Experimental Study of the Effects of Three Types of Meat on Endothelial Function in a Group of Healthy Volunteers

Background: There is a relationship between atherosclerotic risk factors and increased vascular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidized LDL and ROS may directly cause endothelial dysfunction by reducing endothelial nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. The semi-essential amino acid L-arginine is the only substrate for NO synthesis in vascular endothelial cells. Therefore, this amino acid improves endothelial function and plays a role in the prevention and/or treatment of multiple cardiovascular diseases: atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes and so on. To determine the effects of three different protein matrices (250 g Fillet of Beef, FB; Chicken Raised on the Ground, CRG; Free-Range Chicken, FRC) with a known content of arginine on the cardiovascular workload, vascular compliance and urinary excretion of some parameters of endothelial function as TGF–Beta, NO (nitrate e nitrite) in a group of healthy volunteers. Materials and methods: We enrolled 10 men to study the behavior of Systolic, Diastolic, Mean, and Pulse Blood Pressure, of Vascular Resistances, of Macro and Micro Vascular Elasticity, of urinary excretion of TGF-β and Nitric Oxide as ratio of creatinine before and after two hours of each meal. The cardiovascular parameters are determined by HDI/Pulse Wave CR 2000 (Hypertension Diagnostic Inc, Eagan, MN); TGF-β is analysed by Elisa method (R&D Systems) and NO by colorimetric method (Cayman). Results and Conclusion: The protein meal packed with CRG causes a significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure mean pressure and vascular resistance in urinary excretion of TGF. FB resulted in a significant decrease in vascular resistance and urinary excretion of NO, while significantly increasing the Pulse Pressure, heart rate and urinary excretion of TGF-β. FRC resulted in a significant reduction of macrovascular elasticity; increase the urinary excretion of TGF and Pulse Pressure. We can conclude that CRG meat looks better both in terms of metabolic and cardiovascular load especially at endothelial level

O cultivo da macieira na Itália: porta-enxertos, cultivares, adubação e irrigação

A Itália é um dos principais países produtores de maçãs na Europa, destinada principalmente ao consumo in natura no mercado nacional e internacional. A produção e a qualidade dos frutos é dependente da cultivar, do porta-enxerto e das práticas de manejo, como a adubação e a irrigação adotado no pomar. Esta revisão tem por objetivo reportar as principais cultivares e porta-enxertos de macieira e o manejo da adubação e irrigação e suas atualizações em pomares de macieira da Itália. Os programas de melhoramento genético nesse país envolveram a seleção de cultivares e porta-enxertos de macieira que permitem a obtenção de altas produtividades e frutos de qualidade exigida pelo mercado consumidor. No manejo da adubação e irrigação, os nutrientes e a água têm sido fornecidos em quantidades próximas a real necessidade das plantas, proporcionando nutrição adequada, produção satisfatória e frutos de boa qualidade, além de evitar, sempre que possível, as perdas de nutrientes e água no ambiente

Population size and decadal trends of three penguin species nesting at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands

We report long-term changes in population size of three species of sympatrically breeding pygoscelid penguins: Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae), chinstrap (Pygoscelis antarctica) and gentoo (Pygoscelis papua ellsworthii) over a 38 year period at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, based on annual counts from selected colonies and decadal all-island systematic counts of occupied nests. Comparing total numbers of breeding pairs over the whole island from 1978/79 to 2015/16 revealed varying fortunes: gentoo penguin pairs increased by 255%, (3.5% per annum), chinstrap penguins declined by 68% (-3.6% per annum) and Adélie penguins declined by 42% (-1.5% per annum). The chinstrap population has declined steadily over the last four decades. In contrast, Adélie and gentoo penguins have experienced phases of population increase and decline. Annual surveys of selected chinstrap and Adélie colonies produced similar trends from those revealed by island-wide surveys, allowing total island population trends to be inferred relatively well. However, while the annual colony counts of chinstrap and Adélie penguins showed a trend consistent in direction with the results from all-island surveys, the magnitude of estimated population change was markedly different between colony wide and all island counts. Annual population patterns suggest that pair numbers in the study areas partly reflect immigration and emigration of nesting birds between different parts of the island. Breeding success for all three species remained broadly stable over time in the annually monitored colonies. Breeding success rates in gentoo and chinstrap penguins were strongly correlated, despite the differing trends in population size. This study shows the importance of effective, standardised monitoring to accurately determine long-term population trajectories. Our results indicate significant declines in the Adélie and chinstrap penguin populations at Signy Island over the last five decades, and a gradual increase in gentoo breeding pairs

Atrasentan and renal events in patients with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease (SONAR): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Background: Short-term treatment for people with type 2 diabetes using a low dose of the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist atrasentan reduces albuminuria without causing significant sodium retention. We report the long-term effects of treatment with atrasentan on major renal outcomes. Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial at 689 sites in 41 countries. We enrolled adults aged 18–85 years with type 2 diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)25–75 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 of body surface area, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR)of 300–5000 mg/g who had received maximum labelled or tolerated renin–angiotensin system inhibition for at least 4 weeks. Participants were given atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily during an enrichment period before random group assignment. Those with a UACR decrease of at least 30% with no substantial fluid retention during the enrichment period (responders)were included in the double-blind treatment period. Responders were randomly assigned to receive either atrasentan 0·75 mg orally daily or placebo. All patients and investigators were masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was a composite of doubling of serum creatinine (sustained for ≥30 days)or end-stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 mL/min per 1·73 m 2 sustained for ≥90 days, chronic dialysis for ≥90 days, kidney transplantation, or death from kidney failure)in the intention-to-treat population of all responders. Safety was assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of their assigned study treatment. The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01858532. Findings: Between May 17, 2013, and July 13, 2017, 11 087 patients were screened; 5117 entered the enrichment period, and 4711 completed the enrichment period. Of these, 2648 patients were responders and were randomly assigned to the atrasentan group (n=1325)or placebo group (n=1323). Median follow-up was 2·2 years (IQR 1·4–2·9). 79 (6·0%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 105 (7·9%)of 1323 in the placebo group had a primary composite renal endpoint event (hazard ratio [HR]0·65 [95% CI 0·49–0·88]; p=0·0047). Fluid retention and anaemia adverse events, which have been previously attributed to endothelin receptor antagonists, were more frequent in the atrasentan group than in the placebo group. Hospital admission for heart failure occurred in 47 (3·5%)of 1325 patients in the atrasentan group and 34 (2·6%)of 1323 patients in the placebo group (HR 1·33 [95% CI 0·85–2·07]; p=0·208). 58 (4·4%)patients in the atrasentan group and 52 (3·9%)in the placebo group died (HR 1·09 [95% CI 0·75–1·59]; p=0·65). Interpretation: Atrasentan reduced the risk of renal events in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease who were selected to optimise efficacy and safety. These data support a potential role for selective endothelin receptor antagonists in protecting renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes at high risk of developing end-stage kidney disease. Funding: AbbVie

The use of POSS-based nanoadditives for cable-grade PVC: Effects on its thermal stability

Plasticized-Poly(vinyl chloride) (P-PVC) for cables and insulation requires performances related to outdoor, indoor and submarine contexts and reduction of noxious release of HCl-containing fumes in case of thermal degradation or fire. Introducing suitable nanomaterials in polymer-based nanocomposites can be an answer to this clue. In this work, an industry-compliant cable-grade P-PVC formulation was added with nanostructured materials belonging to the family of Polyhedral Oligomeric Silsesquioxane (POSS). The effects of the nanomaterials, alone and in synergy with HCl scavenging agents as zeolites and hydrotalcites, on the thermal stability and HCl evolution of P-PVC were deeply investigated by thermogravimetric analysis and reference ASTM methods. Moreover, hardness and mechanical properties were studied in order to highlight the effects of these additives in the perspective of final industrial uses. The data demonstrated relevant improvements in the thermal stability of the samples added with nanomaterials, already with concentrations of POSS down to 0.31 phr and interesting additive effects of POSS with zeolites and hydrotalcites for HCl release reduction without losing mechanical performances

Water-Soluble Pyrolysis Products as Novel Urease Inhibitors Safe for Plants and Soil Fauna

Water-soluble pyrolysis products from lignocellulosic biomassare nonphytotoxic urease inhibitors useful for agricultural applications.Water-soluble compounds (WS) obtained from the pyrolysisof threelignocellulosic biomasses (larch, poplar, and switchgrass) were testedas potential inhibitors of the enzyme urease. Thanks to the presenceof an array of phenolic compounds like catechol, methoxy/hydroxy phenols,phenolic acids, and phenolic aldehydes, all the WS samples testedat a catechol concentration of 30 mu M inhibited the activityof jack bean urease (JBU) by 60%-70% and by 80% that of ureasenaturally present in the soil. A 10 times lower dose of WS samples(catechol concentration of 3 mu M) inhibited the activity of JBUby 20%, while that of soil urease by 50%, in line with the known inhibitionof N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide(NBPT). The germination rate, early growth, and development of oatwere not affected by any WS sample tested at this lower dose, as wellas the cress germination rate, while the development of cress rootsand shoots was lower than the control presumably because of the lowpH of the tested WS solutions. Earthworm survival was not significantlyaffected by any WS sample tested, but an effect was observed on theability of the eggs to develop into viable newborns

Prime esperienze sulle variet\ue0 Barbera, Syrah e Merlot allevate a COMBI: aspetti agronomici e suscettibilit\ue0 alla meccanizzazione integrale

Il COMBI \ue8 un sistema di allevamento meccanizzabile, costituito da due pareti verticali separate, sostenute da strutture ad U alternate a bracci mobili lungo la fila. Nelle prove di potatura estiva ed invernale, effettuate su varie cultivar allevate a COMBI fino dal 2002, gli interventi sono stati agevolmente eseguiti con una macchina a barre di taglio multiple. Nella vendemmia, sperimentalmente effettuata nel 2004 con una macchina a scuotimento verticale sulle variet\ue0 Barbera, Bonarda, Merlot, Sangiovese e Syrah, l\u2019elevata capacit\ue0 di oscillazione del COMBI ha permesso un completo distacco dell\u2019uva ed una ottima qualit\ue0 del vendemmiato, privo di impurit\ue0, con acini integri e pochissimo mosto libero. Alle prove di vendemmia hanno fatto seguito, nel biennio 2006-2007, rilievi agronomici specifici su tre di tali variet\ue0 (Barbera, Merlot e Syrah), le cui viti erano omogenee per et\ue0 (7 anni) e per sesti di impianto (3,5 m tra le file per 0,5 m sulla fila). I principali risultati produttivi e qualitativi sono stati: Barbera: resa 3,6 kg/m (20,5 t/ha), \ub0Brix 22,1, pH 3,2 e acidit\ue0 tot. 10,1 g/l; Merlot: resa 2,6 kg/m (14,8 t/ha), \ub0Brix 22,9, pH 3,5 e acidit\ue0 tot. 6,3 g/l; Syrah: resa 3 kg/m (17,1 t/ha), \ub0Brix 22,3, pH 3,4 e acidit\ue0 tot. 6,5 g/l

Vite: prove di coltivazione con il metodo biodinamico

Il lavoro riporta alcuni risultati di un progetto di durata poliennale sugli effetti del metodo di coltivazione biodinamico sulla fertilità del suolo, sulla qualità delle uve e del vino, sulla resistenza delle viti ai patogeni