Disposal of spent espresso coffee grounds (SCG) is costly and leads to the loss of bioactive compounds that could be fractionated, in several applications. This work aimed to investigate phenolic ...profile, tocopherols, and antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities of SCGs ethanolic extracts from coffee powders differing in coffee provenience and composition (arabica/robusta). Tyrosol, detected for the first time in SCGs, was the most abundant phenolic measured (121-1,084 mg/kg in the extract), along with 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and vanillin (885-1813 and 340-1103 mg/kg, respectively). Extract derived from 100% robusta from Guatemala (S7-R) showed the highest α- to ß-tocopherol ratio of 1.2 and the highest antioxidant potential as evidenced by RACI and GAS values of -0.43 and 0.20, respectively. Moreover, S7-R showed a promising anti-proliferative activity toward human lung carcinoma cells (A549), with IC50 value of 61.2 ug/mL comparable to that given by the positive control vinblastine (IC50 value of 67.3 ug/mL).
It has been reported that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers are considered particularly beneficial to human health and affect the technological properties of pork meat products such as salami. ...The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of 0.5% CLA supplementation of heavy pig diets on the chemical composition, total fatty acids (FA), oxidative stability, sensory and microbial properties of Ciauscolo and Fabriano salami. The incorporation of CLA into the diet did not modify the chemical, microbial or sensory descriptive analysis of the salami. The CLA dietary supplementation changed the proportions of FA, in particular leading to an increase in the proportion of saturated fatty acids and CLA in both Ciauscolo and Fabriano salami. The results of consumer testing showed a higher degree of liking by consumers when the CLA sample was accompanied by product information, demonstrating the strong influence of the label on consumer perception. The interesting finding was the increase in the oxidative stability of the salami at the end of ripening. This confirms the hypothesis that CLA can affect the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids/monounsaturated FA ratio in meat products and possesses antioxidative properties that can be transferred, through dietary supplementation, to salami.
Practical applications: Feeding a 0.5% CLA diet to finisher pigs resulted in changes in the proportions of FA and enhanced the oxidative stability of salami but did not modify the sensory properties of the products. More research is needed to find the right inclusion level of CLA to be considered optimal from the point of view of producing a high quality product with superior organoleptical, technological and potential health‐related properties.
Production of value‐added meat products, such as conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) enriched Ciauscolo and Fabriano salamis, by the inclusion of the c9 t11 and t10 c12 CLA isomers in the swine diet.
Production of value‐added meat products, such as conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) enriched Ciauscolo and Fabriano salamis, by the inclusion of the c9 t11 and t10 c12 CLA isomers in the swine diet.
AIM:To evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy(LSPDP)with autologous islet transplantation(AIT)for benign tumors of the pancreatic ...body-neck.METHODS:Three non-diabetic,female patients(age37,44 and 35 years,respectively)were declared candidates for surgery,between May and September 2011,because of pancreatic body/neck cystic lesions.The planned operation was an LSPDP associated with AIT from the normal pancreas distal to the neoplasm.Islets isolation was performed on the residual pancreatic parenchyma after frozen section examination of the margin.Purified autologous islets were infused into the portal vein by a percutaneous transhepatic approach the day after surgery.RESULTS:The procedure was performed successfully in all the three cases,and the spleen was preserved along with its vessels.Mean operation time was 283±52 min and average blood loss was 133±57 mL.Residual pancreas weights were 33,22 and 30 g,and105.200,40.390 and 94.790 islet equivalents were isolated,respectively.Surgical complications occurred in one patient(grade A pancreatic fistula).Postoperative stays were 6,6 and 7 d,respectively.Histopathological evaluation revealed mucinous cystic neoplasm in cases1 and 3,and serous cystic neoplasm in patient 2.No postoperative insulin administration was required.One patient developed a transient partial portal thrombosis2 mo after islet infusion.Patients are insulin independent at a mean follow up of 8±2 mo.CONCLUSION:Combination of LSPDP and AIT is feasible and could be effective to minimize the surgical impact for benign neoplasm of pancreatic body-neck.
The world trade of coffee is growing every year. The coffee market involves a large amount of money. The two most important varieties of coffee, arabica and robusta, are separated by a really ...different economic value. The difference in price can lead to some illegal activity with total or partial substitution of the most expensive variety (arabica) with the cheaper (robusta), especially as regards ground coffee. However, through analytical techniques we are able to detect this possible illicit activity. Chromatography, spectroscopy, and genetic engineering provide reliable techniques that are able to identify and quantify the pureness or percentage of the two principal varieties. All these techniques are strongly supported by a multivariate approach. This kind of chemometric procedure is able to provide a highly accurate and reliable prediction model.
Sequences of nonlinear variational problems in random perturbed domains with Dirichlet boundary conditions are investigated. By using a capacitary method, the limit problem is characterized. ...Necessary and sufficient conditions to have a deterministic limit problem are given.
Patients with borderline (BL) or locally advanced (LA) pancreatic adenocarcinoma are usually treated with primary chemotherapy (CT), followed by resection when feasible. Scanty data are available ...about the criteria to candidate patients to resection after CT.
Between 2002 and 2016 overall 223 patients diagnosed with BL or LA pancreatic adenocarcinoma were primarily treated with Gemcitabine combination (4-drugs or nab-paclitaxel-gemcitabine) for 3–6months followed by surgery and/or chemoradiation. Resection was carried out when radical resection could be predicted by imaging studies and intraoperative findings. The prognostic value of both pre-treatment factors and treatment response was retrospectively evaluated, searching for criteria that could improve the selection of patients for surgery.
Median survival (MS) for the whole population was 18.3months. Surgical resection was carried out in 61 patients; MS in resected patients was significantly longer (30.0months) as compared with 162 non-resected patients (16.5months) (P<0.00001). According to response criteria, 48% had a radiological partial response, 47% a stable disease and 5% a disease progression); CA19.9 response (reduction>50%) was obtained in 77.8% of patients. Among resected patients, neither pre-treatment factors, including BL/LA distinction, nor radiological response, were able to prognosticate survival differences. Survival of resected patients having no CA19.9 response was significantly lower as compared with responders (MS 15.0 versus 31.5months,P=0.04), and was similar to non-responders patients that did not undergo resection (MS 10.9months,P=0.25). Multivariate analysis carried out on the overall population, showed that Karnofsky performance status, T3–T4 status, resection and CA19.9 response were independent prognostic factors, while radiological response, BL/LA distinction and baseline CA19.9 had not significant influence on survival.
CA19.9 response may allow a better selection of patients who will benefit from resection after primary CT for BL or LA pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Cognitive and motor impairment in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) are mediated by neuroinflammation, which is induced by hyperammonemia and peripheral inflammation. GABAergic neurotransmission ...in the cerebellum is altered in rats with chronic hyperammonemia. The mechanisms by which hyperammonemia induces neuroinflammation remain unknown. We hypothesized that GABAA receptors can modulate cerebellar neuroinflammation. The GABAA antagonist bicuculline was administrated daily (i.p.) for four weeks in control and hyperammonemic rats. Its effects on peripheral inflammation and on neuroinflammation as well as glutamate and GABA neurotransmission in the cerebellum were assessed. In hyperammonemic rats, bicuculline decreases IL-6 and TNFα and increases IL-10 in the plasma, reduces astrocyte activation, induces the microglia M2 phenotype, and reduces IL-1β and TNFα in the cerebellum. However, in control rats, bicuculline increases IL-6 and decreases IL-10 plasma levels and induces microglial activation. Bicuculline restores the membrane expression of some glutamate and GABA transporters restoring the extracellular levels of GABA in hyperammonemic rats. Blocking GABAA receptors improves peripheral inflammation and cerebellar neuroinflammation, restoring neurotransmission in hyperammonemic rats, whereas it induces inflammation and neuroinflammation in controls. This suggests a complex interaction between GABAergic and immune systems. The modulation of GABAA receptors could be a suitable target for improving neuroinflammation in MHE.
Abstract Background New chemotherapeutic regimens have improved survival for stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and occasionally major response of liver metastases can be observed. Aim of this ...work is to analyze the outcomes of patients undergoing primary chemotherapy for liver metastases from pancreatic cancer and to evaluate the results of surgical resection. Methods Retrospective analysis. Exclusion criteria: patients with extra-hepatic metastases, patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≥ 3, patients undergoing supportive care alone. Results 127 patients were identified. Liver metastases were unilobar in 28.5% of patients. Chemotherapy regimens included gemcitabine alone or in association with other agents (44%), oxaliplatin, irinotecan, fluorouracil and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX 8%), and cisplatin, gemcitabine plus capecitabine and epirubicin (PEXG) or capecitabine and docetaxel (PDXG) or epirubicin and fluorouracil (PEFG) (48%) . 56 patients (44%) had a complete (7%) or partial response (37%). surgical resection was carried out in 11 patients (8.5%). Median overall survival was 11 months for the entire cohort and 15 months for those with partial/complete response. In this sub-group median survival was significantly longer (46 versus 11 months) for patients undergoing resection (P<0.0001). Independent predictors of overall survival were chemotherapy with multiple agents (HR: 0.512), surgical resection (HR: 0.360), > 5 liver metastases at diagnosis (HR: 3.515), and CA 19.9 reduction < 50% of baseline value (HR: 2.708). Conclusions Surgical resection of primary pancreatic tumor with or without residual liver disease can be considered in selected cases after primary chemotherapy and it is associated with improved survival.
PDF
