Phytochemicals and Biological Properties of Azorean Black Tea Samples from Different Zones of Tea Plantation.

tea has received considerable attention due to its beneficial effects on health, particularly due to its antioxidant properties that are affected by several factors, which have a high influence on the final quality of black tea. The objective of this study was to investigate the biological properties of Azorean black tea from five different zones of tea plantation in order to select specific areas to cultivate tea rich in targeted compounds beneficial to human health. The free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), ferrous ion chelating (FIC) activities, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and tannins were determined by colorimetric methods, and catechin and theaflavin contents were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography.

Essential Oil Composition and Anti-Cholinesterase Properties of Foliage Harvested in São Miguel Island (Azores) in Two Different Seasons.

The Azorean forest operations and wood industry generate considerable foliage biomass residues that are used for local essential oil (EO) production. However, research on seasonal variation of EO remains scarce. In this study, the EOs from fresh Azorean foliage (Az-CJF) collected in autumn (Aut) and spring (Spr) were obtained via hydrodistillation and investigated for their physical properties, yield, chemical composition, and bioactivities.

Anticholinesterase and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Essential Oils of Sawdust and Resin-Rich Bark from Azorean (Cupressaceae): In Vitro and In Silico Studies.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder characterized by severe cognitive impairment, affects millions of people worldwide. However, AD therapy remains limited and mainly symptomatic-focused, with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors being the major available drugs. Thus, AD is considered by the WHO as a disorder of public health priority.

The use of water in wineries: A review.

Water is essential at various stages of winemaking, from irrigation in the vineyard to cleaning equipment and facilities, controlling fermentation temperatures, and diluting grape juice if necessary. Additionally, water is used for sanitation purposes to ensure the quality and safety of the final product. This article provides an overview of the existing knowledge regarding the use of water in wineries throughout the winemaking process, water consumption values, effluent treatment, efficient use of water measures, and water reuse.

Sequential Separation of Essential Oil Components during Hydrodistillation of Fresh Foliage from Azorean (Cupressaceae): Effects on Antibacterial, Antifungal, and Free Radical Scavenging Activities.

wood industry generates large amounts of foliage biomass residues. Due to the increasing applications and markets for essential oils (EOs), fresh Azorean foliage (Az-CJF) residues are used for local EO production. Hydrodistillation (HD), a common process for obtaining EOs, also provides the possibility to fractionate them.

Chemical Compositions and In Vitro Antioxidant Activities of the Essential Oils of Sawdust and Resin-Rich Bark from Azorean (Cupressaceae).

In the Azores archipelago (Portugal), forest operations and wood industry generate large amounts of biomass residues (CJBR), which can be used to produce valuable essential oils (EOs). In this study, we evaluated the chemical composition and antioxidant activities of EOs from Azorean sawdust (CJS) and resin-rich bark (CJRRB). The CJS and CJRRB EOs, obtained via hydrodistillation, showed different yield values (0.

Energy efficiency in winemaking industry: Challenges and opportunities.

The United Nations has issued a warning over the limited time for climate disaster prevention. In the last two decades, several countries have set targets to reduce fossil fuel usage and greenhouse gas emissions. These goals are tracked through the adoption of energy systems that prioritise efficiency and low-carbon alternatives, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals outlined by the United Nations.

Evaluation of gamma-aminobutyric acid content in Portuguese cheeses with protected designation of origin status.

Health-conscious consumers are increasingly paying attention to healthy diets and focusing on natural bioactive compounds in foods and their effects on mental health. This opens new opportunities for the study of artisanal cheeses as biofunctional foods. In the work described in this Research Communication, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of seven different Portuguese cheeses produced from unpasteurized cow, sheep, and goat milk and granted with protected designation of origin (PDO) status was analysed.

Biological activities of organic extracts and specialized metabolites from different parts of Cryptomeria japonica (Cupressaceae) - A critical review.

Forest operations and wood industry generate large amounts of residues that are discarded in the field and cause environmental pollution. However, these biomass residues are still raw materials to obtain value-added products, such as essential oils, organic/aqueous extracts and resins that are among the great natural sources of bioactive metabolites. Thus, in recent years, the scientific community is giving special attention to their valorization.

Consumption of fermented dairy products is associated with lower anxiety levels in Azorean university students.

A growing number of studies have found that the gut microbiota is involved in a variety of psychological processes and neuropsychiatric disorders, which include mood and anxiety disorders. Consumption of dairy products may contain bioactive compounds and probiotic bacteria with various therapeutic benefits. The aim of the study was to investigate possible associations between the frequency of consumption of different types of dairy products and the state of anxiety in university students.

Cysteine and related aminothiols in cardiovascular disease, obesity and insulin resistance.

Cysteine, homocysteine, glutathione and cysteinylglycine are metabolically related low molecular weight aminothiols involved in antioxidant defense and in thiol redox control in many cellular and extracellular processes. Alterations in plasma aminothiol profiles are evident in pathologic conditions associated with oxidative stress and accordingly can be considered potential biomarkers. More recently, cysteine has received special attention on this regard and several methodologies for the separation and measurement of cysteine as well as other related aminothiols have been developed and refined.

Investigation of the Azorean Processing Conditions to Maximize the Theaflavin 3,3'-di--Gallate Content as a Potential Antiviral Compound.

The molecular constituents of , in particular epigallocatechin-3--gallate (EGCG) and, more remarkably, the galloylated theaflavins, mainly theaflavin-3,3'-di--gallate (TF-3,3'-DG), have been reported to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL), an enzyme required for the cleavage of its polyproteins, to produce vital individual functional proteins for viral cell replication. Our results for total catechin content revealed the values of 174.72, 200.

Bromelain, a Group of Pineapple Proteolytic Complex Enzymes () and Their Possible Therapeutic and Clinical Effects. A Summary.

Bromelain is a complex combination of multiple endopeptidases of thiol and other compounds derived from the pineapple fruit, stem and/or root. Fruit bromelain and stem bromelain are produced completely distinctly and comprise unique compounds of enzymes, and the descriptor "Bromelain" originally referred in actuality to stem bromelain. Due to the efficacy of oral administration in the body, as a safe phytotherapeutic medication, bromelain was commonly suited for patients due to lack of compromise in its peptidase efficacy and the absence of undesired side effects.

Encouraging outcomes of using a small-donor single graft in pediatric kidney transplantation.

Background: The use of small pediatric kidneys as single grafts for transplantation is controversial, due to the potential risk for graft thrombosis and insufficient nephron mass.

Methods: Aiming to test the benefits of transplanting these kidneys, 375 children who underwent kidney transplantation in a single center were evaluated: 49 (13.1%) received a single graft from a small pediatric donor (≤ 15 kg, SPD group), 244 (65.

Comparative Analysis of the Polyphenols, Caffeine, and Antioxidant Activities of Green Tea, White Tea, and Flowers from Azorean Varieties Affected by Different Harvested and Processing Conditions.

This study evaluates the polyphenol profiles as well as caffeine (dry weight basis), and antioxidant activities of green tea (GTs), white tea (WTs), and flowers (Fl) samples from Azorean varieties affected by different harvested and processing conditions. Epicatechins derivatives, determined by RP-HPLC/PDAD, presented higher values in GTs with respect to WTs, decreasing as follows: epigallocatechin-3-gallate > epicatechin-3-gallate ≫ epicatechin ≫ epigallocatechin, and higher values in summer and early autumn than in spring. This was also accompanied by an in consistent withering time pattern.

Development of a Long Period Fiber Grating Interrogation System Using A Multimode Laser Diode.

Optical fiber gratings have long shown their sensing capabilities. One of the main challenges, however, is the interrogation method applied, since typical systems tend to use broadband light sources with optical spectrum analyzers, laser scanning units or CCD (Charged Coupled Device) spectrometers. The following paper presents the development of an interrogation system, which explores the temperature response of a multimode laser diode, in order to interrogate long period fiber gratings.

Variability of antioxidant properties, catechins, caffeine, L-theanine and other amino acids in different plant parts of Azorean .

During tea processing, manufacturers usually remove the internodes, which are classified as waste. This study presents the first determination of plant part contribution, particularly internodes, to green tea quality, in order to find the best blend to maximize impact on human health. Catechins, caffeine and free amino acid (FAA) profiles were determined by RP-HPLC/DAD, total phenolics (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) by Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric methodologies, respectively, and antioxidant activities by free radical-scavenging activity (FRSA), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ferrous ion-chelating (FIC) methods.

Circulating antioxidant vitamins and copper in Azorean coronary artery disease patients under preventive medication - A case study.

Background And Aim: Oxidative stress and inflammation are conditions that are deeply involved in atherosclerosis and consequent coronary artery disease (CAD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the relationship among circulating antioxidant vitamins (C, A, E), copper, and other pro- or antioxidant/inflammation markers in patients with and without CAD under preventive medication.

Subjects And Methods: 174 Azorean subjects symptomatic for CAD (age 56 ± 9y; 68 % men) submitted to coronary angiography were split into 2 groups: one formed by CAD patients (≥50 % stenosis in at least one major coronary vessel) and the other by non-CAD patients (<50 % stenosis).

Short and long-term clinical impact of transcatheter aortic valve implantation in Portugal according to different access routes: Data from the Portuguese National Registry of TAVI.

Introduction: The Portuguese National Registry of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation records prospectively the characteristics and outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures in Portugal.

Objectives: To assess the 30-day and one-year outcomes of TAVI procedures in Portugal.

Methods: We compared TAVI results according to the principal access used (transfemoral (TF) vs.

Strategy to Enable and Accelerate Kidney Transplant in Small Children and Results of the First 130 Transplants in Children ≤15 kg in a Single Center.

Background: Proper care of young children in need of kidney transplant (KT) requires many skilled professionals and an expensive hospital structure. Small children have lesser access to KT.

Methods: We describe a strategy performed in Brazil to enable and accelerate KT in children ≤15 kg based on the establishment of one specialized transplant center, focused on small children, and cooperating with distant centers throughout the country.

Cysteine is a better predictor of coronary artery disease than conventional homocysteine in high-risk subjects under preventive medication.

Background And Aims: In Portugal, The Azores Archipelago has the highest standardized mortality rate for CAD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate conventional risk factors, as well as plasma and erythrocyte aminothiol concentration in high-risk Azorean patients undergoing elective coronary angiography and to investigate whether any aminothiol was associated with CAD risk and severity.

Methods And Results: 174 subjects with symptomatic CAD (age 56±9y; 68% men) submitted to coronary angiography were split into 2 groups: one formed by CAD patients (≥50% stenosis in at least one major coronary vessel) and the other by non-CAD patients (<50% stenosis).

Fifteen years of coronary intravascular ultrasound in percutaneous coronary intervention in Portugal.

Introduction: Coronary intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is increasingly important in catheterization laboratories due to its positive prognostic impact. This study aims to characterize the use of IVUS in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Portugal.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed based on the Portuguese Registry on Interventional Cardiology of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology.

Hypercysteinemia, A Potential Risk Factor for Central Obesity and Related Disorders in Azores, Portugal.

In Azores, the standardized mortality rate for coronary artery disease (CAD) is nearly the double when compared to mainland Portugal. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of conventional CAD risk factors, as well as the plasma aminothiol profile (and its major determinants), between two groups of healthy subjects from Ponta Delgada (in Azores) and Lisbon (in mainland) cities, searching for precocious biomarker(s) of the disease. The study groups consisted of 101 healthy volunteers from Ponta Delgada (PDL) and 121 from Lisbon, aged 20-69 years.