Mycotoxins nivalenol and deoxynivalenol differently modulate cytokine mRNA expression in Jurkat T cells.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) and its hydroxylated form nivalenol (NIV) are Fusarium mycotoxins that occur in cereal grains alone or in combination. Several studies have shown that these metabolites affect lymphocyte functions. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their activities are still partially known. To address this issue, we examined the influence of NIV and DON in modulating IFNc, IL-2 and IL-8 mRNA levels in Jurkat T cells. In PMA/ionomycin stimulated cells, pre-incubated with increasing concentrations of NIV, transcription was induced in the range 0.06–2 lM; higher concentrations of NIV were found non-stimulating (4 lM) or inhibitory (8 lM) for IFNc and IL-2 whereas IL-8 was still induced. DON administration elicited a similar profile for IL-8 and IFNc, whilst IL-2 mRNA was induced in a broader range of concentrations. Combination of NIV and DON at 1:1 and 1:10 ratios essentially restored the cytokine transcriptional pattern observed with NIV alone but the level of transcripts, with the exception of IL-8, peaked at lower concentrations suggesting interactive effects. Moreover both mycotoxins caused inhibition of cell proliferation, mediated by induction of apoptosis, confirming previous results and highlighting the usefulness of Jurkat as a T-cell model to study the effects of mycotoxins on the immune functions in humans

Physico‐chemical and nutritional characteristics of einkorn flour cookies

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) is a diploid wheat whose kernels are rich in proteins, carotenoids, tocols, phenolic acids, and trace minerals. Our research analyzed the physico\u2010chemical and nutritional characteristics of einkorn cookies prepared from refined flour of two einkorns (ID1395 and Monlis) and one common wheat (Blasco). The traits analyzed were color, size, and surface texture (Image Analysis); inner texture (Bending and Penetration tests); carotenoids and tocols content and composition; furosine, glucosylisomaltol, and hydroxymethylfurfural as heat damage indices (HPLC). Einkorn cookies were thinner, larger, slightly darker, with smoother surface, and higher breaking resistance than the control cookies. Furthermore, they had more carotenoids (5.0 vs. 2.2 mg/kg DM) and showed less heat damage (188.5 vs. 242.4 mg furosine/100 g protein) than common wheat cookies. Room\u2010temperature storage under dark in sealed plastic containers led to a decrease in lutein (8%\u201317%) and furosine (20%) and an increase in hardness, especially in einkorn cookies. Practical applications To satisfy the ever\u2010increasing interest of the consumers in foods with better nutritional characteristics, the food industry is continuously exploring new formulations. Einkorn is a very promising candidate because of the outstanding composition of its flour. However, little information is available on sweet\u2010baked goods from einkorn. Our results clearly demonstrate that this wheat is perfect, from both the technological and the composition aspects, for preparing high nutritional value cookies with better nutraceutical properties than standard bread wheat cookies. Therefore, the food industry can directly use einkorn as an input ingredient for sweet\u2010baked goods using current production methods

A study on the quality of einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) pasta

The continuous increase of pasta consumption is favoured by the availability of new products, manufactured from non-traditional cereals. Einkorn is a diploid relative of durum and bread wheats, appreciated for its high protein, carotenoid and tocol contents, and for its excellent organoleptic characteristics. Aim of this research was to assess its suitability for pasta production and the quality of its products. The dry einkorn pasta differed from durum wheat pasta for most of the traits, including dimensions, carotenoids content, colour and image analysis parameters. During cooking the pasta from einkorn flours was significantly less firm but had lower cooking losses, probably for a better structure of the gluten matrix. Compression-extrusion tests evidenced, at equal cooking times, significant differences between pasta samples. Among einkorns, ID331 and SAL98-32 showed firmness values similar to durum wheat pasta. Pasta manufacturing led to a significant decrease in lutein and a limited increase in heat damage, but cooking did not induce any further changes. Overall, einkorn pasta had similar technological characteristics but better nutritional value than the control durum wheat pasta

Contralateral delayed endolymphatic hydrops: Clinical features and long term outcome

Background: Contralateral delayed endolymphatic hydrops (CDEH) is a clinical entity characterized by fluctuating low frequency hearing loss and/or vertigo, mimicking Ménière's disease (MD), that manifests after the appearance of severe non-hydropic hearing loss (NHHL) at the other ear. Objectives: to describe the clinical features and the course of 57 patients affected by CDEH. Method: this is a retrospective study; 57 patients affected by CDEH, out of 1065 patients seen in the same period and affected by MD, were subjected to otoscopy, PTA threshold evaluation, impedance testing, ABR, research of positioning nystagmus, vestibular function evaluated by means of bithermal caloric test under video-oculographic, and MRI with gadolinium. Results: the CDEH was definite in 24 cases (42%), probable in 2 (4%) and possible in 31 (54%). The mean PTA threshold at the hydropic ear was 41 dB. At the last follow-up, 40 patients (70%) did not report vertigo or fluctuating hearing loss. Among the 17 patients who still reported symptomatology, 11 (64%) were affected by fluctuating hearing loss alone, 4 (23%) reported a subjective worsening of hearing loss and 2 (12%) an acute vertigo crisis. Conclusions: contralateral delayed endolymphatic hydrops is a relatively rare form of Ménière disease that manifests more frequently as a definite form or with fluctuating low-frequency hearing loss. The prognosis at a long term follow-up is relatively good in terms of vertigo resolution. Contralateral delayed endolymphatic hydrops rarely determines a severe hearing loss in the better ear

Propranolol does not affect the oxidative burst of rat neutrophils or complement serum opsonizing capacity in in vivo and in vitro experiments

Propranolol is a ß-adrenergic antagonist used for the treatment of a variety of cardiac conditions and has a palliative value when used in situations in which adrenergic signals and symptoms are involved. It is used as a co-adjuvant in hyperthyroidism to decrease heart rate and output, as well as the tremor. The aim of this work was to study the effect of propranolol treatment on the oxidative burst of rat peripheral blood neutrophils and on the complement system.In the in vivo study, Wistar male rats were treated with propranolol by gavage for 16 days with 220 or 440 μg/animal/day. These doses are equivalent to 80 or 160 mg/adult human (~70 day/kg), respectively. Neutrophils were obtained and stimulated with opsonized immune complexes (opIC). The oxidative burst of control (from water treated rats) or propranolol-treated rat cells was measured by luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (CL). The CL of treated rat neutrophils was not affected by any of the propranolol doses studied when compared to the control responses.In the in vitro study whole blood and serum from Wistar male rats were incubated for 1 h at 37C° with propranolol at three different concentrations (17.5, 35 and 70 μg/mL). After incubation, neutrophils were isolated from whole blood and stimulated with opIC while treated sera were used to opsonize IC. IC opsonized with treated sera were used to stimulate neutrophils from normal rats. In both cases oxidative burst was measured by luminol- and lucigenin-dependent CL. No differences in responses or activities were detected between in vitro treated neutrophils or sera and their respective controls.These results suggest that this drug, at the concentrations studied and with the experimental approach used, had no effect on the oxidative burst during phagocytosis of opIC or on the complement opsonization capacity of the sera

Receptors for immunoglobulin G (FcyR)

Os receptores para IgG fazem uma importante ligação entre as respostas imunes humoral e celular. Estes receptores medeiam várias respostas biológicas tais como: fagocitose, endocitose, captura e clearance de imunocomplexos, citotoxicidade e liberação de mediadores inflamatórios. Os FcyR humanos pertencem à superfamília das imunoglobulinas e três classes principais destes receptores são descritas, as quais apresentam várias isoformas. Estas moléculas diferem quanto à afinidade e especificidade para os isotipos de IgG, distribuição celular, sinalização intracelular e pesos moleculares. Além disso, o polimorfismo genético é responsável por variações entre os indivíduos. A diversidade estrutural e funcional dos FcyR faz destas moléculas importantes alvos para a imunoterapia. A ativação e desativação de células efetoras via FcyR pode ser explorada para o desenvolvimento de novas terapias para o câncer, doenças infecciosas e desordens auto-imunes. Esta revisão descreve detalhes estruturais e funcionais, relevância clínica e alguns usos terapêuticos dos FcyR.Receptors for immunoglobulin G (FcyR) provide an important link between the humoral and cellular branches of the immune response. These receptors can trigger a variety of biological responses such as phagocytosis, endocytosis, capture and clearance of immune complexes, antibody-dependent cell citotoxicity and release of inflammatory mediators. Human FcyR belong to the Ig superfamily and three classes of these receptors are distinguished specifying many receptor isoforms. These molecules differ in affinity and specificity for IgG isotypes, cell distribution patterns, intracellular signal delivery and molecular weights. Moreover, the genetic polymorphism introduces variations among individuals. The structural and functional diversity makes these receptors potential targets for immunotherapy. Activation and deactivation of effector cells via FcyR can be exploited to develop novel therapies for cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune disorders. This review describes structural and functional details, clinical relevance and some therapeutic use of the FcyR molecules.  &nbsp

Glutathione infusion before primary percutaneous coronary intervention: A randomised controlled pilot study

Objective: In the setting of reperfused ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to reperfusion injury. Among ROS, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) showed toxic effects on human cardiomyocytes and may induce microcirculatory impairment. Glutathione (GSH) is a water-soluble tripeptide with a potent oxidant scavenging activity. We hypothesised that the infusion of GSH before acute reoxygenation might counteract the deleterious effects of increased H2O2 generation on myocardium. Methods: Fifty consecutive patients with STEMI, scheduled to undergo primary angioplasty, were randomly assigned, before intervention, to receive an infusion of GSH (2500 mg/25 mL over 10 min), followed by drug administration at the same doses at 24, 48 and 72 hours elapsing time or placebo. Peripheral blood samples were obtained before and at the end of the procedure, as well as after 5 days. H2O2 production, 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) formation, H2O2 breakdown activity (HBA) and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability were determined. Serum cardiactroponin T (cTpT) was measured at admission and up to 5 days. Results: Following acute reperfusion, a significant reduction of H2O2 production (p=0.0015) and 8-iso-PGF2α levels (p=0.0003), as well as a significant increase in HBA (p<0.0001)and NO bioavailability (p=0.035), was found in the GSH group as compared with placebo. In treated patients, attenuated production of H2O2 persisted up to 5 days from the index procedure (p=0.009) and these changes was linked to those of the cTpT levels (r=0.41, p=0.023). Conclusion: The prophylactic and prolonged infusion of GSH seems to determine a rapid onset and persistent blunting of H2O2 generation improving myocardial cell survival. Nevertheless, a larger trial, adequately powered for evaluation of clinical endpoints, is ongoing to confirm the current finding

Rheological properties and baking performance of new waxy lines : Strengths and weaknesses

In Western countries, the use of waxy wheat in bread-making is gaining interest in view of extending the shelf-life of bread, avoiding the use of additives. Considering the high impact of the environment on wheat properties, selection of waxy lines able to adapt to a particular environment is highly recommended. In this frame, the behavior of three new Italian waxy lines (IW) were compared with that of two waxy lines breeded in United States (USW). Compared to USW, two out of three IW lines exhibited better mixing properties in terms of higher tolerance to mechanical stress (stability and softness index). IW dough showed similar water absorption, stickiness values and visco-elasticity (G\u2032 and G\u2033) compared to USW samples. On the other hand, the waxy wheat lines adapted to the Italian environmental conditions showed a more developed loaf volume with respect to USW lines. The difficulties in dough handling that is typical of waxy wheat when used alone could be partially solved using waxy wheat in combination with non-waxy flours

Influence of packaging material on bread characteristics during ageing

One of the priorities of today's bread-making industry is to find suitable packaging solutions to satisfy the peculiar requirements of bread, mostly appreciated by Italian consumers for its crispy crust. The packaging material should allow for both rapid heat exchange with the environment and water vapour evaporation to prevent condensation inside the package. Perforated orientated polypropylene (OPP) films are currently the best materials available for satisfying the industry's requirements. Recently, our group demonstrated that bread wrapping with perforated films is efficacious against bread contamination. The aim of this work was to verify whether these types of films could also influence the trend of phenomena related to product ageing. In particular, variations in the moisture inside the loaf during storage and their influence on changes in crumb softness were investigated. Three OPP films and one double-layer film bag with different hole size characteristics were chosen for this study and their performances were compared with those of a paper bag. Because of the considerable differences in the hole size characteristics, the films showed very different barrier effects to water evaporation. The C250 OPP film (hole mean diameter= 0.54mm and density 21.4 holes/cm(2)) played an interesting role in modulating moisture variations. Wrapping bread in this film enabled both crust crispness and crumb softness to be maintained during 48 h of storage. Such performances cannot effectively be obtained by using alternative industrial bread packaging materials, such as paper bags. Copyright (c) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Modulatory effects of rutin on biochemical and hematological parameters in hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters

Flavonoids have been reported to exhibit several pharmacological properties, mainly in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we observed that rutin, a known glycosylated flavonoid isolated from Dimorphandra mollis, had a lowering effect on plasma triglyceride levels of diet-induced hypercholesterolemic Golden Syrian hamsters, but did not change total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Moreover, high-fat or rutin supplemented diets showed no immunotoxic effects, since no significant changes were observed on total white blood cells, granulocytes and mononuclear cells, as well as on the neutrophil apoptosis degree, when compared to untreated animals. Therefore, rutin seems to be a selective and non-toxic modulator of hypercholesterolemia, which can be promising for the development of new drugs.Os flavonóides possuem diversas propriedades farmacológicas, principalmente nas doenças cardiovasculares e inflamatórias. No presente estudo, observamos que a rutina, um conhecido flavonóide glicosilado isolado da Dimorphandra mollis, diminuiu o nível de triglicerídeos plasmáticos em hamsters Golden Syrian hipercolesterolêmicos sem alterar os níveis de colesterol total e colesterol HDL. Além disso, observamos que dietas hipercolesterolêmicas ou suplementadas com rutina não apresentaram efeito imunotóxico, uma vez que nenhuma alteração significativa foi observada nos leucócitos totais, granulócitos e células mononucleares, bem como no grau de neutrófilos em apoptose, quando comparado com animais não tratados. Portanto, a rutina parece ser um modulador seletivo e não tóxico da hipercolesterolemia, o que pode ser promissor para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), São Paulo State, Brazi