Effect of Interspecific Yeast Hybrids for Secondary In-Bottle Alcoholic Fermentation of English Sparkling Wines

In sparkling winemaking, only a few yeast strains are regularly used for the secondary in-bottle alcoholic fermentation (SiBAF). Recently, advances in yeast development programs have yielded new breeds of interspecific wine yeast hybrids that ferment efficiently while producing novel flavors and aromas. In this work, the chemical and sensorial impacts of the use of interspecific yeast hybrids for SiBAF were studied using three commercial English base wines prepared for SiBAF using two commercial and four novel interspecific hybrids. After 12 months of lees aging, the chemical and macromolecular composition, phenolic profile, foaming, viscosity and sensory properties of the resulting 13 wines were assessed. Chemically, the yeast strains did not result in significant differences in the main wine parameters, while some differences in their macromolecular contents and sensory characteristics were noticeable. The foamability was mostly unaffected by the strain used; however, some effect on the foam stability was noticeable, likely due to the differences in polysaccharides released into the wines by the yeast strains. The wines exhibited different sensory characteristics in terms of aroma and bouquet, balance, finish, overall liking and preference, but these were mostly attributable to the differences in the base wines rather than the strain used for SiBAF. Novel interspecific yeast hybrids can be used for the elaboration of sparkling wines, as they provided wines with chemical characteristics, flavor and aroma attributes similar to those of commonly used commercial Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains

Governing Boards and Profound Organizational Change in Hospitals

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/69047/2/10.1177_107755878904600204.pd

Switching to dual/monotherapy determines an increase in CD8+ in HIV-infected individuals: An observational cohort study

Background: The CD4/CD8 ratio has been associated with the risk of AIDS and non-AIDS events. We describe trends in immunological parameters in people who underwent a switch to monotherapy or dual therapy, compared to a control group remaining on triple antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: We included patients in Icona who started a three-drug combination ART regimen from an ART-naïve status and achieved a viral load ≤ 50 copies/mL; they were subsequently switched to another triple or to a mono or double regimen. Standard linear regression at fixed points in time (12-24 months after the switch) and linear mixed model analysis with random intercepts and slopes were used to compare CD4 and CD8 counts and their ratio over time according to regimen types (triple vs. dual and vs. mono). Results: A total of 1241 patients were included; 1073 switched to triple regimens, 104 to dual (72 with 1 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), 32 NRTI-sparing), and 64 to monotherapy. At 12 months after the switch, for the multivariable linear regression the mean change in the log10 CD4/CD8 ratio for patients on dual therapy was -0.03 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.05, -0.0002), and the mean change in CD8 count was +99 (95% CI +12.1, +186.3), taking those on triple therapy as reference. In contrast, there was no evidence for a difference in CD4 count change. When using all counts, there was evidence for a significant difference in the slope of the ratio and CD8 count between people who were switched to triple (points/year change ratio = +0.056, CD8 = -25.7) and those to dual regimen (ratio = -0.029, CD8 = +110.4). Conclusions: We found an increase in CD8 lymphocytes in people who were switched to dual regimens compared to those who were switched to triple. Patients on monotherapy did not show significant differences. The long-term implications of this difference should be ascertained

Gender differences in the use of cardiovascular interventions in HIV-positive persons; the D:A:D Study

Peer reviewe

ACE and PAI-1 gene polymorphisms in renal transplant recipients.

Extracellular matrix accumulation in renal tissue is the hallmark of progressive renal function loss in a variety of renal diseases, including renal allograft. Several studies have recently suggested a role for both the Renin-Angiotensin (RAS) and the Fibrinolytic System as modulators of extracellular matrix turnover. We investigated whether the genetic polymorphisms of the RAS components (insertion/deletion: I/D polymorphism of the Angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) gene) and genetic polymorphisms of the Fibrinolytic System (insertion/deletion: 4G/5G polymorphism of the plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene could have any influence on kidney graft survival in a recipient cohort. DNA was extracted from 130 adult recipients (mean age 49 years) who reached a minimum of one year GS (mean follow-up 5.25 +/- 3.64 years) after receiving a kidney graft in our center. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was utilized for ACE and PAI-1 genotyping. Our results have shown that: 1. actuarial graft survival at 5 and 10 years in recipients with ACE/II genotype was lightly higher although not reaching the statistical significance (p <0.4, p<0.06, respectively) than in recipients with ACE/DD genotype (88% vs 86% and 72% vs 55%, respectively); 2. actuarial graft survival at 5 and 10 years in recipients with PAI-1/4G5G genotype was higher than in recipients with PAI-1/4G4G and PAI-1/5G5G genotype (89% vs 81% vs 82% and 77% vs 45% vs 49%, respectively, with 4G5G genotype vs 4G4G genotype, p< 0.04); this observation indicated for 4G4G group a worse outcome in long term graft survival. In conclusion, the association of ACE/DD genotype with homozygosity in PAI-1 gene polymorphism seems to influence negatively the long-term kidney graft survival, thus suggesting a crucial role of a genetic environment in the progression of chronic kidney graft damage