Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for the detection of durum wheat contamination or adulteration.

In this work, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization (UPLC-ESI)-MS/MS methodology based on multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) for the selective and sensitive detection and quantification of durum wheat adulteration has been developed and fully validated. The targeted analysis was performed by monitoring specific transitions at m/z 543.7 > 657.

Ischemic cardiovascular involvement in psoriasis: a systematic review.

Epidemiologic studies demonstrate that psoriasis is associated with shorter life expectancy, most frequently attributable to cardiovascular (CV) events. Although increased prevalence and incidence of CV risk factors for atherosclerosis have been reported in psoriatic patients, psoriasis likely plays an independent role in the increased cardiovascular risk, presumably linked to the chronic systemic inflammatory state. Consistently, preliminary investigations suggest that anti-inflammatory therapies may improve early subclinical vascular alterations and reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Molecular profiling of the Phytophthora plurivora secretome: a step towards understanding the cross-talk between plant pathogenic oomycetes and their hosts.

The understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions in plant diseases is of crucial importance to gain insights on different virulence strategies of pathogens and unravel their role in plant immunity. Among plant pathogens, Phytophthora species are eliciting a growing interest for their considerable economical and environmental impact. Plant infection by Phytophthora phytopathogens is a complex process coordinated by a plethora of extracellular signals secreted by both host plants and pathogens.

Posidonia oceanica (L.) based compost as substrate for potted basil production.

Background: Peat is the main component of growing media but is also a non-renewable resource; therefore European policy strongly encourages the use of peat alternatives such as compost. Posidonia is a Mediterranean seagrass that produces very conspicuous onshore deposits that can be composted. In this study, a commercial green compost and a Posidonia residue-based compost were tested in order to assess their potential use as substitutes or complements to peat.

Self-rated and assessed cognitive functions in epilepsy: impact on quality of life.

Aim Of The Study: To compare the effects of perceived and assessed cognitive functions on quality of life (QoL) in patients with epilepsy (PWE).

Methods: The study analyzed the data from a series of PWE who compiled the Quality of Life in Epilepsy-89 Inventory (QOLIE-89) and the Multiple Ability Self-Report Questionnaire (MASQ) for QoL and perceived cognitive abilities, respectively. The State-Trait Anxiety and Beck Depression inventories were used to assess mood.

Prevalence and severity of asymptomatic coronary and carotid artery disease in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

We evaluated the prevalence and severity of occult coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CeVD) in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). We studied 100 consecutive patients with no history of CAD, normal electrocardiogram, normal systolic function, and no angina or dyspnea. All patients underwent carotid Doppler study and invasive coronary angiography.

Purification and characterization of novel cationic peroxidases from Asparagus acutifolius L. with biotechnological applications.

Four novel basic peroxidases, named AaP-1, AaP-2, AaP-3, and AaP-4, were purified from Asparagus acutifolius L. seeds by cation-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies. The four proteins showed a similar electrophoretic mobility of 46 kDa while, by MALDI-TOF MS, different Mr values of 42758.

Primary obstructive megaureter: the role of high pressure balloon dilation.

Background And Purpose: There is a growing interest in minimally invasive treatment of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) in children. The absence of long-term follow-up data, however, makes it difficult to establish the indication for an endoscopic approach. The aim of our study is to determine the long-term efficacy of endourologic high-pressure balloon dilation of the vesicoureteral junction (VUJ) in children with POM that necessitates surgical treatment.

Ischemic heart disease in systemic inflammatory diseases. An appraisal.

Systemic inflammatory diseases are inflammatory syndromes that are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The link between inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases can be attributed to coexistence of classical risk factors and of inflammatory mechanisms activated in systemic inflammatory diseases and involving the immune system. Yet, clinical implications of these findings are not entirely clear and deeper knowledge and awareness of cardiac involvement in inflammatory diseases are necessary.

["Fast-track" in pediatric urologic surgery: pronenephrectomy].

Unlabelled: INTRODUCTION AND OBJETIVES: Minimal invasive surgery trends to get prompt recovery in terms of inmediate deambulation and early discharge from hospital, without increasing patient's discomfort neither postoperative complications. This "fast-track" protocol is being progresively introduced in a crescent number of urological procedures. We are evaluating the viability of applying it in retroperitoneoscopic prone- position nephrectomy.

Preoperative language lateralization in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) predicts peri-ictal, pre- and post-operative language performance: An fMRI study.

In patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), assessment of language lateralization is important as anterior temporal lobectomy may lead to language impairments. Despite the widespread use of fMRI, evidence of its usefulness in predicting postsurgical language performance is scant. We investigated whether preoperative functional lateralization is related to the preoperative language performance, peri-ictal aphasia, and can predict language outcome one year post-surgery.

Investigating higher-order cognitive functions in temporal lobe epilepsy: cognitive estimation.

Cognitive estimation, an ability to attribute measurements to concrete things, is relevant to adaptive behavior. This study evaluated cognitive estimation in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with the goal of verifying its relationship to temporal lobe damage and age of seizure onset. One hundred and eight patients with drug-resistant TLE and 51 healthy controls were evaluated using the Cognitive Estimation Task (CET), which requires simple and complex estimations providing the Total and Bizarreness scores.

Management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction with high-pressure balloon dilatation: long-term outcome in 50 children under 18 months of age.

Objective: To analyze the usefulness of dilatation in the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJ) in children <18 months of age, including newborns and infants.

Methods: Patients (n = 50; <18 months of age) were diagnosed using abdominal ultrasound, cystogram, and diuretic renography. Treatment was with endourologic retrograde balloon dilatation under fluoroscopic guidance.

Comparative proteomics in the genus Paracoccidioides.

The genus Paracoccidioides comprises a complex of phylogenetic species of dimorphic pathogenic fungi, the etiologic agents of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a disease confined to Latin America and of marked relevance in its endemic areas due to its high frequency and severity. The members of the Paracoccidioides genus are distributed in distinct phylogenetic species (S1, PS2, PS3 and 01-like) that potentially differ in their biochemical and molecular characteristics. In this work, we performed the proteomic characterization of different members of the genus Paracoccidioides.

[Cardiovascular risk in systemic inflammatory diseases].

Systemic inflammatory diseases are associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The link between inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases can be attributed to the coexistence of classical risk factors and inflammatory mechanisms activated during systemic inflammatory diseases involving the immune system. Unfavorable metabolic effects of anti-inflammatory drugs can also contribute to increase cardiovascular risk.

Myoglobin as marker in meat adulteration: a UPLC method for determining the presence of pork meat in raw beef burger.

The identification of meat animal species used in raw burgers is very important with respect to economic and religious considerations. Therefore, international supervisory bodies have implemented procedures to control the employed meat species. In this paper we propose myoglobin as a powerful molecular marker to evaluate the presence of non-declared meat addition in raw beef burgers by using ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) for the separation and identification of edible animal species (beef, chicken, horse, ostrich, pig and water buffalo).

A proteomic view of the response of Paracoccidioides yeast cells to zinc deprivation.

Zinc plays a critical role in a diverse array of biochemical processes. However, an excess of zinc is deleterious to cells; therefore, cells require finely tuned homeostatic mechanisms to balance the uptake and the storage of zinc. There is also increasing evidence supporting the importance of zinc during infection.

Theory of mind and epilepsy: what clinical implications?

Purpose: Epilepsy can impair theory of mind (ToM), but the clinical significance of such a deficit is unknown. This study evaluated the influence of selective ToM deficits on self-appraisal, coping, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with focal epilepsy.

Methods: Data were collected from 66 patients with temporal or frontal lobe epilepsy, and from 42 healthy controls.

Is intraoperative surgeon's opinion an accurate tool to assess the outcome of endoscopic treatment for vesicoureteral reflux?

Objective: Our experience in the endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) has significantly increased during the last decade. To help develop diagnostic tests to check the success of this procedure, we evaluated the accuracy of surgeons' intraoperative observations as a predictor of treatment results.

Method: We performed a prospective study of patients with VUR who were endoscopically treated during 1 year (106 renal units).

Prevalence and severity of asymptomatic coronary and carotid artery disease in patients with lower limbs arterial disease.

Objectives: Lower limbs arterial disease (LLAD) portends high risk of cardiovascular events. Yet, the prevalence of significant occult coronary artery (CAD) and cerebrovascular (CVD) disease in patients without CAD and CVD has not been widely investigated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and severity of CAD and CVD in patients with LLAD of the lower extremities.

[Surgical wound infections in newborns: analysis of risk factors].

Unlabelled: The incidence of surgical wound infections in neonates is high and it has an associated morbidity which extends hospital stay and gets a worse prognosis. The purpose of this study is to analyze the risk factors associated with the development of surgical wound infection and to identify susceptible patients with modifiable factors.

Material And Methods: Case-control study of 90 surgical procedures underwent in newborns.

High adhesion of tumor cells to mesothelial monolayers derived from peritoneal wash of disseminated gastrointestinal cancers.

The role of the mesothelial layer in the peritoneal spreading of cancer cells is only partially clarified. Here we attempted to better define the mesothelial contribution to the tumor cell adhesion using a direct adhesion test applied to human primary cultures of mesothelial cells (HPMCs) derived from the peritoneal washes of patients with gastric and colorectal cancers. Gastric and colon carcinoma cells were seeded on different mesothelial monolayers and quantitative fluorescence analysis was performed to analyze their growth and adhesive properties.