Water as a solvent of election for obtaining oleuropein-rich extracts from olive (Olea europaea) leaves

Leaves from Olea europaea represent one of the main by-products of the olive oil industry, containing a plethora of bioactive compounds with several promising activities for human health. An organic solvent-free extraction method was developed for the recovery of olive leaf phenols, which obtained an extract containing oleuropein in high amounts. A comparison of various extraction media is reported, together with the total phenolic content, DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) content, ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), and polyphenol oxidase activity of the corresponding extracts. The polyphenol profiles and content of the most representative extracts have also been studied. Extraction solvent and temperature significantly influenced the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the extracts, with hot water representing the solvent of election for the extraction of bioactive compounds from this matrix. All the extracts obtained showed reasonably high total phenol content (TPC) and good DPPH radical scavenging activity; among them, the water extract is characterized by desirable traits and could be used for many industrial applications and human consumption

SEEMP: A Semantic Interoperability Infrastructure for e-government services in the employment sector

This paper presents SEEMP, a marketplace to coordinate and integrate public and private employment services (ESs) around the EU Member States. The need for flexible collaboration in the marketplace gives rise to the issue of interoperability in both data exchange and share of services. SEEMP proposes a mixed approach that relies on the concepts of services and semantics. SEEMP approach combines Software Engineering and Semantic Web methodologies/tools in an infrastructure that allows for a meaningful service-based communication among ESs

Efecto del riego y la poda en el contenido de componentes menores y ácidos grasos del aceite de oliva virgen varietal Farga

The effect of different irrigation and pruning strategies on the amount of substances related to the oxidative stability of virgin olive oils of the variety Farga (polyphenols, chlorophylls, carotenoids and fatty acids), was analyzed. Four treatments were used: T100%SP (irrigation supplying 100% of the plants’ evaporative transpiration demand (Etc) during the entire cycle, without winter pruning); T50%SP (irrigation supplying 50% of the plants’ Etc from pit hardening to harvest, without winter pruning); T100%CP (irrigation supplying 100%, with pruning) and T50%CP (irrigation supplying 50%, with pruning). The plants’ hydric status was monitored through the stem hydric potential (SHP) at noon, and the soil moisture content and the photosynthetically active incident radiation within the tree branches were determined. The olive sampling was taken from pre-ripening to full maturity. The oil was extracted from the olives by grinding them in a laboratory screw type mill with thermo-kneading. The separation of solid and liquid phases was performed using a hand press and decanter to remove the oil. Chlorophylls and carotenoids (absorbance at 670 nm and 472 nm) and total polyphenols (at 725 nm), were determined by spectrophotometry on the mechanically extracted oil. Fatty acids were determined by capillary gas chromatography (CGC). Oil yield data show no statistical differences between deficit irrigation covering 50% of the ETc and the control treatment, both in plants with or without pruning. The contents of polyphenols, chlorophylls and carotenoids in the oils decrease with fruit ripening, regardless of the initial content and treatment. Deficit irrigation treatments (T 50%) have higher contents of polyphenols (except for pre-envero sampling), chlorophylls and carotenoids. There are no statistically significant differences between treatments with and without pruning.Se analizó el efecto de distintas estrategias de riego y poda, sobre el contenido de componentes vinculados a la estabilidad oxidativa de los aceites de oliva vírgenes (polifenoles, clorofilas y carotenoides), variedad Farga. Se aplicaron cuatro tratamientos: T100%SP (riego equivalente al 100% de la demanda evapotranspiratoria (Etc) del cultivo durante todo el ciclo y sin poda invernal); T50%SP (riego que equivalente al 50% de la Etc desde endurecimiento de carozo hasta cosecha y sin poda); T100%CP (riego 100% y con poda); T50%CP (riego deficitario y con poda). Se monitoreó el estado hídrico de las plantas a través del potencial hídrico del tallo a mediodía (PHT), el contenido de humedad del suelo y la radiación fotosintéticamente activa incidente en el interior de la copa de los olivos. El muestreo de aceitunas se extendió desde pre-envero hasta maduración completa. El aceite se extrajo en laboratorio por molienda de las aceitunas con molino de tornillo, termo-amasado, separación de fases sólida y líquida con una prensa manual y decantación para separar el aceite. Sobre el aceite extraído por métodos mecánicos se determinó: perfil de ácidos grasos, clorofilas y carotenoides (espectrofotometría a 670 nm y 472 nm), polifenoles totales (absorbancia a 725 nm) y ácidos grasos por cromatografía gaseosa capilar (CGC). Los datos de rendimiento graso (lipogénesis) expuestos muestran que no hay diferencias estadísticas entre un riego deficitario que cubre 50% de la Etc y el tratamiento control, tanto en plantas con poda o sin ella. El contenido de polifenoles, clorofilas y carotenoides en los aceites desciende a medida que avanza el estado de madurez de los frutos, independientemente del contenido inicial y el tratamiento. Los tratamientos con riego deficitario (T50%) presentan contenidos más elevados de polifenoles (excepto para el muestreo de pre-envero), clorofilas y de carotenoides. No se observan diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los tratamientos con y sin poda

Th17-related cytokines: new players in the control of chronic intestinal inflammation

Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), the main forms of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) in man, are thought to be caused by an excessive and poorly controlled immune response that is directed against components of the normal microflora. The exact sequence of events by which this pathological process is triggered and maintained is not fully understood, but studies in experimental models of IBD and data emerging from recent clinical trials indicate that T cell-derived cytokines are crucial mediators of the tissue damage. Although CD and UC have been traditionally considered two typical examples of T helper (Th)1 or Th2-associated disease respectively, it is now known that CD- and UC-related inflammation is also marked by enhanced production of cytokines made by a distinct subset of Th cells, termed Th17 cells. Th17 cytokines can have both tissue-protective and inflammatory effects in the gut and there is evidence that Th17 cells can alter their cytokine program according to the stimuli received and convert into Th1-producing cells. These novel findings have contributed to advancing our understanding of mechanisms of gut tissue damage and open new avenues for development of therapeutic strategies in IBD

Acetylsalicylic acid as an adjuvant therapy for schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: Findings from both epidemiological and basic research point to the possibility that NSAIDS impede the deterioration in schizophrenia. METHODS: To study the efficacy of acetylsalicylic acid we will perform a randomized placebo controlled double-blind add-on trial of 80 inpatients and outpatients with schizophrenia, schizophreniform or schizoaffective disorder. Patients will be 1:1 randomized to either 3 months 1000 mg acetylsalicylic acid per day or 3 months placebo, in addition to their regular antipsychotic treatment. All patients will receive pantoprazole treatment for gastroprotection. The outcomes of this study are 3-month change in psychotic and negative symptom severity, cognitive function, and several immunological parameters. This trial may (1) yield a new (adjuvant) therapy for schizophrenia and (2) add to the knowledge on the pathogenesis of this major psychiatric disorder

To respond or not to respond - a personal perspective of intestinal tolerance

For many years, the intestine was one of the poor relations of the immunology world, being a realm inhabited mostly by specialists and those interested in unusual phenomena. However, this has changed dramatically in recent years with the realization of how important the microbiota is in shaping immune function throughout the body, and almost every major immunology institution now includes the intestine as an area of interest. One of the most important aspects of the intestinal immune system is how it discriminates carefully between harmless and harmful antigens, in particular, its ability to generate active tolerance to materials such as commensal bacteria and food proteins. This phenomenon has been recognized for more than 100 years, and it is essential for preventing inflammatory disease in the intestine, but its basis remains enigmatic. Here, I discuss the progress that has been made in understanding oral tolerance during my 40 years in the field and highlight the topics that will be the focus of future research

Corrigendum to: Comparative study of obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (OAPS) and non-criteria obstetric APS (NC-OAPS): report of 1640 cases from EUROAPS registry

Rheumatology 2020;59:1306–1314. doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kez419 In the original article, the affiliation of co-author Cecilia Beatrice Chighizola should have read: “Experimental Laboratory of Immunological and Rheumatologic Researches, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, IRCCS, Cusano Milanino, Milan, Italy”. These details have been corrected only in this corrigendum to preserve the published version of record

Додатковий том «Словника української мови»

У статті подано історію роботи над Додатковим томом «Словника української мови» в 11-ти томах, описано джерела наповнення реєстру, структуру словникових статей, наведено приклади розробки статей різного типу – як нововведених слів, так і таких, що були в «Словнику української мови» і зазнали доповнення. Завдання лексикографів, які працювали над Додатковим томом, – відобразити динаміку лексичного шару української мови 1980-их рр. ХХ ст. – початку ХХІ ст. з акцентуванням її інноваційних й актуалізованих аспектів