Sodium Alginate-Starch Capsules for Enhanced Stability of Metformin in Simulated Gastrointestinal Fluids.

The use of biopolymers in pharmaceuticals is well established, particularly for encapsulating biologically active compounds due to their beneficial properties. Alginate, widely recognized for its excellent encapsulation abilities, is the most commonly used biopolymer, while starch, typically known as insoluble dietary fiber, also serves as an effective agent for trapping and protecting compounds during processing, storage, and gastrointestinal transit. Sodium alginate-starch capsules with varying compositions were analyzed to develop metformin hydrochloride (MET) containing capsules with adequate physicochemical properties.

Antioxidant Role of Probiotics in Inflammation-Induced Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality. Emerging evidence indicates that disturbances in gut microbial composition, the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the resulting inflammation can lead to DNA damage, driving the pathogenesis and progression of CRC. Notably, bacterial metabolites can either protect against or contribute to oxidative stress by modulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes and influencing signaling pathways that govern ROS-induced inflammation.

Micronutrient Patterns and Low Intake of Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Folate, Magnesium, and Potassium Among Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Background Assessing micronutrient intake is important in identifying deficiencies that may contribute to insulin resistance, poor glycemic control, and increased risk of diabetes-related complications. The study's objectives were to evaluate micronutrient intake in prediabetes (PD) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients compared to recommended dietary intakes (RDI) and to determine the associations between the micronutrient patterns and both anthropometric measurements and biomarkers of diabetes. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 349 patients with T2DM and 252 patients with PD.

The knowns and unknowns of long COVID-19: from mechanisms to therapeutical approaches.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has been defined as the greatest global health and socioeconomic crisis of modern times. While most people recover after being infected with the virus, a significant proportion of them continue to experience health issues weeks, months and even years after acute infection with SARS-CoV-2. This persistence of clinical symptoms in infected individuals for at least three months after the onset of the disease or the emergence of new symptoms lasting more than two months, without any other explanation and alternative diagnosis have been named long COVID, long-haul COVID, post-COVID-19 conditions, chronic COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC).

Biopolymers-Based Macrogels with Applications in the Food Industry: Capsules with Berry Juice for Functional Food Products.

The present study focused on the development of gel-based capsules from sodium alginate and the fresh juice from different berries: chokeberry, sea buckthorn, and blueberry. Obtained through the extrusion method, the macrocapsules were added into yogurt, a well-known and consumed dairy product. In order to establish the changes that can occur for the food product, the samples were tested over 7 and 15 days of storage in refrigeration conditions.

The Effect of Municipal Biosolids on the Growth, Physiology and Synthesis of Phenolic Compounds in L.

The continuous development of drinking water networks is leading to the production of increasing amounts of waste water and sewage sludge. Secondary-treated sewage sludge is called biosolids and can be used as fertilizers in agriculture due to its rich nutrient content. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of biosolids mixed with an eroded soil on the morphology, physiology and synthesis of bioactive compounds in basil.

Long COVID: Molecular Mechanisms and Detection Techniques.

Long COVID, also known as post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), has emerged as a significant health concern following the COVID-19 pandemic. Molecular mechanisms underlying the occurrence and progression of long COVID include viral persistence, immune dysregulation, endothelial dysfunction, and neurological involvement, and highlight the need for further research to develop targeted therapies for this condition. While a clearer picture of the clinical symptomatology is shaping, many molecular mechanisms are yet to be unraveled, given their complexity and high level of interaction with other metabolic pathways.

Nanopore Sequencing Assessment of Bacterial Pathogens and Associated Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Environmental Samples.

As seen in earlier and present pandemics, monitoring pathogens in the environment can offer multiple insights on their spread, evolution, and even future outbreaks. The present paper assesses the opportunity to detect microbial pathogens and associated antibiotic resistance genes, in relation to specific pathogen sources, by using nanopore sequencing in municipal waters and wastewaters in Romania. The main results indicated that waters collecting effluents from a meat processing facility exhibit altered communities' diversity and abundance, with reduced values (101-108 and 0.

Detection of Biological Molecules Using Nanopore Sensing Techniques.

Modern biomedical sensing techniques have significantly increased in precision and accuracy due to new technologies that enable speed and that can be tailored to be highly specific for markers of a particular disease. Diagnosing early-stage conditions is paramount to treating serious diseases. Usually, in the early stages of the disease, the number of specific biomarkers is very low and sometimes difficult to detect using classical diagnostic methods.

Design of Functional Polymer Systems to Optimize the Filler Retention in Obtaining Cellulosic Substrates with Improved Properties.

In the present work, the possibility of increasing the calcium carbonate (CaCO) content in sheets of paper to optimize their properties was investigated. A new class of polymeric additives for papermaking is proposed as well as a method for their use in paper sheet containing the CaCO precipitated addition. Calcium carbonate precipitated (PCC) and fibers cellulose were adjusted with a cationic polyacrylamide flocculating agent (polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (plyDADMAC) or cationic polyacrylamide (cPAM)).

Future Antimicrobials: Natural and Functionalized Phenolics.

With incidence of antimicrobial resistance rising globally, there is a continuous need for development of new antimicrobial molecules. Phenolic compounds having a versatile scaffold that allows for a broad range of chemical additions; they also exhibit potent antimicrobial activities which can be enhanced significantly through functionalization. Synthetic routes such as esterification, phosphorylation, hydroxylation or enzymatic conjugation may increase the antimicrobial activity of compounds and reduce minimal concentrations needed.

Fecal microbiota transplantation in non-communicable diseases: Recent advances and protocols.

Fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) is a therapeutic method that aims to restore normal gut microbial composition in recipients. Currently, FMT is approved in the USA to treat recurrent and refractory infection and has been shown to have great efficacy. As such, significant research has been directed toward understanding the potential role of FMT in other conditions associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, neuropsychiatric disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, decompensated cirrhosis, cancers and graft-versus-host disease.

The Use of Biopolymers as a Natural Matrix for Incorporation of Essential Oils of Medicinal Plants.

The benefits of using biopolymers for the development of films and coatings are well known. The enrichment of these material properties through various natural additions has led to their applicability in various fields. Essential oils, which are well-known for their beneficial properties, are widely used as encapsulating agents in films based on biopolymers.

The Future Packaging of the Food Industry: The Development and Characterization of Innovative Biobased Materials with Essential Oils Added.

The need to replace conventional, usually single-use, packaging materials, so important for the future of resources and of the environment, has propelled research towards the development of packaging-based on biopolymers, fully biodegradable and even edible. The current study furthers the research on development of such films and tests the modification of the properties of the previously developed biopolymeric material, by adding 10, respectively 20% / essential oils of lemon, grapefruit, orange, cinnamon, clove, mint, ginger, eucalypt, and chamomile. Films with a thickness between 53 and 102 µm were obtained, with a roughness ranging between 147 and 366 nm.

Assessment of the Fertilization Capacity of the Aquaculture Sediment for Wheat Grass as Sustainable Alternative Use.

Periodic removal of sediment from aquaculture ponds is practiced to maintain their productivity and animal welfare. The recovery of sediment as a plant fertilizer could alleviate the costs of sediment removal. The objective of this study was to test the effects of a dried sediment, extracted from an aquaculture pond used for common carp cultivation, on the growth and physiology of potted wheat grass and the quality of the juice obtained from wheat grass.

A Conservative Replacement in the Transmembrane Domain of SARS-CoV-2 ORF7a as a Putative Risk Factor in COVID-19.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic follows an unpredictable evolution, driven by both host-related factors such as mobility, vaccination status, and comorbidities and by pathogen-related ones. The pathogenicity of its causative agent, SARS-CoV-2 virus, relates to the functions of the proteins synthesized intracellularly, as guided by viral RNA. These functions are constantly altered through mutations resulting in increased virulence, infectivity, and antibody-evasion abilities.

Evaluation of Diet Supplementation with Wheat Grass Juice on Growth Performance, Body Composition and Blood Biochemical Profile of Carp ( L.).

Wheat grass juice (WGJ) is an extract of young wheat plantlets ( L.) used worldwide for its health related properties. In this study, the following feeds containing WGJ were tested on common carp ( L.

Emergence of the First Strains of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.1.7 in Romania: Genomic Analysis.

Background: The United Kingdom reported the emergence of a new and highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variant (B.1.1.

Introduction and Characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 in North-East of Romania During the First COVID-19 Outbreak.

Romania officially declared its first Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) case on February 26, 2020. The first and largest coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Romania was recorded in Suceava, North-East region of the country, and originated at the Suceava regional county hospital. Following sheltering-in-place measures, infection rates decreased, only to rise again after relaxation of measures.

Protective Effects of Two Halophilic Crude Extracts from and against Memory Deficits and Anxiety- and Depression-Like Behaviors in Methionine-Induced Schizophrenia in Mice Focusing on Oxidative Stress Status.

Recently, the implication of oxidative stress in behavioral-like disorders has received a lot of attention. Many studies were interested in searching for new natural compounds with protective effects on behavioral-like disorders by focusing on oxidative stress as the main causal factor. Here, we assess the potential effect of cell-free extracts from halophilic bacteria on memory, anxiety, and depression-related behaviors in mice, as well as on cognitive deficits, negative symptoms, and some oxidative stress biomarkers in methionine-induced mice models of schizophrenia.

Effects of In-Situ Filler Loading vs. Conventional Filler and the Use of Retention-Related Additives on Properties of Paper.

In the present paper, aspects concerning the obtained and characterization of additive systems used for maximizing filler retention, and the effects on paper properties, were investigated. The effects of retention additives over properties of paper, containing fibers from in-situ loading (IS-CCP), were analyzed against the effects of additives over properties of paper containing fibers from conventional loading, obtained by the addition of calcium carbonate in precipitated form (CCP). The physico-mechanical properties were analyzed by various analyses and investigations: calcium carbonate content, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, optical and mechanical properties, in order to develop the best systems of retention additives for obtaining higher retention loads for making paper with high content of nano-filler material.

Prenylated phenolics as promising candidates for combination antibacterial therapy: Morusin and kuwanon G.

Combination of antibiotics with natural products is a promising strategy for potentiating antibiotic activity and overcoming antibiotic resistance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether morusin and kuwanon G, prenylated phenolics in species, have the ability to enhance antibiotic activity and reverse antibiotic resistance in and . Commonly used antibiotics (oxacillin, erythromycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, clindamycin) were selected for the combination studies.

Alginate: From Food Industry to Biomedical Applications and Management of Metabolic Disorders.

Initially used extensively as an additive and ingredient in the food industry, alginate has become an important compound for a wide range of industries and applications, such as the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics sectors. In the food industry, alginate has been used to coat fruits and vegetables, as a microbial and viral protection product, and as a gelling, thickening, stabilizing or emulsifying agent. Its biocompatibility, biodegradability, nontoxicity and the possibility of it being used in quantum satis doses prompted scientists to explore new properties for alginate usage.

Graphene oxide effects in early ontogenetic stages of Triticum aestivum L. seedlings.

Nanomaterials are being used increasingly in various areas such as electronic devices manufacture, medicine, mechanical devices production, and even food industry. Therefore, the evaluation of their toxicity is mandatory. Graphene oxide (GO) has been shown to have both positive as well as negative impact on different crop plants, depending on species, dose, and duration of exposure.

Biopolymers - Calcium phosphates composites with inclusions of magnetic nanoparticles for bone tissue engineering.

Composites based on combination of biopolymers (chitosan, hyaluronic acid and bovine serum albumin or gelatin), calcium phosphates (CP) and magnetic nanoparticles have been prepared by a biomimetic co-precipitation method. The biomimetic strategy is inspired by natural mineralization processes, where the synthesized minerals are usually combined with proteins, polysaccharides or other mineral forms to form composite, in physiological conditions of temperature and pH. The morphology of the magnetic composites, studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated a macroporous structure, which influenced the retention of simulated biological fluids.