Optimization of Nanoencapsulation of Extract and Its Potential Application in Yogurt Fortification.

Marine macroalgae are excellent sources of bioactive compounds recognized by their pharmaceutical and biomedical potential. A subcritical water extraction (SWE) was applied to the macroalga , and the extract was used to prepare phytosomes. A Box-Behnken design was applied to optimize the entrapment efficiency.

Exploring the Nutritional Value and Health Benefits of Honey from the Portuguese Protected Area of Montesinho Natural Park.

The main objective of this study was to provide an overview of the potential health-promoting properties of honeys collected at specific apiary locations from the protected area of Montesinho Natural Park (MNP), by analyzing their amino acid and polyphenolic profiles, and their biological properties, and comparing them with the renowned Manuka honey. The results revealed differences in total phenolic content among the samples examined and between sampling campaigns, with values ranging from 55.6 to 225 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 g of honey, compared to 57.

Chemical Characterization and Bioactivities of Sericin Extracted from Silkworm Cocoons from Two Regions of Portugal.

Sericin has been characterized as demonstrating a variety of bioactivities, establishing it as a valuable resource for biomedical and pharmaceutical applications. The diverse biological activities of sericin are likely linked to its unique biochemical composition and properties. This study aimed to assess the effect of origin, seasonality, and amino acid composition on the bioactivity of sericin samples from two Portuguese regions compared to commercial sericin.

Optimized Extraction Protocols for Bioactive Antioxidants from Commercial Seaweeds in Portugal: A Comparative Study of Techniques.

This study aimed to optimize the extraction conditions for a valuable source of antioxidants: seaweed. Therefore, ten seaweed samples were subjected to a solid-liquid extraction (SLE), where the extraction conditions (biomass (g): solvent (mL) ratio, temperature, and time) were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The seaweeds were also subjected to subcritical water extraction (SWE) (140 and 190 °C) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) (10 and 20 min).

Sustainable Carotenoid Extraction from Macroalgae: Optimizing Microwave-Assisted Extraction Using Response Surface Methodology.

This study aimed at optimizing carotenoid extraction using the macroalga (L.) S.F.

Ketoprofen Associated with Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel for Temporomandibular Disorder Treatment: An In Vitro Study.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a public health problem that affects around 12% of the global population. The treatment is based on analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, or arthrocentesis associated with hyaluronic acid-based viscosupplementation. However, the use of hyaluronic acid alone in viscosupplementation does not seem to be enough to regulate the intra-articular inflammatory process.

Assessment of the Antioxidant Capacity of Commercial Coffee Using Conventional Optical and Chromatographic Methods and an Innovative Electrochemical DNA-Based Biosensor.

As one of the most popular beverages in the world, coffee is a rich source of non-enzymatic bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity. In this study, twelve commercial coffee beverages found in local Portuguese markets were assessed to determine their total phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as their antioxidant capacity, by conventional optical procedures, namely, ferric reducing antioxidant power and DPPH-radical scavenging assay, and non-conventional procedures such as a homemade DNA-based biosensor against two reactive radicals: HO and HO. The innovative DNA-based biosensor comprised an adenine-rich oligonucleotide adsorbed onto a carbon paste electrode.

More than trees: Stand management can be used to improve ecosystem diversity, structure and functioning 20 years after forest restoration in drylands.

In Mediterranean drylands, extensive areas have been restored by reforestation over the past decades to improve diversity, soil fertility, and tree natural regeneration, contributing to halting desertification and land degradation. However, evaluating reforestation success usually relies on tree survival, while holistic and long-term evaluations of reforestation success based on ecosystem diversity, structure and functioning are scarce. In this work, we provide the first assessment that combines the evaluation of planted trees and indicators of ecosystem diversity, structure, and functioning in established reforestations with three native Mediterranean species along a climatic gradient.

Lam. Commercial Beverages: A Multifaceted Investigation of Consumer Perceptions, Sensory Analysis, and Bioactive Properties.

This study employs a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate consumers' perceptions and acceptance of Lam. beverages, examining sensory attributes, chemical composition, and bioactivities. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) analyses revealed significant chemovariation in phenolic compositions among commercial moringa beverages.

Gold-Coated Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Functionalized to EGF and Ce6 Complexes for Breast Cancer Diagnoses and Therapy.

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) have some limitations in the physiological environment, however, a modification on their surface, such as a core-shell structure with gold (SPIONs@Au), can enhance their applicability. In this study, SPIONs were synthesized by the chemical coprecipitation method, stabilized by sodium citrate, and followed by the gold-coating process. SPIONs@Au were functionalized with EGF-α-lipoic acid and chlorin e6 (Ce6)-cysteamine complexes, composing a Theranostic Nanoprobe (TP).

Food Toxicology and Food Safety: Report of the 3rd International Electronic Conference on Foods: Food, Microbiome, and Health-A Celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Foods' Impact on Our Wellbeing.

The purpose of the conference session summarized in this article was to bring together international experts on food toxicology and food safety and share the current scientific knowledge on these topics. The presentations covered a wide range of interdisciplinary issues, including (i) the impact of diet on body weight and health outcomes including results from animal models of carcinogenesis, (ii) methods for microbial oil extraction, (iii) food processing and its impact on food safety and health, (iv) novel compounds to avoid mycotoxin contamination of agricultural products, and (v) the safety of cannabidiol in food supplements based on extracts. Some of the conclusions of the presentations included that correct food choices may impact on the risk of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, that food processing may have an influence on health, by either reducing or increasing risks, and that research regarding novel compounds is important, which may have preventive but also detrimental effects on health.

A Critical Comparison of the Advanced Extraction Techniques Applied to Obtain Health-Promoting Compounds from Seaweeds.

Marine macroalgae are rich in bioactive compounds that can be applied in several fields, mainly food, cosmetics, and medicine. The health-promoting effects of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, polysaccharides, carotenoids, proteins, and fatty acids, have been increasingly explored, especially regarding their antioxidant activity and improvement in human health. To extract these valuable compounds, advanced technologies that include Supercritical-Fluid Extraction (SFE), Pressurised-Liquid Extraction (PLE), Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE), Enzyme-Assisted Extraction (EAE), Ultrasound-Microwave-Assisted Extraction (UMAE) and Liquefied Gas Extraction (LGE) have been assessed due to their notable advantages over the conventional methods (Solid-Liquid and Soxhlet extraction).

Biological Potential, Gastrointestinal Digestion, Absorption, and Bioavailability of Algae-Derived Compounds with Neuroprotective Activity: A Comprehensive Review.

Currently, there is no known cure for neurodegenerative disease. However, the available therapies aim to manage some of the symptoms of the disease. Human neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of illnesses characterized by progressive loss of neuronal cells and nervous system dysfunction related to several mechanisms such as protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmission dysfunction.

Evaluation of the Biological Potential of (L.) S.F.Gray and (Kjellman) Setchell Subcritical Water Extracts.

Neuroprotection is a need that remains unmet in treating chronic neurodegenerative disorders, despite decades of extensive research. To find new neuroprotective compounds, extracts of (L.) S.

Biofortified Diets Containing Algae and Selenised Yeast: Effects on Growth Performance, Nutrient Utilization, and Tissue Composition of Gilthead Seabream ().

Efforts have been made to find natural, highly nutritious alternatives to replace fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO), which can simultaneously promote fish health and improve the nutritional quality of filets for human consumption. This study evaluated the impact of biofortified diets containing microalgae (as replacement for FM and FO), macroalgae (as natural source of iodine) and selenised yeast (organic source of selenium) on gilthead seabream growth, nutrient utilization, tissue composition and gene expression. A control diet (CTRL) with 15% FM and 5.

Survey of off-label prescribing in a university paediatric outpatient in Brazil.

Ours is a cross-sectional, descriptive, retrospective study evaluating the extent of off-label prescribing for patients attending a university paediatric outpatient department in Goiás, Brazil. 391 patients were treated in the outpatient, and 668 medicines were prescribed. Of these, 70.

Involvement of the Iron-Regulated Loci and in Biofilm Formation and Survival of Staphylococcus epidermidis within the Host.

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a major nosocomial pathogen with a remarkable ability to persist on indwelling medical devices through biofilm formation. Nevertheless, it remains intriguing how this process is efficiently achieved under the host's harsh conditions, where the availability of nutrients, such as essential metals, is scarce. Following our previous identification of two iron-regulated loci putatively involved in iron transport, and , we assessed here their individual contribution to both bacterial physiology and interaction with host immune cells.

Siderophore-Mediated Iron Acquisition Plays a Critical Role in Biofilm Formation and Survival of Within the Host.

Iron acquisition through siderophores, a class of small, potent iron-chelating organic molecules, is a widely spread strategy among pathogens to survive in the iron-restricted environment found in the host. Although these molecules have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several species, there is currently no comprehensive study addressing siderophore production in . is an innocuous skin commensal bacterium.

Marine Health-Promoting Compounds: Recent Trends for Their Characterization and Human Applications.

Seaweeds represent a rich source of biologically active compounds with several applications, especially in the food, cosmetics, and medical fields. The beneficial effects of marine compounds on health have been increasingly explored, making them an excellent choice for the design of functional foods. When studying marine compounds, several aspects must be considered: extraction, identification and quantification methods, purification steps, and processes to increase their stability.

Seaweeds rehydration and boiling: Impact on iodine, sodium, potassium, selenium, and total arsenic contents and health benefits for consumption.

Considering the importance of seaweeds for the development of sustainable and innovative food products, this study aimed to characterize the impact of hydrothermal processing on iodine, sodium, potassium, selenium, and arsenic concentrations of four seaweed species (S. latissima, L. digitata, U.

Bioactive Lipids of Seaweeds from the Portuguese North Coast: Health Benefits versus Potential Contamination.

The total lipid content and lipidic profile of seaweeds harvested in the North Coast and purchased in Portugal were determined in this paper. The amount of total lipids in the different species of seaweeds varied between 0.7 ± 0.

Antimicrobial Use in Animals in Timor-Leste Based on Veterinary Antimicrobial Imports between 2016 and 2019.

Monitoring veterinary antimicrobial use is part of the global strategy to tackle antimicrobial resistance. The purpose of this study was to quantify veterinary antimicrobials imported into Timor-Leste between 2016 and 2019 and describe the antimicrobial import profile of importers. Data were obtained from import applications received by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF) of Timor-Leste.

Indirect costs of myocardial infarction in Portugal.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease, and particularly myocardial infarction (MI), carries a significant economic burden, through productivity losses (indirect costs) associated with temporary absence from work, that has not yet been adequately studied in Portugal. Our objective was to quantify the indirect costs of MI in the first year after admission.

Methods: Consecutive patients admitted to a single center aged <66 years who survived to discharge during a one-year period were included.

Development of New Canned Chub Mackerel Products Incorporating Edible Seaweeds-Influence on the Minerals and Trace Elements Composition.

This study aimed to develop new canned chub mackerel products incorporating edible seaweeds ( , , , , sp. and sp.) harvested in the Portuguese North-Central coast, with simultaneous sensory improvement and minerals enrichment.

Analysis of the effect of photodynamic therapy with Fotoenticine on gliosarcoma cells.

Gliosarcoma is a highly aggressive malignant neoplasm and a histopathological variant of wild-type glioblastoma multiforme isocitrate dehydrogenase (HDI). The current standard treatment consists of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical resection, however, despite advances in these techniques, the patient's prognosis remains unfavorable. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a noninvasive technique that has been highlighted as an alternative form of cancer treatment because it does not present the side effects associated with systemic treatments.