Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Flavanones from Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) Leaf Phytocomplexes: Identification of Licoflavanone as a Modulator of NF-kB/MAPK Pathway

Inflammation represents an adaptive response generated by injuries or harmful stimuli. Natural remedies represent an interesting alternative to traditional therapies, involving several biochemical pathways. Besides, the valorization of agrochemical wastes nowadays seems to be a feasible way to reduce the health spending and improve the accessibility at bioactive natural compounds. In this context, the chemical composition of three Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (licorice) leaf extracts, obtained through maceration or ultrasound-assisted method (fresh and dried leaves) was investigated. A guided fractionation obtained three main components: pinocembrin, glabranin and licoflavanone. All the extracts showed similar antioxidant properties, evaluated by 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) or 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) Diammonium Salt (ABTS) assay, while, among the isolated compounds, licoflavanone exhibited the best antioxidant activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and the purified compounds was investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Extract C and licoflavanone showed a good anti-inflammatory activity without affecting cell viability, as they decreased nitrite levels even when used at 12.5 μg/mL (p < 0.005) and 50 μM concentration (p < 0.001), respectively. Interestingly, licoflavanone markedly decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase 2/inducible nitric oxide synthase (COX-2/iNOS) expression levels (p < 0.001). A modulation of nuclear factor kappa B/mitogen-activated protein kinases (NF-kB/MAPK) pathway underlay such behavior, highlighting the potential of this natural compound as a new scaffold in anti-inflammatory drug research

Association between one-hour post-load plasma glucose levels and vascular stiffness in essential hypertension

Objectives: Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a surrogate end-point for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A plasma glucose value $155 mg/dl for the 1-hour post-load plasma glucose during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) is able to identify subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) at high-risk for type-2 diabetes (T2D) and for subclinical organ damage. Thus, we addressed the question if 1-hour post-load plasma glucose levels, affects PWV and its central hemodynamic correlates, as augmentation pressure (AP) and augmentation index (AI). Methods: We enrolled 584 newly diagnosed hypertensives. All patients underwent OGTT and measurements of PWV, AP and AI. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by Matsuda-index. Results: Among participants, 424 were NGT and 160 had impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Of 424 NGT, 278 had 1-h postload plasma glucose ,155 mg/dl (NGT,155) and 146 had 1-h post-load plasma glucose$155 mg/dl (NGT$155). NGT$155 had a worse insulin sensitivity and higher hs-CRP than NGT,155, similar to IGT subjects. In addition, NGT $155 in comparison with NGT,155 had higher central systolic blood pressure (134612 vs 131610 mmHg), as well as PWV (8.463.7 vs 6.761.7 m/s), AP (12.567.1 vs 9.865.7 mmHg) and AI (29.4611.9 vs 25.1612.4 regression analysis, 1-h post-load plasma glucose resulted the major determinant of all indices of vascular stiffness. Conclusion: Hypertensive NGT$155 subjects, compared with NGT,155, have higher PWV and its hemodynamic correlates that increase their cardiovascular risk profile

Aiuti di stato: La &#8220;modernizzazione&#8221; del ruolo dello &#8220;Stato finanziatore&#8221; quale motore dello sviluppo dei Servizi di interesse economico generale

Il contributo affronta il tema delle compensazioni per oneri di servizio pubblico analizzando la disciplina europea sugli aiuti di Stato alla luce del pacchetto sulla \u201cmodernizzazione\u201d ed il modo in cui questa possa influire sul ruolo che lo Stato pu\uf2 giocare nell\u2019erogazione dei servizi di interesse economico generale. L\u2019Autore esamina anzitutto le varie modalit\ue0 attraverso cui la Commissione, recependo i precedenti indirizzi giurisprudenziali ed aggiornando i preesistenti riferimenti normativi, valuta le compensazioni per oneri di servizio pubblico, dai criteri Altmark sino al giudizio di compatibilit\ue0 di misure che astrattamente costituiscono un aiuto ai sensi dell\u2019articolo 107, paragrafo 1, Tfue. L\u2019analisi prosegue concentrando l\u2019attenzione sulle disposizioni settoriali del pacchetto sulla modernizzazione lungo due direttrici: da un lato, viene rilevata l\u2019intenzione della Commissione di verificare la compatibilit\ue0 della scelta degli Stati membri di qualificare un servizio come di interesse economico generale; dall\u2019altro, vengono esaminati i limiti entro cui la Commissione stessa anticipa che sia possibile considerare determinate attivit\ue0 quali Sieg e, quindi, in quali casi possano ritenersi adeguate le compensazioni eventualmente erogate dallo Stato. In chiusura viene dunque svolta una breve riflessione circa le ulteriori limitazioni che possano discendere dal rinnovato contesto in materia di aiuti di Stato al ruolo che l\u2019Autorit\ue0 pubblica si pu\uf2 ritagliare nel settore dei servizi di interesse economico generale.The article deals with the issue of compensation for public service obligations, especially in light of the \u201cmodernisation package\u201d. The aim of the contribution is to verify to what extent the application of State aid rules may affect the decisions of public Authorities on the provisioning of such services of general economic interest and, more generally, on the role that public authorities may play in this field. Given the inherent tension between public services and competition law, the Author first examines the various ways in which the Commission tends to consider the compensations for public service obligations in two key areas: measures falling under the Altmark criteria, and measures that constitute an aid under Article 107, paragraph 1, Tfeu. The Author then continues by analysing the provisions of the modernisation package in two main directions: on the one hand he analyses how the Commission intends to scrutinize, and to what extent, the choices of Member States to qualify certain activities as services of general economic interest. On the other side, it is investigated to what extent compensations paid by the State can be considered adequate. The Author traces then some conclusions regarding the limited role that the State is called to play, even in the services of general economic interest

Appalti pubblici (accordo quadro, procedura negoziata, multifornitore) : T.A.R. LAZIO, ROMA, SEZ. III, sentenza 11 aprile 2016, n. 4284

Con la sentenza che si segnala il T.A.R. Lazio si \ue8 pronunciato in merito al giudizio promosso da Telecom Italia S.p.a. avverso la gara indetta dalla Consip S.p.a. con bando in data 23 maggio 2013 per l\u2019aggiudicazione del contratto quadro per l\u2019affidamento dei servizi di connettivit\ue0 nell\u2019ambito del Sistema Pubblico di Connettivit\ue0 (di seguito anche SPC), ai sensi dell\u2019art. 83 del d.lgs. n. 82 del 2005 (Codice dell\u2019Amministrazione Digitale, di seguito anche CAD), in favore delle pubbliche Amministrazioni

State Resources in the Case Law: Imputability Under an Organizational Perspective

Under an organisational perspective, the article analyses the most relevant case law on the criteria of imputability of the resources used to finance aid schemes. The Author\u2019s aim is to assess whether a link may be found between the first requirement set by Article 107(1) TFUE and the way in which Member States organise the use of their public powers. Having classified and analysed the decisions of the European Courts accordingly, the Author concludes highlighting the role, under State aid rules, played by the way in which public bodies are structured

Appalti pubblici (in house providing) : Corte di giustizia dell&#8217;Unione europea, Sez. V, sentenza 19 giugno 2014, causa C-574/12, Centro Hospitalar de Set&#250;bal e SUCH

La sentenza affronta il noto tema degli affidamenti in house, fornendo qualche breve precisazione in ordine al c.d. \u201ccontrollo analogo\u201d ed, in particolare, al tema della partecipazione di privati. Detto requisito costituisce uno dei presupposti essenziali, assieme a quello della prevalenza delle attivit\ue0 in favore dell\u2019Amministrazione controllante, affinch\ue9 possa procedersi ad un affidamento diretto in deroga alle norme europee di evidenza pubblica, secondo il granitico orientamento della giurisprudenza europea inaugurato dalla celebre sentenza Teckal (del 18 novembre 1999, in causa C-107/98)

Appalti Pubblici (offerte anormalmente basse, aiuti di stato) : Corte di Giustizia dell&#8217;Unione Europea, Sez. V, 18 dicembre 2014, causa C-568/13, Data Medical Service

Con la sentenza che si segnala la Corte di giustizia ha potuto confermare che non vi sono preclusioni \u2014 a livello europeo \u2014 circa la natura pubblica o privata dei soggetti legittimati a partecipare alle procedure ad evidenza pubblica, al contempo assumendo un\u2019interessante posizione in ordine al rapporto tra offerte anormalmente basse e aiuti di Stato