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Purpose: There is growing recognition of the importance of managing sleep disorders in the elderly, particularly given their complexity within a multidimensional framework. The aim of the present study is to investigate whether sleep quality and daytime sleepiness are associated with the risk of falls in older adults., Methods: This study included patients aged 75 years or older who were consecutively evaluated at the Geriatric Service, University Hospital of Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy. Participants underwent geriatric assessment, including sleep analysis using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), as well as an assessment of risk of falls with Performance Oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA)., Results: The study included 206 subjects, of whom 70.4% were women, with a median age of 83 years. A total of 141 participants (68.4%) had poor sleep quality, and 43 (20.9%) had excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Among people at high risk of falls, 85 participants had bad sleep quality, and 24 a satisfying one (χ 2 : 8.23, p = 0.0029); additionally, 77 participants did not exhibit daytime sleepiness, while 32 did (χ 2 : 9.03, p = 0.0027). To further explore these results, we designed logistic regressions, considering dichotomized PSQI and dichotomized ESS as independent variables, and dichotomized POMA as the dependent variable, and finally adjusted them for confounders. The adjusted model for PSQI yielded OR: 2.04 (95%CI 1.02-4.10), and the adjusted model for ESS yielded OR: 2.56 (95%CI 1.17-5.91)., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that an increased estimated risk of falling is associated with poor sleep quality and EDS in older adults, independently of the confounders., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to European Geriatric Medicine Society.)

Background and Objectives : Sex differences are unclear in geriatric sleep medicine, and most evidence comes from inference from preclinical bases or clinical studies conducted on younger people. The aim of this study is to explore sex differences in sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in a cohort of elderly people. Materials and Methods : This cross-sectional study involved subjects aged 65 years or older undergoing multidimensional evaluation, including sleep quality and daytime sleepiness assessment with validated tools. Results : This study included 226 subjects (69.5% women), the majority of whom showed poor sleep quality (64.2%). A logistic regression model put one before the other sleep quality and gender. It initially showed that men were about half likely as women to have poor sleep quality (OR 0.48, 95%CI 0.27-0.86). Nonetheless, after adjusting for cognitive status and mood, the difference became smaller and insignificant (OR 0.72, 95%CI 0.38-1.38). Conclusions : Sex differences in elderly people's sleep quality seem to not be independent, appearing to be affected by alterations in cognitive status and mood.

Puerto de Cajas serves as a vital high-altitude passage in Ecuador, connecting the coastal region to the city of Cuenca. The stability of this rocky massif is carefully managed through the assessment of blocks and discontinuities, ensuring safe travel. This study presents a novel approach, employing rapid and cost-effective methods to evaluate an unexplored area within the protected expanse of Cajas. Using terrestrial photogrammetry and strategically positioned geomechanical stations along the slopes, we generated a detailed point cloud capturing elusive terrain features. We have used terrestrial photogrammetry for digitalization of the slope. Validation of the collected data was achieved by comparing directional data from Cloud Compare software with manual readings using a digital compass integrated in a phone at control points. The analysis encompasses three slopes, employing the SMR, Q-slope, and kinematic methodologies. Results from the SMR system closely align with kinematic analysis, indicating satisfactory slope quality. Nonetheless, continued vigilance in stability control remains imperative for ensuring road safety and preserving the site's integrity. Moreover, this research lays the groundwork for the creation of a publicly accessible 3D repository, enhancing visualization capabilities through Google Virtual Reality. This initiative not only aids in replicating the findings but also facilitates access to an augmented reality environment, thereby fostering collaborative research endeavors.

A timely detection of visual hemifield deficits (VHFDs; hemianopias or quadrantanopias) is critical for both the diagnosis and treatment of stroke patients. The present study determined the sensitivity and specificity of four qualitative visual field tests, including face description, confrontation tests (finger wiggle), and kinetic boundary perimetry, to screen large and dense VHFDs in right-brain-damaged (RBD) stroke patients. Previously, the accuracy of qualitative visual field tests was examined in unselected samples of patients with heterogeneous aetiology, in which stroke patients represented a very small fraction. Building upon existing tests, we introduced some procedural ameliorations (incl. a novel procedure for kinetic boundary perimetry) and provided a scoresheet to facilitate the grading. The qualitative visual field tests' outcome of 67 consecutive RBD stroke patients was compared with the standard automated perimetry (SAP; i.e., reference standard) outcome to calculate sensitivity and specificity, as well as positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), both for each individual test and their combinations. The face description test scored the lowest sensitivity and NPV, while the kinetic boundary perimetry scored the highest. No test returned false positives. Combining the monocular static finger wiggle test (by quadrants) and the kinetic boundary perimetry returned the highest sensitivity and specificity, in line with previous studies, but with higher accuracy (100% sensitivity and specificity). These findings indicate that the combination of these two tests is a valid approach with RBD stroke patients, prompting referral for a formal visual field examination, and representing a quick, easy-to-perform, and inexpensive tool for improving their care and prognosis.

Adequate housing protects from diarrhea, which is a substantial health concern in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between severe diarrhea and housing features at the municipal level to help in public health planning. Regression analyses were performed on annual (2000-2012) datasets on Brazilian municipalities (5570) in six household feature categories (e.g., waste management) and four severe diarrhea outcomes (e.g., diarrhea deaths of under-5 children). Household data were not available elsewhere of this magnitude and granularity, highlighting the scientific value-add of this study. Municipalities were clustered prior to regression analysis because of data heterogeneity. The compositional household feature data were also subjected to principal component analysis to diminish feature variable multicollinearity. The highest explanatory power was found for diarrhea deaths of under-5 children (R 2  = 10-22 %), while those in the over-5 population were the least best explained (R 2  = 0.3-7 %). Household features predicted diarrhea outcomes more accurately in the "advanced" housing municipality cluster (R 2  = 16-22 %) than in the "mid-level" (R 2  = 7-20 %) and "basic" (R 2  = 6-12 %) ones (over-5 diarrhea deaths excluded). Under-5 children's diarrhea death prevalence was three times higher in the "basic" cluster than in the "advanced" cluster. Importantly, the impact of waste management was overall the largest of all household features, even larger than those of WASH, i.e., water supply, sanitation, and household drinking water treatment. This is surprising in the context of existing literature because WASH is generally regarded as the most important household factor affecting gastrointestinal health. In conclusion, public health interventions could benefit from customizing interventions for diarrhea outcomes, municipality types, and household features. Waste management's identified stronger association with diarrhea compared to WASH may have important implications beyond the water field and Brazil., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Modeling phenological phases in a Mediterranean environment often implies tangible challenges to reconstructing regional trends over heterogenous areas using limited and scattered observations. The present investigation aimed to project phenological phases (i.e., sprouting, blooming, and pit hardening) for early and mid-late olive cultivars in the Mediterranean, comparing two phenological modeling approaches. Phenoflex is a rather integrated but data-demanding model, while a combined model of chill and anti-chill days and growing degree days (CAC_GDD) offers a more parsimonious and general approach in terms of data requirements for parameterization. We gathered phenological observations from nine experimental sites in Italy and temperature timeseries from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, Reanalysis v5. The best performances of the CAC_GDD (RMSE: 4 days) and PhenoFlex models (RMSE: 5-9.5 days) were identified for the blooming and sprouting phases of mid-late cultivars, respectively. The CAC_GDD model was better suited to our experimental conditions for projecting pit hardening and blooming dates (correlation: 0.80 and 0.70, normalized RMSE: 0.6 and 0.8, normalized standard deviation: 0.9 and 1.0). The optimization of the principal parameters confirmed that the mid-late cultivars were more adaptable to thermal variability. The spatial distribution illustrated the near synchrony of blooming dates between the early and mid-late cultivars compared to other phases.

Stroke survivors with right-brain damage (RBD) often present with attentional deficits such as left unilateral spatial neglect. Some patients also present with contralesional visual hemi-field deficits. A late detection of visual hemi-field deficits (VHFD) contributes to hampering neurorehabilitation and functional outcome of patients with neglect. The Brentano Illusion Test (BRIT) may be used for an early detection of VHFD during the neuropsychological assessment. In the present study, we determined the sensitivity and specificity of the BRIT for screening VHFD in patients with neglect. Sixty-four consecutive RBD patients were examined. Forty-five presented with neglect. Of these, 23 presented with VHFD (hemianopia or quadrantanopia) as detected by the Humphrey automated static visual field testing (reference standard). Consecutive patients also included 19 participants without neglect, who did not have any VHFD. The sensitivity and specificity of the BRIT for neglect patients were 78.3% (95% CI: 61.4-95.1) and 90.9 (95% CI: 78.9-100.0), respectively. Positive predictive value (PPV) was 89.6% (95% CI: 76.4-100.0); negative predictive value (NPV) 80.7% (95% CI: 65.2-96.2). No false positives in the group without neglect were identified. We conclude that the BRIT is an effective tool for clinical neuropsychologists to screen for possible VHFD in neglect patients during the neuropsychological assessment, allowing the refinement of the clinical picture in the neuropsychological report. An early detection of VHFD also allows referring the patient to standard diagnostics for a formal visual field examination, right from the first neuropsychological assessment.

The seagrass Halophila stipulacea is native to the Red Sea. It invaded the Mediterranean over the past century and most of the Caribbean over the last two decades. Understanding the main drivers behind the successful invasiveness of H. stipulacea has become crucial. We performed a comprehensive study including field measurements, a mesocosm experiment, and a literature review to identify 'superior growth traits' that can potentially explain the success story of H. stipulacea . We assessed meadow characteristics and plant traits of three invasive H. stipulacea populations growing off the Island of Sint Eustatius (eastern Caribbean). We compared similar parameters between native (Eilat, northern Red Sea) and invasive (Caribbean)  H. stipulacea plants in a common-garden mesocosm. Lastly, we compared our field measurements with published data. The newly arrived H. stipulacea plants from St. Eustatius were characterized by higher percent cover, higher below- and above-ground biomasses, more apical shoots, and faster leaf turnover rates than those measured in both native and older invaded habitats. These results were further confirmed by the mesocosm experiment where the invasive H. stipulacea plants grew faster and developed more apical shoots than the native plants. Results suggest that increased growth vigour is one of the main invasive traits that characterize successful invasive H. stipulacea populations in the Caribbean and potentially in other invaded areas. We encourage long-term monitoring of H. stipulacea in both native and invaded habitats to better understand the future spread of this species and its impacts on communities and their ecosystem functions and services., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10530-023-03045-z., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestAll authors have no relevant financial or non-financial competing interests to disclose., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Kelp detritus fuels coastal food webs and may play an important role as a source of organic matter for natural carbon sequestration. Here, we conducted ex situ and in situ manipulations to evaluate the role of temperature and light availability in the breakdown of detrital material. We examined degradation rates of two North Atlantic species with contrasting thermal affinities: the 'warm water' kelp Laminaria ochroleuca and the 'cool water' Laminaria hyperborea. Detrital fragments were exposed to different temperatures in controlled conditions and across an in situ gradient of depth, corresponding to light availability. Overall, degradation rates (i.e. changes in F v /F m and biomass) were faster under lower light conditions and at higher temperatures, although responses were highly variable between plants and fragments. Crucially, as L. ochroleuca degraded faster than L. hyperborea under some conditions, a climate-driven substitution of the 'cool' for the 'warm' kelp, which has been observed at some locations, will likely increase detritus turnover rates and alter detrital pathways in certain environments. More importantly, ocean warming combined with decreased coastal water quality will likely accelerate kelp detritus decomposition, with potential implications for coastal food webs and carbon cycles., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Energy costs in the wastewater industry are increasing due to increasing trends in electricity rates and more stringent requirements for effluent quality. Wastewater aeration process is typically the largest energy consumer of the treatment plant and the optimization of the aeration process can offer significant savings for the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Utilization of dynamic models can offer optimization solutions for improving the energy efficiency and process performance. In this work a simplified modelling approach emphasizing the control valves and the blowers is tested by developing aeration system models for two Finnish WWTPs. The developed model requires calibration of only a single parameter and the results from the simulations showed that reasonable estimations of the aeration systems energy demand could be made with a limited knowledge on the details of the physical system. The promising results highlight the strong influence of the control valve positioning to the whole system and indicate that airflow distribution along the system could be estimated simply from the positioning of the valves. The presented modelling approach allows the comparison between different blower and control valve alternatives during operation and for the process upgrades and offers prospect for improving the aeration operation control strategies.

Background: In the postharvest handling of horticultural commodities, plant extracts with fungicidal activity are a valid alternative to synthetic fungicides. The fungicidal activity of myrtle leaf extracts from eight cultivars was studied in vitro against Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, and Penicillium expansum and on artificially inoculated mandarins with green and blue molds during storage for 12 days at 20 °C and 90% RH., Results: Hydroxybenzoic acids, hydrolysable tannins, and flavonols were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Despite sharing the same phenolic profile, extracts of eight myrtle cultivars significantly differed in the concentration of phenolics. Hydrolysable tannins are the principal subclass representing nearly 44.9% of the total polyphenols, whereas myricitrin was the most abundant flavonol in all cultivars. Myrtle extracts strongly inhibited conidial germination of the pathogens tested, although the greatest efficacy was observed against P. digitatum. At a concentration of 20 g L -1 , all the extracts completely inhibited fungi growth; only 'Angela', 'Tonina' and 'Grazia' extracts were effective at lower concentrations (15 g L -1 ). On inoculated fruit, myrtle extracts significantly controlled rot development. As a preventive treatment, 'Ilaria' and 'Maria Rita' extracts significantly reduced the rate of fruit with green mold decay lesions. When applied as a curative treatment, all the exacts decreased the incidence of decay. Against P. italicum, all the extracts applied as preventive treatments controlled decay effectively, while as curative treatment some of the extracts were not effective. All the extracts reduced the size of the infected areas., Conclusion: The results propose myrtle extracts as a possible natural alternative to synthetic fungicides. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Tissue homeostasis mainly depends on the activity of stem cells to replace damaged elements and restore tissue functions. Within this context, mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts are essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis in skin, in particular in the dermis. Modifications in collagen fibers are able to affect stem cell features. Skin properties can be significantly reduced after injuries or with aging, and stem cell niches, mainly comprising extracellular matrix (ECM), may be compromised. To this end, specific molecules can be administrated to prevent the aging process induced by UV exposure in the attempt to maintain a youngness phenotype. NanoPCL-M is a novel nanodevice able to control delivery of Mediterranean plant myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) extracts. In particular, we previously described that myrtle extracts, rich in bioactive molecules and nutraceuticals, were able to counteract senescence in adipose derived stem cells. In this study, we analyzed the effect of NanoPCL-M on skin stem cells (SSCs) and dermal fibroblasts in a dynamic cell culture model in order to prevent the effects of UV-induced senescence on proliferation and collagen depot. The BrdU assay results highlight the significantly positive effect of NanoPCL-M on the proliferation of both fibroblasts and SSCs. Our results demonstrate that-M is able to preserve SSCs features and collagen depot after UV-induced senescence, suggesting their capability to retain a young phenotype.

Within the myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) species, different genotypes may produce dark-blue berries or white berries depending on the peel color upon ripening. One dark-blue cultivar and one white myrtle cultivar were used to study the molecular mechanisms underlying flavonoid biosynthesis. The relative expression levels of common ( PAL , CHS , CHI , DFR and LDOX ) and specific ( FLS , ANR , LAR and UFGT ) flavonoid genes were analyzed during fruit development by means of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Moreover, the anthocyanin content was determined, and it showed an increase with the ripening of the berries of the dark-blue cultivar. The results showed an increased transcript abundance of PAL , CHI , DFR , LDOX and UFGT gene expression in the dark-blue cultivar compared to the white one, as well as a strong positive correlation between the changes in gene expression and anthocyanin accumulation. The transcript levels of UFGT showed sharp increases at 150 and 180 days after full blooming (DAF) in the dark-blue cultivar, which corresponded with anthocyanin accumulation. However, ripening seemed to modulate the expression of genes implicated in flavonols (i.e., FLS ) and flavan-3-ols (i.e., LAR and ANR ) in different manners. However, whereas FLS transcript accumulation increased at the end of the ripening period in the dark-blue cultivar, LAR and ANR gene expression decreased in both cultivars.

New data on 52 non-indigenous mollusks in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea is reported. Fossarus sp. (aff. aptus sensu Blatterer 2019), Coriophora lessepsiana Albano, Bakker & Sabelli, sp. nov. , Cerithiopsis sp. aff. pulvis, Joculator problematicus Albano & Steger, sp. nov. , Cerithiopsis sp., Elachisina sp., Iravadia aff. elongata, Vitrinella aff. Vitrinella sp. 1 (sensu Blatterer 2019), Melanella orientalis , Parvioris aff. dilecta, Odostomia cf. dalli, Oscilla virginiae , Parthenina cossmanni , Parthenina typica , Pyrgulina craticulata , Turbonilla funiculata , Cylichna collyra , Musculus coenobitus , Musculus aff. viridulus, Chavania erythraea , Scintilla cf. violescens, Iacra seychellarum and Corbula erythraeensis are new records for the Mediterranean. An unidentified gastropod, Skeneidae indet., Triphora sp., Hypermastus sp., Sticteulima sp., Vitreolina cf. philippi, Odostomia (s.l.) sp. 1, Henrya (?) sp., and Semelidae sp. are further potential new non-indigenous species although their status should be confirmed upon final taxonomic assessment. Additionally, the status of Dikoleps micalii , Hemiliostraca clandestina comb. nov. and H. athenamariae comb. nov. is changed to non-indigenous, range extensions for nine species and the occurrence of living individuals for species previously recorded from empty shells only are reported. Opimaphora blattereri Albano, Bakker & Sabelli, sp. nov. is described from the Red Sea for comparison with the morphologically similar C. lessepsiana Albano, Bakker & Sabelli, sp. nov. The taxonomic part is followed by a discussion on how intensive fieldwork and cooperation among institutions and individuals enabled such a massive report, and how the poor taxonomic knowledge of the Indo-Pacific fauna hampers non-indigenous species detection and identification. Finally, the hypothesis that the simultaneous analysis of quantitative benthic death assemblages can support the assignment of non-indigenous status to taxonomically undetermined species is discussed., (Paolo G. Albano, Jan Steger, Piet A. J. Bakker, Cesare Bogi, Marija Bošnjak, Tamar Guy-Haim, Mehmet Fatih Huseyinoglu, Patrick I. LaFollette, Hadas Lubinevsky, Martina Mulas, Martina Stockinger, Michele Azzarone, Bruno Sabelli.)

Atriplex halimus grows in humid and saline warm regions of Mediterranean area showing high adaptability but less information is available on resistance to chilling temperatures.Potted plants of five clones (MAR1, GIO1, SAN3, PAL1, and FAN3) were cultivated during 30 months in four localities (Oristano, Tempio, Sassari, and Villasor). Every 6 months, leaves, stems and roots of plants were the object of mineral composition analysis (N, P, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn). During the experiment, air temperature was recorded and hour degrees sums calculated for thresholds ranging from 0 °C to 35 °C.Leaves showed highest content of all elements, with the exception of iron.Plants showed ability to accumulate mineral elements in a synergic or antagonistic way. Accumulation of chilling hour degrees positively correlated with calcium in leaves and stems, and with manganese in the whole plant. Sodium in leaves, instead, was favored by high temperatures, which are unfavorable to nitrogen accumulation in roots. Magnesium accumulation in leaves and roots enhanced with moderately high temperatures. Two of the tested clones (GIO1 and SAN3) showed a relative low adaptability to the coldest conditions. The other three clones provided better performances with the best behavior of PAL1.

Natural cosmetic products have recently re-emerged as a novel tool able to counteract skin aging and skin related damages. In addition, recently achieved progress in nanomedicine opens a novel approach yielding from combination of modern nanotechnology with traditional treatment for innovative pharmacotherapeutics. In the present study, we investigated the antiaging effect of a pretreatment with Myrtus communis natural extract combined with a polycaprolactone nanofibrous scaffold (NanoPCL-M) on skin cell populations exposed to UV. We set up a novel model of skin on a bioreactor mimicking a crosstalk between keratinocytes, stem cells and fibroblasts, as in skin. Beta-galactosidase assay, indicating the amount of senescent cells, and viability assay, revealed that fibroblasts and stem cells pretreated with NanoPCL-M and then exposed to UV are superimposable to control cells, untreated and unexposed to UV damage. On the other hand, cells only exposed to UV stress, without NanoPCL-M pretreatment, exhibited a significantly higher yield of senescent elements. Keratinocyte-based 3D structures appeared disjointed after UV-stress, as compared to NanoPCL-M pretreated samples. Gene expression analysis performed on different senescence associated genes, revealed the activation of a molecular program of rejuvenation in stem cells pretreated with NanoPCL-M and then exposed to UV. Altogether, our results highlight a future translational application of NanoPCL-M to prevent skin aging.

A population of 52 genotypes of Myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.), selected in the framework of a domestication program and growing in the same collection field at Oristano (Central Western Sardinia, 39°54' N 8°35' E), was analyzed by GC/MS for leaf essential oil composition. The chemical composition of essential oils was quite variable with a number of compounds ranging from 31 to 78 depending on cultivar. One hundred and eighteen compounds were globally identified in the various genotypes. However, α-pinene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, α-terpineol, and linalool always resulted as main components with few differences among samples. Minor compounds have been the determining factors in differentiating or associating genotypes in the outputs of a principal component analysis (PCA), where the results of another analysis of fruit essential oils of the same genotypes were also jointly used. Genotypes were discriminated according to mother plant characterization or ecological variables, such as site altitude, soil nature, and presence or absence of calcareous soils in the substrate of the localities of origin.

A neuron's firing correlates are defined as the features of the external world to which its activity is correlated. In many parts of the brain, neurons have quite simple such firing correlates. A striking example are grid cells in the rodent medial entorhinal cortex: their activity correlates with the animal's position in space, defining 'grid fields' arranged with a remarkable periodicity. Here, we show that the organization and evolution of grid fields relate very simply to physical space. To do so, we use an effective model and consider grid fields as point objects (particles) moving around in space under the influence of forces. We reproduce several observations on the geometry of grid patterns. This particle-like behavior is particularly salient in a recent experiment in which two separate grid patterns merge. We discuss pattern formation in the light of known results from physics of two-dimensional colloidal systems. Notably, we study the limitations of the widely used 'gridness score' and show how physics of 2d systems could be a source of inspiration, both for data analysis and computational modeling. Finally, we draw the relationship between our 'macroscopic' model for grid fields and existing 'microscopic' models of grid cell activity and discuss how a description at the level of grid fields allows to put constraints on the underlying grid cell network.

Nutraceuticals present in food are molecules able to exert biological activity for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, in form of pharmaceutical preparations, such as capsules, cream, or pills. Myrtus communis L. is a spontaneous Mediterranean evergreen shrub, widely known for the liqueur obtained from its berries rich in phytochemicals such as tannins and flavonoids. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the properties of myrtle byproducts, residual of the industrial liqueur processing, in Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) induced at oxidative stress by in vitro H 2 O 2 treatment. Cells were exposed for 12-24 and 48h at treatment with extracts and then senescence-induced. ROS production was then determined. The real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the expression of inflammatory cytokines and sirtuin-dependent epigenetic changes, as well the modifications in terms of stem cell pluripotency. The β -galactosidase assay was conducted to analyze stem cell senescence after treatment. Our results show that industrial myrtle byproducts retain a high antioxidant and antisenescence activity, protecting cells from oxidative stress damages. The results obtained suggest that residues from myrtle liqueur production could be used as resource in formulation of food supplements or pharmaceutical preparations with antioxidant, antiaging, and anti-inflammatory activity.

Inflammatory response represents one of the main mechanisms of healing and tissue function restoration. On the other hand, chronic inflammation leads to excessive secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in the onset of several diseases. Oxidative stress condition may contribute in worsening inflammatory state fall, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cytokines release. Polyphenols can counteract inflammation and oxidative stress, modulating the release of toxic molecules and interacting with physiological defenses, such as cytochromes p450 enzymes. In this paper, we aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory properties of different concentrations of Myrtus communis L . pulp and seeds extracts, derived from liquor industrial production, on human fibroblasts. We determined ROS production after oxidative stress induction by H 2 O 2 treatment, and the gene expression of different proinflammatory cytokines. We also analyzed the expression of CYP3A4 and CYP27B1 genes, in order to evaluate the capability of Myrtus polyphenols to influence the metabolic regulation of other molecules, including drugs, ROS, and vitamin D. Our results showed that Myrtus extracts exert a synergic effect with vitamin D in reducing inflammation and ROS production, protecting cells from oxidative stress damages. Moreover, the extracts modulate CYPs expression, preventing chronic inflammation and suggesting their use in development of new therapeutic formulations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

The oxidative stability of myrtle hydroalcoholic extracts was measured, over storage time, with the EPR spin trapping method under forced ageing conditions. The extracts were prepared with 150 and 300 g l -1 of berries and extraction media with ethanol ranging from 60 to 90%. Two radicals were detected: the PBN-1-hydroxyethyl adduct and the tert-butyl aminoxyl radical. A dimensionless parameter (Ω) calculated on the basis of the lag time, the rate of formation and concentration of the radical species was used to estimate the extracts' oxidative stability. Ω was strongly influenced by the extraction medium, being lower in extracts with ethanol 60%, and by the time of storage. An inverse correlation was calculated between Ω and ellagic acid concentration, thus suggesting the role of this phenolic acid in the antioxidant properties of the extracts. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts against the hydroxyl radical was also measured., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Myrtle ( Myrtus communis L.) is a shrub spontaneously growing in the Mediterranean area. The leaf and fruit content of essential oils and phenolic compounds justify the wide use of the plant as medicinal and aromatic. Because of overexploitation of wild plants, a domestication process is in progress in different regions and the influence of the genotype variability on the chemical composition of fruit essential oils may be useful to breeding programs. Consequently, the analysis performed on a selected group of candidate clones growing in the same field collection in Sardinia is the object of this report. Forty-seven selections provided fully ripe fruits for essential oil extraction by hydrodistillation and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Only five candidate clones showed white fruits. The highest yield of essential oil was observed in the LAC31 genotype with 0.55 g·kg -1 , while the samples BOS1, MON5, RUM4, RUM10, V4 and V8 showed values above 0.20 g·kg -1 and most of the genotypes under 0.10 g·kg -1 . Geranyl acetate was the compound with the highest relative abundance. The second compound for relative abundance was the 1,8-cineole. Other compounds with high relative abundance were α -terpinyl acetate, methyleugenol, linalool, α -terpineol, β -caryophyllene, α -humulene, Trans -caryophyllene oxide, and humulene epoxide II.

An Activated Sludge Model #3 (ASM3) based, pseudomechanistic model describing nitrous oxide (N 2 O) production was created in this study to provide more insight into the dynamics of N 2 O production, consumption, and emissions at a full-scale wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). N 2 O emissions at the studied WWTP are monitored throughout the plant with a Fourier transform infrared analyzer, while the developed model encountered N 2 O production in the biological reactors via both ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) nitrification and heterotrophic denitrifiers. Additionally, the stripping of N 2 O was included by applying a K L a-based approach that has not been widely used before. The objective was to extend the existing ASM3-based model of the plant and assess how well the full-scale emissions could be predicted with the selected model. The validity and applicability of the model were tested by comparing the simulation results with the comprehensive online data. The results show that the ASM3-based model can be successfully extended and applied to modeling N 2 O production and emissions at a full-scale WWTP. These results demonstrate that the biological reactor can explain most of the N 2 O emissions at the plant, but a significant proportion of the liquid-phase N 2 O is further transferred during the process.

Atriplex nummularia is a halophyte widely employed to recover saline soils and was used as a model to evaluate the water potentials in the soil-plant system under drought and salt stresses. Potted plants grown under 70 and 37% of field capacity irrigated with solutions of NaCl and of a mixture of NaCl, KCl, MgCl 2 and CaCl 2 reproducing six electrical conductivity (EC): 0, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 dS m -1 . After 100 days, total water (Ψ w, plant ) and osmotic (Ψ o, plant ) potentials at predawn and midday and Ψ o, soil , matric potential (Ψ m, soil ) and Ψ w, soil were determined. The type of ion in the irrigation water did not influence the soil potential, but was altered by EC. The soil Ψ o component was the largest contributor to Ψ w, soil . Atriplex is surviving ECs close to 40 dS m -1 due to the decrease in the Ψ w . The plants reached a Ψ w of approximately -8 MPa. The water potentials determined for different moisture levels, EC levels and salt types showed huge importance for the management of this species in semiarid regions and can be used to recover salt affected soils.

Differences in the structure and functioning of intensively urbanized vs. less human-affected systems are reported, but such evidence is available for a much larger extent in terrestrial than in marine systems. We examined the hypotheses that (i) urbanization was associated to different patterns of variation of intertidal assemblages between urban and extra-urban environments; (ii) such patterns were consistent across mainland and insular systems, spatial scales from 10scm to 100skm, and a three months period. Several trends emerged: (i) a more homogeneous distribution of most algal groups in the urban compared to the extra-urban condition and the opposite pattern of most invertebrates; (ii) smaller/larger variances of most organisms where these were, respectively, less/more abundant; (iii) largest variability of most response variables at small scale; (iv) no facilitation of invasive species by urbanization and larger cover of canopy-forming algae in the insular extra-urban condition. Present findings confirm the acknowledged notion that future management strategies will require to include representative assemblages and their relevant scales of variation associated to urbanization gradients on both the mainland and the islands., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Understanding the mechanisms underlying biological invasions is essential to separate their actual ecological effects from those of other human disturbances. This study examined experimentally whether the non-native red seaweed Grateloupia turuturu is an opportunistic species taking advantage of degraded local conditions (passenger model), or the primary driver of changes in the structure of benthic assemblages (driver model). In a first experiment, traits of G. turuturu likely associated to its invasion success were compared between unmanipulated controls and treatments subjected to the removal of canopy-forming macroalgae to test for the passenger model. In a second experiment, rock pool assemblages where G. turuturu was selectively removed were compared with initially similar control (unmanipulated) assemblages to test for the driver model. Over a period of four months, G. turuturu showed larger cover, higher number of individuals and longer fronds in the canopy-removed compared to the control pools, while no significant differences were detected between assemblages where G. turuturu was continuously removed and those where invasion was allowed to occur. Present findings suggest that G. turuturu would rely on disturbances removing potential native competitors to spread into the recipient habitat, rather than being the main driver of ecological alterations., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The nitrous oxide emissions of the Viikinmäki wastewater treatment plant were measured in a 12 month online monitoring campaign. The measurements, which were conducted with a continuous gas analyzer, covered all of the unit operations of the advanced wastewater-treatment process. The relation between the nitrous oxide emissions and certain process parameters, such as the wastewater temperature, influent biological oxygen demand, and ammonium nitrogen load, was investigated by applying online data obtained from the process-control system at 1 min intervals. Although seasonal variations in the measured nitrous oxide emissions were remarkable, the measurement data indicated no clear relationship between these emissions and seasonal changes in the wastewater temperature. The diurnal variations of the nitrous oxide emissions did, however, strongly correlate with the alternation of the influent biological oxygen demand and ammonium nitrogen load to the aerated zones of the activated sludge process. Overall, the annual nitrous oxide emissions of 168 g/PE/year and the emission factor of 1.9% of the influent nitrogen load are in the high range of values reported in the literature but in very good agreement with the results of other long-term online monitoring campaigns implemented at full-scale wastewater-treatment plants.

A very effective tool to combat desertification is revegetation. Promising species for this purpose are the evergreen shrubs of the genus Atriplex. The objective of the research was to study the growing responses of Atriplex halimus under different thermal regimes and to evaluate the biomass accumulation of selected clones. The test was carried out in four sites of Sardinia Island (Italy) characterized by different latitude, altitude and air temperature trends along the year. In every site, potted plants of five clones of A. halimus were compared for biomass production as measured by linear growth of plants (central axis and secondary shoots), as well as by dry weight of leaves, shoots and roots per plant. Correlations between sums of hour-degrees under or above the thresholds of critical air temperatures, comprised between 0 and 35 °C, and the plant growth indicators were analysed. Differences among the five clones, with regard to the influence of low temperatures on plant growth and on the biomass production were evaluated. Among five tested clones, GIO1 and SAN3 resulted more sensitive to low temperatures. Clones MAR1, PAL1 and FAN3 resulted less sensitive to low temperatures and in the site characterized by the lowest minimum temperatures also have shown greater adaptability and thus biomass growth in the observed period. The clone PAL1 showed a lower shoot/root biomass ratio as adaptation to cold temperature, and the clone FAN3, the opposite behaviour and a general preference to temperate thermal regimes.

After the discovery of grid cells, which are an essential component to understand how the mammalian brain encodes spatial information, three main classes of computational models were proposed in order to explain their working principles. Amongst them, the one based on continuous attractor networks (CAN), is promising in terms of biological plausibility and suitable for robotic applications. However, in its current formulation, it is unable to reproduce important electrophysiological findings and cannot be used to perform path integration for long periods of time. In fact, in absence of an appropriate resetting mechanism, the accumulation of errors over time due to the noise intrinsic in velocity estimation and neural computation prevents CAN models to reproduce stable spatial grid patterns. In this paper, we propose an extension of the CAN model using Hebbian plasticity to anchor grid cell activity to environmental landmarks. To validate our approach we used as input to the neural simulations both artificial data and real data recorded from a robotic setup. The additional neural mechanism can not only anchor grid patterns to external sensory cues but also recall grid patterns generated in previously explored environments. These results might be instrumental for next generation bio-inspired robotic navigation algorithms that take advantage of neural computation in order to cope with complex and dynamic environments.

Proposed is a prototype of a wearable mobility device which aims to assist the blind with navigation and object avoidance via auditory-vision-substitution. The described system uses two dynamic vision sensors and event-based information processing techniques to extract depth information. The 3D visual input is then processed using three different strategies, and converted to a 3D output sound using an individualized head-related transfer function. The performance of the device with different processing strategies is evaluated via initial tests with ten subjects. The outcome of these tests demonstrate promising performance of the system after only very short training times of a few minutes due to the minimal encoding of outputs from the vision sensors which are translated into simple sound patterns easily interpretable for the user. The envisioned system will allow for efficient real-time algorithms on a hands-free and lightweight device with exceptional battery life-time.

Atriplex halimus L. is known in the Mediterranean basin and along the coastal areas of Sardinia for its adaptability to salinity, although less information is available on the resistance of this species to water stress in absence of salinity. The effect of water stress on growth and water utilisation was investigated in two Atriplex species: A. halimus originating of south Sardinian island and the exotic species Atriplex nummularia Lindl., originating in Australia and widely used in land restoration of arid areas. Water stress was applied to young plants growing in 20L pots with a sufficient water reserve to store a potentially sufficient water reserve to maintain substrate near to field capacity (30%) between irrigations. Watering was at 70% (control) or 40% (stress) of field capacity. In order to simulate the grazing by livestock, four plant biomass cuttings were conducted at times T0, T1, T2 and T3, corresponding to one cutting at the end of well watered phase (T0) before water stress induction, two cuttings after cycles of 5 weeks each during full summer (T1) and late summer (T2) and one cutting during autumn (T3). All plants remained alive until the end of treatment although growth was strongly reduced. Leaf dry weight (DW) and water use efficiency (WUE) were determined for all cuttings; relative water content (RWC), turgid weight:dry weight ratio (TW:DW), water potential (Ψw), osmotic potential (Ψs), CO2 assimilation, osmotic adjustment (OA), abscisic acid (ABA) and sugar accumulation were determined for the late summer cutting at T2. Water stress induced a decrease in DW, RWC, Ψw, Ψs, TW:DW and CO2 assimilation for both species, but an increase in WUE expressed in terms of dry matter production and a high accumulation of ABA and total sugars mainly for A. halimus. This suggests a more developed adaptive mechanism in this selection. Indeed, the clone was selected from the southern part of the island, where natural populations of saltbush are more exposed to abiotic stresses, mainly the water stress generated not by salinity. A. nummularia showed a greater OA and a positive net solute accumulation as than A. halimus, suggesting that water stress resistance in A. halimus is linked to a higher WUE rather than a greater osmotic adjustment.

Background: The effect of maturation and senescence on the chemical composition of two myrtle cultivars was studied in mature, overripe and cold-stored fruits in order to find the most appropriate harvesting period and best storage technology for industrial purposes., Results: After cold storage at 10 °C for 15 days, berry weight loss ranged from 12.5 to 18.4%, with the highest losses in less mature fruits. Titratable acidity decreased during maturation and cold storage in both cultivars. Reducing and total sugars increased during maturation. Anthocyanin concentration increased during maturation but decreased in overripe berries. The major organic acids in myrtle fruits were quinic, malic and gluconic acids. In fresh and cold-stored fruits, malic acid rose to 3 g kg(-1) and decreased thereafter. Quinic acid peaked at 90 or 120 days after bloom and decreased thereafter to reach low concentrations in mature fruits., Conclusion: Cold storage for 15 days at 10 °C does not affect myrtle fruit quality for liqueur production. Anthocyanin concentration is the best indicator of harvest time for industrial purposes. Gluconic acid concentration is high in mature, overripe and cold-stored berries. This parameter can be used as a marker of the onset of fruit senescence., (Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Through genome-wide association meta-analyses of up to 133,010 individuals of European ancestry without diabetes, including individuals newly genotyped using the Metabochip, we have increased the number of confirmed loci influencing glycemic traits to 53, of which 33 also increase type 2 diabetes risk (q < 0.05). Loci influencing fasting insulin concentration showed association with lipid levels and fat distribution, suggesting impact on insulin resistance. Gene-based analyses identified further biologically plausible loci, suggesting that additional loci beyond those reaching genome-wide significance are likely to represent real associations. This conclusion is supported by an excess of directionally consistent and nominally significant signals between discovery and follow-up studies. Functional analysis of these newly discovered loci will further improve our understanding of glycemic control.

Fluid replacement therapy for pediatric patients in the past 50 years has meant the infusion of hypotonic solutions in amounts calculated using the Holliday-Segar formula. Recent studies have focused attention on the incidence of postoperative hyponatremia and associated morbidity and mortality rates, generating debate on the advisability of perioperative fluid therapy and calling into question both the effectiveness of this strategy and the quantities used. We report 3 cases of hyponatremic encephalopathy in children following different types of minor surgery. Free water excretion by the kidneys is known to be a conditioning factor in this therapy, yet the ideal way to provide pediatric fluid therapy is still hotly debated. The question cannot be resolved until large randomized clinical trials are carried out to compare the use of hypotonic and isotonic solutions. Some general recommendations can be offered, however, in the interest of lowering the incidence of electrolyte disturbances and diminishing their repercussions.

The residue levels of fludioxonil (FLU) were determined in pear cultivars Precoce di Fiorano, Coscia, and Spadona estiva after a 2-min dip in an aqueous mixture of FLU containing 300 or 100 mg/liter of active ingredient at 20 or 50 degrees C and after 12 days at 17 degrees C and 80% relative humidity (simulated shelf life conditions). The accumulation trend of FLU residues was determined in 'Precoce di Fiorano' pears after treatments with 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg/liter of active ingredient at 20 or 50 degrees C for 2 min or at 60 degrees C for 1 min. The efficacy of heat treatments with water and FLU was investigated on artificially inoculated 'Precoce di Fiorano', 'Coscia', and 'Spadona estiva' pears for the control of postharvest blue mold and gray mold caused by Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea, respectively. Treatment with 300 mg/liter FLU at 20 degrees C resulted in residue levels similar to those from treatment with 100 mg/liter FLU at 50 degrees C in 'Coscia' fruit but in significantly lower residues in 'Precoce di Fiorano' and 'Spadona estiva' pears. Post-shelf life residues decreased in all cultivars, especially in 'Spadona estiva' pears treated with 300 mg/liter FLU at 20 degrees C. Residue levels of FLU in 'Precoce di Fiorano' pears treated at 20, 50, or 60 degrees C were correlated with fungicide dosage. When an equal rate was used, treatment at 50 degrees C resulted in a higher and a notably higher FLU deposition than that found under treatment at 60 and 20 degrees C, respectively. The in vitro tests showed that both pathogens were very sensitive to FLU, with MICs averaging 0.05 and 0.1 mg/liter for B. cinerea and P. expansum isolates, respectively. The 50% effective concentration ranged between 0.01 and 0.05 mg/liter for B. cinerea and between 0.05 and 0.1 mg/liter for P. expansum. In the in vivo trials, hot water treatment effectively reduced the incidence of both diseases during the first 4 to 8 days, depending on cultivar, dip temperature, and type of inoculum. However, as the incubation time proceeded, decay reduction was generally lower and the benefit of heat treatments was notably reduced or almost lost. In contrast, all treatments with FLU had a long-lasting effect. Treatments with heated FLU were more effective than those with unheated FLU; reduced concentrations of active ingredient were required to achieve a comparable control of blue and gray mold decay in these pears.

Background and Aims: Olive cultivars and their wild relatives (oleasters) represent two botanical varieties of Olea europaea subsp. europaea (respectively europaea and sylvestris). Olive cultivars have undergone human selection and their area of diffusion overlaps that of oleasters. Populations of genuine wild olives seem restricted to isolated areas of Mediterranean forests, while most other wild-looking forms of olive may include feral forms that escaped cultivation., Methods: The genetic structure of wild and cultivated olive tree populations was evaluated by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers at a microscale level in one continental and two insular Italian regions., Key Results: The observed patterns of genetic variation were able to distinguish wild from cultivated populations and continental from insular regions. Island oleasters were highly similar to each other and were clearly distinguishable from those of continental regions. Ancient cultivated material from one island clustered with the wild plants, while the old plants from the continental region clustered with the cultivated group., Conclusions: On the basis of these results, we can assume that olive trees have undergone a different selection/domestication process in the insular and mainland regions. The degree of differentiation between oleasters and cultivated trees on the islands suggests that all cultivars have been introduced into these regions from the outside, while the Umbrian cultivars have originated either by selection from local oleasters or by direct introduction from other regions.

The effects of ageing on the metabolism of cholesterol were examined in three different organs (liver, aorta and brain) of 6-, 12- and 24-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Ageing was associated with a significant increase in intracellular cholesterol esters in all three organs. Steady state mRNA levels of multidrug resistance protein (MDR) and acylCoA:cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT), enzymes involved in cholesterol import and esterification, were also increased. By contrast, expression of mRNA for neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase (nCEH) and caveolin-1, proteins involved in cholesterol ester hydrolysis and export, were significantly reduced. Dietary restriction is the only intervention shown to extend lifespan and retard age-related declines in function in mammals. To further explore the possible correlation between changes in cholesterol esterification and ageing, we analysed cholesterol metabolism in liver, aorta, and brain of aged rats exposed to two dietary restriction regimens: intermittent (alternate-day) fasting (IF) and food intake restriction (60% of ad libitum feeding). Both dietary regimens attenuated the age-related changes in cholesterol esters and in the expression of genes involved in cholesterol metabolism. These results provide evidence that distinctive age-associated changes in intracellular cholesterol metabolism occur in rats. Furthermore, these modifications can be partially reversed by dietary restriction, a condition known to affect the ageing process. Age-related changes in cholesterol metabolism may play a role in triggering and/or aggravating senescence-related disorders characterized by altered cholesterol homeostasis.

The Authors report the results of a short term follow-up in 28 patients treated for sialolithiasis. Extracorporeal lithotripsy is safe, effective and minimally invasive therapeutical option. Open surgery is reserved to cases of failure of noninvasive procedure.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory-fibroproliferative response of the arterial wall involving a complex set of interconnected events where cell proliferation (lymphomonocytes, and endothelial and smooth-muscle cells) and substantial perturbations of intracellular cholesterol metabolism are considered to be among the main features. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), the key enzyme of the hexose-monophosphate shunt pathway, is an essential enzyme involved in both cell growth and cholesterol metabolism, raising the question as to whether G6PD deficiency may have metabolic and growth implications in a deficient population. In the present study, we investigated cell growth and cholesterol metabolism in peripheral blood lymphomononuclear cells (PBMC) from G6PD-normal (n = 5) and -deficient (n = 5) subjects stimulated with lectins (phytohaemoagglutinin and Concanavalin A). G6PD activity, DNA ([3H]-thymidine incorporation) cholesterol synthesis and esterification ([14C]-acetate and [14C]-oleate incorporation), and G6PD, HMGCoA reductase and low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor mRNA levels (RT-PCR) all increased following lectin stimulation in both normal and G6PD-deficient cells. However, these parameters were significantly lower in G6PD-deficient cells (P < 0.05). It is of interest that G6PD-deficient PBMC, which showed lower expression of G6PD and higher expression of the LDL receptor gene than normal PBMC under basal conditions, exhibited an opposite pattern after stimulation: G6PD and HMGCoA reductase being expressed at significantly higher levels in deficient than in normal cells (P < 0.05). We conclude that the reduced capability of G6PD-deficient cells to respond to mitogenic stimuli and to synthesize cholesterol esters may represent favourable conditions for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Aim of this study is the comparison between spermatic vein ligature (Ivanissevich technique) and low intrafunicular ligature in the surgical treatment of varicocele. The Authors present two groups of patients (total 61) operated between 1995 and 1999 with the above-mentioned surgical techniques. Apart from the utilized method, they didn't ascertain any improvements in the spermiograms of the patients older than 30 years. The low ligature of the spermatic veins demonstrated the advantages of surgery treatment and lower percentage of relapses.

The developmental effects of lead acetate were studied in the chick embryo metanephros, the third renal rudiment that acquires morphological characteristics of functioning kidney already during the prenatal life. Lead exposure was obtained by applying a lead acetate solution on the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane at the days 9, 10 and 11 of incubation. Quantitative evaluation of the lead concentration assessed by furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry at the days 14 and 21 of incubation demonstrated metal presence both in the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and in metanephros (MN). The lead concentration was higher in CAM than in MN; the metal amount was similar in the CAM of 14 and 21 day embryos, but significantly higher in the 14day embryo MN than in the 21 day embryo MN. Morphological observations on metanephros tissue of control and lead-treated embryos were performed under light, electron transmission and electron scanning microscopes. Peculiar attention was devoted to the expression of the junctional protein connexin 43, the major component of the gap junctions in the renal cells. The results indicated that lead treatment does not intervene in the general differentiation of the metanephric nephrons. The lead is reabsorbed by the proximal tubule cells that are engulfed by endocytotic vacuoles and metal deposits and show long term degenerative changes. Expression of Cx43 protein and ultrastructure of gap junctions between proximal tubule cells appeared to be unchanged. The morphological aspects of the MN corpuscles and tubules agree with the suggestion of a lead cytotoxic effect but do not corroborate, at least in this experimental model, the view of primary damage exerted by lead on the gap junctions of the renal epithelial cells.

Objectives: a positive correlation between cholesterol esterification, acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), multidrug resistance (MDR1) gene expression and atherosclerotic lesions has been shown in human arteries. The objective of this study was to map the expression of MDR1, ACAT genes and the cholesteryl ester content in normal, atherosclerotic and varicose human vessels., Materials: vascular segments were obtained from seven cadaveric donors, 27 patients undergoing vascular surgery for severe atherosclerotic disease and 11 patients with saphenous vein varicosities., Methods: lipid analysis and RT-PCR of MDR1 and ACAT mRNAs were performed., Results: an increase in cholesteryl ester content and in ACAT and MDR1 expression was demonstrated in relation to the age in the arteries prone to atherosclerosis; this expression was maximal in arteries from symptomatic patients. In resistant arteries and in veins cholesteryl ester accumulation was rare and light, while ACAT and MDR1 expression was not related to the age of the subjects., Conclusions: the results showed that an increase in MDR1 and ACAT expression may be responsible for the accumulation of cholesteryl esters as well as for cell growth rate acceleration in vessel sites prone to atherosclerosis., (Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Limited.)

Three cases of monomorphic adenomas (two oncocytic adenomas and one basal cell adenoma) of the parotid gland are reported. The diagnosis is based on echography with fine needle biopsy and cervical computerized tomography. Because of the high percentages of multicentricity, the therapy of choice is superficial parotidectomy when the lesion is in the pre-neural lobe of the gland, or total parotidectomy in case of a deep mass.

Sexual dimorphism exists in the response of rats to lead nitrate, liver hyperplasia occuring earlier and being more pronounced in males. Excess dietary choline in females shifted the growth pattern towards that of males. To determine whether phosphatidylcholine-induced growth modulations could be related to a derangement of cholesterol metabolism, liver accumulation of cholesterol esters and plasma lipoprotein patterns were investigated. In males, lead-induced liver hyperplasia was associated with increased total cholesterol hepatic content, accumulated cholesterol esters and reduced concentration of plasma High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Females were less responsive to the liver mitogenic signal of lead nitrate; there was no elevation of cholesterol content nor any marked accumulation of cholesterol esters. This is consistent with the lack of change in the plasma levels of HDL cholesterol. Continuous choline feeding displaced the liver cholesterol ester pattern and plasma HDL cholesterol levels in females, and in parallel that of DNA synthesis, towards those of males. Choline was not observed to have any effect in males. These results suggest that the derangement of phosphatidylcholine metabolism induces growth-related changes in cholesterol turnover; they are consistent with the proposal that the intracellular content of cholesterol esters may have a role in regulating liver growth rates.