Is Pilates effective in improving depressive disorders? A comprehensive overview.

Depressive disorders are disabling conditions that account for high social costs. Pilates demonstrated to have several beneficial effects on health. Objective of this manuscript was to systematically review the literature about the effects of Pilates on depressive disorders. A bibliographic search was conducted in the main database sources (Pubmed, Medline, and Scopus). The inclusion criteria consisted of articles written in English language about the effectiveness of Pilates on depressive symptoms. Most of included studies are randomized controlled trials (10 out of 12). The available literature agrees in indicating that Pilates is effective in improving depressive symptoms especially when compared to inactivity and when this practice is administered for a medium-long period (8-16 weeks). In addition, Pilates seems to have at least comparable effectiveness than aerobic exercise. Pilates can be considered a reliable complementary treatment for people with depressive disorders. These findings should be interpreted considering the different types of practice administered as well as the different duration of the programs or rating scales used to assess mood symptoms. Studies with a more homogenous design are needed to confirm and make generalizable the results presented in this review.

Polyphenolic Compounds in Extracts from Roasted Grapevine Canes: An Investigation for a Circular Approach to Increase Sustainability in the Viticulture Sectors.

In this study, we compared the polyphenolic composition of the roasted grapevine wood chips of four Vitis vinifera cultivars-namely, Sorbara, Grasparossa, Malbo Gentile, and Spergola. These waste byproducts have the potential as infusion chips for the aging of alcoholic beverages and vinegars, contributing to an enriched sensory profile. Roasting amplifies aromatic nuances and triggers the depletion of crucial bioactive compounds, including polyphenols. We investigated the extent of polyphenolic loss in the ethanolic extract of roasted grapevine chips to repurpose this waste byproduct and assess its potential. We assessed the levels of trans-resveratrol, trans-ε-viniferin, trans-piceatannol, and the main resveratrol trimer. Our findings indicated a significant decrease in polyphenol content as the roasting temperature increased, from 16.85-21.12 mg GAE/g for grapevine chips roasted at 120 °C to 3.10-7.77 mg GAE/g for those roasted at 240 °C. This study also highlights notable genotypic differences in polyphenolic content. Among the red grape cultivars analyzed, Sorbara exhibited the highest levels (7.77-21.12 mg/GAEg), whereas the white grape cultivar Spergola showed the lowest polyphenolic content (3.10-16.85 mg/GAEg). These findings not only contribute to the scientific understanding of polyphenol stability but also hold practical implications for the enhancement of aged beverages, as well as advancing sustainable practices in the viticulture industries.

Characterization of Some Stilbenoids Extracted from Two Cultivars of Lambrusco-Vitis vinifera Species: An Opportunity to Valorize Pruning Canes for a More Sustainable Viticulture.

Pruning canes from grape vines are valuable byproducts that contain resveratrol and other health-boosting stilbenoids. This study aimed to assess the effect of roasting temperature on the stilbenoid content of vine canes by comparing two Vitis vinifera cultivars, Lambrusco Ancellotta and Salamino. Samples were collected during different phases of the vine plant cycle. One set was collected in September after the grape harvest and was air-dried and analyzed. A second set was obtained during vine pruning in February and evaluated immediately after collection. The main stilbenoid identified in each sample was resveratrol (~100-2500 mg/kg), with significant levels of viniferin (~100-600 mg/kg) and piceatannol (~0-400 mg/kg). Their contents decreased with increasing roasting temperature and residence time on the plant. This study provides valuable insights into the use of vine canes in a novel and efficient manner, which could potentially benefit different industries. One potential use involves the roasted cane chips to accelerate the aging of vinegars and alcoholic beverages. This method is more efficient and cost-effective than traditional aging, which is slow and unfavorable from an industrial perspective. Furthermore, incorporating vine canes into maturation processes reduces viticulture waste and enhances the final products with health-promoting molecules, such as resveratrol.

Waste By-Product of Grape Seed Oil Production: Chemical Characterization for Use as a Food and Feed Supplement.

Among the waste materials of wine production, grape seeds constitute an important fraction of the pomace, from which the precious edible oil is extracted. The residual mass from oil extraction, the defatted grape seeds (DGS), can be destined for composting or valorized according to the circular economy rules to produce pyrolytic biochar by gasification or pellets for integral energy recovery. Only a small quantity is used for subsequent extraction of polyphenols and tannins. In this study, we performed a chemical characterization of the DGS, by applying spectroscopic techniques (ICP-OES) to determine the metal content, separation techniques (HS-SPME-GC-MS) to evaluate the volatile fraction, and thermal methods of analysis (TGA-MS-EGA) to identify different matrix constituents. Our main goal is to obtain information about the composition of DGS and identify some bioactive compounds constituting the matrix in view of possible future applications. The results suggest that DGS can be further exploited as a dietary supplement, or as an enriching ingredient in foods, for example, in baked goods. Defatted grape seed flour can be used for both human and animal consumption, as it is a source of functional macro- and micronutrients that help in maintaining optimal health and well-being conditions.

Mental health and the effects on methylation of stress-related genes in front-line versus other health care professionals during the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic: an Italian pilot study.

Healthcare workers experienced high degree of stress during COVID-19. Purpose of the present article is to compare mental health (depressive and Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorders-PTSD-symptoms) and epigenetics aspects (degree of methylation of stress-related genes) in front-line healthcare professionals versus healthcare working in non-COVID-19 wards. Sixty-eight healthcare workers were included in the study: 39 were working in COVID-19 wards (cases) and 29 in non-COVID wards (controls). From all participants, demographic and clinical information were collected by an ad-hoc questionnaire. Depressive and PTSD symptoms were evaluated by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), respectively. Methylation analyses of 9 promoter/regulatory regions of genes known to be implicated in depression/PTSD (ADCYAP1, BDNF, CRHR1, DRD2, IGF2, LSD1/KDM1A, NR3C1, OXTR, SLC6A4) were performed on DNA from blood samples by the MassARRAY EpiTYPER platform, with MassCleave settings. Controls showed more frequent lifetime history of anxiety/depression with respect to cases (χ2 = 5.72, p = 0.03). On the contrary, cases versus controls presented higher PHQ-9 (t = 2.13, p = 0.04), PHQ-9 sleep item (t = 2.26, p = 0.03), IES-R total (t = 2.17, p = 0.03), IES-R intrusion (t = 2.46, p = 0.02), IES-R avoidance (t = 1.99, p = 0.05) mean total scores. Methylation levels at CRHR1, DRD2 and LSD1 genes was significantly higher in cases with respect to controls (p < 0.01, p = 0.03 and p = 0.03, respectively). Frontline health professionals experienced more negative effects on mental health during COVID-19 pandemic than non-frontline healthcare workers. Methylation levels were increased in genes regulating HPA axis (CRHR1) and dopamine neurotransmission (DRD2 and LSD1), thus supporting the involvement of these biological processes in depression/PTSD and indicating that methylation of these genes can be modulated by stress conditions, such as working as healthcare front-line during COVID-19 pandemic.

VOCs Analysis of Three Different Cultivars of Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) Whole Dietary Fiber.

In this study, the trend of VOCs of dietary fiber samples, coming from three different watermelon cultivars Citrullus lanatus L. (variety Gavina®®, Crimson Sweet, and Asahi Miyako) was investigated. This foodstuff, obtained as a by-product of residual agri-food production, has gained increasing attention because of its many bioactive components and high dietary fiber content. The result is a fibrous material for specific applications in food manufacturing, such as corrector for some functional and technological properties. In this study, a method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to characterize the aromatic profiles of the dried raw materials. Therefore, the VOCs of the samples of the three cultivars were investigated. Experimental results have shown that watermelon fibers generate VOCs, which can be grouped into six common classes of analytes. The different distributions of the identified compounds made it possible to effectively differentiate the three cultivars studied based on their peculiar aroma profiles. In particular, Gavina®® fiber is distinguished by the high content of terpenes, Asahi Miyako by the presence of aldehydes generated as fatty acid metabolites, and Crimson Sweet by the higher content of acetyl esters.

Comparative Analysis of VOCs from Winter Melon Pomace Fibers before and after Bleaching Treatment with H2O2.

In this study, the trend of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in dietary fiber samples from the winter melon (Cucumis Melo var. Inodorus, Yellow Canary type) were investigated. This foodstuff, obtained as a by-product of agri-food production, has gained increasing attention and is characterized by many bioactive components and a high dietary-fiber content. As regards fiber, it is poorly colored, but it may be whitened by applying a bleaching treatment with H2O2. The result is a fibrous material for specific applications in food manufacturing, for example, as a corrector for some functional and technological properties. This treatment is healthy and safe for consumers and widely applied in industrial food processes. In this study, a method based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied for the characterization of the aromatic profile of the dried raw materials. Furthermore, VOC variation was investigated as function of the bleaching treatment with H2O2. The bleached samples were also analyzed after a long storage period (24 months), to assess their stability over time. As a result, the VOC fraction of the fresh raw fiber showed nine classes of analytes; these were restricted to seven for the bleached fiber at t0 time, and further reduced to four classes at the age of 24 months. Alcohols were the main group detected in the fresh raw sample (33.8 % of the total chromatogram area), with 2,3-butanediol isomers as the main compounds. These analytes decreased with time. An opposite trend was observed for the acids (9.7% at t0), which increased with time and became the most important class in the 24-month aged and bleached sample (57.3%).

Tracing geographical origin of Lambrusco PDO wines using isotope ratios of oxygen, boron, strontium, lead and their elemental concentration.

Wine identification is one of the most important aspects in the classification of wines and consumer protection. In particular, assuring wine authenticity is a crucial issue on which researchers are focusing on. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using chemical (B, Pb and Sr concentration) and isotopic compositions (δ11B, 20yPb/20xPb, 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O) of wine samples to trace their geographic origins. Different PDO Lambrusco wines coming from a confined area of northern Italy were analyzed and all the isotopic systematics were monitored by using a multi collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP/MS). The obtained results showed that boron isotope ratio measurements led to a satisfactory degree of accuracy and precision (measured value, n = 28, 11B/10B of NIST SRM 951a equal to 4.04343 ± 0.00178, (u = 2s) with a certified value of 4.04362 ± 0.00136 (u = 2s). Furthermore, in the present study, it has been possible to highlight significant differences among samples by means of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc Tukey-Kramer test. Finally, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was also carried out in order to evaluate to which extent the different PDOs can be distinguished from each other, taking into account the whole set of geographical origin descriptors. Although δ11B provided more sensitive information, the obtained results highlighted the important to consider the synergistic combination of all the investigated parameters to trace the different samples and the need to combine the obtained values with the same parameters evaluated in the soil, water and fertilizer as well.

Use of Lead Isotopic Ratios as Geographical Tracer for Lambrusco PDO Wines.

In this study, the lead isotope signature was tested with the aim to verify its potential as geographic tracer for wine production and particularly for the Lambrusco PDO wines of the province of Modena (Italy). A solid phase extraction procedure, for separating lead from the investigated matrices, soil and wine, was optimized. Furthermore, different mathematical models, based on an exponential law and internal or external correction approach, were evaluated for the correction of instrumental mass dependent fractionation. The optimized analytical procedure yielded isotopic ratio data relative to the lead NIST 981 standard, 208Pb/206Pb = 2.16664 and 207Pb/206Pb = 0.914645, in good agreement both with the tabulated values and with the most recent literature data. Measured isotope ratio data highlight the contribute of multiple lead sources in bottled wine but different from the one present in soils.

Development of 87Sr/86Sr maps as targeted strategy to support wine quality.

This study summarizes the results obtained from a systematic and long-term project aimed at the development of tools to assess the provenance of food in the oenological sector. In particular, 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios were measured on statistically representative set of soils, vine branches and wines sampled in the production district of Modena, worldwide known for the Lambrusco wines production. The obtained data were used to build strontium isotopic maps able to objectively support the Lambrusco PDO wines origin as well as other products of the Modena district. Finally, a strong relationship was found between the 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios of soils and vine branches on a large scale, highlighting and confirming once more the idea that plants can also represent an optimal sampling device to support geographical traceability.

Investigation on a Roman copper alloy artefact from Pompeii (Italy).

A selection of samples, obtained from a particular copper-alloy domestic artefact of Roman style from Pompeii, has been analysed by using different techniques (IR, Raman, SEM-EDX, FAAS), in order to investigate the chemical nature and composition of the metals utilised for such manufacturing pieces. The surface analysis of the bright red metallic microfragments conducted by different analytical techniques, emphasises the presence of pure unalloyed copper and confirms the absence of other metallic species on the upper layers. On the contrary, the mapping analysis of the section of the laminar metal of the investigated sample shows a consistent enrichment in tin content. Finally, destructive analysis by FAAS confirms that the artefact looks like a bronze metal alloy, with a medium Sn content of about 6.5%.

Durum wheat adulteration detection by NIR spectroscopy multivariate calibration.

In the present work, we explored the possibility of using near-infrared spectroscopy in order to quantify the degree of adulteration of durum wheat flour with common bread wheat flour. The multivariate calibration techniques adopted to this aim were PLS and a wavelet-based calibration algorithm, recently developed by some of us, called WILMA. Both techniques provided satisfactory results, the percentage of adulterant present in the samples being quantified with an uncertainty lower than that associated to the Italian official method. In particular the WILMA algorithm, by performing feature selection, allowed the signal pretreatment to be avoided and obtaining more parsimonious models.

A study of the dielectric behaviour and the liquid structure of a ternary solvent system.

The static dielectric constant of the [DMF(1) + ME(2) + DME(3)] ternary mixtures was measured as a function of temperature (25 < or = t/degrees C < or = 80) and composition, over the whole mole fraction range 0 < or = chi,chi2,chi3 < or = 1. The experimental values were processed by an empirical equation accounting for the dependence epsilon = epsilon(T, phi(i)), where phi(t) is the volume fraction of the components. A comparison between calculated and experimental data shows that this fitting relationship can be effectively employed to predict epsilon values in correspondence to experimental data gaps. Starting from the experimental measurements, some derived quantities such as molar polarisation (P), and excess counterpart (PE) were obtained. Both the excess properties, epsilonE and PE, take values partly positive and partly negative under all experimental conditions. The values of the excess quantities are indicative of the presence of specific interactions among different components in the mixtures.

Classification of cereal flours by chemometric analysis of MIR spectra.

Different kinds of cereal flours submitted to various technological treatments were classified on the basis of their mid-infrared spectra by pattern recognition techniques. Classification in the wavelet domain was achieved by using the wavelet packet transform for efficient pattern recognition (WPTER) algorithm, which allowed singling out the most discriminant spectral regions. Principal component analysis (PCA) on the selected features showed an effective clustering of the analyzed flours. Satisfactory classification models were obtained both on training and test samples. Furthermore, mixtures of varying composition of the studied flours were distributed in the PCA space according to their composition.

Beta-functionalised polythiophenes as microelectrode modifiers in low conductive media.

A study on polythiophene coated microelectrodes is reported, the goal being that of checking the capability of these electrochemical systems to work in low conductive media. The possibility of electrochemically p-doping the polymer in the presence of very low concentrations or even in the absence of supporting electrolyte in the solution is ascertained, opening the way to the use of similar systems in pure solvent media. This result is obtained in such conditions that the presence of residual charges--and corresponding counterions--trapped inside the film coating can be reasonably hypothesised.

Temperature and composition dependence of the refractive indices of the 2-chloroethanol + 2-methoxyethanol binary mixtures.

Measurements of the refractive index n for the binary mixtures 2-chloroethanol + 2-methoxyethanol in the 0 < or = t/degree C < or = 70 temperature range have been carried out with the purpose of checking the capability of empirical models to express physical quantity as a function of temperature and volume fraction, both separately and together, i.e., in a two independent variables expression. Furthermore, the experimental data have been used to calculate excess properties such as the excess refractive index, the excess molar refraction, and the excess Kirkwood parameter delta g over the whole composition range. The quantities obtained have been discussed and interpreted in terms of the type and nature of the specific intermolecular interactions between the components.