Mechanochemistry Frees Thiourea Dioxide (TDO) from the ‘Veils’ of Solvent, Exposing All Its Reactivity

The synthesis of nitrogen-based heterocycles has always been considered essential in developing pharmaceuticals in medicine and agriculture. This explains why various synthetic approaches have been proposed in recent decades. However performing as methods, they often imply harsh conditions or the employment of toxic solvents and dangerous reagents. Mechanochemistry is undoubtedly one of the most promising technologies currently used for reducing any possible environmental impact, addressing the worldwide interest in counteracting environmental pollution. Following this line, we propose a new mechanochemical protocol for synthesizing various heterocyclic classes by exploiting thiourea dioxide (TDO)'s reducing proprieties and electrophilic nature. Simultaneously exploiting the low cost of a component of the textile industry such as TDO and all the advantages brought by a green technique such as mechanochemistry, we plot a route towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly methodology for preparing heterocyclic moieties

PRELIMINARY CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF TUNISIN MONOVARIETAL VIRGIN OLIVE OILS AND COMPARISON WITH SICILIAN ONES.

Work was carried out on the characterization of monovarietal virgin olive oils (VOO) from Tunisia and Sicily (Italy). The two main Tunisian VOO (cvv. Ch\ue9toui of the North and cv. Chemlali grown in the Center and some regions of the South) and three principal Sicilian VOO (cvv. Nocellara del Belice, Biancolilla and Cerasuola) were studied. Moreover, the Ch\ue9toui oils were tested in a rain-fed control and an irrigation regime. All olive samples were picked at three different stages of ripeness. Analyses of major components (fatty acids and triacylglycerols) and minor ones (squalene, tocopherols and phenolic compounds) were carried out. Ch\ue9toui oils had a higher level of phenolic compounds followed by Chemlali. Generally, in the Sicilian oils these natural antioxidant contents were lower. These preliminary results indicate that it was possible to classify the Tunisian and Sicilian oils tested in their original growing area based on their chemical composition

UNAFLOW project: UNsteady Aerodynamics of FLOating Wind turbines

UNAFLOW (UNsteady Aerodynamics for Floating Wind) is a joint EU-IRPWIND founded experiment on wind turbine rotor unsteady aerodynamics. It brings together four different academic contributors: Energy research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN), DTU Wind Energy, University of Stuttgart (USTUTT) and Politecnico di Milano (PoliMi) sharing knowledge both in numerical modelling and in experimental tests design, allowing direct numerical and experimental comparison. The experimental tests carried out for UNAFLOW are of the same type of the ones carried out during the ongoing EU H2020 project LIFES50+ [1], regarding both the unsteady behaviour of the 2d blade section and the entire turbine rotor, although with improved setup and wider test matrix. The project partners are already currently jointly collaborating in the AVATAR project [2], developing and validating numerical models of different accuracy level. The numerical models used in the UNALFOW project range from engineering tool (eg. BEM) to high fidelity CFD methods. Numerical simulations are used both in the design of experiment phase and in the results analysis allowing for an in depth understanding of the experimental findings through advanced modelling approach. The UNAFLOW project, together with a new understanding of the unsteady behaviour of the turbine rotor aerodynamics, will provide also an open database to be shared among the scientific community for future analysis and new models validation

Metabolomics analysis of plasma samples of patients with fibromyalgia and electromagnetic sensitivity using GC–MS technique

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic and systemic condition that causes widespread chronic pain, asthenia, and muscle stiffness, as well as in some cases depression, anxiety, and disorders of the autonomic system. The exact causes that lead to the development of FM are still unknown today. In a percentage of individuals, the symptoms of FM are often triggered and/or exacerbated by proximity to electrical and electromagnetic devices. Plasma metabolomic profile of 54 patients with fibromyalgia and self-reported electromagnetic sensitivity (IEI-EMF) were compared to 23 healthy subjects using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) coupled with multivariate statistical analysis techniques. Before the GC-MS analysis the plasma samples were extracted with a modified Folch method and then derivatized with methoxamine hydrochloride in pyridine solution and N-trimethylsilyltrifuoroacetamide. The combined analysis allowed to identify a metabolomic profile able of distinguishing IEI-EMF patients and healthy subjects. IEI-EMF patients were therefore characterized by the alteration of 19 metabolites involved in different metabolic pathways such as energy metabolism, muscle, and pathways related to oxidative stress defense and chronic pain. The results obtained in this study complete the metabolomic "picture" previously investigated on the same cohort of IEI-EMF patients with 1H-NMR spectroscopy, placing a further piece for better understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms in patients with IEI-EMF

Bioassay-guided identification of the antiproliferative compounds of cissus trifoliata and the transcriptomic effect of resveratrol in prostate cancer pc3 cells

The bioassay-guided fractionation of a CHCl3-MeOH extract from the stems of Cissus trifo-liata identified an active fraction against PC3 prostate cancer cells. The treatment for 24 h showed an 80% reduction in cell viability (p ≤ 0.05) by a WST-1 assay at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. The HPLC-QTOF-MS analysis of the fraction showed the presence of coumaric and isoferulic acids, apigenin, kaempferol, chrysoeriol, naringenin, ursolic and betulinic acids, hexadecadienoic and octadecadienoic fatty acids, and the stilbene resveratrol. The exposure of PC3 cells to resveratrol (IC25 = 23 µg/mL) for 24 h induced significant changes in 847 genes (Z-score ≥ ±2). The functional classification tool of the DAVID v6.8 platform indicates that the underlying molecular mechanisms against the proliferation of PC3 cells were associated (p ≤ 0.05) with the process of differentiation and metabolism. These findings provide experimental evidence suggesting the potential of C. trifoliata as a promising natural source of anticancer compounds

HPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS and HPLC-FLD-MS as valuable tools for the determination of phenolic and other polar compounds in the edible part and by-products of avocado

Avocado is a tropical fruit increasingly cultivated around the world due to global interest and rising consumption. Thus, there is also a surge in avocado by-products that needs assessment. The aim of this work is to compare the phenolic profile of avocado pulp, peel and seed when the fruit is at optimal ripeness for consumption and when overripe. Two analytical techniques were used: (1) HPLC-DAD-ESI-QTOF-MS was used for the first time to determine phenolic and other polar compounds in avocado peel and seed. Phenolic compounds quantified with these methods were in higher concentration in overripe than in pulp and seed of optimally ripe fruit. (2) HPLC-FLD-MS was used to specifically determine flavan-3-ols. Procyanidins to degree of polymerization 13 have been quantified singularly here for the first time. In addition, A- and B-type procyanidins from the degree of polymerization 2 to 6 were differentiated and quantified. The procyanidin concentration increased after ripening probably due to the release of tannins linked to cell-wall structures. Because of this situation and the presence of A-type procyanidins, avocado peel and seed from overripe fruit, the main by-products of avocado processing, hold interest for developing functional foods, nutraceuticals and cosmetics

Trimethyl chitosan hydrogel nanoparticles for progesterone delivery in neurodegenerative disorders

Progesterone is a sex hormone which shows neuroprotective effects in different neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. However, the pharmacokinetic limitations associated with the peripheral administration of this molecule highlight the need for more efficient delivery approaches to increase brain progesterone levels. Since the nose-to-brain administration of mucoadhesive hydrogel nanoparticles is a non-invasive and convenient strategy for the delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system, in this work, progesterone-loaded hydrogel nanoparticle formulations have been prepared, characterized, and tested in vivo. Nanoparticles, loaded with different progesterone concentrations, have been obtained by polyelectrolyte complex formation between trimethyl chitosan and sodium alginate, followed by ionotropic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate as a cross-linking agent. All formulations showed a mean diameter ranging from 200 nm to 236 nm, a polydispersity index smaller than 0.23, and a high progesterone encapsulation efficiency (83–95%). The zeta potential values were all positive and greater than 28 mV, thus ensuring nanoparticles stability against aggregation phenomena as well as interaction with negative sialic residues of the nasal mucosa. Finally, in vivo studies on Sprague–Dawley male rats demonstrated a 5-fold increase in brain progesterone concentrations compared to basal progesterone level after 30 min of hydrogel nanoparticle inhalation

The role of Italy in the use of advanced plant breeding techniques on fruit trees: state of the art and future perspectives

Climate change is deeply impacting the food chain production, lowering quality and yield. In this context, the international scientific community has dedicated many efforts to enhancing resilience and sustainability in agriculture. Italy is among the main European producers of several fruit trees; therefore, national research centers and universities undertook several initiatives to maintain the specificity of the ‘Made in Italy’ label. Despite their importance, fruit crops are suffering from difficulties associated with the conventional breeding approaches, especially in terms of financial commitment, land resources availability, and long generation times. The ‘new genomic techniques’ (NGTs), renamed in Italy as ‘technologies for assisted evolution’ (TEAs), reduce the time required to obtain genetically improved cultivars while precisely targeting specific DNA sequences. This review aims to illustrate the role of the Italian scientific community in the use of NGTs, with a specific focus on Citrus, grapevine, apple, pear, chestnut, strawberry, peach, and kiwifruit. For each crop, the key genes and traits on which the scientific community is working, as well as the technological improvements and advancements on the regeneration of local varieties, are presented. Lastly, a focus is placed on the legal aspects in the European and in Italian context

Do Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics Influence Serum Levels of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in People with Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder?

Schizophrenia (SCZ) and schizoaffective disorder (SAD) are severe and complex psychiatric disorders whose liability threshold is modulated by the interplay of biological, mainly genetic, and environmental factors. Consistent evidence has pointed to the role of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a plausible illness biomarker in SCZ spectrum disorders. There is no consensus, however, on the temporal trajectory of this decline. Here, we present a secondary analysis of the Longitudinal Assessment of BDNF in Sardinian Psychotic patients (LABSP) study, focusing on the impact of antipsychotic therapy, particularly long-acting injectable (LAI), on the longitudinal trajectory of serum BDNF levels and analyzing the effect of BDNF genetic variants. LABSP patients were assessed every 6 months for a series of measures, including the assessment of BDNF serum levels over 24 months. Blood samples for each patient were taken at the same time of the day (between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.). BDNF serum levels were determined using the BDNF ELISA Kit. Four tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the BDNF gene (rs1519480, rs11030104, rs6265 [Val66Met], and rs7934165) were selected using standard parameters and analyzed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mixed-effects linear regression models (MLRMs) were used to analyze longitudinal data. Twenty-four patients out of 105 LABSP (22.9%) patients received therapy with LAI. Analysis with MLRM showed a significant effect of LAI treatment associated with increasing serum BDNF levels (Z=2.2, p=0.02). However, oral antipsychotics did not significantly impact the longitudinal trajectory of serum BDNF levels (Z=0.15, p=0.9). There was no moderating effect of variants within the BDNF gene on the identified association. We identified a significant longitudinal increase in serum BDNF in SCZ and SAD patients treated with LAI antipsychotic therapy. The significant impact of this preparation of antipsychotic treatment on serum BDNF, despite the limited sample size, points to a moderate to large magnitude of effect that should be investigated in future prospective studies