Notes

Predicting man pharmacokinetics through preclinical files: clearance.
Current evidence regarding COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) transfusion practices is limited and heterogeneous. We aimed to determine the impact of the use of CCP transfusion in patients with previous circulating neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) in COVID-19.

Prospective cohort including 102 patients with COVID-19 transfused with ABO compatible CCP on days 0-2 after enrollment. Clinical status of patients was assessed using the adapted World Health Organization (WHO) ordinal scale on days 0, 5, and 14. The nAbs titration was performed using the cytopathic effect-based virus neutralization test with SARS-CoV-2 (GenBank MT126808.1). The primary outcome was clinical improvement on day 14, defined as a reduction of at least two points on the adapted WHO ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were the number of intensive care unit (ICU)-free days and the number of invasive mechanical ventilation-free days.

Both nAbs of CCP units transfused (p< 0.001) and nAbs of patients before CCP transfusions (p= 0.028) were associated with clinical improvements by day 14. No significant associations between nAbs of patients or CCP units transfused were observed in the number of ICU or mechanical ventilation-free days. Administration of CCP units after 10 days of symptom onset resulted in a decrease in ICU-free days (p< 0.001) and mechanical ventilation-free days (p< 0.001).

Transfusion of high titer nAbs CCP units may be a determinant in clinical strategies against COVID-19. We consider these data as useful parameters to guide future CCP transfusion practices.
Transfusion of high titer nAbs CCP units may be a determinant in clinical strategies against COVID-19. We consider these data as useful parameters to guide future CCP transfusion practices.Benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) with five fused benzene rings; it is a highly recalcitrant compound and a priority environmental pollutant due to its detrimental effects on human health and the survival of wild animals. Biodegradation of BbF by microorganisms is an attractive alternative, and few studies have been focused on this issue. In this work, bacteria with the ability to degrade BbF were isolated and selected. The capability of the isolates to tolerate concentrations of 50 and 75 mg l-1 of BbF in liquid medium was evaluated. The selected isolates were identified by the 16S rRNA gene sequencing as belonging to Bacillus, Gordonia, Pseudomonas, Rhodococcus, Ochrobactrum, and Amycolatopsis. All isolates were tolerant and grew at the BbF concentrations tested, some isolates were more competitive than others, and the most prominent was Amycolatopsis sp. Ver12, which removed 47% of BbF, furthermore, with the addition of yeast extract, removed 59% of the compound. In summary, the report shows that Amycolatopsis sp. Ver12 can degrade BbF efficiently and could be considered for bioremediation of BbF-contaminated environments.The deer ked Lipoptena mazamae (Diptera Hippoboscidae) (Róndani), is a blood-feeding obligate ectoparasite of several species of deer and brocket. However, at present little information is available about its role as a vector of hemoparasites. Nonetheless, it is considered a competent vector for the transmission of Bartonella species. The aim of this study was performing the morphological and molecular identification of ked flies and to carry out the detection of Bartonella. We collected specimens from Chiná, Campeche, Mexico associated with white-tailed deer. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), of COI, gltA and rpoB genes, we were able to obtain the first barcode for L. mazamae from Mexico and identified a new species of Bartonella which was found with a prevalence of 73%. The data obtained in this study confirmed the presence of L. mazamae associated with white-tailed deer and its possible role as vector of Candidatus Bartonella odocoilei n. sp. in Mexico and we considered that it may also be present in white-tailed deer populations in the U.S.A. Additional investigations into Bartonella species associated with deer ked could provide further insight into their pathogenicity and its role as a zoonotic agent.
Ultrasound-assisted extraction of the intermediate product from the mechanical expression of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seed oil was investigated to improve the overall expression yield without compromising oil quality. Complementary ultrasound technology was used as an out-of-line treatment carried out at 20 kHz frequency and optimized with respect to amplitude (80 and 152 μm), sonication time (2, 10, 20 min) and to the hemp paste properties, in particular its particle size and hydration, which drive the compressibility of the press cake.

Under the conditions evaluated, the optimal ultrasound treatment was found to be the one applied on the hydrated press cake for 2min at 152 μm, which resulted in an oil yield of 13.4%, with an increase in extraction efficiency equal to 73% with respect to the control (untreated press cake). Sonication had a positive effect on the press cake texture and on the extracted oil antioxidant activity. Soaked samples treated for 2min at 152 μm yielded the lowest hardness. U0126 nmr Oil recovered from soaked samples treated at 80 μm and 152 μm ultrasound for 2min had the highest antioxidant capacity.

The technological results gathered in the present investigation are preliminary to the design and engineering of scaled-up equipment that combines the mechanical screw expression and the in-line ultrasound unit. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
The technological results gathered in the present investigation are preliminary to the design and engineering of scaled-up equipment that combines the mechanical screw expression and the in-line ultrasound unit. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical contents and antibacterial properties of 2-year Prunus avium L. standard cultivars [Cristalina (Cr), 0900 Ziraat (Zr)] and to elucidate the mechanism of action of the extracts on the quorum sensing (QS) system by using homology modelling and molecular docking. Phenolic contents of methanol extract of Cr and Zr stalks were detected by HPLC. As a result, catechin hydrate (6364·67-8127·93 µg g-1 ) and chlorogenic acid (998·81-1273·4 µg g-1 ) were found to be the highest in stalk extracts in the two varieties in 2017. All extracts had inhibitory effect on Gram-positive bacteria. Stalk extract of Zr showed higher inhibition rate (86%) on swarming motility. Stalk samples of Zr collected in 2017 and 2018 also reduced biofilm formation by 75 and 73%, respectively. The computational analysis revealed that one of the major component of the extracts, chlorogenic acid, was able to bind to the QS system receptors, LasR, RhlR, and PqsR. Therefore, the mechanism of decreasing the production of virulence factors by the extracts might be through inhibiting these receptors and thus interfering with the QS system.
European guidelines propose a 0.5 mg/kg/day dose of oral prednisone as initial treatment of bullous pemphigoid (BP). We assessed the safety and efficacy of this regimen depending on BP extent, and patients'general condition.

In a prospective international study, we consecutively included all patients diagnosed with BP. Patients received a 0.5 mg/kg/day dose of prednisone, then gradually tapered 15 days after disease control, with the aim of stopping prednisone or maintaining minimal treatment (0.1 mg/kg/day) within 6 months after the start of treatment. The two co-primary endpoints were control of disease activity at Day21 and one-year overall survival. Disease severity was assessed according to Bullous-Pemphigoid-Disease-Area-Index (BPDAI) score.

Between 2015 and 2017, 198 patients were included. The final analysis comprised 190 patients with a mean age of 80.9±9.1 years. Control of disease activity was achieved at Day21 in 119 patients (62.6%; 95%CI=55.3-69.5%) 18 of 24 (75.0%; 95%CI=53.3-90.2%), 75 of 110 (68.2%; 95%CI=59.2-77.3%) and 26 of 56 (46.4%; 95%CI=33.0-60.3%) patients had mild, moderate and severe BP, respectively (p=0.0218). Thirty-two patients died. The overall Kaplan-Meier one-year survival was 82.6 % (95%CI=76.3-87.4%) corresponding to 90.9%, 83.0% and 80.0% rates in patients with mild, moderate and severe BP, respectively (p=0.5). Thresholds of 49-points for BPDAI score and 70-points for Karnofsky score yielded maximal Youden index values with respect to disease control at Day21 and one-year survival, respectively.

A 0.5 mg/kg/day dose of prednisone is a valuable therapeutic option in patients with mild/moderate BP whose general condition allows them to be autonomous.
A 0.5 mg/kg/day dose of prednisone is a valuable therapeutic option in patients with mild/moderate BP whose general condition allows them to be autonomous.
Macrotyloma uniflorum (horsegram) is cultivated in the alpine Himalayas for its nutritional benefits. The chemical diversity of M. uniflorum has been explored by several research groups, but none has reported the chemical signature to monitor the identity and quality. To overcome quality control problems and provide more accurate chemotype information, proton nuclear magnetic resonance (
H-NMR)-based chemical signature and tentative metabotype discrimination was studied.

Metabolites were identified by characteristic chemical shifts and their correlations in one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments. The identifications were confirmed by reference standards, with in-house databases, and with public databases. From the analysis of seed samples from eight locations, NMR detected 46 diversified metabolites, including 18 amino acids, nine carbohydrates, three vitamins, seven flavonoids, and nine miscellaneous molecules (fatty acids/choline/phenolics/organic acons of 1829 m were most suitable for obtaining nutritionally enriched M. uniflorum crops. Overall, this information could help in the conservation, quality control, product development, and agriculture inventions of M. uniflorum. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Microorganism for biological control of fruit diseases is an eco-friendly alternative to the use of chemical fungicides.

This is the first study evaluating the electrospraying process to encapsulate the biocontrol yeast Meyerozyma caribbica. The effect of encapsulating material [Wey protein concentrate (WPC), Fibersol® and Trehalose], its concentration and storage temperature on the cell viability of M. caribbica, and in vitro and in vivo control of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides was evaluated. The processing with commercial resistant maltodextrin (Fibersol®) 30% (w/v) as encapsulating material showed the highest initial cell viability (95.97 ± 1.01%). The storage at 4 ± 1°C showed lower losses of viability compared to 25 ± 1°C. Finally, the encapsulated yeast with Fibersol 30% w/v showed inhibitory activity against anthracnose in the in vitro and in vivo tests, similar to yeast fresh cells.

Electrospraying was a highly efficient process due to the high cell viability, and consequently, a low quantity of capsules is required for the postharvest treatment of fruits.
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