Optoaccoustic Tomography – good news for microcirculatory research

Tomographic imaging is a well established technology in preventive medicine and biomedical research, although not without limitations and concerns. Optoacoustic tomography (OAT) is a recent development that bridges optical and sonographic techniques to solve spatial resolution in deep-tissue imaging. In addition to safety advantages, OAT allows multiple wavelength readings for natural thermoelastic chromophores. In this study, we explore Multi Spectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) capacities to simultaneously acquire three independent chromophores – deoxygenated haemoglobin (Hb), oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2), and melanin, from healthy human volunteers, with maximal molar extinction of HbO2 at 950 nm, Hb at 750 nm and melanin at 680 nm. Later we demonstrate how image stability during acquisition is fundamental for optimal resolution, precision and consistency of high throughout MSOT data collection. From recorded scans, a workflow is layered for data evaluation. With the MSOT dedicated software results were extracted from 3D image analysis of deep (15 mm3) vessels. The possibilities offered by this new system, specially in vascular pathophysiology, are immense and can be extended beyond current knowledge.

Optoaccoustic Tomography – good news for microcirculatory research

Tomographic imaging is a well established technology in preventive medicine and biomedical research, although not without limitations and concerns. Optoacoustic tomography (OAT) is a recent development that bridges optical and sonographic techniques to solve spatial resolution in deep-tissue imaging. In addition to safety advantages, OAT allows multiple wavelength readings for natural thermoelastic chromophores. In this study, we explore Multi Spectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) capacities to simultaneously acquire three independent chromophores – deoxygenated haemoglobin (Hb), oxygenated haemoglobin (HbO2), and melanin, from healthy human volunteers, with maximal molar extinction of HbO2 at 950 nm, Hb at 750 nm and melanin at 680 nm. Later we demonstrate how image stability during acquisition is fundamental for optimal resolution, precision and consistency of high throughout MSOT data collection. From recorded scans, a workflow is layered for data evaluation. With the MSOT dedicated software results were extracted from 3D image analysis of deep (15 mm3) vessels. The possibilities offered by this new system, specially in vascular pathophysiology, are immense and can be extended beyond current knowledge.

General Toxicity screening of Royleanone derivatives using an Artemia salina model

Cancer is the second leading cause of death globally. World Health Organization recorded an estimated 9.6 million deaths attributed to cancer in 2018. There is an urgent need for new anticancer drugs with novel modes of action. Natural products remain a valuable source for the identification and development of novel treatment options for cancer. Plectranthus species are well-known medicinal species used extensively for the treatment of different illnesses. These species are rich in diterpenoids which are reported to be responsible for various pharmacological activities including cytotoxic activities. Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) is broadly used in lethality studies and this model is a convenient starting point for cytotoxicity study when screening for general toxicity of natural products. This assay is based on their ability to kill a laboratory cultured nauplii. In this work, we report the general toxicity of some derivatives from 6,7-dehydroroyleanone (1) and 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (2) compounds. The A. salina bioassay is a simple, rapid, and low-cost test, and is very useful for preliminary assessment of general toxicity in natural products thereby guiding the determination of possible biological activities.

Use of chromium-enriched yeast in the manufacture of French bread

Bread enriched with chromium has been associated with improved glycemic control. The purpose of this study was the production of a bread with chromium (Cr III) -enriched yeast which maintained overall bread quality. A formulation of French bread was prepared using an inactive yeast enriched with Cr III for comparison against a control bread made with standard yeast. Yeast fermentation power and bread color and texture were evaluated. There were no differences in the color (crumb and crust) or the firmness of the bread crumb, despite a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the yellow tonality (b*) of the bread crumb. Regarding cohesiveness, samples present similar values but a significant difference (p < 0.05) was detected between control and chromium breads. The average value of chromium in bread after processing was 1.717 μg/g in dry samples. This study concludes that it is possible to produce French bread with chromium enriched - yeast without changing the technological process or dramatically affecting its color and texture characteristics.

Systemic treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer patients with brain metastases: current status and exploratory case study in a Portuguese cohort

Over the last years, the incidence of brain metastases in HER2 breast cancer patients has increased. Surgery and radiotherapy are the current standard local therapies. Nevertheless, it is unclear which and when systemic treatment should be applied in addition to local treatment. This work aims to present an updated review of current systemic treatment options for patients with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer with brain metastases and to present a case study of clinical cases that occurred in a Portuguese population. The methodology of this work included a literature search in PubMed for the impact of HER2-targeting agents, such as pertuzumab, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1), lapatinib, neratinib, trastuzumab deruxtecan, and tucatinib in the treatment of patients with HER2+ breast cancer with brain metastases. Then, a cohort of Portuguese patients with HER2+ breast cancer (n=44) was analyzed. In this exploratory study, considering a follow-up of 23.9 months, three patients (6.8%) developed brain metastases despite having shown a complete pathological response. The role of systemic treatment for patients with HER2 breast cancer with brain metastases has rapidly evolved following recent successes in phase II and III clinical trials. The biggest challenge is how to integrate systemic and local treatment in the management of these patients.

Acceptability of kefir produced by fermentation of Portuguese milk with CIDCA AGK1 grains in a sample of Portuguese consumers

Fermented foods, such as kefir, tend to be characterized by their unique flavor and aroma. Sensory perception of this type of food or beverage is a key factor for the general consumer acceptance of the product, which can be assessed through sensory tests. Conventional sensory tests include acceptance tests where consumers, not trained panelists, are asked to express their degree of like on a hedonic scale, where the level of acceptability of foods does not require a choice between alternatives. The most commonly used scale for testing consumer acceptability of foods is the 9-point hedonic scale. An average score of 7 or higher on the acceptability test indicates a high sensory quality and represents a good acceptance of the product by the panel. This study aimed to evaluate the acceptance of a kefir drink in a sample of Portuguese consumers. The acceptability test of the kefir obtained by fermentation of Portuguese milk with CIDCA AGK1 kefir grains was conducted in a group of 19 consumers using a 9-point hedonic scale and produced a mean score of 7.00 ± 1.15, which correlates with a qualitative rating of “Like moderately.” This work is part of an ongoing study, designated DermapBio, conducted by our research center, with an aim to evaluate the benefits of kefir ingestion for cutaneous health.

Preliminary sensory evaluation of grpe pomace flour sweet cookies

The sustainable use of resources and industrial waste is an important objective for environmental preservation and in the search for potential new foods and ingredients. Considering the size and importance of the wine industry, the use of winemaking waste in a sustainable manner is important for producers. Given the nutritional characteristics of this by-product, its use as an ingredient may be an interesting source of income, especially in Portugal, where around 183 thousand tons of this waste are generated annually. In addition to studies regarding the nutritional characteristics and active constituents, it is necessary to evaluate the acceptability of potential buyers to different food matrices resulting from the incorporation of grape pomace flour. This study was designed to evaluate the acceptability of sweet cookies with the incorporation of different percentages of grape pomace flour resulting from the vinification of Arinto and Touriga Nacional grape varieties. The sensory assessment of 149 individuals was evaluated using a questionnaire developed for this purpose. The results obtained are not conclusive, but there is a tendency for the preference for cookies with the incorporation of grape pomace flour at 15% versus incorporation of 20%, independent of the cast used.

Type 1 medication review based on a pharmacy’s electronic medication records: first steps towards an algorithm to stratify patients for tailored pharmacy services

Algorithms, queries, and knowledge-based systems are among approaches to screen electronic patient records stored in databases and support pharmacist medication reviews. The aim of this study was to perform a type 1 medication review and identify clusters that enable the definition of an algorithm to tailor pharmacy professional interv A retrospective observational study was conducted on a convenience sample of pharmacy records. Records were included if patients had a medication dispensing history between June 2017 - July 2018 and used two or more chronic medications. Statistical analysis used a two-step cluster to identify common characteristics among fifty-five sets of patient records which underwent Type 1 medication review. The median number of drugs used per patient was five [IQR: 3.0 – 7.0]. 18.2% of patients had inappropriate drugs, and 30.9% had moderate or major interaction potential. Four clusters were identified based on the variables of interactions, number of drugs used, contraindications, Beers criteria and measurable biomarkers, allowing to envision possible pharmaceutical interventions, as well as the priority in providing that intervention. The identification of patient clusters via medication review of electronic records of pharmacy patients supports the design of criteria-based algorithms, likely to be automated.

Impact of the year of graduation on the positioning of nutrition professionals regarding the vegetarian diet Impacto do ano de formacilo no posicionamento dos profissionais de nutricao face a dieta vegetariana

The adoption of a vegetarian diet increased over the years. In Portugal, is estimated that 1.2% of the population follows this food pattern. A cross-sectional study was carried out, including a final sample of 74 nutrition professionals to assess their position concerning the vegetarian diet (VD) according to their year of graduation (YG). The results analyses demonstrated that 23 nutrition professionals graduated between 1980 and 2009; and 51 between 2010 and 2019. There were statistically significant differences regarding the possibility of keeping a VD throughout life, since 81.1% of the participants consider it possible, most of them belonging to the group who graduated after 2009. As for supplements, 13% of the nutrition professionals who graduated until 2009 believe it possible to adhere to a VD without resorting to supplements, however, the percentage increases significantly to 39.2% in nutrition professionals trained after 2009. The percentage of nutrition professionals that approved the adherence of athletes to VD increased statistically in recent years, however, most believe this adherence is only possible with the use of supplements. Adherence to VD has increased over the past few years, however, the opinion of nutrition professionals is not unanimous regarding its safety, effectiveness in weight loss, and use of supplementation.