Gianluca Tripodi

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration in patients with occult HBV infection and hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA integration in the host genome is a major mechanism responsible for the etiopathogenetic role exerted by HBV in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Extensive analyses evaluating viral integration in HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) negative patients with occult HBV infection (OBI) have not yet been performed. The aim of this study was to investigate and characterize HBV DNA integration in HCC tissues from OBI patients.

Influence of Soil Salinity on Sensory Characteristics and Volatile Aroma Compounds of Nero d'Avola Wine

The influence of soil salinity on the chemical composition, volatile aromatic compounds, and sensory characteristics of Nero d’Avola wine was examined. Data on vineyard productivity, such as grape yield, are also reported. Physicochemical parameters were determined on the samples analyzed. Solid-phase microextraction was used for the extraction of aromatic volatile compounds, followed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sensory analyses were performed by visual inspection, smelling, and tasting. Statistical analysis showed that most of the physicochemical parameters and volatile constituents, both primary and fermentation aromas, were influenced by the soil salinity. The composition differences observed among the samples had little influence on the sensory characteristics; the increase in soil salinity enhanced color intensity, purple reflexes, salty, citrus, and fruit in the aroma. Results indicate that Nero d’Avola vine may be well suited to increased soil salinity, even given reduced plant productivity.

Effects of cluster thinning on wine quality of Syrah cultivar (Vitis vinifera L.)

Cluster thinning is a viticulture tool used to correct overcropping, to improve fruit composition, and to find a balance between shoot growth and berry development. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cluster thinning on the wine quality of Syrah cultivar under Mediterranean climate. Particular attention has been given to the volatile aroma compounds which are determinant for the sensory quality of the wine. Manual cluster thinning in the early stage of veraison was applied and compared with a not thinned control. Cluster thinning influenced yield reduction, advanced grape maturity, improved the phenolic content of grapes and therefore of wine, and influenced the volatile profile of wine. The grapes of thinned plants tend to get rich in varietal and fermentation aromas. Despite the economic impact, cluster thinning is a viable option due to the improvement in wine quality, especially for increasing the amount of compounds responsible for the typical aroma and color, at least in the Mediterranean climate where the search was carried out.

Lack of the NS5B S282T mutation in HCV isolates from liver tissue of treatment-naive patients with HCV genotype-1b infection.

BACKGROUND Despite the availability of several direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) specifically inhibiting different HCV proteins, treatment of chronic HCV infection is still a challenge also because of the possible selection of resistant viral variants under DAA therapy. Indeed, only the emergence of viruses resistant to the nucleoside inhibitors of the HCV NS5B polymerase (Pol) has not yet been reported, in spite of the fact that in vitro studies have clearly shown that an S282T amino acid change in the Pol protein may confer resistance to these drugs. On the basis of a previous study showing that viral variants resistant to HCV protease inhibitors are largely present in the liver - but not in the serum - of untreated patients, we investigated the possible natural occurrence of viral populations with the S282T change in the Pol protein, analysing viral isolates from liver and serum of HCV genotype-1b treatment-naive patients. METHODS HCV-1b isolates from liver specimens and serum samples of 10 chronic hepatitis C patients were analysed by cloning and sequencing. RESULTS The S282T mutation was not found in any of the viral isolates from either liver or serum samples of all the cases, although an S282G mutation of unknown virological/clinical relevance was detected in 2/19 liver isolates from one patient. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms that the natural selection of the S282T mutation is a rare event, thus explaining the lack of emergence and takeover of these variants under drug pressure.

Volatile composition of Italian Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns. et Link leaves

The composition of the volatile oil from the leaves of Italian Thymus capitatus (L.) Hoffmanns. et Link was investigated in detail by a solid-phase microextraction (SPME)–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. Sixty-two compounds were identified; the major aroma constituents were carvacrol (72.8%), γ-terpinene (6.4%), p-cymene (2.3%), β-caryophyllene (3.1%) and β-linalool (2.1%). The method developed for the volatile constituent analysis allowed the identification of a large number of sesquiterpenes not reported previously in Thymus oil, including α-guryunene, β- and γ-elemene, α-bergamotene, α- and β- himachalene, β-farnesene, α-muurolene, valencene, calamenene, humulene oxide I and II, and α-bisabolol.

Volatile constituents of mini-watermelon fruits

Aroma is one of the essential factors for evaluating fruit quality, and the volatile constituents in mini-watermelon fruits were here determined by a headspace-solid-phase micro-extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method (HS-SPME-GC–MS). The plants, Citrullus lanatus [Thumb.] Matsum. and Nakai cv. Minirossa (Cucurbitaceae), were cultivated in Pachino, Sicily (Italy) under greenhouse conditions. The fruits were collected in two different production years. Sixty-eight volatile compounds have been identified and quantified; among these, the impact aroma compounds are also included. The volatile compounds have been identified by linear retention index, mass spectra, standard injection and reference data; the quantification has been carried out by the standard addition technique. The main compounds were (Z)-3-nonen-1-ol, (E)-2-nonenal and (Z,Z)-3,6-nonadien-1-ol, which are characteristic volatiles in the Cucurbitaceae family.

Brassica fruticulosa Cyr. and Brassica incana Ten. (Brassicaceae) as Mediterranean traditional wild vegetables: a valuable source of bioactive compounds

Two species of Brassicaceae (Crucifer) family, used and appreciated as traditional wild vegetables, including Brassica fruticulosa Cyr. and Brassica incana Ten., were examined as potential source of bioactive volatile compounds. The volatile constituents released by the chopped leaves and roots were extracted and analyzed by solid-phase microextraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (SPME–GC–MS). A large number of volatile constituents were identified: alcohols, aldehydes, esters, acids, ketones, terpenes, C13-norisoprenoides and sulfur compounds. Volatiles included isothiocyanates with a well known anticancer activity – the largest amount resulted in the roots, with 3-butenyl isothiocyanate the most represented in both species; of great interest also the good amount revealed in the leaves of Brassica fruticulosa Cyr. The revaluation of these plants, a vegetable source of high antioxidant power, will be interesting for consumer health by the production of new commercial herbal products and/or dietary supplements of high quality and low cost.

Headspace Volatiles of Vicia sativa L. (Leguminoseae) by Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Abstract The leaf volatile constituents of Vicia sativa L. have been studied using Headspace Solid-Phase Microextraction and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (HS/SPME-GC/MS) and GC-FID. Forty-three components, aliphatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, aldehydes and ketones, aromatic aldehydes, esters and alcohols, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were fully characterized by mass spectra, linear retention indices, and injection of standards; the average composition as single components and classes of substances is reported. Leaf volatiles in Vicia sativa L. were characterized by a high amount of aldehydes, with the (Z)-2-hexenal (the typical leaf aldehyde) the main component.

PIVKA-II is a useful tool for diagnostic characterization of ultrasound-detected liver nodules in cirrhotic patients

Abstract Protein induced by vitamin K absence-II (PIVKA-II) is a potential screening marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Limited data are available about its utility in discriminating neoplastic from regenerative nodules at ultrasonography (US) evaluation in cirrhotic patients. Aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic utility of PIVKA-II in cases showing liver nodules of uncertain diagnosis at US. Ninety cirrhotics with US evidence of liver nodule(s) were enrolled. All patients underwent blood sampling within 1 week of US and were thereafter followed up. HCC was confirmed in 40/90 cases, and in all cases it was in a very early/early stage. All sera were tested for PIVKA-II and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) at the end of follow-up. PIVKA-II at a cut off of 60 mAU/mL was significantly associated with HCC at both univariate and multivariate analysis (P = .016 and P = .032, respectively). AFP at a cut off of 6.5 ng/mL was not associated with HCC at univariate analysis (P = .246). ROC curves showed that PIVKA-II had 60% sensitivity, 88% specificity, 80% positive predictive value (PPV), and 73% negative predictive value (NPV), whereas AFP had 67% sensitivity, 68% specificity, 63% PPV, and 72% NPV. AUROC curves showed that the combination of both biomarkers increased the diagnostic accuracy for HCC (AUC 0.76; sensitivity 70%, specificity 94%, PPV 91%, and NPV 79%). In conclusion, PIVKA-II is a useful tool for the diagnostic definition of US-detected liver nodules in cirrhotic patients, and it provides high diagnostic accuracy for HCC when combined with AFP.

Bioactive volatiles in Sicilian (South Italy) saffron: safranal and its related compounds

Abstract Sicilian saffron is cultivated mainly in the province of Enna, although cultivation is spreading slowly throughout the region. Volatile constituents which are fundamental for saffron aroma were determined. A large number of volatile compounds were identified using HS–SPME and GC–MS. Safranal, safranal isomer, isophorones, α-cyclocitral, and β-cyclocitral were also quantified. A high amount of safranal resulted in the samples; moreover, of interest was the amount of safranal isomer and α-isophorone. The results allowed to consider Sicilian saffron of high commercial quality. It is an important source of bioactive compounds for the amount of safranal and related compounds, which are important for its aroma and relevant to human health too.