Chemical and sensorial characterization of spray dried hydroSOStainable almond milk.

Background: Water scarcity is a worldwide problem that leads to environmental and economic issues. Agriculture is one of the main consumers of water for irrigation and fertilization and almond is the major tree nut crop in the Mediterranean area. Furthermore, there is a continuous growing demand for healthy, vegan and sustainable products.

Depressive and anxiety symptomatology among people with asthma or atopic dermatitis: A population-based investigation using the UK Biobank data.

The present study investigated the association of depression and anxiety symptomatology (DAS) with asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD) diagnosis during mid-adult years. The study employed data from 502,641 participants in the UK Biobank. Neutrophils to Lymphocytes Ratios (NLRs) of patients with asthma and AD were calculated and evaluated in relation to DAS, measured via the Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4).

Formulation and Characterization of Antimicrobial Edible Films Based on Whey Protein Isolate and Tarragon Essential Oil.

The effects of heat treatment and the addition of tarragon essential oil on physical and mechanical properties of films prepared with 5% whey protein isolate (WPI) and 5% glycerol were investigated in this study. Heat treatment of the film-forming solution caused increases in thickness, moisture content, swelling degree, water vapor permeability (WVP), -value, Δ-value, transmittance values in the 200-300-nm region, transparency, and puncture resistance of the film, but decreases in water solubility, -value, -value, transmittance values in the 350-800-nm region, and puncture deformation. When incorporated with tarragon essential oil, heat-treated films have the potential to be used as antimicrobial food packaging.

Assessment of Gold-Coated Iron Oxide Nanoparticles as Negative T2 Contrast Agent in Small Animal MRI Studies.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents are pharmaceuticals that enable a better visualization of internal body structures. In this study, we present the synthesis, MRI signal enhancement capabilities, in vitro as well as in vivo cytotoxicity results of gold-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (FeO@AuNPs) as potential contrast agents.

Methods: FeO@AuNPs were obtained by synthesizing iron oxide nanoparticles and gradually coating them with gold.

Current Functionality and Potential Improvements of Non-Alcoholic Fermented Cereal Beverages.

Fermentation continues to be the most common biotechnological tool to be used in cereal-based beverages, as it is relatively simple and economical. Fermented beverages hold a long tradition and have become known for their sensory and health-promoting attributes. Considering the attractive sensory traits and due to increased consumer awareness of the importance of healthy nutrition, the market for functional, natural, and non-alcoholic beverages is steadily increasing all over the world.

First multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of Giardia duodenalis isolates from humans in Romania.

Background: Giardia duodenalis is one of the most prevalent and highly diverse human parasites, encompassing a complex of eight genetically distinct assemblages, each further divided into sub-assemblages. While in recent years, G. duodenalis genotype distribution patterns in humans have been intensely studied, there is still very little information available on the diversity of Giardia genotypes and sub-assemblages infecting people in Romania.

Photobiomodulation Therapy in Oral Mucositis and Potentially Malignant Oral Lesions: A Therapy Towards the Future.

Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is an effective treatment modality, which has the significant advantage of enhancing a patient's quality of life (QoL) by minimising the side effects of oral cancer treatments, as well as assisting in the management of potentially cancerous lesions. It is important to note that the major evidence-based documentation neither considers, nor tackles, the issues related to the impact of PBMT on tumour progression and on the downregulation of cellular proliferation improvement, by identifying the dose- and time-dependency. Moreover, little is known about the risk of this therapy and its safety when it is applied to the tumour, or the impact on the factor of QoL.

Melatonin, an ubiquitous metabolic regulator: functions, mechanisms and effects on circadian disruption and degenerative diseases.

The last four decades, we assist to an increasing scientific interest on melatonin, a circadian hormone, a metabolic regulator which influences not only plants' metabolism and their defense against pathogens but mostly the animals and humans' metabolic pathways, their response to circadian disruption, stress and burnout syndrome. In humans, as a hormonal regulator, produced in the pineal grand as well in mitochondria, melatonin is involved in different, complex intracellular signaling pathways, with antioxidant and immune stimulating effects, proving to act as a circadian synchronizer, as a preventive and therapeutic agent in many degenerative diseases, and especially in hormone-dependent cancers. Preclinical or clinical studies showed recently the mechanisms involved in regulating the cellular activity, its role in aging and circadian disturbances and impact on degenerative diseases.

Herd-level seroprevalence of pestivirus infection in goat population in Poland.

A disease survey was conducted between 2014 and 2018 in the Polish goat population to determine the seroprevalence of pestiviral infection. Blood samples from 910 goats (782 females and 128 males) were collected in 62 goat herds and tested for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection with a competitive ELISA in a serial fashion. Between 10 and 13 adult female goats were randomly selected from each herd, assuming individual-level seroprevalence of pestiviral infection in a herd of at least 30% and a level of confidence of 95%.

ICG-loaded gold nano-bipyramids with NIR activatable dual PTT-PDT therapeutic potential in melanoma cells.

A great amount of effort is directed towards the progress of cancer treatment approaches aspiring to develop non-invasive, targeted and highly efficient therapies. In this context, Photothermal (PTT) and Photodynamic (PDT) Therapies were proven as promising. This work aims to integrate the therapeutic activities of two near-infrared (NIR) photoactive biomaterials - gold nano-bipyramids (AuBPs) and Indocyanine Green (ICG) - into one single targeted hybrid nanosystem able to operate as dual PTT-PDT agent with higher efficiency compared with each one alone.

Carotenoids, Fatty Acids, and Volatile Compounds in Apricot Cultivars from Romania-A Chemometric Approach.

Lipophilic constituents are important for the color and aroma of apricots, but also for their health benefits. In the present study, carotenoids, fatty acids, and volatiles were analyzed in 11 apricot cultivars, from which nine were obtained in Romania. High performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-APCI-MS methodology applied on unsaponified carotenoid extracts allowed the identification and quantification of 19 compounds.

Effect of Rice Flour Fermentation with DSM 15429 on the Nutritional Features of Gluten-Free Muffins.

DSM 15429 strain was used to ferment rice flour, aiming at exploiting its influence on the amino-acids, minerals, lactic acid, total phenols, and antioxidant activity of the rice sourdough and gluten-free muffins. Gluten-free muffins were prepared by using 15% rice sourdough fermented with the above strain of lactic acid bacteria and compared with rice spontaneous fermentation. Methods like LC-MS (Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry), AA (atomic absorption), HPLC (High-performance liquid chromatography), Folin-Ciocalteu, and 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH) were used to fulfill the aim of the study.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Nord-West Romanian Wild Bilberry L. and Lingonberry L. Leaves.

This study was performed to evaluate and compare the in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antimutagenic activities, and the polyphenolic content of the Nord-West Romanian wild bilberry ( L.) and lingonberry ( L.) leaves from three different natural habitats (Smida, Turda, Borsa).

Anthocyanins in Blueberries Grown in Hot Climate Exert Strong Antioxidant Activity and May Be Effective against Urinary Tract Bacteria.

Anthocyanins are extensively studied for their health-related properties, including antibacterial activity against urinary tract infections (UTI). Among common fruits, blueberries, with their remarkable antioxidant capacity, are one of the richest sources. Anthocyanin-rich extracts were obtained from four varieties: Snowchaser, Star, Stella Blue and Cristina Blue, grown in the hot climate of Southern Spain.

Cylindrospermopsin-Microcystin-LR Combinations May Induce Genotoxic and Histopathological Damage in Rats.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and microcystins (MC) are cyanotoxins that can occur simultaneously in contaminated water and food. CYN/MC-LR mixtures previously investigated in vitro showed an induction of micronucleus (MN) formation only in the presence of the metabolic fraction S9. When this is the case, the European Food Safety Authority recommends a follow up to in vivo testing.

Micropropagation, Genetic Fidelity and Phenolic Compound Production of L.

An efficient micropropagation protocol for L. was developed in this study. The in vitro rhubarb plants obtained in the multiplication stage (proliferation rate: 5.

Multiple Tick-Borne Pathogens in Ticks Collected from Humans in Romania.

Ticks are medically important vectors of infectious diseases that are able to transmit pathogens to humans and animals. Tick-borne diseases represent a major health concern, posing an increasing risk to the public health during the last century and affecting millions of people. The aim of the current study was to provide epidemiological data regarding the presence of certain tick-borne pathogens in ticks feeding on humans in Romania.

Eucalyptus honey: Quality parameters, chemical composition and health-promoting properties.

Eucalyptus honey is an important unifloral honey commercialized worldwide and much desired by consumers due to the medicinal properties attributed to it because of the plant from which it is produced. In general, eucalyptus honey has been classified as being rich in pollen grains from the eucalyptus tree as well as having physicochemical characteristics that, in a way, have made it stand out from other honeys. Similar to other types of honey, eucalyptus honey can suffer contaminations and adulterations that compromise its quality, safety and authenticity.

Optimization of Hermetia illucens (L.) egg laying under different nutrition and light conditions.

The black soldier fly Hermetia illucens is gaining growing interest as a tool for the valorisation of bio-waste in a circular economy perspective. Although a wide variety of studies are available for larvae rearing, the indoor breeding of adults still presents a great challenge for industrial purposes. This study was designed to assess the simultaneous influence of 3 different light sources (the Mix of LED UV:blue:green 1:1:3, White LED, Neon light) and 3 types of nutrition (sugar and water, only water, no sugar no water) on adult performances, obtaining different egg production parameters that included the number and weight of the egg masses and single eggs laid by the females, the duration of pre-oviposition and oviposition period, the adult life span, the hatchability of the eggs.

Hypothermia Effects on Liver and Kidney Oxidative Stress Parameters in an Experimental Model of Sepsis in Rats.

Introduction: Oxidative stress (OS) seems to be an important mediator of cellular injury, from which sepsis can proceed. Studies have demonstrated the protective effect of controlled hypothermia in sepsis. This study aimed to evaluate its effects on OS parameters in rat hepatic and renal tissue septic after caecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

Spray drying and storage of probiotic-enriched almond milk: probiotic survival and physicochemical properties.

Background: The combination of the nutritional profile of almond milk with the benefits of probiotic bacteria is an interesting development to meet the demand for sustainable and health-promoting food. Almond milk inoculated with probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum (ATCC8014) was spray dried and the almond, its milk, and powders were characterized physicochemically. Samples were characterized in terms of bacterial survival before and after atomization.

Textural and Sensory Features Changes of Gluten Free Muffins Based on Rice Sourdough Fermented with DSM 15429.

Gluten free products available on the market have a low textural quality associated with high crumbly structure, low-flavor, aroma, poor mouthfeel, less appearance, in comparison with the conventional final baked products. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of rice sourdough fermented with DSM 15429 strain on textural, volatile profile, and sensorial properties of gluten free muffins in order to obtain baked goods with improved quality characteristics. is a novel strain isolated from industrial rice sourdough but unexploited for bakery products manufacturing.

A new method for the simultaneous determination of cyanotoxins (Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin) in mussels using SPE-UPLC-MS/MS.

The aim of this study was to optimize the extraction conditions of Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), Microcystin-RR (MC-RR), Microcystin-YR (MC-YR) and Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) simultaneously from mussels by using response surface methodology (RSM) and to validate the method by a dual solid phase extraction (SPE) system combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The optimal parameters were: 90% MeOH (% v/v) for the extraction, a solvent/sample ratio of 75 and 15% MeOH in the extract before loading onto SPE. Mussels were spiked at 10; 37.

Volatile and phenolic profiles of traditional Romanian apple brandy after rapid ageing with different wood chips.

The aim of this work was to find differences in the volatile and phenolic profiles of the traditional Romanian apple brandy pălinca aged with various species of wood chips. Seven types of wood species, two types of oak (Quercus petraea and Quercus robur), plus sweet chestnut, mulberry, walnut, fir and cherry, were considered. The majority of volatile compounds characterizing the aroma profile of pălinca were esters, particularly ethyl esters, with ethyl isobutyrate, ethyl isovalerate, ethyl caproate, ethyl octanoate and ethyl decanoate as the most abundant.