Factors associated with adiposity in normal weight female adolescents with adequate and high percent body fat: elaborating a risk model

Factors associated with adiposity in normal weight female adolescents with adequate and high percent body fat: elaborating a risk model. This study was carried out to evaluate the factors associated with adiposity in normal weight adolescents presenting appropriate or high percent body fat, who attended the public schools in Vi?osa county-Minas Gerais/Brazil. A total of 118 female adolescents at age range from 14 to 19 years and have already presented the menarche were evaluated. The adolescents were divided into 2 groups: G1 with high percent body fat and G2 with appropriate percent body fat. The following variables were evaluated: anthropometric, body composition, lifestyle and the family history of non-communicable chronic diseases. In subsample, the basal energy consumption was determined by indirect calorimetry. The G1-grouped adolescents showed higher values for most anthropometric and body composition variables (p < 0.001). No differences were observed (p > 0.05) for basal metabolism and metabolism of lean body mass, smoking habit, total energy consumption and protein and lipid as well between groups. When comparing the physical activity level, the G1 adolescents spent more time with 1-level sedentary activities whereas the G2 ones showed higher total caloric consumption with daily activities (p < 0.001). According to risk factors under analysis, the variables related to lifestyle, as distinguishing the use of sweeteners (OR = 13.47), provided higher contribution to excessive adiposity in the normal weight adolescents. The detailed analysis of the body composition as well as the risk factors associated with excessive body fat makes possible the early diagnosis and the development of more appropriate intervention means.     

Pattern of Mitochondrial Respiration in Peripheral Blood Cells of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

Mitochondria are central in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD), as they are involved in oxidative stress, synaptopathy, and other immunometabolic pathways. Accordingly, they are emerging as a potential neuroprotection target, although further human-based evidence is needed for therapeutic advancements. This study aims to shape the pattern of mitochondrial respiration in the blood leukocytes of PD patients in relation to both clinical features and the profile of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers of neurodegeneration. Mitochondrial respirometry on the peripheral blood mononucleate cells (PBMCs) of 16 PD patients and 14 controls was conducted using Seahorse Bioscience technology. Bioenergetic parameters were correlated either with standard clinical scores for motor and non-motor disturbances or with CSF levels of α-synuclein, amyloid-β peptides, and tau proteins. In PD, PBMC mitochondrial basal respiration was normal; maximal and spare respiratory capacities were both increased; and ATP production was higher, although not significantly. Maximal and spare respiratory capacity was directly correlated with disease duration, MDS-UPDRS part III and Hoehn and Yahr motor scores; spare respiratory capacity was correlated with the CSF amyloid-β-42 to amyloid-β-42/40 ratio. We provided preliminary evidence showing that mitochondrial respiratory activity increases in the PBMCs of PD patients, probably following the compensatory adaptations to disease progression, in contrast to the bases of the neuropathological substrate.     

Vinyl ester resin modified with silicone‐based additives: II. Flammability properties

Silicone‐based additives have been used as fire retardants for thermoplastics, presenting the advantages of improving processing and impact resistance of the polymers. In this work we used three different silicone‐based additives as modifiers of a thermoset based on a vinyl ester resin. The additives are fine powders made up of about 50 wt % ultra high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane and 50 wt % silica. The differences between them are the functional groups inserted on the additives and the size and size distribution of the particles. The additives were dispersed in resin containing 35 wt % of styrene. For curing the mixture a conventional catalyst and initiator were used and the reaction was carried out in two ways, differing in the curing temperature, the post curing temperature, and the time, and in the addition of dimethylaniline (DMA) as a promoter of the polyaddition reaction. The samples were characterized by thermogravimetric analyses and swelling experiments. The fire retardances of the samples were evaluated by the determination of the flash‐ignition, self‐ignition, and pyrolysis temperatures (ASTM D1919–91a), and of the oxygen index (ASTM D‐2863–91). The results obtained showed that the silicone‐based additives and the methods used in the preparation of the modified resin influence the flash‐ignition, self‐ignition, and pyrolysis temperatures, but not the oxygen index. Samples cured by different methods present different network characteristics, which influence their thermal decomposition. The volatile species produced by thermal decomposition may be a combination of inert and active species. The network structure may influence only the inert fraction of the volatiles, not the combustibles. These volatile inert species (smoke‐black, water vapor, carbon dioxide, etc.) probably dilute the combustibles in the solid and in the gaseous phase, increasing the flash‐ignition temperature of the samples. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 99: 644–649, 2006     

Vinyl ester resin modified with silicone‐based additives. I. Mechanical properties

Silicone‐based additives have been used as fire retardants for thermoplastics and present the advantages of improving the processing and impact resistance of the polymers. In this study, we used three different silicone‐based additives as modifiers of a vinyl ester resin. The additives were fine powders made up of about 50 wt % polydimethylsiloxane and 50 wt % silica. The differences among them were the functional groups inserted in the polymer chains and the size and size distribution of the particles. The additives were dispersed in resin containing 35 wt % styrene. To cure the mixture, a conventional catalyst and initiator were used, and the reaction was carried out in three ways, which differed in the curing temperature, postcuring temperature, time, and addition of dimethylaniline (DMA) as a promoter of the polyaddition reaction. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the phase behavior of the resulting composites depended strongly on the curing conditions. The flexural modulus of composites containing 5 wt % additive was lower than that for the cured resin. The impact resistance of the composites also depended on the curing conditions but not on the composition or size of the particle of the additive. The fracture morphologies of specimens subjected to impact resistance tests were different for samples cured in the presence or in the absence of DMA, which suggested that it influenced the mechanism of network formation. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2006     

Fast and controlled release of triamcinolone acetonide from extrusion-spheronization pellets based on mixtures of native starch with dextrin or waxy maize starch

Pellets composed chiefly of inexpensive starches allow modulation of the rate of release of the poorly soluble drug triamcinolone acetonide in media of pH 1.2-6.8. Wheat- or maize-starch-based pellets with 20% of white dextrin release the drug in vitro almost completely within 20 min, while maize-starch-based pellets with 5-35% of waxy maize starch sustain gradual release over periods of 9-12 hr or longer when prepared using appropriate amounts of granulation fluid.     

Fast and Controlled Release of Triamcinolone Acetonide from Extrusion-Spheronization Pellets Based on Mixtures of Native Starch with Dextrin or Waxy Maize Starch

Pellets composed chiefly of inexpensive starches allow modulation of the rate of release of the poorly soluble drug triamcinolone acetonide in media of pH 1.2–6.8. Wheat- or maize-starch-based pellets with 20% of white dextrin release the drug in vitro almost completely within 20 min, while maize-starch-based pellets with 5–35% of waxy maize starch sustain gradual release over periods of 9–12 hr or longer when prepared using appropriate amounts of granulation fluid.     

Quercetin and curcumin in nanofibers of polycaprolactone and poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate): Assessment of in vitro antioxidant activity

Polymeric nanofibers are materials that can be used as scaffolds in tissue engineering. Quercetin and curcumin are antioxidants because of scavenge free radicals and chelate metal ions properties, protecting tissues of lipid peroxidation. The objective of this study was to develop a scaffold with potential antioxidant activity that was produced from nanofibers consisting of polycaprolactone (PCL) and a blend of PCL/poly(hydroxybutyrate‐co‐hydroxyvalerate) (PHB‐HV) with the addition of quercetin or curcumin as the bioactive compound. Curcumin and quercetin were integrated into the solution at a concentration of 3%. The electrospun nanofibers were characterized using calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis, and the addition of bioactive compounds did not alter the thermal properties of the biomaterial. The antioxidant activity of scaffolds with the active compounds was evaluated by hydrate 2,2‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) methods. The scaffolds with PCL and PCL/PHB‐HV blend with quercetin exhibited higher antioxidant activity than curcumin with both methods. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43712.     

Microbial Diversity of Type I Sourdoughs Prepared and Back‐Slopped with Wholemeal and Refined Soft (Triticum aestivum) Wheat Flours

The fermentation of type I sourdough was studied for 20 d with daily back‐slopping under laboratory and artisan bakery conditions using 1 wholemeal and 2 refined soft wheat (Triticum aestivum) flours. The sourdough bacterial and yeast diversity and dynamics were investigated by plate counting and a combination of culture‐dependent and culture‐independent PCR‐DGGE approach. The pH, total titrable acidity, and concentration of key organic acids (phytic, lactic, and acetic) were measured. Three flours differed for both chemical and rheological properties. A microbial succession was observed, with the atypical sourdough species detected at day 0 (i.e. Lactococcus lactis and Leuconostoc holzapfelii/citreum group for bacteria and Candida silvae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus for yeasts) being progressively replaced by taxa more adapted to the sourdough ecosystem (Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus alimentarius/paralimentarius, Saccharomyces cerevisiae). In mature sourdoughs, a notably different species composition was observed. As sourdoughs propagated with the same flour at laboratory and artisan bakery level were compared, the influence of both the substrate and the propagation environment on microbial diversity was assumed.     

Chitosan tailor‐made films: the effects of additives on barrier and mechanical properties

With the aim of achieving ‘tailor‐made’ chitosan films, the effects of several variables on the properties of chitosan films were studied. These variables were chitosan concentration and molecular weight of thermally depolymerized chitosan, addition of lipids (palmitic acid, beeswax or carnauba wax) and plasticizer (glycerol). The water vapour transmission rate (WVTR) and mechanical properties of these films were measured. The innovative feature of this study is that it provides specific information to support the design of tailor‐made films. These can only be formulated when the effects of the important variables are well understood. It was found that WVTR was reduced by 57% in film made from chitosan that had been thermally treated for 7 h at 100°C (molecular mass 13.7 kDa), while in the emulsion films, the WVTR was increased by incorporation of palmitic acid, beeswax or carnauba wax incorporation. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and elongation at break) were improved when glycerol was used as plasticizer, resulting in more elastic films (increasing the elongation at break by 62%). Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.