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The electrochemical oxidation (EO) of phenolic wastewaters mimicking olive oil mill effluents was carried out in a batch stirring reactor using Ti/IrO sub(2) anodes, varying the nature (NaCl and Na sub(2)SO sub(4)) and electrolyte concentration (1.8-20 g L super(-1)), current density (57-119 mA cm super(-2)) and initial pH (3.4-9). Phenolic content (TPh) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals were monitored as a function of applied charge and over time. The nature of the electrolyte greatly affected the efficiency of the system, followed by the influence of the current density. The NaCl concentration and the initial pH influenced the process in a lesser extent. The best operating conditions achieved were 10 g L super(-1) of NaCl, current density of 119 mA cm super(-2) and initial pH of 3.4. These parameters led to 100 and 84.8% of TPh and COD removal, respectively. Under these conditions, some morphological differences were observed by SEM on the surface of the anode after treatment. To study the potential toxicity of the synthetic effluent in neuronal activity, this mixture was applied to rat brain slices prior to and after EO. The results indicate that although the treated effluent causes a smaller depression of the neuronal reactive oxygen species (ROS) signal than the untreated one, it leads to a potentiation instead of recovery, upon washout. Furthermore, the purification of a real olive mill wastewater (OMW), with the organic load of the synthetic effluent, using the same optimised operating conditions, achieved total phenolic compounds abatement and 62.8% of COD removal. This study demonstrates the applicability of this EO as a pre-treatment process of a real effluent, in order to achieve the legal limit values to be discharged into natural streams regarding its organic load.

BackgroundStrong Islamic beliefs and food hospitality are features of the Saudi culture where the prevalence of T2D is high at 30%. Extremely few studies have assessed barriers to healthy eating within this context. The aim of this study was to use qualitative and quantitative methods to identify barriers to healthy eating among Saudi adults with and without T2D.MethodsStructured face-to-face interviews were conducted at six primary health care centres in Saudi. The sample was a convenience subsample of 108 from the Riyadh Cohort-2 study of Saudi adults from both genders with or without T2D. T2D was previously diagnosed by the physician. The questionnaire used included three sections, one included open-ended questions to elicit free text responses, designed and piloted for this study. The remaining sections included close-ended questions from two pre-developed and pre-tested questionnaires from Saudi. Free text data were analysed thematically using some principles of the grounded theory including the constant comparison method. The one sheet of paper method was used to elicit themes. Quantitative data from the two questionnaires were reported as frequencies (%) with gender and diabetes stratification.ResultsA total of 108 participants were interviewed, 23.1% females and 76.9% males, mean age 43 years, 38.9% with T2D. Within the whole sample two main themes were identified: lack of knowledge and Saudi cultural issues. Lack of knowledge included unawareness of health education services, dietary misconceptions and food confusion. From the quantitative data it was found that lack of knowledge was higher among diabetics (16.7%) in comparison to non-diabetics (3.6%). Dietary misconceptions included: snacking is essential for people with T2D (83.3%) and bitter food will normalise hyperglycemia (66%). Food confusion was apparent among participants, e.g. cheese and olive oil are carbohydrates. Cultural issues included reliance, lack of willpower and lack of social support. Participants relied on others (God/health professionals) to take care of their health and lifestyle. Insistence to overeat during social occasions and lack of family support prevented participants from engaging in healthy eating. From the quantitative data lack of willpower was reported by 48% of participants and there was no difference across groups, resistance to change was stronger among females.ConclusionLack of knowledge and cultural issues are barriers to healthy eating in Saudi amongst those with and without T2D which would impact on the countries high prevalence of T2D. Further studies are required to inform culturally tailored dietary awareness campaigns.

Background and aimsVery low birth weight (VLBW) infants have a greater risk for the oxidative stress related diseases (OSRDs) like retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, periventricular leukomalacia and necrotizing enterocolitis. Naturel antioxidant activity of phenols, flavonoid and tocopherols in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) may be preventive for the OSRDs. The purpose of conducting a randomised controlled pilot study is to compare the weight gaining, length of hospitalisation and the OSRDs of VLBW infants who received early enteral nurtition with and without EVOO support.MethodsVLBW newborns were divided into two groups in this pilot study. Group 1 received enteral nutrition and EVOO, Group 2 received only enteral nutrition. Nutritional analysis was undertaken for EVOO that was added as 0.5 ml/day in 100 ml enteral nutrition. Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and minimal enteral nutrition was initiated both of two groups.ResultsA total of 26 VLBW infants were divided into two groups (Group 1)(n = 13) and (Group 2) (n = 13) and assessed the birth weight: Group 1= 1,329 plus or minus 35 g, Group 2 = 1,276 plus or minus 32 g. gestational age: Group 1= 31 plus or minus 2.79, Group 2 =29 plus or minus 2 weeks. There was no significant difference between two groups for weight gaining, length of hospitalisation and the OSRDs.ConclusionsEVOO is very important natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients for preterm infants particularly VLBW. A larger randomised controlled trials are needed to show the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of olive oil for prevention of OSRDs in this high risk group.

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is associated with lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension (PH) leading to a high morbidity and mortality. MicroRNAs, affect gene expression and miR-200b is involved in epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer and is downregulated in rat nitrofen lungs.We hypothesised that miR-200b regulates lung branching. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether in vivo administration of miR-200b influences lung development and branching morphogenesis.Timed-pregnant dams were treated with nitrofen (CDH group) or olive oil (control group) on E9 and received a tail vein injection of miR-200b mimics (5 mg/kg) or saline, respectively. At E21.5 and P0, we dissected the lungs and evaluated the presence or absence of CDH. We estimated the lung hypoplasia and we did histological studies to determine radial alveolar count (RAC) and medial arterial thickness.Nitrofen lungs treated with miR-200 b mimics, in vivo display improved development and larger size. These embryos were also bigger than the embryos of the nitrofen group plus saline. Their size was similar to control embryos. After RAC analysis revealed that nitrofen treated lungs have larger alveolar spaces than nitrofen lungs. In terms of arteries we did not observe any differences.Administration of miR-200b in vivo decreases lung hypoplasia and increases the size of the lungs as well as alveolar airspaces. These data show promissing results for miR-200b as a potential therapeutic target in CDH patients.- This work was supported by grants from the MICH, MMSF, Molly Towell, GFT surgeons and Thorlakson Foundation.

Background and aimsNutrients are established as dietary risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), but dietary patterns may be a better predictor of CVD risk. This study was conducted to identify dietary patterns and evaluated their association with biochemical blood profiles and body weight among 400 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged between 40-60 years.MethodsBiochemical blood profiles, anthropometric measurements, and dietary data were obtained. Food frequency questionnaire were used to derive dietary patterns. Factor analysis was conducted to ascertain the dietary patterns, and analysis of covariance was fitted to assess the relation between blood profiles, body weight and adherence to dietary patterns.ResultsThree dietary patterns by factor analysis were identified, Vegetable and Poultry, Western and Mixed. After control for potential confounders, waist circumference (b = -0.12, p < 0.01) and body mass index (b = -0/15, p < 0.02) were negatively associated with vegetable and poultry dietary pattern. Conversely, total cholesterol (beta = 0.14, p < 0.008) and fasting blood glucose (b = 0.12, p < 0.01) were positively associated with western dietary pattern. A dietary pattern labelled as mixed pattern was found to be positively related to HDL-cholesterol (b = 0.16, p < 0.002) and body mass index (b = -0.18, p < 0.01). Associations between mixed pattern, LDL-cholesterol (b = -0.10, p < 0.04) and waist circumference (b = -0.24, p < 0.001) were negative.ConclusionDietary patterns of adults with diabetes were found to be associated with biochemical profiles. Mixed dietary pattern include nuts, fruit, olive oil and tea could improve lipid profiles. Further studies are necessary to confirm the benefits of the mixed pattern and develop practical dietary guide-line for diabetes.

The adverse health effect of nanoparticles is of concern for humans and environment. In the present study, TiO sub( 2)-nanoparticles (TiO sub( 2)-NPs)-induced oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes was measured by comet assay. 80 mu g ml super( -1) TiO sub( 2)-NPs induced approximately 3-fold increase in DNA damage than in the PBS-control group as measured by olive tail moment. However, on treating vitamin C and N-acetylcysteine, DNA damage was effectively protected in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, the protective effect of several phytochemicals including berberine, resveratrol, sulforaphane, and curcumin on DNA damage caused by TiO sub( 2)NPs was manifested. The increased olive tail moment induced by TiO sub( 2)-NPs was effectively inhibited by treatment with these phytochemicals. Especially, olive tail moment of 5 mu g ml super( -1) berberine-treated group was significantly reduced down to the level of control group, showing almost complete protection. Taken together, the protective effect of phytochemicals against DNA damage by TiO sub( 2)-NPs may be applied for the development of antidote for TiO sub( 2) toxicity.

A circadian clock (CC) has evolved in plants that synchronizes their growth and development with daily and seasonal cycles. A properly functioning circadian clock contributes to increasing plant growth, reproduction, and competitiveness. In plants, continuous light treatment has been a successful approach for obtaining novel knowledge about the circadian clock. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is one of the most important crops in the Mediterranean area, and, so far, limited information is available on its CC gene network. Here, we studied the behavior of circadian rhythm genes under LD (light/darkness) and LL (light/light) conditions, the relationships in this network, and the ability of the treatments to modulate gene expression in the photoprotective pigment and lipid biosynthesis pathways. One month of LL conditions increased olive growth performance, but LL exposure also caused reductions in vegetative growth and chlorophyll accumulation. A panel was designed for a study of the transcription expression levels of the genes involved in light perception, the CC, and secondary metabolite and fatty acid biosynthesis. Our results revealed that the levels of 78% of the transcripts exhibited intraday differences under LD conditions, and most of them retained this rhythmicity after exposure to one and two months of LL conditions. Furthermore, co-regulation within a complex network among genes of photoreceptors, anthocyanidins, and fatty acids biosynthesis was orchestrated by the transcription factor HY5. This research enriches our knowledge on olive trees grown under prolonged irradiation, which may be attractive for the scientific community involved in breeding programs for the improvement of this species.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy of olive oil and the Saj registered cream on the occurrence and severity of striae gravidarum. Design Parallel randomized controlled clinical trial. Setting West Health Centre, Lolagar and Akbarabadi Hospitals, Tehran, Iran. Interventions 360 Nulliparous women at their second trimester of pregnancy randomly (simple randomization) allocated into three groups of olive oil, the Saj registered cream, and control that finally 150 of them (50 subjects in each group) completed the study. Control group did not receive any medication/intervention. At gestational age of 38-40 weeks the participants were evaluated regarding the occurrence of striae on abdominal skin and its severity that were primary outcome of the study. Results In the olive oil group, striae occurred in 72% of the participants, which were mild, moderate, and severe in 32%, 26%, and 6% of the cases, respectively. In those who received Saj registered cream, striae occurred in 64% of the cases, which were mild, moderate and severe in 16%, 34%, and 14% of the cases, respectively. With regard to the control group, striae occurred in 60% of the participants, among which striae were mild, moderate, and severe in 22%, 24%, and 14% of the cases, respectively. There were no statistically significant differences among the three studied groups regarding the incidence or severity of striae. Conclusion Neither olive oil nor the Saj registered cream were effective in preventing the occurrence of striae gravidarum or affecting its severity. Further studies to examine the effect of other herbal/chemical preparations on occurrence of striae gravidarum are recommended.

Background Proper plant nutrition represents a critical determinant influencing the optimal growth, development, yield, and overall quality of fruit in fruit tree cultivation. Calcium (Ca) and Silicon (Si) play pivotal roles in enhancing plant health by reinforcing structural integrity, increasing resilience to environmental stressors and pest infestations, promoting vegetative growth, and regulating the biosynthesis of beneficial plant compounds. The utilization of nano-fertilizers for targeted and controlled nutrient release represents a promising strategy to advance sustainable agricultural practices while minimizing environmental impact. Method The effects of foliar application of Ca and Si nanoparticles were investigated on the morphological attributes and fatty acid composition of olive tree cultivar ‘Zard’. A factorial experiment was conducted in the form of a completely randomized block design with three replications. Three concentrations of chelated Ca (7%) nanoparticles (0, 400, and 800 mg L −1 ) and Si oxide (2%) nanoparticles (0, 30, and 60 mg L −1 ) were foliar sprayed on olive trees grown under field conditions. Foliar applications were administered twice during the growing season: initially in mid-May following fruit set, and subsequently in July. The physical characteristics of fruits and leaves, along with their Si and Ca concentrations, were determined by analyzing 50 samples per treatment, with results expressed as mean values. The fatty acid composition of olive oil was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). The data sets were subjected to the normal test and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted using SAS software (version 9.4) and mean comparison was conducted using the Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at α = 0.05 significance level. Principal component analysis (PCA) and pairwise correlation analysis of traits were performed using SPSS Statistics software (version 23). Results Most of the evaluated traits were affected by foliar application of nano-Ca and nano-Si treatments. Spraying with Ca and Si nano-fertilizers improved leaf area, fruit size and weight, as well as the ratio of pulp to stone in olive fruit and significantly affected the fatty acid composition in olive mesocarp. Plants treated with the combined application of 800 mg L⁻¹ nano-Ca and 60 mg L⁻¹ nano-Si exhibited maximum mean fruit weight (3.3 g) and pulp weight (2.33 g). In contrast, control plants showed significantly lower values for fruit weight (2.23 g) and pulp weight (1.38 g). Regarding fatty acid composition, nano-Ca and nano-Si treatments significantly reduced saturated fatty acid levels. The combined 800 mg L⁻¹ nano-Ca + 60 mg L⁻¹ nano-Si treatment yielded the lowest concentrations of individual saturated fatty acids: arachidic acid (0.48%), stearic acid (2.21%), and consequently the lowest total saturated fatty acid content (13.38%). The nano-Ca and nano-Si treatments significantly enhanced unsaturated fatty acid content, particularly oleic acid. Fruits treated with 800 mg L⁻¹ nano-Ca + 60 mg L⁻¹ nano-Si showed peak levels of oleic acid (75.31%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (77.81%), representing increases of 21.9% and 18.9%, respectively, compared to control plants (61.80% and 65.42% for oleic acid and MUFAs, respectively). Moreover, combined application of nano-Ca and nano-Si led to a significant improvement in the qualitative characteristics of olive oil including the ratio of oleic acid to linoleic acid and MUFAs to polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that would be of great importance from both nutritional and industrial perspectives. Specifically, the combined application of 800 mg L −1 nano-Ca and 60 mg L −1 nano-Si resulted in the maximum ratio of oleic acid to linoleic acid (10.19), unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids (6.44), and MUFAs to PUFAs (9.38). The combined foliar spraying of nano-Si and nano-Ca significantly enhanced their accumulation in both leaves and fruits of olive trees, with the highest tissue concentrations observed at the maximum application rates (800 mg L⁻¹ nano-Ca + 60 mg L⁻¹ nano-Si). Strong positive correlations was observed between oleic acid content and Ca concentrations in both fruit ( r  = 0.94; p  ≤ 0.01) and leaf ( r  = 0.96; p  ≤ 0.01). Additionally, MUFAs content exhibited significant association with Si levels in olive fruits and leaves ( r  = 0.67; p  ≤ 0.05), as well as with Ca content in fruits ( r  = 0.92; p  ≤ 0.01) and leaves ( r  = 0.95; p  ≤ 0.01). Conclusion The findings of this study emphasized the advantage of foliar spraying with Si and Ca nanoparticles on olive tree. Moreover, this study highlight the synergistic effects between silicon and calcium, as the simultaneous application of these two elements had more beneficial impacts on the olive fruit than their individual utilization.

Plants have the ability to perceive a wide range of light spectra, from which they derive not only the energy required for photosynthesis but also a variety of environmental cues and signals mediated by specific photoreceptors that trigger a cascade of biochemical reactions essential for their development. The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is a woody species for which, despite its agronomic and economic relevance, the influence of light on its development remains poorly understood. The present study, a combined approach was employed, involving the phenotyping of 10 different cultivars exposed exclusively to red light (RL) and blue light (BL) for a period of two months, in addition to the monitoring of expression profiles of 10 photoreceptor-encoding genes in two of the cultivars that exhibited the most contrasting responses to the different light conditions. Our results revealed a correlation between the expression of specific genes and the differential response to exclusive exposure to the two light spectra, highlighting a generally enhanced photosynthetic activity of nearly all cultivars to blue light (BL) and, conversely, a negative response to red light (RL). Taken together, our data, by elucidating the response of the olive to specific light spectra and the underlying molecular mechanisms, pave the way for further studies on these traits, which could be useful for the improvement of this species.