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

Post-hatching development of bovine embryos in vitro: the effects of tunnel preparation and gender.

The objective of this study was to compare morphological characteristics, kinetics of development, and gene expression ofmale and female IVP embryos thatwere cultured until day (D)15 (fertilization = D0), using either phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or Milli-Q water (MQW) to dilute the agarose gel used for tunnel construction. On D11, embryos (n = 286) were placed in agarose gel tunnels diluted in PBS and MQW. Embryos were evaluated for morphology, and embryo size was recorded on D11, D12.5, D14 and D15. Then, embryos were sexed and used for gene expression analyses (G6PD, GLUT1, GLUT3, PGK1, PLAC8, KRT8, HSF1 and IFNT). The percentage of elongated embryos at D15 was higher (p < 0.05) in the PBS (54%) than in theMQW(42%) gel. However, embryos produced inMQWwere bigger (p < 0.05) and had a lower expression of GLUT1 (p = 0.08) than those cultured in PBS. There was a higher proportion of male than female embryos at D15 in both treatments, MQW(65% vs. 35%; p < 0.05) and PBS (67% vs. 33%; p < 0.05); however, embryo size was not signi?cantly different between genders. Moreover, D15 female embryos had greater expression of G6PD (p = 0.05) and KRT8 (p = 0.03) than male embryos. In conclusion, the diluent used for tunnel construction affected embryo development in the post-hatching development (PHD) system, and the use ofMQWwas the most indicative measure for the evaluation of embryo quality. Male and female embryos cultured from D11 to D15, either in an MQW or PBS agarose gel, demonstrated similar development but different gene expression

Efeito da somatotropina bovina recombinante (RBST) sobre a curva de lactação de vacas da raça holandesas.

Foi conduzido um estudo com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da aplicaç ão de rBST sobre a curva de lactação de vacas da raça Holandesa. O experimento foi desenvolvido no sistema de produção de leite do Centro de Pesquisa de Pecuária do Sudeste (Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste), em São Carlos, durante o período de abril a dezembro de 1999. Foram avaliadas 41 vacas, dos 60 aos 150 dias de lactação, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em três tratamentos: sem aplicação de rBST (controle) ? 15 vacas; aplicação de rBST 60 dias após o parto (rBST-60) ? 15 vacas; e aplicação de rBST 100 dias após o parto (rBST- 100) ? 11 vacas. Foram realizadas análises de regressão da produção de leite em função dos dias de lactação. A aplicação de rBST aos 60 dias de lactação apresentou maior resposta no aumento da produção de leite e menor queda na produção. Com relação ao tratamento rBST-100, foi verificada uma estabilização seguida da diminuição menos acentuada na curva de lactação quando comparado com o tratamento controle. Todos os tratamentos apresentaram diminuição na produção de leite em função dos dias de lactação. No tratamento com rBST-60 durante o período de 75 a 120 dias de lactação, a cada dia da lactação, a produção de leite diminuiu 25,7 g, enquanto que para o mesmo período no tratamento controle, a produção decresceu 80,9 g/dia. A suplementação com rBST aumentou a persistência de lactação e a produção de leite quando administrada aos 60 dias pós -parto

Efeito da somatotropina bovina recombinante (RBST) sobre a produção de leite e gordura em vacas da raça Holandesas.

Este estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de somatotropina bovina recombinante (rBST) sobre a produção de leite e gordura de vacas da raça Holandesa, durante os 60 aos 150 dias de lactação. O experimento foi desenvolvido no sistema de produção de leite do Centro de Pesquisa de Pecuária do Sudeste (Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste), em São Carlos, durante o período de abril a dezembro de 1999. Foram utilizadas 41 vacas distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em três tratamentos: sem aplicação de rBST (controle) ? 15 vacas; aplicação de rBST 60 dias após o parto (rBST-60) ? 15 vacas; e aplicação de rBST 100 dias após o parto (rBST-100) ? 11 vacas. Foram realizadas análises de variância para as variáveis produção de leite; produção de leite corrigida a 4% de gordura e produção de gordura, tanto em porcentagem como em kg/dia. A suplementação com rBST aos 60 dias apresentou significativo aumento na produção de leite e na produção de leite corrigida em relação ao tratamento controle, entretanto esse fato não foi verificado para o tratamento com rBST aos 100 dias. Não ocorreram efeitos significativos da aplicação de rBST sobre a produção de gordura no leite, em % e em kg/dia. A suplementação com rBST aumentou a produção de leite e a produção de leite corrigida a 4% de gordura quando administrada aos 60 dias pós -parto. Não foram observados efeitos da suplementação de rBST sobre a porcentagem e produção de gordura do leite

Transport mechanism in granular Ni deposited on carbon nanotubes fibers

We investigate the transport properties of granular nickel electrodeposited on carbon nanotube fibers by measuring the electrical resistance and the current voltage characteristics as a function of the temperature. The bare fiber is governed by a three-dimensional variable range hopping transport mechanism, however, a semiconducting to metallic transition is observed after the Ni deposition as a consequence of the evolution from weak to strong coupling between the deposited nickel grains. The experimental results indicate that the charge transport in the Ni-coated fiber develops from hopping governed by the Coulomb blockade in the case of small grains dimensions to a metallic electron phonon interaction mechanism for large grains dimensions. Tunneling enhanced by thermal fluctuation is responsible for the transport in the intermediate conductivity range. The role of the fiber and the effects due to the magnetic nature of the nickel grains are also discussed

Fifteen years trends of cardiogenic shock and mortality in patients with diabetes and acute coronary syndromes

PURPOSE: Our study was intended to examine time trends of management and mortality of acute coronary syndrome patients with associated diabetes mellitus. METHODS: We analyzed data from 5 nationwide registries established between 2001 and 2014, including consecutive acute coronary syndrome patients admitted to the Italian Intensive Cardiac Care Units. RESULTS: Of 28,225 participants, 8521 (30.2%) had diabetes: as compared with patients without diabetes, they were older and had significantly higher rates of prior myocardial infarction and comorbidities (all P &lt; .0001). Prevalence of diabetes and comorbidities increased over time (P for trend &lt; .0001). Cardiogenic shock rates were higher in patients with diabetes, as compared with those without diabetes (7.8% vs 2.8%, P &lt; .0001), and decreased significantly over time only in patients without diabetes (P = .007). Revascularization rates increased over time in patients both with and without diabetes (both P for trend &lt; .0001), although with persistingly lower rates in patients with diabetes. All-cause in-hospital mortality was higher in patients with diabetes (5.4 vs 2.5%, respectively, P &lt; .0001) and decreased more consistently in patients without diabetes (P for trend = .007 and &lt; .0001, respectively). At multivariable analysis, diabetes remains an independent predictor of both cardiogenic shock (odds ratio 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.77-2.32; P &lt; .0001) and mortality (odds ratio 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.69-2.26; P &lt; .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite significant mortality reductions observed over 15 years in acute coronary syndromes, patients with diabetes continue to show threefold higher rates of cardiogenic shock and lower revascularization rates as compared with patients without diabetes. These findings may explain the persistingly higher mortality of patients with diabetes and acute coronary syndromes

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein and Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Prospective Observational Study

Background. Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation plays a key role in acute kidney injury (AKI) pathogenesis. We explored the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and AKI in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Methods. We prospectively included 2,063 AMI patients in whom hs-CRP was measured at admission. AKI incidence and a clinical composite of in-hospital death, cardiogenic shock, and acute pulmonary edema were the study endpoints. Results. Two-hundred-thirty-four (11%) patients developed AKI. hs-CRP levels were higher in AKI patients (45 \ub1 87 vs. 16 \ub1 41 mg/L; p &lt; 0.0001). The incidence and severity of AKI, as well as the rate of the composite endpoint, increased in parallel with hs-CRP quartiles (p for trend &lt;0.0001 for all comparisons). A significant correlation was found between hs-CRP and the maximal increase of serum creatinine (R = 0.23; p &lt; 0.0001). The AUC of hs-CRP for AKI prediction was 0.69 (p &lt; 0.001). At reclassification analysis, addition of hs-CRP allowed to properly reclassify 14% of patients when added to creatinine and 8% of patients when added to a clinical model. Conclusions. In AMI, admission hs-CRP is closely associated with AKI development and severity, and with in-hospital outcomes. Future research should focus on whether prophylactic renal strategies in patients with high hs-CRP might prevent AKI and improve outcome

BLITZ-HF: a nationwide initiative to evaluate and improve adherence to acute and chronic heart failure guidelines

Aims: To assess adherence to guideline recommendations among a large network of Italian cardiology sites in the management of acute and chronic heart failure (HF) and to evaluate if an ad-hoc educational intervention can improve their performance on several pharmacological and non-pharmacological indicators. Methods and results: BLITZ-HF was a cross-sectional study based on a web-based recording system with pop-up reminders on guideline recommendations used during two 3-month enrolment periods carried out 3 months apart (Phase 1 and 3), interspersed by face-to-face macro-regional benchmark analyses and educational meetings (Phase 2). Overall, 7218 patients with acute and chronic HF were enrolled at 106 cardiology sites. During the enrolment phases, 3920 and 3298 patients were included, respectively, 84% with chronic HF and 16% with acute HF in Phase 1, and 74% with chronic HF and 26% with acute HF in Phase 3. At baseline, adherence to guideline recommendations was already overall high for most indicators. Among acute HF patients, an improvement was obtained in three out of eight indicators, with a significant rise in echocardiographic evaluation. Among chronic HF patients with HF and preserved or mid-range ejection fraction, performance increased in two out of three indicators: creatinine and echocardiographic evaluations. An overall performance improvement was observed in six out of nine indicators in ambulatory HF with reduced ejection fraction patients with a significant increase in angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor prescription rates. Conclusions: Within a context of an already elevated level of adherence to HF guideline recommendations, a structured multifaceted educational intervention could be useful to improve performance on specific indicators. Extending this approach to other non-cardiology healthcare professionals, who usually manage patients with HF, should be considered