Search Results (14)

Background/Objectives: Ventricular-arterial (VA) coupling, assessed via the TAPSE/PASP ratio, is a well-established prognostic marker in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) often fails to estimate the pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP). This study evaluated the prognostic value of TAPSE/PASP when PSAP was obtained both via TEE and RHC and their correlation. Methods: A prospective registry included 90 PAH patients (April 2021–May 2024). TTE and RHC were performed according to clinical guidelines. The correlation and agreement between both techniques were assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation and a Bland–Altman analysis. The prognostic utility of TAPSE/PASP for clinical worsening (CW) (death or lung transplantation) was evaluated using Cox models, Harrell’s c-statistics, and ROC curve analysis. Results: The median interval between TTE and RHC was 1.5 days (range −3 to +43). TAPSE/PASP showed a strong correlation between both techniques (rho = 0.74, p < 0.001), though TTE slightly overestimated values due to PASP underestimation. The PASP correlation was moderate (rho = 0.56, p < 0.001). CW occurred in 17.8% of patients. According to cut-off points established based on ESC/ERS guidelines, VA coupling via TTE effectively stratified the risk of CW (HR 7.0, p = 0.076 and HR 34.8, p = 0.002 for intermediate and high risk, respectively), whereas VA coupling with PASP measured via RHC showed no association with CW. TAPSE/PASP based on TTE demonstrated superior prognostic performance (C-index = 0.81) over RHC-derived parameters (C-index = 0.58). Conclusions: The TAPSE/PASP ratio showed a strong correlation between TTE and RHC. However, while RHC remains the gold standard for hemodynamic assessments, echocardiographic measurements demonstrated superior performance in risk stratification, supporting its role as a valuable non-invasive tool in PAH. Full article

Capsicum chacoense (wild red pepper) and Acrocomia aculeata almond (Paraguayan coconut) are fruits native to Paraguay which are little-used and can be sources of important bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of Paraguayan coconut kernel oil as a green solvent for the extraction of carotenoids and capsaicinoids from wild red pepper. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was performed (solvent ratio; 0.7 g/mL, amplitude 80%, for 17 min). The freeze-dried red pepper fruit, coconut oil, and coconut+red pepper oil were characterized by total carotenoids, total capsaicinoids, total phenolic compounds (TPCs), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), fatty acid (FA) profile, and color. It was possible to extract 46.7% of the carotenoids and 42.5% of the capsaicinoids present in the red pepper. However, only about 7% of TCP and TAC were maintained in the coconut+red pepper oil obtained. In the FA profile of red pepper oil, oleic acid and palmitic acid were observed as the main FAs. Conversely, in coconut oil, lauric acid and oleic acid were observed as the main components. In coconut+red pepper oil, the same main FAs were found, but in a lower percentage of lauric acid and higher percentage of oleic acid. Based on the results, coconut oil is a green solvent for the extraction of lipophilic secondary metabolites such as carotenoids and capsaicinoids. These can provide sensory characteristics such as color and flavor to coconut oil from Capsicum chacoense. In the oil obtained (coconut+red pepper), a significant difference in the FA profile was also seen, where the majority FA was oleic acid. Full article

Adequate intake of mineral nutrients and amino acids is essential for nutrition in the Western diet, where deficiencies of minerals such as Zn, Fe, and good quality proteins are highly prevalent in vulnerable populations in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the mineral and amino acid content of Kurugua (KWF) wholemeal flour and a derived product (9% K w/v, 0.8% chia oil (w/v), and 1% sweetener v/v). Proteins were analyzed by Microkjeldhal, minerals Na, K, P, Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Fe by AOAC, and amino acid profile by HPLC-DAD methods. KWF presented a high content of Mg and Zn (207.63 ± 5.27 and 15.76 ± 0.04 mg/100 g, respectively). A KWF-based drink provides 5.05 mg Zn/100 g, equivalent to 46% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) in a 200 mL serving of the beverage. Amino acids (glutamic acid + glutamine) and (aspartic acid + asparagine) were the most abundant in KWF (112.2 and 245 mg of aa/g protein, respectively), with 18.0% of total protein. A serving of KWF-based drink contains about 3.02 g of protein and the essential amino acids Hys, Val, Met, Phe, Ile, Leu, and Lys (31.6, 213, 198, 89.3, 186, 3.7, and 194.3 mg AA/200 mL, respectively). The ready-to-drink Kurugua drink takes full advantage of the wholemeal flour of an indigenous fruit such as Kurugua, providing a source of zinc and an adequate amount of essential amino acids and expanding the supply of healthy products within the framework of food safety. Full article

(1) Scant information is available concerning the characteristics that may favour the acquisition of COVID-19 in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess these differences between infected and noninfected patients with IBD. (2) This nationwide case–control study evaluated patients with inflammatory bowel disease with COVID-19 (cases) and without COVID-19 (controls) during the period March–July 2020 included in the ENEIDA of GETECCU. (3) A total of 496 cases and 964 controls from 73 Spanish centres were included. No differences were found in the basal characteristics between cases and controls. Cases had higher comorbidity Charlson scores (24% vs. 19%; p = 0.02) and occupational risk (28% vs. 10.5%; p < 0.0001) more frequently than did controls. Lockdown was the only protective measure against COVID-19 (50% vs. 70%; p < 0.0001). No differences were found in the use of systemic steroids, immunosuppressants or biologics between cases and controls. Cases were more often treated with 5-aminosalicylates (42% vs. 34%; p = 0.003). Having a moderate Charlson score (OR: 2.7; 95%CI: 1.3–5.9), occupational risk (OR: 2.9; 95%CI: 1.8–4.4) and the use of 5-aminosalicylates (OR: 1.7; 95%CI: 1.2–2.5) were factors for COVID-19. The strict lockdown was the only protective factor (OR: 0.1; 95%CI: 0.09–0.2). (4) Comorbidities and occupational exposure are the most relevant factors for COVID-19 in patients with IBD. The risk of COVID-19 seems not to be increased by immunosuppressants or biologics, with a potential effect of 5-aminosalicylates, which should be investigated further and interpreted with caution. Full article

Prosopis alba and Prosopis chilensis, popularly called carob trees in the South American Chaco, are arboreal species. Carob fruits are an ancestral food for human consumption, mainly in the form of flour. In recent years, the study of carob trees in Paraguay has been based on the development of silvo-pastoral systems for livestock or as animal feed; very little is known about the compositional characteristics of the different varieties of carob that are part of the food systems, and that are used for the production of flours. Samples of flour from three autochthonous varieties of carob trees from the Central Chaco are evaluated for human consumption as a potential food ingredient in processed foods. They are evaluated for nutritional contribution, antioxidant potential and the preliminary evaluation of safety at the microbiological level. Official AOAC methods were used. The carob flour samples presented low humidity (less than 6%) and water activity (less than 0.45). The flours of the three species analyzed presented significant differences in their content of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, dietary fiber and, consequently, in their caloric value, with a high content of polyphenols and antioxidant potential detected by ABTS. Presence of mesophilic aerobes, total coliforms and yeasts in the samples was observed. These results demonstrate the great food potential of carob flour from the Paraguayan Chaco, and indicate the need to address the food safety aspects of this type of wild-harvested food, to enhance their added value as ingredients for foodstuffs in the diet of regional populations. Full article

The aim of the present work was to study the effect of the drying process conditions on the antioxidant properties of the integral fruit of kurugua (Sicana odorifera Naud.). The experiments showed that the antioxidant activity of fresh samples of whole kurugua could vary significantly depending on the fruit batch used. The statistical analyses showed no significant differences in antioxidant activity among the drying conditions studied. However, it is important to highlight that the drying process conducted at 80 °C and at an average air speed of 5.8 m/s presented the lowest cost (2.2 USD kW/h), and after 10 h, the raw material reached an aw level of 0.297, which is enough to inhibit the growth of microorganisms. As it is known, a low aw allows for a longer shelf-life of a product and prevents the proliferation of molds and yeasts. There was no significant difference in the concentration of β-carotene between drying times; nevertheless, the resulting flour showed a decrease in luminosity and color variation (b*) with respect to the fresh samples, with a typical browning due to the effects of temperature and air drying. The influence of the drying conditions on the integral kurugua flour is discussed in order to obtain the best dry product. A field of work has opened for future research on the sensory profile and its potential applications. Full article

In regions with a majority population of people belonging to indigenous peoples, the solutions to nutritional challenges such as overweight and obesity can go through the implementation of public policies that encourage the use of local and ancestral crops, which would also entail the protection of food traditions. However, these foods can also be added to diets as processed products with high nutritional value. This work describes the centesimal composition and antioxidant potential of a wild prickly pear (Cereus forbesii Otto ex C.F. Först) from the Paraguayan Chaco, ancestral food of indigenous peoples, and the jam of this native fruit, a derived product, with the aim of making its nutritional potential known, its potential application in feeding programs and its incorporation in minimally processed foods. These foods mainly show an interesting contribution of micronutrients, soluble sugars, dietary fiber, and antioxidants as anthocyanins with an attractive color, that can replace critical nutrients such as artificial additives and excess sugars in the diet of the regional population. Knowledge of the nutritional and technological properties of regional foods will help strengthen and develop national and regional policies and programs for the development and promotion of local and indigenous products, within the framework of food safety. Full article

We aim to describe the incidence and source of contagion of COVID-19 in patients with IBD, as well as the risk factors for a severe course and long-term sequelae. This is a prospective observational study of IBD and COVID-19 included in the ENEIDA registry (53,682 from 73 centres) between March–July 2020 followed-up for 12 months. Results were compared with data of the general population (National Centre of Epidemiology and Catalonia). A total of 482 patients with COVID-19 were identified. Twenty-eight percent were infected in the work environment, and 48% were infected by intrafamilial transmission, despite having good adherence to lockdown. Thirty-five percent required hospitalization, 7.9% had severe COVID-19 and 3.7% died. Similar data were reported in the general population (hospitalisation 19.5%, ICU 2.1% and mortality 4.6%). Factors related to death and severe COVID-19 were being aged ≥ 60 years (OR 7.1, 95% CI: 1.8–27 and 4.5, 95% CI: 1.3–15.9), while having ≥2 comorbidities increased mortality (OR 3.9, 95% CI: 1.3–11.6). None of the drugs for IBD were related to severe COVID-19. Immunosuppression was definitively stopped in 1% of patients at 12 months. The prognosis of COVID-19 in IBD, even in immunosuppressed patients, is similar to that in the general population. Thus, there is no need for more strict protection measures in IBD. Full article

The “Kurugua” (Sicana odorifera) is a native fruit that demonstrates attractive nutritional, coloring, flavoring, and antioxidant properties. The main by-products from the processing and consumption of kurugua fruit are epicarp and seeds. In this work, the properties of the seeds of S. odorifera were evaluated. The nutritional composition of the fruit seeds was determined through AOAC official methods and UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS profiling. The antioxidant activities were determined using in vitro methods, and the acute toxicity and hepatoprotective properties were investigated in Swiss albino mice. Quercetin derivatives and cucurbitacins were the main phytochemicals in the seeds’ methanolic extract and demonstrated some biological activities. GC-MS analysis revealed the essential fatty acids linolenic and linoleic as the main compounds present in seeds oil. The methanolic extract significantly reduced the serum levels of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in mice with induced hepatotoxicity (GPT p < 0.05; GOT p < 0.001) at the minor concentration tested (100 mg/kg EMSo). The results suggest that the S. odorifera seeds as by-products show potential use as a source of phytochemicals and in the production of oils with application in food supplements and nutraceuticals. Their integral use could contribute to waste reduction from kurugua fruits processing within the food safety and environmental sustainability framework. Full article

Sicana odorifera seeds, from an ancestral Cucurbita growing in Paraguay, possess important biowaste after fruit pulp use. However, there are reports that its infusions can reduce and cure the symptoms of viral diseases such as hepatitis, denoting its medicinal properties. The recovery of nutrients and bioactive molecules from its bio-residues has potential uses in the industrial sector with high added value as functional food ingredients. In S. odorifera species, although it is not a fruit for mass consumption, it is precisely the lack of a market for its biowaste that has limited its integral use. Based on this, the centesimal composition, oil characterization, and fatty acids profile of the kurugua seeds from two accessions (atropurpurea (black) and reddish) were studied. Kurugua seeds have been subjected to a cold extraction with a hydraulic press from dried whole seeds, and ISO and AOCS standard methods were used for analytical determinations. The major components in the centesimal composition of kurugua seeds were lipids, dietary fiber, and proteins. The oils presented iodine, saponification, and refractive indices characteristic of preferentially polyunsaturated oils. The major component in the fatty acid profile was linolenic acid, an important essential fatty acid in the diet. Although the characteristics of kurugua oil, demonstrate its potential application in the food industry as a polyunsaturated oil, source of essential fatty acids, future studies on stability and sensory analysis for food applications are suggested, with great possibilities for the food safety framework. Full article

(1) Aims: To assess the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Spain, to describe the main epidemiological and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and the evolution of the disease, and to explore the use of drug treatments. (2) Methods: Prospective, population-based nationwide registry. Adult patients diagnosed with IBD—Crohn’s disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC) or IBD unclassified (IBD-U)—during 2017 in Spain were included and were followed-up for 1 year. (3) Results: We identified 3611 incident cases of IBD diagnosed during 2017 in 108 hospitals covering over 22 million inhabitants. The overall incidence (cases/100,000 person-years) was 16 for IBD, 7.5 for CD, 8 for UC, and 0.5 for IBD-U; 53% of patients were male and median age was 43 years (interquartile range = 31–56 years). During a median 12-month follow-up, 34% of patients were treated with systemic steroids, 25% with immunomodulators, 15% with biologics and 5.6% underwent surgery. The percentage of patients under these treatments was significantly higher in CD than UC and IBD-U. Use of systemic steroids and biologics was significantly higher in hospitals with high resources. In total, 28% of patients were hospitalized (35% CD and 22% UC patients, p < 0.01). (4) Conclusion: The incidence of IBD in Spain is rather high and similar to that reported in Northern Europe. IBD patients require substantial therapeutic resources, which are greater in CD and in hospitals with high resources, and much higher than previously reported. One third of patients are hospitalized in the first year after diagnosis and a relevant proportion undergo surgery. Full article

Sicana odorifera is a native fruit of South America large in size. Its dark-colored skin constitutes a useful byproduct for obtaining bioactive molecules because it is rich in polyphenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins. Obtaining appropriate extracts for obtaining anthocyanins can be useful for multiple applications in the food industry or for obtaining phytopharmaceuticals. In this work, the fruit and its peel composition were evaluated, an anthocyanin extraction system was designed and optimized, and the extract obtained was characterized. The peel composition of S. odorifera ripe fruits from the black accession growing in Paraguay was rich in polyphenol compounds and anthocyanins. Ultrasound-assisted extractions of total anthocyanins were studied, and the extraction variables were optimized. First, a screening design was considered to analyze time, pH, liquid–solid ratio, solvent concentration, and temperature. From the screening design, the significant variables were considered in a Box–Behnken design, and a response surface methodology was applied. The resulting total anthocyanin extract was characterized by UPLC-DAD-MS / MS-ESI. The most efficient system for the extraction of anthocyanins from the peel was at 15 min, 20 °C, pH = 6, 60% ethanol, and 80 mL/g of liquid–solid ratio. The highest concentration obtained was 61.908 mg C3G/g peel extract. In the extract, 12 main compounds were tentatively identified, including five anthocyanin derivatives, five flavonol derivatives, and two flavonol aglycones. This study provides information for the obtention of an anthocyanin-based dye from black kurugua peel, possibly useful for future applications as a natural colorant in high-added-value foods due to its antioxidant characteristics. Full article

Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics, centesimal composition and antioxidants of the Sicana odorifera pulp and the antioxidant potential of the seeds and fruit peel harvested in a culture of the city of San Lorenzo, Paraguay. These fruits harvested in Paraguay present an antioxidant potential, interesting for food industry, especially in a ripe and semi-ripe state, where the highest content of vitamin C and total phenols was observed, as well as the total antioxidant capacity (ABTS). Full article