8 research outputs found

    Comparative 454 pyrosequencing of transcripts from two olive genotypes during fruit development

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite its primary economic importance, genomic information on olive tree is still lacking. 454 pyrosequencing was used to enrich the very few sequence data currently available for the <it>Olea europaea </it>species and to identify genes involved in expression of fruit quality traits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fruits of <it>Coratina</it>, a widely cultivated variety characterized by a very high phenolic content, and <it>Tendellone</it>, an oleuropein-lacking natural variant, were used as starting material for monitoring the transcriptome. Four different cDNA libraries were sequenced, respectively at the beginning and at the end of drupe development. A total of 261,485 reads were obtained, for an output of about 58 Mb. Raw sequence data were processed using a four step pipeline procedure and data were stored in a relational database with a web interface.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Massively parallel sequencing of different fruit cDNA collections has provided large scale information about the structure and putative function of gene transcripts accumulated during fruit development. Comparative transcript profiling allowed the identification of differentially expressed genes with potential relevance in regulating the fruit metabolism and phenolic content during ripening.</p

    Biliopancreatic diversion: long-term effects on gonadal function in severely obese men

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    Background This study investigated hormonal parameters of gonadal function in severely obese men before and 1 year after undergoing biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). Methods This observational 1-year postoperative study conducted at medical and surgical clinics at an academic medical center in Italy followed 20 severely obese men age 21 to 63 years, with a mean (± standard deviation) body mass index (BMI) of 47.3 ± 13.1. The following parameters were evaluated: body composition, using body impedance analysis (BIA), and serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), total testosterone, estradiol 17ÎČ, and leptin. Results At a mean 12 ± 1 months after surgery, the patients showed a significant decrease in weight, from 132.1 ± 36.9 before surgery to 93.5 ± 20 kg (P &lt; .0001), and BMI, from 47.3 ± 13.1 before surgery to 33.5 ± 7 (P &lt; .0001). LH increased from 2.42 ± 1.59 to 4.97 ± 2.6 mIU/ml (P &lt; .0001), FSH increased from 2.85 ± 1.85 to 4.9 ± 4.2 mIU/mL (P = .021), and total testosterone increased from subnormal presurgical values to within normal range (2.81 ± 1.08 to 9.12 ± 1.37 ng/mL; P &lt; .0001), whereas estradiol 17ÎČ decreased from elevated basal levels of 44.0 ± 29 to 16.7 ± 6.9 pg/mL (P &lt; .0001). The basal leptin level dropped from 33.0 ± 9.23 to 16.6 ± 5.12 ng/mL (P &lt; .0001), reflecting the decrease in body fat. Subjective improvement in sexual performance was reported by 80% of patients. Conclusions Severe obesity is coupled with some significant alterations of the gonadotropin-testicular axis and estradiol 17ÎČ and leptin blood levels. These derangements were substantially corrected by 1 year after BPD

    Bone turnover markers in severely obese eumenorrhoic women undergoing bariatric surgery

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    Background and aims: a) To evaluate alterations in the circulating levels of osteocalcin (OC, a marker of osteoblastic activity) and carboxy terminal cross-linked telopeptide (ICTP, an indicator of osteoclastic function) in severely obese women under baseline conditions and after bariatric malabsorptive surgery (biliopancreatic diversion, BPD); b) To define any correlation between these parameters and some of the hormones involved in regulating bone metabolism: parathyroid hormone (PTH), gonadal and adrenal steroids, and leptin. Methods: Design: Observational, 2-year postoperative study. Participants: Fifteen severely obese, eumenorrhoic women aged 25-43 years. Measurements: Determination of body composition using body impedance analysis (BIA), and serum levels of OC, ICTP, PTH, leptin (L), estradiol 17ÎČ (E2), progesterone (P) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Results: The results are expressed as mean values ±SEM. Twenty-four months (±3 months) post-surgery, all of the patients showed a significant reduction in the BMI (from 46.5±2.5 to 36.2±1.6) and fat mass (from 44.1±0.8 to 37.1±0.9) (p&lt;0.001). OC increased from 12±3.2 to 37.5± 5.2 ng/ml (p&lt;0.0001) and ICTP from 6.2±0.7 to 14.9±1.9 ÎŒg/l (p&lt;0.0001), and the high baseline leptin levels of 48.7±6.4 decreased to 19.9± 3.0 ng/ml (p&lt;0.0001). There were no statistically significant changes in PTH, E2, P or DHEAS. Conclusions: Two years after bariatric surgery, the weight loss in our patients was accompanied by an increase in the serum levels of two circulating bone turnover markers OC and ICTP. As there were no significant changes in PTH or steroid status, these findings may be related to the reduction in circulating L, which may play a direct role in regulating skeletal metabolism.</br

    Development and validation of a scoring system to predict response to obeticholic acid in primary biliary cholangitis

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    Background & aims: Obeticholic acid (OCA) is the only licensed second-line therapy for primary biliary cholangitis (PBC). With novel therapeutics in advanced development, clinical tools are needed to tailor the treatment algorithm. We aimed to derive and externally validate the OCA response score (ORS) for predicting the response probability of individuals with PBC to OCA. Methods: We used data from the Italian RECAPITULATE (N 441) and the IBER-PBC (N 244) OCA real-world prospective cohorts to derive/validate a score including widely available variables obtained either pre-treatment (ORS), or also after 6 months of treatment (ORS+). Multivariable Cox's regressions with backward selection were applied to obtain parsimonious predictive models. The predicted outcomes were biochemical response according to POISE (ALP/ULN<1.67 with a reduction of at least 15%, and normal bilirubin), or ALP/ULN<1.67, or NORMAL RANGE criteria (NR: normal ALP, ALT and bilirubin) up to 24 months. Results: Depending on the response criteria, ORS included age, pruritus, cirrhosis, ALP/ULN, ALT/ULN, GGT/ULN and bilirubin. ORS+ also included ALP/ULN and bilirubin after 6 months of OCA therapy. Internally validated c-statistics for ORS were of 0.75, 0.78 and 0.72 for POISE, ALP/ULN<1.67 and NR response, which raised to 0.83, 0.88, 0.81 with ORS+, respectively. The respective performances in validation were of 0.70, 0.72 and 0.71 for ORS, and 0.80, 0.84, 0.78 for ORS+. Results were consistent across groups with mild/severe disease. Conclusions: We developed and externally validated a scoring system capable to predict OCA response according to different criteria. This tool will enhance a stratified second-line therapy model to streamline standard care and trial delivery in PBC

    Prevention of congenital malformations and other adverse pregnancy outcomes with 4.0 mg of folic acid: Community-based randomized clinical trial in Italy and the Netherlands

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    Intraplate magmatism at a convergent plate boundary: The case of the Cenozoic northern Adria magmatism

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