardiovasculares, assim como as variáveis clínicas foram registadas. As variáveis eletrocardiográficas incluíram a duração do intervalo QT (não corrigida e corrigida) e a dispersão do QT, a duração e a dispersão do QRS, a duração do interval JT e a dimensão da elevação do segmento ST. Também determinámos a fração de ejeção ventricular esquerda e a taxa de filtração glomerular. O modelo binário de regressão estatística e uma árvore de regressão foram utilizados para determinar as variáveis que previssem com sucesso as arritmias ventriculares. Resultados: As arritmias ventriculares ocorreram em 92 (13,8%) doentes, no período de 48 horas em 68 (73,9%) e após este período em 24 (26,1%). As variáveis associadas a arritmia ventricular foram: duração do intervalo QT >529 ms e dispersão do QT >66 ms, dispersão do QRS >50 ms e a presença da elevação do segmento ST em seis ou mais elétrodos. Conclusões: O principal fator preditor de arritmias ventriculares durante as 48 horas iniciais pós STEMI foi a duração do intervalo QT, enquanto, após este período, foi a dispersão do QRS.