Bacterial cellulose films production by Kombucha symbiotic community cultured on different herbal infusions.

The symbiotic community of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) of Kombucha beverage produces a floating film composed of bacterial cellulose, a distinctive biobased material. In this work, Kombucha fermentation was carried out in six different herbal infusions, where SCOBY was able to synthesise cellulosic films. Infusions of black and green tea, yerba mate, lavender, oregano and fennel added with sucrose (100 g/l) were used as culture media. In all cultures, film production resulted in a maximum after 21 days. Yield conversion, process productivity and antioxidant activity were quantified. Macroscopic and microscopic features of films were determined based on electronic microscopy, calorimetric and mechanical properties and hydration behaviour. Native films from yerba mate had a remarkable antioxidant activity of 93 ± 4% of radical inhibition due to plant polyphenols, which could prevent food oxidation. Results revealed that films retained natural bioactive substances preserving important physicochemical properties, essential for developing active materials.

[Captopril and hydrochlorothiazide for the treatment of arterial hypertension in the elderly]. / Captopril e idroclorotiazide nel trattamento dell'ipertensione arteriosa dell'anziano.

A clinical trial was performed to assess the association of captopril-hydrochlorotiazide in a large population of hypertensive outpatients divided into two groups: elderly subjects and control group of adults. The hypotensive effect was evaluated and statistical differences between basal values after some months of treatment were highly significant. Together with results, variations in blood as a result of lower pressure are reported, whereas renal functions, and the glucose and electrolytic metabolism remained constant. The characteristics of the pharmacological compound, which may be used to treat any degrees of arterial hypertension, are discussed together with its utility in geriatric patients and the pharmacological synergy between the ACE-inhibitor and the diuretic agent.

[Captopril in heart failure in the elderly]. / Il captopril nello scompenso cardiaco dell'anziano.

The paper confirms the value of captopril in a sample group of 20 elderly patients (mean age 72.9 years) affected by overall cardiac decompensation in more or less clinically evident phases. All patients were randomly selected and received ACE-inhibition treatment for six months; doses of 25 mg or 50 mg captopril were given twice a day and all other drugs were suspended except for digitalis which was used by all patients without success. During the course of the trial the most important clinical results were the reduction of systemic blood pressure due to the diminution of peripheral resistance, the reduction of postload and ventricular filling pressure, and the consequent improvement of cardiac decompensation. All elderly patients treated in this manner experienced a stable improvement in the quality of life, with a considerable reduction in the consumption of diuretics to which they are particularly vulnerable. Following a broad ranging comparison with other reports, the Authors conclude that captopril is a geriatric drug which should be used as early as possible during the phases of latent cardiac insufficiency or at the first signs of a hypertensive crisis.

[Captopril and hydrochlorothiazide in treating arterial hypertension in the elderly patient. An enlarged case series and verification of the results]. / Captopril e idroclorotiazide nel trattamento dell'ipertensione arteriosa dell'anziano. Aumento della casistica e verifica dei risultati.

A group of 171 hypertensive patients were treated using 100 mg captopril and 50 mg hydrochlorothiazide over a period of four months. The group was subdivided into two subgroups of 138 elderly patients and 33 patients aged under sixty all of whom had a systolic blood pressure of over 180 mmHg, or over 160 mmHg if they had undergone previous treatment using another drug. Patients were monitored after one month and at the end of hypotensive therapy. The study showed a statistically significant reduction of blood pressure in both groups. In the elderly group blood pressure diminished from a mean basal level of 198.8/104.5 mmHg to 140.4/80.5 mmHg, whereas in the adult group pressure values were reduced from 190.1/108.4 mmHg to 134.0/80.6 mmHg. These results match those of an earlier study and, in conclusion, the Authors affirm that this combinations is a suitable "geriatric drug" since it responds to the needs of elderly hypertensive patients. Using captopril and hydrochlorothiazide it is possible to improve the quality of life of elderly hypertensive patients who are otherwise notoriously difficult to treat.

[The heart, the elderly, and diabetes mellitus. Epidemiologic study of 333 ambulatory clinical cases]. / II cuore, il vecchio, il diabete. Studio epidemiologico di 333 osservazioni cliniche ambulatoriali.

The paper proposes a new classification to describe the normal senile heart and its pathological forms: "small aortic heart" (nonhypertrophic-dilatative myocardiopathy and its ischemic form) and "large aortic heart" (hypertrophic-dilatative myocardiopathy and its ischemic form). The statistical distribution of 241 elderly patients with diabetes mellitus using this classification was compared to a control group of 92 elderly non-diabetic subjects. The results reveal the significant epidemiological incidence of ischemic cardiopathy with small aortic heart in diabetic patients compared to the control group in which more ischemic hypertrophic-dilatative cardiopathies were present. This observation supports the hypothesis that senile diabetic cardiopathy begins with a metabolic block with reduced contractile energy, and the overlying important ischemic component leads to the development of the small-size clinical phenotype.

[The aging heart and its pathology. An epidemiological study of 229 cases based on a clinical and radiological classification]. / Il cuore senile e la sua patologia. Studio epidemiologico di 229 osservazioni, in base ad una classificazione clinica e radiologica.

The paper studies epidemiological distribution of the aging heart and its pathology in a sample of 229 subjects (101 male and 128 female) on the basis of a clinical and radiological classification into cardiological phenotypes. This study involved the use of mathematical statistical procedures following a standard method using SIR database (Scientific Information Retrieval) software implemented on the CDC Cyber 170/730 mainframe in the Trieste University Computing Center that is connected with the Chair of Geriatric Pathology. Using this software it was possible to assess the epidemiological significance of the usual clinical parameters, and show that the most representative cardiopathy is the 3rd type, i.e. the hypertrophic-ischemic cardiopathy belonging to the large aortic heart. Its natural pathogenesis is independent of risk factors and relates to the aging of muscular and connective tissues in which the coronary circulation is involved in the deterioration of the cardiovascular system and is therefore different from the primary ischemias of adults.

Changes in plasma DHEAS circadian rhythm in elderly men.

Several reports focused the attention on aging that appears to exert an influence on the temporal structure in the endocrine system of man. Considering that: a) DHEAS blood levels consistently decrease as men age and b) this hormone might be involved in the early development of atherosclerosis, aim of the present work to detect: 1) the possible existence of a circadian rhythm of DHEAS in young and elderly men, 2) eventual change in parameters of other hormonal rhythms. 11 young healthy males (28 +/- 2 yrs) and 12 elderly males (73 +/- 1 yrs) were studied over a 24-hr span during spring. They were submitted to the circadian protocol for the evaluation of DHEAS, PRL and cortisol plasma levels. A significant circadian rhythm of DHEAS plasma levels was observed in the young men (mesor micrograms/dl 273.13 +/- 38.25, amplitude 41.37 +/- 9.29, acrophase at 1351 hr). In the elderly subjects no circadian rhythm was found, but amplitude and mesor appeared statistically reduced in comparison with young people (p less than 0.005 and p less than 0.001, respectively). Confirming previous results the circadian pattern of PRL and cortisol did not change in the two groups. It is suggested that both loss of rhythmicity and low levels of blood DHEAS in elderly may be involved in aging process and considered an aspect of the endocrine temporal structure of old people.