A proteasome-dependent inhibition of SIRT-1 by the resveratrol analogue 4,4'-dihydroxy-stilbene.

Background And Aim: Resveratrol (RSV), is a stilbene-based compound exerting wide biological properties. Its analogue 4,4'-dihydroxy--stilbene (DHS) has shown improved bioavailability and antiproliferative activity and . One of the hypotheses on how resveratrol works is based on SIRT1 activation.

The Antioxidant Activity of a Commercial and a Fractionated Phycocyanin on Human Skin Cells In Vitro.

The protective effects for cells against chemical and UVA stress of a commercial phycocyanin (PC) for food use and a PC extracted from Arthrospira platensis (Spirulina) in phosphate buffer were assessed. The purity of the commercial PC, spectrophotometrically estimated as A620/A280 and confirmed by HPLC, was higher than that of the fractionated PC (2.0 vs.

Comparison between Single- and Group-housed Pregnant Sows for Direct and Indirect Physiological, Reproductive, Welfare Indicators and Gene Expression Profiling.

Single- and group-housed pregnant sows were assessed during 8 weeks (4th and 8th to 14th) with regard to physiological, reproductive, welfare indicators and gene expression profiling. Compared to single-housed sows, group-housed sows had decreased non-return to estrus at 56 days after artificial insemination (AI) (83% vs 92%) and farrowing rate (78% vs 88%), respectively. Furthermore, group-housed sows showed a higher degree ( < 0.

Can contamination by major systemic insecticides affect the voracity of the harlequin ladybird?

Systemic neurotoxic insecticides are widely used to control aphid pests worldwide and their potential non-target effects on aphid predators are often unknown. Behavioral responses linked to biological control services are crucial when assessing the compatibility of chemicals with biocontrol organisms. This is particularly relevant for insecticides at low and sublethal concentrations.

Assessment of the Antioxidant Properties of Aqueous Byproduct Extracts of .

Aqueous extracts were obtained at low temperature with the Naviglio technology from grapevine stalks (Merlot), marc (Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) and leaves (Merlot) as typical byproducts of winemaking industry, and their properties were evaluated cytofluorometrically on human dermal fibroblasts. Leaf extracts had the greatest total phenolic ((47.6±3.

Cryopreservation of stallion semen: laboratory assessment of sperm injuries after cushioned centrifugation and freezing with conventional and alternative directional freezing methods.

Fresh 36 ejaculates of 13 stallions were split into two volumes, centrifuged with and without cushion and frozen with Conventional and two prototype, Drum and Directional, methods using 0.5 ml straws for the Conventional and Drum, and 2 ml flat straws for both the Drum and Directional. Cushioned centrifugation increased total motility (61.

Experimental evidence of a buoyant mass difference between bovine spermatozoa bearing X- and Y-chromosomes using a micromechanical resonator.

Flow cytometry is to date the only commercially viable technique for sex preselection of mammalian spermatozoa, measuring the different DNA content in X- and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa. Here we present experimental evidence of a measurable difference between bovine spermatozoa bearing X- and Y-chromosomes based on their buoyant mass. Single cells of two populations of flow-cytometrically sorted spermatozoa were analyzed by means of a micromechanical resonator, consisting of a suspended doubly-clamped microcapillary.

Differential gene expression in cumulus oocyte complexes collected by ovum pick up from repeat breeder and normally fertile Holstein Friesian heifers.

The aim of this study was to establish whether perturbed gene expression during cumulus oocyte development causes repeat breeding in cattle. In this study, a repeat breeder was defined as a normal estrous cycling animal that did not become pregnant after three inseminations despite the absence of clinically detectable reproductive disorders. Transcripts of genes extracted from cumulus oocyte complexes (COC) that were collected from three repeat breeder and three normally fertile Holstein Friesian heifers were compared.

Clear coherent imaging in turbid microfluidics by multiple holographic acquisitions.

Recently it has been demonstrated that digital holography is a powerful means allowing imaging of both amplitude and phase objects in turbid flowing media. However, in quasi-static turbid microfluidics, multiple scattering contributions through the colloids superimpose coherently to the recording device, resulting in speckle noise and hindering a clear vision of the objects. In this Letter we exploit the Brownian motion of the colloidal particles to get multiple uncorrelated holograms, and we combine them to reduce the speckle contrast.

Microscopy imaging and quantitative phase contrast mapping in turbid microfluidic channels by digital holography.

We show that sharp imaging and quantitative phase-contrast microcopy is possible in microfluidics in flowing turbid media by digital holography. In fact, in flowing liquids with suspended colloidal particles, clear vision is hindered and cannot be recovered by any other microscopic imaging technique. On the contrary, using digital holography, clear imaging is possible thanks to the Doppler frequency shift experienced by the photons scattered by the flowing colloidal particles, which do not contribute to the interference process, i.

The usefulness of combining traditional sperm assessments with in vitro heterospermic insemination to identify bulls of low fertility as estimated in vivo.

To date, no single in vitro assessment can estimate bull fertility. This research was aimed at evaluating the ability of a series of laboratory assessments to assign 50 Holstein Friesian bulls grouped as low (ER-NRR<-1.5), medium (-0.

Dynamic DIC by digital holography microscopy for enhancing phase-contrast visualization.

Differential image contrast (DIC), through the numerical managing and manipulation of complex wavefronts obtained by digital holography (DH), is investigated. We name the approach Dynamical Differential Holographic Image Contrast (DDHIC). DDHIC dispenses from special optics and/or complex setup configurations with moveable components, as usually occurs in classical DIC, that is not well-suited for investigating objects experiencing dynamic evolution during the measurement.

[Technical variant of mechanical prolapsectomy: transanal prolapsectomy with anoscopy].

Mechanical mucoprolapsectomy for surgical treatment of rectal prolapse and haemorrhoidal pathology is a widespread practice that has been consolidated by the experience of many medical centres. We have been using a variant system (TPA, transanal prolapsectomy with anoscopy) for about two years. The main feature of this technique is the access route.

[Implementation of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) in Italy: a multicentre investigation].

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), which was first introduced several years ago, allows the excision of rectal tumours not susceptible to a more traditional endoscopic approach or as an alternative to highly invasive or debilitating procedures. We surveyed the effective implementation of TEM in Italy, the indications adopted by each surgical department and the technical results achieved. We contacted 34 surgical departments and analysed the answers given by 17 centres (those actually using the technique = 50%).

In vitro fertilisation with frozen-thawed bovine sperm sexed by flow cytometry and validated for accuracy by real-time PCR.

The methodologies used for cytometric sorting of fresh spermatozoa never allowed a clear resolution of sexual chromosomes of frozen-thawed semen. To devise a novel method for the production of bovine predefined sexed embryos using frozen-thawed semen, sorting efficiency of different protocols was studied using a new quantitative real-time PCR method to verify the purity of sexed semen. To this aim, after Percoll separation, frozen-thawed samples were stained at different temperatures and concentrations of Hoechst 33342 using a short-incubation time.