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The microbiological purity of textiles plays a pivotal role in the use of textiles, especially in hospitals and other medical facilities. Microbiological purity of cotton fabric was achieved by a new disinfection method using tetrabutyloammonium OXONE (TBA-OXONE) before washing. As a result of the disinfection, the cotton fabric became microbiologically pure, despite the markedly decreased washing time with respect to the widely used standard procedure. Shortening of the washing time allowed for significant energy savings. In addition, the effect of the number of disinfection and washing cycles on the tensile properties and tearing force of the fabric was examined. After 120 disinfection and washing cycles the mechanical properties of cotton fabric were only slightly worsened.

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The article presents a new approach in the purification of chitosan (CS) hydrogel in order to remove a significant amount of endotoxins without changing its molecular weight and viscosity. Two variants of the method used to purify CS hydrogels from endotoxins were investigated using the PyroGene rFC Enzymatic Cascade assay kit. The effect of the CS purification method was assessed in terms of changes in the dynamic viscosity of its hydrogels, the molecular weight of the polymer, microbiological purity after refrigerated storage and cytotoxicity against L929 cells based on the ISO 10993-5:2009(E) standard. The proposed purification method 1 (M1) allows for the removal of significant amounts of endotoxins: 87.9-97.6% in relation to their initial concentration in the CS hydrogel without affecting the solution viscosity. Moreover, the final solutions were sterile and microbiologically stable during storage. The M1 purification method did not change the morphology of the L929 cells.

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Oat husk (OH; hull) is a by-product generated from oat processing and is rich in insoluble fibre and phenolic compounds. The aim of this work was to study the particle size distribution, antioxidant activity, and phenolic profile of micronized OH. For this purpose, the hull was first sterilized using superheated steam and was then ground using an impact classifier mill. The particle size distribution (PSD) of the ground husk was determined using the laser diffraction method and the parameters characterizing the PSD of the ground husk, and its antioxidant activity were calculated. In addition, UPLC-MS/MS analysis of phenolic acids was also performed. Micronization of the sterilized husk effectively decreased the size of the particles, and with the increasing speed of the rotor and classifier, the median size of the particles (d50) decreased from 63.8 to 16.7 µm. The following phenolic acids were identified in OH: ferulic, caffeic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, syringic, and synapic acid. Ferulic acid constituted about 95% of total phenolic acids. The antioxidant activity of the obtained extracts increased as the particle size of the micronized husk decreased. The highest half maximal inhibitory concentration (EC50 index) was found for chelating power, and the lowest was found in the case of radical scavenging activity against DPPH.

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The quality and shelf life of sprouts can be improved by postharvest application of water herb extracts. The effect of water infusions of marjoram, oregano, basil, and thyme on the phenolic content, antioxidant potential, and the microbiological and consumer quality of stored mung bean sprouts was studied. Compared to the control, the treatments increased total phenolic content. The highest amounts were determined in sprouts soaked in the thyme extract (6.8 mg/g d.m.). The infusions also inhibited the activity of enzymes utilizing phenolics, and marjoram and oregano were found to be the most effective. The increase in the level of phenolics was reflected in enhanced antioxidant properties (ability to quench cation radical ABTS•+, reducing and chelating power). Both total phenolics and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant capacities, were highly bioaccessible in vitro. All the natural extracts effectively reduced the growth of total mesophilic bacteria, coliforms, and molds (they were more effective than ascorbic and kojic acids). The treatments did not exert a negative influence on the sensory properties or nutritional value of the sprouts, and even improved starch and protein digestibility. These results are very promising and may suggest a wider used of natural extracts as preservatives of minimally processed food.

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Pharmaceutical industry has been encountering antimicrobial activity of non-antibiotics during suitability tests carried out prior to routine pharmacopoeial microbiological purity analysis of finished dosage forms. These properties are usually ignored or perceived as a nuisance during pharmaceutical analysis. The aim of this study was: (i) to compare the available data to our method suitability test results carried out on products containing ibuprofen, i.e. to demonstrate that method suitability can be a valuable tool in identifying new antimicrobials, (ii) to demonstrate the antimicrobial activity of ibuprofen and ibuprofen lysine. Microbiological purity method suitability testing was carried out according to European Pharmacopoeia (EP), chapters 2.6.12. and 2.6.13. Antimicrobial activity of ibuprofen and ibuprofen lysine was demonstrated by a disk diffusion method, a modification of the European Committee for Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing method (EUCAST), against test microorganisms recommended in the EP. It was confirmed that ibuprofen may be responsible for the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity of the tested products, and that method suitability tests according to the EP can indeed be exploited by the scientific community in setting guidelines towards future research of new antimicrobials. In the disk diffusion assay, inhibition zones were obtained with more than 62.5 µg and 250 µg for Staphylococcus aureus, 125 µg and 250 µg for Bacillus subtilis, 31.3 µg and 125 µg for Candidaalbicans, 31.3 µg and 62.5 µg for Aspergillusbrasiliensis, of ibuprofen/disk, and ibuprofen lysine/disk, respectively. For Escherichiacoli, Pseudomonasaeruginosa and Salmonellatyphimurium inhibition zones were not obtained. Antimicrobial activity of ibuprofen is considered merely as a side effect, and it is not mentioned in the patient information leaflets of ibuprofen drugs. As such, for the patient, it could represent an advantage, but, it could also introduce additional risks during usage. Further microbiological, pharmacological and clinical trials are of great importance.

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