Characterization of Essential Oil Components from Aromatic Plants that Grow Wild in the “Piana del Sele” (Salerno, Southern Italy) using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Melissa officinalis and Mentha spicata growing wild in the “Piana del Sele” (Salerno, Southern Italy) have been extracted by hydro-distillation, quantified and characterized by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (FID) and mass-spectrometry (MS). Sixty-nine compounds were identified and classified according to their chemical classes. The results showed that the composition of the essential oils was extremely variable and specific for each botanical species. Hydrocarbons were the most abundant class in all essential oils except for sage where aldehydes and ketones were the most representative compounds. Only for thyme was a higher content of alcohols found.

Characterization of Essential Oil Components from Aromatic Plants that Grow Wild in the "Piana del Sele" (Salerno, Southern Italy) using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Essential oils from Rosmarinus officinalis, Salvia officinalis, Thymus vulgaris, Melissa officinalis and Mentha spicata growing wild in the "Piana del Sele" (Salerno, Southern Italy) have been extracted by hydro-distillation, quantified and characterized by gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (FID) and mass-spectrometry (MS). Sixty-nine compounds were identified and classified according to their chemical classes. The results showed that the composition of the essential oils was extremely variable and specific for each botanical species. Hydrocarbons were the most abundant class in all essential oils except for sage where aldehydes and ketones were the most representative compounds. Only for thyme was a higher content of alcohols found.

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and hexachlorobenzene, semen quality and testicular cancer risk

PURPOSE

We carried out a case-control study to investigate the possible role of occupational and environmental exposure to endocrine disruptors in the onset of testicular cancer (TC).

METHODS

We evaluated 125 TC patients and 103 controls. Seminal fluid examination and organochlorine analysis were performed in all subjects. Cases and controls were also interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect demographic information, residence, andrological medical history and dietary information.

RESULTS

We found that a higher level of reproductive tract birth defects was associated with a higher risk of TC. With regard to diet, cases reported a higher consumption of milk and dairy products than controls. Overall, there was a statistically significant increase in TC risk in cases with detectable values of total polychlorinated organic compounds against controls (14.4 vs. 1.0 %; p < 0.001). TC patients with detectable levels of organochlorines had lower mean semen parameters than those with undetectable levels, although this difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

The International Agency for Research on Cancer recently included dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Group 1 of known human carcinogens. Our study confirmed and identified various risk factors for testicular cancer: cryptorchidism, consumption of milk and dairy products, parents' occupation and serum concentration of hexachlorobenzene and PCBs and, for the first time, we showed the correlation between semen quality and the serum concentration of these pollutants.

Lactic dehydrogenase and cancer: an overview

Despite the intense scientific efforts made, there are still many tumors that are difficult to treat and the percentage of patient survival in the long-term is still too low. Thus, new approaches to the treatment of cancer are needed. Cancer is a highly heterogeneous and complex disease, whose development requires a reorganization of cell metabolism. Most tumor cells downregulate mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and increase the rate of glucose consumption and lactate release, independently of oxygen availability (Warburg effect). This metabolic rewiring is largely believed to favour tumor growth and survival, although the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Importantly, the correlation between the aerobic glycolysis and cancer is widely regarded as a useful biochemical basis for the development of novel anticancer strategies. Among the enzymes involved in glycolysis, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is emerging as a very attractive target for possible pharmacological approaches in cancer therapy. This review addresses the state of the art and the perspectives concerning LDH both as a useful diagnostic marker and a relevant molecular target in cancer therapy and management.

A retrospective analysis of allele frequency changes of major genes during 20 years of selection in the Italian Large White pig breed

In this study, we investigated whether a selection programme based on boar genetic evaluation obtained with a classical BLUP animal model can change allele frequencies in a pig population. All Italian Large White boars born from 1992 to 2012 with estimated breeding value reliability >0.85 (n = 200) were selected among all boars of this breed. Boars were genotyped with markers in major genes (IGF2 intron3-g.3072G>A, MC4R p.D298N, VRTN PRE1 insertion, PRKAG3 p.I199V and FTO g.276T>G). Genotyping data were analysed grouping boars in eight classes according to their year of birth. To evaluate the influence of time on allele frequencies of the genotyped markers, multinomial logistic regression models were computed. Four of five polymorphic sites (IGF2, MC4R, VRTN and FTO) showed significant (p < 0.01) changes in allele frequencies over time due to a progressive and continuous increase of one allele (associated with higher lean meat content, higher average daily gain and favourable feed: gain ratio) and, consequently, decrease of the other one, following the directional selection of the selection programme of this pig breed. The retrospective analysis that was carried out in Italian Large White boars suggests that selection based on methodologies assuming the infinitesimal model is able to modify in a quite short period of time allele frequencies in major genes, increasing the frequency of alleles explaining a relevant (non-infinitesimal) fraction of the overall genetic variability for production traits.

Study of the effects of a diet supplemented with active components on lipid and glycemic profiles

OBJECTIVES

Currently, there are numerous studies on risk factors for cardiovascular disease and the potential for functional foods to bring benefits or improve people's health. However, most of these studies are conducted with middle-aged individuals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing a typical diet with some functional components, which are substances that when consumed in small quantities can improve people's welfare.

METHODS

The participants in this study were young; slightly overweight; had normal glucose tolerance; and had lipid values indicating dyslipidemia or close dyslipidemia. Following a 4-wk run-in phase, participants followed either a diet containing foods enriched with ω-3 fatty acids, β-glucans, phytosterols, and vitamin E or an isoenergetic diet without the active components. Sixteen individuals (age range 20 to 37 y) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. At the end of treatment, while fasting, plasma concentrations of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and total cholesterol were measured. Furthermore, blood glucose was evaluated after fasting and after a meal enriched with β-glucans.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant reduction (α < 0.05) across the lipid profile. A meal rich in β-glucans produced a glycemic response significantly lower than the nonenriched meal.

CONCLUSION

The dietary supplements used in this work, based on the integration of functional components into the usual diet of the population, have proved effective in reducing peak levels of postprandial glucose and the risk for dyslipidemia. Therefore, these functional components proved a valuable aid in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders.

[Alcohol and work. Consensus Document of the La.R.A. (Workers representing a risk for others) group]

AIM

Current Italian legislation obliges employers to prevent workers who are occupationally at risk or who perform jobs that may be hazardous for the safety or health of third parties from consuming alcohol. The LaRA Group undertook to assess whether the law fully safeguards the health and safety of both workers and third parties, without impinging upon the civil rights of workers.

METHOD

A written document expressing agreement was produced following discussions between doctors, lawyers, bioethicists and social partners.

RESULTS

There are gaps and inconsistencies in current laws; the differences in local and regional provisions prevent authorities from applying a single strategy at national level. There should be a change in existing rules under which the employer's obligation to enforce the ban on consumption alcohol in the workplace is enacted solely by the "competent" physician whose institutional role is to safeguard and promote health. Some occupational categories that are subject to a ban on alcohol consumption do not currently under-go health surveillance. For example, if road transport drivers are not exposed to a specific occupational risk foreseen under another law, they can be placed under health surveillance only in those regions where the local laws contemplate this type of control. In other cases, the practice of assessing the risk to third parties and providing for compulsory health surveillance in the Risk Assessment Document, is considered by some jurists to be a "consuetudo praeter legem" and therefore acceptable in a field not yet covered by a specific law, but to be "contra legem" or unlawful by other jurists. Moreover, the competent physician who uses a breathanalyser or tests for alcohol addiction faces an ethical dilemma, since by communicating the results to an employer or authorities responsible for the issuing of licenses, he may be violating his professional oath of secrecy. Furthermore, the emphasis placed on testing has induced companies and inspectors to overlook educational and rehabilitation aspects. It is essential to involve general practitioners, educators and specialist services in addressing the problems of alcohol abuse so as to inform/train, recover and rehabilitate. The few studies available indicate that the rules are poorly enforced and that non-compliance may go unobserved.

CONCLUSIONS

The Group urges all employers to assess the risk for third parties caused by alcohol abuse and to devise a policy on alcohol. Controlling alcohol-related risks in the workplace calls for a better definition of the roles of Vigilance Bod-ies and Company Physicians together with a shift from a reactive to a proactive attitude of all the parties involved.

Cingulate Cortex in Schizophrenia: its relation with negative symptoms and psychotic onset. A review study

OBJECTIVE

The cingulate cortex is a functionally heterogeneous region involved in diverse cognitive and emotional processes. It is a region of special interest to investigate the neurological substrate of schizophrenia. The aim of this paper is to review all the studies that investigated the relation between the cingulate cortex and two of the most important and little known areas of this disease: the psychotic onset and the negative symptoms.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Relevant literature was identified through a search in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane database. Search terms included negative symptoms, cingulate cortex, cingulate gyrus, schizophrenia, PET, SPECT, MRI, fMRI, BOLD, deficit schizophrenia, early-onset schizophrenia, psychotic onset, psychosis.

RESULTS

9 studies evidenced a link between negative symptoms and hypoactivity of cingulate cortex, whereas 7 studies did not. A positive relationship between anterior cingulate cortex gray matter thinning and high risk for schizophrenia is well characterized in literature.

CONCLUSIONS

In a large portion of patients hypoactivity of cingulate cortex underlie the presence of negative symptoms. In particular, ACC (anterior cingulated cortex) thinning seems to be related to the increasing social withdrawal that is characteristic of the psychosis prodrome. New therapies focused on the brain stimulation of the cingulate cortex could represent an important aid for patients with this kind of symptoms.

Taste and olfactory status in a gourmand with a right amygdala lesion

In a patient with a lesion of the right amygdala and temporal pole who had the characteristics of the gourmand syndrome, sensory and hedonic testing was performed to examine the processing of taste, olfactory, and some emotional stimuli. The gourmand syndrome describes a preoccupation with food and a preference for fine eating and is associated with right anterior lesions. It was found that the taste thresholds for sweet, salt, bitter, and sour were normal; that the patient did not dislike the taste of salt (NaCl) at low and moderate concentrations as much as age-matched controls; that this also occurred for monosodium glutamate (MSG); that there were some olfactory differences from normal controls; and that there was a marked reduction in the ability to detect face expressions of disgust.

Association mapping of quantitative trait loci for carcass and meat quality traits at the central part of chromosome 2 in Italian Large White pigs

Association mapping of the central part of porcine chromosome 2 harboring QTLs for carcass and meat quality traits was performed with 17 gene-tagged SNPs located between 44.0 and 77.5 Mb on a physical map (Sscrofa10.2) in Italian Large White pigs. For the analyzed animals records of estimated breeding values for average daily gain, back fat thickness, lean cuts, ham weight, feed conversion ratio, pH1, pHu, CIE L*, CIE a*, CIE b* and drip loss were available. A significant QTL for fat deposition (adjusted P=0.0081) and pH1 (adjusted P=0.0972) to MYOD1 at position 44.4 Mb and a QTL for growth and meatiness (adjusted P=0.0238-0.0601) to UBL5 at position 68.9 Mb were mapped. These results from association mapping are much more accurate than those from linkage mapping and facilitate further search for position candidate genes and causative mutations needed for application of markers through marker assisted selection.

Correlations between nailfold microangiopathy severity, finger dermal thickness and fingertip blood perfusion in systemic sclerosis patients

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify possible correlations between nailfold microangiopathy severity, finger dermal thickness (DT) and fingertip blood perfusion (FBP) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

METHODS

Fifty-seven SSc patients and 37 healthy subjects were enrolled. All patients were evaluated by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) to classify and score the severity of microangiopathy. Both modified Rodnan skin score (mRss) and skin high-frequency ultrasound were used to detect finger DT. Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was employed to detect FBP.

RESULTS

A positive correlation was found between nailfold microvascular damage severity and both ultrasound-DT (p=0.028) and mRss values (p<0.0001). In particular, both ultrasound-DT and mRss were found progressively higher in patients with 'Early', 'Active' or 'Late' NVC pattern of microangiopathy. A negative correlation was observed between nailfold microvascular damage severity and FBP (p<0.0001), showing the lowest FBP of the patients with more advanced NVC patterns. A negative correlation was observed between FBP, and both ultrasound-DT (p=0.007) and mRss values (p=0.0002). SSc patients showed a higher ultrasound-DT at the level of the fingers, as well as a lower FBP than healthy subjects (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates a relationship between nailfold microangiopathy severity, DT and FBP in SSc patients.

Thyroid safety in patients treated with liraglutide

During the last years, various novel anti-diabetic drugs have considerably enriched the therapeutic armamentarium for subjects with Type 2 diabetes. In the meantime, much interest has recently been focused on the potential cardiovascular and oncological adverse effects of these new therapies. As to glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogs, medullary thyroid tumors were reported to be more common in rodent toxicology studies with liraglutide, although the relevance of this finding in humans has been questioned. Analyses of sequential changes in calcitonin levels in several thousands of subjects did not reveal a relationship between liraglutide therapy and plasma calcitonin. Furthermore, no medullary thyroid cancer has been detected in humans taking liraglutide. Nevertheless, the long-term consequences of sustained GLP-1 receptor activation in the human thyroid remain unknown and deserve further investigation.

Intravaginal cleansing among women attending a sexually transmitted infection clinic in Kingston, Jamaica

OBJECTIVES

Although common worldwide, intravaginal cleansing is associated with poor health outcomes. We sought to describe intravaginal cleansing among women attending a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Jamaica.

METHODS

We examined intravaginal cleansing ("washing up inside the vagina", douching, and products or materials used) among 293 participants in a randomized trial of counselling messages at an STI clinic in Kingston. We focussed on information on intravaginal cleansing performed in the 30 days and three days preceding their baseline study visit. We describe reported cleansing behaviours and used logistic regression to identify correlates of intravaginal cleansing.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight per cent of participants reported intravaginal cleansing in the previous 30 days, and 46% did so in the three days before baseline. Among those who cleansed in the previous 30 days, 88% reported doing so for hygiene unrelated to sex, and three-fourths reported generally doing so more than once per day. Soap (usually with water) and water alone were the most common products used for washing; commercial douches or detergents were reported infrequently. Intravaginal cleansing in the three days before the baseline visit was positively associated with having more than one sex partner in the previous three months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1, 3.2), and negatively associated with experiencing itching in the genital area at baseline (AOR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.4, 1.0).

CONCLUSIONS

A large proportion of women attending STI clinics in Jamaica engage in frequent intravaginal cleansing, indicating a need for clinicians to discuss this topic with them accordingly.

Protamine-1 and -2 polymorphisms and gene expression in male infertility: an Italian study

BACKGROUND

Correct histone/protamine replacement is an important stage in chromatin condensation during spermiogenesis in humans. There are two types of protamines: protamine 1 (P1) and the protamine 2 family (P2, P3, and P4), coded by the genes PRM1 and PRM2.

AIM

We analyze the sequences and gene expression of PRM1 and PRM2 and their relationship with defective spermatogenesis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sequence analysis was carried out on 163 patients attending our laboratory for analysis of seminal fluid. Patients were divided into three groups: normozoospermic (53), teratozoospermic (60), and azoospermic (50). Gene expression was analyzed in seven patients with azoospermia and one with cryptozoospermia.

RESULTS

Seven single nuclotide polymorphisms (SNP) were identified: G54A, G102T and C230A for PRM1, and C246T, G288C, G298C and C373A for PRM2. For C230A, the CA genotype was present in 38% of teratozoospermic vs 55% of normozoospermic and 64% of azoospermic patients; for C373A, CA was found in 37% of teratozoospermic vs 47% of normozoospermic and 64% of azoospermic patients. In contrast, for G298C, GC was more common in the teratozoospermic (63%) than in the normozoospermic (49%) or azoospermic (48%) groups. These differences could suggest a greater susceptibility of these patients to abnormal sperm morphology. In five patients the levels of transcripts were reduced with respect to the control.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that premeiotic arrest is associated with extremely reduced protamine expression. New studies of both PRM1 and PRM2 and their mRNA expression could help us better understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the protamine transcription and translation processes.

The antiandrogen flutamide inhibits growth of mcf-7 human breast-cancer cell-line

The antiandrogen flutamide (FLU) has been reported to exert antiproliferative action on both male and postmenopausal breast cancer and to inhibit growth of chemically induced rat breast cancer. We studied the effects of various concentrations of FLU on the growth of the ER+, AR+ and PR+ MCF-7 and the ER-, AR- and PR- MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. The growth of MCF-7 cells in both steroid free and estradiol supplemented media was inhibited by FLU. MDA-MB-231 cell growth was not affected by FLU. Our data show a direct inhibitory action of FLU on human breast cancer cells and suggest a different susceptibility to the antiproliferative action of FLU, which seems to be related to the steroid receptor status.

Are apolipoprotein E alleles correlated with semen quality?

Apolipoproteins have a unique role in lipoprotein metabolism regulation, aiding lipid transport and acting as a cofactor of the enzymes involved in metabolism. There are three co-dominant alleles, APOE*2, APOE*3 and APOE*4, which encode three protein isoforms, apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4. APOE*3 is the most frequent in all populations thus far investigated, ranging from 50 to 90%. Some studies have tried to resolve a genetic 'dilemma' by evaluating the cause of the frequency and survival of the three alleles. Genetic drift, migration or natural selection could explain the current distribution of APOE gene frequencies worldwide. If APOE*4 is the ancestral allele, APOE*3 must have offered a considerable selective advantage, perhaps consisting of a positive effect during the reproductive period. Given this, there is a need to understand if APOE gene polymorphism might affect reproductive capacity. Few studies have been conducted in this area, and they generally correlate APOE polymorphism with reproductive efficiency in terms of number of children. The aim of our study was to look for correlations between APOE polymorphism in humans and semen quality, to establish if APOE genotypes have any demonstrable effect on spermatogenesis. In conclusion, our data show that APOE polymorphism is not associated with semen quality, as it is present to a similar extent in both normal and impaired or absent spermatogenesis. This demonstrates once again that the use of number of children as an index of fertility is not indicative of real male reproductive capacity.

Zoledronic acid blocks the interaction between mesenchymal stem cells and breast cancer cells: implications for adjuvant therapy of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Zoledronic acid (ZA) reduces locoregional and distant metastases in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients. Since ZA rapidly concentrates in the bone following i.v. administration, we hypothesized that this phenomenon involves the mechanism of action of ZA in bone tissue.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Migration assays were carried out in fibronectin-coated Boyden chambers. Activation of signaling proteins was analyzed with a phosphoprotein array. Chemokines and growth factors were measured by immunoassays and real-time PCR.

RESULTS

ZA significantly reduced in bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) the activation of AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase and their ability to migrate. Conditioned medium (CM) from ZA-treated MSCs showed a reduced capacity to promote the migration of ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells as compared with CM from untreated MSCs. The levels of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL5, also known as RANTES - Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted) and interleukin (IL)-6 were significantly reduced in MSC-CM following treatment with ZA. Anti-RANTES and anti-IL-6 antibodies almost completely abolished the migration of MCF-7 cells induced by MSC-CM. Recombinant RANTES and IL-6 significantly induced MCF-7 cell migration and their combination showed a cooperative effect. Similar results were observed in different breast cancer cell lines.

CONCLUSION

ZA might exert its antitumor activity by inhibiting MSC migration and blocking MSCs' secretion of factors involved in breast cancer progression.

Pharmacokinetics of ketamine and propofol combination administered as ketofol via continuous infusion in cats

The pharmacokinetics of the extemporaneous combination of low doses of ketamine and propofol, known as 'ketofol', frequently used for emergency procedures in humans to achieve safe sedation and analgesia was studied in cats. The study was performed to assess propofol, ketamine and norketamine kinetics in six female cats that received ketamine and propofol (1:1 ratio) as a loading dose (2 mg/kg each, IV) followed by a continuous infusion (10 mg/kg/h each, IV, 25 min of length). Blood samples were collected during the infusion period and up to 24 h afterwards. Drug quantification was achieved by HPLC analysis using UV-visible detection for ketamine and fluorimetric detection for propofol. The pharmacokinetic parameters were deduced by a two-compartment bolus plus infusion model for propofol and ketamine and a monocompartmental model for norketamine. Additional data were derived by a noncompartmental analysis. Propofol and ketamine were quantifiable in most animals until 24 and 8 h after the end of infusion, respectively. Propofol showed a long elimination half-life (t(1/2λ2) 7.55 ± 9.86 h), whereas ketamine was characterized by shorter half-life (t(1/2λ2) 4 ± 3.4 h) owing to its rapid biotransformation into norketamine. The clinical significance of propofol's long elimination half-life and low clearance is negligible when the drug is administered as short-term and low-dosage infusion. The concurrent administration of ketamine and propofol in cats did not produce adverse effects although it was not possible to exclude interference in the metabolism.

Analysis of MC4R polymorphism in Italian Large White and Italian Duroc pigs: association with carcass traits

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene codes for a G protein transmembrane receptor playing an important role in energy homeostasis control. In pig a single nucleotide polymorphism c.1426G>A has been identified and associated to average daily gain, feed intake and fatness traits but a lack of agreement on the effects of the gene on carcass traits in different breeds comes out from many studies. In the present study the c.1426G>A polymorphism is analysed in two Italian pig breeds, Large White and Duroc to study the association of the MC4R gene with some carcass traits. The results show that the c.1426G>A polymorphism affects daily gain, feed conversion ratio and ham weight in both breeds, lean cuts in the Italian Duroc and backfat thickness in the Italian Large White. The presence of MC4R mRNA transcript in different porcine tissues was analysed.

Extubation score in the operating room after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND

Early extubation after liver transplantation (LT) is an increasingly applied safe practice. The aim of the present study was to provide a simple extubation rule for accelerated weaning in the operating room (OR).

METHODS

Data of 597 patients transplanted at the LT center of Turin (Italy) were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-two nonextubated patients (excluding those with a scheduled early reoperation) were compared with 545 successfully extubated patients (not in need of reintubation within the first 48 h). Significant variables at univariate analysis were entered into a logistic regression model and the regression coefficients of independent predictors were used to yield a prognostic score called the safe operating room extubation after liver transplantation (SORELT) score.

RESULTS

Two major and three minor criteria were found. The major ones were blood transfusions (higher than/or equal to 7 U of packed red blood cells) and end of surgery lactate (higher than/or equal to 3.4 mmol/l). The minor ones were status before LT (home vs. hospitalized patient), duration of surgery (longer than/or equal to 5 h), vasoactive drugs at the end of surgery (dopamine higher than 5 microg/kg/min or norepinephrine higher than 0.05 microg/kg/min). Patients who fulfill the SORELT score-derived criteria (fewer than two major/one major plus two minor/three minor criteria) can be considered for OR extubation.

CONCLUSION

Early extubation after LT requires a very careful assessment of the pre-operative, intraoperative, graft and post-operative care data available. The SORELT score helps as a simple and objective aid in considering such a decision.

Effect of different cooking methods on color, phytochemical concentration, and antioxidant capacity of raw and frozen brassica vegetables

This study evaluated the effect of common cooking practices (i.e., boiling, microwaving, and basket and oven steaming) on the phytochemical content (carotenoids, chlorophylls, glucosinolates, polyphenols, and ascorbic acid), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and color changes of three generally consumed Brassica vegetables analyzed fresh and frozen. Among cooking procedures, boiling determined an increase of fresh broccoli carotenoids and fresh Brussels sprout polyphenols, whereas a decrease of almost all other phytochemicals in fresh and frozen samples was observed. Steaming procedures determined a release of polyphenols in both fresh and frozen samples. Microwaving was the best cooking method for maintaining the color of both fresh and frozen vegetables and obtaining a good retention of glucosinolates. During all cooking procedures, ascorbic acid was lost in great amount from all vegetables. Chlorophylls were more stable in frozen samples than in fresh ones, even though steaming methods were able to better preserve these compounds in fresh samples than others cooking methods applied. The overall results of this study demonstrate that fresh Brassica vegetables retain phytochemicals and TAC better than frozen samples.

Worldwide distribution of PSEN1 Met146Leu mutation: a large variability for a founder mutation

OBJECTIVE

Large kindreds segregating familial Alzheimer disease (FAD) offer the opportunity of studying clinical variability as observed for presenilin 1 (PSEN1) mutations. Two early-onset FAD (EOFAD) Calabrian families with PSEN1 Met146Leu (ATG/CTG) mutation constitute a unique population descending from a remote common ancestor. Recently, several other EOFAD families with the same mutation have been described worldwide.

METHODS

We searched for a common founder of the PSEN1 Met146Leu mutation in families with different geographic origins by genealogic and molecular analyses. We also investigated the phenotypic variability at onset in a group of 50 patients (mean age at onset 40.0 +/- 4.8 years) by clinical, neuropsychological, and molecular methodologies.

RESULTS

EOFAD Met146Leu families from around the world resulted to be related and constitute a single kindred originating from Southern Italy before the 17th century. Phenotypic variability at onset is broad: 4 different clinical presentations may be recognized, 2 classic for AD (memory deficits and spatial and temporal disorientation), whereas the others are expressions of frontal impairment. The apathetic and dysexecutive subgroups could be related to orbital-medial prefrontal cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex dysfunction.

CONCLUSIONS

Genealogic and molecular findings provided evidence that the PSEN1 Met146Leu families from around the world analyzed in this study are related and represent a single kindred originating from Southern Italy. The marked phenotypic variability might reflect early involvement by the pathologic process of different cortical areas. Although the clinical phenotype is quite variable, the neuropathologic and biochemical characteristics of the lesions account for neurodegenerative processes unmistakably of Alzheimer nature.