Vegetable extracts and nutrients useful in the recovery from helicobacter pylori infection: A systematic review on clinical trials

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections affect almost half of the world’s population, with gradually increasing incidence in developed countries. Eradication of H. pylori may provide signifi-cant benefits to the affected individual by healing a number of gastrointestinal and extra-digestive disorders. But due to increased microbial resistance and lack of patient adherence to the therapy, the eradication rate of H. pylori is below 80% with current pharmacological therapies. The usage of botanicals for their therapeutic purposes and medicinal properties have been increased in last decades. They can be use as alternative H. pylori treatments, especially against drug-resistant strains. Epidemiological studies have revealed that people with lower vegetable and micronutrient intake may be at increased risk of H. pylori infection. We have undertaken a review of clinical trials to evaluate the efficacy of vegetable extracts and micronutrients in patients with H. pylori. Various databases, such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, were searched for the articles published in English. A total of 24 clinical studies (15 for vegetable extracts and 9 for micronutrients) were selected to be reviewed and summarized in this article. Vegetable extracts (Broccoli sprouts, curcumin, Burdock complex, and Nigella sativa) and micronutrients (vitamin C and E) were not found to be as effective as single agents in H. pylori eradication, rather their efficacy synergized with conventional pharmacological therapies. Conversely, GutGard was found to be significantly effective as a single agent when compared to placebo control

Big Data and forensics: an innovative approach for a predictable jurisprudence

Nowadays, it is easy to trace a large amount of information on the Web, to access documents and produce a digital storage. The current work is submitted as an introduction to an innovative system for the investigation about notoriety of Web data which is based on the evaluation of judicial sentences and it is implemented to reduce the duration of all processes. This research also aims to open some new conjoint debates about the study and application of statistical and computational methods to web data on new forensics topics: text mining techniques enable us to obtain information which may be helpful to establish a statistical index in order to describe the quality and the efficiency in terms of law. It is also possible to develop an intelligent system about facts and judgments

An innovative approach about the analysis of quality and efficiency in Italian law

A lot of information about processes is today available on internet, then it is possible to retrieve documents and produce a digital repository. Thanks to techniques of text mining is possible to extract information useful to reach the task of define a statistical index to describe the quality and efficiency in law. It is also possible to produce an intelligent knowledge base about facts and judgments. In this paper we propose an useful tool to fulfill the essential constitutional principle in the article 111 of Italian Constitution, that concerns the "reasonable duration" of the process, realising also the precept of the art. 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights. This work aims to open some new conjoint debates about the study and application of statistical and computational methods to web data on new forensic topics

An innovative approach about the analysis of quality and efficiency in Italian law.

A lot of information about processes is today available on internet, then it is possible to retrieve documents and produce a digital repository. Thanks to techniques of text mining is possible to extract information useful to reach the task of define a statistical index to describe the quality and efficiency in law. It is also possible to produce an intelligent knowledge base about facts and judgments. In this paper we propose an useful tool to fulfill the essential constitutional principle in the article 111 of Italian Constitution, that concerns the "reasonable duration" of the process, realising also the precept of the art. 6 of the European Convention of Human Rights. This work aims to open some new conjoint debates about the study and application of statistical and computational methods to web data on new forensic topics

Epigenetic regulation by polyphenols in diabetes and related complications

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder and one of the most challenging health problems worldwide. Left untreated, it may progress causing serious complications. Genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors are known to play an overlapping role in the pathogenesis of DM. Growing evidence suggests the hypothesis that the environment induces changes in the early phases of growth and development, influencing health and disease in the adulthood through the alteration in genetic expression of an individual, at least in part. DNA methylation, histone modifications and miRNAs are three mechanisms responsible for epigenetic alterations. The daily diet contains a number of secondary metabolites, with polyphenols being highest in abundance, which contribute to overall health and may prevent or delay the onset of many chronic diseases. Polyphenols have the ability to alter metabolic and signaling pathways at various levels, such as gene expression, epigenetic regulation, protein expression and enzyme activity. The potential efficacy of polyphenolic compounds on glucose homeostasis has been evidenced from in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. The present review is designed to focus on epigenetic regulation exerted by polyphenolic compounds in DM and their complications, as well as to summarize clinical trials involving polyphenols in DM

Nmr, rp-hplc-pda-esi-msn, and rp-hplc-fd characterization of green and oolong teas (Camellia sinensis l.)

Untargeted (NMR) and targeted (RP-HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn, RP-HPLC-FD) analytical methodologies were used to determine the bioactive components of 19 tea samples, characterized by different production processes (common tea and GABA tea), degrees of fermentation (green and oolong teas), and harvesting season (autumn and spring). The combination of NMR data and a multivariate statistical approach led to a statistical model able to discriminate between GABA and non-GABA teas and green and oolong teas. Targeted analyses showed that green and GABA green teas had similar polyphenol and caffeine contents, but the GABA level was higher in GABA green teas than in regular green tea samples. GABA oolong teas showed lower contents of polyphenols, caffeine, and amino acids, and a higher content of GABA, in comparison with non-GABA oolong teas. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the healthy properties of teas, especially GABA teas, have to be evaluated via comprehensive metabolic profiling rather than only the GABA content

Characterization of local products for their industrial use: The case of Italian potato cultivars analyzed by untargeted and targeted methodologies

The chemical characterization of local Italian potato cultivars is reported to promote their preservation and use as high quality raw material in food industries. Twenty potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivars from Piedmont and Liguria Italian regions were investigated using NMR (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance) and RP-HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn (Reversed Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Photodiode Array Detector and Electrospray Ionization Mass Detector) methodologies. Water soluble and lipophilic metabolites were identified and quantified. With respect to literature data, a more complete 1H (protonic) spectral assignment of the aqueous potato extracts was reported, whereas the 1H NMR assignment of potato organic extracts was reported here for the first time. Phenolics resulted to be in high concentrations in the purple-blue colored Rouge des Flandres, Bergerac, Fleur Bleu, and Blue Star cultivars. Servane, Piatlina, and Malou showed the highest amount of galacturonic acid, a marker of pectin presence, whereas Jelly cultivar was characterized by high levels of monosaccharides. Roseval and Rubra Spes contained high levels of citric acid involved in the inhibition of the enzymatic browning in fresh-cut potato. High levels of the amino acids involved in the formation of pleasant-smell volatile compounds during potato cooking were detected in Rouge des Flandres, Blue Star, Bergerac, Roseval, and Ratte cultivars. These results suggest that each local cultivar is characterized by a proper chemical profile related to specific proprieties that can be useful to obtain high quality industrial products

PII S0361-9230(00)00314-2 Changes in autonomic and EEG patterns induced by hypnotic imagination of aversive stimuli in man

ABSTRACT: Autonomic and electroencephalographic (EEG) responses to aversive stimuli presented by means of hypnotic suggestion have been studied in man. Healthy volunteers with simple phobia were screened for susceptibility to hypnosis. The experimental paradigm included periods of rest during which the hypnotized subjects were asked to produce an emotionally neutral mental image and periods of emotional activation in which they were asked to image a phobic object. Heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (RF) and EEG were processed to obtain the HR-related indexes of sympatho-vagal balance and the EEG spectral components. The results showed a significant increase in HR and RF with a shift of the sympatho-vagal indexes towards a sympathetic predominance during the hypnotic emotional activation. EEG activity showed a significant increase in the gamma band with a left fronto-central prevalence. There was also a less pronounced increase in the beta band. In conclusion, by means of hypnosis, autonomic and behavioral responses to fear-like stimuli can be induced in man in a reproducible and controlled manner. Such a paradigm could be applied in human neuroimaging studies to identify central nervous structures that modulate stress and fear-related reactions