Boosting plant food polyphenol concentration by saline eustress as supplement strategies for the prevention of metabolic syndrome: an example of randomized interventional trial in the adult population

IntroductionPhenolic compounds in lettuce can increase by the application of positive stress (eustress) such as moderate saline stress. Phenolic compounds possess antioxidant capacity that is a key factor in the detoxification of excess reactive oxygen species. A double-blinded randomized interventional and placebo- controlled study design was carried out to compare the effect of daily dietary eustress lettuce ingestion in hepatic, lipid, bone, glucose, and iron metabolism.MethodsForty-two healthy volunteers, 19 female and 23 male participants, were divided into two groups. Participants were randomized into a polyphenol-enriched treatment (PET) arm or control arm. Each arm consumed 100 g/day of control or eustress (polyphenols enriched treatment = PET) lettuce for 12 days. Primary study outcomes were serological analysis for assessing hepatic, lipid, bone, iron, and glucose markers at baseline and after 12 days. Secondary outcomes assessed body composition.ResultsSalinity stress reduced plant yield but increased caffeic acid (+467%), chlorogenic acid (+320%), quercetin (+538%), and rutin (+1,095%) concentrations. The intake of PET lettuce reduced PTH, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), cholesterol, alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) enzyme levels and increased vitamin D and phosphate levels, while iron and glucose metabolism were unaffected.DiscussionSupplementation with eustress lettuce by increasing polyphenols concentration ameliorates hepatic, lipid, and bone homeostasis. Body composition was not affected.Clinical trial registrationhttps://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT06002672, identifier: NCT06002672

Effetti dei carichi su elementi strutturali in calcestruzzo: studio di una procedura di prova

n°49-Atti del dipartimento di ingegneria strutturale-Politecnico di Torin

DELAMINATION OF THE DEHUMIDIFIED REPAIR MORTARS: A NEW EXPERIMENTAL AND NUMERICAL ANALISYS

An innovative laboratory procedure, developed at the Non Destructive Testing Laboratory of the Politecnico di Torino, as a preliminary design stage for the pre-qualification of repair mortars applied to historical masonry buildings is described. The tested repair mortars are suitable for the new dehumidified plaster in order to stop the rising damp effects by capillary action on historical masonry walls. Long-term plaster delamination occurs frequently as a consequence of not compatible mechanical characteristics of mortar. Preventing this phenomenon is the main way to increase the durability of repair work. The use of materials similar to that historical in terms of mechanical, chemical and thermo-hygrometric performances is better. The procedure consists in the application of static loads to mixed stone block-mortar specimens having peculiar characteristics in terms of geometry and adhesion at the interface, with continuous monitoring of the longitudinal and transverse displacements. A numerical simulation based on the cohesive crack model was used to follow the experimental data, so as to describe the evolutionary phenomenon of de-bonding as a function of a small number of parameters. The methodology is in progress of carrying out at the Special Natural Reserve of the Sacro Monte di Varallo (UNESCO heritage site) in Piedmont (Italy

Effetti termici e meccanici nel calcestruzzo sottoposto a carichi ciclici di breve durata

n°56-Atti del dipartimento di ingegneria strutturale-Politecnico di Torin