Pulsed Electric Field Research Articles

Reviewing Improved Anaerobic Digestion by Combined Pre-Treatment of Waste-Activated Sludge (WAS)

The anaerobic digestion of wastewater treatment sludge (WAS) produces a “green” biogas while reducing the amount of residual sludge. To increase the yield of biogas, several individual or combined pre-treatment methods of WAS can be used. These pre-treatment methods substantially reduce the amount of volatile suspended solids (VSSs) and their associated total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD). Pre-treating the sludge will increase the methane yield by 15 to 30%. Although the individual methods have been dealt with in research and large-scale operations, the combined (hybrid) methods have not previously been reviewed. Here, different hybrid treatment methods are reviewed, including (1) thermochemical hydrolysis pre-treatment, using an alkaline or acid addition to enhance solubilization of the sludge cells and increase biogas production; (2) alkaline and high-pressure homogenizer pre-treatment, combining a chemical and mechanical treatment; (3) alkaline and ultrasound pre-treatment, capable of solubilizing organic sludge compounds by different mechanisms, such as the fast and effective ultrasound disruption of cells and the increasing effect of the alkaline (NaOH) treatment; (4) combined alkaline and microwave pre-treatment, which enhances sludge solubilization by at least 20% in comparison with the performance of each separate process; (5) microwave (MW) and peroxidation pre-treatment of WAS suspended solids (SSs), which are quickly (<5 min) disintegrated by MW irradiation at 80 °C; (6) ultrasound and peroxidation pre-treatment, with ozone and peroxides as powerful oxidizing agents; and (7) pulsed electric field (PEF) pretreatment. All literature findings are assessed, discussing relevant operation conditions and the results achieved.

Impact of Pulsed Electric Field Ablation on His Bundle Conduction: A Preclinical Canine Study.

BACKGROUND Pulsed field ablation (PFA), as a non-thermal ablation modality, has received increasing attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of PFA upon His bundle via its implementation with different voltages on the maximum His bundle potential in canines, providing scientific basis for clinical application. MATERIAL AND METHODS Pulsed electrical field energy was delivered from a ablation catheter to the maximum His potential of 7 dogs, followed by a series of electrogram and histology assessments. RESULTS The baseline AH and HV intervals were 55.3±3.7 ms (range, 53.0-59.0 ms), and 34.9±1.3 ms (range, 34.0-36.0 ms), respectively, which were elevated to 65.0±5.4 ms (range, 59.0-70.0 ms) and 35.7±2.7 ms (range, 34.0-37.0 ms) after PFA. Before ablation and immediately after the recovery of third-degree AVB, the AH interval was prolonged (P<0.05) while the HV interval remained unchanged (P>0.05). After ablation, all 7 canines experienced transient third-degree AVB, with a voltage-dependent duration. Masson staining results revealed no apparent damage in His bundle cells. CONCLUSIONS Within a certain voltage range of pulse electric field, ablation of the maximum His potential in canines can result in transient third-degree AVB, providing a new route for guiding safe ablation of para-Hisian arrhythmia.

Effect of Pulsed Electric Field Pretreatment on the Concentration of Lipophilic and Hydrophilic Compounds in Cold-Pressed Grape Seed Oil Produced from Wine Waste.

Pretreatment of grape pomace seeds with a pulsed electric field (PEF) was applied to improve the extraction yield of cold-pressed grape seed oil. The effects of different PEF conditions, electric field intensities (12.5, 14.0 and 15.6 kV/cm), and durations (15 and 30 min) on the oil chemical composition were also studied. All PEF pretreatments significantly increased the oil yield, flow rate and concentration of total sterols (p < 0.05). In addition, similar trends were observed for total tocochromanols and phenolic compounds, except for PEF pretreatment under the mildest conditions (12.5 kV/cm, 15 min) (p < 0.05). Notably, the application of 15.6 kV/cm for 30 min resulted in the highest relative increase in oil yield and flow rate (29.6% and 56.5%, respectively) and in the concentrations of total tocochromanols, nonflavonoids, and flavonoids (22.1%, 60.2% and 81.5%, respectively). In addition, the highest relative increase in the concentration of total sterols (25.4%) was achieved by applying 12.5 kV/cm for 30 min. The fatty acid composition of the grape seed oil remained largely unaffected by the PEF pretreatments. These results show that PEF pretreatment effectively improves both the yield and the bioactive properties of cold-pressed grape seed oil.

Trends, Recent Advances, and Application of Pulsed Electric Field in Food Processing: A Review

AbstractGenerally, thermal inputs dominate the food processing industry for food preservation. Pulsed electric field (PEF) is one of the most promising nonthermal microorganism‐killing techniques. The most important factors in PEF processing are electric field strength and treatment duration. At the laboratory level, encouraging results are reported; however, industrialization raises the cost of the command charging power supply and the high‐speed electrical switch. In this review, the results of previous experimental studies on PEFs and proposed future research directions in this field are discussed. There is currently no successful PEF processing system for industrial applications. Those who wish to promote the industrial application of the PEF processing system face a significant barrier in the form of the system's high initial cost of installation. Innovative developments in high‐voltage pulse technology will reduce the cost of pulse generation and make PEF processing competitive with thermal processing methods.

Effect of different pre-treatment on acrylamide content, nutrition value, starch digestibility and anthocyanin bioaccessibility of purple sweet potato (Ipomoea batata) deep-fried chips

Veggie chips have gained popularity in the European market. These are considered healthier than potato chips by consumers. However, few works evaluate their nutritional and digestibility. The current work aimed to evaluate the effect of four pre-frying treatments (soaking, blanching, pulsed electric field (PEF) and PEF + blanching combination (PEFB)) on the chemical composition, anthocyanins, acrylamide, and digestive behavior (starch hydrolysis and anthocyanins bioaccessibility) of purple sweet potato deep-fried chips. In total 15 independent batches were made, three for each studied treatment (also a control without pretreatment was developed). The studied pretreatments impacted on fat and starch content, especially blanching and PEFB, which caused an increase in fat absorption and break starch, generating maltodextrins. Nineteen anthocyanins were detected, mainly cyanidin and peonidin derivatives, but a drastic loss was observed in blanched, PEF-treated and PEF-B-Treated chips. Acrylamide values ranged from 504.11 to 6350.0- μg/kg, with the highest values reported by untreated chips and the lowest by PEF-B-treated chips (p < 0.05). The anthocyanin's bioaccessibility ranged between 66.57 and 92.88%, with soaked chips that showed the highest values.

Pulsed Electric Fields assisted extraction of proteins and phycocyanin from Arthrospira platensis biomass: A kinetic study

The objective of this work was the investigation of the kinetics of protein and C-phycocyanin extraction from Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) biomass assisted by Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF). Fresh, untreated and PEF-treated (7.8 kV/cm, 0–137.6 kJ/kg) biomass was suspended in water and incubated at 30–50 °C for up to 24 h. Protein and C-phycocyanin recovery kinetics exhibited a sigmoidal behavior. The increase in treatment specific energy and incubation temperature up to 40 °C led to significant extraction acceleration. A treatment of 137.6 kJ/kg prior to incubation at 40 °C led to the minimization of protein characteristic incubation time (2.3 h vs. 14.4 h and 10.4 h of untreated sample at 30 and 40 °C, respectively). At 50 °C a significant reduction of the extraction yield was observed, due to the inactivation of the proteolytic enzymes. Higher treatment specific energy led to increased C-phycocyanin purity of the extracts at 40 °C. The maximization of the C-phycocyanin extract purity factor (1.14 vs 0.66 for untreated samples) was achieved with a PEF treatment at 137.6 kJ/kg and incubation at 40 °C for 3 h.

Recent Advances in Non-Contact Food Decontamination Technologies for Removing Mycotoxins and Fungal Contaminants.

Agricultural food commodities are highly susceptible to contamination by fungi and mycotoxins, which cause great economic losses and threaten public health. New technologies such as gamma ray irradiation, ultraviolet radiation, electron beam irradiation, microwave irradiation, pulsed light, pulsed electric fields, plasma, ozone, etc. can solve the problem of fungal and mycotoxin contamination which cannot be effectively solved by traditional food processing methods. This paper summarizes recent advancements in emerging food decontamination technologies used to control various fungi and their associated toxin contamination in food. It discusses the problems and challenges faced by the various methods currently used to control mycotoxins, looks forward to the new trends in the development of mycotoxin degradation methods in the future food industry, and proposes new research directions.

Phyllanthuse emblica polyphenols: Optimization of high-voltage pulsed electric field assisted extraction, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro

BackgroundThe polyphenols extraction of Phyllanthus emblica is primarily carried out using organic solvents, and assisted by physical fields such as ultrasound and microwave for extraction. High voltage pulsed electric field technology (PEF) is a non-thermal processing technology that has high efficiency and minimal damage to thermosensitive substances. PEF has been applied to plant extraction in many studies, however, the extraction of polyphenols from Phyllanthus emblica using the PEF has still not been reported; ObjectiveThis study explores the optimal extraction process of polyphenols from Phyllanthus emblica using the PEF, and investigates its relaxation and anti-wrinkle based on anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory experiment, in order to develop a Phyllanthus emblica extract with substantial efficacy; Materials and MethodsThe method of Phyllanthus emblica extract using PEF is established, and compared with a traditional extraction method. The experimental conditions, such as electric field intensity (0.5–6.0 kV/cm), pulse times (20−120), extraction time (0–60 min) and material concentration (0.5 %∼3 %), are investigated and optimized using orthogonal experiments; Resultsthe polyphenols in the Phyllanthus emblica extract were highest at the electric field intensity of 5 kV / cm, 120 pulses, extraction time of 30 min, and 2 % material concentration. The PEFcontained more polyphenols than the conventional water extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction. The Phyllanthus emblica extract had substantial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, with a good clearance effect on DPPH ( IC50 of 1.82 %) and ABTS ( IC50 of 1.80 %) radicals. At the Phyllanthus emblica extract concentration of 1.25 %, inflammatory factors (TNF-α) were reduced by 47.08 %; and ConclusionThe PEF is a leading-edge and promising method for preparing Phyllanthus emblica extracts.

Effects of buffer composition and plasmid toxicity on electroporation-based non-viral gene delivery in mammalian cells using bursts of nanosecond and microsecond pulses.

Gene electrotransfer (GET) is non-viral gene delivery technique, also known as electroporation-mediated gene delivery or electrotransfection. GET is a method used to introduce foreign genetic material (such as DNA or RNA) into cells by applying external pulsed electric fields (PEFs) to create temporary pores in the cell membrane. This study was undertaken to examine the impact of buffer composition on the efficiency of GET in mammalian cells Also, we specifically compared the effectiveness of high-frequency nanosecond (ns) pulses with standard microsecond (µs) pulses. For the assessment of cell transfection efficiency and viability, flow cytometric analysis, luminescent assays, and measurements of metabolic activity were conducted. The efficiency of electrotransfection was evaluated using two different proteins encoding plasmids (pEGFP-N1 and Luciferase-pcDNA3). The investigation revealed that the composition of the electroporation buffer significantly influences the efficacy of GET in CHO-K1 cell line. The different susceptibility of cell lines to the electric field and the plasmid cytotoxicity were reported. It was also shown that electroporation with nanosecond duration PEF protocols ensured equivalent or even better transfection efficiency than standard µsPEF. Additionally, we successfully performed long-term transfection of the murine 4T1 cell line using high-frequency nanosecond PEFs and confirmed its' applicability in an in vivo model. The findings from the study can be applied to optimize electrotransfection conditions.

Advanced and Potential Methods for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Avocado Peel—A Review

Extraction techniques are continuously developed by the scientific community. Meanwhile, avocado peel is a by-product of avocado processing and a source of bioactive compounds. The purpose of this review was to summarize the use of advanced techniques for extracting bioactive compounds from avocado peel to help understand which techniques have and have not been applied to avocado peel. Three primary databases were used to collect the information, including Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science, by using the keywords “avocado”, “peel”, and “extraction”. Additional keywords related to the extraction technique were also used, including “Microwave-Assisted Extraction”, “Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction”, “Enzyme-Assisted Extraction”, “Pressurized Liquid Extraction”, “Supercritical Fluid Extraction”, “Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents”, “Three-phase partitioning (TPP)”, “Pulsed-Electric Field”, “High Voltage Electric Discharge Plasma”, “Centrifugal Partition Extraction”, and “Surfactant-Mediated Extraction”. The results show that microwave-assisted extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, TPP, and natural deep eutectic solvent extraction have been used to retrieve bioactive compounds from avocado peel. Other techniques have not yet been applied for the extraction of bioactive compounds from avocado peel. This article is the first review discussing the advanced extraction technique for retrieving bioactive compounds from avocado peel. This article creates a paradigm for future studies.

Enhancing protein extraction from heterotrophic Auxenochlorella protothecoides microalgae through emerging cell disruption technologies combined with incubation

This study evaluated pulsed electric fields (PEF) and ultrasonication (US) combined with incubation to enhance cell disruption and protein extraction from Auxenochlorella protothecoides, comparing them to conventional high-pressure homogenization (HPH). A 5 h incubation enhanced protein yield by 79.4 % for PEF- and 27.2 % for US-treated samples. Extending the incubation to 24 h resulted in a total yield increase of 122 % for PEF (0.25 ± 0.03 kgEP kgTP−1) and 51.9 % for US (0.20 ± 0.02 kgEP−1 kgTP−1). Autofermentation in untreated cells after 24 h resulted in protein release with lower yields than all other treated and incubated samples. While HPH had the highest protein yield (0.58 ± 0.04 kgEP kgTP−1), PEF-incubation after 5 h (56.6 ± 5.3 MJ kgEP−1) and 24 h (49.5 ± 3.7 MJ kgEP−1) were 1.5 and 1.7-times more energy-efficient than HPH (82.9 ± 7.8 MJ kgEP−1). PEF combined incubation is an energy-efficient and targeted protein extraction method in heterotrophic A. protothecoides biorefinery.

Effects of PEF on Cell and Transcriptomic of Escherichia coli.

Pulsed electric field (PEF) is an up-to-date non-thermal processing technology with a wide range of applications in the food industry. The inactivation effect of PEF on Escherichia coli was different under different conditions. The E. coli inactivated number was 1.13 ± 0.01 lg CFU/mL when PEF was treated for 60 min and treated with 0.24 kV/cm. The treatment times were found to be positively correlated with the inactivation effect of PEF, and the number of E. coli was reduced by 3.09 ± 0.01 lg CFU/mL after 100 min of treatment. The inactivation assays showed that E. coli was inactivated at electrical intensity (0.24 kV/cm) within 100 min, providing an effective inactivating outcome for Gram-negative bacteria. The purpose of this work was to investigate the cellular level (morphological destruction, intracellular macromolecule damage, intracellular enzyme inactivation) as well as the molecular level via transcriptome analysis. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (TFESEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) results demonstrated that cell permeability was disrupted after PEF treatment. Entocytes, including proteins and DNA, were markedly reduced after PEF treatment. In addition, the activities of Pyruvate Kinase (PK), Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH), and Adenosine Triphosphatase (ATPase) were inhibited remarkably for PEF-treated samples. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to the biosynthesis of the cell membrane, DNA replication and repair, energy metabolism, and mobility were significantly affected. In conclusion, membrane damage, energy metabolism disruption, and other pathways are important mechanisms of PEF's inhibitory effect on E. coli.

A novel Janus composite membrane and its enhanced antifouling strategy for emulsion purification

The development of advanced membranes for the efficient separation of oil-water emulsions and the degradation of soluble pollutants is crucial for environmental protection. This study presents a Janus composite membrane with Co(CO3)0.5OH·0.11H2O nanoneedle arrays, fabricated through electrospinning, membrane assembly, surface hydrophobization, and chemical bath deposition (CBD). By controlling the amount of carbon nanofiber (CNF) and CBD time, the membrane's morphology can be optimized for improved performance. In dead-end filtration driven by gravity, the membrane effectively separates stabilized oil-in-water emulsions and demonstrates strong anti-fouling capabilities. Furthermore, the membrane exhibits significant catalytic activation for peroxymonosulfate (PMS), enabling complete restoration of water flux of polluted membranes and purifying emulsions with soluble organic pollutants. To further enhance anti-fouling performance, a novel separation strategy integrating pulse current is proposed. Under the influence of a pulsed electric field, the membrane achieves a permeate flux nearly twice as high as that observed without this external stimulus, while maintaining high separation efficiency. This research advances Janus nanofiber membrane development via electrospinning techniques and supports sustainable treatment of oily wastewater.

Efficacy and safety of focal pulsed-field ablation for ventricular arrhythmias: two-centre experience.

A pulsed electric field (PF) energy source is a novel potential option for catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) as it can create deeper lesions, particularly in scarred tissue. However, very limited data exist on its efficacy and safety. This prospective observational study reports the initial experience with VA ablation using focal PF. The study population consisted of 44 patients (16 women, aged 61 ± 14years) with either frequent ventricular premature complexes (VPCs, 48%) or scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT, 52%). Ablation was performed using an irrigated 4 mm tip catheter and a commercially available PF generator. On average, 16 ± 15 PF applications (25 A) were delivered per patient. Acute success was achieved in 84% of patients as assessed by elimination of VPC or reaching non-inducibility of VT. In three cases (7%), a transient conduction system block was observed during PF applications remotely from the septum. Root analysis revealed that this event was caused by current leakage from the proximal shaft electrodes in contact with the basal interventricular septum. Acute elimination of VPC was achieved in 81% patients and non-inducibility of VT in 83% patients. At the 3-month follow-up, persistent suppression of the VPC was confirmed on Holter monitoring in 81% patients. In the VT group, the mean follow-up was 116 ± 75 days and a total of 52% patients remained free of any VA. Pulsed electric field catheter ablation of a broad spectrum of VA is feasible with acute high efficacy; however, the short-term follow-up is less satisfactory for patients with scar-related VT.

Membrane assisted Pulsed Electric Field (M-PEF) a novel technique for preservation of functional and biological properties of sugarcane juice.

Abstract According to market prospects there is a demand for the bottled fresh sugarcane juice than any other fruit based beverages because of its nutritional and therapeutic properties. Sugarcane juice short shelf life and deterioration are linked to the existence of active enzymes like peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase as well as its microbial composition. The membrane assisted pulsed electric field technology (M-PEF) was used for this experiment in which the hollow spiral wound ultra-filter membrane for 10 kDa pore size at 1 bar pressure employed as a pretreatment to pulsed electric field processing for the treatment of sugarcane juice. The process parameters are 20, 30, and 40 kV/cm field strength for the pulse width of 100, 150, and 200 μs. The reduction of 92% in polyphenol oxidase and 80% in peroxidase enzyme activity was achieved due to Pulsed electric field at a field strength and pulse width of 30 kV/cm for 150μs respectively retaining the overall quality of the sugarcane juice and there was 85-95% reduction was observed in the protein and polysaccharide content of the sugarcane juice due to the membrane filtration pore size exclusion effect. Ascorbic acid content was retained in the M-PEF samples while increasing its antioxidant capacity. The experiment results showed that due to Pulsed electric field treatment there was 3 log reductions are observed on total plate count. This technology showed that, it can be used as novel technique for the preservation of the fresh juices.

Effects of different pretreatment on the drying characteristics and pectin properties of jujube by microwave coupled with pulsed vacuum drying

AbstractThe effects of ultrasound (US), ultrahigh pressure (UP), cold plasma (CP), and high pressure and pulsed electric fields (PEF) pretreatments were evaluated for drying characteristics, bioactive components, and pectin properties of jujube slices during microwave coupled with pulsed vacuum drying (MPVD). US, CP, and PEF reduced drying time by 18.75%, while UP reduced it by 6.25%. Samples treated with US and PEF showed improved color and rehydration (345.11%, 319.24%), with SEM revealing larger pores post‐pretreatment. PEF‐treated jujube had highest phenol (16.95 mg GAE/g DW) and water‐soluble pectin(WSP) (43.71 mg/g AIR), correlating positively with rehydration (r = 0.67). CP had highest flavonoid content (17.01 mg RE/g DW) and US showed highest antioxidant activity (DPPH 80.57%, ABTS 89.65%). Chelate‐soluble pectin (CSP) Sodium carbonate‐soluble pectin (NSP) was positively correlated with hardness (r = 0.71, 0.69). These findings suggest pretreatments improve drying efficiency, nutrient retention, and pectin functionality in jujube products. Practical ApplicationsDrying for jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is the most common method of processing and ensure the sale. Three kinds of non‐thermal processing pretreatment method (ultrasound, ultrahigh pressure, and cold plasma) combined with novel drying method, microwave coupled pulsed vacuum drying (MPVD) was studied in the application on the dehydration of jujube slice in this paper. The drying characteristics and pectin properties of winter jujube were analyzed and treated by MPVD compared with freeze drying and hot air drying, for both technological research and processing practice. The drying kinetics, bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity, sensory attributes, and pectin properties were also used as descriptors in order to promising dehydration method for obtaining high value‐added jujube products. Moreover, the relationship between the cell wall pectin and the phenols, hardness and crispness were analyzed, which give a new insight to study the changing scheme in the nutrients and the texture during the dehydration for fruits and vegetables.

Focal pulsed field ablation in complex atrial tachycardia: First clinical experience and 1-year outcome

BackgroundPulsed field ablation (PFA) has become increasingly important in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. In addition to single-shot devices mainly used for pulmonary vein isolation, focal PFA may provide a treatment option that increases the versatility of the technique. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to provide data on feasibility, safety, and long-term outcome of focal PFA for ablation of complex atrial tachycardia (AT). MethodsAll consecutive patients (n = 34) with complex AT treated at our department between 2022 and 2023 with a focal PFA system (CENTAURI™, Galvanize Therapeutics) were included. The majority of patients (32/34) previously had undergone at least 1 radiofrequency ablation. Established contact force–sensing catheters were used for PFA application in combination with a PFA generator. Pulsed electric field trains were conducted in a R-wave triggered manner. ResultsAcute procedural success was accomplished in all patients. PFA included creation of 51 linear lesions and (re)isolation of 12 pulmonary veins. Mean procedural duration was 102.7 ± 30.3 minutes, with left atrial dwell time of 75.0 ± 24.7 minutes. Mean fluoroscopy duration was 8.7 ± 5.3 minutes. No complications occurred. After mean follow-up of 340.9 ± 130.1 days, recurrence of any AT occurred in 15 patients (44.1%). During 9 reablations, 3 gaps in previously created linear lesions were detected; the majority of recurrences (n = 6) were not related to previous PFA lesion creation. ConclusionFocal PFA of complex AT substrates was safe and efficient. Acute procedural success was 100%. After 1 year, the majority of patients were in sinus rhythm. A minority of recurrences was caused by insufficient PFA lesion creation.

Bronchial Rheoplasty for Chronic Bronchitis: Results from a Canadian Feasibility Study with RheOx®.

Chronic bronchitis (CB), a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotype defined by persistent mucus hypersecretion and cough, is associated with poor quality of life, exacerbations, and lung function impairment. Bronchial Rheoplasty (BR) delivers non-thermal pulsed electric fields to airway epithelium and submucosa. Preliminary studies demonstrated reduced airway goblet cell hyperplasia and symptom improvement in response to BR. This study aimed to further assess the safety and clinical feasibility of BR in the setting of CB. This 3-center, single-arm study evaluated the safety and feasibility of BR in Canadian patients. The major inclusion criteria were the sum of CAT first 2 questions (cough and mucus) ≥ 7 out of 10 and FEV1 ≥ 30% predicted. Right-sided airways were treated first; left, 1 month later. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were tabulated through 12 months. Outcomes were evaluated using the SGRQ and CAT. Ten patients with CB were enrolled and followed for 12 months. The BR procedure was successful in all patients (mean age 69 ± 5.8 years, post-BD FEV1 77.1 ± 28.3, SGRQ 56.2 ± 8.8, CAT 25.4 ± 4.7). Only one SAE, a COPD exacerbation 13 days following the BR procedure, was considered device related. No additional SAEs occurred through 12 months, and 90% of the patients were CAT responders (≥ 2-point improvement) at 3 and 6 months. Similar results were observed in SGRQ. BR was safe and well-tolerated. Meaningful symptom improvement was observed through 12 months, suggesting BR may be a viable treatment option for patients with CB.

Preservation Techniques to Increase the Shelf Life of Seafood Products: An Overview

Currently, humanity is facing many types of diseases with various origins and the high costs of chemical drugs for treatment. Therefore, the consumption of healthy and nourishing foods such as seafood products to treat these diseases should be considered in the human diet. However, seafood products are subject to high spoilage owing to their high-water content, rich composition of unsaturated fatty acids, susceptibility to oxidation, near-neutral pH, presence of non-protein nitrogenous compounds, and microorganism activity. Therefore, appropriate storage methods are required to prevent spoilage. This review was done with the aim of providing preservation methods and increasing the shelf life of seafood products. In general, the results of this research stated that common and traditional techniques of seafood products preservation including salting, canning, chilling, freezing, fermentation, super chilling, drying, smoking, frying, pickling/marinating and pasteurization and also modern techniques for seafood products preservation such as microwave processing, ultrasound, pulsed electric field (PEF), irradiation, high hydrostatic pressure (HHP), micro fluidization, usage of natural preservatives (plants and algae extracts, biodegradable polymers, bioactive polysaccharides and biopeptides extracted from marine resources/ seafood by-products), packaging ((MAP), (AP), (IP), (VP), (RP)), nanotechnology and other new methods can preserve the product for a period of time efficiently, also significantly increase the desired sensory and organoleptic characteristics of the product and as a result, they increase quality, safety and shelf life. However, improving the weaknesses of traditional methods by using modern techniques can improve and maintain the nutritional value of the product.

Enhancing bacterial inhibition in beetroot beverages: The potent combination of sappan heartwood extracts via accelerated solvent extraction and pulsed electric field methods

This study aimed to investigate the potential of sappan heartwood extract as an inhibitor of foodborne pathogenic bacteria in beetroot juice. The extract was obtained using an accelerated solvent extraction process (using an ethanol/water solvent mixture (3:1 w/w) at 120 °C and 1500 psi for 5 min), yielding 10.04 g per 73.6 g of dried sappan heartwood powder, with a percentage yield of 13.64 and 2.69 % brazilin. The extract was combined with pulsed electric fields (PEF) at different strengths and tested against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Bacillus cereus (B. cereus), and Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium). Results showed that the combination of sappan heartwood extract and PEF at 15 kV/cm and concentrations of 3.91, 5.86, and 11.73 mg/mL effectively reduced the total plate count and coliform bacteria count, and completely eliminated B. cereus and S. typhimurium during 7 days of storage at 4 °C. Furthermore, this combination was found to be more efficient in bacterial elimination compared to thermal pasteurization and potassium sorbate addition. These findings suggest that sappan heartwood extract can be used as a natural antimicrobial agent in food products, especially in beetroot juice, where regulatory standards restrict the addition of preservatives. Using sappan heartwood extract in combination with PEF is highly effective in killing foodborne pathogens, reducing the risk of consumer harm and ensuring food safety.