Genetics, odor perception and food liking: The intriguing role of cinnamon

Humans use a repertoire of > 400 olfactory receptors (ORs) to perceive odorants. The sense of smell is a complex trait whereby genetics and environmental factors interplay. To date, still little is known regarding the genetics of smell, even though the high genetic variability of ORs genes has already been demonstrated. Recently a significant association between cinnamon odorant recognition and the rs317787 polymorphism, located in a cluster of OR genes, has been described. Based on this data, here, we replicated the effect of the same variant (rs317787) on cinnamon odorant identification as well as looked at any possible association with liking for wine whose bouquet frequently smells of cinnamon. Our analysis in a cohort of individuals from two Italian genetic isolates confirmed that rs317787-T allele is associated with an improved cinnamon detection (p-value 5.18 7 10 1206, n = 971) but also with a greater liking for red wine (p-value 0.017, n = 2374). Present results further confirm the association of rs31778 SNP and cinnamon odorants detection and provide additional details about the role of the ORs genes in food liking. Overall, our work contributes to better deciphering the genetic basis of smell and food liking aimed at a more in-depth elucidation of the role of the ORs genes

Electronic contribution to the oscillations of a gravitational antenna

We carefully analyse the contribution to the oscillations of a metallic gravitational antenna due to the interaction between the electrons of the bar and the incoming gravitational wave. To this end, we first derive the total microscopic Hamiltonian of the wave-antenna system and then compute the contribution to the attenuation factor due to the electron-graviton interaction. As compared to the ordinary damping factor, which is due to the electron viscosity, this term turns out to be totally negligible. This result confirms that the only relevant mechanism for the interaction of a gravitational wave with a metallic antenna is its direct coupling with the bar normal modes.Comment: 25 pages, no figure

Mechanical Systems: Symmetry and Reduction

Reduction theory is concerned with mechanical systems with symmetries. It constructs a lower dimensional reduced space in which associated conservation laws are taken out and symmetries are \factored out" and studies the relation between the dynamics of the given system with the dynamics on the reduced space. This subject is important in many areas, such as stability of relative equilibria, geometric phases and integrable systems

The driving forces of the biotic processes along an offshore gradient in the Ligurian basin (Portofino Promontory) during 2008

The marine coastal area of the Portofino Promontory, located in the North-East side of the Ligurian basin (Mediterranean Sea), has been studied since 1980’s to identify its main ecological characteristics. The large physical, chemical and biological dataset available for this site (LTER sites) represents a powerful tool for the reliable reconstruction of seasonal cycles and allow the differentiation of regular and recurrent patterns from occasional and exceptional events. This long-term monitoring reveled an increases in the average monthly temperature along the water column in the last 10 years compare with the previous decade (1985-1995), with a high inter-annual variability and some specific episodic occurrence of thermal anomalies. The physical features of the water column seems to have a strict relation with the phytoplankton biomass fluctuations. A detailed study of 2008 intended to analyze a wider area, in order to compare the driving forces influencing the development of biotic process along an offshore gradient

TAS2R38 bitter taste genotype is associated with complementary feeding behavior in infants

Background: Genetically mediated sensitivity to bitter taste has been associated with food preferences and eating behavior in adults and children. The aim of this study was to assess the association between TAS2R38 bitter taste genotype and the first complementary food acceptance in infants. Parents of healthy, breastfed, term-born infants were instructed, at discharge from the nursery, to feed their baby with a first complementary meal of 150 mL at 4 to 6 months of age. They recorded the day when the child ate the whole meal in a questionnaire. Additional data included food composition, breastfeeding duration, feeding practices, and growth at 6 months. Infants' TAS2R38 genotypes were determined at birth, and infants were classified as "bitter-insensitive" (genotype AVI/AVI) and "bitter-sensitive" (genotypes AVI/PAV or PAV/PAV). Results: One hundred seventy-six infants and their mothers were enrolled; completed data were available for 131/176 (74.4%) infants (gestational age 39.3 \ub1 1.1 weeks, birth weight 3390 \ub1 430 g). Bitter-insensitive were 45/131 (34.3%), and bitter-sensitive were 86/131 (65.6%). Thirty-one percent of bitter-insensitive infants consumed the whole complementary meal at first attempt, versus 13% of bitter-sensitive ones (p = 0.006). This difference was significant independently of confounding variables such as sex, breastfeeding, or foods used in the meal. Growth at 6 months did not differ between the two groups. Conclusions: Differences in TAS2R38 bitter taste gene were associated with acceptance of the first complementary food in infants, suggesting a possible involvement in eating behavior at weaning

Value of epidermal growth factor receptor status compared with growth fraction and other factors for prognosis in early breast cancer.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein whose expression is important in the regulation of breast cancer cell growth. The relationship between EGFR status (determined by an immunocytochemical assay) and various prognostic factors was investigated in 164 primary breast cancers. Overall 56% of tumours were EGFR-positive and the expression of EGFR was unrelated to axillary node status, tumour size and histological grade; and it was poorly associated with the tumour proliferative activity measured by Ki-67 immuno-cytochemistry. The relapse-free survival (RFS) probability at 3-years was significantly worse for patients with EGFR positive tumours (P = 0.003) and for those whose Ki-67 score was > 7.5% (P = 0.0027), as well as in patients with axillary node involvement (P = 0.01) and with poorly differentiated tumours (P = 0.04). Immunocytochemical determination of EGFR and cell kinetics gave superimposable prognostic information for predicting RFS with odds ratios of 3.51, when evaluated singly. In our series of patients EGFR, Ki-67 and node status retain their prognostic value concerning RFS in multivariate analysis. The 3-year probability of overall survival (OS) was significantly better in node-negative patients (P = 0.04) and was similar in EGFR-positive and negative patients. In conclusion, EGFR status appears to be a significant and independent indicator of recurrence in human breast cancer and the concomitant measurement of the tumour proliferative activity seems to improve the selection of patients with different risks of recurrence

Echocardiographic screening in pediatric asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 outpatients: Is it a useful test or an excess of zeal?

IntroductionData regarding echocardiographic findings during follow-up of asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are scarce in pediatric patients. The aim of the present study is to assess post-COVID-19 sequelae through echocardiography in children who have experienced mild SARS-CoV-2.MethodsThis single-center, retrospective, observational study enrolled a cohort of 133 pediatric outpatients, born between 2005 and 2022, with a history of asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, who underwent transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) evaluation at an outpatient pediatric clinic in Northern Italy.ResultsThe percentage of the pediatric activity of the clinic which was focused on post-COVID evaluation was not negligible, representing almost 10% of the similar to 1500 pediatric patients examined from 1 January 2021 to 31 August 2022. According to ACEP classification, children enrolled in this study had previously experienced in 72.9% (97) asymptomatic COVID-19 and nearly 27% (36) a mild illness. Clinical and instrumental examinations did not show any relevant abnormality in the functional [left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP)] or structural [interventricular septum diameter (IVSd), left ventricular internal diameter (LViD, end-diastolic volume (EDV), left atrium volume (LAV)] parameters examined related to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the total of 133 children.ConclusionAccording to our results, children who experienced an asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection should not be systematically investigated with second-level techniques, such as TTE, in the absence of clinical suspicion or other risk conditions such as congenital heart diseases, comorbidities or risk factors

LTER-AMP-Portofino (Mar Ligure): variabilità stagionale ed interannuale delle forzanti meteo-climatiche, delle variabili fisico-chimiche e biologiche del comparto pelagico

L’area marina costiera antistante il Promontorio di Portofino è stata inserita nella rete ILTER – International Long Term Ecological Research dal 2007, grazie ai numerosi studi ecologici che si susseguono nell’area dagli anni ’80, ed in particolare dal 1999, quando è iniziata la raccolta sistematica delle principali variabili fisiche e chimico-biologiche lungo la colonna d’acqua e delle principali forzanti meteo-climatiche. L’analisi dei dati ha messo in evidenza un incremento della temperatura media lungo la colonna d’acqua negli ultimi anni rispetto al decennio precedente (1985-1995) ed in particolare un progressivo aumento della temperatura superficiale nelle stagioni primaverili ed autunnali, che ha portato ad un ampliamento del periodo caldo. L’area di studio è inoltre caratterizzata da una forte variabilità interannuale: sono state registrate importanti anomalie termiche nell’estate 2003 e nei periodi autunnali e primaverili del 2006-2007 con temperature superficiali più elevate rispetto alla media del periodo, dovute a due importanti anomalie termiche atmosferiche. Negli ultimi anni, le precipitazioni annuali sono sempre al di sotto della media climatica, ad eccezione del 2002, con conseguente modificazione della struttura termo-alina dell’area di studio. Le variabilità riscontrate si riflettono sui popolamenti planctonici, modificando le risposte delle comunità, in particolare nel periodo tardo primaverile. L’area conserva, comunque, le caratteristiche oligotrofiche tipiche del Mar Ligure: infatti, pur mostrando una evidente variabilità interannuale, la biomassa planctonica media nello strato superficiale continua a rimanere bassa, con una tendenza a diminuire negli ultimi anni

Effectiveness of a controlled 5-fu delivery based on fzd10 antibody-conjugated liposomes in colorectal cancer in vitro models

The use of controlled delivery therapy in colorectal cancer (CRC) reduces toxicity and side effects. Recently, we have suggested that the Frizzled 10 (FZD10) protein, a cell surface receptor belonging to the FZD protein family that is overexpressed in CRC cells, is a novel candidate for targeting and treatment of CRC. Here, the anticancer effect of novel immuno-liposomes loaded with 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), decorated with an antibody against FZD10 (anti-FZD10/5-FU/LPs), was evaluated in vitro on two different CRC cell lines, namely metastatic CoLo-205 and nonmetastatic CaCo-2 cells, that were found to overexpress FZD10. The anti-FZD10/5-FU/LPs obtained were extensively characterized and their preclinical therapeutic efficacy was evaluated with the MTS cell proliferation assay based on reduction of tetrazolium compound, scratch test, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopes (FE-SEM) investigation and immunofluorescence analysis. The results highlighted that the cytotoxic activity of 5-FU was enhanced when encapsulated in the anti-FZD10 /5-FU/LPs at the lowest tested concentrations, as compared to the free 5-FU counterparts. The immuno-liposomes proposed herein possess a great potential for selective treatment of CRC because, in future clinical applications, they can be encapsulated in gastro-resistant capsules or suppositories for oral or rectal delivery, thereby successfully reaching the intestinal tract in a minimally invasive manner