183 research outputs found
Tracing coffee origin by direct injection headspace analysis with PTR/SRI-MS
No full textThe headspace of six roasted Coffea arabica coffees, both brew and powder, of different geographical origin (Brazil, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, and India) was analysed by Proton Transfer Reaction-Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry. For the first time, in the case of coffee, a Switching Reagent Ion System has been used to produce different ionisation agents: H3O+, NO+ and O2+. Significant differences were found among volatile concentrations for the different origins both for powders and brews, in particular high concentrations of terpenes for Ethiopia, sulphur compounds for Colombia and thiazoles for Brazil and India. Effective classification models have been set for the different ionization modes and data fusion of data obtained by different reagent ions further reduced the classification errors.Fil: Yener, Sine. Fondazione Edmund Mach. Research and Innovation Centre. Department of Food Quality and Nutrition; Italia. Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck. Insitute für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik; AustriaFil: Romano, Andrea. Fondazione Edmund Mach. Research and Innovation Centre. Department of Food Quality and Nutrition; ItaliaFil: Cappellin, Luca. Fondazione Edmund Mach. Research and Innovation Centre. Department of Food Quality and Nutrition; ItaliaFil: Granitto, Pablo Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Rosario. Centro Internacional Franco Argentino de Ciencias de la Información y Sistemas; ArgentinaFil: Aprea, Eugenio. Fondazione Edmund Mach. Research and Innovation Centre. Department of Food Quality and Nutrition; ItaliaFil: Navarini, Luciano. Illycaffè S.p.a; ItaliaFil: Märk, Tilmann D.. Leopold-Franzens Universität Innsbruck. Insitute für Ionenphysik und Angewandte Physik; AustriaFil: Gasperi, Flavia. Fondazione Edmund Mach. Research and Innovation Centre. Department of Food Quality and Nutrition; ItaliaFil: Biasioli, Franco. Fondazione Edmund Mach. Research and Innovation Centre. Department of Food Quality and Nutrition; Itali
Football conspiracies. The Prisma investigation and fans’ online discourse
No full textThe history of football is particularly rich in narratives and interpretative mechanisms associated with conspiracy theories. In the case of unfavorable events against one’s own team, it is not uncommon, especially in the case of highly identified fans, to appeal to explanations centered on external forces that have been plotting against them. This chapter explores the main characteristics of conspiracy theories within online sports fans communities, analyzing fans’ conspiracy representations and narratives. To answer the research questions, we have analyzed some online communities of Juventus FC fans. The case of Juventus appears to be of particular interest as the club has recently been at the center of a judicial affair, the so-called “Prisma investigation”, which has had great resonance and generated a great media debate. We decided to adopt qualitative content analysis as a research technique to analyze fans’ comments and content produced and distributed within online supporters’ communities. We will see how in the analyzed case fans can perceive the judicial events as the outcome of a sort of plot by different types of actors: sports, judicial, political and media actors
Erectile dysfunction: Imbalance between pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors in systemic sclerosis
No full textNon previst
In systemic sclerosis, microvascular and hands digital arteries damage correlates with serum levels of endostatin
No full textObjective: In SSc, vascular injury leads to endothelial dysfunction with reduced capillary blood flow and tissue hypoxia. In SSc, the angiogenesis is impaired and implicated in the microvascular damage. In severe vascular damage, VEGF is reduced and endostatin is increased. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between endostatin serum levels and microvascular and digital arteries damage. Methods: Seventeen patients with SSc were enrolled in this study. Serum endostatin levels were determined. All patients underwent a NVC, CDUS, and LDPI. Results: The serum level of endostatin significantly (P <.05) increased with NVC progression damage. The mean perfusion significantly (P <.05) decreased with NVC progression damage. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant correlation between endostatin serum level and RI (r =.34, P <.05), PI (r =.60, P <.01), S/D ratio (r =.76, P <.0001), and mean perfusion (r = −.68, P <.001). Endostatin serum levels significantly (P <.05) increased with progression of CDUS damage. Conclusions: Increased serum endostatin levels are associated with digital vascular damage. In patients with SSc, endostatin is a marker of skin perfusion and digital arteries damage of hands
Parasympathetic activity increases with digital microvascular damage and vascular endothelial growth factor in systemic sclerosis
No full textThe imbalance between angiogenic and angiostatic factors with derangement of the microvasculature are hallmarks of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Raynaud's phenomenon in SSc probably is due to the impaired neuroendothelial control mechanisms between vasoconstriction and vasodilatation. The aim of this study is to evaluate autonomic nervous system function using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis and to correlate with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
Machine learning approaches as an alternative to traditional statistical methods in cardiovascular risk prediction
No full textPhase angle could be a marker of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis
No full textObjectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction with
fibrosis of skin and internal organs. Integrity of the endothelial cell is important to its physiologic function
such as production of angiogenetic factors. The aim of this study was to assess whether phase angle (PhA) is
altered in patients with SSc and whether its values correlate with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)
and digital microvascular damage.
Methods: Patients with SSc and matched healthy controls underwent VEGF determination and bioimpedentiometry
(BIA) for PhA assessment. Clinical assessment, disease activity index (DAI), disease severity scale, and
nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NCV) were performed in patients with SSc.
Results: Fifty-five patients (46 women) with a mean age of 53.2 § 13.7 y were studied. The mean value of
VEGF was significantly higher in patients with SSc than in the healthy controls (240.3 § 149.5 versus 139 §
87.5; P = 0.035). The mean value of PhA was significantly lower in the patient grouop than in the healthy controls
(4.51 § 0.87 versus 5.22 § 0.55; P < 0.0001). A significant positive correlation was found between VEGF
and PhA (P = 0.009, beta coefficient = 1.48) in SSc patients. A negative correlation between VEGF and DAI
(P = 0.048, b coefficient = 0.48) was found. PhA median value was significantly (P = 0.006) lower in patients
with late pattern SSc (4.2 [2.55.3]). PhA median value was significantly (P < 0,0001) lower in patients with
digital ulcers (DUs; 4.2 [2.55.3]) than in those without DUs (3.80 [2.505] versus 4.75 [2.807.3]). These
data were confirmed in both female and male patients.
Conclusions: The evaluation of VEGF with PhA, NVC, and DUs could be useful to estimate cellular and microvascular
damage in patients with SSc.
NMR Reinvestigation of the Caffeine–Chlorogenate Complex in Aqueous Solution and in Coffee Brews
No full textCaffeine complexation by chlorogenic acid (3-caffeoylquinic acid, CAS Number [327-97-9]) in aqueous solution as well as caffeine-chlorogenate complex in freshly prepared coffee brews have been investigated by high-resolution 1 H-NMR. Caffeine and chlorogenic acid self-associations have also been studied and self-association constants have been determined resorting to both classical isodesmic model and a recently introduced method of data analysis able to provide also the critical aggregation concentration (cac). Furthermore, caffeine-chlorogenate association constant was measured. For the caffeine, the average value of the self-association constant determined by isodesmic model ( K i = 7.6 ± 0.5 M −1 ) is in good agreement with the average value ( K a = 10 ± 1.8 M −1 ) determined with the method which permits the determination of the cac (8.43 ± 0.05 mM). Chlorogenic acid shows a slight decreased tendency to aggregation with a lower average value of association constants ( K i = 2.8 ± 0.6 M −1 ; K a = 3.4 ± 0.6 M −1 ) and a critical concentration equal to 24 ± 1 mM. The value of the association constant of the caffeine-chlorogenate complex (30 ± 4 M −1 ) is compatible with previous studies and within the typical range of reported association constants for other caffeine-polyphenol complexes. Structural features of the complex have also been investigated, and the complex conformation has been rediscussed. Caffeine chemical shifts comparison (monomeric, complexed, coffee brews) clearly indicates a significant amount of caffeine is complexed in beverage real system, being chlorogenate ions the main complexing agents
Working and safety profiles of JAK/STAT signaling inhibitors. Are these small molecules also smart?
No full textThe Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) pathway is an important intracellular route through which many different extracellular soluble molecules, by reaching membrane receptors, can signal the nucleus. The spectrum of soluble molecules that use the JAK/STAT pathway through their corresponding receptors is quite large (almost 50 different molecules), and includes some cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of many immune-mediated diseases. Such diseases, when left untreated, present an evident hyperactivation of JAK/STAT signaling. Therefore, given the pathogenetic role of JAK/STAT, drugs known as JAK inhibitors (JAKi), that target one or more JAKs, have been developed to counteract JAK/STAT signal hyperactivation. As some hematological malignancies present an intrinsic JAK/STAT hyperactivation due to a JAK mutation, some JAKi have also been successfully used in this context. Regulatory agencies for drug administration in different countries have already approved a few JAKi in the setting of either immune-mediated diseases or hematological malignancies.
Aim of this review is to describe the physiology of intracellular JAK/STAT pathway signaling and the pathological conditions associated to its dysregulation. Then, the rationale for targeting JAK in rheumatic autoimmune diseases is discussed, along with clinical data from registration studies showing the efficacy of these drugs. Finally, the excellent safety profile of JAKi is discussed in the context of the apparent poor specificity of JAK/STAT pathway signal
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