50 research outputs found
Industrial processing affects product yield and quality of diced tomato
The tomato industry has been searching for new genotypes with improved fruit production,
both in the field and industrially processed, together with high-quality performance under sustainable
management conditions. This research was carried out in Southern Italy with the aim of assessing
the effects of industrial processing on the yield and quality of four tomato hybrids grown according
to organic farming methods and addressed at dicing. MAX 14111 and HMX 4228 showed the highest
values of field and processing yield as well as reduced sugars and fructose. MAX 14111 had the
highest values of total solids and soluble solids, titratable acidity, fiber, energetic value, polyphenols,
and also rutin, though not significantly different from Impact. HMX 4228 performed best in terms
of sugar ratio, color and naringenin. Concerning the diced products, the sensorial qualities of the
four hybrids differed significantly. Total polyphenols, naringenin and rutin in the tomato fruits were
higher in the processed than in the raw product. The appreciable fruit yield and quality resulting
from both field and processing phase represent a promising perspective for identifying improved
tomato genotypes addressed at dicing
Human CD34+/CD90+ ASCs Are Capable of Growing as Sphere Clusters, Producing High Levels of VEGF and Forming Capillaries
Background: Human adult adipose tissue is an abundant source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Moreover, it is an easily
accessible site producing a considerable amount of stem cells.
Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we have selected and characterized stem cells within the stromal vascular
fraction (SVF) of human adult adipose tissue with the aim of understanding their differentiation capabilities and
performance. We have found, within the SVF, different cell populations expressing MSC markers – including CD34, CD90,
CD29, CD44, CD105, and CD117 – and endothelial-progenitor-cell markers – including CD34, CD90, CD44, and CD54.
Interestingly, CD34+/CD90+ cells formed sphere clusters, when placed in non-adherent growth conditions. Moreover, they
showed a high proliferative capability, a telomerase activity that was significantly higher than that found in differentiated
cells, and contained a fraction of cells displaying the phenotype of a side population. When cultured in adipogenic medium,
CD34+/CD90+ quickly differentiated into adipocytes. In addition, they differentiated into endothelial cells (CD31+/VEGF+/Flk-
1+) and, when placed in methylcellulose, were capable of forming capillary-like structures producing a high level of VEGF, as
substantiated with ELISA tests.
Conclusions/Significance: Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that CD34+/CD90+ cells of human adipose tissue are
capable of forming sphere clusters, when grown in free-floating conditions, and differentiate in endothelial cells that form
capillary-like structures in methylcellulose. These cells might be suitable for tissue reconstruction in regenerative medicine,
especially when patients need treatments for vascular disease
The Sex-Specific Detrimental Effect of Diabetes and Gender-Related Factors on Pre-admission Medication Adherence Among Patients Hospitalized for Ischemic Heart Disease: Insights From EVA Study
Background: Sex and gender-related factors have been under-investigated as relevant determinants of health outcomes across non-communicable chronic diseases. Poor medication adherence results in adverse clinical outcomes and sex differences have been reported among patients at high cardiovascular risk, such as diabetics. The effect of diabetes and gender-related factors on medication adherence among women and men at high risk for ischemic heart disease (IHD) has not yet been fully investigated.Aim: To explore the role of sex, gender-related factors, and diabetes in pre-admission medication adherence among patients hospitalized for IHD.Materials and Methods: Data were obtained from the Endocrine Vascular disease Approach (EVA) (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02737982), a prospective cohort of patients admitted for IHD. We selected patients with baseline information regarding the presence of diabetes, cardiovascular risk factors, and gender-related variables (i.e., gender identity, gender role, gender relations, institutionalized gender). Our primary outcome was the proportion of pre-admission medication adherence defined through a self-reported questionnaire. We performed a sex-stratified analysis of clinical and gender-related factors associated with pre-admission medication adherence.Results: Two-hundred eighty patients admitted for IHD (35% women, mean age 70), were included. Around one-fourth of the patients were low-adherent to therapy before hospitalization, regardless of sex. Low-adherent patients were more likely diabetic (40%) and employed (40%). Sex-stratified analysis showed that low-adherent men were more likely to be employed (58 vs. 33%) and not primary earners (73 vs. 54%), with more masculine traits of personality, as compared with medium-high adherent men. Interestingly, women reporting medication low-adherence were similar for clinical and gender-related factors to those with medium-high adherence, except for diabetes (42 vs. 20%, p = 0.004). In a multivariate adjusted model only employed status was associated with poor medication adherence (OR 0.55, 95%CI 0.31–0.97). However, in the sex-stratified analysis, diabetes was independently associated with medication adherence only in women (OR 0.36; 95%CI 0.13–0.96), whereas a higher masculine BSRI was the only factor associated with medication adherence in men (OR 0.59, 95%CI 0.35–0.99).Conclusion: Pre-admission medication adherence is common in patients hospitalized for IHD, regardless of sex. However, patient-related factors such as diabetes, employment, and personality traits are associated with adherence in a sex-specific manner
Strategie sperimentali applicabili nella terapia oncologica del sistema nervoso
Dottorato di ricerca in neuroscienze. 10 ciclo. A.a. 1994-97Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - Biblioteca Centrale - P.le Aldo Moro, 7 Rome; Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale - P.za Cavalleggeri, 1, Florence / CNR - Consiglio Nazionale delle RichercheSIGLEITItal
Perspectives on biotechnological applications of archaea
Many archaea colonize extreme environments. They include
hyperthermophiles, sulfur-metabolizing thermophiles, extreme
halophiles and methanogens. Because extremophilic microorganisms have
unusual properties, they are a potentially valuable resource in the
development of novel biotechnological processes. Despite extensive
research, however, there are few existing industrial applications of
either archaeal biomass or archaeal enzymes. This review summarizes
current knowledge about the biotechnological uses of archaea and
archaeal enzymes with special attention to potential applications that
are the subject of current experimental evaluation. Topics covered
include cultivation methods, recent achievements in genomics, which
are of key importance for the development of new biotechnological
tools, and the application of wild-type biomasses, engineered
microorganisms, enzymes and specific metabolites in particular
bioprocesses of industrial interest
New Trends in Antioxidant Compounds: A Precise Nutraceutical in Cardiometabolic Disorders
no abstract availabl