Drivers of fish choice: an exploratory analysis in Mediterranean countries.

Fish is an important source of healthy proteins and an important economic sector in Mediterranean countries. Despite the wealth of knowledge acquired in Western countries, a gap has been found in studies in developing countries, as in the Mediterranean southern shore. Therefore, we aimed to investigate consumers' perceptions of finfish attributes, with qualitative tools as focus groups, given the exploratory nature of the research. The focus groups have been held in Italy, Lebanon, Spain, and Tunisia; in each country, one was held in seaside areas and one in inland areas, in order to control for the availability of fish that shapes consumers' evaluations and expectations. The focus groups have been analysed through content and semantic analyses. Results of the study yielded main themes recurring in the discussions that have been categorized along such dimensions: (1) definition of fish products; (2) context; (3) search attributes; (4) experience attributes; and (5) credence attributes. Among attributes, the ones mostly guiding consumers' choices seem to be freshness and fish species, which are used as proxies for quality and sensory attributes. Most of the respondents preferred delicate white fish, while some exceptions were found in Tunisian respondents preferring blue fish and they also were the only ones who were not looking for convenient and already cleaned products. Trust also represented a critical element in guiding the decisions of consumers: with a lack of trust, consumers deviate from preferring local products, as noticeable especially in Lebanese respondents' opinions. Credence attributes such as animal welfare and sustainability received a minor attention from all the respondents.

Removal of iron ore slimes from a highly turbid water by DAF.

This paper addresses Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) process variables, such as the flocculation parameters and the recycle water addition, as well as the pretreatment chemical variables (coagulation conditions), to determine the optimal values for the flotation of iron ore slimes found in a highly turbid water sample from the Gualaxo do Norte River, a tributary of the Doce River Basin in Minas Gerais, Brazil. This work was conducted using a flotatest batch laboratory-scale device to evaluate the effectiveness of DAF for cleaning the water polluted by the Samarco tailings dam leakage and determine the ability of DAF to reduce the water turbidity from 358 NTU to values below 100 NTU, aiming to comply with current legislation. The results showed that the four types of tested coagulants (PAC, ferric chloride, Tanfloc SG and Tanfloc SL) provided adequate conditions for coagulation, flocculation and flotation (in the range of 90-99.6% turbidity reduction). Although the process variables were optimized and low residual turbidity vales were achieved, results revealed that a portion of the flocs settled at the bottom of the flotatest columns, which indicated that the turbidity results represented removal caused by a combination of flotation and sedimentation processes simultaneously.

MYB controls erythroid versus megakaryocyte lineage fate decision through the miR-486-3p-mediated downregulation of MAF.

The transcription factor MYB has a key role in hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) lineage choice, by enhancing erythropoiesis at the expense of megakaryopoiesis. We previously demonstrated that MYB controls erythroid versus megakaryocyte lineage decision by transactivating KLF1 and LMO2 expression. To further unravel the molecular mechanisms through which MYB affects lineage fate decision, we performed the integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA changes in MYB-silenced human primary CD34+ HPCs. Among the miRNAs with the highest number of predicted targets, we focused our studies on hsa-miR-486-3p by demonstrating that MYB controls miR-486-3p expression through the transactivation of its host gene, ankyrin-1 (ANK1) and that miR-486-3p affects HPCs commitment. Indeed, overexpression and knockdown experiments demonstrated that miR-486-3p supports the erythropoiesis while restraining the megakaryopoiesis. Of note, miR-486-3p also favors granulocyte differentiation while repressing the macrophage differentiation. To shed some light on the molecular mechanisms through which miR-486-3p affects HPCs lineage commitment, we profiled the gene expression changes upon miR-486-3p overexpression in CD34+ cells. Among the genes downregulated in miR-486-3p-overexpressing HPCs and computationally predicted to be miR-486-3p targets, we identified MAF as a miR-486-3p target by 3'UTR luciferase reporter assay. Noteworthy, MAF overexpression was able to partially reverse the effects of miR-486-3p overexpression on erythroid versus megakaryocyte lineage choice. Moreover, the MYB/MAF co-silencing constrained the skewing of erythroid versus megakaryocyte lineage commitment in MYB-silenced CD34+ cells, by restraining the expansion of megakaryocyte lineage while partially rescuing the impairment of erythropoiesis. Therefore, our data collectively demonstrate that MYB favors erythropoiesis and restrains megakaryopoiesis through the transactivation of miR-486-3p expression and the subsequent downregulation of MAF. As a whole, our study uncovers the MYB/miR-486-3p/MAF axis as a new mechanism underlying the MYB-driven control of erythroid versus megakaryocyte lineage fate decision.

Nutritional profile and productivity of bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) in different habitats of a protected area of the eastern Italian Alps.

Plant productivity and fruit quality in terms of occurrence of mineral elements and metabolites were determined on wild bilberry growing in open and forest stands in a protected area of N-Italy. Plant productivity was significantly higher in open stands (3 ± 2.5 compared with 0.03 ± 0.05 fruits per plant) suggesting that both collections in the wild and semi-wild cultivation should be planned in open habitats. Results obtained by ionomic and metabolomic analyses indicated that high quality fruits can be collected in the analyzed area and their nutritional profile did not differ between open and forest stands. Cyanidin and delphinidin proportion of bilberries from our study area was respectively 23.8% and 43.9% of total antocyanin and it is similar to that previously considered peculiar to bilberry fruits of high latitude regions of Europe and indicative of high quality food properties. A comparison between wild bilberry collected in the protected area and commercial blueberry was also performed and relevant differences between them detected, confirming the concept that wild bilberry has a better nutritional profile than blueberry.

Protective effects of heparin on hepatic ischemia and reperfusion lesions in rabbits.

Because the role of heparin (HEP) in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is still not fully understood, we investigated the effects of treatment with HEP on hepatic I/R injury in rabbits. For I/R procedures, the portal vein and hepatic artery were occluded by a metallic clamp to promote ischemia. The clamp was removed after 30 minutes to allow reperfusion. Rabbits undergoing the I/R procedure were treated with HEP (100 U/kg) or saline solution 0.9% (SS). When compared with levels before I/R, the serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase, levels were increased by the hepatic I/R procedure, among rabbits treated with SS or HEP. However, the increase in these enzymes was lower among rabbits treated with HEP. Histologic analysis of hepatic tissue of rabbits undergoing I/R and treated with SS showed marked lesions in the central lobule with significant inflammatory infiltration. In contrast, a significant reduction in lesions caused by I/R was observed in the livers of rabbits treated with HEP. After starting reperfusion, we visualized apoptotic cells with nuclear staining among rabbits submitted to I/R and treated with SS, but not those treated with HEP. These results suggested that HEP was able to attenuate hepatic lesions caused by I/R in the livers of rabbits.

Antiproliferative and survival properties of PMA in MCF-7 breast cancer cell.

Although PKCs are assumed to be the main targets of phorbol esters (PMA), additional PMA effectors, such as chimaerins (a family of RacGTPase activating proteins) and RasGRP (exchange factor for Ras/Rap1), can counteract or strengthen the PKC pathways. In this study, we evaluated the proliferative behavior of PMA-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cell and found that: PMA induced growth arrest and inhibited cell death; PMA activated ERKs, which, in turn, induced p21; and inhibitors of ERK (PD98059) and PKC (GF109203X) prevented p21 induction and abolished the PMA survival effect. We conclude that PMA inhibits MCF-7 cell growth and simultaneously stimulates cell survival; both responses are linked to ERK-dependent and p53-independent p21 induction.

Mechanotransduction in lymphatic endothelial cells.

Initial lymphatic vessel endothelial cells are connected to the surrounding elastic fibers by fibrillin anchoring filaments that have been hypothesized to favor interstitial fluid drainage in edema pulling apart interendothelial junctions. We hypothesized a biochemical mechanism involving mechanotransduction. This study was designed to verify whether a relation exists between focal adhesion molecules and anchoring filaments and whether they may transduce extracellular forces to the nucleus. We first performed an immunohistochemical study on human skin cryostat sections to evaluate whether fibrillin and alphav-beta3 integrins, FAK and fibrillin, or alphav-beta3 integrins and FAK co-localize in lymphatic endothelium. We observed that integrins and FAK co-localize and that fibrillin filament attachment sites to endothelial cells merge with these molecules. These data may suggest that fibrillin anchoring filaments are connected to endothelial cells through focal adhesions. Mechanotransduction was investigated applying static stretching to bovine thoracic duct segments and lymphatic endothelial cells cultured on elastic membranes and immunohistochemically evaluating the expression of ERK1/2. Under stretching conditions, ERK1/2 labels the nucleus. Western blotting on cultured cells confirmed the presence of ERK1/2 in stretched cells. Based on our data we speculate that anchoring filaments may trigger a focal adhesion-mediated cascade of mechanotransduction toward the nucleus for genetic modulation and thus contribute to endothelial adaptation to interstitial requirements.

State of the art on autologous mesothelial transplant in animals and humans.

Sixteen years ago rabbit and human mesothelial cells were successfully cultured and autoimplanted. The aim of the study was merely to demonstrate that mesothelial implant was possible and interesting not only in peritoneal dialysis, but also in the vaster field of medicine and surgery concerning all the mesothelial districts of the body. The aim of this paper is to recollect the steps which have led to autologous mesothelial transplantation and verify if the technique has been validated and adopted by others. Review of the literature published in the last 15 years shows that intraperitoneal transplantation of mesothelial cells has been effective in reducing the formation of peritoneal adhesions, and in remodeling the area of mesothelial denudation. New studies on the mesothelial cell opened the way to construction of transplantable tissue-engineered artificial peritoneum, to the utilization of mesothelial progenitor cells and to find simple methods to collect autologous mesothelial cells. Finally mesothelial transplantation may represent a new neovascular therapy in the prevention and treatment of ischemic coronary heart disease.

Possible role of milky spots in mesothelial transplantation.

Milky spots are very small omental organs, in contact with peritoneal membrane, devoid of capsule and consisting of macrophages, lymphocytes and a few plasma cells supported by blood and lymphatic vessels. The exact role of these particular organs is still not clear, but they are similar to lymphatic structures and it is clear that they play a role in peritoneal infection and abdominal tumors. Peritoneal dialysis seems to activate the milky spots changing their morphology. The authors try to formulate some hypotheses on the role played by these little omental organs during autologous mesothelial transplant.

Experimental evaluation of transport force in the rabbit ureter.

BACKGROUND: Cleaning the urinary tract by so-called 'wash-out effect' and promoting high diuresis has long been advocated but has had very little scientific backing and few prospective studies in international journals. AIM: To verify whether the physical laws describing the transport force of water in rivers and pipes are also valid for urinary outflow. METHODS: A laboratory model for measuring transport force, given liquid and solid capacity, was adapted to create an in vivo model based on the rabbit urinary tract. RESULTS: Fluid flow in the rabbit renal pelvis and ureters was found similar to flow in pipes, obeying the physical laws of water transport to some extent. When the quantity of liquid flowing in the urinary tract in unit time was doubled, the transport force increased by various orders of magnitude. When the liquid increased by a larger factor, the transport force became enormous. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the utility of maintaining high diuresis in patients with renal calculus, but stress the utility of drinking 1-2 liters of hypotonic water in a short time to obtain an enormous increase in transport force which increases the probability of a cleansing effect.

Simple peritoneal sclerosis and sclerosing peritonitis: related or distinct entities?

AIM: The etiopathogenesis of sclerosing peritonitis is still debated, with some sustaining that it is a rare form of progression of simple peritoneal sclerosis and others that it is a primitive form. The aim of the present research was to clarify this question. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 438 peritoneal biopsies from 253 patients were re-examined. 174 were obtained prior to peritoneal dialysis and 224 after various periods of dialysis. Forty biopsies were from peritoneal dialysis patients who developed sclerosing peritonitis. Peritoneal morphology was studied for signs of transition from simple sclerosis to sclerosing peritonitis. RESULTS: Evidence was found sustaining the hypothesis that simple sclerosis to sclerosing peritonitis patients have distinct pathologies. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm previous observations, excluding the existence of any type of relation between simple peritoneal sclerosis to sclerosing peritonitis.

Prevention of peritoneal sclerosis: a new proposal to substitute glucose with carnitine dialysis solution (biocompatibility testing in vitro and in rabbits).

AIM: Commercial glucose peritoneal dialysis solutions expose the peritoneum to hyperosmolar glucose containing variable amounts of non-enzymic breakdown products of glucose. These solutions are toxic for the peritoneum. The aim of the present study is to compare in vitro and in vivo characteristics of a new dialysis solution containing carnitine, a naturally occurring compound, as substitute of glucose. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared in vitro and in the rabbit a new peritoneal dialysis solution containing carnitine, with two standard bicarbonate glucose peritoneal dialysis solutions and a solution containing icodextrin. RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo the solution containing carnitine seems to be more biocompatible than standard glucose solutions and those containing icodextrin. CONCLUSIONS: In our study the peritoneal dialysis solution containing carnitine seems to prevent the mesothelial changes observed with solutions containing glucose. Since carnitine has been extensively studied and seems to be well tolerated by hemodialysis patients, even at high doses for long periods, clinical trials in humans may be planned in the near future.

The pattern of fibrillin deposition correlates with microfibril-associated glycoprotein 1 (MAGP-1) expression in cultured blood and lymphatic endothelial cells.

Fibrillins constitute the major structural components of 10-12nm microfibrils of the extracellular matrix of several elastic and non elastic tissues and of initial lymphatic vessel anchoring filaments. Microfibril-Associated Glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1) binds fibrillin to tropoelastin during elastogenesis. We recently reported that cultured blood endothelial cells deposit fibrillin in a honeycomb pattern, whereas lymphatic endothelial cells form an irregular web. The aim of this immunohistochemical study was to verify whether the deposition pattern of fibrillin is related to the expression of MAGP-1 in confluent and postconfluent cultures of bovine aortic (AEC), pulmonary artery (PAEC) and lymphatic endothelial cells (LEC). In AEC and PAEC, MAGP-1 and fibrillin co-localized and their deposition increased with time in culture. In AEC, both proteins formed a honeycomb pattern. In LEC, MAGP-1 deposition was still negligible when fibrillin formed an irregular web covering the entire surface. PAEC, which in vivo are exposed to physiological conditions intermediate between AEC and LEC, had an intermediate pattern of deposition of fibrillin and MAGP-1. Assuming that early elastogenesis is an intrinsic functional need for the aorta, but not for the thoracic duct, we propose that delayed appearance of MAGP-1 in LEC may correlate with their irregular fibrillin deposition. Different fibrillin scaffolds could in turn account for the specificity of elastic fibers in compliance with the specific functional requirements of the tissue.

Microalbuminuria is an integrated marker of subclinical organ damage in primary hypertension.

Increased urine albumin excretion is associated with an unfavourable cardiovascular risk profile and prognosis in primary hypertension, even though its pathogenesis is currently unknown. Microalbuminuria (Mi) has been proposed as an integrated marker to identify patients with subclinical organ damage, but its routine use is still too often neglected in clinical practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between urinary albumin excretion and early signs of subclinical target organ damage (TOD), namely left ventricular hypertrophy and carotid atherosclerosis in a large group of non diabetic hypertensive patients. A group of 346 never treated patients with primary hypertension (212 men, 134 women, mean age 47 +/- 9 years) referred to our clinic were included in the study. They underwent the following procedures: (1) family and personal medical history and physical examination; (2) clinical blood pressure measurement; (3) routine blood chemistry and urine analysis including determination of urinary albumin excretion (ACR); (4) electrocardiogram; (5) ultrasound evaluation of left ventricular mass (LVMI) and carotid artery thickness (IMT). The overall prevalence of Mi, left ventricular hypertrophy, and carotid plaque was 13, 51, and 24% respectively. Mi was significantly correlated with LVMI (P < 0.0001), IMT (P < 0.0001) and several metabolic and non-metabolic risk factors (blood pressure, body mass index, serum lipids). Cluster analysis identified three subgroups of patients who differ significantly with regards to TOD and albuminuria (P < or = 0.001 for each of the examined variables). Patients with higher IMT and LVMI values also showed increased ACR levels. Furthermore, patients with microalbuminuria were more likely to have both LVH and IMT values above the median for the study population (OR 21, C.I. 4.6-99.97, P < 0.0001). Mi is an integrated marker of subclinical organ damage in patients with primary hypertension. Evaluation of urinary albumin excretion is a specific, cost-effective way to identify patients at higher risk for whom additional preventive and therapeutic measures are advisable.

Physiological evidence for a high-affinity cadmium transporter highly expressed in a Thlaspi caerulescens ecotype.

• Uptake kinetics and translocation characteristics of cadmium and zinc are presented for two contrasting ecotypes of the Cd/Zn hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens, Ganges (southern France) and Prayon (Belgium). • Experiments using radioactive isotopes were designed to investigate the physiology of Cd and Zn uptake, and a pressure-chamber system was employed to collect xylem sap. • In contrast to similar Zn uptake and translocation, measurements of concentration-dependent influx of Cd revealed marked differences between ecotypes. Ganges alone showed a clear saturable component in the low Cd concentration range; maximum influx Vmax for Cd was fivefold higher in Ganges; and there was a fivefold difference in the Cd concentration in xylem sap. Addition of Zn to the uptake solution at equimolar concentration to Cd did not decrease Cd uptake by Ganges, but caused a 35% decrease in Prayon. • There is strong physiological evidence for a high-affinity, highly expressed Cd transporter in the root cell plasma membranes of the Ganges ecotype of T. caerulescens. This raises evolutionary questions about specific transporters for non-essential metals. The results also show the considerable scope for selecting hyperaccumulator ecotypes to achieve higher phytoextraction efficiencies.

[Fallopian tube adenocarcinoma: synchronous neoplasia and severe uterine endocervical squamous epithelial dysplasia]. / Adenocarcinoma della tuba di Fallopio: neoplasia sincrona a displasia epiteliale squamosa severa endocervicale uterina.

We report a rare case of primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube. A 72-year-old post-menopausal woman presenting with abnormal secretion of blood-stained liquid, underwent surgery because of findings of atypical squamous cells (ASCUS) on a routine Papanicolaou smear. The histological diagnosis on cervical biopsy was of CIN 3. Adenocarcinoma of the Fallopian tube was incidentally found.

Genetic polymorphism of the renin-angiotensin system and organ damage in essential hypertension.

BACKGROUND: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a significant role in the development of hypertensive cardiac and vascular remodeling. Recently, several genetic variants of its key components, which may be clinically relevant and thus prove to be useful in the evaluation of cardiovascular risk, have been described. We therefore investigated the association between ACE I/D, AGT M235T, and AT1 A1266C gene polymorphisms and early signs of target organ damage in 215 untreated patients with essential hypertension (EH). METHODS: Genotyping was based on the polymerase chain reaction technique, with further restriction analysis when required. Albuminuria was measured as the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was assessed by echocardiography (LVH = LVMI > or = 125 g/m2), carotid wall thickness (IMT) by an ultrasonographic (US) scan, and retinal vascular changes by direct ophthalmoscopy (Keith-Wagener classification). RESULTS: The prevalence of microalbuminuria (Mi), LVH, and retinal vascular changes was 14, 46, and 74%, respectively. ACE, AGT, and AT1 genotype distribution was in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no difference in age, duration of disease, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and lipid profile when data were analyzed on the basis of genotype. Serum levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were related to the ACE genotype (10.2 +/- 0.5, DD; 8.2 +/- 0.3, ID; 6.5 +/- 0.4 IU/mL, II; P < 0. 0001 by analysis of variance). The ACE genotype independently influences serum ACE levels and accounts for approximately 14% of its variations (F = 26.7, r2 = 0.1393, df 1 to 214, P < 0.0001). Patients with DD and ID genotypes showed higher levels of ACR (1.59 +/- 0.2, DD + ID; 0.8 +/- 0.2 mg/mmol, II; P < 0.006 by ANOVA) and bigger LVMI (124.1 +/- 2.3, DD + ID vs. 117.8 +/- 3.6 g/m2, II; P < 0.01 by ANOVA). No differences in the prevalence and degree of target organ damage (TOD) were found when data were analyzed on the basis of the AGT and AT1 genotypes, respectively. Potentially unfavorable combinations of genotypes were also investigated by K-means cluster analysis. Two subgroups of patients were identified (cluster 1, N = 70; cluster 2, N = 57), and each differed significantly with regards to the presence and degree of TOD and patterns of RAAS gene polymorphisms (F, 15.97 for ACR; F, 7.19 for IMT; F, 217.03 for LVMI; F, 3.91 for ACE; F, 4.06 for AGT; and F, 5. 22 for AT1; df 1 to 214, P < 0.02, for each one of the variables examined). CONCLUSION: The D allele of the ACE gene may be an independent risk factor for the development of target organ damage, and evaluating it could be useful for assessing cardiovascular risk in EH. Unfavorable patterns of RAAS genotypes seem to predispose patients to subclinical cardiovascular disease in EH.

A novel monoclonal antibody specific for lymphatic endothelium.

The difficulty of identifying and differentiating lymphatic and blood microvessels in tissue sections can be overcome by a monoclonal antibody specific for lymphatic endothelium. Unfortunately, the only known antibody also reacts with the endothelium of some blood vessels. The technique of double immunization (passive, with an antiserum to blood endothelium, and active, with a suspension of lymphatic endothelial cells) was, therefore, used to increase the chances of recognizing specific lymphatic antigens by the mouse immune system. The monoclonal antibody obtained, LyMAb, a G1 immunoglobulin, reacted strongly with the endothelium of bovine thoracic duct, mesenteric collecting vessels and lymphatic vessels of gallbladder and lymph nodes and moderately with those of the intestinal wall. Blood vessels (intercostal arteries, azygos vein and blood microvessels of all organs tested) were consistently negative. The antibody was species-specific and did not react with formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. Cross-reactivity was limited to some connective tissue fibres and scattered cells in the lymph node parenchyma, intestinal villi and hepatic lobules.