Composite material (AC-ZnO) was prepared by growing ZnO nanoparticles during the production of biomass based-activated carbon (AC) via the incorporation of zinc acetate in the process. Comprehensive analyzes confirmed the presence of ZnO nanoparticles over the AC surface and described the particular nature of the composite adsorbent. Methylene blue (MB) equilibrium data fitted the Dubinin Raduskevich model. The MB adsorption capacity was higher for the bare activated carbons (197.9–188.7 mg/g) than the activated carbons with ZnO nanoparticles (137.6–149.7 mg/g). The adsorption of the MB on the adsorbents is physical because the mean adsorption energy (E) is between 1.76 and 2.00 kJ/mol. Experiments that combine adsorption and photocatalytic process were carried out with different loads of adsorbents and with and without UV-light exposure. Photocatalytic activity was identified mostly in the first stage of the adsorption process and in the case of experiments with less load of the composite AC-ZnO, because the light obstruction effect of the activated carbon is more for higher loads. The ZnO grown over AC improves the adsorption of cations such as Pb, Al and Fe in aqueous phase (polluted river water) and provides antibacterial capacity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused millions of deaths worldwide. COVID-19’s clinical manifestations range from no symptoms to a severe acute respiratory syndrome, which can result in multiple organ failure, sepsis, and death. Severe COVID-19 patients develop pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections, with a hypercoagulable state. Several inflammatory or coagulatory biomarkers are currently used with predictive values for COVID-19 severity and prognosis. In this manuscript, we investigate if a combination of coagulatory and inflammatory biomarkers could provide a better biomarker with predictive value for COVID-19 patients, being able to distinguish between patients that would develop a moderate or severe COVID-19 and predict the disease outcome. We investigated 306 patients with COVID-19, confirmed by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 RNA detected in the nasopharyngeal swab, and retrospectively analyzed the laboratory data from the first day of hospitalization. In our cohort, biomarkers such as neutrophil count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio from the day of hospitalization could predict if the patient would need to be transferred to the intensive care unit but failed to identify the patients´ outcomes. The ratio between platelets and inflammatory markers such as creatinine, C-reactive protein, and urea levels is associated with patient outcomes. Finally, the platelet/neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio on the first day of hospitalization can be used with predictive value as a novel severity and lethality biomarker in COVID-19. These new biomarkers with predictive value could be used routinely to stratify the risk in COVID-19 patients since the first day of hospitalization.

Essential oils are products from aromatic plants, which, due to their biological, allelopathic, antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, are important for food preservation. Kajikia audax is a fish of great commercial importance, however, it is highly perishable, requiring strategies to extend its shelf life. In vitro antimicrobial activity of Bursera graveolens essential oil was determined against microorganisms isolated from K. audax. Essential oil was extracted by steam distillation, obtaining a yield of 1.25%, a density of 0.83 g/ml and a refractive index of 1.473°, in addition, it was determined by GC-MS that D-limonene (77.6%) is the majority compound. Antimicrobial tests showed that the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Aeromonas salmonicida and Pichia kudriavzevii was 1.62 mg/ml and 6.48 mg/ml respectively, and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was 25.92 mg/ml for both microorganisms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed total resistance against the concentrations used. B. graveolens essential oil turned out to be a potential product to control the growth of microorganisms isolated from K. audax, however, it should be tested against species of the genera Vibrio, Flavobacterium, Shewanella, Lactococcus and Streptococcus that cause spoiling of hydrobiological products.

Chitosan composites based on residual biomass (shrimp shell) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) with different concentrations of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared and tested against bacteria isolated from goat meat and cheese. A casting method was used to prepare composites with 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20% CuO in the mixed solution (chitosan + PVA). The CuO NPs were characterized using FTIR spectroscopy and XRD. Additionally, these composites were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). NPs were detected by XRD mainly in the composite with the highest concentration (0.2%). Isolated bacteria from goat meat and milk (15 strains) were used to test the antibacterial properties of the composites, evaluating the effect of CuO NP concentration. All synthesized composites presented antibacterial inhibition against bacteria. However, for some strains of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, inhibition was 50% of that observed for the combination of antibiotics, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC) or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT). Gram-negative bacteria isolated from goat meat were sensitive to PVA composites with CuO NPs. In most of the tested strains, the zone of inhibition increased as the NP concentration in the composite increased.