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Salt marshes are intertidal coastal ecosystems shaped by complex feedbacks between hydrodynamic, morphological, and biological processes. These crucial yet endangered environments provide a diverse range of ecosystem services but are globally subjected to high anthropogenic pressures, while being severely exposed to climate change impacts. The importance of salt marshes as "blue carbon" sinks, deriving from their primary production coupled with rapid surface accretion, has been increasingly recognized within the framework of climate mitigation strategies. However, large uncertainties remain in salt marsh carbon stock and sequestration estimation. In order to provide further knowledge in salt marsh carbon assessment and investigate marsh carbon pool response to management actions, we analyzed organic matter content in salt marsh soils of the Venice Lagoon (Italy) from 60 sediment cores to the depth of 1 m and estimated organic carbon stock and accumulation rates in different areas. Organic carbon stocks and accumulation rates were highly variable in different marshes, being affected by organic and inorganic inputs and preservation conditions. Our estimates suggest that the studied marshes store 17,108 ± 5,757 tons of carbon per square kilometer in top 1‐m of soil and can accumulate 85 ± 25 tons of carbon per square kilometer per year. However, flood regulation may reduce the annual marsh CO2 sequestration potential by more than 30%. Our results contribute valuable information for regional carbon assessments, reinforcing the need for integrated coastal management policies to preserve the ecosystem services of coastal environments, and underscore the importance of considering local variability and methodological variations. Plain Language Summary: Salt marshes are coastal ecosystems periodically inundated by tides. They offer crucial ecosystem services, including carbon storage, coastal protection, and biodiversity enhancement. The importance of salt marshes as "blue carbon" sinks has been increasingly recognized within the framework of climate mitigation strategies. Salt marsh vegetation captures and stores organic carbon, removing CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis. Vertical accretion, driven by the deposition of both organic matter and mineral sediments, promotes the burial and preservation of carbon content in plant tissues and organic litter in the soil. However, uncertainties persist in estimating salt marsh carbon storage and sequestration potential. To address this, we analyzed soil organic content in 10 salt marshes of the Venice Lagoon (Italy). Our estimates suggest that the studied marshes can accumulate the same amount of carbon absorbed by 130,000 trees and highlight the economic value associated with their protection and restoration. However, coastal management actions may impact the carbon storage function of coastal environments. We show that flood regulation may reduce the annual marsh CO2 sequestration potential by more than 30%. Additionally, our results underscore the importance of considering local variability and methodological variations, which can significantly complicate blue carbon assessments. Key Points: The average marsh soil carbon stock in the Venice Lagoon is 17,108 ton C km−2, while carbon accumulation rate is 85 ton C km−2 yr−1Flood regulation strategies, which reduce vertical accretion capacity, may decrease the annual marsh CO2 sequestration by more than 30%Our results highlight the importance of considering local variability and methodological differences, complicating blue carbon assessments [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bis(pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acid (HC(pz)2COOH) and bis(3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl)acetic acid (HC(pzMe2)2COOH) were converted into the methyl ester derivatives 1 (LOMe) and 2 (L2OMe), respectively, and were used for the preparation of silver(I) complexes 3–5. The Ag(I) complexes were prepared by the reaction of AgNO3 and 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA) or triphenylphosphine (PPh3) with LOMe and L2OMe in methanol solution. All Ag(I) complexes showed a significant in vitro antitumor activity, proving to be more effective than the reference drug cisplatin in the in-house human cancer cell line panel containing examples of different solid tumors. Compounds were particularly effective against the highly aggressive and intrinsically resistant human small-cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cells, either in 2D and 3D cancer cell models. Mechanistic studies revealed their ability to accumulate into cancer cells and to selectively target Thioredoxin (TrxR), thus leading to redox homeostasis unbalance and ultimately inducing cancer cell death through apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of dietary supplements for the prevention and management of diseases associated with excess of lipids is spreading in Western countries. Supplements containing red yeast rice (RYR) and extracts from Berberis species, characterized, respectively, by the active compounds monacolin K (MK) and berberine (BBR), are sold in pharmacies as over the counter medicines (OTC) and in regular markets without the need of medical prescription and medical surveillance. However, MK is chemically identical to lovastatin, a drug commonly used to treat hypercholesterolemia, and is characterized by the same mechanism of action, pharmacokinetic profile and toxicity. On the other hand, although BBR-containing supplements are considered to be well-tolerated and safe, they frequently show poor standardization of active ingredients, and this could lead to lack of effects. In this work, with the aim to give an overview on the potency of RYR- and BBR-containing supplements available on the Italian market, we analyzed a pool of supplements bought from both local pharmacies and markets. Results confirm the data already published by other authors, showing scarce standardization of bioactives and discrepancy between the doses of bioactives reported by the manufacturers and the amounts resulting from analysis of the same products. Overall, our data represent a further proof that a strict legislation regulating the production and marketing of dietary supplements and a close monitoring of these products by food and drug regulatory organs is mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of neutral mixed-ligand [HB(pz)3]Ag(PR3) silver(I) complexes (PR3 = tertiary phosphine, [HB(pz)3]− = tris(pyrazolyl)borate anion), and the corresponding homoleptic [Ag(PR3)4]BF4 compounds have been synthesized and fully characterized. Silver compounds were screened for their antiproliferative activities against a wide panel of human cancer cells derived from solid tumors and endowed with different platinum drug sensitivity. Mixed-ligand complexes were generally more effective than the corresponding homoleptic derivatives, but the most active compounds were [HB(pz)3]Ag(PPh3) (5) and [Ag(PPh3)4]BF4 (10), both comprising the lipophilic PPh3 phosphine ligand. Detailed mechanistic studies revealed that both homoleptic and heteroleptic silver complexes strongly and selectively inhibit the selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase both as isolated enzyme and in human ovarian cancer cells (half inhibition concentration values in the nanomolar range) causing the disruption of cellular thiol-redox homeostasis, and leading to apoptotic cell death. Moreover, for heteroleptic Ag(I) derivatives, an additional ability to damage nuclear DNA has been detected. These results confirm the importance of the type of silver ion coordinating ligands in affecting the biological behavior of the overall corresponding silver complexes, besides in terms of hydrophilic–lipophilic balance, also in terms of biological mechanism of action, such as interaction with DNA and/or thioredoxin reductase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The contents of protein and non-protein (free and protein-bound) tryptophan and of proteins in cocoa beans of various origin were determined. Protein concentrations varied from 11.8g/100g in beans from the Dominican Republic to 15.7g/100g in roasted beans from the Ivory Coast. The highest protein tryptophan content was found in cocoa beans from Ecuador. Madagascar beans had the highest value of free tryptophan and Echeandia the lowest (17.26 and 6.39mg/100g, respectively). Tryptophan was bound to water-soluble proteins as well as to proteins soluble in buffer solution (pH 8.9) and in 70% ethanol. In particular, Dominican Republic cocoa contained the highest amount of tryptophan bound to water-soluble proteins. Very little tryptophan was linked to proteins soluble in alkaline or ethanol solutions, and values ranged from 0.96 to 3.04 and from 0.24 to 1.21mg/100g of dry defatted cocoa sample, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The synthesis and characterization of the gold(III) complexes [(HSDT)AuX2] and [(HSDT)2Au]X (X=Cl, Br; HSDT=sarcosinedithiocarbamate (N-methylglycinedithiocarbamate)) are reported. In the discussed compounds coordination takes place through the sulfur atoms in a square-planar geometry around the gold(III) metal center. The characterization of the complexes has been carried out by means of elemental analysis, conductance measurements, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. In addition, the molecular structure of the 1:1 metal-to-ligand complexes has been further investigated by means of density functional calculations, confirming the conclusions reached upon application of the other chemical characterization techniques. The complex [(HSDT)3Au] has been also synthesized and characterized by mass spectrometry, FT-IR, NMR and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, even if a definitive determination of its structure has not been undoubtedly accomplished. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]