Effect of postharvest dehydration on the composition of pinot noir grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) and wine

This study was conducted in order to improve our understanding of how phenolics and aroma compounds change in wine grapes during postharvest dehydration. Pinot noir grapes grown in the Willamette Valley of Oregon were harvested at 22.0 and 24.0 °Brix. Grapes harvested at 22.0 °Brix were divided into three equal lots with one lot immediately used for wine production, and the remaining two lots placed inside an air tunnel with an air speed of 1.0–1.8 m s⁻¹, 38% relative humidity and a temperature of 22 °C. The soluble solids content and weight loss were measured daily and wines were made from grapes when they reached 24.8 and 26.7 °Brix. The soluble solids of grapes increased about 1 °Brix per day; therefore, on the third and fourth day the berries reached the desired concentration; weight loss was 14 and 16%, respectively. Results from berry phenolic analysis indicated that per berry anthocyanin amount remained unchanged during dehydration. The composition of proanthocyanidins isolated from berries changed during dehydration. Volatile compounds in wines made from dehydrated grapes contained more terpenes and norisoprenoids (β-ionone, β-damascenone) when compared to wine made from the original fruit. Wines made from increasingly dehydrated grapes tended to resemble the composition and flavour profile of wines made from grapes left on the vine (i.e. with extended ripening). The results of this study suggest that postharvest flavour changes consistent with changes during fruit ripening can occur in grapes when harvested early and allowed to dehydrate under controlled conditions prior to fermentation.     

The effects of processing and packaging parameters on the occurrence of sulphide black in canned meat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the packaging and processing parameters that produce sulphide black in corned beef. Twenty experimental batches were prepared, and in order to evaluate the effect of the packaging manufacturing process, variations were introduced in the tin layer, in the cure of lacquer applied inside and in the presence or absence of superficial scratches in the lacquer. Processing parameters, such as sterilising time and temperature as well as filling temperatures, were evaluated. The visual evaluation carried out to check the occurrence of black spots and the statistical analysis of variance with 95% confidence interval showed that the lids that were produced with a greater total tin layer (5.6 g m^?2), with normal cure (200 °C) and without scratches had a lower occurrence of the problem. The analyses also showed that the use of filling temperatures lower than 40 °C decreased the presence of black spots.     

A new software for prediction of femoral neck fractures

Femoral neck fractures are an important clinical, social and economic problem. Even if many different attempts have been carried out to improve the accuracy predicting the fracture risk, it was demonstrated in retrospective studies that the standard clinical protocol achieves an accuracy of about 65%. A new procedure was developed including for the prediction not only bone mineral density but also geometric and femoral strength information and achieving an accuracy of about 80% in a previous retrospective study. Aim of the present work was to re-engineer research-based procedures and develop a real-time software for the prediction of the risk for femoral fracture. The result was efficient, repeatable and easy to use software for the evaluation of the femoral neck fracture risk to be inserted in the daily clinical practice providing a useful tool for the improvement of fracture prediction.     

Effect of acute consumption of oolong tea on antioxidant parameters in healthy individuals

We evaluated the ability of a ready-to-drink oolong tea (OOL) to modulate plasma antioxidant status in healthy subjects, compared to a placebo drink (PLA) without oolong extract but with ascorbic acid. In vitro, ascorbic acid was the only contributor to ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) assay of PLA. Ascorbic acid contributed 16.5% and 9.7% of the antioxidant capacity of OOL. In vivo, ingestion of 500 mL of OOL significantly increased plasma TRAP at 30 min and 1 h, compared to 500 mL of PLA, which was ineffective. Plasma FRAP significantly increased at 1, 2 and 4 h for OOL and at 2 h for PLA. Both PLA and OOL significantly increased urinary FRAP over 0–5 h. Urinary FRAP levels went back to baseline at 5 h for PLA tea and remained higher for OOL tea in the interval time 5–12 h (p < 0.01). OOL represents a dietary source of antioxidants able to modulate antioxidant status in humans.     

Short-Chain Fatty Acids Modulate Sperm Migration through Olfactory Receptor 51E2 Activity

The non-orthotopic expression of olfactory receptors (ORs) includes the male reproductive system, and in particular spermatozoa; their active ligands could be essential to sperm chemotaxis and chemical sperm–oocyte communication. OR51E2 expression has been previously reported on sperm cells’ surface. It has been demonstrated in different cellular models that olfactory receptor 51E2 (OR51E2) binds volatile short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as specific ligands. In the present research, we make use of Western blot, confocal microscopy colocalization analysis, and the calcium-release assay to demonstrate the activation of sperm cells through OR51E2 upon SCFAs stimulus. Moreover, we perform a novel modified swim-up assay to study the involvement of OR51E2/SCFAs in sperm migration. Taking advantage of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA system), we determine the kinematics parameters of sperm cells migrating towards SCFAs-enriched medium, revealing that these ligands are able to promote a more linear sperm-cell orientation. Finally, we obtain SCFAs by mass spectrometry in cervico-vaginal mucus and show for the first time that a direct incubation between cervical mucus and sperm cells could promote their activation. This study can shed light on the possible function of chemosensory receptors in successful reproduction activity, laying the foundation for the development of new strategies for the treatment of infertile individuals.     

Frataxin Silencing Inactivates Mitochondrial Complex I in NSC34 Motoneuronal Cells and Alters Glutathione Homeostasis

Friedreich’s ataxia (FRDA) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disease characterized by a reduced synthesis of the mitochondrial iron chaperon protein frataxin as a result of a large GAA triplet-repeat expansion within the first intron of the frataxin gene. Despite neurodegeneration being the prominent feature of this pathology involving both the central and the peripheral nervous system, information on the impact of frataxin deficiency in neurons is scant. Here, we describe a neuronal model displaying some major biochemical and morphological features of FRDA. By silencing the mouse NSC34 motor neurons for the frataxin gene with shRNA lentiviral vectors, we generated two cell lines with 40% and 70% residual amounts of frataxin, respectively. Frataxin-deficient cells showed a specific inhibition of mitochondrial Complex I (CI) activity already at 70% residual frataxin levels, whereas the glutathione imbalance progressively increased after silencing. These biochemical defects were associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and morphological changes at the axonal compartment, both depending on the frataxin amount. Interestingly, at 70% residual frataxin levels, the in vivo treatment with the reduced glutathione revealed a partial rescue of cell proliferation. Thus, NSC34 frataxin silenced cells could be a suitable model to study the effect of frataxin deficiency in neurons and highlight glutathione as a potential beneficial therapeutic target for FRDA.     

Poly(aspartic acid) Biohydrogel as the Base of a New Hybrid Conducting Material

In the present study, a composite made of conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), and a biodegradable hydrogel of poly(aspartic acid) (PASP) were electrochemically interpenetrated with poly(hydroxymethyl-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PHMeDOT) to prepare a new interpenetrated polymer network (IPN). Different cross-linker and PEDOT MPs contents, as well as different electropolymerization times, were studied to optimize the structural and electrochemical properties. The properties of the new material, being electrically conductive, biocompatible, bioactive, and biodegradable, make it suitable for possible uses in biomedical applications.     

Sulfonamide Inhibitors of β-Catenin Signaling as Anticancer Agents with Different Output on c-MYC

The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is often found deregulated in cancer. The aberrant accumulation of β-catenin in the cell nucleus results in the development of various malignancies. Specific drugs against this signaling pathway for clinical treatments have not been approved yet. Herein we report inhibitors of β-catenin signaling of potential therapeutic value as anticancer agents. Ethyl 4-((4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)sulfonamido)benzoate (compound 14 ) inhibits the effect on Wnt reporter with an IC₅₀ value of 7.0 μM, significantly reduces c-MYC levels, inhibits HCT116 colon cancer cell growth (IC₅₀ 20.2 μM), does not violate Lipinski and Veber rules, and shows predicted Caco-2 and MDCK cell permeability P_app>500 nm s⁻¹. Compound 14 seems to have potential for the development of new anticancer therapies.