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Background and Aims: Water deficit modifies the concentration of the aroma compounds of grape berries, but little information is available on the effect of deficits applied at different phenological stages. We evaluated the effect of deficit irrigation on glycosylated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) responsible for the aroma of berries of Sangiovese and Merlot cultivars grafted on 1103P or SO4 rootstocks. Methods and Results: Vines were subjected to either pre‐ or post‐veraison water stress, and berry composition compared against that of fruit of fully irrigated vines. At harvest, a higher concentration of glycosylated VOCs was measured in berries from vines stressed pre‐veraison, but while it increased as water deficit increased in Sangiovese, this occurred only at a low or moderate level of stress in Merlot. Post‐veraison water stress had a negative or negligible effect on the concentration of glycosylated VOCs in berries at harvest. The rootstock affected the concentration of glycosylated VOCs, particularly in vines stressed pre‐veraison, with higher glycosylated VOCs observed for SO4 grafted vines than for 1103P grafted vines. Conclusions: Pre‐veraison water deficit enhanced the concentration of berry glycosylated VOCs, while post‐veraison deficit did not. The rootstock–scion interaction might amplify the irrigation effect on berry glycosylated VOCs. Significance of the Study: Modifying the timing and volume of irrigation might allow management of berry flavour for improved fruit and wine composition. Irrigation protocols should be tailored for specific cultivar–rootstock combinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reduced summer precipitations and higher evapotranspiration due to elevated temperatures are expected to enhance the impact of water deficit in modern viticulture. We investigated the effect of the timing of deficit irrigation on vine growth, water relations, yield and grape composition in 'Merlot' vines grafted on 1103P or SO4. In both years we did not measure any differences between rootstocks in stem water potential (SWP). Vegetative growth was decreased by the restriction of irrigation between fruit set and veraison. Stomatal conductance (gs) was affected by irrigation, but not by the rootstock. During the pre-veraison period there was a clear inverse relationship between gs and SWP. The leaf non photochemical quenching readily responded to the stress imposed on 1103P rootstock. Vines subjected to water deficit between fruit set and veraison produced smaller berries than well irrigated ones, whereas deficit applied after veraison determined about 10 % differences in berry weight. The highest and lowest values of pH and TA were measured in berries from pre-veraison deficit irrigated vines grafted on both 1103P and SO4, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Social and cultural factors combined with little information may prevent the diffusion of epidural analgesia for pain relief during childbirth. The present study was launched contemporarily to the implementation of analgesia for labor in our Department in order to perform a 2 years audit on its use. The goal is to evaluate the epidural acceptance and penetration into hospital practice by women and care givers and safety and efficacy during childbirth. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This audit cycle measured epidural analgesia performance against 4 standards: (1) Implementation of epidural analgesia for labor to all patients; (2) Acceptance and good satisfaction level reported by patients and caregivers. (3) Effectiveness of labor analgesia; (4) No maternal or fetal side effects. RESULTS: During the audit period epidural analgesia increased from 15.5% of all labors in the first trimester of the study to 51% in the last trimester (p < 0.005). Satisfaction levels reported by patients and care givers were good. A hierarchical clustering analysis identified two clusters based on VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) time course: in 226 patients (cluster 1) VAS decreased from 8.5±1.4 before to 4.1±1.3 after epidural analgesia; in 1002 patients (cluster 2) VAS decreased from 8.12±1.7 before (NS vs cluster 1), to 0.76±0.79 after (p < 0.001 vs before and vs cluster 2 after). No other differences between clusters were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Present audit shows that the process of implementation of labor analgesia was quick, successful and safe, not we standing the identification of one cluster of women with suboptimal response to epidural analgesia that need to be further studies, overall pregnant womens' adhesion to labor analgesia was satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was designed lo detect abnormalities in CMI and the presence of polyclonally activated B cells in patients with HBV positive CAH. We studied the peripheral levels and ³H-thymidine incorporation of three lymphocyte subsets: B lymphocytes, as well as two T cell subsets that are either active or late rosetters with high and low affinity receptors respectively for sheep red blood cells (SRBC). In patients the level of peripheral T active cells was decreased, but they exhibited elevated B cell activation. There was also a significant correlation between the decreased levels of T active cells and increased ³H-thymidine incorporation by B lymphocytes. Taken together, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that patients with HBV positive CAH have a severe impairment of T cell function that may lead to an abnormal B cell activation. The increased B cell activity may account for the presence of circulating immune complexes and the variety of autoantibodies often observed in patients with HBV positive CAH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new vinification protocol is proposed on Sangiovese and Cesanese grape varieties. • Withering process under controlled conditions provides an improvement of grape quality. • Basic wines produced through the standard procedure were added of withered grape musts. • After 2nd fermentation, final wines were richer in color, phenols, aroma, body, and structure. • Commercial wine quality can be improved by smoother, ready to drink and pleasant aromatic notes. Grape controlled dehydration of "Cesanese" and "Sangiovese" wine grapes, followed by an innovative vinification protocol, was studied. Fresh grapes of both varieties were processed into basic wines (IW = initial wine). 'Cesanese' must from pressed dehydrated grapes (solid and liquid) was directly added (15 and 30% v/v) into the IW activating a refermentation. 'Sangiovese' must (solid and liquid) from pressed dehydrated grapes was fermented and, when the wine reached 5% alcohol concentration, every day, the IW was added until a final concentration of 40 or 60% (v/v). The produced "blended wines" (BW) had significantly higher alcohol, glycerol, extract, and polyphenol concentration. Malolactic fermentation was completely ended in all BW with no malic acid and formation of lactic acid (0.5–1 g/L). All wines showed a significant higher concentration in 4-vinylguaiacol, acetovanillone, and 3-oxo-α-ionol, providing spicy and fruity notes at the sensory analyses, and being appreciated for their body balance, less acidity, and flavor intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amarone wine is different from regular dry wine due to the postharvest withering of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella grapes. Grapes were withered in a commercial facility with variability in terms of temperature and relative humidity (R.H.). Sugar content reached 230–240 g L −1 and 280 g L −1 at 20% and 30% mass loss, respectively. Most of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) decreased during withering but few VOCs increased during withering and we considered as markers; in Corvinone they were methylhexanoate, dimethylsuccinate, nerol, nonanoic acid, and benzyl alcohol; in Corvina, benzyl alcohol, isoamyl alcohol, 1-hexanol, p-cymen-8-ol, 2,3 pinanediol, 3-oxo-ionol and 3-methyl-1-pentanol, coumaran and damascenone; in Rondinella, hexanol, nonanoic acid, methyl vanillate, damascenone, 3-oxo-ionol, eugenol, p-cymen-8-ol, 2,3 pinanediol, coumaran and raspberry keton. Olfactive descriptors of the wines and the potential aroma of the combination of Corvina wine with the wines of the other two varieties at different percentages of mass loss are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]