The dynamic changes in olive fruit phenolic metabolism and its contribution to the activation of quiescent Colletotrichum infection.

Anthracnose, the most critical disease affecting olive fruits, is caused by Colletotrichum species. While developing olive fruits are immune to the pathogen regardless of the cultivar, the resistance level varies once the fruit ripens. The defense mechanisms responsible for this difference in resistance are not well understood. To explore this, we analyzed the phenolic metabolic pathways occurring in olive fruits and their susceptibility to the pathogen during ripening in two resistant cultivars ('Empeltre' and 'Frantoio') and two susceptible cultivars ('Hojiblanca' and 'Picudo'). Overall, resistant cultivars induced the synthesis of aldehydic and demethylated forms of phenols, which highly inhibited fungal spore germination. In contrast, susceptible cultivars promoted the synthesis of hydroxytyrosol 4-O-glucoside during ripening, a compound with no antifungal effect. This study showed that the distinct phenolic profiles between resistant and susceptible cultivars play a key role in determining olive fruit resistance to Colletotrichum species.

Influence of genetic and interannual factors on the fatty acids profile of virgin olive oil.

Among olive oil nutritional benefits, it is worth mentioning its fatty acids composition with predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). We have evaluated the influence of the cultivar and interannual factors on the fatty acids profile of virgin olive oil samples obtained from 45 and 71 cultivars along three and two consecutive crop seasons, respectively. The cultivars were classified in two groups according to the fatty acids composition: (1) high content in MUFAs and moderate content in saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (SFAs and PUFAs, respectively) and (2) moderate content in MUFAs and high content in SFAs/PUFAs. We also observed variations in the fatty acids content with the climate conditions, which can significantly alter the saturated and unsaturated profiles. Thus, a significant decrease in MUFAs and an increase in SFAs/PUFAs concentrations was found when the precipitation accumulated within the June-October period was reduced.

Influence of genetic and interannual factors on bioactive compounds of olive pomace determined through a germplasm survey.

Olive mill wastes, generated in the extraction of virgin olive oil (VOO), are of important concern for the industry owing to the produced volume and polluting load, mainly associated with the presence of organic compounds. Among them, it is worth mentioning bioactive compounds, mainly phenols and triterpenes, which could be potentially isolated for further use in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, or food industries. This research analyzed the olive pomace after extraction of VOO from fruits harvested of 43 international olive cultivars during three consecutive seasons. The cultivar was identified as the most determinant factor to explain the variability in the relative concentration of phenols and terpenic acids in the extracts. In addition, the characterization of olive pomace extracts allowed clustering cultivars according to the profile of bioactive compounds. Finally, we identified the components responsible for the observed discrimination that was explained according to biosynthetic metabolic pathways.

Influence of genetic and interannual factors on the phenolic profiles of virgin olive oils.

Phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil (VOO) contribute to its health properties, organoleptic features and oxidative stability. In this study, a total of 44 olive tree cultivars categorized by the International Olive Council to be among the most internationally widespread varieties were exhaustively and homogenously evaluated by analysis of the VOO phenolic profile during three consecutive crop seasons. Differences among cultivars resulted in up to 15-fold variations in the total phenol concentration. The 'cultivar' factor contributed the most to the variance (66.8% for total phenolic concentration) for almost all the phenols. However, the 'interannual variability' factor and the interaction 'cultivar x interannual variability' exhibited significant influences on specific phenols. According to the phenolic profile of the VOOs, we determined the presence of three groups of cultivars marked by the predominance of secoiridoid derivatives, which supports the phenolic profile as a criterion to be considered in olive breeding programs.

The phenolic profile of virgin olive oil is influenced by malaxation conditions and determines the oxidative stability.

Phenolic compounds largely contribute to the nutraceutical properties of virgin olive oil (VOO), the organoleptic attributes and the shelf life due to their antioxidant capabilities. Due to the relevance of malaxation in the oil extraction process, we tested the effects of malaxation time on the concentrations of relevant phenolic compounds in VOO, and we evaluated the influence of performing malaxation under vacuum. An increase in malaxation time significantly decreased the concentrations of aglycone isomers of oleuropein and ligstroside but, conversely, increased the oleocanthal and oleacein contents. Additionally, malaxation under vacuum led to an increase in phenolic contents compared to standard conditions carried out at atmospheric pressure. Finally, we explored the possibility of predicting the VOO oxidative stability on the basis of the phenolic profile, and a model (R2 = 0.923; p < 0.0001) was obtained by combining the concentration of the VOO phenolic compounds and the main fatty acids.

Cultivar influence on variability in olive oil phenolic profiles determined through an extensive germplasm survey.

Despite the evident influence of the cultivar on olive oil composition, few studies have been devoted to exploring the variability of phenols in a representative number of monovarietal olive oils. In this study, oil samples from 80 cultivars selected for their impact on worldwide oil production were analyzed to compare their phenolic composition by using a method based on LC-MS/MS. Secoiridoid derivatives were the most concentrated phenols in virgin olive oil, showing high variability that was significantly due to the cultivar. Multivariate analysis allowed discrimination between four groups of cultivars through their phenolic profiles: (i) richer in aglycon isomers of oleuropein and ligstroside; (ii) richer in oleocanthal and oleacein; (iii) richer in flavonoids; and (iv) oils with balanced but reduced phenolic concentrations. Additionally, correlation analysis showed no linkage among aglycon isomers and oleocanthal/oleacein, which can be explained by the enzymatic pathways involved in the metabolism of both oleuropein and ligstroside.

A randomized controlled phase II clinical trial comparing ONO-4053, a novel DP1 antagonist, with a leukotriene receptor antagonist pranlukast in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2 ) is primarily produced by mast cells and is contributing to the nasal symptoms including nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel PGD2 receptor 1 (DP1) antagonist, ONO-4053, in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). METHODS: This study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study of patients with SAR. Following a one-week period of placebo run-in, patients who met the study criteria were randomized to either the ONO-4053, leukotriene receptor antagonist pranlukast, or placebo group for a two-week treatment period. A total of 200 patients were planned to be randomly assigned to receive ONO-4053, pranlukast, or placebo in a 2:2:1 ratio. Nasal and eye symptoms were evaluated. RESULTS: Both ONO-4053 and pranlukast had higher efficacy than placebo on all nasal and eye symptoms. ONO-4053 outperformed pranlukast in a total of three nasal symptom scores (T3NSS) as well as in individual scores for sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal itching. For T3NSS, the Bayesian posterior probabilities that pranlukast was better than placebo and ONO-4053 was better than pranlukast were 70.0% and 81.6%, respectively, suggesting that ONO-4053 has a higher efficacy compared with pranlukast. There was no safety-related issue in this study. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the efficacy of ONO-4053 was greater than that of pranlukast with a similar safety profile. This study indicates the potential of ONO-4053 for use as a treatment for SAR (JapicCTI-142706).

Serum levels of RIST, RAST, and cortisol of patients with allergic rhinitis.

It is generally known that in Type 1 allergy, adrenal steroid hormonesregulate the production of IgE antibody. This study was carried out to determine whether patients with rhinitic allergy to Japanese cedar pollencan modulate the interaction between the immune and endocrine systems normally. The subjects were 61 patients allergic to Japanese cedar pollen, and 14 healthy volunteers served as control. Our study suggests that downregulation of the HPA axis may be caused by high specific and non-specific IgE production in patients with allergic rhinitis, Our data suggest that cortisol may play a role as an immuno-suppressive agent in specific IgE production during the pollen season, as this phenomenon was not observed before or after the pollen season.

A case report of acquired choanal atresia.

A case of acquired choanal atresia of unknown origin is reported. A 68-year-old woman had been complaining of nasal obstruction for 28 years. Bilaterally her nasal choanae were found to be completely closed at the depth of the orifice of the eustachian tube. Surgical intervention into the margin of the soft and hard palate removed the adhesive connective tissue from the choanae, which had involved no osseous component. Because part of the intranasal basal epithelium was missing due to surgery, buccal mucosa was removed and implanted to prevent proliferation of granulation. A silicone tube was placed in each choanae for a week postoperatively. An adequate nasal passage has been maintained for 10 months postoperatively, and the patient was followed up closely.

Histopathological evaluation of disseminated intravascular coagulation in Haemophilus somnus infection in cattle.

The frequency and distribution of fibrin thrombi (microthrombi) in the main organs of spontaneously infected cattle were investigated to evaluate disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in Haemophilus somnus infection. This infection is well known as infectious thrombo-embolic meningo-encephalitis (ITEME) and is characterized histopathologically by formation of thrombi, necrosis of blood vessels and neutrophil infiltration. The precise pathogenic mechanism of this disease has not yet been fully elucidated. The liver, spleen, kidney, lung, heart and brain of 11 cattle showing thromboembolic meningo-encephalitis were examined histopathologically and special attention was paid to fibrin thrombi. PTAH staining showed a high frequency of fibrin thrombi in the small vessels and capillaries in more than 3 organs and all the cases were regarded as falling within the histopathological criterion of DIC. The results of the present study indicate that the pathogenesis of the infection is closely related to the DIC.