0000000000108497
AUTHOR
Danila Di Majo
showing 103 related works from this author
Antioxidant effectiveness of sicilian red wines in comparison with french red wines.
2004
Effect of uric acid on plasma antioxidant capacity after red wine consumption in human
2007
PREVENTION OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS:DIETARY HABITIS AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLCHILDREN
2004
Flavonoids as bioactive components of food: Influence of the 7–o–glycosilation on antioxidant activity of flavanones
2006
Modulating activity of dietary flavonols and flavan-3ols on the enzymes xanthina oxidase (XO) and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD)
2012
Correlation of Metabolic Syndrome with Redox Homeostasis Biomarkers: Evidence from High-Fat Diet Model in Wistar Rats
2022
Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is an extremely complex disease. A non-balanced diet such as high-fat diet (HFD) induces metabolic dysfunction that could modify redox homeostasis. We here aimed at exploring redox homeostasis in male Wistar rats, following 8 weeks of HFD, correlating the eventual modification of selected biomarkers that could be associated with the clinical manifestations of MetS. Therefore, we selected parameters relative to both the glucose tolerance and lipid altered metabolism, but also oxidative pattern. We assessed some biomarkers of oxidative stress i.e., thiols balance, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant barriers, via the use of specific biochemical assays, individuating e…
Study on the polyphenolic contents in oils from olea europea (var. nocellara del Belice, Sicily) plants: comparison between traditional and organic c…
2004
Acidi grassi e composti antiossidanti degli oli extravergine D. O. P. Siciliani e la prevenzione delle patologie cardiovascolari
2006
Antioxidant capacity and total phenolics of Sicilian wines from different varieties and vintage year
2006
Different Behaviour of Plasma Antioxidant Status after Red Wine Consumption in Subjects of the Same Sex: A Preliminary Report
2012
<p>Several studies report that the plasma antioxidant capacity (PAC) increases after a single ingestion of red wine. However, data on the different behaviour of PAC after food intake in subjects of the same sex are still lacking. On the basis of these observations some investigations were undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of red wine intake on PAC in a homogeneous groups of healthy female volunteers (n=18). Additionally, the possible correlation between increase of PAC values and increase in uric acid levels was also assessed. PAC and uric acid concentrations were determined before wine intake and 50, 120 and 240 minutes thereafter. The results obtained following these studi…
The nutritional properties of sicilian red wines as determined by the analysis of their polyphenolic composition and antioxidant capacity
2007
A protocol to evaluate the antioxidant capacity by crocin bleaching assay in Pleurotus edible mushrooms
2008
Unpublished data on the chemical composition and nutritional value of Pleurotus mushrooms, growing on Umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae), are here reported. Cultivated basidiomata of four different Pleurotus taxa were analyzed in order to evaluate the composition in lipids, sugars, nitrogen, water, vitamins, ashes, and energetic values. The results showed that Pleurotus mushrooms are suitable in every type of diet thanks to their low caloric content, gastronomic value, vitamins, and mineral salt contents. The presence of a high content of vitamin B12 and riboflavin in Pleurotus nebrodensis is noteworthy.
Correlation between substance “P” and enzymatic activity of lysosomal Cathepsin A in rat peritoneal mast-cells, in physiologic conditions
2005
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMAL FAT OXIDATION AND OXYGEN UPTAKE: COMPARISON BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HEALTHY SEDENTARY SUBJECTS
2014
The contribution of fat oxidation to energy production during exercise is influenced by intensity of exercise. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the highest value of fat oxidation rate (FATmax) and the oxygen uptake (VO2) in sedentary type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients vs healthy sedentary subjects. Sedentary T2D patients and healthy sedentary subjects were evaluated to a graded exercise test, and oxygen uptake and fat oxidation rate were detected. Data show that in T2D patients fat oxidation rate is not impaired and the positive linear correlation between FATmax and both VO2 and VO2max suggests that even in T2D patients the muscle oxidative capacity might increase in…
Therapeutic Effectiveness of Nutrition Therapy in Pediatric Patients with Chronic Liver Diseases Awaiting Liver Transplantation
2013
It is important to prevent protein/calorie malnutrition in children with end stage liver diseases prior to transplantation. This study involved 34 patients between the ages of 10 and 156 months (mean value 25.69 months ± 32.2) (13 females and 21 males) on the liver transplant waiting list. Data collected as of three months before transplant and up to ten months after the procedure concerned gender, age, weight, height, Pediatric End Stage Liver Disease Score, baseline pathology, type of nutrition, type of transplant, immunosuppression, pulse steroid therapy, length of stay, and post transplant complications. Linear regression analysis showed that the length of hospital stay was 24.5 days mo…
Preliminary observation on antioxidant capacity in Pleurotus eryngii species-complex
2008
Relationship between diet in the first year of life, social factors and body weight in preadolescent schoolchildren in Palermo
2006
Stilbenes in red wine and their effects on antioxidant capacity.
2007
Histamine release: a proof of physiologic inhibition mechanism of inflammatory function of Substance P, caused by Cathepsin A
2006
Determinazione e monitoraggio della capacità antiossidante di vini rossi Siciliani provenienti da cultivar diverse e sviluppo di metodologie analitic…
2007
Comparison between mediterranean extra–virgin olive oils
2006
THE ROLE OF BUTYRIC ACID AS A OPROTECTIVE AGENT AGAINST INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
2014
Inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are pathologies characterized by a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Their etiopathogenesis is not yet fully understood. Immune system and heat shock proteins (HSPs) dysfunctions are considered to be among the most likely causes of these diseases. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid produced by intestinal microflora. It has a trophic, benefical and protective role in the colonic mucosa, and it also induces changes in Hsp levels and localization. It may therefore be a valuable complementary therapeutic agent when used alongside trraditional drugs (mesalazine and corticosteroids) to treat the …
Haptic Perception in Extreme Obesity: qEEG Study Focused on Predictive Coding and Body Schema
2020
Haptic perception (HP) is a perceptual modality requiring manual exploration to elaborate the physical characteristics of external stimuli through multisensory integrative cortical pathways. Cortical areas exploit processes of predictive coding that collect sensorial inputs to build and update internal perceptual models. Modifications to the internal representation of the body have been associated with eating disorders. In the light of this, obese subjects were selected as a valid experimental model to explore predictive coding in haptic perception. To this purpose, we performed electroencephalographic (EEG) continuous recordings during a haptic task in normally weighted versus obese subjec…
Nutritional counselling in overweight and obese children of some schools from Palermo.
2005
Study on the plasma antioxidant capacity after red wine intake: different behaviour of women and men.
2007
Extra-virgin olive oils of the Mediterranean basin: Nocellara del Belice, (Sicily) and Koroneiki (Crete)
2006
Nutritional properties of red wine: composition of anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols of different Sicilian varieties
2006
"Prevention of atherosclerosis: dietary habits and nutritional education in schoolchildren."
2004
Cytotoxic effects of a crude extract of extra virgin olive oil on human HL60 cell lines sensitive and resistant with MDR phenotype
2008
Prevention of atherosclerosis: dietary habitus and nutritional education in schoolchildren
2004
Distinct signalling mechanisms are involved in the dissimilar myocardial and coronary effects elicited by quercetin and myricetin, two red wine flavo…
2011
Abstract Background and Aims: Moderate red wine consumption associates with lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Attention to the source of this cardioprotection was focused on flavonoids, the non-alcoholic component of the red wine, whose intake inversely correlates with adverse cardiovascular events. We analysed whether two red wine flavonoids, quercetin and myricetin, affect mammalian basal myocardial and coronary function. Methods and results: Quercetin and myricetin effects were evaluated on isolated and Langendorff perfused rat hearts under both basal conditions and a- and b-adrenergic stimulation. The intracellular signalling involved in the effects of these flavonoids was ana…
The control of abstinence in the treatment of alcohol dependence: the use of acamprosate in relapse prevention
2014
"The alcoholism can also deal with drug treatments." This is the message that emerges from the press conference of presentation of Campral, trade name of acamprosate, a neuromodulator specifically indicated in the maintenance of abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients.Alcoholism is a disease characterized by: craving, loss of control, tolerance and physical dependence.For many years the prevention of relapse in use of alcohol after detoxification was supported almost exclusively by psychosocial procedures and techniques with modest success. Treatment with acamprosate is a valid tool to complement psychotherapy as it does not cause addiction, abuse or withdrawal of its suspension and does n…
Dietary habits and food consumptions
2005
Intestinal microbiota mutualism and gastrointestinal diseases
2015
The purpose of this work is to investigate the link between an altered intestinal mcro-biota or dysbiosis and chronic inflammatory disorders, in particular inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Along with probiotics, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) opts to be a promising therapeutic treatment for restoring the bacterial homeostasis of the hu-man intestine and reducing the risk of colorectal carcinogenesis. Microbiota is the com-plex microbial flora that resides in the gut establishing a mutually beneficial relation-ship. Alteration of the microbiota’s composition, termed as dysbiosis, may lead to pathological conditions. Treatment with probiotics can restore the normal commensal flora i…
Antioxidant capacity of plasma after red wine intake in Human volunteers
2007
“Golden” Tomato Consumption Ameliorates Metabolic Syndrome: A Focus on the Redox Balance in the High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rat
2023
Tomato fruits defined as “golden” refer to a food product harvested at an incomplete ripening stage with respect to red tomatoes at full maturation. The aim of this study is to explore the putative influence of “golden tomato” (GT) on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), especially focusing on the effects on redox homeostasis. Firstly, the differential chemical properties of the GT food matrix were characterized in terms of phytonutrient composition and antioxidant capacities with respect to red tomato (RT). Later, we assessed the biochemical, nutraceutical and eventually disease-modifying potential of GT in vivo in the high-fat-diet rat model of MetS. Our data revealed that G…
Study of the physiological effects of Quercetin and Kaempferol (alone or mixed) on the MnSOD enzyme
2010
Extra virgin olive oil, Nutritional quality related to Jaen index
2008
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMAL FAT OXIDATION AND OXYGEN UPTAKE: COMPARISON BETWEEN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HEALTHY SEDENTARY SUBJECTS
2012
Purpose Carbohydrate and fatty acids are the dominant fuels oxidized for energy production during exercise. Their contribution is influenced by intensity of exercise, with a progressive increase in the relative contribution of carbohydrate oxidation to energy expenditure, whereas the absolute rate of fat oxidation increases from low to moderate intensities of exercise and declines as exercise becomes more intense. In patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) the altered metabolism and the lower capacity to sustain efforts changed the choice and regulation of energy substrates for oxidation. Purpose of our study was to assess the relationship between the highest value of fat oxidation rate (FATmax…
Alcohol and Nicotine Use among Adolescents: An Observational Study in a Sicilian Cohort of High School Students
2022
In recent years, the mode of alcoholic intake known as binge drinking (BD) has become a common practice, especially among adolescents who, due to socio-environmental motives, tend to reach a rapid state of drunkenness. This drunkeness leads to alterations in brain areas responsible for executive functions and cognitive processes, as well as to the genesis of factors that predispose to lasting addiction. Likewise, nicotine leads to a comparable degree of addiction. On this basis, the aim of this research was to evaluate, on a cohort of 349 high school students (15–17 years old) in the province of Palermo, the following: (I) the drinking model of alcoholic beverages; (II) the use of nic…
Wild-type Saccharomyces characterization in spontaneous fermentation of red bulgarian wine
2006
3,5-DIIODO-L-THYRONINE-INDUCED MODIFICATION IN PITUITARY-THYROID AXIS IN RATS FED HIGH-FAT DIET. A PRELIMINARY REPORT
2014
Experimental observations highlight that the administration of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) may decrease the body weight and the plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and may prevent the onset of hepatic steatosis in rats fed diets rich in lipids (HFD). On the basis of these findings we have carried out some in vivo studies to evaluate the effects of increased levels of T2 on pituitary thyroid axis function in HFD rats. Fifteeen Wistar male rats were divided in 3 groups. The first group (N) was fed with a standard diet. The second group (G) was fed with a diet high in fat (HDF), while the third group (GT2) was additionally administered intraperitoneally with T2 (70 ug/100g body weig…
The Nutraceutical Properties of Rhus coriaria Linn: Potential Application on Human Health and Aging Biomedicine
2023
Rhus coriaria Linn is a little plant growing in the Mediterranean basin, including Sicily, where it is known as Sicilian Sumac. Since antiquity, it has been used as a medicinal herb, considering its pharmacological properties and its recognized anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. Multiple studies have highlighted that the beneficial properties of Sumac extracts depend on the abundance of phytochemicals such as polyphenols, fatty acids, minerals, and fibers. Despite its wide use as a spice, the literature on Sumac effects on humans’ health and aging is still scarce. Considering its great nutraceutical potential, Sumac could be used to treat age-related diseases such as…
Influence of solvents on the antioxidant property of flavonoids.
2003
In polyphenols redox systems, the solvent plays a fundamental role in the chemical behaviour of these compounds. Antioxidants can react in different ways with the prooxidant molecules. We have found differences in the antioxidant capacity of flavonoids such as naringin, neohesperidin, neoericitrin, hesperidin, narirutin didymin and the related flavones naringenin, hesperetin eriodictyol and isosakuratenin, when they are in the presence of radicals and solved in water or in an alcohol mixture.
Influence of flavonoids on the transmembrane electron transport:study ex-vivo
2015
The oxidative stress results from a change in the physiological balancebetween oxidant and antioxidant species. This condition induces an chemical change in the redox state of cells.. The function of t-PMET is to cooperate with intracellular redox pairs, like piruvate and lactate, to maintain thecytoplasmatic NAD+/NADH balance. The t-PMET is correlated with the modulation of internal pH and redox homeostasis, as it is able to activate proton release. Thus, t-PMET causes external and internal pH modification, as well as development of an inside negative membrane potential. The aim of this work was evaluate the erythrocytes redox status in a group of health volunteers and then to study whethe…
Flavonols and flavan-3-ols as modulators of xanthine oxidase and manganese superoxide dismutase activity.
2014
Experiments were performed to assess the dose-dependent effects of quercetin, kaempferol, (+) catechin, and (-) epicatechin on superoxide radical production through the modulation of manganese superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase activities. The experiments were carried out at flavanoid concentrations ranging from 1 µM to 100 µM. This investigation highlighted that flavonols induced opposite effects on superoxide radical production at different doses, i.e. pro-oxidant at the highest concentration (100 µM) and anti-oxidant at the lowest concentration (1 µM). Similar behaviors were observed for xanthine oxidase with flavan-3ols. The diastereoisomer (the catechin) acted as a stronger radi…
The phenolic compound of olive oil and human health
2006
The influence of two different pH levels on the antioxidant properties of flavonols, flavan-3-ols, phenolic acids and aldehyde compounds analysed in …
2011
Abstract The aim of this study is evaluate either the antioxidant or pro-oxidant behaviour of some typical polyphenolic compounds of red wine, to investigate the influence of two different pH levels on the antioxidant properties and to clarify their activity–structure relationship. The antioxidant activity of compounds in hydrophilic solutions at pH 3.5 and pH 7.4 were measured by a competition kinetic test, based on the crocin bleaching. The position and the number of substitution groups influence the magnitude of the antioxidant activity of the polyphenolic compounds, but their antioxidant properties are also strongly influenced by the pH conditions. Increasing the pH, a considerable incr…
Vitamin D in cancer chemoprevention
2015
Context: There is increasing evidence that Vitamin D (Vit D) and its metabolites, besides their well-known calcium-related functions, may also exert antiproliferative, pro-differentiating, and immune modulatory effects on tumor cells in vitro and may also delay tumor growth in vivo. Objective: The aim of this review is to provide fresh insight into the most recent advances on the role of Vit D and its analogues as chemopreventive drugs in cancer therapy. Methods: A systematic review of experimental and clinical studies on Vit D and cancer was undertaken by using the major electronic health database including ISI Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Results and conclus…
Wild-type Saccharomyces characterisation in spontaneous fermentations of red Bulgarian wine
2006
The Role of Vitamin K in Bone Remodeling and Osteoporosis
2012
Vitamin K is an essential fat soluble vitamin involved in the regulation of normal coagulation. However, growing evidence highlights that this molecule appears to be also implicated in the regulation of other important biological functions such as bone mineralization, calcium homeostasis, apoptosis, cell growth and signal transduction. In particular, many studies have focused their attention on the protective effects of vitamin K on bone tissue in the outlook of its use in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. The objective of the present paper is to review data of the literature regarding the metabolic effects of Vitamin K in bone tissue and its clinical ro…
HOW CBT (COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY) CAN MODULATE NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL FACTORS AS ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION IN OBESE PATIENTS
2013
Emotional factors have great influence on eating habits and increase the risk of obesity (1). Few studies demonstrate that patients affected by binge eating disorder felt negative emotions before overeatings; the main emotions reported were anxiety, then sadness and tiredness. Emotional eating is related to the stress (2,3), so when subjects feel anxiety and depression, is more probable that they use food as modulator of their emotions, in this way the weight develops fast with all risks of obesity. The obesity is often attended by a specific syndrome called metabolic syndrome; the main symptoms are insulin resistence, hyperinsulinemia, not-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia,…
Risk factors for eating disorders and correlation with the body mass index, in preadolescent girls from some schools of Palermo
2006
Polyphenols, tocopherols and fatty acids of extra virgin olive oils D.O.P. in Sicily
2006
Antioxidant capacity as an index to charaterise wine nutraceutic properties: a study on Sicilian red wines
2006
Ketogenic and Modified Mediterranean Diet as a Tool to Counteract Neuroinflammation in Multiple Sclerosis: Nutritional Suggestions.
2022
Ketogenic Diet is a nutritional pattern often used as dietotherapy in inflammatory diseases, including neurological disorders. Applied on epileptic children since 1920, in recent years it has been taken into account again as a tool to both reduce inflammatory burdens and ameliorate the nutritional status of patients affected by different pathologies. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered an immune-mediated neuro-inflammatory disease and diet is a possible factor in its pathogenesis. The aim of this work is to investigate the main potential targets of MS-related impairments, in particular the cognitive deficits, focusing on the alteration of biomarkers such as the Brain Derived-Neurotrophic …
Total phenols, α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol and related antioxidant capacity in olive oil with different Jean index values
2007
Different Sorption Behaviors for Wine Polyphenols in Contact with Oak Wood
2007
The evolution of polyphenols of enological interest- monomeric anthocyanins, (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, gallic acid, and trans-resveratrol-in the presence of oak wood was investigated in aging-model conditions. Disappearance kinetics showed that, except for gallic acid, all of the wine polyphenols tend to disappear from the model wine in presence of oak wood, to reach an equilibrium after 20 days of contact. At equilibrium, the higher disappearance rates were obtained for monomeric anthocyanins and trans-resveratrol with values of 20 and 50%, respectively. For monomeric anthocyanins, the rate of disappearance seemed to be independent of their nature. In order to evaluate the contributio…
Polifenoli del vino come agenti protettivi contro l’aterogenesi: correlazione tra contenuto polifenolico e capacità antiossidante di vini siciliani
2006
The antioxidant capacity of red wine in relationship with its polyphenolic constituents
2008
The aim of this study is evaluate either the antioxidant or pro-oxidant behaviour of some typical polyphenolic compounds of red wine, to investigate the influence of two different pH levels on the antioxidant properties and to clarify their activity–structure relationship. The antioxidant activity of compounds in hydrophilic solutions at pH 3.5 and pH 7.4 were measured by a competition kinetic test, based on the crocin bleaching. The position and the number of substitution groups influence the magnitude of the antioxidant activity of the polyphenolic compounds, but their antioxidant properties are also strongly influenced by the pH conditions. Increasing the pH, a considerable increase in a…
Composti antiossidanti del vino nell'alimentazione
2010
Nutraceutic properties of wine: influence of resveratrol and malvidin-3-O-glucoside sorption by Oak wood
2006
ROLE OF 3,5-DIIODO-L-THYRONINE ON THE PITUITARY-THYROID AXIS
2018
Dietary flavonols and flavan-3ols as modulators of superoxide radicals production: opposite dose-dependent effects
2012
Preliminary study on food habitus and consumpitions in adult subjects attendine general medicine outpatientients
2004
PLASMA ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY STATUS AFTER RED WINE CONSUMPTION
2013
Several studies report that the plasma antioxidant capacity (PAC) increases after a single ingestion of red wine. However, data on the different behaviour of PAC after food intake in subjects of the same sex are still lacking. On the basis of these observations some investigations were undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of red wine intake on PAC in a homogeneous groups of healthy female volunteers (n=18). Additionally, the possible correlation between increase of PAC values and increase in uric acid levels was also assessed. PAC and uric acid concentrations were determined before wine intake and 50, 120 and 240 minutes thereafter. The results obtained following these studied highli…
Squalene, α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol concentration during ripening phase in olive oil pulp
2006
Effects of extra-virgin olive oil enriched with E-vitamin and Q10-coenzyme on the heart rate variability and plasma antioxidant status in athletes
2010
OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the assumption of extra virgin olive oil enriched with E-vitamin and Q10-coenzyme may improve the plasma anti-oxidant/pro-oxidant balance and be associated with favorable changes in heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Four male athletes, mean age 22 (range 21-24), were recruited. They assumed 20 ml per day of the integrator (20 mg Q10 and 15 mg Vit E) for one month. The plasma antioxidant capacity (AC) was evaluated by the crocin bleaching assay. The frequency-domain analysis of HRV was carried out using Cardioline Cube recorder and specific software to obtain, from an autoregressive power spectrum approach, the power in normalized units (nu) of the low-(LF…
Preadolescent obesity in schoolchildren from Palermo: analysis of some correlated factors
2006
NUTRIZIONE E MICROFLORA BATTERICA INTESTINALE
2009
The phenolic compounds of olive oil: structure, biological activity and beneficial effects on human health
2005
AbstractThe Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables, cereals, fruit, fish, milk, wine and olive oil and has salutary biological functions. Epidemiological studies have shown a lower incidence of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases and certain kinds of cancer in the Mediterranean area. Olive oil is the main source of fat, and the Mediterranean diet's healthy effects can in particular be attributed not only to the high relationship between unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in olive oil but also to the antioxidant property of its phenolic compounds. The main phenolic compounds, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, which give extra-virgin olive oil its bitter, pungent taste, have powerful a…
Cytotoxic effects of polyphenols from waste-water of extra virgin olive oil on human HL60 and K562 cell lines.
2009
Acetaldehyde as the first hit of addictive behaviour
2016
Unhealthy alcohol use is common in the Western society, which puts risk of health consequences, causing multiple behavioural injuries. Increasing evidence focuses on acetaldehyde, the first metabolite of ethanol, as the mediator of the several behavioural actions of alcohol, including its rewarding and motivational effects. In particular, acetaldehyde induces dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens modulating primary alcohol rewarding effect, drug seeking, and relapse behaviour. Recent behavioural studies point at acetaldehyde as a drug of abuse since its oral self-administration is induced and maintained in an operant/conflict paradigm. These findings provide further evidence on the role…
Composition de vins rouges siciliens et leurs propriétés "nutraceutiques"
2007
Modulation of Human Motor Cortical Excitability and Plasticity by Opuntia Ficus Indica Fruit Consumption: Evidence from a Preliminary Study through N…
2022
Indicaxanthin (IX) from Opuntia Ficus Indica (OFI) has been shown to exert numerous biological effects both in vitro and in vivo, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuro-modulatory activity in rodent models. Our goal was to investigate the eventual neuro-active role of orally assumed fruits containing high levels of IX at nutritionally-relevant amounts in healthy subjects, exploring cortical excitability and plasticity in the human motor cortex (M1). To this purpose, we applied paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation and anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) in basal conditions and followed the consumption of yellow cactus pear fruits containing IX or white ca…
Analysis of total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content during ripeting of Sicilian red grapes
2010
The influence of hypocaloric diet, associated with moderate physical activity and CBT (cognitive behavioral theraphy), on self-esteem and self-effica…
2012
UTILIZZO DELLA MICROSCOPIA ELETTRONICA A SCANSIONE PER L’ANALISI MORFOLOGICA E ULTRASTRUTTURALE DI CARIOSSIDI DI FRUMENTO DURO
2013
Abstract: Questo studio è stato svolto nell’ambito del Progetto”ALISAL”: Miglioramento delle proprietà igienico-sanitarie, salutistiche e funzionali di materie prime per l’alimentazione dell’uomo e/o degli animali, promosso dal Ministero delle Politiche Agricole, Alimentari e Forestali italiano (MIPAAF). Lo studio in oggetto è parte del progetto sopra indicato il cui scopo era quello di selezionare nuovi genotipi di cereali, in particolare di frumento duro, al fine di migliorare le caratteristiche nutrizionali e tecnologiche dell’ intera filiera produttiva. La fase preliminare dello sviluppo progettuale è stata quella di sviluppare un metodo per la caratterizzazione morfologica e ultrastrut…
Pharmacological manipulation of serotonin receptors during brain embryogenesis favours stress resiliency in female rats
2018
Manipulations of the serotonin transmission during early development induce long-lasting changes in the serotonergic circuitry throughout the brain. However, little is known on the developmental consequences in the female progeny. Therefore, this study aimed at exploring the behavioural effects of pre- and postnatal stimulation of the serotonergic system by 5-methoxytryptamine in adolescent female rats on behavioural reactivity and anxiety- like phenotype. Our results show that perinatal 5- methoxythyptamine decreased total distance travelled and rearing frequency in the novel enviroment, and increased the preference for the centre of the arena in the open field test. Moreover, perinatal 5-…
The phenolic compounds of olive oil and human health
2006
Relationship between maximal fat oxidation and oxygen uptake: comparison between type 2 diabetes patients and healthy sedentary subjects
2014
The contribution of fat oxidation to energy production during exercise is influenced by intensity of exercise. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the highest value of fat oxidation rate (FATmax) and the oxygen uptake (VO2) in sedentary type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients vs healthy sedentary subjects. Sedentary T2D patients and healthy sedentary subjects were evaluated to a graded exercise test, and oxygen uptake and fat oxidation rate were detected. Data show that in T2D patients fat oxidation rate is not impaired and the positive linear correlation between FATmax and both VO2 and VO2max suggests that even in T2D patients the muscle oxidative capacity might increase in…
Flavanones in Citrus fruit: structure-antioxidant activity relationships
2005
Epidemiological surveys have shown an inverse relationship between the intake of fruit and the incidence of coronary heart disease and some type of cancer. Data found in the literature regarding the flavonoids in general while this study focuses on flavanones, a subclass of flavonoids which occurs in Citrus fruit. The aim of this work is to elucidate the antioxidant or pro-oxidant behaviours of some common flavanones and to determine their activity–structure relationships as antioxidant using the crocin bleaching inhibition assay. The compounds studied were regarding both the aglycon form and the glycoside form. Data evidence that the substitution of the 7th OH group of the flavanones by a …
Nutritional counselling in overweight and obese children of some school from Palermo
2006
Influence of Oak wood contact on nutraceutical properties of a model wine
2006
SICILIAN OLIVE OIL ANTIOXIDANT AND PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
2004
The effects of extra-virgin olive oil supplemented with Vit. E and Q10 on plasma antioxidant capacity and aerobic performance in athletes
2010
Behaviour of different nutritional parameters, in extra virgin olive oil, during the ripening phase
2006
capacity and total phenolics of sicilian wines from different varieties and vintage year
2004
Microscopia elettronica a scansione per l’analisi morfologica e ultrastrutturale di cariossidi di frumento duro
2015
Cereals are an important source of carbohydrates in the human contributing to a certain extent also to the need of protein. They constitute a rich source of both nonstarch polysaccharides (dietary fiber) and starch, which together comprise 70-77% of kernel. The Guidelines for a Healthy Diet in Italy define the opportunity to take, on a daily basis, at least 60% of energy from carbohydrates, and particularly 45% from complex carbohydrates. In Italy, especially in Sicily, these nutrients are contained in traditional food as pasta and bread made starting from durum wheat as grow material. Recently, especially in the bigger towns, there is also widespread consumption of bread made with soft whe…
Biochemical adaptations in middle-distance runners: an assessment of blood and anthropometric parameters
2014
In order to understand the mechanism underlying the physiological adaptation of purely aerobic workout, we investigated the effect of 2 months of training on nine males (17-22 year-old) middle distance running agonistic athletes. Blood sample was collected in the morning to analyze: hematological parameters, lipid profile, liver function enzymes [glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT)] and skeletal and myocardial markers of muscle damage [creatin kinase (CK) and creatin kinase MB (CK-MB)]. Endurance training, as it implies high oxygen consumption, should increase reactive oxygen species, but it has been shown that exercise lea…
Reducing Visuospatial Pseudoneglect in Healthy Subjects by Active Video Gaming
2023
Pseudoneglect phenomenon refers to a condition in which healthy subjects tend to perceive the left side of exactly bisected lines as being slightly longer than the right one. However, behavioural data showed that athletes practising an open-skill sport display less pseudoneglect than the general population. Given the fact that so-called exergames (also known as active video games) are platforms designed to fully mimic sport activity, this work intends to investigate whether and how a one-week training period of exergame open-skill sport can determine a similar decrease in pseudoneglect. Fifteen healthy participants (non-athletes) responded to a visuospatial attention task and a control memo…
Effect of extra virgin olive oli phenols on HL60 cell lines sensitive and resistant to anthracyclines
2009
Leptin and Apigenin: Antagonists in the Apoptotic Pathway of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Line
2007
How cognitive behavioural therapy can modulate negative emotional factors as anxiety or depression in obese patients
2015
Citrus flavonoids: Molecular structure, biological activity and nutritional properties: A review
2007
Abstract Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between dietary flavonoid intakes and cardiovascular diseases. Citrus fruits are the main winter fruits consumed in the Mediterranean diet, so they are the main source of dietary flavonoids. The possible beneficial effects are due, not only to the high amounts of vitamins and minerals, but also to the antioxidant properties of their flavonoids. Dietary flavonoids may help to supplement the body antioxidant defences against free radicals. These compounds’ possible beneficial effects are due to their antioxidant activity, which is related to the development of atherosclerosis and cancer, and to anti-inflammatory and antimicro…
Nutritional and psychological therapies in the treatment of obesity: preliminary findings
2010
Follistatin as potential therapeutic target in prostate cancer
2012
Follistatin is a single-chain glycosylated protein whose primary function consists in binding and neutralizing some members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily such as activin and bone morphogenic proteins. Emerging evidence indicates that this molecule may also play a role in the malignant progression of several human tumors including prostate cancer. In particular, recent findings suggest that, in this tumor, follistatin may also contribute to the formation of bone metastasis through multiple mechanisms, some of which are not related to its specific activin or bone morphogenic proteins' inhibitory activity. This review provides insight into the most recent advances in understa…
Nutrition, obesity and hormones
2018
Obesity is a chronic pathological condition with a multifactorial aetiology, characterised by an excessive body fat accumulation with multiple organ-specific consequences. Emerging evidence highlights that obesity appears to be associated with multiple alterations in the endocrine system. However, the mechanisms underlying the interactions between obesity and this system remain still controversial. This review discusses the impact of obesity on various endocrine systems and, in particular, would provide a general overview on the biochemical changes that may occur in each of these axes in association with obesity.
Effects of extra virgin olive oil phenols on HL60 cell lines sensitive and resistant to anthracyclines
2009
The aim of our study was to evaluate the capability of a crude extract of phenols from extra virgin olive oil of Moraiolo cultivar to induce apoptosis and/or differentiation in sensitive and resistant HL60 cell lines to anticancer drugs (Typical Multidrug Resistance). Our data highlight that the crude extract is able to induce apoptosis on both sensitive and resistant cells, whereas the exposure to a number of anticancer drugs does not induce apoptosis in resistant cells. In differentiation experiments we investigated the capability of crude extract of phenols to induce the expression of CD11 granulocytic or CD14 monocytic cell surface antigen in sensitive and resistant HL60 cell lines. At …
Effects of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine on the liver of high fat diet fed rats
2016
Experimental studies have highlighted that the administration of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) to rats fed diets rich in lipids induces a decrease of cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels and body weight (BW) without inducing liver steatosis. On the basis of these observations we carried out some experimental <em>in vivo</em> studies to assess the effects of multiple high doses of T2 on the pituitary thyroid axis of rats fed diet rich in lipids. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of five animals each. The first group (N group) received standard diet, the second group was fed with a high fat diet (HFD group), while the third group (HFDT2 group) was additi…
ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY IN EVER-SMOKERS AND NO-SMOKERS HEALTHY SUBJECTS: INFLUENCE OF FLAVONOIDS (QUERCETIN AND LUTEOLIN)
2013
ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY IN EVER-SMOKERS AND NO-SMOKERS HEALTHY SUBJECTS: INFLUENCE OF FLAVONOIDS(QUERCETIN AND LUTEOLIN) Background. Oxygen free radicals are highly reactive species that can cause cell damage including lipid peroxidation, enzyme inactivation and DNA damage. Inactivation and removal of highly reactive species depend by the antioxidant defence systems. The catalase (CAT) belongs to the primary antioxidant defence system of the cell which catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds with different chemical structure and properties. They are widely distributed in fruits, vegetables, nuts, …
ANALYSIS OF TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT (TP) DURING RIPENING OF TWO SICILIAN RED GRAPES VARIETIES
2011
ANALYSIS OF TOTAL ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY AND TOTAL PHENOLIC CONTENT (TP) DURING RIPENING OF TWO SICILIAN RED GRAPES VARIETIES During the last decade the interest for polyphenols has increased considerably because numerous epidemiological studies, supported by several short term controlled randomised clinical trials, have suggested associations between consumption of polyphenol-rich food or beverages and the prevention of certain chronic diseases associated with the oxidative stress condition (1). In a our previous study on several samples of Sicilian red wine we found that the total polyphenol parameter can not to characterize the nutraceutical properties of a wine by only because the correla…