Olive Oil in the Mediterranean Diet and Its Biochemical and Molecular Effects on Cardiovascular Health through an Analysis of Genetics and Epigenetics

Human nutrition is a relatively new science based on biochemistry and the effects of food constituents. Ancient medicine considered many foods as remedies for physical performance or the treatment of diseases and, since ancient times, especially Greek, Asian and pre-Christian cultures similarly thought that they had beneficial effects on health, while others believed some foods were capable of causing illness. Hippocrates described the food as a form of medicine and stated that a balanced diet could help individuals stay healthy. Understanding molecular nutrition, the interaction between nutrients and DNA, and obtaining specific biomarkers could help formulate a diet in which food is not only a food but also a drug. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the role of the Mediterranean diet and olive oil on cardiovascular risk and to identify their influence from the genetic and epigenetic point of view to understand their possible protective effects.     

Electro‐Drawn Drug‐Loaded Biodegradable Polymer Microneedles as a Viable Route to Hypodermic Injection

Hypodermic needle injection is still the most common method of drug delivery despite its numerous limitations and drawbacks, such as pain, one‐shot administration, and risk of infection. Seeking a viable, safe, and pain‐free alternative to the over 16 billion injections per year has therefore become a top priority for our modern technological society. Here, a system that uses a pyroelectric cartridge in lieu of the syringe piston as a potential solution is discussed. Upon stimulation, the cartridge electro‐draws, at room temperature, an array of drug‐encapsulated, biodegradable polymer microneedles, able to deliver into hypodermic tissue both hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive agents, according to a predefined chrono‐programme. This mould‐free and contact‐free method permits the fabrication of biodegradable polymer microneedles into a ready‐to‐use configuration. In fact, they are formed on a flexible substrate/holder by drawing them directly from drop reservoirs, using a controlled electro‐hydrodynamic force. Tests of insertion are performed and discussed in order to demonstrate the possibility to prepare microneedles with suitable geometric and mechanical properties using this method.     

Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorinated hydrocarbons in marine mammals,fishes, and birds from coasts of the Baltic and the Mediterranean Seas

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS; C8F17SO3-), perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA; C8F17SO2NH2), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS; C6F13SO3-), and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA; C7F15CO2-) were detected in 175 samples of liver and blood of bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), swordfish (Xiphias gladius), common cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba), common dolphins (Delphinus delphi), fin whales (Balenoptera physalus), and long-finned pilot whales (Globicephala melas) from the Italian coast of the Mediterranean Sea and in livers of ringed seals (Phoca hispida), gray seals (Halichoerus grypus), white-tailed sea eagles (Haliaeetus albicilla), and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from coastal areas of the Baltic Sea. PFOS was detected in all of the wildlife species analyzed. Concentrations of PFOS in blood decreased in order of bottlenose dolphins > bluefin tuna > swordfish. Mean PFOS concentrations (61 ng/ g, wet wt) in cormorant livers collected from Sardinia Island in the Mediterranean Sea were less than the concentrations of PFOA (95 ng/g, wetwt). PFOS concentrations in cormorant livers were significantly correlated with those of PFOA. FOSA was found in 14 of 19 livers or blood samples of marine mammals from the Mediterranean Sea. The highest concentration of 878 ng FOSA/g, wet wt, was found in the liver of a common dolphin. Livers of ringed and gray seals from the Bothnian Bay in the Baltic Sea contained PFOS concentrations ranging from 130 to 1,100 ng/g, wet wt. No relationships between PFOS concentrations and ages of ringed or gray seals were observed. Concentrations of PFOS in livers of seals were 5.5-fold greater than those in corresponding blood. A significant positive correlation existed between the PFOS concentrations in liver and blood, which indicates that blood can be used for nonlethal monitoring of PFOS. Trend analysis of PFOS concentrations in livers of white-tailed sea eagles collected from eastern Germany and Poland since 1979 indicated an increase in concentrations during the 1990s. Livers of Atlantic salmons did not contain quantifiable concentrations of any of the fluorochemicals monitored. PFOS is a widespread contaminant in wildlife from the Baltic and the Mediterranean Seas, while FOSA and PFOA were detected only in certain locations indicating their sporadic spatial distribution.     

Phosphate adsorption and precipitation in calcareous soils: the role of calcium ions in solution and carbonate minerals

P-removal from soil solution is mainly due to adsorption and precipitation reactions. For calcareous soils two pathways have been proposed as being relevant: partitioning on soil surfaces and precipitation induced by Ca2+ ions in solution. To define P-speciation in soil and reduce P-immobilisation following fertilisation, the relative importance of these two reactions needs to be quantitatively established. This investigation, conducted on two calcareous soils, suggests that Ca-ion activity in the liquid phase is mainly responsible for the formation of insoluble Ca-P phases. Our study was carried out by determining: a) batch sorption isotherms at different slurry concentrations, times of contact, pH and indifferent electrolyte concentrations; b) supernatant isotherms on soil suspensions; c) insolubilisation kinetics of P added to soil columns. The shape of the sorption isotherms indicated that adsorption predominated at low concentrations (below approximately 0.5 mM); above this level precipitation became predominant. Precipitation from solution was demonstrated by adding increasing amounts of phosphate to soil suspension supernatants and precipitation levels comparable to those observed in sorption isotherms were obtained. Thus, carbonate mineral surfaces were not necessary for the induction of P precipitation. The formation of Ca-P mineral phases was increased with reaction time and was governed by the concentration of Ca-ions, pH and indifferent electrolyte concentration. P added at the top of soil columns was rapidly insolubilised: after 5 weeks the P-Olsen value was reduced to about 60% and P was not transported to the deepest layers but remained in the surface ones. These results suggest that, for soils with a high reservoir of exchangeable cations able to form insoluble P phases, precipitation is the predominant mechanism which reduces P availability for plants.     

Lung Microbiome in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and Other Interstitial Lung Diseases

Interstitial lung diseases represent a heterogeneous and wide group of diseases in which factors leading to disease initiation and progression are not fully understood. Recent evidence suggests that the lung microbiome might influence the pathogenesis and progression of interstitial lung diseases. In recent years, the utilization of culture-independent methodologies has allowed the identification of complex and dynamic communities of microbes, in patients with interstitial lung diseases. However, the potential mechanisms by which these changes may drive disease pathogenesis and progression are largely unknown. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of the altered lung microbiome in several interstitial lung diseases. Untangling the host–microbiome interaction in the lung and airway of interstitial lung disease patients is a research priority. Thus, lung dysbiosis is a potentially treatable trait across several interstitial lung diseases, and its proper characterization and treatment might be crucial to change the natural history of these diseases and improve outcomes.     

Detection and quantification of lanthanide complexes in cell lysates by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Gadolinium (III) complexes are under intense scrutiny as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging. Although currently used mainly as extracellular agents, there is a growing interest to exploit their contrast enhancing ability in the intracellular environment. To ascertain the preservation of their chemical integrity upon the intracellular entrapment, it is necessary to have a method for their dosage in the cell lysates. Herein, a mass spectrometric method for detection and quantification of gadolinium complexes in cell lysates is reported. The detection by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was carried out by using a non-acidic matrix (2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone), which does not allow any leakage of gadolinium from the complex. Quantification has been possible by using as an internal standard an ytterbium complex with the same ligand of the analyte. Ytterbium was chosen because, among the lanthanides, it is the one with the isotopic distribution pattern the most similar to that of gadolinium. Sensitivity was enough to detect low micromolar quantities of a cationic complex and high micromolar quantities of a neutral complex in cell lysates of rat hepatoma cells. In the case of anionic complexes, sensitivity was too low for quantitative analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report concerning the quantification of metal complexes by MALDI-TOF-MS.     

Fetal growth restriction: adaptations and consequences

A range of pathophysiological factors can result in a perturbation or restriction of fetal growth, and the cardiovascular, neuroendocrine and metabolic adaptations of the fetus to these stimuli will depend on their nature, timing and intensity. The critical importance of these physiological adaptations for both immediate survival and long-term health outcomes has provided an impetus for experimental studies of the nature and consequences of specific fetal adaptations to a poor intrauterine environment. This review summarizes data from recent studies that have focused on the responses of the fetal cardiovascular, sympathoadrenal, hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal and renin-angiotensin systems to experimental restriction of placental function in the sheep and discusses the consequences of these adaptations for fetal, neonatal and adult health.     

Acetylcholinesterase‐inhibitor hydrolysates obtained from ‘in vitro’ enzymatic hydrolysis of mannoproteins extracted from different strains of yeasts

In vitro inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) of peptides obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis of mannoproteins extracted from strains of yeasts was investigated. Yeast mannoproteins were extracted from strains belonging to the genera Brettanomyces, Candida, Pichia and Saccharomyces isolated from dairy products. They were obtained by heat treatment in citrate buffer and purified by affinity chromatography with concanavalin A. Each purified extract was subsequently hydrolysed with proteolytic enzymes (trypsin, pepsin, chymotrypsin and proteinase K) applied individually or in combination, thus generating smaller peptides. Inhibitory activity of the latter against AChE was determined. The molecular weight of mannoproteins, determined by SDS‐PAGE, was between 6.5 and 30 kDa. As regards AChE inhibition, a preliminary screening of all hydrolysed extracts was performed, yielding variable results with 59% maximum inhibition. Subsequently, when inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) was determined, the extracts showed higher inhibitory activity (between 6.75 and 12.3 mg mL^?1). Results showed that the mannoproteins separated from yeast strains of food origin generated bioactive peptides by enzymatic hydrolysis, which can be of interest to the manufacturing of food with potential functional properties.