Comparative Study of SPA Mud from "Bacino Idrominerario Omogeneo dei Colli Euganei (B.I.O.C.E.)-Italy" and Industrially Optimized Mud for Skin Applications

The term "Salus per aquam (SPA) therapies" refers to therapeutic pathways that includes mud therapy. The therapeutic efficacy of a peloid depends on its chemical and mineralogical composition, as well as its technological properties. Considering the increasing use of clay-based products, it becomes essential to characterize peloids from a qualitative and quantitative point of view. Therefore, this research project aimed to develop a protocol that allows characterization of the chemical-physical composition of sludges collected from different areas of the Homogeneous Euganean Hills Hydromineral Basin (B.I.O.C.E.). The study established a comparative study both between different matrices and between the same matrices at different maturation times, including also a comparison with an industrialized product, that can be used at home, which maintains the characteristics of a natural mud. This research was developed studying the pH, grain size distribution, and chemical and mineralogical composition. Peloids are characterized by a neutral/basic pH and are divided into two categories from a granulometric point of view: The chemical composition allowed observation of numerous correlations between oxides present in the samples and to quantify the presence of heavy metals. Mineralogical analysis made it possible to identify and compare the composition of each sample, also according to the maturation time. Thanks to the methods adopted, important correlations were achieved

Up-Cycling of Olea europaea L. Ancient Cultivars Side Products: Study of a Combined Cosmetic-Food Supplement Treatment Based on Leaves and Olive Mill Wastewater Extracts

In recent years, a reversal of the global economic framework has been taking place: from the linear model, there has been a gradual transition to a circular model where by-products from the agri-food industry are taken and transformed into value products (upcycling) rather than being disposed of. Olive tree pruning represents an important biomass currently used for combustion; however, the leaf part of the olive tree is rich in phenolic substances, including hydroxytyrosol. Mill wastewater is also discarded, but it still contains high amounts of hydroxytyrosol. In this study, cosmetic and food supplement formulations were prepared using biophenols extracted from leaves and wastewater and were tested in a placebo-controlled study on healthy volunteers using a combined cosmetic and food supplement treatment. A significant improvement in skin health indicators (collagen density, elasticity, etc.) and a 17% improvement against Photo-induced Irritative Stimulus was observed

The Grizzly, March 3, 1992

Buchanan vs. Bush: The Republican Race Heats Up • Tensions Continue to Run High in Middle East • Tri-Lambda • U.S.G.A. Minutes • Comedy and Harmony Interspersed in Lower Lounge • The Gung-ho Guardians • Clifford Jordan Quintet Performs • Movie Review: Naked Gun 2 1/2 • Walk a Mile for Understanding • Letters: Responses to Airband Controversy; What\u27s Up Zack\u27s • Flannery Going to Nationals • Derstine, Swimmers Strong at MACs • Lady Hoopsters Lose Tough Onehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1292/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 11, 1992

Lorene Cary Speaks on Diversity in America • The XVI Winter Olympics Begin in Albertville • Healthy Dieting • Berman Exhibit • Volkmer Wins Contest • A New Beat for an Old Measure • A Guide to That Perfect Night Out • We Have a Winner • Sculpture Update • Movie Review: City Slickers • Corson Creatures • CAB Comedian Shocks and Thrills Crowd • 5th Avenue a Cappella Coming Soon • Take Good Care of My Baby • Leadership • Letter: Term Limitations - A Change in the System • Wrestling Takes Down Competition • Swimmers Make Waves • Men\u27s Basketball Bounces by Johns Hopkins • Lady Bears Dribble to Victoryhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1289/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, February 4, 1992

\u2792 Enrollment Promising • Iraq: One Year Later • Famed Author to Speak • Spend a Year in Scotland • U.S.G.A. Minutes • Chez Wismer • Dave Binder Returns • The Library\u27s Functional Art: The Bearkeeper • Blockbuster Hits Coming to Wismer: Terminator & T2 • Sams Exhibit Opens • Psychic Madman Amazes and Entertains • Roger Guenveur Smith to Perform in Lower Lounge • Two New Sculptures Grace Campus • No Term Limitations • Don\u27t Bash Criticism • Letter: $0.50 Pool • Year in Review • Ursinus Gets Pinned By Muhlenberg • Rypien: Mark of Excellence • Men Hoopsters Net Losses • Aquamen Swim Upstream • Lady \u27Mers Win Three in a Row • Gymnasts Tumble Into Action • Lady Bears Back on Track • Step Aerobics Class to be Offered • Medieval Sports Festival Cominghttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1288/thumbnail.jp

Estrazione, caratterizzazione chimica e valorizzazione di H. italicum, H. stoechas e funghi medicinali per applicazioni cosmetiche e nutraceutiche

Il presente progetto di dottorato di ricerca, in convenzione con Valpharma International S.p.A., è finalizzato all’ottenimento di estratti e biomolecole di elevata qualità, a partire da funghi medicinali ed erbe officinali marecchiesi, mediante l’utilizzo di processi ad alto livello tecnologico, elevata sostenibilità e ridotto impatto ambientale. Tra le piante che crescono spontaneamente in Valmarecchia (RN), Helichrysum italicum è stato selezionato come oggetto di studio, in quanto negli ultimi anni è emerso il potenziale delle specie appartenenti al genere Helichrysum. Inoltre, è stato scelto di indagare una seconda specie appartenente a questo genere, Helichrysum stoechas, in modo da avere un elemento di confronto rispetto ad H. italicum, ma anche per ampliare la conoscenza su questa specie, di cui vi è scarsa letteratura scientifica. Per quanto riguarda i funghi medicinali, sono state selezionate tre specie: Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus e Ganoderma lucidum, delle quali è stato valutato il contenuto in polifenoli e in beta-glucani. Per ogni specie sono stati realizzati diversi estratti, utilizzando metodiche di estrazione con solvente. Il profilo fitochimico e l’attività antiossidante degli estratti ottenuti sono stati studiati in termini qualitativi e quantitativi mediante l’applicazione di varie metodiche, ovvero HPLC, PCL e i saggi di Folin-Ciocâlteau, FRAP e DPPH. Dai risultati è emerso che gli estratti con una maggiore attività antiossidante sono gli estratti glicerico, glicolico e con 1,3-propanediolo. Tali analisi sono state condotte anche su estratti commerciali di H. italicum e G. lucidum, con il fine di confrontarne le proprietà con i rispettivi estratti ottenuti in laboratorio; questi ultimi hanno dimostrato di avere un’attività antiossidante superiore ai rispettivi estratti commerciali. Per quanto riguarda il genere Helichrysum, gli estratti a base di H. italicum sono caratterizzati da un maggiore potere antiossidante rispetto a quelli di H. stoechas. Successivamente allo studio sistematico degli estratti, è stata caratterizzata la porzione volatile di H. italicum ed H. stoechas. Gli oli essenziali, ottenuti mediante un processo di idrodistillazione, sono stati iniettati in GC-MS per ottenere dati qualitativi e quantitativi sulla loro composizione fitochimica. La collaborazione con diversi gruppi di ricerca ha reso possibile la valorizzazione dell’elicriso marecchiese: sono state condotte numerose analisi (XRF, EA-IRMS, ICP-QQQ-MS), che consentissero di approfondire le conoscenze e le differenze tra l’elicriso autoctono e quello commerciale. In particolare, è stata condotta la caratterizzazione geochimica ed isotopica dei suoli e delle sommità fiorite di H. italicum proveniente da 7 località comprese nel territorio della Valmarecchia ed è stata effettuata la valutazione della variabilità genetica di 12 campioni di elicriso di diversa provenienza, mediante l’utilizzo di marcatori ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats). Infine, il progetto è stato finalizzato a valutare la possibile applicazione cosmetica di alcuni degli estratti botanici ottenuti a partire da H. italicum, H. stoechas e G. lucidum. Constatato il crescente interesse dei consumatori verso i prodotti cosmetici naturali ed ecosostenibili, è in atto un’intensa ricerca di materie prime di origine vegetale che permettano di ottenere ingredienti cosmetici eco-friendly da inserire all’interno di cosmetici naturali ed ecosostenibili. Per questo motivo, per fornire un esempio pratico di una possibile applicazione cosmetica degli estratti ottenuti, sono state formulate delle emulsioni O/A caratterizzate con gli estratti che hanno mostrato una maggiore attività antiossidante. Le emulsioni sono state poi sottoposte ad uno studio di stabilità della durata di tre mesi e all’analisi PCL per valutare la stabilità antiossidante degli estratti all’interno della formulazione cosmetica nel tempo.This Ph.D. project, in agreement with Valpharma International S.p.A., is aimed at obtaining high-quality extracts and biomolecules from medicinal mushrooms and officinal herbs from the Marecchia Valley, through the use of high-tech, high sustainable and low environmental impact processes. Among the plants wild growing in the Marecchia Valley (RN), Helichrysum italicum was selected as the object of this study, as in recent years the potential of this species has emerged. In addition, a second species belonging to this genus, Helichrysum stoechas, was chosen to be investigated with the aim of getting a comparison with H. italicum, as well as for expanding knowledge about this species, for which there a limited scientific literature is available. As regards for medicinal mushrooms, three species were selected: Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus and Ganoderma lucidum, and their polyphenol and beta-glucan contents evaluated. Several extracts were made for each species, using solvent extraction methods. The phytochemical profile and antioxidant activity of these extracts have been examined qualitatively and quantitatively by applying various methods, namely HPLC, PCL, and the Folin-Ciocâlteau, FRAP, and DPPH assays. The results showed that the extracts with higher antioxidant activity were the glyceric, glycolic, and 1,3-propanediol extracts. These analyses were also conducted on commercial extracts of H. italicum and G. lucidum in order to compare their featuring with the respective extracts obtained in the laboratory; the latter were shown to have higher antioxidant activity than the respective commercial extracts. As for the genus Helichrysum, extracts based on H. italicum have higher antioxidant power than those of H. stoechas. Following the systematic study of the extracts, the volatile portion of H. italicum and H. stoechas was characterized. The essential oils, obtained by a hydrodistillation process, were injected into GC-MS to obtain qualitative and quantitative data on their phytochemical composition. By collaborating with different research groups it has been possible to enhance the Marecchia's helichrysum: several analyses (XRF, EA-IRMS, ICP-QQQ-MS) were conducted, allowing to deepen the knowledge and differences between native and commercial helichrysum. In particular, the geochemical and isotopic characterization of soils and flowering tops of H. italicum from 7 localities within the Valmarecchia area was conducted, and the genetic variability of 12 helichrysum samples from different origins was evaluated using ISSR (Inter Simple Sequence Repeats) markers. Finally, the project was aimed at evaluating the possible cosmetic application of some of the botanical extracts obtained from H. italicum, H. stoechas and G. lucidum. Noting the growing consumer interest in natural and environmentally sustainable cosmetic products, there is an increasingly research for raw materials of plant origin that allow eco-friendly cosmetic ingredients to be included in natural and environmentally sustainable cosmetics. Therefore, to provide a practical example for a possible cosmetic application of the obtained extracts, O/W emulsions characterized with the extracts that showed higher antioxidant activity were formulated. The emulsions were then subjected to a three-month stability study and PCL analysis to assess the antioxidant stability of the extracts within the cosmetic formulation over time

Parametri di disfunzione diastolica e di rimodellamento cardiaco in relazione al sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterone in una popolazione bietnica di pazienti ipertesi

Background. Arterial hypertension is a high prevalence condition, interesting about the 40% of European population. It has high morbidity and mortality, driven by the deleterious consequences it determines on the whole-body system, in particular against target organs, mainly the heart. At the cardiac level, it causes left ventricular remodelling and hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction and finally transition to heart failure. The role of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in the pathogenesis of hypertension-mediated cardiac damage, is well understood in preclinical models, both at the molecular and cellular levels, in animal models and clinically in the patients affected by primary aldosteronism. However clinical studies on its role in essential hypertension are limited and inconclusive. As well, ethnic differences on damage mechanisms are not well understood, and they could explain the ethnic differences of hypertension, which is particularly severe in African ancestry patients. Objectives and Methods. The scope of this study, which is multicentric and retrospective, is to evaluate the relationship between hypertension-mediated cardiac damage and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in a biethnic population of hypertensive patients. We performed a comprehensive clinical evaluation, laboratory characterization with basal renin and aldosterone plasma concentration and comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography examination, particularly with the evaluation of left ventricular remodelling and hypertrophy and diastolic function. Results. We enrolled 571 hypertensive patients stratified by self-defined ethnicity (SDE) score in African origin (n = 274) and Caucasian origin (n = 297). The duration of hypertension was similar in the two groups, 4±5.6 years among African origin patients and 4.8±5.4 years among Caucasian origin patients, while mean pressure values was higher among African patients (155/95 mmHg vs 140/88 mmHg, p<0,001) who was less frequently on antihypertensive therapy (47% vs 72%, p<0,001) and who showed higher left ventricular mass (LVMI = 99,3±24,75 g/m2 vs 89,69±21,67 g/m2, p=0,004), higher RWT (0,50±0,11 vs 0,39±0,05, p<0,001) and higher filling pressure (E/e’ = 9,25±2,67 vs 7,99±2,31, p<0,001). In the African subgroup, the univariate analysis showed that plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) correlate with E/e’ (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = 0,163, p=0,009) and with LVMI (Pearson’s correlation coefficient di Pearson r = 0,159, p=0,007). The relationship between PAC and E/e’ was still significant (β=0,159, con p=0,013) even when adjusting for common confounding factors in the multivariate analysis, and so was the relationship between PAC and LVMI (β=0,130, con p=0.038). In the Caucasian subgroup, we unveiled that PAC doesn’t correlate with LVMI (p=0,446), and although E/e’ seemed to correlate with PAC during the univariate analysis (r = -0,139, p=0,016), this relationship was not significant when adjusting for common confounding factors in the multivariate analysis (p=0,318) Conclusions. PAC values significantly correlates with left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in hypertensive African origin patients even after adjusting for common confounding factors. Otherwise, these relationships were not significant in hypertensive Caucasian patients. Whether these correlations could be explained considering the several intrinsic limitations of this study, deservers further investigation.   Background. L’ipertensione arteriosa è una patologia ad altissima prevalenza, interessa infatti il 40% della popolazione europea, ed è gravata da elevate morbilità e mortalità mediante le conseguenze nefaste che induce a livello sistemico e in particolare contro alcuni organi target, in primis il cuore. A livello cardiaco induce rimodellamento e ipertrofia del ventricolo sinistro, disfunzione diastolica ed infine evoluzione verso lo scompenso cardiaco. Il ruolo del sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterone nella patogenesi del danno d’organo cardiaco mediato dall’ipertensione risulta determinante secondo modelli preclinici a livello molecolare e cellulare, in modelli animali e nel paziente affetto da iperaldosteronismo primitivo, tuttavia gli studi clinici sul suo ruolo nel paziente con ipertensione essenziale rimangono limitati. Inoltre, nelle varie etnie, differenze patogenetiche nei meccanismi di danno potrebbero spiegare il diverso impatto dell’ipertensione, che è particolarmente severa nei pazienti di origine africana. Obiettivi e Metodi. Lo scopo di questo studio, multicentrico retrospettivo, è quindi di investigare la relazione tra il danno cardiaco ipertensivo e il sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterone in una popolazione bietnica di pazienti ipertesi. Tutti i pazienti sono stati sottoposti a valutazione clinica completa, esami ematochimici comprensivi di studio ormonale con renina e aldosterone basali e valutazione con ecocardiografia transtoracica in particolare dei parametri di rimodellamento e ipertrofia ventricolare sinistra e di disfunzione diastolica. Risultati. Abbiamo arruolato 571 pazienti affetti da ipertensione arteriosa e li abbiamo stratificati, sulla base della self defined ethnicty (SDE), in soggetti di origine africana (n = 274) o caucasica (n = 297). La durata dell’ipertensione è simile nei due gruppi, 4±5.6 anni tra gli Africani e 4.8±5.4 anni tra i Caucasici, mentre i valori pressori erano maggiori tra gli Africani (155/95 mmHg vs 140/88 mmHg, p<0,001) che erano meno frequentemente in terapia antipertensiva (nel 47% vs 72%, p<0,001) e che presentavano maggior massa ventricolare sinistra (LVMI = 99,3±24,75 g/m2 vs 89,69±21,67 g/m2, p=0,004), maggior RWT (0,50±0,11 vs 0,39±0,05, p<0,001) e maggiori pressioni di riempimento (E/e’ = 9,25±2,67 vs 7,99±2,31, p<0,001). Nel sottogruppo di pazienti di origine africana, l’analisi di correlazione univariata dimostrava che la concentrazione plasmatica di aldosterone (PAC) correla con l’E/e’ (coefficiente di Pearson r = 0,163 con p=0,009) e con l’LVMI (coefficiente di Pearson r = 0,159 con p=0,007). All’analisi multivariata aggiustando per comuni fattori di confondimento la relazione tra E/e’ ed aldosterone rimaneva significativa (β=0,159, con p=0,013) così come la relazione tra LVMI e aldosterone (β=0,130, con p=0.038). Nel sottogruppo di pazienti di origine caucasica, invece, non si è dimostrata correlazione tra PAC e LVMI (p=0,446), mentre la relazione tra PAC e E/e’ che sembrava significativa all’analisi univariata (r = -0,139 con p=0,016), si è invece mostrata non significativa all’analisi multivariata aggiustando per comuni fattori di confondimento (p=0,318). Conclusioni. Esiste una relazione statisticamente significativa, anche quando aggiustata per comuni fattori di confondimento cardiovascolare, tra i valori di aldosterone plasmatico e i parametri ecocardiografici sia di ipertrofia sia di disfunzione diastolica per quanto riguarda gli ipertesi di origine africana, ma tali relazioni perdono di significatività statistica negli ipertesi di origine caucasica. Tuttavia non possiamo escludere che tale differente relazione possa essere spiegata alla luce delle numerose limitazioni intrinseche al nostro lavoro, per cui saranno necessari ulteriori studi

Hyaluronic acid in the third millennium

Since its first isolation in 1934, hyaluronic acid (HA) has been studied across a variety of research areas. This unbranched glycosaminoglycan consisting of repeating disaccharide units of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid is almost ubiquitous in humans and in other vertebrates. HA is involved in many key processes, including cell signaling, wound reparation, tissue regeneration, morphogenesis, matrix organization and pathobiology, and has unique physico-chemical properties, such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, mucoadhesivity, hygroscopicity and viscoelasticity. For these reasons, exogenous HA has been investigated as a drug delivery system and treatment in cancer, ophthalmology, arthrology, pneumology, rhinology, urology, aesthetic medicine and cosmetics. To improve and customize its properties and applications, HA can be subjected to chemical modifications: conjugation and crosslinking. The present review gives an overview regarding HA, describing its history, physico-chemical, structural and hydrodynamic properties and biology (occurrence, biosynthesis (by hyaluronan synthases), degradation (by hyaluronidases and oxidative stress), roles, mechanisms of action and receptors). Furthermore, both conventional and recently emerging methods developed for the industrial production of HA and its chemical derivatization are presented. Finally, the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications of HA and its derivatives are reviewed, reporting examples of HA-based products that currently are on the market or are undergoing further investigations

Dysregulation of MicroRNA biogenesis in diabetic skin

Clinical skin manifestations are common in diabetes, often being the first sign of the metabolic disorder. Molecular mechanisms underlying such defects are largely unknown. We investigated whether microRNAs (miRNAs), small non coding RNAs regulating gene expression at post-transcriptional level and playing a role in skin homeostasis, are differentially expressed in diabetic and non-diabetic skin. miRNA profiling by microarray analysis was performed on RNA extracted from the skin of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice, a model of type I diabetes. More than 400 different mouse miRNA species were identified; expression analysis revealed a general downmodulation in diabetic skin. In detail, among the 30 most significantly modulated miRNAs, 27 were downregulated and 3 were upregulated in diabetic mice. Pathway analysis using Tarbase showed an enrichment of signature-miRNA target genes related to TGF-beta and Wnt signaling. We investigated whether miRNA alteration in diabetic skin associates with changes in the expression of genes involved in miRNA biogenesis. Dicer1, DCGR8, Drosha, Exportin 5, and Ago2 were analyzed by real time-PCR; all, but Ago2, were expressed at significantly lower levels in the skin of diabetic mice compared to non-diabetic controls. Reduction in selected miRNA expression levels and in miRNA biogenesis genes was confirmed in RNA extracted from the skin of db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetes, in which also Ago2 was significantly reduced. In vitro experiments with human dermal fibroblasts showed that hypoxia (250 mM CoCl2 or 1% O2, for 24 hours), but not hyperglycemia (35 mM D-Glucose, for three weeks), induces Dicer and Drosha downregulation. These findings indicate decreased expression of the majority of modulated miRNAs in diabetic skin associated to reduced levels of genes responsible for miRNA biogenesis, and suggest that miRNA dysregulation is linked to the hypoxic condition of diabetic skin