An angio-tomographic approach to the study of the variation of the middle meningeal artery in humans

Introduction. The middle meningeal artery usually enters the endocranial cavity through the foramen spinosum, running within the dura mater and developing a vascular network on the frontal, parietal, and occipital surfaces of the brain. Little information is available on its morphogenesis and variation in human populations or within primates (Falk 1993). Its imprints on the endocranial walls can be recognised on fossil specimens, allowing inferences on the evolution of this vascular system. While extinct human species display a limited reticulation of this vessels, Homo sapiens shows a definite increase of its complexity (Bruner et al., 2005). Current hypotheses on the evolution of a complex meningeal vascularisation in our species include biomechanical protection and thermoregulation of the brain surface (Bruner et al., 2011). Taking into account the limited knowledge on the variation of this arterial network, this study is aimed at quantifying individual differences in the branching patterns, as well as at investigating the spatial relationships between middle meningeal arteries, cerebral arteries, and neurocranial bones. Methods. Angio-tomography and digital anatomy are used to reconstruct in vivo the meningeal vascular system in 37 individuals with age spanning from 20 to 85 years. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the cerebral and meningeal vascular systems have been computed by using Mimics 11.1 (Materialise Software). Variations in basic branching patterns have been described by standard anatomical approaches, as well as by using standard morphometrics. Complexity of the branching pattern has been quantified also by using fractal approaches (Zamir 1999). Results. Anatomical descriptions and metrics are reported for different age classes, sexes, and hemispheres, providing mean values and ranges of distribution accounting for the vascular patterns. Conclusions. Although the middle meningeal network shows a variable and complex geometry, its spatial organization can be quantified in terms of branching patterns and topological relationships with the neurocranial elements. This information allows to test evolutionary hypothesis by quantifying individual or between-groups differences. At the same time this information is helpful in biomedical and neurosurgical context, providing statistical values for the position and distribution of the vessels

Indici per la valutazione della qualit? ecologica dei laghi

Collection of methods to evaluate lake quality using biological element

Study of enriched olive oil with high nutritional and biological value: olives and hazelnuts co-pressing

Olive oil is the main source of fat in the Mediterranean diet and its consumption has been related to a low incidence of coronary heart disease and certain cancers. These protective effects are attributed mainly to two fundamental components of oilve oil: monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and antioxidant substances. Also nuts are included in healthy diets and, among them, hazelnuts (Corylus avellana L.) are very interesting as a source of nutritious food with a high content of functional lipids. Hazelnut\u2019s benefits are mainly related to its fatty acid composition, rich in MUFA, tryacylglycerol profile, tocopherols and other bioactive compounds like phytorterol and polyphenols. On the basis of these considerations the aim of this work was to investigate the quality of an olive oil obtained by a co-pressing of olives and hazelnuts. In particular, three different samples were studied: olive oil obtained crushing 0% (O), 5% (O5N) and 10% (O10N) of hazelnuts. Classical methods based on gas-chromatography (GC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) have been used for fatty acid, tryacylglycerol, phytosterol and tocopherol characterization. No significant differences were noticed among the three olive oils, except for phytosterols. The small components 7-stigmastenol and 7-avenasterol, charatcteristic of the hazelnut sterol profile, were found to be present in higher amount in samples O5N and O10N than the simple olive oil Besides, the samples were also analysed by FT-MIR spectroscopy in the frequency range 1500 -900 cm-1. The FT-MIR spectra were processed by using principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares regression (PLS). The first one was used to discriminate the sample oils with different content ofhazelnut, instead the second one was employed to predict tocopherol and tryacylglycerol content (R2 up to 0.87 in cross verification

Aromatic profile determination of different italian peach and nectarine cultivars by SPME-GC-MS

Italy has always produced great quality peaches and nectarines. These fruits could be with white or yellow flesh and have very distinct sensory profile. For this reason, the aim of this work was a screening and comparison of different peach and nectarine cultivars of the Emilia-Romagna area, in order to give a pattern recognition of these varieties from their volatile compounds. In particular, four white peaches varieties (“Buco Incavato”, “Bella di Cesena”, “Rosa del West”, “S. Anna Balducci”), two white nectarines varieties (“Magique” and “Romagna Red”) and one yellow nectarine variety (“Big Top”) were analysed. The aromatic compounds of the investigated cultivars were extracted by headspace solid phase microextraction (SPME), using a DVB/CAR/PDMS fiber and identified with a gas chromatograph (GC) coupled to a mass spectrometer (MS). Seventeen characteristic peach aroma compounds were identified and quantified using 1-octanol as internal standard. Both in white and yellow nectarines, 2-hexenal was the preponderant compounds, followed by hexanal, 1-hexanol, 3-hexenyl acetate, 2-hexenol and 2-hexenyl acetate. On the other hand, in white peaches the most abundant compound was hexanal, followed by 2-hexenal, 3- hexenyl acetate and 2-hexenyl acetate. Bella di Cesena was the only variety that showed a considerable linalool concentration. Besides, for “Buco Incavato” and “Big Top” the effect of ripening on the volatile components was also evaluated. The results show that maturation affects the volatile profile of peaches and nectarines: both in “Buco Incavato” and “Big Top” the aroma compound concentration decreased from first to the last harvest time. In particular, in the “Big Top” sample was observed an increase of the aroma profile at second harvest time, before the decrease at third and final harvest time

Effect of Fermentation with Different Lactic Acid Bacteria Starter Cultures on Biogenic Amine Content and Ripening Patterns in Dry Fermented Sausages

In the present study, two different diameter (small and large) Milano-type dry fermented sausages were industrially produced to evaluate the effect of two different LAB starter cultures (Lactobacillus sakei and Pediococcus pentosaceus) on biogenic amines (BAs) content, proteolysis, and lipolysis taking place during both fermentation and ripening. With regard to BAs, putrescine and tyramine were mostly found in fermented sausages having large diameter and those inoculated with P. pentosaceus/S. xylosus exhibited significantly higher accumulation of these compounds. Overall, the small size sausages showed a more pronounced proteolysis taking place during processing. In addition, aside from the distinctive electrophoretic bands detected with both starter cultures, a more pronounced proteolysis and a faster protein hydrolysis was observed in salami inoculated with P. pentosaceus/S. xylosus. As for lipolysis, a significantly higher amount of diacylglycerols was observed at the end of ripening in the sausages inoculated with L. sakei/S. xylosus, which concurrently exhibited an increased D32, D34, and D36 series. The results of the present study confirms profound differences in BAs concentration, proteolysis, and lipolysis. These findings are strictly dependent on the starter cultures, which demonstrates that the choice of an appropriate starter optimized for peculiar products and processes should be the key factor to improve safety and quality features of traditional fermented sausages

Ambulatory pulse pressure, left ventricular hypertrophy and function in arterial hypertension

Background: A wide pulse pressure (PP) can provide important risk assessment information about myocardial infarction, carotid artery atherosclerosis, and global cardiovascular risk. Ambulatory pulse pressure (APP) does not have a well-known prognostic value in hypertensive patients. Methods: To evaluate the relationship among high APP, atrial volumes, and cardiac function, an observational study was performed on 108 untreated nonelderly hypertensive patients (mean age 54.23 +/- 7.12). Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, Doppler and echocardiographic measurements of systolic, diastolic function, left and right atrial volumes, left ventricular mass index and dimensions, were performed in subjects with both clinic and APP > 60 mmHg (APP1 Group). A control group of hypertensive selected subjects with both clinic and APP < 60 mmHg was chosen (APP 2 Group). Results: The APP1 group showed left atrial volume enlargement, high left ventricular mass index, and impaired diastolic function. A positive correlation was found in the APP1 group results among left ventricular end diastolic diameter (r = 0.39, P < 0.01), left atrial volume (0.38, P < 0.05), and left ventricular mass index (r = 0.33, P < 0.05); clinic PP showed a statistically significant correlation with left atrial volume, left ventricular end diastolic diameter, and left ventricular mass index only in the APP1 group. Conclusions: These results suggest that elevated APP can be considered an effective predictor of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive subjects. In these patients echocardiographic evaluation of left ventricular function and morphology can increase the prognostic value of PP