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Citrus aurantium L. Active Constituents, Biological Effects and Extraction Methods. An Updated Review
No full textInternational audienceCitrus genus is a prominent staple crop globally. Long-term breeding and much hybridization engendered a myriad of species, each characterized by a specific metabolism generating different secondary metabolites. Citrus aurantium L., commonly recognized as sour or bitter orange, can exceptionally be distinguished from other Citrus species by unique characteristics. It is a fruit with distinctive flavor, rich in nutrients and phytochemicals which possess different health benefits. This paper presents an overview of the most recent studies done on the matter. It intends to provide an in-depth understanding of the biological activities and medicinal uses of active constituents existing in C. aurantium. Every plant part is first discussed separately with regards to its content in active constituents. All extraction methods, their concepts and yields, used to recover these valuable molecules from their original plant matrix are thoroughly reported
Antifungal and anti-aflatoxigenic properties of organs of Cannabis sativa L.: relation to phenolic content and antioxidant capacities
No full textInternational audienceAflatoxin B1 is a carcinogenic mycotoxin that frequently contaminates crops worldwide. Current research indicates that the use of natural extracts to combat mycotoxin contamination may represent an eco-friendly, sustainable strategy to ensure food safety. Although Cannabis sativa L. has long been known for its psychoactive cannabinoids, it is also rich in many other bioactive molecules. This study examines extracts from various organs of Cannabis sativa L. to determine their ability to limit aflatoxin production and growth of Aspergillus flavus. The results indicate that flower extract is most effective for limiting the synthesis of aflatoxin B1, leading to an almost-complete inhibition of toxin production at a concentration of 0.225 mg dry matter per gram of culture medium. Since flower extract is rich in phenolic compounds, its total antioxidant ability and radical-scavenging capacity are determined. Compared with other anti-aflatoxigenic extracts, the anti-oxidative potential of Cannabis sativa L. flower extract appears moderate, suggesting that its anti-mycotoxin effect may be related to other bioactive compounds
Les effets de la technologie et de la digitalisation sur la satisfaction des clients des institutions financières
No full textInternational audienceThis article briefly discusses the topic of digitization in the banking industry, consumer behavior when purchasing financial services and the importance of digitization for the delivery of customer services. In this research work the authors focused on the theories of consumer behavior, digitization as a financial innovation in order to answer the following problem: Does digitization satisfy the customers of financial institutions and would it replace one day the employees in their work and the services rendered? In order to collect and analyze the data, a questionnaire was sent to the clients of several Lebanese commercial banks, a quantitative methodology is used to process and analyze the responses through the IBM SPSS version 24 software. Finally, from the results, the researchers can conclude that customers are encouraged to use digitization especially in times of crisis or when there is no access to financial institutions, as is currently the case in lockdowns due to the pandemic such as Covid-19 but still prefer human contact in ordinary moments for greater interaction with the customer advisor.La digitalisation dans le secteur bancaire, le comportement des consommateurs lors d’achat des services financiers ainsi quel’importance de la technologie pour la prestation des services à la clientèle sont les éléments clés et variables mis en exerguedans ce travail de recherche.Les auteures se sont focalisées sur les théories du comportement du consommateur, la technologie en tant qu’innovationfinancière afin de répondre à la problématique suivante : Est-ce que la technologie satisfait-elle les clients des institutionsfinancières et remplacerait-elle un jour les employés dans leur travail et les services rendus ? Afin de collecter et analyser lesdonnées, un questionnaire a été adressé aux clients de plusieurs banques commerciales libanaises, une méthodologiequantitative est utilisée pour traiter et analyser les réponses par le biais du logiciel IBM SPSS version 24. Enfin d’après lesrésultats obtenus, les chercheurs concluent que les clients sont encouragés à utiliser la technologie surtout dans les moments decrises ou de non accès aux institutions financières comme il est le cas actuellement dans les périodes de confinements liées auxpandémies telles la Covid-19 mais préfèrent toujours le contact humain dans les moments ordinaires pour une plus grandeinteraction avec le conseiller clientèle
High-resolution 1H NMR profiling of triacylglycerols as a tool for authentication of food from animal origin: Application to hen egg matrix
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Factors associated with overweight and obesity in Lebanese male patients with schizophrenia
No full textInternational audiencePurpose: To assess the influence of lifestyle factors, antipsychotic medications, and psychosis symptoms on obesity in a group of male patients with schizophrenia in Lebanon.Design/methods: A cross-sectional study conducted between May and July 2018 enrolling 149 male patients with chronic schizophrenia.Results: We found that 59.1% of the patients were obese/overweight. Older age and higher negative and total positive and negative syndrome scale scores were significantly associated with lower body mass index values.Practice implications: This study shed light on some factors associated with obesity in male patients with schizophrenia, which may be targeted for the prevention and management of obesity. Some interventions were proposed such as focusing on patients' physical health, psychiatric treatment, and maintaining a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle
Assessment of the skin barrier function in the reconstructed human epidermis using a multimodal approach at molecular, tissue and functional levels
No full textInternational audienceReconstructed human epidermis models are used as epidermis alternatives in skin researches. It is necessary to provide molecular and functional characterization in order to assess these models. Our aim is to make a link between the barrier function and the structure and the composition of the Stratum Corneum using several complementary techniques. Three studies were used on Reconstructed Human Epidermis during the keratinocyte differentiation process: i- caffeine percutaneous penetration kinetic. ii- epidermis thickness measurement, Stratum Corneum formation and lipids organization by Raman microspectroscopy. iii- lipid composition evolution by liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry. Results demonstrated that the caffeine penetration decreased along the differentiation process. Raman in depth images demonstrated an increase in Stratum Corneum and RHE thickness accompanied with an evolution of lipid organization. Lipid analysis showed an increase of ceramide amount and an inverse relationship between ceramide and their precursor’s levels during the differentiation process. A different behavior between several ceramides subclasses is highlighted and relied to corresponding differentiation stage. The generation of the most important ceramides for the barrier function is closely followed. A period shift between lipids generation and their organization was found. Our analytical data allowed identifying 3 groups of maturation days: before day 15, between day 15 and 19, and after day 19. The chemical and physiological states of the barrier function for each group are described thanks to the multimodal approach
Toward understanding the underlying mechanisms of pelvic tilt reserve in adult spinal deformity: the role of the 3D hip orientation
No full textInternational audiencePurpose: To explore 3D hip orientation in standing position in subjects with adult spinal deformity (ASD) presenting with different levels of compensatory mechanisms.Methods: Subjects with ASD (n = 159) and controls (n = 68) underwent full-body biplanar X-rays with the calculation of 3D spinopelvic, postural and hip parameters. ASD subjects were grouped as ASD with knee flexion (ASD-KF) if they compensated by flexing their knees (knee flexion ≥ 5°), and ASD with knee extension (ASD-KE) otherwise (knee flexion < 5°). Spinopelvic, postural and hip parameters were compared between the three groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were then computed between spinopelvic and hip parameters.Results: ASD-KF had higher SVA (67 ± 66 mm vs. 2 ± 33 mm and 11 ± 21 mm), PT (27 ± 14° vs. 18 ± 9° and 11 ± 7°) and PI-LL mismatch (20 ± 26° vs − 1 ± 18° and − 13 ± 10°) when compared to ASD-KE and controls (all p < 0.05). ASD-KF also had a more tilted (34 ± 11° vs. 28 ± 9° and 26 ± 7°), anteverted (24 ± 6° vs. 20 ± 5° and 18 ± 4°) and abducted (59 ± 6° vs. 57 ± 4° and 56 ± 4°) acetabulum, with a higher posterior coverage (100 ± 6° vs. 97 ± 7° for ASD-KE) when compared to ASD-KE and controls (all p < 0.05). The main determinants of acetabular tilt, acetabular abduction and anterior acetabular coverage were PT, SVA and LL (adjusted R² [0.12; 0.5]).Conclusions: ASD subjects compensating with knee flexion have altered hip orientation, characterized by increased posterior coverage (acetabular anteversion, tilt and posterior coverage) and decreased anterior coverage which can together lead to posterior femoro-acetabular impingement, thus limiting pelvic retroversion. This underlying mechanism could be potentially involved in the hip-spine syndrome
Breast-Gynaecological & Immuno-Oncology International Cancer Conference (BGICC) Consensus and Recommendations for the Management of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
No full textInternational audienceBackground: The management of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is challenging with several controversies and unmet needs. During the 12th Breast-Gynaecological & Immuno-oncology International Cancer Conference (BGICC) Egypt, 2020, a panel of 35 breast cancer experts from 13 countries voted on consensus guidelines for the clinical management of TNBC. The consensus was subsequently updated based on the most recent data evolved lately. Methods: A consensus conference approach adapted from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) was utilized. The panellists voted anonymously on each question, and a consensus was achieved when ≥75% of voters selected an answer. The final consensus was later circulated to the panellists for critical revision of important intellectual content. Results and conclusion: These recommendations represent the available clinical evidence and expert opinion when evidence is scarce. The percentage of the consensus votes, levels of evidence and grades of recommendation are presented for each statement. The consensus covered all the aspects of TNBC management starting from defining TNBC to the management of metastatic disease and highlighted the rapidly evolving landscape in this field. Consensus was reached in 70% of the statements (35/50). In addition, areas of warranted research were identified to guide future prospective clinical trials
Towards polymeric nanoparticles with multiple magnetic patches
No full textInternational audienceFabricating future materials by self-assembly of nano-building blocks programmed to generate specific lattices is among the most challenging goals of nanotechnology and has led to the recent concept of patchy particles. We report here a simple strategy to fabricate polystyrene nanoparticles with several silica patches based on the solvent-induced self-assembly of silica/polystyrene monopods. The latter are obtained with morphological yields as high as 99% by seed-growth emulsion polymerization of styrene in the presence of 100 nm silica seeds previously modified with an optimal surface density of methacryloxymethyl groups. In addition, we fabricate “magnetic” silica seeds by silica encapsulation of preformed maghemite supraparticles. The polystyrene pod, i.e., surface nodule, serves as a sticky point when the monopods are incubated in a bad/good solvent mixture for polystyrene, e.g., ethanol/tetrahydrofuran mixtures. After self-assembly, mixtures of particles with two, three, four silica or magnetic silica patches are mainly obtained. The influence of experimental parameters such as the ethanol/tetrahydrofuran volume ratio, monopod concentration and incubation time is studied. Further developments would consist of obtaining pure batches by centrifugal sorting and optimizing the relative position of the patches in conventional repulsion figures
Financial Inclusion and Fintech: Solutions for Lebanese Economic Crisis
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