609 research outputs found

    Postharvest Ozone Fumigation of Grapes (cv Sangiovese) Differently Affects Volatile Organic Compounds and Polyphenol Profiles of Berries and Wine

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    Consumers are more and more oriented towards the purchase of safer food and beverages, which is pushing the wine sector to find alternatives to the use of sulfur dioxide. Ozone (O3) is already applied in the wine industry to produce sulfur dioxide-free wines through the patented method Purovino®. The aim of this two-year study was that of evaluating whether the postharvest treatment of grapes with ozone affects volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polyphenol profile in berries, and in turn, wine composition. Grape bunches (Vitis vinifera L.) of cv Sangiovese were fumigated overnight with gaseous ozone (max 20 g·h−1 with 6% w.w−1 of ozone) in a cold room at 4°C (±0.5). After treatment, grapes were processed into wine. In grapes, ozone treatments increased total polyphenol and flavonoid content and upregulated specific genes (phenylalanine ammonia lyase, VvPAL, flavanol synthase 1, and VvFLS1) involved in polyphenol biosynthesis. Wine obtained from ozone-treated grapes had higher flavanol content than the control. Fumigation only slightly affected the different VOC classes of grapes and wine, including aroma compounds derived from the lipoxygenase (LOX) pathway. Although a season-dependent effect was observed, results showed that postharvest ozone treatments applied to avoid the use of sulfur dioxide introduced limited but, in general, positive modifications to grape and wine composition. This information provides assurance to winemakers that the maintenance of wine quality and typicity will be guaranteed when using ozone treatments

    Multidisciplinarity in Transition Pathways for Patients With Kidney Disease: The Current State of Play

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    In the field of medical care, successful transition from pediatric-centered to adult-oriented healthcare can provide a sense of continuity in the development of youth, and prepare them to accept responsibility for and manage their own chronic kidney condition in complete autonomy. The so-called transition process requires the presence of some basic aspects: a multidisciplinary team, which acts as a bridge between child and adult services; a comprehensive clinical, cognitive, psychological, and social change for the young people; the involvement of family and caregivers. Within the framework of transition and chronicity during the developmental age, we selected international papers explaining models which agreed on some important steps in the transition process, although many differences can be observed between different countries. In fact, in Europe, the situation appears to be heterogeneous as regards certain aspects: the written transition plan, the educational programmes, the timing of transfer to adult services, the presence of a transition coordinator, a dedicated off-site transition clinic. We then analyzed some studies focusing on patients with renal diseases, including the first to contain a standardized protocol for transition which was launched recently in the USA, and which seems to have already achieved important positive, although limited, results. In Italy, the issue of transition is still in its infancy, however important efforts in the management of chronic kidney disease have already been initiated in some regions, including Emila Romagna, which gives us hope for the future of many young people

    Regional Precuneus Cortical Hyperexcitability in Alzheimer's Disease Patients

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    Objective: Neuronal excitation/inhibition (E/I) imbalance is a potential cause of neuronal network malfunctioning in Alzheimer's disease (AD), contributing to cognitive dysfunction. Here, we used a novel approach combining transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) to probe cortical excitability in different brain areas known to be directly involved in AD pathology. Methods: We performed TMS-EEG recordings targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (l-DLPFC), the left posterior parietal cortex (l-PPC), and the precuneus (PC) in a large sample of patients with mild-to-moderate AD (n = 65) that were compared with a group of age-matched healthy controls (n = 21). Results: We found that patients with AD are characterized by a regional cortical hyperexcitability in the PC and, to some extent, in the frontal lobe, as measured by TMS-evoked potentials. Notably, cortical excitability assessed over the l-PPC was comparable between the 2 groups. Furthermore, we found that the individual level of PC excitability was associated with the level of cognitive impairment, as measured with Mini-Mental State Examination, and with corticospinal fluid levels of Aβ42 . Interpretation: Our data provide novel evidence that precuneus cortical hyperexcitability is a key feature of synaptic dysfunction in patients with AD. The current results point to the combined approach of TMS and EEG as a novel promising technique to measure hyperexcitability in patients with AD. This index could represent a useful biomarker to stage disease severity and evaluate response to novel therapies. ANN NEUROL 2022

    History and phylogeny of intermediate filaments: Now in insects

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    Intermediate filaments include the nuclear lamins, which are universal in metazoans, and the cytoplasmic intermediate filaments, which are much more varied and form cell type-specific networks in animal cells. Until now, it has been thought that insects harbor lamins only. This view is fundamentally challenged by the discovery, reported in BMC Biology, of an intermediate filament-like cytoplasmic protein, isomin, in the hexapod Isotomurus maculatus. Here we briefly review the history of research on intermediate filaments, and discuss the implications of this latest finding in the context of what is known of their structure and functions

    Born with a solitary kidney : at risk of hypertension

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    Background: Subjects with a congenital solitary kidney (CSK) are believed to be at risk of hypertension due to their low number of nephrons. However, as CSK is a congenital abnormality of the kidney or urinary tract (CAKUT), subtle dysplastic changes contributing to hypertension cannot be excluded. Methods: We retrospectively compared office blood pressure (OBP) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) between two groups of children with CAKUT, aged 6\u201318 years: Group A with a CSK and Group B with two kidneys. All had normal renal parenchyma on scintigraphy and normal renal function. OBP and mean systolic and diastolic 24-h, daytime and nighttime ambulatory BP records were analyzed. The distribution of OBP and APBM as continuous values and the prevalence of hypertension (ambulatory/severe ambulatory or masked hypertension) in the two groups were compared. Results: There were 81 patients in Group A and 45 in Group B. Median OBP standard deviation scores were normal in both groups, without significant differences. Median ABPM standard deviation scores, although normal, were significantly higher in Group A and the prevalence of hypertension was higher (ambulatory/severe ambulatory or masked) (33.3 vs. 13.3%, p = 0.019), mainly because of the greater occurrence of masked hypertension. Conclusions: Our data show that a CSK per se can be associated with an increased risk of hypertension from the pediatric age. Therefore, ABPM, which has proved valuable in the screening of hypertension, is warranted in children with a CSK, even if laboratory and imaging assessment is otherwise normal

    Implementasi Kegiatan Media Relations Melalui Press Conference :Pada Bidang Humas Polda Jawa Barat

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    Polda Jawa Barat sebagai penyelenggara keamanan dan ketertiban masyarakat di wilayah provinsi, memiliki peran yang sangat penting dalam penegakan hukum. Untuk itu, humas Polda Jawa Barat sebagai jembatan antara instansi dan publiknya, memiliki metode dalam menciptakan keamanan dan ketertiban serta penegakan hukum, yakni melalui strategi media relations. Salah satu kegiatan media relations yang sering dilakukan adalah press conference atau temu wartawan. Pelaksanaan Press Conference biasanya hanya berlangsung satu sampai dua jam, namun dampaknya sangat luas bila hasilnya benar-benar dipublikasikan oleh media massa, oleh karena itu penyelenggaraan press conference harus dipersiapkan secara matang dan detail. Tujuan penelitian ini adalaah (1) untuk mengetahui aktivitas kegiatan media relations melalui press conference yang dilakukan oleh Humas Polda Jawa Barat.. (2) Untuk mengetahui kendala yang dihadapi Humas Polda Jawa Barat dalam melaksanakan kegiatan media relations melalui press conference. Dan (3) Untuk mengetahui solusi mengatasi berbagai kendala yang dihadapi humas Polda Jawa Barat dalam melaksanakan kegiatan media relations melalui press conference. Metode penelitian yang dipakai adalah metode kualitatif deskriptif, dan teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah dengan cara observasi, wawancara dengan narasumber, dan dokumentasi. Dari hasil penelitian dapat diambil kesimpulan: Kegiatan Press Conference oleh Humas Polda Jawa Barat berjalan dengan baik mulai dari perencanaan, pelaksanaan sesuai dengan tujuan awal yang di inginkan. Kendala yang ditemui disetiap Press Conference yang dilaksanakan oleh Humas Polda Jawa Barat secara umum adalah, sulitnya menentukan waktu Press Conference mengingat wartawan memiliki deadline untuk pemberitaan, adanya pertanyaan wartawan yang diluar topik yang disampaikan, sering juga terjadi konflik antara aparat Polda Jabar dengan wartawan tentang pemberitaan. Press Conference kadang juga melebih waktu yang ditentukan. Upaya dalam mengatasi kendala yang ditemui, seperti kalau ada pertanyaan wartawan yang melenceng berupaya untuk tidak menjawab

    Expanding phenotype of schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia: Congenital anomalies of the kidneys and of the urinary tract and alteration of nk cells

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    Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD) is a rare multisystemic disorder with a variable clinical expressivity caused by biallelic variants in SMARCAL1. A phenotype\u2013genotype correlation has been attempted and variable expressivity of biallelic SMARCAL1 variants may be associated with environmental and genetic disturbances of gene expression. We describe two siblings born from consanguineous parents with a diagnosis of SIOD revealed by whole exome sequencing (WES). Results: A homozygous missense variant in the SMARCAL1 gene (c.1682G>A; p.Arg561His) was identified in both patients. Despite carrying the same variant, the two patients showed substantial renal and immunological phenotypic differences. We describe features not previously associated with SIOD\u2014both patients had congenital anomalies of the kidneys and of the urinary tract and one of them succumbed to a classical type congenital mesoblastic nephroma. We performed an extensive characterization of the immunophenotype showing combined immunodeficiency characterized by a profound lymphopenia, lack of thymic output, defective IL-7R\u3b1 expression, and disturbed B plasma cells differentiation and immunoglobulin production in addition to an altered NK-cell phenotype and function. Conclusions: Overall, our results contribute to extending the phenotypic spectrum of features associated with SMARCAL1 mutations and to better characterizing the underlying immunologic disorder with critical implications for therapeutic and management strategies
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