86,531 research outputs found
Water extraction: an ecofriendly strategy to recover antioxidants from ginger and turmeric peels
No full textMessa a punto di un processo di estrazione in acqua per recuperare antiossidanti dalle bucce di zenzero e curcum
Valorisation of Ginger and Turmeric Peels as Source of Natural Antioxidants
No full textThe antioxidant activity of ginger and turmeric powders derived from freeze-dried rhizomes and peels as well as commercial spices has been evaluated by two spectrophotometric assays based on electron transfer such as DPPH and FRAP. The phenolic characterization has been also carried out by detecting total polyphenols through Folin-Ciocalteu method and HPLC analyzing 6-gingerol and curcumin. Ginger and turmeric peels showed greater antioxidant activity than commercial powders because of their higher phenolic yields. Hence, ginger and turmeric peels can be considered a rich source of phytochemicals which contribute to the antioxidant effects of these agro-food wastes
Evaluation of physical and antioxidant properties of O/W emulsions based on turmeric-enriched soybean oil and carrot juice
No full textLe emulsioni alimentari rappresentano valide strategie per arricchire la dieta con molecole bioattive. Il presente lavoro si è focalizzato sulla valutazione delle proprietà fisico-chimiche e antiossidanti di emulsioni O/A a base di olio di soia alla curcuma e succo di carota in presenza di emulsionanti e/o addensanti e/o acidulanti
Analysis of multichannel EEG synchronization before and during generalized epileptic seizures
No full textUrine particles examination: comparison of automated flow citometer UF-1000i and manual quantitative microscopy
No full textAim. Some automated instruments examining urine sediment have been introduced. We compared the performance of Sysmex UF-1000i with manual microscopy in urine particles examination.
Methods. 15 urine samples were selected. Urine sediments were examined by manual microscopy by using Fuchs-Rosenthal chamber and UF-1000i analyzer.
Results. The within-run CVs for urine samples ranged from 0.8% to 23.1% for the UF-1000i. The agreement between methods was good for red blood cells and white blood cells counts based on r values of 0.99, for epithelial cell the r value was 0.98 and 0.87 for casts.
Conclusion. This automated urinalysis system demonstrated good concordance with manual quantitative microscopy. Thus, when combined with urine chemistry analysis, this analyzer might provide a rapid and accurate screening tool in routine urine analysis
Laboratory diagnosis of renal failure: urine conductivity and tubular function.
No full textAIM: Conductivity is a measure of a material's ability to conduct an electric current and it works thanks to movable charges. Conductivity in urine is directly proportional to ionic contents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of urine conductivity by using the Sismex UF-100 analyser in correlations with other surrogate parameters of osmolality and renal diuresis, relative density, electrolytes and creatinine concentration.
METHODS:
For this study 140 urine samples were submitted for diagnostic urinalysis to the Clinical Pathology laboratory. Samples were collected from 70 healthy subjects, 42 diabetics with poor metabolic control and significant glicosuria, 28 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of uncertain significance, with significant proteinuria. All the samples were assessed for conductivity (UF-100 Sysmex), relative density (refract meter Zeiss), sodium, potassium, chlorine, creatinine, urea, glucose, protein (Olympus AU-2700).
RESULTS:
Urine conductivity appears to be related to ionic concentration but not to glucose and/or protein presence.
CONCLUSIONS:
This study results suggest that conductivity determination should be useful in diabetic patients to study the tubular function minimising interferences due to osmotic action of glucose
Stress hormones liberated by fangotherapy. ACTH and beta-endorphin levels under heat stress.
No full textIn 6 healthy subjects submitted to fango therapy in the Euganean thermal baths (Italy), the plasma concentrations of beta-endorphin and ACTH increased transitorily but significantly. These results correlate with the release of these peptides by the pituitary in response to thermal stressing. The analgesic and hypothermic action responsible for good toleration of thermal stress induced by fango therapy, can be explained by this increase in plasma beta-endorphin. The repeated brief increases in plasma beta-endorphin during thermal treatment result in progressive improvement in articular and muscular symptomatology. The results of our study on plasma levels of ACTH confirm that the thermal stress associated with fango therapy activates the pituitary gland. Immunomodulatory effects are discussed
Comparison of OXITEST and RANCIMAT methods to evaluate the oxidative stability in frying oils
No full textThe oxidation of fatty acids in the presence of atmospheric oxygen is recognized as one of the main factors affecting the shelf life of oils and fats causing rancidity by the formation of off-flavors due to aliphatic aldehydes or other volatile compounds. Therefore, the oxidative stability is one of the most important parameters to be evaluated in the formulation of commercial frying oils. In this regard, the induction period of 15 frying oils has been measured using two different methods of accelerated oxidation, OXITEST and RANCIMAT, and correlated to their fatty acid content previously detected by gas chromatographic technique. Frying oils containing high contents of saturated fatty acids mainly from the palm oil achieved an improved oxidative stability by increasing their induction period. Moreover, the linear regression analysis showed a good correlation between the induction period values of the two instruments. Hence, the innovative OXITEST method may be an easy, fast, and eco-friendly alternative to the official RANCIMAT method for evaluating the oxidative stability in oil- and fat-containing products
Variations on the Author
No full text“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Cutoff values for bacteria and leukocytes for urine flow cytometer Sysmex UF-1000i in urinary tract infections.
No full textBecause urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a quite common disease, the gold standard for diagnosing UTIs is still bacterial culture, although a large percentage of samples are negative: unnecessary cultures can be reduced by means of an effective screening test. The analytic performance of a new urine cytometer, the UF-1000i, has been tested on 1463 urine samples submitted to our laboratory for culture. Bacteria and leukocyte counts have been compared by means of the UF-1000i with colony-forming unit (CFU) quantification on citrate lactose electrolytes deficient agar to assess the best cutoff values. By using quantitative cultures and considering as positive a sample with 10 x 10(5) CFU/mL, 546 positive samples (37%) were observed. If compared with 10 x 10(5) CFU/mL, the cutoff values obtained were 125 bacteria/microL and 40 leukocytes/ microL, respectively. Analytic parameters such as sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and correctly classified incidence were satisfactory. Based on the results obtained in this study, when using the UF-1000i analyzer for a screening test for UTI, a cutoff value of 40 white blood cells/microL should be adopted. The cutoff value for bacteria should be 125/microL for those clinical conditions in which 10 x 10(5) CFU/mL indicates a positivity
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