Severe Shoot Trimming and Crop Size as Tools to Modulate Cv. Merlot Berry Composition.

Viticulture production is challenged by climate change and the consequent higher accumulation of carbohydrates in grapevine berries, resulting in high-alcoholic wines. This study investigates the application of severe shoot trimming performed at three different stages and crop size management as tools for the modulation of cv. Merlot berry composition, aimed at reducing the sugar content in the berry. In the first study, the effects of severe shoot trimming carried out at three different phenological stages were studied. In the second study, late severe shoot trimming was combined with two crop sizes and regulated by shoot thinning. The obtained results demonstrated that severe shoot trimming in earlier stages of berry development limited the accumulation of both sugars and anthocyanins as compared to the control treatment. However, when severe shoot trimming was performed at late veraison (at approximately 14 Brix), it decreased only the accumulation of sugars, without affecting the accumulation of anthocyanins. The results of the second study showed that the modification of crop size by shoot thinning significantly affected the measured yield parameters, whereas the effect on Brix and anthocyanins was seasonally dependent. It was concluded that among the studied techniques, severe shoot trimming at late veraison is the most effective way to reduce sugar content in the berry without affecting the accumulation of anthocyanins.

Influence of reflective foil on persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit peel colour and selected bioactive compounds.

The purpose of this work was to investigate how to overcome the negative effect of anti-hail netting on the photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) in persimmon trees and persimmon fruit colour, flesh firmness, total soluble solids (TSS) and individual carotenoid and phenolic compound contents (determined via HPLC-MS) under a hail net with the use of reflective foil. Reflective foil increased the PPFD on the lower side of the fruits, while there was no significant difference on the upper side compared to those of the control group. The CIE colour parameters a* and h° indicated more intense red colouration of the fruits in the foil treatment than those in the control. Among carotenoids, the content of ß-carotene increased, and the content of zeaxanthin decreased in fruits in the reflective foil treatment group, while the content of other carotenoids was not affected by the reflective foil. Among individual phenolic compounds in the persimmon peel, greater light intensity significantly influenced all three phenolic compound subgroups: phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols and flavonols. The content of gallic acid in the persimmon flesh increased the most, while other phenolics did not show any significant differences in concentrations between the foil and control groups. This study is the first to examine the influence of reflective foil on bioactive compounds in persimmon fruit. The use of reflective foil in persimmon orchards improves persimmon fruit colour and selected bioactive compound contents.

The effect of post-harvest technologies on selected metabolites in persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) fruit.

BACKGROUND: Tannins are frequently a main focus in the investigation of de-astringency treatments of persimmon, and the effect of a controlled atmosphere on other phytochemicals is often overlooked. In the present study, changes in the content of total soluble and insoluble phenolics, soluble tannins, saponins, and carotenoids, as well as changes in primary metabolites, were monitored. RESULTS: Generally, treatment with ethylene induced a decrease in total phenolic content, whereas, when treated with CO2 , the content of total phenolics remained unchanged compared to the level of total phenolics before treatment. Treatment with apple-sourced ethylene did not significantly affect the level of total phenolics. Additionally, for both varieties, 'Kaki Tipo' and 'Rojo Brillante', the share of insoluble phenolics strongly increased when treated with CO2 , whereas, when treated with ethylene, the same change applied for the ratio of soluble phenolics. The content of carotenoids varied markedly among treatments and varieties, whereas the content of total saponins remained unchanged, regardless of the treatment and variety. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present study show that the content of metabolites in persimmon was affected markedly and variedly using post-harvest technology. Apart from the treatment used, changes in the content of metabolites are also affected markedly by the persimmon variety. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Red Walnut: Characterization of the Phenolic Profiles, Activities and Gene Expression of Selected Enzymes Related to the Phenylpropanoid Pathway in Pellicle during Walnut Development.

A rare walnut variant with a red seed coat (pellicle) was examined for alterations in its phenolic profile during development. The red-walnut (RW) pellicle was compared with two commonly colored walnut varieties: 'Lara' (brown) and 'Fernor' (light brown). Furthermore, the activities of selected enzymes of the phenylpropanoid- and flavonoid-related pathways and the relative expressions of the structural genes phenylalanine ammonia lyase ( PAL) and anthocyanidin synthase ( ANS) were examined in the pellicles of the three varieties. In the pellicles of the RWs, phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and related PAL expression was most pronounced in August, about one month before commercial maturity, suggesting a high synthesis rate of phenolic compounds at this development stage. The most pronounced differences between the red and light- and dark-brown varieties were the increased PAL activity, PAL expression, and ANS expression in RWs in August. The vibrant color of the RW pellicle is based on the presence of four derivatives of cyanidin- and delphinidin-hexosides.

Changes in phenolic profiles of red-colored pellicle walnut and hazelnut kernel during ripening.

In studies of secondary metabolites in nuts, many constituents in the kernel remain unidentified due to a high content of phenolic compounds in the pellicle. In the present study, we focused on the investigation of the phenolic and dicarboxylic acid profiles of walnut and hazelnut pellicle-less kernels. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-DAD-MSn) was used to carry out the determination of individual phenolics and dicarboxylic acids in brown and red-pellicle walnut and hazelnut. Results show that hexahydroxydiphenic acid (HHDP) di-galloyl hexose isomer, vanillic acid hexoside, quinic acid derivative and catechin are the main constituents of the phenolic profile of walnut, while galloylquinic derivative, caffeoyl hexoside and catechin are the main constituents of the hazelnut kernel. Even though both walnut and hazelnut kernels have a considerably lower content of phenolic compounds and dicarboxylic acids in comparison to the pellicles, when calculated as a percentage of the total mass, the kernel makes a significant contribution to the total phenolic content of the whole nut.

Phenolic Responses to Esca-Associated Fungi in Differently Decayed Grapevine Woods from Different Trunk Parts of 'Cabernet Sauvignon'.

Alterations in phenolic contents were studied in Esca symptomatic (Sym) and asymptomatic (Asym) vines of 'Cabernet Sauvignon' based on wood conditions (healthy, HLT; necrotic, Nec; and rotten, Rot) and vine parts (head, trunk, and rootstock). In Asym vines, only Alternaria alternate was identified in Nec wood, while the HLT wood of Sym vines was colonized by Botryospaeriaceae sp. and Aureobasidium pullulans, Nec wood by Fomitiporia mediterranea, and Rot wood by Fomitiporia mediterranea and Phaeomoniella chlamydospora. Esca infection caused a significant accumulation of gallic acid, total flavanols, stilbenes (STB), and total analyzed phenolics (TAP) in all studied woods, especially in Nec wood. In Asym vines, TAP in the head increased with necrosis, but in Sym it decreased, while TAP in the trunk and rootstock of Sym showed an opposite response. The significantly highest contents of procyanidins (Pcys), catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin gallates, and Pcys dimers and tetramers were measured in HLT wood in the head and in Nec wood in the trunk of Sym vines. The significant increase of STB content was not caused only by Esca infection in HLT wood but also by necrosis in Asym vines, especially of ε-viniferin glucoside, resveratrol glycosides, and astringin. The obtained results suggest that the alteration in phenolics differed not only due to Esca infection but also due to the wood conditions and vine part, which might reflect the impact of the duration of the presence of the pathogen in different parts of the vine.

Oral administration of oleuropein attenuates cisplatin-induced acute renal injury in mice through inhibition of ERK signaling.

SCOPE: Oleuropein possesses numerous health beneficial effects. We investigated the renoprotective effects of oleuropein against cisplatin (CP) induced kidney injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male BALB/cN mice were orally gavaged with 5, 10 and 20 mg oleuropein/kg body weight for 2 days, 48 h after intraperitoneal injection of CP (13 mg/kg). Four days after CP administration, serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were significantly elevated, with histopathological changes in renal tissue. In addition, renal oxidative stress was evidenced by increased expression of 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), cytochrome P450 E1 (CYP2E1) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) p65, phospho-p65, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the kidneys increased upon CP treatment, suggesting renal inflammation. CP intoxication increased the expression of p53, Bax and caspase-3 and induced apoptosis in the kidneys. CP administration also resulted in enhanced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2). All these effects were dose dependently diminished by oleuropein. Oral administration of PD0325901, an MEK inhibitor, coincided with the oleuropein-mediated suppression of apoptotic, inflammatory and antioxidant markers. CONCLUSION: The results of the current study suggest that oleuropein attenuated CP-induced acute renal injury, which was mediated through the inhibition of ERK signaling.

Acute antibody-mediated rejection of the kidney transplant - experience of a single center in Croatia.

AIM: To describe the experience of the Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, University Hospital Rijeka, Croatia, in the treatment of patients with acute humoral rejection (AHR) of kidney transplant by using high dose of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) alone and as a first line treatment. METHODS: Eight kidney transplant recipients in whom the AHR appeared at different time after the transplantation were reported. At the time of transplantation cross-match in all patients was negative for both T and B cells. At the time of presentation, all patients had signs of renal allograft dysfunction and the rejection was proven by biopsy of the kidney transplant with positive C4d-staining and histopathological evidence of antibody-mediated injury. Early rejection was considered within 180 days after the transplantation and the late one 180 days after the transplantation. In two cases plasmapheresis (PAF) with albumin as replacement fluid was performed. Plasma exchange was done with a 35 mL/kg/body weight volume exchange with albumin for six times. RESULTS: Acute humoral rejection was classified as early in three patients and in five as late one. In two patients PAF had been performed as the first line treatment. After the completion of PAF, recuperation of severe graft dysfunction was incomplete and in addition IVIG (as a single dose of 2.0 g/kg) was administered to these patients. In six patients IVIG as a single dose of 2.0 g/kg was applied as the first line treatment. CONCLUSION: Usage of high dose IVIG in the treatment of the acute humoral rejection is efficient, safe and relatively well tolerated.

Use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers in the early period after kidney transplantation.

The role of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (ACE-inhibitors) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) in the renal transplant recipients (RTRs) is incompletely defined and according to the current guidelines they should be initiated after six months post-transplantation. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the efficiency and safety of early (within six months post-transplantation) versus late (after six months post-transplantation) initiation of ACE-inhibitors or ARB in RTRs. The study group compromised of 108 RTRs (50 male and 58 female) who received a kidney transplant. Beside other prescribed antihypertensive drugs all of them took and ACE inhibitors or ARB in order to achieve blood pressure control. For this analysis purpose, recipients were stratified into two groups according to the time of ACE inhibitors/ARB initiation into early (within six months post-transplantation) and late (after six months after transplantation) group. For each patient haemoglobin, serum creatinine and potassium levels were analyzed at the beginning of ACE inhibitors/ARB introduction and at the end of the first, third, sixth and twelfth month. In the 54 (50%) of the 108 patients ACE inhibitors/ARB were initiated within six months post-transplantation and in 49 (90.7%) of them within three months (in 29 patients within one month; in 13 within two months; in 7 within 3 months) post-transplantation. In additional 54 (50%) patients ACE inhibitors/ARB were initiated, but after six months post-transplantation. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups related to age or gender and due to the duration of dialysis treatment before the transplantation. Analyzing the haemoglobin, creatinine and potassium serum levels after initiation of therapy with ACE inhibitors/ARB trough observed period we did not found any statistically significant difference in all measured parameters between the two groups of patients and also within the same group of patients. Therefore, according to experience from our Institution early initiation of ACE inhibitors or ARB appears to be safe in carefully selected recipients with relatively good early graft function.

Survival of patients treated with online hemodiafiltration compared to conventional hemodialysis.

Accumulating data from observational studies showed that online hemodiafiltration (OLHDF) might improve survival in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients. According to this data, the aim of our study was to investigate whether there was a difference in survival of patients treated with OLHDF compared to standard, conventional HD. We included 85 prevalent patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated with HD as a method of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for more than three months. Patients were previously treated with HD and divided into two groups: in 42 patients new treatment with OLHDF was introduced, and 43 patients were treated with HD. Both groups were followed over a period of 36 months. The study showed significantly better survival of patients treated with OLHDF, compared to the survival of patients treated with HD in the whole study population, as well as in the subgroups of diabetics, of patients who were on RRT with HD for more than five years and of the patients who were older than 65 years. In the nondiabetics, patients who were on RRT for less than five years and in the patients who were younger than 65 years, survival results in the OLHDF group were not significantly better compared to those in the HD group. As in our study, there are accumulating data from observational studies that HDF may improve survival in chronic HD patients, but new, prospective randomized trials are needed to support evidence about this hypothesis.

[Long term survival patient on hemodialysis--case report]. / Dugogodisnje prezivljavanje bolesnikana lijecenju hemodijalizom--prikaz slucaja.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The mortality of chronic kidney disease patients is very high. Patients on chronic renal replacement therapy are also et very high mortality risk. Nevertheless, by the advance in renal replacement therapy the surveillance of these patients could be long with reasonable quality of life. The present a patient on renal replacement therapy for more than 38 years. CASE HISTORY: Our patient was born in 1946. Twenty years later acute glomerulonephritis was diagnosed and he was treated with corticosteroid therapy for four years. Despite treatment his renal function deteriorated and haemodialysis was started in 1974. At that time, the haemodialysis regime was 12 hours two time per week and Kill dialyzer were used. Bicarbonate dialysis was introduced in 1984. Last 15 years our patient is on the hemodiafiltration. The treatment by erythropoietin was started in 1993. During this 38 years, he received two cadaveric kidney transplants. The first transplantation was in December 1974 in our hospital. Few days after transplantation he get rejection and transplant kidney never functioned. After one month he get thrombosis of the graft and transplantectomy was performed. The second cadaveric transplantation was performed abroad in 1985. Transplant kidney functioned only four days and fifth days urgent transplantectomy was performed. After these experience our patient decline any new kidney transplantation. First arteriovenous fistula was created at the time of start haemodialysis and was functional for 30 years. First arteriovenous graft was created after 30 years on the left forearm few years later on the left upper arm. Last graft has been in good function for six years. The last two years he has a central venous catheter. A subtotal parathyroidectomy was performed in 1983. After parathyroidectomy parathyroid hormone values were between 30 to 55 pmol/L, and the values of serum calcium and serum phosphate were in reference values. Last 15 years he had bone pain and before 10 years he had patlogical hip fracture. Due to vascular disease he often had skin ulcers and infections, particularly on the both hands. Very often he was treated by analgetics, sedatives, including opiates. Last severe complications was a bowel perforation, successfully treated by surgical intervention. SOCIAL HISTORY: Our patient graduated on the university. He is married and had one child. He has worked in the profession for several years. He was founder of association for dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Last twenty years he and colleagues conducted a private centre for haemodialysis. It was the first private centre in the country. CONCLUSION: Dialysis treatment sometimes can significantly prolong life, i.e. far more than expected in this group of patients and can offer appreciable quality of life.