Determination of metals in wine with atomic spectroscopy (flame-AAS, GF-AAS and ICP-AES); a review

Metals in wine occur at the mg l 1 level or less and, though not directly related to the taste of the final product, their content should be determined because excess is undesirable, and in some cases prohibited, due to potential toxicity. Lead content in wine, for example, is restricted in several states by legislation to guarantee consumer health protection. Of several methods for metal determination, techniques of atomic spectroscopy are the most sensitive and rapid. Most of the elements present in wine can be determined with these techniques, at concentrations ranging from the mg l -1 to the μg l -1 level. Here, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), flame atomic absorption spectrometry (flame-AAS) and graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS) are compared for their characteristics as employed in metal determination in wine.     

Can regional policies shape migration flows?

Our empirical analysis focuses on the effect of regional policies on migration attraction factors in Europe. We employ a regression discontinuity design to assess the causal relationship between the reception of large amounts of public funds and migration flows in the EU-15 regions. In highly-subsidised regions, we find a large increase in the share of foreign citizens from less-developed countries when compared to low-subsidised regions with similar pre-treatment characteristics. The analysis shows that such an increase is due to the positive impact of the European regional policy on job market opportunities as well as the improvement of public goods supply.     

The antioxidant capacity of complex mixtures by kinetic analysis of crocin bleaching inhibition

The capability of a compound or of a mixture of compounds to quench peroxyl radicals was measured by analyzing the kinetics of the competition of a parallel reaction where peroxyl radicals bleach the carotenoid crocin. This kinetic approach, originally described for the analysis of antioxidants reacting with hydroxyl radicals in water, was modified by both decreasing the polarity of the solvent, thus allowing the analysis of lipophilic compounds, and by substituting a source of peroxyl radicals for the hydroxyl radical generating system. Single compounds as well as complex mixtures were analyzed by kinetic data processing. Overall antioxidant capacity, relative to that of α-tocopherol or of its soluble analog Trolox C, was calculated. As examples of the use of this test, the antioxidant capacities of a crude rosemary extract, Maillard reaction products, and virgin olive oils were measured.     

Tumor-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles Induce Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine Expression and PD-L1 Regulation in M0 Macrophages via IL-6/STAT3 and TLR4 Signaling Pathways

Tumor-associated macrophages play a key role in promoting tumor progression by exerting an immunosuppressive phenotype associated with the expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). It is well known that tumor-derived small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) affect the tumor microenvironment, influencing TAM behavior. The present study aimed to examine the effect of SEVs derived from colon cancer and multiple myeloma cells on macrophage functions. Non-polarized macrophages (M0) differentiated from THP-1 cells were co-cultured with SEVs derived from a colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line, SW480, and a multiple myeloma (MM) cell line, MM1.S. The expression of PD-L1, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and other inflammatory cytokines as well as of the underlying molecular mechanisms were evaluated. Our results indicate that SEVs can significantly upregulate the expressions of PD-L1 and IL-6 at both the mRNA and protein levels and can activate the STAT3 signaling pathway. Furthermore, we identified the TLR4/NF-kB pathway as a convergent mechanism for SEV-mediated PD-L1 expression. Overall, these preliminary data suggest that SEVs contribute to the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment.     

Anthocyanidins decrease endothelin-1 production and increase endothelial nitric oxide synthase in human endothelial cells

Epidemiological and intervention studies correlate anthocyanin-rich beverages and a low incidence of coronary heart diseases. Since endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) are vascular tension regulators secreted by endothelial cells, we studied the influence of two anthocyanidins, namely cyanidin (CY) and delphinidin (DP), on the regulation of ET-1 and eNOS in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Aglycon anthocyanidin forms, such as CY and DP, may be present in vivo after the first deglycosylation step occurring in the jejunum and in the liver. DP showed a major action compared to CY inducing a significant dose-dependent inhibitory effect on both protein and mRNA levels of ET-1. CY and DP both increased the protein level of eNOS, but DP showed the major effect raising eNOS protein in a dose-dependent manner. To correlate the vasoprotective effect of CY and DP with their antioxidant activity, we analysed also the antioxidant effect of anthocyanidins both in vitro and in HUVECs. In particular, we examined the effect of anthocyanidins on endothelial heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible stress protein. In all tests, DP showed a higher antioxidant activity than CY. Finally, the antiproliferative effect induced by DP was detected in HUVECs. DP and CY differ in the number and position of hydroxyl groups in their structure; therefore, the greater biological activity by DP, compared with CY, seems to be due to the presence of the three hydroxyl groups on the B ring in the molecular structure of DP.     

Variation in the carotenoid composition of acerola and its processed products

Acerola is now commercially produced and processed in Brazil. Known for its very high vitamin C content, this fruit is also a good source of β‐carotene. The present study was carried out to verify variation in the carotenoid composition along the food chain. Neoxanthin, violaxanthin, lutein, β‐cryptoxanthin, α‐carotene and β‐carotene were found in the acerola fruit. β‐Carotene predominated with mean concentrations of 12.4 and 38.1 µg g^?1 in the ripe fruit, 8.8 and 30.1 µg g^?1 in the peeled ripe fruit and 5.4 and 12.0 µg g^?1 in the partially ripe fruit of an undefined variety taken from home gardens and the commercial cultivar Olivier, respectively. Aside from β‐carotene, β‐cryptoxanthin increased significantly in both garden and commercial fruits and violaxanthin in the latter fruits during ripening. Peeling reduced β‐carotene in both garden and commercial lots, violaxanthin decreased in the commercial fruits, and the other carotenoids remained virtually unchanged. Four brands of frozen pulp and three brands of processed juice had variable and markedly lower carotenoid levels than those of the fresh fruit, indicating that the processing should be improved. Copyright © 2006 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of some ellipticine-like 11H-pyrido[a]carbazole derivatives

Some modified 11H-pyrido[a]carbazoles (11H-PyC) and their corresponding tetrahydro derivatives (11H-THPyC) were prepared. A common multistep pathway characterized by conventional reactions, including a Fischer-indole-type synthesis, yielded the tetracyclic compounds. To improve cytotoxicity, 11H-PyC and 11H-THPyC derivatives were endowed with a diethylaminoethyl side chain. The antiproliferative activity was assessed in three human tumor cell lines, and a number of derivatives showed a cytotoxic effect in agreement with their capacity to form a molecular intercalative complex with DNA and to interfere with the relaxation activity of DNA topoisomerase II. In contrast, three derivatives that exhibited significant antiproliferative efficacy, showed no inhibition of topoisomerase II, thus suggesting an unexpected and novel mode of action for these ellipticine-like compounds independent of topoisomerase II activity.     

Epigenetic and Genetic Factors Related to Curve Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Systematic Scoping Review of the Current Literature

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a progressive deformity of the spine. Scoliotic curves progress until skeletal maturity leading, in rare cases, to a severe deformity. While the Cobb angle is a straightforward tool in initial curve magnitude measurement, assessing the risk of curve progression at the time of diagnosis may be more challenging. Epigenetic and genetic markers are potential prognostic tools to predict curve progression. The aim of this study is to review the available literature regarding the epigenetic and genetic factors associated with the risk of AIS curve progression. This review was carried out in accordance with Preferential Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The search was carried out in January 2022. Only peer-reviewed articles were considered for inclusion. Forty studies were included; fifteen genes were reported as having SNPs with significant association with progressive AIS, but none showed sufficient power to sustain clinical applications. In contrast, nine studies reporting epigenetic modifications showed promising results in terms of reliable markers. Prognostic testing for AIS has the potential to significantly modify disease management. Most recent evidence suggests epigenetics as a more promising field for the identification of factors associated with AIS progression, offering a rationale for further investigation in this field.