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This research proposes an innovative and simplified adsorption/desorption method using renewable solvents to obtain punicalagin and ellagic acid–rich fractions from pomegranate husk. The type of adsorbents (PoraPak Rxn and Sepra C18-E), adsorbent mass (0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5 g), adsorption temperature (20, 40, and 60 °C), pH of the extract (4, 6, and 8), and desorption solvents (a 1:2 betaine eutectic mixture and hydroalcoholic solutions) were evaluated. The optimized adsorption process involved 0.5 g of PoraPak Rxn and 7.5 mL extract at pH 4 and 20 °C for 5 min. Notably, PoraPak Rxn outperformed Sepra C18, exhibiting superior adsorption due to its favorable hydrophobic properties, porous structure, and affinity for the target compounds. The optimized method adsorbed 93% α-punicalagin, 95% β-punicalagin, and 100% ellagic acid. Betaine:glycerol at a 1:2 molar ratio was selected using COSMO-RS for desorption. The eutectic mixture with 50 wt.% water desorbed 91% α-punicalagin, 73% β-punicalagin, and 6% ellagic acid during the first three desorption cycles. Subsequent three desorption cycles using ethanol yielded a desorption of 62% ellagic acid free of punicalagins. This strategy of employing different desorption solvents proved efficient in recovering fractions with high concentrations of the desired compounds. Overall, this research demonstrates a promising approach for the efficient separation of punicalagins and ellagic acid from pomegranate husk extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation of amyloid-β (Aβ) aggregates in brain is a neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, there is mounting evidence that Aβ also plays a pathogenic role in other types of dementia and that specific post-translational Aβ modifications contribute to its pathogenic profile. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that distinct types of dementia are characterized by specific patterns of post-translationally modified Aβ variants. We conducted a comparative analysis and quantified Aβ as well as Aβ with pyroglutamate (pGlu3-Aβ and pGlu11-Aβ), N-truncation (Aβ(4-X)), isoaspartate racemization (isoAsp7-Aβ and isoAsp27-Aβ), phosphorylation (pSer8-Aβ and pSer26-Aβ) or nitration (3NTyr10-Aβ) modification in post mortem human brain tissue from non-demented control subjects in comparison to tissue classified as pre-symptomatic AD (Pre-AD), AD, dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia. Aβ modification-specific immunohistochemical labelings of brain sections from the posterior superior temporal gyrus were examined by machine learning-based segmentation protocols and immunoassay analyses in brain tissue after sequential Aβ extraction were carried out. Our findings revealed that AD cases displayed the highest concentrations of all Aβ variants followed by dementia with Lewy bodies, Pre-AD, vascular dementia and non-demented controls. With both analytical methods, we identified the isoAsp7-Aβ variant as a highly abundant Aβ form in all clinical conditions, followed by Aβ(4-X), pGlu3-Aβ, pGlu11-Aβ and pSer8-Aβ. These Aβ variants were detected in distinct plaque types of compact, coarse-grained, cored and diffuse morphologies and, with varying frequencies, in cerebral blood vessels. The 3NTyr10-Aβ, pSer26-Aβ and isoAsp27-Aβ variants were not found to be present in Aβ plaques but were detected intraneuronally. There was a strong positive correlation between isoAsp7-Aβ and Thal phase and a moderate negative correlation between isoAsp7-Aβ and performance on the Mini Mental State Examination. Furthermore, the abundance of all Aβ variants was highest in APOE 3/4 carriers. In aggregation assays, the isoAsp7-Aβ, pGlu3-Aβ and pGlu11-Aβ variants showed instant fibril formation without lag phase, whereas Aβ(4-X), pSer26-Aβ and isoAsp27-Aβ did not form fibrils. We conclude that targeting Aβ post-translational modifications, and in particular the highly abundant isoAsp7-Aβ variant, might be considered for diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in different types of dementia. Hence, our findings might have implications for current antibody-based therapies of AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cambuci is a fruit that has been attracting interest due to its rich composition of phenolic compounds. However, the fruit's peel is an understudied agro-industrial by-product. This study is aimed at assessing the effects of temperature and pH in an innovative system. This system integrates an in-line UV-VIS analysis detector into the process of extracting and hydrolyzing bioactive compounds from cambuci peel, enhancing process monitoring. The system operated with 2 g of cambuci peel in the reactor for 60 min, using a water flow rate of 2 mL min−1, 15 MPa, temperatures ranging from 40 to 160 °C, and pH levels from 4 to 7. The results indicated that increasing the temperature led to a more favorable response in total phenolic compounds (TPC) and the antioxidant capacity of the samples. At the same time, the selected pH range had a minimal impact. Furthermore, the obtained material revealed the presence of citric acid, glucose, arabinose, and fructose, with fructose showing the highest concentration. The in-line coupling system proved to be highly effective in real-time monitoring and determining the completion of the extraction or hydrolysis process, as it allowed for the observation of decreasing concentrations of the compounds of interest. Thus, this study contributes to the understanding and optimization of the extraction of bioactive compounds from cambuci peel, providing valuable insights for future applications in the food and natural products industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutations in ITM2B cause familial British, Danish, Chinese, and Korean dementias. In familial British dementia (FBD), a mutation in the stop codon of the ITM2B gene (also known as BRI2) causes a C-terminal cleavage fragment of the ITM2B/BRI2 protein to be extended by 11 amino acids. This fragment, termed amyloid-Bri (ABri), is highly insoluble and forms extracellular plaques in the brain. ABri plaques are accompanied by tau pathology, neuronal cell death and progressive dementia, with striking parallels to the aetiology and pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. The molecular mechanisms underpinning FBD are ill-defined. Using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells, we show that expression of ITM2B/BRI2 is 34-fold higher in microglia than neurons and 15-fold higher in microglia compared with astrocytes. This cell-specific enrichment is supported by expression data from both mouse and human brain tissue. ITM2B/BRI2 protein levels are higher in iPSC-microglia compared with neurons and astrocytes. The ABri peptide was detected in patient iPSC-derived microglial lysates and conditioned media but was undetectable in patient-derived neurons and control microglia. The pathological examination of post-mortem tissue supports the presence of ABri in microglia that are in proximity to pre-amyloid deposits. Finally, gene co-expression analysis supports a role for ITM2B/BRI2 in disease-associated microglial responses. These data demonstrate that microglia are major contributors to the production of amyloid forming peptides in FBD, potentially acting as instigators of neurodegeneration. Additionally, these data also suggest ITM2B/BRI2 may be part of a microglial response to disease, motivating further investigations of its role in microglial activation. These data have implications for our understanding of the role of microglia and the innate immune response in the pathogenesis of FBD and other neurodegenerative dementias including Alzheimer's disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the use of jabuticaba peel to create a biosorbent material for recovering cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), a valuable compound in anthocyanin-rich extracts. This approach tackles waste management, promotes a circular economy, and offers a sustainable alternative to traditional methods. The biosorbents were synthesized through a chemical activation using three different solvents: H3PO4, HNO3, and KOH. Sample characterization was conducted through various techniques, providing a thorough and multi-faceted understanding of the material properties. The morphological results showed the development of rich porous structures and increased carbon concentrations after activation, enhancing the adsorption capacity of the synthesized materials derived from jaboticaba peel. The H3PO4-activated biosorbent outperformed commercial adsorbents. Granulometric and concentration studies identified optimal conditions, and colorimetric analysis confirmed effective C3G removal. Kinetic studies indicated an adsorption process reaching equilibrium within 9.0 h. The Avrami model suggested a complex adsorption mechanism and intraparticle diffusion, which revealed a two-step process involving external mass transfer and internal diffusion. Adsorption isotherms at different temperatures fit the Langmuir model, indicating favorable adsorption behavior. The thermodynamic analysis confirmed the viability of jabuticaba peel biosorbents for eco-friendly C3G removal due to spontaneous, endothermic adsorption processes. The reuse study demonstrated that the biosorbent maintained its adsorption capacity up to the fifth cycle. Additionally, the adsorption mechanism of C3G on H3PO4-activated biosorbent was identified, emphasizing cation-π interaction, pore filling, electrostatic attraction, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, and π-π interactions at pH 2. This revealed a physisorption process with diverse intermolecular forces. This study further supports ecological waste management and the creation of economical biosorbents for anthocyanin recovery, valuable compounds applicable in pharmaceuticals, food, and nutraceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cambuci (Campomanesia phaea Berg.) is a native fruit to the Atlantic Forest biome of Brazil with several bioactive compounds, ascorbic acid, phenolic compounds, volatile compounds, tannins, and carotenoids and it is used mainly to produce jellies, ice cream, juices, and alcoholic beverages. This review and bibliometric analysis establish the progress, trends, and perspectives of research on this fruit. The results show an increase in publications is related to the emergence of this new research and demonstrate the potential growth of cambuci in different studies. Between 2003 and 2022, 153 articles and 22 reviews related to cambuci were published. The bibliometric analysis revealed that the main research area was Agricultural and Biological Sciences, and the main country producing research on the cambuci fruit was Brazil, with 118 articles published. Given that most publications are associated with Brazil, the foremost institutions dedicated to cambuci research are also Brazilian. The University of São Paulo spearheads the list of affiliations and comprises eight other Brazilian organizations, including seven universities and one research institution. The author's keywords revealed that phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, flavonoids, antioxidant activity, bioactive compounds, and osmotic dehydration are motor themes in cambuci research. Additionally, ellagic acid is a bioactive phenolic compound in tannins, and proanthocyanidins are compounds of great relevance in cambuci and have great benefit for human health with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, gastroprotective, and antidepressant activity. In conclusion, the review establishes that cambuci is an interesting source for its application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improper disposal of by-products from the agri-food industry raises global economic concerns. Therefore, proper management, development, and optimization of promising technologies like subcritical water processing can improve extraction and hydrolysis from by-products. Subcritical water acts as an acid catalyst, hydrolyzing by-products. Different residues from agri-food chains, such as pomace, peel, husk, seed, and straw have been used to obtain products, such as sugars, amino acids, phenolic compounds, pectin, and others. Furthermore, combining subcritical water with other technologies such as microwave, high-intensity ultrasound, and pulsed electric field can increase process efficiency, and promote sustainable economy. Therefore, this review addresses advances and trends in the role of subcritical water technology in treating by-product from the agri-food industry. By optimizing process variables (temperature, pressure, time, flow rate, and modifiers), hydrolysis and extraction of compounds can be maximized, minimizing degradation. Patents in the last five years have demonstrated the industry interest in subcritical water technology with high application prospects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comorbidities are common in elderly patients with hip fracture and are associated with an increased mortality after surgery. Internal medicine/geriatric leaded multidisciplinary hip fracture teams may play a pivotal role in the clinical management of complex patients. Treatment strategy is particular relevant in patients with severe aortic stenosis that represent more than 5% of patients with hip fracture. These patients have a high in-hospital mortality and poor 1-year survival (less than 50%). Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) may be an option in selected patients; however, the choice to treat and, in the case, the timing of valve replacement in relation to hip surgery is highly dependent on clinical conditions before trauma. In this paper, three different scenario of TAVR timing after hip fracture are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We assessed changes in soils and vegetation associated with different plant life forms and increasing grazing intensity (GI) in a subhumid grassland of Patagonia (Argentina), with vast portions of these grass steppes in degraded states. Methods: We reconstructed the historic GI gradient of the study sites and characterised the vegetation cover. We sampled the soil beneath patches of grass and shrub and their bare interspaces, as well as the height of the hummocks and the thickness of superficial horizons. We used multivariate analysis, inferential tests, simple regressions and the relative interaction index to measure the effect of historical grazing in these rangelands. Results: The soil in interspaces between shrubs was the most degraded, with particle and fertility losses. While the soil of vegetation patches did not differ in any fraction, the soil beneath shrub patches was far more fertile. The soil of the sites with cushion shrubs developed the typical spatial heterogeneity of the fertility island effect, and their fertility decreased with increasing GI. With increasing GI, the relative cover of cushion shrubs grew and the total grass cover decreased, while the percentage of bare soil increased. Conclusions: The increasing grazing intensity favoured the transition of this subhumid grassland to shrubland. Grazing as an exogenous factor triggers processes of vegetation change and soil degradation, which lead to the encroachment by the cushion shrub Mulinum spinosum and fertility island development. This self-reinforced degradation process, well documented in arid and semiarid environments, also occurs in subhumid rangelands of the forest-steppe ecotone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Converting the chemical and biologically resistant structure of cellulosic biomass into useful products is a technological and economic challenge. The use of sustainable and efficient conversion technology sustainably has been gaining prominence. This work aimed to evaluate the integration of subcritical water hydrolysis (SWH) and enzymatic hydrolysis of sugarcane straw to obtain fermentable products and second-generation ethanol. SWH was conducted under semi-continuous conditions at 200 °C, 5 mL/min, and a 19-min retention time. Enzymatic hydrolysis using an enzyme blend produced simple sugars that were evaluated for fermentation using two strategies: (i) Saccharomyces cerevisiae SA-1; and (ii) co-culture of S. cerevisiae SA-1 and Scheffersomyces stipitis NRRLY-7124. Integrating subcritical water and enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in greater fermentable sugar yield (2.40 ± 0.01 g/L of xylose and 8.9 ± 0.6 g/L of glucose) than subcritical pre-treatment on its own. The co-culture fermentation strategy was more efficient than fermentation by S. cerevisiae on its own, resulting in 2.8 ± 0.3 g/L of ethanol. Subcritical water hydrolysis pre-treatment disrupted the lignocellulosic matrix, leading to increased enzymatic accessibility of cellulose, with minimal formation of degradation compounds, and with minimal waste formation. Future work can optimize the hydrolysis process to increase the yield of simple sugars, increase fermentation efficiency by controlling oxygen concentration and removing acetic acid, and consequently increase the yields of second-generation ethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important parameter to obtain an appropriate preservation condition of museum environments concerns the indoor air quality. The exposure of artwork and materials to gaseous and particulate pollutants introduced by visitors and either indoor or outdoor sources contributes to their decay. In this work, we evaluated the possible monitoring of the visitors' influence using the stable carbon isotopic ratio of CO2 and the concentration of NH3 as a real-time tool. The study was done in the Refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy) which houses one of the most important paintings of Leonardo da Vinci, the Last Supper, and had more than 400,000 visitors in 2019. The results confirmed a good correlation between the presence of tourists inside the museum and the variation of δ13C value during the visits and the closure of the museum. The variation of indoor atmospheric δ13C was influenced by the presence of visitors in the Refectory and delineates the way done from the entrance to the exit. In the same way, the concentration of NH3 was influenced by the presence of visitors and confirmed the role of this one on preservation methodology for indoor air quality in the museum. This new methodology can be used as a supplemental and non-invasive tool to help in calibrating microclimatic conditions through the ventilation rate and air filtration systems in the museum and to manage the number of visitors per turn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of ongoing treatment with DOACs on time from trauma to surgery and on in-hospital clinical outcomes (blood losses, need for transfusion, mortality) in patients with hip fracture. Moreover we evaluated the adherence to current guidelines regarding the time from last drug intake and surgery. In this observational retrospective study clinical records of patients admitted for hip fracture from January 2016 to January 2019 were reviewed. 74 patients were in treatment with DOACs at hospital admission. Demographic data, comorbidities and functional status before trauma were retrieved. As control group we evaluated 206 patients not on anticoagulants matched for age, gender, type of fracture and ASA score. Time to surgery was significantly longer in patients treated with DOACs (3.6 + 2.7 vs. 2.15 ± 1.07 days, p < 0.0001) and treatment within 48 h was 47% vs. 80% in control group (p < 0.0001). The adherence to guidelines' suggested time from last drug intake to surgery was 46%. Neither anticipation nor delay in surgery did result in increased mortality, length of stay or complication rates with the exception of larger perioperative blood loss (Hb levels < 8 g/dl) in DOACs patients (34% vs 9% p < 0.0001). Present results suggest that time to surgery is significantly longer in DOAC patients in comparison to controls and adherence to guidelines still limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS) is one of the most serious complications post haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The diagnosis of SOS is clinical, but nurses should be involved in the pre-transplant risk assessment period and play a crucial role in the early detection of signs and symptoms during and after hospitalization. The aim of this work is to achieve a consensus on nurses' behaviour in caring for SOS. Methods: On behalf of the Italian Group for Bone and Marrow Transplantation (GITMO), a promoter committee was established to put in place a consensus conference approach. A multidisciplinary group of GITMO together with four nurses, three haematology physicians and one patient representative acted as jury, who reviewed the reports and wrote recommendations and suggestions. Recommendations gaining 100% of consensus were considered 'Golden Points of Care'; if a consensus was achieved by ≥ 75% of the jury's members, those recommendations were defined as 'Good Practices'. Results: Eighteen papers written by nurses as first authors have been identified. Golden Points of Care and Good Practices were worked out for the following topics: nurses' role in general, nurses' role in pre-transplant assessment, pre-transplant risk assessment and risk stratification, baseline monitoring, suspected mild or moderate SOS, suspected severe or very severe SOS and late-onset cases. Conclusion: SOS is relatively rare; therefore, a holistic approach to the patients' needs considering nursing role as essential may result in better care outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surgical approach to breast asymmetry depends on several factors, including the surgeon's experience, the anatomy of the patient, and several methods that may help to choose a technique and define the size of the implant or the amount of breast tissue to be excised. The aim of this study is to assist in evaluation of breast volumes with the Quantra™ software application, intended for use with Hologic™ digital mammography systems. Twenty-eight women were studied with full-field digital mammography (FFDM) with the Quantra™ software application, for use with Hologic™ digital mammography systems preoperatively. The case diagnoses were as follows: breast hypertrophy, ptosis, hypoplasia, and reconstruction, and the surgeries included breast reduction, mastopexy, mastopexy and breast reduction, mastoplasty and breast augmentation, breast augmentation, and immediate or delayed breast reconstruction. Patients were evaluated from 6 to 18 months after surgery. Volumetric mammogram studies help to decide the amount of tissue to be excised, the size of the implants, and the combination of both. The results of this study were evaluated by surgeons and patients and found to be highly satisfactory. The use of full-field digital mammography with adequate software should be considered as another tool to assist in making decisions regarding the correction of breast asymmetries. Level of Evidence IV This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is known to contain polyphenols with many potential health benefits, including anti-tumoral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. It has been used in popular medicine for cancer treatment, which still represents the major cause of cancer-related deaths in men worldwide. Importantly, pomegranate peels are valuable by-products of the food industry that are rich in polyphenols. Here we report a comparison between juice and peel aqueous extracts in prostate cancer DU-145 and PC-3 cell lines. Both extracts were able to inhibit the proliferation, migration and colony formation of those cells, although peel extracts presented more robust effects compared to juice. Besides, the growth-related mTOR/S6K signaling pathway presented strong inhibition after pomegranate extracts treatment. This study presents evidence that both juice and isolated peel extracts from promegate fruit have important anti-cancer effects against prostate cancer cells, modulating the mTOR/S6K signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of an integrated multidisciplinary hip fracture unit through the following parameters: time to surgery, mortality, return to activities of daily living, adherence to re-fractures prevention programs.Methods: Six hundred seventy-seven consecutive patients with hip fracture were included in the study. We calculated the time to surgery as the time in hours from admission until surgery. The in-hospital mortality was calculated as the number of deaths that occurred before discharge. Each patient was then evaluated post-operatively at six weeks, three months, and one year. We studied basic activity of daily living (BADL) and the New Mobility Scale (NMS). Adherence to re-fractures prevention programs was also evaluated.Results: 88.9% of patients underwent surgery within two calendar days from admission. In-hospital mortality was 2.4%, and the overall mortality at one year from the intervention was 18.7%. Full mobility status or a low impairment of the mobility status was reached in 32.1% of the patients at one year and a level ≥ 3 of autonomy in BADL was reached in 62.4% (338/542) of patients. Three hundred forty-two patients were prescribed a specific therapy for secondary prevention of re-fracture.Conclusions: An integrated, multidisciplinary model for the treatment of hip fragility fractures was effective in reducing time to surgery and mortality, increasing the level autonomy and mobility status and promoting adherence to re-fracture therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For emerging countries such as Brazil, improved performance in the agricultural sector can be achieved by studies on the factors that have affected the performance and on economic perspectives relative to their internal structure and its relation with the external market. The present work aims to contribute with sustained economic expansion by studying strategies for expanding the energy supply in agribusiness. The characterization of specific energy consumption and energy indicators was performed considering a process of natural evolution, using logistic curves that describe the growth or evolution process. The specific energy consumption in agricultural activities was determined from data on the consumption of energy by machinery and equipments used in agricultural activities, as well as by establishing specific consumption indicators (ratio of energy consumed per unit produced) for each stage of production and by end-use. Nine crops and three herds were evaluated. In conclusions, the technology levels reached by the Brazilian agricultural sector have reflected on increased productivity and competitiveness in the international market with improvement in machines and equipments efficiency and operational capacity. In sugarcane culture, for example, the productivity increased 10% from 2009 to 2015. It has also been noticed a trend to reduce the use of low-power tractors and to increase the use of medium- to high-power tractors, which has also favored the productivity increase. The incorporation of new technologies tends to be more intense in the crops and herds that have an already established market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patagonian rangelands have been grazed by sheep since early twentieth century. However, there is still a degree of uncertainty regarding how production of grass and shrub species changes along a grazing gradient. The study was undertaken in Northeastern Patagonia, Argentina. The characteristic vegetation in the area is a mosaic of herbaceous steppe with shrubs (HSS) and shrub steppe (SS). Grazing intensity was estimated through sheep paths density. Individual plant production and plant density were used to determine grass and shrub production per unit area, in both plant communities over three years. Community production was obtained as the sum of grass and shrub components. Differences were explored in shrub and grass production among communities and years, and linear regressions between sheep paths density and the proportion of each plant community along the transect were performed. Mean community production was lower in SS than HSS; shrubs did not compensate for the decline in grass production in spite of the increase in shrub density. SS presented the highest community production in the most humid year, while HSS production peaks in the year of average precipitation. We found that as the number of sheep paths increases (i.e., higher grazing intensities), the SS community replaces HSS, resulting in a reduction of forage for sheep. The results showed that changes in vegetation structure as a result of grazing strongly influenced above-ground production. Results also indicate that the response of vegetation to changes in annual precipitation is community specific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NW Patagonia in Argentina has high potential for planting fast-growing exotic conifers, supported by its volcanic soils. Nonetheless, many aspects related to the effects of pine plantations on soil are still unknown. We aimed to evaluate the quality and erodibility of volcanic soils under the hypothesis that Pinus ponderosa plantations increase the quality and decrease the erosion rate of soils compared to degraded rangelands. Rainfall simulation experiments were performed in degraded rangeland soils and in pine plantations with none, partial and complete removal of fresh litter and duff layers. Results showed that rangeland soils were highly susceptible to water erosion. Sediment production in the rangeland varied between 144 and 750 g m. Loamy sand soils, poor in organic matter (OM) and without non-crystalline aluminosilicates, were the most erodible soils. The plantations improved soil quality, with positive changes in OM content and total and effective porosity, mainly in soils without non-crystalline materials. Soil erosion in pine plantations was negligible when fresh litter was either conserved or removed, with erosion rates as low as 6.2 ± 1.5 and 23.7 ± 7.9 g m, respectively. Even when fresh litter and duff layers were totally removed, soil erosion rates in the pine plantations (129.1 ± 23.2 g m) were lower than in the rangeland sites; however, this reduction was significant only for the most erodible soils. The high erodibility of volcanic soils and the low soil cover in overgrazed rangelands revealed the fragility of the soils in the study area. We show that pine plantations, an alternative land use of rangelands, improve some aspects of soil quality, provide a mulching effect through the litter layer and became a mean for controlling soil erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Late recovery of sinus rhythm is unusual in patients with permanent AF treated by (radiofrequency) RF maze procedure during mitral valve surgery. Identification of clinical and instrumental preoperative factors predictive of early success of RF ablation in patients with permanent AF undergoing mitral valve surgery may improve selection of subjects to obtain long-term results. Hundred and thirty consecutive patients with permanent AF and mitral valve disease underwent modified RF maze procedure during concomitant mitral valve surgery. Rheumatic valve disease (61 pts) and mitral valve prolapse (41 pts) were the more common aetiology of valve abnormalities. Mitral valve replacement was performed in 54 % of patients and mitral valve repair in the remaining 46 %. Four patients died after surgery. At discharge, 87 patients (69 %) were in sinus rhythm (group 1) and 43 patients in AF persisted (group 2). At an average 24-month follow-up, sinus rhythm was present in 67 % of patients, and 33 % were in atrial fibrillation. In this period, late recovery of sinus rhythm was observed only in five patients, while eight discharged in sinus rhythm developed again atrial fibrillation. Among preoperative parameters at univariate analysis female sex, atrial fibrillation >24 months, left atrial diameter >54 mm, left atrial area >24 cm, rheumatic valve disease and NYHA class were associated with persistence of AF. At Cox regression multivariate analysis, increased left atrial area (OR 1.07 per unit increase-95 % CI 1.01-1.131) and rheumatic aetiology of valve disease (OR 4.52, 95 % CI 1.65-12.4) were associated with persistence of AF at hospital discharge. Persistence of AF after RF ablation in patients undergoing mitral valve surgery is related to aetiology, e.g. rheumatic valve disease, and to increasing left atrial diameter. Due to low rate of late recovery of sinus rhythm, indication to RF ablation associated with MV surgery should be carefully considered in patients with large atria and rheumatic mitral valve disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myocardial infarction after hip fracture but before surgical repair is associated with a 30-day mortality as high as 30 % at 1 month. In Florence, since 2011, hip fractures are referred to a multidisciplinary hip fracture team including internal medicine specialists, anesthesiologists, and orthopaedic surgeons. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with hip fracture who had at hospital admission a significant increase of troponin (>10 times reference levels), the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies adopted, and overall 1-year survival. Protocol at admission included careful clinical evaluation (including bedside echocardiography) in order to stratify surgical risk and schedule surgery and anaesthesiology strategy. 21/1025 patients had preoperative significant troponin increase. In sixteen patients, a diagnosis of NSTEMI was made, five presented with ST elevation. In five patients with NSTEMI considered at very high surgical risk (ASA ≥ 3, severe cognitive and functional impairment), surgery was not performed. None survived at 1 year. Hip surgery was performed in the other 11. Four underwent coronary revascularization after hip surgery. In this group, 1-year survival was 80 %. Four of five ST elevation patients fulfilled criteria for stress cardiomyopathy confirmed by angiography. Hip surgery was performed, and the patients are alive at 1-year follow-up. Close to 2 % of patients with hip fracture are found to have a significant troponin increase before surgery. Three out of four have an NSTEMI diagnosis. In patients undergoing hip surgery, survival at 1 year is close to 80 %. In patients with ST elevation at admission, stress cardiomyopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis. This clinical condition is associated with a favourable prognosis after hip surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) plant inside or in close proximity to a sugarcane biorefinery producing first and second generation ethanol demonstrated to be very promising, increasing the economic potential of the SFE process in up to 57 %, since the SFE plant could use directly the ethanol, CO, heat, and electricity already available, with lower prices. In this study, Brazilian ginseng roots were used as model bioactive compounds source and first the statistical influence of the extraction conditions including pressure (10-20 MPa), temperature (323-363 K), and CO/ethanol proportion ratio (90:10, 50:50, and 0:100 %, w/w) on the β-ecdysone content in the extracts was experimentally evaluated and compared with literature results. SFE process evaluated experimentally at the present study showed higher selective extraction for β-ecdysone from Brazilian ginseng roots, providing an extract with up to 2.16 times higher β-ecdysone than the results obtained in previous studies. Thermal integration of the SFE process diminished energy requirements of the process, resulting in a reduction of cold utility requirement of 87 % and a final electricity demand of 7.5 kWh/g of β-ecdysone in the extract. In a situation in which the Brazilian ginseng roots price was increased to 4.71 USD/g, only the SFE integrated with the biorefinery solution would be economically feasible. Finally, the selling of the ginseng roots leftover could be an interesting answer to increase the economical attractiveness of the integrated SFE process to the biorefinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have provided preliminary evidence that disruptions in cry acoustics may be part of an atypical vocal signature of autism early in life. We examined the acoustic characteristics of cries extracted from the separation phase of the strange situation procedure in a sample of toddler of younger siblings of a child with autism spectrum disorder-autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (high risk, HR) and a low risk (LR) group. Cry samples derived from vocal recordings of 15-month-old HR (n = 13) and LR infants (n = 14) were subjected to acoustic analyses. HR toddlers, compared to those with LR, produced cries that were shorter and had a higher fundamental frequency (F0). Three HR toddlers later classified with an ASD at 36 months (autistic disorder in all cases) produced cries that had among the highest F0 and shortest durations. Taken together these results indicate that toddlers at high risk for ASD (and those with an ASD) express atypical patterns of distress in response a social stressor. Implications for early diagnosis and parenting are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We characterized the runoff and erosion from a volcanic soil in an Austrocedrus chilensis forest affected by a wildfire, and we evaluated the effects of a mitigation treatment. Methods: Rainfall simulations were performed in the unburned and burned forest, with and without vegetation cover, and under a mitigation treatment. Results: After the wildfire, the mean infiltration rate decreased from 100 mm h in unburned soils to 51 and 64 mm h in the burned with and without litter and vegetation cover, respectively. The fast establishment of bryophytes accelerated the recovery of soil stability. Sediment production was negligible in the control plots (4.4 g m); meanwhile in the burned plots, it was 118.7 g m and increased to 1026.1 g m in the burned and bare plots. Total C and N losses in the control plots were negligible, while in the burned and bare plots the organic C and total N removed were 98.25 and 1.64 g m, respectively. The effect of mitigation treatment was efficient in reducing the runoff, but it did not affect the sediment production. Conclusions: These fertile volcanic soils promoted the recovery of vegetation in a short time after the wildfire, diminishing the risk of erosion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soy has been traditionally incorporated in diet as processed foods, such as soymilk, tofu, miso, tempeh, etc., and the consumption is commonly associated with a reduction of the development of chronic diseases due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic properties, among others. Many of the health benefits of soy have been attributed to isoflavones. They comprise a group of naturally occurring flavonoids consisting of heterocyclic phenols. Soy contains three types of isoflavones in four chemical forms: the aglycones daidzein, genistein, and glycitein; the β-glucosides daidzin, genistin, and glycitin; their 6″- O-malonyl-β-glucosides (6OMalGlc); and their 6″- O-acetyl-β-glucosides (6OAcGlc) conjugates. Industrial processing methods of soy-based food products commonly lead to the loss of isoflavones through removal of undesirable fractions. On the other hand, isoflavones can be transformed into different conjugates, which may have significant effects on the food texture and on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of the isoflavones. This article reviews the effect of a number of soybean processing treatments on the isoflavone content and profile. The preparation and manufacturing of different soy-based food and food ingredients, fermented and non-fermented, has been analyzed in terms of content and distribution of the three major isoflavone derivatives, daidzein, genistein, and glycitein, and their respective conjugates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used an enclosure trap with a lifting net to capture Alpine chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra). The trap was activated by remote radio-controlled electromagnets powered by photovoltaic modules. The up-net trap had considerable advantages over mechanical methods described in the literature for the capture of chamois. During 36 capture sessions, we captured 50 chamois, or 1.39 animals per session. Capture success was 96.2% of the average of 1.4 animals that entered the trap during a capture session. Mortality was 2%, and another 2% of the captured chamois was injured. There were no known postrelease capture-induced pathologies, and the capture effort was 1.7 man-days per chamois. The trap allowed to select specific target animals and to capture sex–age classes (particularly kids and their mothers) that are normally difficult or impossible to capture. It could be set off from a distance; it only required about 4 h to assemble and could be operated by as few as two people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerebral amyloid diseases are part of a complex group of chronic and progressive entities bracketed together under the common denomination of protein folding disorders and characterized by the intra- and extracellular accumulation of fibrillar aggregates. Of the more than 25 unrelated proteins known to produce amyloidosis in humans only about a third of them are associated with cerebral deposits translating in cognitive deficits, dementia, stroke, cerebellar and extrapyramidal signs, or a combination thereof. The familial forms reviewed herein, although infrequent, provide unique paradigms to examine the role of amyloid in the mechanism of disease pathogenesis and to dissect the link between vascular and parenchymal amyloid deposition and their differential contribution to neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  Chronic inflammation is being shown to be increasingly involved in the onset and development of several pathological disturbances such as arteriosclerosis, obesity, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases and even cancer. Treatment for chronic inflammatory disorders has not been solved, and there is an urgent need to find new and safe anti-inflammatory compounds. Flavonoids belong to a group of natural substances occurring normally in the diet that exhibit a variety of beneficial effects on health. The anti-inflammatory properties of flavonoids have been studied recently, in order to establish and characterize their potential utility as therapeutic agents in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Several mechanisms of action have been proposed to explain in vivo flavonoid anti-inflammatory actions, such as antioxidant activity, inhibition of eicosanoid generating enzymes or the modulation of the production of proinflammatory molecules. Recent studies have also shown that some flavonoids are modulators of proinflammatory gene expression, thus leading to the attenuation of the inflammatory response. However, much work remains to be done in order to achieve definitive conclusions about their potential usefulness. This review summarizes the known mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids and the implications of these effects on the protection against cancer and cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), amyloid fibrils deposit in walls of arteries, arterioles and less frequently in veins and capillaries of the central nervous system, often resulting in secondary degenerative vascular changes. Although the amyloid-β peptide is by far the commonest amyloid subunit implicated in sporadic and rarely in hereditary forms of CAA, a number of other proteins may also be involved in rare familial diseases in which CAA is also a characteristic morphological feature. These latter proteins include the ABri and ADan subunits in familial British dementia and familial Danish dementia, respectively, which are also known under the umbrella term BRI2 gene-related dementias, variant cystatin C in hereditary cerebral haemorrhage with amyloidosis of Icelandic-type, variant transthyretins in meningo-vascular amyloidosis, disease-associated prion protein (PrPSc) in hereditary prion disease with premature stop codon mutations and mutated gelsolin (AGel) in familial amyloidosis of Finnish type. In this review, the characteristic morphological features of the different CAAs is described and the implication of the biochemical, genetic and transgenic animal data for the pathogenesis of CAA is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vasculotropic E22Q mutant of the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is associated with hereditary cerebral hemorrhage with amyloidosis Dutch type. The cellular mechanism(s) of toxicity and nature of the AβE22Q toxic assemblies are not completely understood. Comparative assessment of structural parameters and cell death mechanisms elicited in primary human cerebral endothelial cells by AβE22Q and wild-type Aβ revealed that only AβE22Q triggered the Bax mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. AβE22Q neither matched the fast oligomerization kinetics of Aβ42 nor reached its predominant β-sheet structure, achieving a modest degree of oligomerization with a secondary structure that remained a mixture of β and random conformations. The endogenous molecule tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) was a strong modulator of AβE22Q-triggered apoptosis but did not significantly change the secondary structures and fibrillogenic propensities of Aβ peptides. These data dissociate the pro-apoptotic properties of Aβ peptides from their distinct mechanisms of aggregation/fibrillization in vitro, providing new perspectives for modulation of amyloid toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In heart failure survival is closely related to functional capacity. Peak O2 consumption at cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is considered the gold standard for the evaluation of exercise tolerance. Since >70% of patients with heart failure, usually elderly or with significant comorbidities, are referred to Departments of Internal Medicine where facilities for cardiopulmonary test are rarely available, CPET may be performed in <5% of the patients. Six-minute walk test (6MWT) has been proposed as a simple, inexpensive, reproducible alternative to CPET. The 6MWT reproduces the activity of daily life and this is particularly relevant in elderly patients who usually develop symptoms below their theoretical maximal exercise capacity. Despite some limits 6MWT is attractive for patients referred to Departments of Internal Medicine allowing an objective evaluation of exercise tolerance, a better prognostic evaluation and a guide to evaluate response to medical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]