255 research outputs found
Unravelling the complexity of primary aldosteronism: new approaches to study the pathophysiology of aldosterone-producing adenoma
No full textPrimary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most common forms of secondary hypertension characterized by an excessive aldosterone production independent of the renin-angiotensin system and other physiological regulators. Despite its high estimated prevalence, PA is often underdiagnosed, with testing typically occurring after the development of cardiovascular, renal and metabolic complications. It is well-established that high aldosterone circulating levels promote tissue inflammation, fibrosis and injury in multiple organs through inappropriate mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) stimulation. Early detection and targeted therapy with MR antagonist administration and/or adrenalectomy could potentially mitigate the end organ damage typical of PA. This project aimed to provide useful insights into the pathophysiology of PA that could help to improve the diagnostic and therapeutic processes. To achieve this goal, patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), before and after treatment, and subjects with essential hypertension (EH) were selected for a comparative study divided into two parts. The first section was focused on the transcriptomic analysis of the RNA content of urinary extracellular vesicles, which could reflect specific cellular processes occurring in kidneys and the urogenital tract. The analysis of differentially expressed genes revealed enriched gene ontology terms referring to ion channels and extracellular matrix remodeling, which are potentially linked to well-established hallmarks of PA, namely the dysregulation of ion transport and fibrosis. The second section of this thesis regards the analysis of plasma long- and very-long-chain fatty acids. Compared to subjects with EH, APA patients displayed lower circulating levels of monounsaturated fatty acids and higher levels of ω6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. This difference in the fatty acid distribution was likely related to aldosterone excess, and it could reflect a higher inflammation state of individuals with PA. Moreover, a longitudinal analysis of APA patients undergoing pharmacological and surgical therapy revealed a shift towards a more favorable lipid profile after the treatments, which is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and improved metabolic health. Taken together, the results obtained by these two approaches highlighted a more prominent inflammatory state of APA, which is consistent with the information present in the literature. Integrating the outcomes of two different approaches allowed to investigate the pathophysiological processes of PA from different angles, providing new useful elements for risk stratification of this complex condition
Mango Processing
No full textThe paper briefly reviews various techniques for processing mangoes, with greater detail on the process for puree. The author describes commercial mango operations in Thailand and Guatemala
Fruit Flies and Mango Seed Weevil in Relation to Quarantine
No full textThe author, an entomologist, reviewed the principal infestation barriers to mango export from Hawaii: fruit flies and the seed weevil. Because of these problems, he ventured that the total value of the conference participants' efforts and salaries for the three days of the event exceeded the annual value of commercial mango production in Hawaii
Sensory Quality of Mango Fruit
No full textThe author pointed out that the mango is somewhat unique in the wide variation of its sensory characteristics, depending on cultivar. Aspects such as appearance (skin and flesh color), aroma, sweetness, acidity, flesh texture, and the factors determining them were discussed, as was the interaction of consumer preferences and sensory qualities as it affects marketability
Z-score vs minimum variance preselection methods for constructing small portfolios
No full textSeveral contributions in the literature argue that a significant in-sample risk reduction can be obtained by investing in a relatively small number of assets in an investment universe. Furthermore, selecting small portfolios seems to yield good out-of-sample performances in practice. This analysis provides further evidence that an appropriate preselection of the assets in a market can lead to an improvement in portfolio performance. For preselection, this paper investigates the effectiveness of a minimum variance approach and that of an innovative index (the new Altman Z-score) based on the creditworthiness of the companies. Different classes of portfolio models are examined on real-world data by applying both the minimum variance and the Z-score preselection methods. Preliminary results indicate that the new Altman Z-score preselection provides encouraging out-of-sample performances with respect to those obtained with the minimum variance approach
Urinary extracellular vesicles carry valuable hints through mRNA for the understanding of endocrine hypertension
No full textUrinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs), released from cells of the urogenital tract organs, carry precious information about originating tissues. The study of molecules transported through uEVs such as proteins, lipids and nucleic acids provides a deeper understanding of the function of the kidney, an organ involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension and a target of hypertension-mediated organ damage. Molecules derived from uEVs are often proposed for the study of disease pathophysiology or as possible disease diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Analysis of mRNA loading within uEVs may be a unique and readily obtainable way to assess gene expression patterns of renal cells, otherwise achievable only by an invasive biopsy procedure. Interestingly, the only few studies investigating transcriptomics of hypertension-related genes through the analysis of mRNA from uEVs are inherent to mineralocorticoid hypertension. More specifically, it has been observed that perturbation in human endocrine signalling through mineralcorticoid receptors (MR) activation parallels changes of mRNA transcripts in urine supernatant. Furthermore, an increased copy number of uEVs-extracted mRNA transcripts of the 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (HSD11B2) gene were detected among subjects affected by apparent mineralocorticoid excess (AME), a hypertension-inducing autosomal recessive disorder due to a defective enzyme function. Moreover, by studying uEVs mRNA, it was observed that the renal sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) gene expression is modulated under different conditions related to hypertension. Following this perspective, we illustrate here the state of the art and the possible future of uEVs transcriptomics towards a deeper knowledge of hypertension pathophysiology and ultimately more tailored investigational, diagnostic-prognostic approaches
Z-score vs Markowitz preselection for constructing small portfolios
No full textSeveral contributions in the literature argue that a significant in-sample risk reduction can be obtained by investing in a relatively small number of assets in an investment universe. Furthermore, selecting small portfolios seems to yield good out-of-sample performances in practice. This analysis provides further evidence that an appropriate preselection of the assets in a market can lead to an improvement in the portfolio performance. For preselection this paper investigates the effectiveness of a minimum variance approach and that of an innovative index (the new Altman Z-score) based on the creditworthiness of the companies. Different classes of portfolio models are examined on real-world data by applying both the minimum variance and the Z-score preselection methods. Preliminary results indicate that the new Altman Z-score preselection provides encouraging out-of-sample performances with respect to those obtained with the minimum variance approach
Protease extraction from Horse mango (Mangifera foetida lour) kernels
No full textHorse mango is one of the tropical fruits that belongs from a family Anacardiaceae (mango). However, its latex is notorious for human skin due to blistering effect, suggesting the presence of strong proteolytic activity. In general, the extraction of enzymes from plants is comparatively difficult due to the presence of indigenous polyphenoloxidases and high concentration of polyphenolic compounds which promote enzymatic browning resulting in the inactivation of the enzymes and therefore compared to animals and micro-organisms, higher plants have not received much attention for enzyme histochemistry. During recent year, several new methods have been developed and many of the existing ones have been improved. These methods have been applied to the plant enzyme to understanding the properties of the enzyme. Therefore, this book is written for the scientists who are primary interested in histochemical detection of protease in plants especially horse mango (Mangifera foetida Lour). Procedure to extract, identify and assay activity in the horse mango are also given. The procedures include recommended methods and all of them have been checked by the author themselves and published in the Bioscience, Biotechnology and Biochemistry and Malaysia Journal of Chemistry
The Mango in Hawaii
No full textThe author believed that the mango was destined to become an important crop in Hawaii's fruit export trade, a hope unrealized in the century following. The bulletin provided a comprehensive review of all aspects of mango crop production
Sodium Chloride Cotransporter in Hypertension
No full textThe sodium chloride cotransporter (NCC) is essential for electrolyte balance, blood pressure regulation, and pathophysiology of hypertension as it mediates the reabsorption of ultrafiltered sodium in the renal distal convoluted tubule. Given its pivotal role in the maintenance of extracellular fluid volume, the NCC is regulated by a complex network of cellular pathways, which eventually results in either its phosphorylation, enhancing sodium and chloride ion absorption from urines, or dephosphorylation and ubiquitination, which conversely decrease NCC activity. Several factors could influence NCC function, including genetic alterations, hormonal stimuli, and pharmacological treatments. The NCC’s central role is also highlighted by several abnormalities resulting from genetic mutations in its gene and consequently in its structure, leading to dysregulation of blood pressure control. In the last decade, among other improvements, the acquisition of knowledge on the NCC and other renal ion channels has been favored by studies on extracellular vesicles (EVs). Dietary sodium and potassium intake are also implicated in the tuning of NCC activity. In this narrative review, we present the main cornerstones and recent evidence related to NCC control, focusing on the context of blood pressure pathophysiology, and promising new therapeutical approaches
- …
