Influence of bunch exposure on anthocyanins extractability from grapes skins (Vitis vinifera L.)

In relation to bunch exposure to solar irradiance (sun exposed vs. leaf shaded conditions), anthocyanin ripening and extractability were studied in two grape cultivars ('Croatina' and 'Pinot Noir') coming from three different vineyards in Northern Italy. Analysis of anthocyanin content were carried out by HPLC and spectrophotometry, and a simulated maceration process was developed. Pigments extraction occurred mainly in the first few hours of the maceration process. Anthocyanins with disubstituted B-ring showed a faster extractability than the trisubsituted ones. Bunch exposure to sunlight seemed to be important for pigment extractability timing in winemaking, showing a delay in pigments release. This delay was only partially explained by the different pigments profile, with higher percentage of disubstituted compounds in shaded berries, because all the molecules indicated a similar extraction trend during maceration.

Growth of Wild Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L.) Juveniles for Organic Aquaculture

The majority of organic marine fish farms currently begin the production cycle with non-organic juveniles from conventional hatcheries, permitted by the European Regulation on organic fish origin (EC 710/2009) until the end of 2016. Wild juvenile gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) from coastal lagoons and hatcheries were experimentally reared under organic conditions, in order (1) to investigate differences in fillet lipid content and fatty acids composition, and (2) to propose a possible future source of juveniles destined for organic aquaculture. Wild juveniles were readily distinguishable by their fatty acid signature, showing significantly higher ratio levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-3/n-6. Fillet lipid composition of organically fed wild S. aurata juveniles was preferable to that from domesticated juveniles. These results seem promising for organic aquaculture, where fish feed is more environmentally sustainable but is of lower nutritional qualit

Bioaccessibility of provitamin A carotenoids in orange-fleshed pumpkins using the coupled In vitro digestion/ Caco-2 cell model.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cooking styles on the bioacessibility of BC in pumpkin

Effects of Isolated Systolic Hypertension and Essential Hypertension on Large and Middle-sized Artery Compliance

Systolic hypertension of the elderly is characterized by a reduction in arterial compliance. Whether and to what extent this involves arteries of various structure and size is not well known.To study carotid and radial artery compliance in systolic hypertension of the elderly, compared to essential hypertension and normotension.We investigated 28 elderly patients with systolic hypertension (age 68.6 +/- 1.4 years, mean +/- SE; systolic blood pressure160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure90 mmHg) plus 17 age-matched patients with essential hypertension and 15 age-matched healthy normotensive subjects. Radial and carotid artery compliance were evaluated using echotracking techniques. In both arteries compliance was assessed statistically and dynamically, i.e. as compliance values throughout the diasto-systolic pressure range. Measurements included intima-media wall thickness of the radial artery.Compared to normotensive subjects, carotid artery compliance was reduced in essential hypertension and more so in systolic hypertension. However, although in both groups radial artery wall thickness was markedly greater than in the normotensive group, radial artery compliance was markedly reduced in systolic hypertension, but unchanged in essential hypertension.In systolic hypertension of the elderly the reduction of arterial compliance is marked in both muscular and large elastic arteries, while in elderly essential hypertensives changes in arterial compliance are more heterogeneous, i.e. only carotid artery compliance is reduced. The different effects of these two types of hypertension on arterial mechanics are visible throughout the physiological range of blood pressure and probably accounted for by different alterations in vessel wall structure

PFN1 and integrin-β1/mTOR axis involvement in cornea differentiation of fibroblast limbal stem cells

Ex vivo limbal stem cell transplantation is the main therapeutic approach to address a complete and functional re-epithelialization in corneal blindness, the second most common eye disorder. Although important key points were defined, the molecular mechanisms involved in the epithelial phenotype determination are unclear. Our previous studies have demonstrated the pluripotency and immune-modulatory of fibroblast limbal stem cells (f-LSCs), isolated from the corneal limbus. We defined a proteomic profile especially enriched in wound healing and cytoskeleton-remodelling proteins, including Profilin-1 (PFN1). In this study we postulate that pfn-1 knock down promotes epithelial lineage by inhibiting the integrin-β1(CD29)/mTOR pathway and subsequent NANOG down-expression. We showed that it is possible modulate pfn1 expression levels by treating f-LSCs with Resveratrol (RSV), a natural compound: pfn1 decline is accompanied with up-regulation of the specific differentiation epithelial genes pax6 (paired-box 6), sox17 (sex determining region Y-box 17) and ΔNp63-α (p63 splice variant), consistent with drop-down of the principle stem gene levels. These results contribute to understand the molecular biology of corneal epithelium development and suggest that pfn1 is a potential molecular target for the treatment of corneal blindness based on epithelial cell dysfunction

Multiple sclerosis treatment and melanoma development

Therapy of multiple sclerosis (MS) with disease-modifying agents such as natalizumab or fingolimod has been associated with the development of cutaneous melanoma. Here we briefly revise literature data and report of a case of a 48-year old woman who developed a melanoma and several atypical naevi after sub sequential treatment with natalizumab (1 year) and fingolimod (7 years). By immunohistochemistry we observed the presence of T cells and leukocyte infiltration as well as of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A expression in the patient melanoma biopsy. Then, we analyzed proliferation, migration and VEGF-A expression in three melanoma cell lines and found out that both natalizumab and fingolimod inhibited tumor cell proliferation but promoted or blocked cell migration depending on the cell line examined. VEGF-A secretion was augmented in one melanoma cell line only after fingolimod treatment. In conclusion, our in vitro data do not support the hypothesis of a direct action of natalizumab or fingolimod on melanoma progression but acting on the tumor microenvironment these treatments could indirectly favor melanoma evolution

A generator of peroxynitrite activatable with red light

The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) as “unconventional” therapeutics with precise spatiotemporal control by using light stimuli may open entirely new horizons for innovative therapeutic modalities. Among ROS and RNS, peroxynitrite (ONOO(−)) plays a dominant role in chemistry and biology in view of its potent oxidizing power and cytotoxic action. We have designed and synthesized a molecular hybrid based on benzophenothiazine as a red light-harvesting antenna joined to an N-nitroso appendage through a flexible spacer. Single photon red light excitation of this molecular construct triggers the release of nitric oxide (˙NO) and simultaneously produces superoxide anions (O(2)˙(−)). The diffusion-controlled reaction between these two radical species generates ONOO(−), as confirmed by the use of fluorescein-boronate as a highly selective chemical probe. Besides, the red fluorescence of the hybrid allows its tracking in different types of cancer cells where it is well-tolerated in the dark but induces remarkable cell mortality under irradiation with red light in a very low concentration range, with very low light doses (ca. 1 J cm(−2)). This ONOO(−) generator activatable by highly biocompatible and tissue penetrating single photon red light can open up intriguing prospects in biomedical research, where precise and spatiotemporally controlled concentrations of ONOO(−) are required

Antitumor activity of a novel anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 monoclonal antibody that does not interfere with ligand binding

Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) is a tyrosine kinase transmembrane receptor that has also a soluble isoform containing most of the extracellular ligand binding domain (sVEGFR-1). VEGF-A binds to both VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-1, whereas placenta growth factor (PlGF) interacts exclusively with VEGFR-1. In this study we generated an anti-VEGFR-1 mAb (D16F7) by immunizing BALB/C mice with a peptide that we had previously reported to inhibit angiogenesis and endothelial cell migration induced by PlGF. D16F7 did not affect binding of VEGF-A or PlGF to VEGFR-1, thus allowing sVEGFR-1 to act as decoy receptor for these growth factors, but it hampered receptor homodimerization and activation. D16F7 inhibited both the chemotactic response of human endothelial, myelomonocytic and melanoma cells to VEGFR-1 ligands and vasculogenic mimicry by tumor cells. Moreover, D16F7 exerted in vivo antiangiogenic effects in a matrigel plug assay. Importantly, D16F7 inhibited tumor growth and was well tolerated by B6D2F1 mice injected with syngeneic B16F10 melanoma cells. The antitumor effect was associated with melanoma cell apoptosis, vascular abnormalities and decrease of both monocyte/macrophage infiltration and myeloid progenitor mobilization. For all the above, D16F7 may be exploited in the therapy of metastatic melanoma and other tumors or pathological conditions involving VEGFR-1 activation