Transcatheter aortic valves produce unphysiological flows which may contribute to thromboembolic events: An in-vitro study.

Purpose: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been associated with large incidence of ischemic events, whose sources are still unclear. In fact, sub-acute complications cannot be directly related to the severity of the calcification in the host tissues, nor with catheter manipulation during the implant. A potential cause could be local flow perturbations introduced by the implantation approach, resulting in thrombo-embolic consequences.

Targeted and untargeted mass spectrometric approaches in discrimination between Myrtus communis cultivars from Sardinia region.

In the present study, the discrimination of phytochemical content of Myrtus communis berries from different geographical origin and cultivars was explored by Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Fourier Transform-Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-FT-MS) metabolic profiling and quantitative analysis. Experiments were carried on myrtle plants grown in an experimental area of Sardinia region, obtained by the germination of seeds taken from berries collected in each part of the region. A preliminary untargeted approach on fruit's extracts was realized by collecting LC-ESI-FT-(Orbitrap)-MS data obtained by operating in negative ion mode and performing principal component analysis with the result of differentiation of samples.

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomic approach for the characterization of goat milk compared with cow milk.

In this work, the polar metabolite pool of commercial caprine milk was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and multivariate statistical data analysis. Experimental data were compared with those of cow milk and the discriminant analysis correctly classified milk. By the same means, differences due to heat treatments (UHT or pasteurization) on milk samples were also investigated.

Antioxidant capacity and vasodilatory properties of Mediterranean food: the case of Cannonau wine, myrtle berries liqueur and strawberry-tree honey.

The aim of this work was to use different assays to evaluate the antioxidant and vasodilatory properties of three typical food products from the Mediterranean area and to correlate these activities with their phenolic content. For this purpose, red wines Cannonau, liqueurs obtained by cold maceration of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) berries and bitter honeys obtained from strawberry-tree flowers (Arbutus unedo L.

Antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activity of Globularia meridionalis extracts and isolated constituents.

The antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase properties of Globularia meridionalis (Podp.) O. Schwarz (Globulariaceae) were investigated.

LC/DAD/ESI/MS method for the determination of imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and spinosad in olives and olive oil after field treatment.

The behavior in the field and the transfer from olives to olive oil during the technological process of imidacloprid, thiacloprid, and spinosad were studied. The extraction method used was effective in extracting the analytes of interest, and no interfering peaks were detected in the chromatogram. The residue levels found in olives after treatment were 0.

Influence of fenamidone, indoxacarb, pyraclostrobin, and deltamethrin on the population of natural yeast microflora during winemaking of two sardinian grape cultivars.

The influence of fenamidone ((S)-1-anilino-4-methyl-2-methylthio-4-phenylimidazolin-5-one), pyraclostrobin (methyl 2-[1-(4-chlorophenyl)pyrazol-3-yloxymethyl]-N-methoxycarbanilate), indoxacarb (methyl 7-Chloro-2,5-dihydro-2-[[(methoxycarbonyl) [4- (trifluoromethoxy) phenyl] amino] carbonyl] indeno[1,2-e][1,3,4] oxadiazine-4a(3H)-carboxylate), and deltamethrin ([cyano-[3-(phenoxy)phenyl]methyl] 3-(2,2-dibromoethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate) on spontaneous fermentation carried out by natural yeast grapes microflora, was studied during the wine-making process. Aliquots of pesticide standard solutions were added to the grapes before crushing, to reach a concentration equal or half the maximum residue limit (MRL). Vinifications were performed, with maceration (R), or without maceration (W).

Influence of post-harvest treatments with fludioxonil and soy lecithin co-application in controlling blue and grey mould and fludioxonil residues in Coscia pears.

The residue levels of fludioxonil (FLU) were determined in Coscia pear following a 1-, 2- or 4-min dip in an aqueous mixture of FLU containing 300 or 100 mg l(-1) (active ingredient, a.i.) at 20 and 50 degrees C, respectively, with or without 2% soy lecithin.

Residues of the fungicide famoxadone in grapes and its fate during wine production.

Famoxadone is a recently applied fungicide to vines that belongs to the oxazolidinedione family. The fate of famoxadone was studied by considering the decay ratio of this fungicide during the maturation of grapes and wine production. The main factors affecting the presence of fungicide residues such as fruit growth, photodegradation, evaporation, thermodegradation and co-distillation were studied with model systems.

Chemical composition of volatiles in Sardinian myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) alcoholic extracts and essential oils.

The chemical composition of the volatile fraction of myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) alcoholic extracts and essential oils from leaves and berries collected in different places in Sardinia (Italy) was studied. A simple and rapid liquid-liquid extraction method was used to isolate volatile compounds from myrtle alcoholic extracts followed by GC and GC-MS analysis allowing the detection of 24 compounds.

Composition and antimicrobial properties of Sardinian Juniperus essential oils against foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms.

In this work, the chemical compositions and antimicrobial properties of Juniperus essential oils and of their main components were determined. Five berry essential oils obtained from different species of Juniperus growing wild in Sardinia were analyzed. The components of the essential oils were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.

Chemical composition, plant genetic differences, and antifungal activity of the essential oil of Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of the Sardinian dwarf curry plant [Helichrysum italicum G. Don ssp. microphyllum (Willd) Nym] was studied.

Novel approach to study oxidative stability of extra virgin olive oils: importance of alpha-tocopherol concentration.

The stability of extra virgin olive oils is mainly due to their relatively low fatty acids unsaturation and to the antioxidant activity of some of the unsaponifiable components. We studied the activity of alpha-tocopherol in extra virgin olive oil in its natural state, using new and simple oxidizing conditions in "thin layer" and "bulk phase". Oxidation time course was monitored at 37 degrees C or 75 degrees C.

The effect of simulated rain on folpet and mancozeb residues on grapes and on vine leaves.

Artificial rainfalls were used to determine the effect of the amount of the rainfall and the time interval between pesticide application and rainfall event, on folpet and mancozeb residues on grapes and vine leaves. Forty-five mm of rain were administered to the vineyard in different amounts (45; 30+15; 15+15+15 mm). Folpet showed good rainfastness on the grapes and on the leaves.

Fenhexamid residues in grapes and wine.

The behaviour of the fungicide, fenhexamid, on grapes, and during wine-making, as well as its effect on the microflora of alcoholic and malolactic fermentation has been studied. After treatment, the residue on grapes decreased rapidly to one-third of the initial level after the first week, while it remained constant during the following two weeks. At harvest, in the wine obtained by vinification without skins, the fungicide residue decreased on average by 49%, while in the wine obtained by vinification with skins, the decrease was on average 62%.

Photolysis of pesticides: influence of epicuticular waxes from Persica laevis DC on the photodegradation in the solid phase of aminocarb, methiocarb and fenthion.

Pesticides with N,N-dimethyl and thiomethyl moieties (aminocarb, methiocarb and fenthion) were irradiated under artificial light (lambda > 290 nm) in an amorphous wax phase from Persica laevis DC. The effect of the presence of the wax on the photolysis rate differed in the three pesticides, increasing it in aminocarb, having little effect in methiocarb and slowing it down in fenthion. The presence of the wax affected the qualitative photodegradation behaviour of all the pesticides.

Fate of quinoxyfen residues in grapes, wine, and their processing products.

Quinoxyfen is a new fungicide that belongs to the family of the quinolines, recently introduced to control powdery mildew (Uncinula necator). In this paper the fate of quinoxyfen residues from vine to wine and in their processing products was studied. After the last of four applications at the recommended rate, 0.

Influence of Epicuticular Waxes on the Photolysis of Pirimicarb in the Solid Phase.

The influence of epicuticular waxes extracted from different fruits on the photodegradation of pirimicarb (I) in the solid phase was studied. Waxes were extracted with CHCl(3) and CHCl(3)/CH(3)OH from nectarines (N), oranges (O(R)), and mandarin oranges (M). All of the waxes affect the qualitative behavior of the photodegradation of I: the formation of photoproducts N-formylpirimicarb (II) and demethylpirimicarb (III) was hindered.

Acephate and buprofezin residues in olives and olive oil.

Field trials were carried out to study the persistence of acephate and buprofezin on olives. Two cultivars, pizz'e carroga and pendolino, with very large and small fruits respectively were used. After treatment, no difference was found between the two pesticide deposits on the olives.

Phenolic compounds in virgin olive oil. 2. Reappraisal of the extraction, HPLC separation, and quantification procedures.

The extraction procedures (solid/liquid SPE and liquid/liquid LLE) and HPLC separation and quantification methods of polyphenolic compounds have been checked in virgin olive oils in order to explain the differences in content reported in the literature. The work has been carried out on oils prepared from one cultivar and produced under the same protocol. The extraction methods are practically equivalent, but the SPE technique is more favorable because it is faster and simpler.

Distribution of folpet on the grape surface after treatment.

Field trials were carried out to evaluate whether folpet sprayed on grapevines penetrated the epicuticular wax and cell walls of grapes. Folpet showed poor penetration into the epicuticular wax; it was found almost totally on the surface. Despite its low solubility in water, perhaps due to the presence of adjuvants, its residues showed such a high resistance to washing that the action of rain was negligible in decreasing residues.

Pesticides in fermentative processes of wine.

The influence of six fungicides (azoxystrobin, cyprodinil, fludioxonil, mepanipyrim, pyrimethanil, and tetraconazole) on the fermentative activity of two yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kloeckeraapiculata) and two lactic bacteria (Leuconostoc oenos and Lactobacillus plantarum) was studied. The possibility of their being degraded by these yeasts and bacteria was also investigated. The presence of the pesticides did not affect alcoholic fermentation, not even with levels higher than those normally found in grapes in field experiments.

Factors affecting imazalil and thiabendazole uptake and persistence in citrus fruits following dip treatments.

The effect of concentration, temperature, and length of treatment with imazalil (IMZ) and thiabendazole (TBZ) was studied with application to citrus fruit. The amount of residues retained by fruit after "home" washing was also monitored. IMZ uptake in citrus fruit was related to treatment duration, whereas TBZ residues was not.