The phenolic compounds hydroxycinnamates, anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols of sweet cherry cultivars Burlat, Saco, Summit, and Van harvested in 2001 and 2002 were quantified by HPLC-DAD. Phenolics were analyzed at partially ripe and ripe stages and during storage at 15 +/- 5 degrees C (room temperature) and 1-2 degrees C (cool temperature). Neochlorogenic and p-coumaroylquinic acids were the main hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, but chlorogenic acid was also identified in all cultivars. The 3-glucoside and 3-rutinoside of cyanidin were the major anthocyanins. Peonidin and pelargonidin 3-rutinosides were the minor anthocyanins, and peonidin 3-glucoside was also present in cvs. Burlat and Van. Epicatechin was the main monomeric flavan-3-ol with catechin present in smaller amounts in all cultivars. The flavonol rutin was also detected. Cultivar Saco contained the highest amounts of phenolics [227 mg/100 g of fresh weight (fw)] and cv. Van the lowest (124 mg/100 g of fw). Phenolic acid contents generally decreased with storage at 1-2 degrees C and increased with storage at 15 +/- 5 degrees C. Anthocyanin levels increased at both storage temperatures. In cv. Van the anthocyanins increased up to 5-fold during storage at 15 +/- 5 degrees C (from 47 to 230 mg/100 g of fw). Flavonol and flavan-3-ol contents remained quite constant. For all cultivars the levels of phenolic acids were higher in 2001 and the anthocyanin levels were higher in 2002, which suggest a significant influence of climatic conditions on these compounds.

Chemical composition of eight sweet chestnut cultivars from the three protected designation of origin (PDO) areas in the Trás-osMontes region were studied: Aveleira, Rebordã, Trigueira and Zeive from PDO 'Terra Fria', Demanda, Longal and Martaínha from PDO 'Soutos da Lapa' and Judia from PDO 'Padrela'. Chestnuts were characterised by high moisture content ($50%), high levels of starch (43 g 100 g À1 dry matter -d.m.) and low fat content (3 g 100 g À1 d.m.). Nuts contained significant amounts of fibre (3% d.m.), were rich in K ($750 mg 100 g À1 d.m.), P ($120 mg 100 g À1 d.m.) and Mg ($75 mg 100 g À1 d.m.). Moreover, chestnuts are a good source of total amino acids (6-9 g 100 g À1 d.m.). Amino acid profiles were dominated by L-aspartic acid, followed by L-glutamic acid, leucine, L-alanine and arginine. These results provide additional information about the nutritional value of each cultivar and confirm that chestnuts are an interesting healthy food.

The relationship between colour parameters and anthocyanins of four sweet cherry cultivars, Burlat, Saco, Summit and Van was studied. The colour (L * , a * , b * , chroma and hue angle parameters) and anthocyanins were analysed during two different years at two different ripening stages (partially ripe, and ripe, respectively). The cherries were analysed at harvest and after storage at 1.5 ± 0.5°C and 15 ± 5°C for 30 and 6 days, respectively. The colour was measured by tristimulus colourimetry (CIELAB system) directly on the fruits, while anthocyanins were quantified by HPLC-DAD analysis on methanolic extracts of freeze-dried samples of the fresh cherries and on the differently stored cherries. L * , chroma, and hue angle values were always lower for the ripe than for the partially ripe cherries. All of the cultivars were found to contain cyanidin-3-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-glucoside as the major anthocyanins. The total anthocyanin content in fruits of the different cultivars varied in the order Burlat > Saco > Van > Summit. The concentration of anthocyanins increased at both temperatures of storage in both ripe and partially ripe cherries, but the extent of increase varied among cultivars. Cherries stored at 15 ± 5°C showed higher reduction of L * , chroma and hue angle than fruits stored at 1.5 ± 0.5°C. L * , a * , b * , chroma and hue angle correlated negatively (P < 0.001) with the total anthocyanins levels, but not with the total phenols. These results show that chromatic functions of chroma and hue correlate closely with the evolution of colour and anthocyanins levels during storage of sweet cherries and indicate that colour measurements can be used to monitor pigment evolution and anthocyanin contents of cherries (and vice versa).

Uremic CPPs and EVs are important players in the mechanisms of widespread calcification in CKD. We propose a major role for cGRP as inhibitory factor to prevent calcification at systemic and tissue levels.

In recent years, chestnuts have increasingly become important in human nutrition because of their nutrient contents and potential beneficial health effects. In Portugal, Tra´s-os-Montes e Alto Douro is the most important region for chestnut production, generating 85% of the total national output. In 1994, three chestnut protected designation of origin (PDO) areas were created: Terra Fria, Soutos da Lapa, and Padrela within the jurisdiction area of the Regional Agricultural Services of Tra´s-os-Montes Region. Seventeen cultivars were selected from these PDO to evaluate crude fat content and fatty acid (FA) composition over a period of 2 years. Total fat extraction was performed according to AOAC methodology, using a Soxhlet apparatus for 16 h. Petroleum ether was used for extraction and FAs were identified and quantified by gas chromatography. The cultivars studied confirm that chestnuts have low crude fat content, low saturated fatty acids (SFA) (17%) and high unsaturated fatty acids (USFA) (83%). The major FAs are linoleic, oleic and palmitic; these accounted for more than 85% of the total FA content. From the results two potentially health-beneficial cultivars were identified: cv. Lada, with high linoleic acid content, and cv. Aveleira, with higher USFA content. With respect to FA profiles of chestnuts from the three PDO regions, Padrela chestnuts consistently contained the highest level of linoleic acid. The variation detected among cultivars and PDO areas may reflect differences in genotype and are influenced by environmental and growing conditions. The Longal chestnuts, the only traditional cv. growing on two different PDO areas, had better nutritional qualities in PDO Terra Fria, which confirm that the ecological conditions where chestnut orchards are established influences nut quality. r

No abstract

Water relations, leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, light canopy transmittance, leaf photosynthetic pigments and metabolites and fruit quality indices of cherry cultivars 'Burlat', 'Summit' and 'Van' growing on five rootstocks with differing size-controlling potentials that decrease in the order: Prunus avium L. > CAB 11E > Maxma 14 > Gisela 5 > Edabriz, were studied during 2002 and 2003. Rootstock genotype affected all physiological parameters. Cherry cultivars grafted on invigorating rootstocks had higher values of midday stem water potential (Psi(MD)), net CO(2) assimilation rate (A), stomatal conductance (g(s)), intercellular CO(2) concentration (C(i)) and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) (F(v)/F(m)) than cultivars grafted on dwarfing rootstocks. The Psi(MD) was positively correlated with A, g(s) and C(i). Moreover, A was positively correlated with g(s), and the slopes of the linear regression increased from invigorating to dwarfing rootstocks, indicating a stronger regulation of photosynthesis by stomatal aperture in trees on dwarfing Edabriz and Gisela 5. The effect of rootstock genotype was also statistically significant for leaf photosynthetic pigments, whereas metabolite concentrations and fruit physicochemical characteristics were more dependent on cultivar genotype. Among cultivars, 'Burlat' leaves had the lowest concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, but were richest in total soluble sugars, starch and total phenols. Compared with the other cultivars, 'Summit' had heavier fruits, independent of the rootstock. 'Burlat' cherries were less firm and had lower concentrations of soluble sugars and a lower titratable acidity than 'Van' cherries. Nevertheless, 'Van' cherries had lower lightness, chroma and hue angle, representing redder and darker cherries, compared with 'Summit' fruits. In general, Psi(MD) was positively correlated with fruit mass and A was negatively correlated with lightness and chroma. These results demonstrate that: (1) water relations and photosynthesis of sweet cherry tree are mainly influenced by the rootstock genotype; (2) different physicochemical characteristics observed in cherries of the three cultivars suggest that regulation of fruit quality was mainly dependent on the cultivar genotype, although the different size-controlling rootstocks also had a significant effect.

Patients with cirrhosis have systolic and diastolic cardiac dysfunction at rest. Newer echocardiographic techniques may identify patients with functional impairment more accurately than conventional methods, which are more influenced by flow conditions.