Organizational and Technological Aspects of a Platform for Collective Food Awareness

Can Internet-of-food technologies foster collective food awareness within a food consumer community? The paper contributes to answer this question in a fourfold aspect. Firstly, we model a cooperative process for generating and sharing reliable food information that is derived from food instrumental measurements performed by consumers via smart food things. Secondly, we outline the functional architecture of a platform capable to support such a process and to let a consumer community share reliable food information. Thirdly, we identify main entities and their attributes necessary to model the contextualized interaction between a consumer and the platform. Lastly, we review articles reviewing technologies capable of acquiring and quantifying food characteristics for food performances assessment. The purpose is to give an insight into current research directions on technologies employable in a platform for collective food awareness

Aplicaciones de columnas capilares polares termoestables en cromatografía gaseosa

The composition, the effect of processing and storage, and the overall quality of food lipids can be evaluated by gas chromatography (GC). GC analyses are carried out on non-polar or polar capillary columns, which separate the various lipid components according to their polarity and boiling points. However, there are components with high-boiling points that require higher temperatures in order to be better resolved. Thermostable polar GC columns with a relatively low column bleeding, can be used for this scope. These columns generate GC traces with different separation characteristics, which can lead to the identification of components that cannot be completely resolved with non-polar GC columns. Thermostable polar GC columns are suitable for the separation of different lipid classes and can be utilised for a fast screening of the total unsaponifiable matter of the oil or lipid extract. A series of examples for the analysis of food lipids with thermostable polar GC columns, are here described.La composición, el efecto del procesamiento y el almacenamiento, y la calidad total de los alimentos grasos se pueden evaluar por cromatografía de gases (GC). El análisis cromatográfico se lleva a cabo con columnas capilares polares y apolares que separan los diferentes componentes lipídicos de acuerdo a su polaridad y punto de ebullición. Sin embargo, existen componentes con altos puntos de ebullición que requieren temperaturas más elevadas para lograr una mejor separación. Las columnas polares termoestables de cromatografía de gases con un “sangrado” relativamente bajo, se pueden usar para esta actividad. Estas columnas generan cromatogramas con características diferentes que pueden conducir a la identificación de componentes que no pueden ser completamente resueltos con columnas no polares. Las columnas polares termoestables de cromatografía de gases son óptimas para la separación de las diferentes clases de lípidos y pueden ser usadas para una visión rápida del total de la materia insaponificable del aceite o extracto lipídico. En este artículo se describen una serie de ejemplos de análisis de los lípidos de diferentes alimentos, llevados a cabo con columnas termoestables de cromatografía de gases

Preterm birth after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). how cone features and microbiota could influence the pregnancy outcome

OBJECTIVE: In the last years, the mean age of women who underwent cervical treatment for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2-3) is similar to the age of women having their first pregnancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From January 2013 to January 2016 the study identified a total of 1435 women, nulliparous, who underwent LEEP for CIN 2-3, and who wished to have their first pregnancy. Before surgery, the lengths of the cervix were calculated by transvaginal sonography. After the treatment, the dimension of the removed tissue was evaluated. During the pregnancy, all women carried out periodic transvaginal sonography and vaginal-cervical swabs. RESULTS: The average age of patients was 31.96±5.24 years; the interval between the surgical procedure and pregnancy was 12.04±4.67 months; the gestational age at births was 37.53±2.91 weeks. The first vaginal and cervical swab performed during pregnancy was negative in 81.8% of patients. The most prevalent infections were related to C. Albicans, G. Vaginalis, and Group B Streptococcus (GBS). The rate of preterm delivery was significantly higher in women with a minor cervical length. CONCLUSIONS: The length and the volume of cervical tissue excised have been shown to be directly related to the risk for preterm birth. Furthermore, vaginal infections and their persistence during pregnancy in women with a history of LEEP may be associated with an increased risk for preterm birth, compared with women with no history of LEEP

Diagnostic accuracy of sonohysterography vs hysteroscopy in benign uterine endocavitary findings

OBJECTIVE: To compare diagnostic accuracy of sonohysterography vs hysteroscopy in patients with benign uterine endocavitary findings. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated 202 patients submitted to sonohysterography after transvaginal ultrasound examination suspicious for uterine endocavitary findings. Cytological sample was taken and analyzed from the fluid used to distend the uterine cavity. Of 202 patients enrolled for this study, 86 patients underwent gynaecological surgery, of whom 77 were treated with operative hysteroscopy and 9 with other gynaecological surgical techniques. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate diagnostic agreement between sonohysterography vs hysteroscopy and cytology vs histology. RESULTS: Diagnostic concordance between sonohysterography and hysteroscopy was significant (k value 0.87). The correlation between cytological and histological findings had a moderate level of concordance (k value 0.49).CONCLUSIONS: Sonohysterography provides a diagnostic accuracy as well as hysteroscopy, therefore, it could be considered an alternative procedure in the diagnosis of benign uterine endocavitary findings

Impact of mild oven cooking treatments on carotenoids and tocopherols of cheddar and depurple cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. Botrytis)

The effect of steam and sous-vide oven procedures on liposoluble antioxidants of colored cauliflower (orange and purple) was assessed for the first time and compared with domestic practice (boiling). In raw samples, the total carotenoid content was 10-fold higher in Cheddar than in Depurple (20.9 \ub1 2.1 vs. 2.3 \ub1 0.5 mg/kg dry weight), whereas the level of tocopherols was similar (28.5 \ub1 4.4 vs. 33 \ub1 5.2 mg/kg dry weight). The Cheddar liposoluble antioxidant matter contained violaxanthin, neoxanthin, \u3b1-carotene and \u3b4-tocopherol, not detected in Depurple. All tests increased the bioactive compounds extractability with steam oven and sous-vide displaying similar effects, lower than boiling. In boiled Cheddar cauliflower, the total carotenoids and tocopherols contents increased with cooking time until they were 13-fold and 6-fold more than in raw cauliflower, respectively. Conversely, in the Depurple variety, contents increased by half with respect to the orange variety. However, from a nutritional point of view, no differences were revealed among the three different cooking treatments in terms of vitamin A and E levels expressed in \u3bcg/100 g of fresh vegetable because of the higher water content of boiled samples that must be considered when evaluating the effect of thermal treatment on cauliflower nutritional traits

Milk and butter. From the Neolithic to the current nutritional aspects

The evolution in the history of nutrition knowledge towards dairy products, is strictly related to the socio-cultural development of humans. In fact, milk and butter have accompanied humans since ancient times, which traces of the consumption of such products are dated back about the earliest times after the last (glaciation) ice age, while the application for extra nutritional uses, such as cosmetics and ceremonial rites, are reported in the writings of the Old Testament. Even in Italy, before the Roman Empire, were known rudimentary techniques of production and storage of dairy products. But only with the advent of the Etruscans, and the Romans later, that the use of milk and dairy products reach a wide diffusion in several applications. Since the advent of Christ until today, milk and its derivatives have maintained a privileged place in the human diet, but it is only with the advent of modern medicine and new findings in lipidic chemistry that emerged multiple biological and nutritional properties, very important for human health. After a short summary of the ancient history of the milk and butter, the role of dairy products in cancer, in hypercholesterolemia, and cardiovascular disease are reported. Moreover, the current opinions on saturated fatty acids, the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their lipid mediators obtained by the action of cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase and the cytochrome P450 enzymes, are treated. Even if sometimes mistreated, the milk, but most of all its high fat content derivatives such as butter, is a rich source of biologically active compounds that foster a controversial action against neolplastic and cardiovascular disease. These compounds, mainly contained in the lipid fraction, for the more obvious relationships that exist between nutrition and health status, have been the subject in the last decades of intense scientific investigation in which there were expressed lights and shadows, but recognizing that not all fats are harmful and further thorough studies are necessary, in particular, on the derived lipid mediators. This will allow a significant progress based on new scientific evidences, further orienting researchers and clinicians on evidencebased nutritional science

Secondary metabolites from Stachys palustris L.

In this work we report the first total analysis of the secondary metabolites from a sample of Stachys palustris L., an herbaceous perennial plant belonging to Lamiaceae, collected in Hungary. The phytochemical analysis, performed by means of classical column chromatography and NMR spectroscopy and Mass spectrometry (MS), allowed us to isolate and identify eight compounds such as verbascoside (1) [1], echinacoside (2) [1], two isoscutellarein derivatives (3, 4) [2,3], chlorogenic acid (5) [3], harpagide (6) [4], 8-O-acetyl-harpagide (7) [4] and monomelittoside (8) [4]. These compounds belong to four different classes of chemical compounds namely phenyl-ethanoid glycosides (PhGs) (compounds 1, 2), flavonoids (compounds 3,4), caffeoyl-quinic acids (compound 5) and iridoids (compounds 6,7 and 8). From a chemosystematic point of view, these compounds are all important: compounds (6) and (7) are considered as the major chemotaxonomic markers of the genus; compound (1) and (8) resulted new constituents in this species and compound (2) is even new in the genus. In addition to this, the co-occurrence of iridoids and PhGs has a chemosystematic importance since it is widely demonstrated their presence in Asterids [1, 3]. Lastly, compounds (3) and (4) such as compounds (5),(6) and (7) have already been found in Stachys species, giving, this way, evidence of a phytochemical pattern perfectly in accordance with those reported in literature for other members of this genus. Nevertheless, it’s worth to underline the fact that compounds (3) and (4), like all isoscutellarein derivatives containing allose, seem to have a restricted distribution in only some genera of Lamiaceae

High-grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia and risk of progression to vaginal cancer. a multicentre study of the Italian Society of Colposcopy and Cervico-Vaginal Pathology (SICPCV)

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyse the women with high grade vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (HG-VaIN), in order to identify a subset of women at higher risk of progression to invasive vaginal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The medical records of all the women diagnosed with HG-VaIN, and subsequently treated, from January 1995 to December 2013 were analyzed in a multicentre retrospective case series. The rate of progression to invasive vaginal cancer and the potential risk factors were evaluated. RESULTS: 205 women with biopsy diagnosis of HG-VaIN were considered, with a mean follow up of 57 months (range 4-254 months). 12 cases of progression to vaginal squamocellular cancer were observed (5.8%), with a mean time interval from treatment to progression of 54.6 months (range 4-146 months). The rate of progression was significantly higher in women diagnosed with VaIN3 compared with VaIN2 (15.4% vs. 1.4%, p < 0.0001). Women with HG-VaIN and with previous hysterectomy showed a significantly higher rate of progression to invasive vaginal cancer compared to non-hysterectomised women (16.7% vs. 1.4%, p < 0.0001). A higher risk of progression for women with VaIN3 and for women with previous hysterectomy for cervical HPV-related disease was confirmed by multivariable logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: A higher rate of progression to vaginal cancer was reported in women diagnosed with VaIN3 on biopsy and in women with previous hysterectomy for HPV-related cervical disease. These patients should be considered at higher risk, thus a long lasting and accurate follow up is recommended

Foreword

Together with the members and promoters of the Associazione Culturale Pragma, we very pleased to celebrate the third anniversary of its foundation with the launching of a new journal devoted to the study of American philosophy, the European Journal of Pragmatism and American Philosophy. It is, in fact, a particularly important achievement which comes to strengthen our confidence in the positive relationships among a wide international group of academics and scholars that already produced a nu..