Preliminary characterisation of peach cultivars for their antioxidant capacity

Eleven peach cultivars (white‐ and yellow‐flesh peaches, nectarines and canning clingstone peaches) were assayed for their antioxidant capacity and their content of some important organic compounds as well as vitamin C, carotenoids and phenols. Antioxidant capacity, determined by FRAP assay, varied between genotypes. Those with the highest value of Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) were Federica and Springcrest. Antioxidant capacity was correlated to the amount of organic components with significant differences among the cultivars. In some case, antioxidant capacity was related to phenol content, as in yellow–flesh peaches. These results suggest the importance of genotype for determining antioxidant capacity, which, in turn, is related to the organic constituents, such as phenols, vitamin C and carotenoids.     

Visualisation graphique de la propagation des ondes assistée par ordinateur

On studies of propagation and scattering phenomena by numerical methods, one of the difficulties encountered is the physical interpretation of the great number of numerical values obtained. A clear and easy interpretation of such results is presented here, by using graphic techniques.     

Nociceptin inhibits non-adrenergic non-cholinergic contraction in guinea-pig airway

1. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) of guinea-pig isolated main bronchi induced a non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) contractile response. Nociceptin (0.01-1 microm) significantly inhibited the contractile response to EFS (P<0.01), but not to capsaicin (P>0.05). 2. The mu-, delta- and kappa-opioid receptor antagonists, naloxone (0.3 microM), naltrindole (3 microM) and norbinaltorphimine (1 microm), respectively, did not significantly affect the inhibitory effect of nociceptin (0.03 microM; P>0.05). 3. The novel nociceptin antagonist, [Phe1psi(CH2-NH)Gly2]nociceptin(1-13)NH2 (0.03-1 microM); the sigma ligands, carbetapentane (30 microM), 3-phenylpiperidine (30-100 microM) and (+)-cyclazocine (10-100 microM) significantly reversed the inhibitory effect of nociceptin (0.03 microM, P<0.05). In contrast, rimcazole, did not significantly reverse the inhibitory effect of nociceptin (0.03 microM) at any concentration tested (P>0.05). 4. EFS of guinea-pig bronchial preparations significantly increased SP-LI release above basal SP-LI (P<0.05). In the presence of nociceptin (1 microM), EFS induced a significant increase in SP-LI release above basal SP-LI release (P<0.05). Nociceptin caused a 59+11% (n=5) inhibition of EFS-induced release of SP-LI. 5. Nociceptin reduces the release of sensory neuropeptides induced by EFS, but not capsaicin, from guinea-pig airways. These experiments provide further evidence for a role for nociceptin in regulating the release of sensory neuropeptides in response to EFS.     

Polynomial chaos‐based macromodeling of multiport systems using an input–output approach

An innovative technique to build stochastic frequency‐domain macromodels of generic linear multiport systems is presented. The proposed method calculates a macromodel of the system transfer function including its statistical properties, making it tailored for variability analysis. The combination of the modeling power of the Vector Fitting algorithm with the Polynomial Chaos expansion applied at an input–output level allows to accurately and efficiently describe the system variability features. Thanks to its versatility and automated order selection, the proposed technique is suitable to be applied to a large range of complex modern electrical systems (e.g., filters and interconnections) and can tackle the case of correlated random variables. The performance in terms of accuracy and computational efficiency of the proposed method is compared with respect to the standard Monte Carlo analysis for two pertinent numerical examples. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of CGF Biomolecules,Structure and Cell Population: Characterization of the Stemness Features of CGF Cells and Osteogenic Potential

Concentrated Growth Factors (CGF) represent new autologous (blood-derived biomaterial), attracting growing interest in the field of regenerative medicine. In this study, the chemical, structural, and biological characterization of CGF was carried out. CGF molecular characterization was performed by GC/MS to quantify small metabolites and by ELISA to measure growth factors and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) release; structural CGF characterization was carried out by SEM analysis and immunohistochemistry; CGF has been cultured, and its primary cells were isolated for the identification of their surface markers by flow cytometry, Western blot, and real-time PCR; finally, the osteogenic differentiation of CGF primary cells was evaluated through matrix mineralization by alizarin red staining and through mRNA quantification of osteogenic differentiation markers by real-time PCR. We found that CGF has a complex inner structure capable of influencing the release of growth factors, metabolites, and cells. These cells, which could regulate the production and release of the CGF growth factors, show stem features and are able to differentiate into osteoblasts producing a mineralized matrix. These data, taken together, highlight interesting new perspectives for the use of CGF in regenerative medicine.     

Molecular Identification of Endophytic Bacteria in Leucojum aestivum In Vitro Culture,NMR-Based Metabolomics Study and LC-MS Analysis Leading to Potential Amaryllidaceae Alkaloid Production

In this study, endophytic bacteria belonging to the Bacillus genus were isolated from in vitro bulblets of Leucojum aestivum and their ability to produce Amaryllidaceae alkaloids was studied. Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR)-based metabolomics combined with multivariate data analysis was chosen to compare the metabolism of this plant (in vivo bulbs, in vitro bulblets) with those of the endophytic bacteria community. Primary metabolites were quantified by quantitative ¹H NMR (qNMR) method. The results showed that tyrosine, one precursor of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid biosynthesis pathway, was higher in endophytic extract compared to plant extract. In total, 22 compounds were identified including five molecules common to plant and endophyte extracts (tyrosine, isoleucine, valine, fatty acids and tyramine). In addition, endophytic extracts were analyzed using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for the identification of compounds in very low concentrations. Five Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were detected in the extracts of endophytic bacteria. Lycorine, previously detected by ¹H NMR, was confirmed with LC-MS analysis. Tazettine, pseudolycorine, acetylpseudolycorine, 1,2-dihydro-chlidanthine were also identified by LC-MS using the positive ionization mode or by GC-MS. In addition, 11 primary metabolites were identified in the endophytic extracts such as tyramine, which was obtained by decarboxylation of tyrosine. Thus, Bacillus sp. isolated from L. aestivum bulblets synthesized some primary and specialized metabolites in common with the L. aestivum plant. These endophytic bacteria are an interesting new approach for producing the Amaryllidaceae alkaloid such as lycorine.     

Influence of Trace Elements on Neurodegenerative Diseases of The Eye—The Glaucoma Model

Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of chronic neurodegenerative disorders characterized by a relatively selective, progressive damage to the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons, which leads to axon loss and visual field alterations. To date, many studies have shown the role of various elements, mainly metals, in maintaining the balance of prooxidative and antioxidative processes, regulation of fluid and ion flow through cell membranes of the ocular tissues. Based on the earlier and current research results, their relationship with the development and progression of glaucoma seems obvious and is increasingly appreciated. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current evidence on the role of trace elements in the pathogenesis and prevention of glaucomatous diseases. Special attention is also paid to the genetic background associated with glaucoma-related abnormalities of physiological processes that regulate or involve the ions of elements considered as trace elements necessary for the functioning of the cells.     

Peripheral Neuropathy under Oncologic Therapies: A Literature Review on Pathogenetic Mechanisms

Peripheral neurologic complications are frequent adverse events during oncologic treatments and often lead to dose reduction, administration delays with time elongation of the therapeutic plan and, not least, worsening of patients’ quality of life. Experience skills are required to recognize symptoms and clinical evidences and the collaboration between different health professionals, in particular oncologists and hospital pharmacists, grants a correct management of this undesirable occurrence. Some classes of drugs (platinates, vinca alkaloids, taxanes) typically develop this kind of side effect, but the genesis of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is not linked to a single mechanism. This paper aims from one side at summarizing and explaining all the scattering mechanisms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy through a detailed literature revision, on the other side at finding new approaches to possible treatments, in order to facilitate the collaboration between oncologists, hematologists and hospital pharmacists.     

An IR and XPS spectroscopy assessment of the physico-chemical surface properties of alumina–YAG nanopowders

Well-dispersed nano-crystalline transition alumina suspensions were mixed with yttrium chloride aqueous solutions, with the aim of producing by spray-drying Al₂O₃–Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) composite powders of increasing YAG vol.%. Two samples were prepared, with different Y content, corresponding to 5 and 20 YAG vol.%, respectively. Both samples were then treated at either 600 or 1150 °C. The obtained powders were characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FT-IR) spectroscopy and compared to three reference samples: commercial nano-crystalline transition alumina, YAG and Y₂O₃. YAG powders were obtained by co-precipitation route whereas Y₂O₃ powders were yielded by spray-drying of a yttrium chloride aqueous solution. Modification of physico-chemical properties of the surface of alumina nanoparticles were assessed by combining XPS and FT-IR spectroscopies. On the basis of the results obtained, a possible model is proposed for the structure of the obtained composites, in which Y basically reacts with more acidic hydroxyls of alumina, by forming Y-rich surface grains, the extension of which depends on the thermal treatment.