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In this study, different extraction methods and conditions were used for the extraction of antioxidants from brown macroalgae Fucus spiralis. The extraction methodologies used were ultrasound-assisted extraction (ultrasonic bath and ultrasonic probe), extraction with a vortex, extraction with an Ultra-Turrax® homogenizer, and high-pressure-assisted extraction. The extracts were analyzed for their total phenolic content (TPC) and their antioxidant activity, and evaluated through the 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) free radical scavenging method and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Ultrasonic probe-assisted extraction yielded the highest values of TPC (94.78–474.16 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract). Regarding the antioxidant activity, vortex-assisted extraction gave the best DPPH results (IC50 1.89–16 µg/mL), while the highest FRAP results were obtained using the Ultra-Turrax® homogenizer (502.16–1188.81 μmol ascorbic acid equivalents/g extract). For each extraction method, response surface methodology was used to analyze the influence of the experimental conditions "extraction time" (t), "biomass/solvent ratio" (R), "solvent" (S, water % in water/ethanol mixture), and "pressure" (P) on TPC, DPPH, and FRAP of the F. spiralis extracts. In general, higher TPC content and higher antioxidant capacity (lower IC50 and higher FRAP) were obtained with higher R, t, and P, and lower S (higher ethanol %). The model regarding the combined effects of independent variables t, R, and S on the FRAP response values for vortex-assisted extractions best fitted the experimental data (R2 0.957), with optimal extraction conditions of t = 300 s, R = 50 g, and S = 25%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Target species diversification is essential for fisheries sustainability and fish market revitalization. Fish discards are a widely recognized problem resulting from fisheries worldwide, and are of major concern for all sector players, from administrations, to fishermen, and scientists. However, non‐target species are seldom studied, and information on nutritional profiles and seasonal changes in nutritional properties is generally lacking. This study assessed the seasonal nutritional composition of two unexploited (Serranus cabrilla, Capros aper) and three low commercial value fish species (Trachurus picturatus, Spondyliosoma cantharus, and Trigla lyra), captured on the Portuguese coast over 1 year. Significant seasonal variations were observed in the nutritional composition of all the species studied. Moisture and ash contents varied from 70% to 81% and from 5% to 13%, respectively. The maximum fat contents were 5% for C. aper and 4% for T. picturatus, allowing to classify all studied fishes as lean. The highest protein contents were recorded for C. aper (25%) and S. cantharus (20%). The unexploited and low commercial value fish species studied were shown to be good fat and protein sources, comparable to commonly consumed species, such as cod and salmon, having a great potential to become commonly consumed fish in Portugal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storing non‐marketable fish aboard fishing vessels takes up valuable storage space and, consequently, it is usually discarded. Therefore, the strategy to minimize the amount of discarded fish and boost the fishing economy should entail measures to turn unexploited species into marketable fish. The use of sensory descriptive analysis is usually the first step in the characterization of foods and assess their baseline appeal to the final consumer. In this study, the sensory characterization of five unexploited fish species was conducted, using a semi‐trained panel, with the objective of establishing the appeal and marketability of these species. Check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) and Free Choice Profiling (FCP) were used to obtain descriptive attributes. Correspondence Analysis (CA) was used to examine CATA data and to compare both sensory methods, while Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used for FCP data analysis. The results obtained with CATA method allowed to differentiate species by appearance, odor and flavor, while appearance and odor were statistically significant descriptors in FCP. CATA method was found to be more suitable to discriminate fish species, presenting a higher discriminatory power than FCP. Practical Applications: For CATA and FCP methods, using a panel of tasters with short training may increase the quality of a descriptive profile by avoiding the use of less accurate descriptors and ensure that the most relevant descriptors are included, especially in the case of CATA. In this study, both methods were suitable for fish profiling, although they provide different sensory characterization for the different samples. The statistical methods applied allowed to statistically identify significant attributes for each fish species and to differentiate from each other. When comparing both tested sensory methods, CATA reveals a greater discriminatory character compared to FCP. This can be explained by the absence of a support list of descriptors in the FCP that limits the choice of attributes by the panelists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Investigations of the relationships between the gut microbiota and gastrointestinal parasitic nematodes are attracting growing interest by the scientific community, driven by the need to better understand the contribution of parasite-associated changes in the composition of the gut flora to both host malnutrition and immune modulation. These studies have however been carried out mainly in humans and experimental animals, while knowledge of the make-up of the gut commensal flora in presence or absence of infection by parasitic nematodes in domestic animals is limited. In this study, we investigate the qualitative and quantitative impact that infections by a widespread parasite of cats (i.e. Toxocara cati) exert on the gut microbiota of feline hosts. Methods: The faecal microbiota of cats with patent infection by T. cati (= Tc+), as well as that of negative controls (= Tc-) was examined via high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 hypervariable region of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, followed by bioinformatics and biostatistical analyses of sequence data. Results: A total of 2,325,366 useable high-quality sequences were generated from the faecal samples analysed in this study and subjected to further bioinformatics analyses, which led to the identification of 128 OTUs and nine bacterial phyla, respectively. The phylum Firmicutes was predominant in all samples analysed (mean of 53.0%), followed by the phyla Proteobacteria (13.8%), Actinobacteria (13.7%) and Bacteroidetes (10.1%). Among others, bacteria of the order Lactobacillales, the family Enterococcaceae and genera Enterococcus and Dorea showed a trend towards increased abundance in Tc+ compared with Tc- samples, while no significant differences in OTU richness and diversity were recorded between Tc+ and Tc- samples (P = 0.485 and P = 0.581, respectively). However, Canonical Correlation and Redundancy Analyses were able to separate samples by infection status (P = 0.030 and P = 0.015, respectively), which suggests a correlation between the latter and the composition of the feline faecal microbiota. Conclusions: In spite of the relatively small number of samples analysed, subtle differences in the composition of the gut microbiota of Tc+ vs Tc- cats could be identified, some of which in accordance with current data from humans and laboratory animal hosts. Nevertheless, the findings from this study contribute valuable knowledge to the yet little explored area of parasite-microbiota interactions in domestic animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Studied fish species present significant elemental concentrations. • Differences in the mineral concentrations between fish species were observed. • Significant seasonal variations were observed in the mineral profile. • Spondyliosoma cantharus proved to be the most element-rich species. • Toxic non-essential elements such as Pb, Cd, Ni and As were not detected. The most consumed fish species in Portugal do not correspond to the most caught fish species on the Portuguese coast. From the point of view of ocean sustainability and economics, it is important to study unexploited or underexploited fish species that have the potential to be introduced into the food market. This potential can be reflected by their nutritional value, where mineral elements are often overlooked despite their importance in human health. Therefore, it is important to study the elemental concentration of those fish species, which should also include seasonal variations of essential mineral elements such as Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, and I, and non-essential elements such as As, Ni, Cd, and Pb. This work is part of a project that studied five fish species with the potential to be brought to the market: three species with low commercial value (Trachurus picturatus , Spondyliosoma cantharus and Trigla lyra) and two species with no commercial value (Serranus cabrilla and Capros aper), caught over a year in the coast of Portugal. Mineral elements were quantified by ICP-OES (ICP-MS for I). The results showed that the studied fish species present significant elemental concentrations, similar to those found in the most caught fish species in Portugal. Trachurus picturatus was found to be a source of Fe, and all species are sources of I. Overall, Spondyliosoma cantharus proved to be the most element-rich species. Sensorially, Cu was related to "metallic odour" and Fe to "metallic flavour", and I was related to "seaweed odour" and "seawater flavour". Additionally, toxic elements such as Cd, Pb, Ni and As were not detected. The corresponding Hazard Quotients (HQ) show the safety of the consumption of these fish species concerning the content of potentially toxic elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several summaries of presentations at the 1998 Meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Diagnosis and management of patients with multiple cafe au lait macules; Molecular genetic aspects of tuberous sclerosis; Incidence of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in children.

Summarizes issues discussed at the 1997 meeting of the Society for Pediatric Dermatology. Molecular and genetic testing in dermatological diseases; Advances being made in the study of human papillomaviruses.

Verrucous venous malformations (VVM) are rare, congenital, slow‐flow vascular anomalies that have been historically difficult to characterize due to clinical mimics and unclear histological evaluation. A life‐threatening complication of VVMs is localized intravascular coagulation. Herein, we describe a male neonate who presented with a congenital VVM on the left lower extremity with associated severe thrombocytopenia. We discuss the multifaceted diagnostic approach used to identify this VVM, while highlighting the use of WT‐1 as a negative predictive marker; we additionally outline novel treatment options and management beyond cutaneous involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous non‐Langerhans cell histiocytosis (NLCH) is a rare and biologically benign entity that can be broadly classified into two categories: xanthogranuloma and non‐xanthogranuloma. The xanthogranuloma family is characterized by a proliferation of histiocytes with both macrophage and dendritic cell differentiation, negative BRAF mutation, and rare Touton‐type giant cells. Molecular studies have reported that mutations involved in the MAPK signaling pathways are implicated in the pathophysiology of histiocytoses. While LCH is associated with the somatic mutation of BRAF v600e, however, mutations and gene fusions in NLCH cases are undefined. We hereby present a 19‐month‐old female with recalcitrant nodular rashes diagnosed as NLCH with associated novel genetic mutation involving ANKRD26 and PDGFRB genes, as well as PDGFRB::CD74 fusion mRNA. Immunohistochemical staining showed strong and diffuse CD68 and CD163 positivity, and negative CD1a, CD207, ALK D5F3, S100 protein, and BRAF V600E (VE1). Albeit unknown significance, this case of an ANKRD26 and PDGFRB gene mutation in cutaneous NLCH has not been reported prior in the literature. Our case highlights the advantage of pathology and genetic studies in cutaneous NLCH to increase the understanding of this heterogeneous enigmatic disorder and identify further options in management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indeterminate cell histiocytosis is a rare cutaneous disease characterized by the presence of dendritic cells that lack Birbeck granules and immunophenotypically shares features of both Langerhans cells and macrophages. We describe a case of a 4-year-old African American boy affected by a disseminated, exclusively mucocutaneous form of indeterminate cell histiocytosis. The eruption was successfully treated with narrowband ultraviolet B. The peculiar negativity of the Langerhans cell marker S100 is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents several correspondence related to dermatology. Complication of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura; Examination of children with infantile perianal protrusion; Consideration of childhood perioral dermatitis as a variant of rosacea.

We describe a 3-month-old infant who presented to our institution with interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist deficiency (DIRA), which consists of neutrophilic pustular dermatosis, periostitis, aseptic multifocal osteomyelitis, and persistently high acute-phase reactants. Skin findings promptly improved upon initiation of treatment with anakinra (recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist), and the bony lesions and systemic inflammation resolved with continued therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]