Quality improvement of a white and a red wine with less sulphur dioxide by the addition of a mixture of glutathione, caffeic acid and gallic acid

The effect of a mixture of glutathione, caffeic acid and gallic acid, at 20 mg/L, 60 mg/L and 20 mg/L respectively, on the quality of a white and a red wine with less than the typical SO2 was studied. The mixture was added in Vinho Verde white wine containing 20 mg/L free SO2 at bottling. Wine quality was evaluated in comparison with wine with 20 mg/L and control wine with typical (35 mg/L) free SO2. By the storage time, wine in which the mixture was added appeared to be of better quality than that with 20 mg/L free SO2. It exhibited higher scores in sensory attributes and lower degree of oxidation as indicated by the chromatic characteristics L*, b* and C*. Wine with typical SO2 exhibited higher scores in sensory analysis than the others. The same mixture was also added into a Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend red wine at bottling. Wine quality was evaluated during storage in comparison with wine with 25 mg/L and control wine with typical (35 mg/L) free SO2. By the storage time, wine in which the mixture was added appeared to be of better sensory quality than that with 25 mg/L free SO2. Moreover, it exhibited higher concentrations of some aroma esters compared to wine with less SO2, similar to those of wine with typical SO2, as determined by SPME/GC-MS analysis. Wine with typical SO2 exhibited better aroma than the others

Sexuality and Body Image After Uterine Artery Embolization and Hysterectomy in the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids: A Randomized Comparison

In this paper the effect of uterine artery embolization (UAE) on sexual functioning and body image is investigated in a randomized comparison to hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids. The EMbolization versus hysterectoMY (EMMY) trial is a randomized controlled study, conducted at 28 Dutch hospitals. Patients were allocated hysterectomy (n = 89) or UAE (n = 88). Two validated questionnaires (the Sexual Activity Questionnaire [SAQ] and the Body Image Scale [BIS]) were completed by all patients at baseline, 6 weeks, and 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after treatment. Repeated measurements on SAQ scores revealed no differences between the groups. There was a trend toward improved sexual function in both groups at 2 years, although this failed to reach statistical significance except for the dimensions discomfort and habit in the UAE arm. Overall quality of sexual life deteriorated in a minority of cases at all time points, with no significant differences between the groups (at 24 months: UAE, 29.3%, versus hysterectomy, 23.5%; p = 0.32). At 24 months the BIS score had improved in both groups compared to baseline, but the change was only significant in the UAE group (p = 0.009). In conclusion, at 24 months no differences in sexuality and body image were observed between the UAE and the hysterectomy group. On average, both after UAE and hysterectomy sexual functioning and body image scores improved, but significantly so only after UAE

Advances in structure elucidation of small molecules using mass spectrometry

The structural elucidation of small molecules using mass spectrometry plays an important role in modern life sciences and bioanalytical approaches. This review covers different soft and hard ionization techniques and figures of merit for modern mass spectrometers, such as mass resolving power, mass accuracy, isotopic abundance accuracy, accurate mass multiple-stage MS(n) capability, as well as hybrid mass spectrometric and orthogonal chromatographic approaches. The latter part discusses mass spectral data handling strategies, which includes background and noise subtraction, adduct formation and detection, charge state determination, accurate mass measurements, elemental composition determinations, and complex data-dependent setups with ion maps and ion trees. The importance of mass spectral library search algorithms for tandem mass spectra and multiple-stage MS(n) mass spectra as well as mass spectral tree libraries that combine multiple-stage mass spectra are outlined. The successive chapter discusses mass spectral fragmentation pathways, biotransformation reactions and drug metabolism studies, the mass spectral simulation and generation of in silico mass spectra, expert systems for mass spectral interpretation, and the use of computational chemistry to explain gas-phase phenomena. A single chapter discusses data handling for hyphenated approaches including mass spectral deconvolution for clean mass spectra, cheminformatics approaches and structure retention relationships, and retention index predictions for gas and liquid chromatography. The last section reviews the current state of electronic data sharing of mass spectra and discusses the importance of software development for the advancement of structure elucidation of small molecules

Development of Enriched Oil with Polyphenols Extracted from Olive Mill Wastewater

The extraction of olive oil produces significant residual olive-mill wastewater (OMW). The composition of OMW varies according to the type of olive, the fruit’s ripeness level, and the extraction method (traditional one-pressing system or continuous systems based on centrifugation of the olive pulp). In olive-producing countries, OMW is important for the environment and the economy and is also a low-cost source of polyphenolic compounds with high antioxidant properties. Olive oil’s properties, such as its anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and immunological modulator effects, have been attributed to its polyphenols. In this study, the cloud point extraction (CPE) method was used to recover polyphenolic compounds from OMW. The total micellar phase of the three recoveries was 24.2% and the total polyphenols (after sonication) was 504 mg GAE/Kg. Furthermore, the addition of polyphenols recovered from OMW enhanced the olive oil and extended its shelf life without changing its organoleptic properties. There was a 42.2% change in polyphenols after 0.5% enrichment of micellar dispersions. Thus, it is suggested that the CPE method could lead to better waste management in the olive oil industry and improve the nutritional quality of food products

Novel interactions of Selenium Binding Protein family with the PICOT containing proteins AtGRXS14 and AtGRXS16 in Arabidopsis thaliana

During abiotic stress the primary symptom of phytotoxicity can be ROS production which is strictly regulated by ROS scavenging pathways involving enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Furthermore, ROS are well-described secondary messengers of cellular processes, while during the course of evolution, plants have accomplished high degree of control over ROS and used them as signalling molecules. Glutaredoxins (GRXs) are small and ubiquitous glutathione (GSH) -or thioredoxin reductase (TR)-dependent oxidoreductases belonging to the thioredoxin (TRX) superfamily which are conserved in most eukaryotes and prokaryotes. In Arabidopsis thaliana GRXs are subdivided into four classes playing a central role in oxidative stress responses and physiological functions. In this work, we describe a novel interaction of AtGRXS14 with the Selenium Binding Protein 1 (AtSBP1), a protein proposed to be integrated in a regulatory network that senses alterations in cellular redox state and acts towards its restoration. We further show that SBP protein family interacts with AtGRXS16 that also contains a PICOT domain, like AtGRXS14. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

RNAi silencing of the Arabidopsis thaliana ULCS1 gene results in pleiotropic phenotypes during plant growth and development

WD40-repeat-containing proteins (WDRs) are highly abundant in all eukaryotes. Several have been implicated as subunits of multi-protein CRL E3 ligase complexes that regulate ubiquitination mediated protein degradation and thus various cellular and developmental processes. Impairment of the WDR protein ULCS1 from Arabidopsis causes pleiotropic phenotypes during plant development, including reduced lignification, anther indehiscence, and sterility. Here we show that RNAi-mediated downregulation of ULCS1 results in a fast-growing phenotype during vegetative development. Due to accelerated growth, ulcs1i mutants reach their vegetative to reproductive transition point earlier than WT plants. However, their comparable germination rate and their similar number of secondary branches and rosette leaves at bolting indicate that ulcs1i is not an early flowering time mutant. GUS staining of progeny, obtained from crosses between ulcs1i and CYCB1::GUS plants, revealed an increased number of mitotic cell divisions in the root meristems of ulcs1i compared to WT. Immunolabeling of homogalacturonans (HGAs) epitopes showed significant fluorescent signal differences at the cell walls and the mucilage of the seeds between ulcs1i and WT. Furthermore, we demonstrate that ULCS1 interacts with the UBA-like protein in a yeast two-hybrid assay, suggesting a direct or indirect physical coupling of these proteins in Arabidopsis