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This study examines the effects of altitudinal, temperature and aspect gradients on vascular plant species richness on mountain tops in Sierra Nevada (Spain) at different spatial scales (1 m2 quadrats, plot clusters of 4 m2, upper summit area down to the 5-m contour line, entire summit down to the 10-m contour line). The methodology follows the Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA) programme. Floristic and soil temperature data of eight summits sites in two neighbouring regions of the high part of Sierra Nevada (from 2668 m to 3327 m a.s.l.) were used in this study. In total, 102 taxa were recorded (84 genera; 29 families). The species richness decreased, whereas the proportion of endemic taxa increased with elevation. There were significant linear relationships between species richness and altitude and average soil temperature at each spatial scale. However, there was no significant relationship between species richness and aspect variables. Facing continued climate change, the high-altitude flora of Sierra Nevada is expected to be particularly vulnerable and prone to warming-induced biodiversity losses due to the high proportion of endemic taxa, ranging from 23% at lower elevations up to 67% at higher ones. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study investigated the effect of Urtica dioica roots etheric extract (UDEE) on oxidative stress, and urine obstruction with histopathological examinations of prostatic and renal tissues,and suggests computational methods as a complementary method, to make a hypothesis on the overall effect of UDEE in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was utilised to characterise UDEE.BPH was induced in rats through daily subcutaneous injections of testosterone propionate. Rats were also orally administered UDEE or a vehicle. After four weeks, prostate weight, urine output, and biochemical markers were evaluated. UDEE treatment demonstrated significant regression of prostatic enlargement, improved biochemical and histopathological characteristics, and regulation of antioxidant activity levels. Phytosteroids stand out, act by inhibiting 5α-reductase and aromatase. This study provides an insight into treatment of BPH, demonstrating safety of this compound towards the kidney compared to finasteride without severe side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyse the essential oil of Lavandula dentata from Algeria and to test the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of this plant. The essential oil (EO) (57 constituents) included mainly α-pinene, β-pinene, nopinone, linalool, cryptone, and limonene. The plant polyphenolic contents and the antioxidant activity were determined. The antimicrobial effect of the EO and the methanolic extract (ME) was assessed against referenced and clinical bacterial strains, and also foodborne fungal isolates. The EO minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values varied from 0.25 to 4 mg/mL and minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were less than 8 mg/mL except for S. aureus, clinical Klebsiella, S. epidermidis, and B. subtilis. The mould strains were significantly inhibited by the EO (87.50% to 88.33%). The MIC values were 3.60–15.62 mg/mL and 0.5–4 mg/mL for ME and EO, respectively. The minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) values ranged from 31 to 125 mg/mL and from 2 to 8 mg/mL for ME and EO, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Phagnalon Cass. (Asteraceae) is widely distributed from Macaronesia in the West to the Himalayas in the East, from South France and Nord Italy to Ethiopia and Arabian Peninsula. Species of this genus have been used in folk medicine of many countries as medicinal herbs and they are also used such as food. The extracts and the essential oils (EOs) of these plants have reported antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, etc. properties and they have different biological applications. Phagnalon sinaicum Bornm. and Kneuck. is a very rare plant native of Middle East. It grows primarily in the desert or dry scrubland biome. Its EO, never previously investigated, was analysed by GC-MS. The EO was very rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, with artemisia ketone (20.40%), α-thujone (19.36%), and santolina alcohol (13.29%) as main constituent. Some considerations with respect to all the other EOs of Phagnalon taxa studied so far were carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crab apple (Malus sylvestris (L.) Mill.) is native to Central Europe and successfully commercially grown in Indonesia. Management practices that increase biodiversity in agroecosystems are essential for mediating the negative impacts of intensive agriculture. This study aims to compare arthropod abundance and diversity between grass ground cover and Hydrangea intercropping in crab apple orchards and assess their impact on arthropod functional groups providing ecosystem services. In this study, arthropods were sampled using three types of traps, i.e. pitfall trap, yellow sticky trap, and pan trap. Arthropod specimens were identified by order and family, then categorised by their ecological role: detritivore, omnivore, herbivore, the natural enemy (predator and parasitoid), and pollinator. Our study collected 164 families belonging to the five examined functional groups. We found that the family composition of arthropods was significantly different between Hydrangea intercropping and grass ground cover in crab apple orchards. Grass ground cover supports the increase of herbivore and natural enemy populations and it's related to enhancing biological control. In addition, Hydrangea intercropping increases pollinator species richness and contributes to pollination services. Pest management in crab apple orchards may benefit from a combination of grass ground cover to encourage natural enemies and Hydrangea intercropping to increase pollinators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Phagnalon Cass., included in the Asteraceae family, has a wide distribution, expanding from Macaronesia in the West to the Himalayas in the East, from South France and Nord Italy to Ethiopia and Arabian Peninsula. Various species of Phagnalon have been used in the popular medicine of several countries as medicinal herbs and food. The extracts and the secondary metabolites, have a varied application spectrum at several biological levels, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, etc. properties having been reported. The essential oils of four taxa, Phagnalon rupestre, Phagnalon saxatile var. viride, and Phagnalon rupestre subsp. illyricum var. metlesicsii collected in Sicily (Italy), never previously investigated, and of Phagnalon graecum collected in Greece, were analysed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). All the oils were very rich in monoterpene hydrocarbons, with β-pinene as main constituent. Chemotaxonomic considerations with respect to all the other oils of Phagnalon taxa were carried out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild growing Origanum majorana L. var. tenuifolium Weston was collected from three different locations (Om1: Avtepe, Om2: Alevkayası, Om3: Kozanköy) in North Cyprus. The essential oils were hydrodistilled and chemical composition analyses were simultaneously performed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The average yields of essential oils were 5.46-8.14%. Major compounds of flowering Om1 oil were cis-sabinene hydrate (45.0%) and terpinen-4-ol (11.1%) while those of Om3 (Kozanköy) oil were cis-sabinene hydrate (33.3%), terpinen-4-ol (12.3%) and α-terpineol (11.5%). In the post-flowering stage, the major compounds for Om1 and Om3, respectively, were cis-sabinene hydrate (16.7% and 18.8%), terpinen-4-ol (18.1% and 14.5%) and α-terpineol (23.9% and 20.0%). However, the main compound of the essential oils of the flowering and post-flowering oil of Om2 was α-terpineol (76.9% and 51.6%). Statistical Principal Component (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analyses (HCA) tools demonstrated the composition variations of the essential oils at different times and locations. Om1 and Om3 (HCA similarity level: 98.98%) were similar while Om2 (HCA similarity level: 46.32%) was discordant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent rapid economic and infrastructure growth in India has led to degraded environmental conditions. Congested and densely populated urban areas have seen increased pollution, water pollution, and habitat and biodiversity loss. Urban green spaces (UGSs) are vital for improving such environmental qualities and coping with environmental challenges within cities. UGSs provide numerous tangible and intangible environmental, recreational/social, and economic benefits, also acknowledged as ecosystem services. This study assessed residents' perceptions of UGSs ecosystem services in Delhi, India. The main objectives were to (1) understand residents' visiting patterns of UGSs and corresponding socio-economic correlations (2) assess residents' knowledge and perceptions of ecosystem services and disservices, and (3) ranking of ecosystem services provided by UGSs based on significance to the residents. This study is based on a survey of 620 randomly selected respondents in UGSs throughout the city. Most respondents knew about ecosystem services in UGSs and believed the ecosystem services outweighed any ecosystem disservices. The results also showed the importance of improving urban microclimate and environmental quality was emphasized. Interestingly, ecosystem services like improve mental health and aesthetic beauty rated high. The improvement of wildlife habitat, fresh water, water flow regulation & runoff mitigation and the collection of fuelwood, fruits, honey and medicine were not seen as important by the respondents. Residents more readily recognized UGSs' direct benefits over the indirect benefits. Awareness of economic benefit was relatively high. Results from this research could help urban planners and developers to consider residents' perceptions and expectations when designing UGSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the more frequent and longer drought events due to climate change, improving plant drought tolerance became a priority. The search for plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) able to improve plant drought tolerance has been long addressed, but with inconsistent results. Here, we summarize the PGPR mechanisms that improve plant drought tolerance, identify the pitfalls in current PGPR isolation and selection routines, and discuss the key points to define new strategies to get optimal PGPR for plant drought tolerance. Drought and host genotype impact rhizo-communities, and host-mediated selection strategies may be used to obtain a drought-adapted rhizomicrobiome that can be a source for PGPR isolation. Alternatively, an integrated omics-level analysis can improve our knowledge on the mechanisms of rhizomicrobiome construction, and a targeted approach can be designed, which will be focused on key PGP traits. New strategies to build PGPR consortia for improvement of plant drought tolerance are also suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a strong predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes including heart failure. This study evaluated characteristics and the influencing factors of computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) of patients with LVH in hypertension. Methods: A total of 65 patients with stable chest pain and confirmed coronary stenosis <50% by coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) from September 2019 to February 2021 were recruited. According to the results of echocardiography, patients were divided into the LVH group (n = 33) and control group (patients without LVH, n = 32). The general data of all study subjects were collected, and the body mass index (BMI) and body surface area (BSA) were calculated. Myocardial blood flow (MBF), myocardial blood volume (MBV), and echocardiographic parameters were recorded. Spearman correlation analyses were conducted to analyze the relationship between MBF, MBV, and echocardiographic parameters. Results: The LVH group had significantly higher left ventricular end diastolic distance (LVEDd), septal wall thickness diastole (SWTd), and post wall thickness diastole (PWTd) than the control group, resulting in higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (P < .05). The LVH group showed significantly lower MBF than the control group (P < .05), but there was no significant difference in MBV between two groups (P > .05). Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated that MBF was negatively correlated with SWTd and LVMI (P < .05). Conclusions: CT-MPI, as a new noninvasive modality to evaluate myocardial perfusion in hypertensive patients, revealed that MBF is reduced in patients with LVH, while MBV remains unchanged. In hypertensive patients, decreased MBF is significantly correlated with increased LVMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to know if the heavy metals stress condition is boon or bane for the plants growth, Lavandula dentata species was planted in pots under different levels of heavy metals stress condition and the phytochemical composition, cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antimicrobial responses of their leaf ethanolic extracts toward this stress condition were investigated compared to the control samples. Our findings showed significant differences in heavy metals bioaccumulation, photosynthetic pigments and total phenolic/flavonoids contents among L. dentata leafs ethanolic extracts, grown under different levels of heavy metals stress condition. The L. dentata leafs extracts, grown under Zn and Cu stress condition, showed the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities than those grown under Cd and Pb stress condition. Comparatively, the L. dentata leafs extracts, grown under Zn stress condition, showed higher antioxidant activity, and those, grown under Cu stress condition, showed higher antimicrobial activity. The highest cytotoxicity was showed by L. dentata leaf extracts, grown under Cd and Pb stress condition, which lead to conclude that these extracts could be served as a novel scaffold in search for new drugs against cancer. In conclusion, the highlighted variability reflects the high impact of heavy metals stress condition on phytochemical composition and consequently on the biological activities of medicinal plants. Such impact led to conclude that we should select medicinal plants extracts to be investigated carefully depending on this stress condition, in order to isolate the bioactive components or to have the best quality of extracts in terms of biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using byproducts from the food industry to produce healthy and sustainable food was an integral component of the sustainable development goals. This research was aimed to assess the effect of substituting wheat flour with nutrient-rich green soybean okara (GSBO) flour on the quality and nutritional values of butter cake. The result showed that the GSBO-substituted flour had significantly (p ≤ 0.05) higher water and oil absorption capacities, higher protein, fiber and total phenolic content (TPC), and more favorable sensory characteristics compared to wheat flour. Specifically, 20% GSBO butter cake contained significantly (p ≤ 0.05) highest amounts of protein, fiber, TPC, and scores of all sensory characteristics. In conclusion, substitution of up to 20% GSBO to wheat flour could improve the nutritional quality of butter cake. Application of GSBO flour in butter cake contributes to the sustainable goal of achieving zero waste and development of a plant protein-based product in sustainable healthy diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Phagnalon Cass., included within the Asteraceae family, has a wide distribution, expanding from Macaronesia in the West to the Himalayas in the East, from S. France and N. Italy to Ethiopia and Arabian Peninsula. Various species of Phagnalon have been used in the popular medicine of several countries as medicinal herbs and food. This literature review, the first one of the Phagnalon genus, includes publications with the word 'Phagnalon', and considers the extracts and the single metabolites identified, characterized, and tested to evaluate their biological potential. The extracts and the secondary metabolites, have a varied application spectrum at a biological level, with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, antitumor, etc. properties having been reported. Unfortunately, in vitro tests have not always been accompanied by in vivo tests, and this is the major critical aspect that emerges from the study of the scientific aspects related to this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medicinal plants have been used throughout history in the treatment of many diseases in traditional Anatolian folk medicine as well as all over the world. The rapid increase in agricultural and industrial activities due to the increasing population around the world causes air, water and soil pollution, and accumulation of potentially toxic elements in medicinal plants. In this study, plant mineral nutrients and potentially toxic elements analyzes were carried out in 38 plant species belonging to the medicinally important families Asteraceae, Fabaceae and Lamiaceae. The percentage of macroelements (in %) varies between 0.20 and 1.46 for calcium, 0.08 and 1.35 for potassium, 0.04 and 0.24 for magnesium, 0.01 and 0.34 for sodium, while concentrations of microelements and potentially toxic elements (in mg kg−1) vary between 3.21 and 721.28 for aluminum, 41.33 and 231.01 for boron, 0.01 and 0.61 for cadmium, 1.09 and 47.79 for chromium, 12.90 and 43.13 for copper, 17.75 and 1109.39 for iron, 51.50 and 715.48 for manganese, 0.12 and 9.42 for nickel, 1.58 and 22.11 for lead and finally 80.82 and 260.08 for zinc. In addition, estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and hazard index (HI) for potentially toxic elements, and Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) values for mineral nutrients were calculated. In some samples in industrial and mining areas, accumulation of some potentially toxic elements was slightly above the permissible limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). In Summary, the importance of collecting medicinal plants from protected areas such as mountainous rural areas, far from mining, close to clean rivers, and regular control of values with potentially toxic elements analyzes for human health has been understood once again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review addresses the biovalorization of the okara, a water-soluble soy extract industry byproduct. This material is highly susceptible to decay due to its high water content and appreciable levels of nutrients (proteins, dietary fibers, and isoflavones). Details on the extraction processes which are applied for the isolation of the key compounds are emphasized, as well as the main characteristics of these products. The development of new and safer processes is required to achieve the overall reuse of the okara components, avoiding the generation of new agro-industrial wastes, and applying the isolated nutrients to products intended for humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand but uncertain supply makes the sustainability of the coffee industry a shared concern for all participants along the coffee supply chain. This study proposed a decision-making model that comprises the cultivation management, including shade management and annual agriculture management, and the supply chain logistics. A two-stage stochastic program is presented and used within a rolling horizon scheme that periodically updates input data information to deal with uncertainty associated with future climate scenarios. The program minimizes the total expected cost of the entire supply chain of arabica coffee. The study applied the model to the real case study of arabica coffee bean supply to the U.S. market, trying to answer whether arabica coffee supply can meet the U.S. demand from 2022 to 2050 and how to best mitigate any shortage through corporate-farmer partnerships. The results show that the coffee supply will have a 3% shortage in the future; medium-level shade management and more irrigation and fertilization are possible mitigation strategies. These results demonstrate the need for all participants to adopt suitable technologies for the sustainability of global coffee supply chains together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multiple problematics of agricultural intensification have promoted the emergence of several farming systems. Within these, biodiversity-based systems focus on increasing the structural complexity of agroecosystems through biodiversity, multiplying the functions, increasing the alternative pathways of materials and energy flow, involving mid- to long-term planning in all dimensions. Biological corridors have been proposed as tools in biodiversity-based systems, to mitigate the biodiversity loss and promotion of ecological/biological processes. However, the biological corridor definition has been vague or inconsistent, and often confounds shape and function. Lack of clear, unambiguous criteria that distinguishes a linear habitat patch as a corridor, together with the importance of the scale at which the concept is applied, contributes to controversy over the value of corridors for biodiversity conservation. Here we review the concept, origin, and functions of biological corridors, linking and contrasting them with the multiple elements of the agricultural landscape. In addition, we review the characteristics of the botanical species chosen to promote their implementation, analyzing the context to promote diversity of pollinators and biological pest regulators. The redesign of the agroecosystem, based on the promotion of biodiversity in cultivated and non-cultivated areas, has a fundamental role in the transition toward sustainable production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soy milk by-product is the insoluble fraction of the soybean cotyledon after the production of soy milk and is generally considered a waste material. With increased production of alternative milks, this by-product has caused environmental and financial issues for manufacturers. This residue contains high levels of nutrient such as protein, fibre, and lipids, micronutrients and phytochemicals. Composition has been found to be influenced by soybean varieties, processing conditions and post-production treatments. As this by-product has a high moisture content, nutrient and bioactive components can be quickly degraded due to oxidation, enzymic and microbial activities. Post-production treatments have been applied, to minimise degradation and spoilage. Being a rich source of nutrient and bioactive components, there is potential for use as a food ingredient. This review aims to outline some current manufacturing process, how this waste is generated and treated, highlight nutritional composition, review the current application of soy milk by-product and discuss potential future study trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freeze-drying technology is an interdisciplinary and complex technology, combined with freezing and vacuum drying, It has become an important technology for heat-sensitive drugs and food preservation. Freeze-dried foods are classified into meat, vegetables, fruits, fungus, and micro-powders, etc. In this paper, the definition, principle, steps, advantages and disadvantages of freeze-drying are summarized, and the research progress of freeze-drying in food industry in recent years is reviewed, including the technological parameters and influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeroallergens are known as the major cause of allergic respiratory diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the skin prick test (SPT) reactivity to the pollen of Conocarpus erectus trees and to find the association between the indoor and outdoor aeroallergens in the patients. In the present case series multicentre study, 104 patients with respiratory allergies such as allergic rhinitis and asthma who were referred to the Bushehr University allergy clinic participated. The SPT was applied by using the extract of Conocarpus erectus pollen and the other allergens to determine the patients' reactivity. The frequency of positive sensitivity to Conocarpus erectus pollen was 61 (58.6%) and it was 62.5%, 55.7%, and 53.8% for the tree pollen allergens Citrus X Sinensis, Morus rubra, and Phoenix dactylifera, respectively. In addition, the maximum frequency of sensitivity to other aeroallergens was with house dust mite (HDM) (78.8%), Salsola kali; 71.2%), and cockroach (71.2%). The maximum frequency of reactivity to food allergens was with egg yolk (37.6%), shrimp (37%), and beef (34.6%). This study concludes that the frequency of sensitivity to Conocarpus erectus pollen was high and similar to the pollen allergens of other trees that are widely cultivated in southern Iran. Green spaces are the key element of urban management, and the interaction between citizens and the environment, as well as promoting human health are very effective. Therefore, the lack of planning in urban populations in the choice of ornamental species can be a triggering factor, especially in patients with respiratory allergies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six Tunisian medicinal plants were screened for their phenolic pools, antioxidant activities as well as for their anti-inflammatory and gastro-protective effects. A significant variability in phenolic composition and antioxidant capacities between species were observed. Myrtus communis L. exhibited the highest phenolic contents and composition as well as the best potential antioxidant capacities as rescued by the lowest IC50 and EC50 values. On other hand, the common species excepting Juniperus phoenicea L. showed a noteworthy to moderate anti-inflammatory activity inhibiting NO• release with an IC50 values ranging from 26 to 240 µg/mL. In turn, in vivo gastro-protective effect following HCl/EtOH induced ulcer models displayed that M. communis extract had an important inhibition of gastric lesions correlated to high healing and protection percentages. The visualized data were treated by PCA and Bi-plot analysis which highlighted a positive correlation among phenolic pools and antioxidant activities particularly in M. communis. Besides, statistic clustering allowed us to detect a strong contribution of phenol and flavonoid pools with anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic effects. Overall, the results obtained in this work indicated that the studied species, particularly Myrtus communis, represent a valuable source of natural agents beneficial for human health in particular for inflammation and gastric diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Emdjez Edchich, Dakkich Rabeh, Sefisfa and Ali Hzila Ramdan of central Russikada province in northeastern Algeria to document the traditional knowledge on medicinal plants used by local populations. Data were analyzed using quantitative indices of sociodemographic data, fidelity level (FL), informant consensus factor (ICF) and use value (UV). A total of 280 participants were interviewed, most of whom were women between the ages of 20 and 40, with a medium level of education. The floristic analysis identified 73 taxa belonging to 43 botanical families, dominated by Lamiaceae and Apiaceae. Gastro-intestinal disease was the most treated and leaves were the most often used in traditional remedies prepared as tea infusions. The highest UV was observed for lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus, UV = 3.4); the highest value for FL was for 54 taxa, of which, 16 were used to treat gastro-intestinal diseases. The calculated ICF showed auditory infections, antiseptics, ocular infections, and neurological disease treatments. Thirty-five new species with 67 new therapeutic uses were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inequality in the spatial distribution of urban greenspaces occurs globally, with greater greenspaces in neighbourhoods with higher socioeconomic status. This is problematic, as greenspaces provide numerous ecosystem services, including benefits to human health. However, greenspaces can also trigger allergenic responses, inducing negative economic, medical, and social costs. Using geospatial information, we investigated 91 elementary schools in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada to answer: (1) Does the amount and type of greenspaces and greyspaces surrounding schools vary with median household income? and (2) Does the surface area of allergenic greenspace surrounding schools vary with median household income? We characterized landcover within a 300 m radius of public elementary schools using a high spatial resolution urban landcover map of Vancouver derived from a combination of RapidEye imagery from 2014 and airborne laser scanning. Beta regression and analysis of variance models were used to explore associations between household incomes and greenspaces, as well as allergenic vegetation near schools. Schools in areas with higher median annual household incomes (>$80,000 CAD) were surrounded by an average of 14% more greenspaces and 16% less greyspaces than schools located in areas with lower household incomes (<$50,000 CAD). Schools in higher income areas were also surrounded by an average of 81% more cover of allergenic vegetation than schools in lower income areas. Greenspaces are a valuable source of ecosystem services for urban residents and should be distributed equally to optimize their benefits; however, they must be planned carefully to avoid the introduction of disservices from allergenic vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing interest in preserving and, if possible, increasing wild bee populations as evidenced by increasing investigations into providing supplemental nesting resources, commonly called bee hotels. The study presented here was carried out in 2017 and 2018 with two objectives: a) to understand the role that insect refuges could have on beneficial arthropod fauna, especially bees, and b) to evaluate different materials and which species used them. We present the preliminary results of three constructed refuges in Seville, Spain: Hymenoptera visited the refuges most frequently (88.7% of the visitors), of which the social wasps (Polistes dominula (Christ)) were most common, followed by bees. Bees were observed visiting bamboo canes, Arundo canes, drilled logs, and grooved boards. Drilled logs were the most used material (31.5 and 37.6% occupied in 2017 and 2018, respectively), followed by bamboo canes (14.1 and 17.4% of occupied in 2017 and 2018, respectively). For drilled logs, holes of 4.9–6.5 mm (2017) and 7.0–9.2 mm (2018) were preferred, whilst diameters of 2.6/2.7–4.9/5.0 mm (both 2017 and 2018) were preferred for bamboo canes. For grooved boards, holes of 5.0 mm (only 2018) were preferred. The bee species most frequently nesting in bamboo canes were Ceratina cucurbitina (Rossi) and Ceratina dentiventris Gerstacker, whereas in drilled logs Hoplitis lepeletieri (Pérez) was most common, but Hoplitis adunca (Panzer) was also recorded. Their abundance throughout the study period varied between species, and their role in biodiversity and sustaining wild flora is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A floristic, ethnobotanical and natural habitat study was carried out in the wetlands of the Macta marshes in northwest Algeria. The specimens obtained made it possible to identify 89 taxa of plants belonging to 32 botanical families dominated by the Amaranthaceae and Asteraceae. Analysis of the chorology of the plants has shown dominance of the Mediterranean element, but only 3 endemic taxa are recognized. Five of the taxa are considered rare and 4 are protected in Algeria; 5 have an IUCN status of minor consideration and Spergularia doumerguei P. Monnier has the status of vulnerable. Analysis of local plant communities has shown the existence of 6 plant groups within 3 types of natural habitats that have been mapped. The ethnobotanical study carried out on 100 inhabitants of the study area made it possible to recognize 73 useful plants of which 69 are used for medicinal purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity promotes dysfunction and impairs the reparative capacity of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), and alters their transcription, protein content, and paracrine function. Whether these adverse effects are mediated by chromatin-modifying epigenetic changes remains unclear. We tested the hypothesis that obesity imposes global DNA hydroxymethylation and histone tri-methylation alterations in obese swine abdominal adipose tissue-derived MSCs compared to lean pig MSCs. MSCs from female lean (n = 7) and high-fat-diet fed obese (n = 7) domestic pigs were assessed using global epigenetic assays, before and after in-vitro co-incubation with the epigenetic modulator vitamin-C (VIT-C) (50 μg/ml). Dot blotting was used to measure across the whole genome 5-hydroxyemthycytosine (5hmC) residues, and Western blotting to quantify in genomic histone-3 protein tri-methylated lysine-4 (H3K4me3), lysine-9 (H3K9me3), and lysine-27 (H3K27me3) residues. MSC migration and proliferation were studied in-vitro. Obese MSCs displayed reduced global 5hmC and H3K4m3 levels, but comparable H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, compared to lean MSCs. Global 5hmC, H3K4me3, and HK9me3 marks correlated with MSC migration and reduced proliferation, as well as clinical and metabolic characteristics of obesity. Co-incubation of obese MSCs with VIT-C enhanced 5hmC marks, and reduced their global levels of H3K9me3 and H3K27me3. Contrarily, VIT-C did not affect 5hmC, and decreased H3K4me3 in lean MSCs. Obesity induces global genomic epigenetic alterations in swine MSCs, involving primarily genomic transcriptional repression, which are associated with MSC function and clinical features of obesity. Some of these alterations might be reversible using the epigenetic modulator VIT-C, suggesting epigenetic modifications as therapeutic targets in obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of three different pest control regimes in three pear orchards (two with integrated pest management regimes and one with an organic farming regime) on communities of arthropods were studied in a two-year experiment. Insects were collected in three stages by beating the lower branches of trees. The number of species and other taxa of natural enemies increased with the reduction in insecticide applications. A total of 2,492 individuals of 145 species and other taxa were found in the samples from the three pear orchards with different pest management practices. The most numerous groups were Araneae, with 44 species, and Coleoptera, with 42 species, followed by Hymenoptera, with 33 taxa, and Heteroptera, with 24 species. Of the total number of taxa, the share of entomophagous arthropods was, on average, 62.6%. The share of predaceous individuals was, on average, 63.7% of the total number of individuals. The number of dominant predaceous species decreased with an increase in the diversity of species and other taxa. A significant relationship was found between the number of C. pyri adults and the Shannon-Wiener index of diversity for the predaceous taxa. It was demonstrated that generalist predators and their diversity have an important influence on the regulation of pear psylla in the vegetative period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study explores the protective role of losartan (LT) against oxidative and inflammatory damages in different physiological systems including heart, liver, and kidney tissue in hypercholesterolemic rats. Methods: After induction of hypercholesterolemia by high cholesterol diet for 6 weeks, LT was administered for 4 weeks. In serum, the levels of lipoproteins, aminotransferases, creatine kinases, urea, apoptosis, and inflammatory markers were measured. In cardiac, hepatic, and renal tissues, lipid peroxidation product and GSH as well as antioxidant enzymatic activities were assayed. Finally, histopathological assessment evaluated the structural damage in cardiac, hepatic, and renal tissues. Results: Serum markers of cardiac, hepatic, and renal toxicities including creatine kinases, aminotransferases, and urea were attenuated by LT in hypercholesterolemic animals. Moreover, LT markedly corrected the elevated levels of lipoproteins, apoptosis, and inflammatory biomarkers. Hypercholesterolemia-induced lipid peroxidation, low GSH levels, and diminished activities of antioxidant enzymes were prominently improved in LT treated animals. Histopathological alterations by hypercholesterolemia in heart, liver, and kidney tissues were ameliorated by LT. Conclusion: This study confirmed the pathological enrollment of renin–angiotensin system in hypercholesterolemia-associated metabolic alterations. LT had a significant cardiac, hepatic, and renal protective role against these impairments through down-regulation of oxidative damage, inflammation and necrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to projects and practices that the Italian botanists and ecologists are carrying out for bringing "more nature in the city", new insights for a factual integration between ecological perspectives and more consolidated aesthetic and agronomic approaches to the sustainable planning and management of urban green areas are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study focusing on traditional uses of wild plants for gastronomic and medicinal purposes was carried out among three linguistic communities in Calabria, southern Italy. Ninety interviews with local elderly informants were conducted among Occitans and Arbëreshë, two linguistic minorities, and the dominant culture of autochthonous Calabrians. We recorded 85 taxa belonging to 39 botanical families and 66 different detailed use-reports including 35 culinary and 31 medicinal uses. Our overall data show the permanence of traditional ecological knowledge related to wild and semi-domesticated food and medicinal plants; however, high similarity indices among the three communities demonstrate that traditional ecological knowledge is following the pathway of homogenization and standardization toward the dominant culture, facilitated by a context of linguistic erosion, limited intergenerational transmission, and a centuries-old diffusion with Calabrian culture. Moreover, our study calls for further field surveys in isolated areas of Calabria to analyze how traditional ecological practices can be key tools in the development of local small-scale economies through the promotion of artisanal food entrepreneurship of wild food plant transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Italy, aerobiological monitoring is usually carried out by the regional agencies for environmental protection (ARPA [Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale]) using volumetric samplers. Another widespread method for the study of airborne pollen is the analysis of moss cushions, generally used to relate pollen rain to flora and vegetation. In this study, we compare the data coming from these two pollen monitoring methods: volumetric samplers and moss cushions. The study was carried out in the city of Florence (Italy) and took into consideration two different spans of time. The two pollen monitoring methods show quantitative and qualitative differences. The main discrepancy seems to be the direct consequence of the different preservation time of the grains in the moss cushions depending on the features of the pollen grains. The study also provides an estimate of the period of pollen accumulation and preservation in moss cushions, which turned out to be more than five years. The two sampling methods furnish complementary information; volumetric samplers especially suited for aerobiological studies and moss cushions for environmental and palaeobotanical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croatia, having high plant species diversity, offers an important opportunity for studying the wild plant uses in an ethnobotanical context. Comprehensive investigations were undertaken in Croatian Mediterranean areas, but little is currently known about wild plants traditionally used by local populations in the north-eastern part of Croatia situated in the Pannonian sector of Pannonio-Carpathian province. An ethnobotanical survey was undertaken at the two study areas: in the six settlements around the town of Našice and seven settlements in the area of Đakovo. A study was performed using questionnaires with 54 informants. A total of 44 plant taxa belonging to 25 families were recorded. The highest number of taxa belongs to families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae and Rosaceae. Plants were mostly used for the treatment of various disorders, while only seven taxa were used as food. Urtica dioica, Rosa canina and Matricaria chamomilla were the most important plants used for the treatment of various diseases. Comparison with traditionally used plants in neighbouring regions indicated similarity concerning plants uses and the mode of applications. The study represents a baseline for further investigations of valuable wild plants and ethnobotanical knowledge in the investigated area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an imine compound 2-((phenylimino)methyl)phenol was synthesized by the reaction of salicylaldehyde and aniline for in situ monitoring of reduction with sodium borohydride. The reduction of C = N double bond to C–N in solution was continuously monitored by infrared spectroscopy using the background defining method in liquid cell at ambient temperature. The structures of the purified 2-((phenylimino)methyl)phenol compound and the resulting 2-((phenylamino)methyl)phenol compound were elucidated by Infrared Spectroscopy, H1 and C13 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases in the world and is associated with oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the chronic administration of the fatty-acid amide hydrolase inhibitor (URB597-[3-(3-carbamoylphenyl)phenyl]N-cyclohexylcarbamate) to rats with primary (SHRs – spontaneously hypertensive rats) and secondary (DOCA-salt – 11-desoxycorticosterone acetate-salt-induced hypertension) hypertension on the composition and physicochemical properties of erythrocytes membrane. Because changes in membrane composition lead to modifications of electrical charge what may affect cell functions, the levels of following components were determined: four classes of membrane phospholipids (by HPLC – high-performance liquid chromatograph), sialic acid (by resorcinol method), lipid peroxidation product – malondialdehyde (by GCMS – gas chromatography-mass spectrometry). The reduced levels of phospholipids and sialic acid, as well as the increased levels of malonodialdehyde observed in the erythrocyte membrane of rats with primary and secondary hypertension led to a decrease in the negative electrical charge of the membrane. Long-term administration of URB597 to SHRs and DOCA-salt-treated rats partially prevented changes caused by hypertension. Using theoretical equations and the dependence of cell surface charge density as a function of pH, total surface concentrations of acid and base groups and their association constants have been determined. Considering the changes in physicochemical parameters of erythrocyte membranes, URB597 can be considered a potential protective factor for erythrocytes in situations of metabolic changes associated with oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lavandula stoechas L. and Lavandula dentata L. have been widely used as popular herbal medicines in the Mediterranean region to treat digestive disorders and kidney diseases. Both species have quite a similar morphology, which makes them too frequently share the same popular name and be often used indistinctly in traditional medicine although they have different properties. The aim of this study was to use metabolomics approaches, followed by multivariate analyses to facilitate the taxonomical classifications. A non-targeted metabolomic strategy based on high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF/MS) has been applied to two hydroalcoholic extracts from Lavandula species (L. dentata L. and L. stoechas L.) with the aim of elucidating the major discriminatory metabolites. The principal component analysis of the LC-QTOF/MS data showed a clear discrimination between both species, using the first two principal components. The key compounds responsible for the discrimination were tentatively identified as sucrose and glycosylated flavonoids by comparison with spectral data bases and previous studies. These results clearly show that both plant species have a different expression pattern for these marker metabolites that might be potentially used as a novel chemotaxonomical tool, in addition to classical approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal used in industrial processes that impedes the growth of plants. Although intensive work has concentrated on the mechanism of rice under Cd stress, few studies compared the proteomic information on the mechanism between different cultivars. Different rice cultivars were screened and two cultivars, the japonica cultivar Bancanggengnuo (BCGN) and indica cultivar Yuzhenxiang (YZX) were selected to be the varieties for proteomic experiments. High-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) with an isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) was used to analyze the global protein profiles of these two cultivars. There were 109 and 209 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the Cd treatment groups for BCGN and YZX respectively and 61 additional DEPs between cultivars after treatment. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that three pathways were altered in the cultivars, which affected photosynthesis and redox reactions. A total of 37 up- and 27 down-regulated proteins were identified in both cultivars exposed to Cd. The molecular regulatory network revealed that several proteins associated with carbohydrate metabolism, redox reaction and signal transduction were involved in and acted as the intersection point of disturbed metabolism. This is the first report on the comprehensive proteomic characterization of Cd-exposed leaf proteomes in rice. These findings may facilitate the unraveling molecular mechanism underlying Cd stress response in rice, and provide fundamental insights into the development of Cd-resistant rice cultivars. This work has explored the mechanism of Cd resistance at the protein level, which may be a novel target for improving the resistance of rice to this heavy metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used a mitochondria-penetrating nitroxide, mito-TEMPO, as a contrast probe for imaging of kidney dysfunction in mice, based on the redox-imbalance and oxidative stress in the renal tissues. Kidney dysfunction was triggered by hypercholesterolemia. The mice were divided in three groups: (i) on normal diet (ND; control); (ii) on cholesterol diet (CD); (iii) on cholesterol plus cholestyramine diet (CC). CD mice showed increased plasma levels of total cholesterol and non-HDL-cholesterol, as well as increased serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and creatinine, compared to ND mice. CC mice showed slightly increased plasma levels of total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol, but not non-HDL-cholesterol, compared to ND mice. The serum levels of blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and creatinine in CC mice were equal to those in ND mice. The MRI signal of mito-TEMPO in the kidneys was characterized by: high intensity and long life-time in CD mice, indicating a high oxidative capacity of renal tissues; poor intensity and short life-time in ND mice, indicating a high reducing capacity of renal tissues; moderate intensity and relatively short life-time in CC mice, which shows the protective effect of lipid-lowering agents against oxidative damage. The data suggest that hypercholesterolemia induces redox-imbalance and oxidative stress in kidneys and this process could be visualized using MRI and mito-TEMPO as a redox-sensitive contrast substance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microwave heating has been applied in the drying of high-value solids as it affords a number of advantages, including shorter drying time and better product quality. Freeze-drying at cryogenic temperature and extremely low pressure provides the advantage of high product quality, but at very high capital and operating costs due partly to very long drying time. Freeze-drying coupled with a microwave heat source speeds up the drying rate and yields good quality products provided the operating unit is designed and operated to achieve the potential for an absence of hot spot developments. This review is a survey of recent developments in the modeling and experimental results on microwave-assisted freeze-drying (MFD) over the past decade. Owing to the high costs involved, so far all applications are limited to small-scale operations for the drying of high-value foods such as fruits and vegetables. In order to promote industrial-scale applications for a broader range of products further research and development efforts are needed to offset the current limitations of the process. The needs and opportunities for future research and developments are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the extracts obtained with different solvents from the leaves of Rhamnus lycioides subsp. oleoides (L.) Jahand. & Maire were studied for their phytochemical profile and then for their antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities. The phytochemical profiles of the extracts in n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol, anthraquinone rich and water, showed the presence of different compounds belonging to several classes of natural products such as flavonoids, anthraquinones, saccharides and fatty acids. For what concerns the biological tests, the ethyl acetate, methanol and anthraquinone rich extracts showed the highest activities in both assays due to the high amount of compounds possessing those properties such as flavonoids and anthraquinones. By consequence, these specific extracts of the species may be considered to be potential sources of natural antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterasic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of structural diversity, (+) montagnetol, the major metabolite of the fruticose lichen, Roccella montagnei was synthesized along with three of its congeners by employing highly efficient protocols. (+) Montagnetol (2 R, 3S; 11) and (-) montagnetol (2S, 3R; 5) were synthesized in 7 and 9 steps, respectively, from L-ascorbic acid. The two new congeners 3 (2 R, 3R) and 6 (2S, 3S), which differ in configuration at C-2 and C-3 positions of the (+) montagnetol, were synthesized from (−) diethyl D-tartrate and (+) diethyl L-tartrate, respectively. The synthesized compounds were evaluated in vitro for antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive (S. aureus and E. coli) and two Gram-negative (S. typhi and P. aeruginosa) bacteria and one fungal strain Candida albicans. Interestingly, the congener 3 showed promising anti-bacterial activity (MIC: 0.062 µg/ml) against P. aeruginosa, whereas the congener 6 displayed potent anti-fungal activity (MIC: 0.062 µg/ml) against C. Albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several beneficial components of biodiversity are hosted in the olive tree canopy, providing significant agroecosystem services. Olive canopy arthropods were studied under different management systems and in regard to variables related to farming practices, climate, and landscape. Arthropods were monitored weekly in 24 olive orchards for 2 years using transparent sticky traps. Farm management parameters, as well as climate conditions and landscape complexity, were recorded. Canopy arthropods and main olive pests were classified and aggregated upon functionality. Comparison between management systems was performed. Multivariate analysis was conducted with farming practices, climate conditions and landscape complexity as explanatory variables. Significant differences were not found between management systems, due to high variability of farming practices applied within the same management system. Factors linked to farm management, climate, and landscape explained arthropod variability better than management systems. The functional group approach appeared to be a meaningful, complementary biodiversity measure. Findings suggest that specific farm management, environmental, and landscape factors should be taken into account in agroecological research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular impairment in hypertension. Oxidative stress is important in the molecular mechanisms associated with hypertension, but there are few studies focusing on the comparison of oxidative stress biomarkers in hypertensive patients with or without hyperhomocysteinemia. The study included 50 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients with hyperhomocysteinemia, 50 newly diagnosed hypertensive patients without hyperhomocysteinemia, and 50 age-matched healthy controls. Serum levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, 8-isoprostane-F2ɑ, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxides were compared. Levels of malondialdehyde and 8-isoprostane-F2ɑ were higher in both hypertensive groups than in the control group (8.3 ± 1.8 μmol/L vs. 6.5 ± 1.3 μmol/L vs. 4.3 ± 1.2 μmol/L, P < 0.05; 23.5 ± 12.1 pg/mL vs. 17.4 ± 10.3 pg/mL vs. 13.9 ± 7.5 pg/mL, P < 0.05), while levels of superoxide dismutase and catalase were lower in both hypertensive groups than in the control group (120.5 ± 13.7 U/mL vs. 131.3 ± 18.2 U/mL vs. 149.1 ± 14.6 U/mL, P < 0.05; 23.8 ± 7.4 U/mL vs. 24.6 ± 9.2 U/mL vs. 33.5 ± 8.2 U/mL, P < 0.05). In hypertensive subgroups, serum malondialdehyde levels were higher in the hyperhomocysteinemia group than the other group (8.3 ± 1.8 μmol/L vs. 6.5 ± 1.3 μmol/L; P < 0.05), and superoxide dismutase activities were lower in the hyperhomocysteinemia group than the other group (120.5 ± 13.7 U/mL vs. 131.3 ± 18.2 U/mL; P < 0.05). Moreover, in hypertensive patients, homocysteine levels were significantly correlated with malondialdehyde (r = 0.39, P < 0.01), 8-isoprostane-F2ɑ (r = 0.47, P < 0.05), superoxide dismutase (r = −0.51, P < 0.01), and catalase (r = −0.51, P < 0.05), respectively. Our findings demonstrated oxidative stress was more severe in hypertensive patients with hyperhomocysteinemia than those hypertensive patients without it. Besides, there were strong relationships between homocysteine activities and oxidative/antioxidative parameters, which indicated that homocysteine might aggravate the oxidative stress in hypertension to produce contributory effects on cardiovascular impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lacewings and lady beetles represent two important groups of natural enemies for pest control. Kaolin is used in various crop ecosystems to reduce abiotic plant stressors and pest colonization. Compatible methods aimed at reducing abiotic and biotic plant stressors are desired in crop management systems. Therefore, this work evaluated the development and survival of Chrysoperla externa (Hagen) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) and Eriopis connexa (Germar) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) larvae of different ages treated with kaolin at three different concentrations (ca. 60, 80, and 100 g/L) and prey consumption when treated with kaolin at a field rate of 60 g/L. The prey used were the whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and the aphid Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Survival rates and development durations for E. connexa larvae topically treated with kaolin at different ages were similar to those for untreated larvae. However, larvae of C. externa reduced survival and delayed development when treated with kaolin concentrations greater than the recommended field rate. Otherwise, kaolin treatments did not affect prey consumption by larvae and adults of both predator species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In daily patient-history taking and diagnosis practice, doctors ask questions to gather information from patients and narrow down diagnostic hypotheses. Training medical students to be efficient problem solvers through the use of questioning is therefore important. In this study, the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) and lecture-based learning in improving the questioning abilities of medical students (N = 104) was assessed by a modified 20-question task. In this task, the participants were asked to identify target pictures by asking questions, the problem-solving process of which resembles that of the diagnosis scenario. Moreover, this task requires no medical knowledge, and therefore allows knowledge-irrelevant questioning abilities to be assessed independently. The results show that PBL students generally ask more efficient questions and use fewer questions to complete the task. This finding suggests that PBL curricula may help improve the questioning strategies of medical students and help them diagnose more efficiently in future diagnosis practice. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Caprine whey protein concentrates (WPC) were incorporated as emulsifiers in a salad dressing. The concentrates were manufactured by ultrafiltration-diafiltration with or without previous clarification by thermocalcic precipitation. Aggregates obtained in the clarification treatment and a commercial bovine WPC were also used as emulsifiers. Good emulsifying properties of caprine products were observed. Dressings made with caprine products showed higher firmness and stability than dressings made with bovine WPC. Thermocalcic precipitation improved the properties of caprine WPC. Aggregates modified the colour of dressings contributing to a more yellowish aspect. Microstructure of emulsions was affected by the type of protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the current paradigm, chronic vascular inflammation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The plaque progression is typically completed with rupture and subsequent acute cardiovascular complications. Previously, the role of adventitial vasa vasorum in atherogenesis was underestimated. However, investigators then revealed that vasa vasorum neovascularization can be observed when no clinical manifestation of atherosclerosis is present. Vasa vasorum is involved in various proatherogenic processes such as intimal accumulation of inflammatory leukocytes, intimal thickening, necrotic core formation, intraplaque haemorrhage, lesion rupture and atherothrombosis. Due to the destabilizing action of the intraplaque microenvironment, lesional vasa vasorum neovessels experience serious defects and abnormalities during development that leads to their immaturity, fragility and leakage. Indeed, intraplaque neovessels are a main cause of intraplaque haemorrhage. Visualization techniques showed that presence of neovascularization/haemorrhage can serve as a good indicator of lesion instability and higher risk of rupture. Vasa vasorum density is a strong predictor of acute cardiovascular events such as sudden death, myocardial infarction and stroke. At present, arterial vasa vasorum neovascularization is under intensive investigation along with development of therapeutic tools focused on the control of formation of vasa vasorum neovessels in order to prevent plaque haemorrhage/rupture and thromboembolism.KEY MESSAGENeovascularization plays an important role in atherosclerosis, being involved in unstable plaque formation.Presence of neovascularization and haemorrhage indicates plaque instability and risk of rupture.Various imaging techniques are available to study neovascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]