A mobile feedback system for integrated E-health platforms to improve self-care and compliance of diabetes mellitus patients.

Exploiting the full potential of telemedical systems means using platform based solutions: data are recovered from biomedical sensors, hospital information systems, care-givers, as well as patients themselves, and are processed and redistributed in an either centralized or, more probably, decentralized way. The integration of all these different devices, and interfaces, as well as the automated analysis and representation of all the pieces of information are current key challenges in telemedicine. Mobile phone technology has just begun to offer great opportunities of using this diverse information for guiding, warning, and educating patients, thus increasing their autonomy and adherence to their prescriptions. However, most of these existing mobile solutions are not based on platform systems and therefore represent limited, isolated applications. This article depicts how telemedical systems, based on integrated health data platforms, can maximize prescription adherence in chronic patients through mobile feedback. The application described here has been developed in an EU-funded R&D project called METABO, dedicated to patients with type 1 or type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

In vitro estrogenic activity of Achillea millefolium L.

Isolation and biological characterization of pure compounds was used to identify and characterize estrogenic activity and estrogen receptors (ER) preference in chemical components of Achillea millefolium. This medicinal plant is used in folk medicine as an emmenagogue. In vitro assay, based on recombinant MCF-7 cells, showed estrogenic activity in a crude extract of the aerial parts of A. millefolium. After fractionation of the crude extract with increasing polar solvents, estrogenic activity was found in the methanol/water fraction. Nine compounds were isolated and characterized by HR-MS spectra and 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques. In particular, dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside - a glycosyl-neolignan - was isolated for the first time from the genus Achillea in addition to six flavone derivatives, apigenin, apigenin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin, luteolin-7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, luteolin-4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, rutin, and two caffeic acid derivatives, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and chlorogenic acid. Apigenin and luteolin, the most important estrogenic compounds among those tested, were studied for their ability to activate alpha or beta estrogen receptors (ERalpha, ERbeta) using transiently transfected cells. Our results suggest that isolation and biological characterization of estrogenic compounds in traditionally used medicinal plants could be a first step in better assessing further (e.g. in vivo) tests of nutraceutical and pharmacological strategies based on phytoestrogens.

Antioxidant activity of wild plants collected in Valsesia, an alpine region of Northern Italy.

A selection of wild plants collected in Valsesia (Northwest Italy) was screened for their in vitro antioxidant activity. Aerial parts of selected plants were dried at room temperature and powdered. Then, four sequential extractions were performed with increasing polarity solvents, i.e. n-hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol (9:1, v/v) and methanol. By employing different assays, it was shown that all the methanol extracts of the samples collected were endowed with antioxidant activity, though, as expected, their potency varied according to the different tests. In particular, plants of the Thymus and Achillea genus displayed the highest activity. Given that a diet rich in wild plants is associated with a reduced incidence of degenerative diseases, such as atherosclerosis and cancer, this study suggests that some Valsesia plants could be pharmaceutically exploited.

Biological screening of Nigella damascena for antimicrobial and molluscicidal activities.

The essential oil, various extracts at different polarity, fractions, and pure compounds obtained from Nigella damascena plants and seeds were screened for biological activity. Antimicrobial tests showed the essential oil to be active only against Gram positive bacteria; among the extracts, the BuOH was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Molluscicidal activity was absent.

Flavonol glycosides from Aconitum vulparia.

The isolation of five flavonol glycosides (1-5) from the flowers of Aconitum vulparia is reported, together with the 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral data in CD(3)OD of compound 3 and 5.

Estrogenic activity of Nigella damascena extracts, evaluated using a recombinant yeast screen.

We used the yeast estrogen screen (YES) containing a human estrogen receptor to evaluate the estrogenic activity of extracts obtained from Nigella damascena seeds. Alcohol extracts obtained by direct extraction of seeds showed a low estrogenic activity, while the alcohol extract obtained after extraction with solvents of increasing polarity showed a strong estrogenic activity. This suggests the presence in Nigella of polar components whose activity can be clearly demonstrated after previous elimination of interacting apolar components that may mask the activity of more polar components. The response of both alcohol fractions follow a bell-shaped curve indicating a concentration-dependent relationship.

Estrogenic activity of phenolic compounds from Nigella damascena evaluated using a recombinant yeast screen.

We used a yeast estrogen screen (YES) containing human estrogen receptor to evaluate the estrogenic activity of both crude extracts and simple pure phenolic compounds from Nigella damascena seeds. Estrogenic activity was established in the methanolic and aqueous extracts of the seeds as well as in two simple phenolic compounds isolated from the methanolic extract, 2,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, 3,4-dihydroxy-beta-phenethyl alcohol.

A new phenolic compound from Nigella damascena seeds.

A new phenolic ester has been isolated from the seeds of Nigella damascena and the structure was established as 1-O-(2,4-dihydroxy)phenylacetyl glycerol (1) by 1H and 13C-NMR spectral data and EI-MS analysis.

Flavonoids from Aconitum napellus subsp. neomontanum.

Three flavonol glycosides quercetin 7-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (1), kaempferol 7-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (2), and kaempferol 7-O-(6-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-alpha-rhamnopyranoside-3-O-beta-glucopyranoside (3), together with the known beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl beta-glucopyranoside, were isolated from the flowers of Aconitum napellus subsp. neomontanum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR spectral techniques.

New flavonol glycosides from the flowers of Aconitum napellus ssp. tauricum.

From the methanolic extract of the flowers of A. napellus spp. tauricum four new flavonol glycosides: quercetin 3-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-glucopyranoside-7- O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (1), kaempferol 3-O-(6-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (2), quercetin 3-O-(6-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (3), and kaempferol 3-O-(6-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta- glucopyranoside-7-O-alpha-rhamnopyranoside (4), together with the known beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl beta-glucopyranoside were isolated. The structural elucidation of all compounds was deduced on the basis of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral data, including those derived from 2D-NMR, as well as on HPLC-MS results.

Flavonol glycosides from the flowers of Aconitum paniculatum.

Three new acetylated flavonol glycosides-kaempferol 3-O-beta-(2' '-acetyl)galactopyranoside (1), kaempferol 3-O-beta-(2' '-acetyl)galactopyranoside-7-O-alpha-arabinopyranoside (2), and quercetin 3-O-beta-(2' '-acetyl)galactopyranoside-7-O-alpha-arabinopyranoside (3)-were isolated from the flowers of Aconitum paniculatum. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR studies ((1)H-(1)H COSY, HSQC, HMBC) as well as by HPLC-MS.