Effect of pomegranate peel extract on shelf life of strawberries: computational chemistry approaches to assess antifungal mechanisms involved.

In Italy Botrytis cinerea represents the most significant disease in strawberry crops and causes major quality and quantity losses in postharvest storage. An alternative strategy to the synthetic fungicides in crop defence could be the use of bioactive compounds with high antifungal activity. This research regards the use of Punica granatum peel extract to extend the shelf life of strawberry and the proposal of a possible mechanism for its antifungal activity. In vitro and in vivo tests showed the ability of pomegranate peel extract to control strawberry gray mould. Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy showed a high correlation between spectra and disease severity then, a putative molecular mechanism for the interaction of punicalagin on ergosterol of fungal membrane was described by means of computational chemistry approaches. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed by using Gromacs to gain multiconformational representations of either punicalagin and an antifungal compound of clinical relevance, i.e. amphotericin B. The use of grid-based procedures, allowed to shed some light on the molecular mechanism featuring the antifungal activity of punicalagin.

Influence of sensory quality on preferences for apples of primary school children.

In this research work, sensorial features of four varieties of fresh apples have been investigated by children aged 6-10 years (n = 336) of the Centre-East region of Italy (Abruzzo). The examined sensory properties were visual appealing, aromatic flavour, sourness, sweetness, firmness and crunchiness. Statistical analysis was performed by means of principal component analysis which underlined the differences and similarities between the examined fruits and the most responsive variables. Results are very interesting and allow to better understand the most important descriptors which influence the appreciation of the different tested varieties. Furthermore, it has been noted that different varieties influence each other for the perception of some sensory characteristics. Thus, improving the knowledge of the most appreciated organoleptic properties of apples by young consumers would be very useful and it might stimulate the development of new and more appealing cultivars in the future.

Protein kinase C zeta regulation of hypertrophic and apoptotic events occurring during rat neonatal heart development and growth.

The development and growth of the rat heart implies hyperplasia, which stops at birth, and hypertrophy, allowing cardiac mass to grow in response to programmed genetic events along with to haemodynamic overload. Moreover, hypertrophy is accomplished to apoptosis which controls the final number of myocardial cells, deletes vestigial structures, and takes part in remodelling the organ. Since at the basis of all these processes, which lead to the complete development of the heart, the activation of specific signalling pathways underlies, attention has been addressed to the role played in vivo by Protein Kinase C zeta (PKC zeta) in regulating NF-kB signalling system and intrinsic mitochondrial apoptotic route at days 1, 4, 10 and 22 of rat life. In fact, a role has been assigned to PKC zeta in indirectly phosphorylating IKBa, which peaks between 10 and 22 days, through a IKK determining, in turn, NF-kB activation, concomitantly to cytochrome c/Apaf 1 co-localization in the cytoplasm and caspase-9/caspase-3 activation, which leads to the occurrence of apoptosis. Thus a key role for PKC zeta in regulating the hypertrophic and apoptotic events leading to establishment of complete function in rat neonatal heart is here suggested.

Correlations between protein kinase C zeta signaling and morphological modifications during rat heart development and aging.

From birth to aging the heart undergoes functional changes reflecting biochemical and ultrastructural modifications which imply apoptosis. This is a physiological process resulting from genetic programs closely associated with development and aging. During development apoptosis eliminates redundant cells leading to heart remodeling, while during aging it eliminates damaged or exhausted cells. In the present paper we analyze some molecular mechanisms involved with heart morphological modifications, especially in the neonatal heart which displays different features in the subendocardial and myocardial area. The high number of subendocardial apoptotic cells and the inverted ratio of Bcl-2/Bax molecule expression in the two heart compartments led us to hypothesize a different metabolism in the myocardium as compared with subendocardium. Moreover, we propose that PKC zeta may mediate this different response by activating Nf-kB pathway and by maintaining the balance between hypertrophic growth and apoptosis involved with remodeling of neonatal heart. Further, we underline that in the aged heart, where this pathway is not activated, such balance is not maintained.

Caspase-3 is dually regulated by apoptogenic factors mitochondrial release and by SAPK/JNK metabolic pathway in leukemic cells exposed to etoposide-ionizing radiation combined treatment.

Ionizing radiation induces a series of multiple intracellular events which can lead to activation of caspases, cytoplasmic proteases involved in the occurrence of apoptosis. The response of leukemic cells to ionizing radiation is amplified when they have been pre-treated with the anticancer drug etoposide, therefore the aim of this work has been to establish the lowest etoposide concentration combined with the lowest ionizing radiation dose to obtain the best antineoplastic response. Two leukemic cell lines, HL-60 and Jurkat, employed in this study demonstrated different sensitivities to ionizing radiation and to etoposide treatment, with Jurkat T cells requiring a higher dose (1 microM) to display cell cycle perturbation and apoptotic DNA damage similar to those seen in HL-60. We hypothesize that this kind of response could be mediated by mitochondrial release of apoptogenic factors and by SAPK/JNK metabolic pathway activation, both leading to caspase-3 cleavage. All in all these results provide insight into the sensitivity or resistance of leukemic cells to antineoplastic agents and identify molecular targets for rational therapeutic intervention strategies.

Cerebral dominance and muscle tone at rest.

This study examined some aspects of the relationship between muscle tone at rest and cerebral dominance. Right and left EMG recordings of sternocleidomastoid, trapezium, orbicularis oculi, and frontalis muscles were taken on 40 female subjects between 19 and 30 yr. of age. Analysis of total score for right and left muscles gave three groups: right-dominant subjects with higher myographic score on the right (42.5%), left-dominant subjects with higher myographic score on the left (52.5%), and non-dominant subjects with no difference between right and left myographic score (5%). Moreover, right-dominant subjects showed a greater right-left difference for the sternocleidomastoid, the trapezium, and the frontalis, left-dominant subjects for the trapezium and the frontalis.

Styles of oroalimentary behavior: relationship with modulation of emotional behavior and myographic tension of the oral region.

The relationship between styles of oroalimentary behavior and both modulation of aggressive behavior and myographic tension at rest for some muscles engaged in the process of mastication was examined for 24 women. Our data suggested an inverse relation between outward overt hostility and oral appetitive hyperactivation with or without partial masticatory components. Moreover, the oral appetitive activation was negatively correlated with the myographic tension of oral region, particularly the right masseter.

Visual decodification of some facial expressions through microimitation.

We examined the level of muscular tension of mentalis muscle of 36 students in graphic design at rest and during the presentation of three slides reproducing facial expressions. Analysis showed an increase in the myographic level of mentalis muscle from the third second of measurement onwards after the presentation of the slide in which contraction of the chin was involved. We interpret this result by hypothesizing that the decodification of some facial expressions is realized through a microreproduction of the stimulus from the decodifying subject.

Muscular tone at rest: relationship with cutaneous pleasurable experience, an interpretation according to the dimensional approach to cerebral dominance.

This study examined some aspects of the relationship between muscular tone at rest and a particular kind of pleasurable tactile stimulation (tickle) in the light of the dimensional approach to cerebral dominance. Electromyographic scores, latencies, and tickle durations for six muscles and corresponding skin areas were taken both on the right and left sides of the body from 40 female students in psychology. There was an inverse relationship between muscular tone at rest and sensitivity to tickle stimulation, which is lower (long latency and brief duration of perception) when the levels of muscular tone increase. So we hypothesize that the muscular system (especially because the correlations of tone and latency are positive) plays a role through the afferents of inhibition of tactile pleasurable experience. This role is more evident for the left side of the body. The dimensional approach to cerebral dominance on the basis of myographic score identified three groups of subjects (right, left, and non-dominant). The subjects classified as right-dominant on the basis of myographic score show a longer duration of tickle on the right half of the body than on the left and longer latency on the left. The left-dominant subjects do not show any difference between the two halves of the body in duration of tickle but show longer latency on the left side. The non-dominant subjects show also no difference between the two sides of the body for both tickle duration and latency.

Barrier and penetration scores in relation to some objective and subjective somesthetic measures.

Barrier and Penetration scores in relation to some variables, such as muscular tone at rest, sensitivity to tickle, and body perception were studied in a group of 35 female subjects. While no correlations appear within the whole group of subjects between Barrier scores and the other variables, on the left side of the body. Dividing subjects on the basis of Barrier scores, three groups with different characteristics appear: 12 subjects with high Barrier scores show an inverse relation of Barrier scores with sensitivity to tickle on the right side of the body; 12 subjects with middle Barrier scores show a direct relation of Barrier scores with muscular tone and an inverse one with both latency of tickle on the right half of the body and body perception; 11 subjects with low Barrier scores show an inverse relation of Barrier scores with durations of tickle on both sides of the body.

Relationship between emotions and muscle tension in oro-alimentary behavior.

The relationship between muscular tension in the right and left masseter and orbicularis oris and different forms of hostility measured through the Gottschalk test was examined for 24 female subjects. For the muscles of the right half of the body a direct relation was noted with overt outward hostility, while on the left half of the body only the tension of the masseter was related directly to ambivalent hostility. Our hypothesis about a link between modulation of aggressive behaviors and muscles involved in functions such as chewing and biting was confirmed.

Body perception in relation to muscular tone at rest and tactile sensitivity to tickle.

Two aspects of body image (body perception and body acceptance), muscle tone at rest, and disposition to perceive positively connoted stimuli (tickle) were studied with 35 female subjects. Our hypothesized relation of muscle tension and body perception was confirmed by an inverse correlation between these variables. Also evident was the link of the good acceptance of the body with the disposition to perceive pleasurable stimuli (tickle perception) longer and the link of level of body awareness and resistance to change (latency to tickle). Also a direct relationship between body perception and body acceptance emerged.

A comparative study of the electrochemical oxidation of the herbicide tebuthiuron using boron-doped diamond electrodes.

The thiadiazolylurea derivative tebuthiuron (TBH) is commonly used as an herbicide even though it is highly toxic to humans. While various processes have been proposed for the removal of organic contaminants of this type from wastewater, electrochemical degradation has shown particular promise. The aim of the present study was to investigate the electrochemical degradation of TBH using anodes comprising boron-doped (5000 and 30,000 ppm) diamond (BDD) films deposited onto Ti substrates operated at current densities in the range 10-200 mA cm(-2). Both anodes removed TBH following a similar pseudo first-order reaction kinetics with k(app) close to 3.2 × 10(-2) min(-1). The maximum mineralization efficiency obtained was 80%. High-pressure liquid chromatography with UV-VIS detection established that both anodes degraded TBH via similar intermediates. Ion chromatography revealed that increasing concentrations of nitrate ions (up to 0.9 ppm) were formed with increasing current density, while the formation of nitrite ions was observed with both anodes at current densities ≥ 150 mA cm(-2). The BDD film prepared at the lower doping level (5000 ppm) was more efficient in degrading TBH than its more highly doped counterpart. This unexpected finding may be explained in terms of the quantity of impurities incorporated into the diamond lattice during chemical vapor deposition.

Recent patents in olive oil industry: New technologies for the recovery of phenols compounds from olive oil, olive oil industrial by-products and waste waters.

Olive oil is the major source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids in the Mediterranean basin. It has been demonstrated that several olive components play an important role in human health. Among these components, polyphenols play a very important role. They are responsible for olive oil stability and sensory attributes. Moreover, they have pharmacological properties, are natural antioxidants and inhibit the proliferation of many pathogen microorganisms. Studies in vitro have demonstrated that hydroxytyrosol scavenges free radicals, inhibits human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation which is a process involved in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerosis, inhibits platelet aggregation and discloses anticancer activity on cancer cells by means of pro-apoptotic mechanisms. It has also been demonstrated that hydroxytyrosol acts in vitro against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, which are involved in many infections of respiratory and intestinal tracts. In this review, the most recent patents developed to improve technologies for recovering of antioxidant compounds of olive oil, olive oil industrial by products and waste-waters have been presented.

PI-3-kinase/NF-kappaB mediated response of Jurkat T leukemic cells to two different chemotherapeutic drugs, etoposide and TRAIL.

Jurkat T leukemic cells respond to Etoposide, antineoplastic agent which targets the DNA unwinding enzyme, Topoisomerase II, and TNF-Related-Apoptosis-Inducing-Ligand (TRAIL), 34 kDa transmembrane protein, which displays minimal or no toxicity on normal cells and tissues, not only disclosing the occurrence of apoptosis but also a kind of resistance. A similar rate of viability upon the exposure to these two drugs up to 24 h has been evidenced, followed by the occurrence of a rescue process against TRAIL, not performed against Etoposide, along with an higher number of dead cells upon Etoposide exposure, in comparison with TRAIL treatment. These preliminary results let us to speculate on the possible involvement of PI-3-kinase in TRAIL resistance disclosed by surviving cells (20%), may be phosphorylating Akt-1 and, in parallel, IkappaB alpha on both serine and tyrosine residues. On the other hand, in Etoposide Jurkat exposed cells Ser 32-36 phosphorylation of IkappaB alpha is not sufficient to overbalance the apoptotic fate of the cells, since Bax increase, IAP decrease, and caspase-3 activation determine the persistence of the apoptotic state along with the occurrence of cell death by necrosis. Thus, the existence of a balance between apoptotic and rescue response in 20% of cells surviving to TRAIL suggests the possibility of pushing it in favor of cell death in order to improve the yield of pharmacological strategies.