Influence of Sport Practice and Body Weight on Physical Fitness in Schoolchildren Living in the Campania Region

Background: Physical fitness (PF) levels correlate with health hallmarks at all ages. In this study, w aimed to determine the PF level of schoolchildren from the Campania Region (Italy) through health-related PF (HRPF) components, taking into account body weight and sport practice (SP). Methods: PF level was determined in 565 schoolchildren aged 10-13 (11.7 +/- 1.0 yrs; m: 353, f: 212) using some of the Eurofit battery tests. Results: 77% children practiced sport, boys more than girls (86% vs. 63%, respectively; p < 0.05). Boys performed better than girls (p < 0.05) in the Plate Tapping, Standing Broad Jump, Bent-Arm Hang, and 10 x 5 m Shuttle Run tests; girls performed better in the Sit-and-Reach Test (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Overweight/obese status negatively affects the muscular strength of lower limbs, even if it progressively improves during growth. SP was revealed to be a determinant in performance only in some PF tests, likely due to the heterogeneous training level among boys and girls who practice sport

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p < .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p < .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Effects of Plant Oil Interesterified Triacylglycerols on Lipemia and Human Health

The position of the fatty acids (sn-1, sn-2 and sn-3) (stereospecific numbering (sn)) in triacylglycerol (TAG) molecules produces a characteristic stereospecificity that defines the physical properties of the fats and influences their absorption, metabolism and uptake into tissues. Fat interesterification is a process that implies a positional distribution of fatty acids (FAs) within the TAG molecules, generating new TAG species, without affecting the FA cis-trans natural balance. The interesterified (IE) fats, frequently used in the food industry comprise fats that are rich in long-chain saturated FAs, such as palmitic acid (16:0) and stearic acid (18:0). Within the interesterified fats, a critical role is played by FA occupying the sn-2 position; in fact, the presence of an unsaturated FA in this specific position influences early metabolic processing and postprandial clearance that in turn could induce atherogenesis and thrombogenesis events. Here, we provide an overview on the role of TAG structures and interesterified palmitic and stearic acid-rich fats on fasting and postprandial lipemia, focusing our attention on their physical properties and their effects on human health

Human Aldolase c gene expression is regulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in PC12 cells

We have examined the effects of an adenosine 3',5-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) analog on human aldolase C gene expression in the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. Incubation for 4 h with 500 muM 8-Br-cAMP increased aldolase C mRNA expression 2.5-fold and the expression was still above basal level 24 h later. Using transient transfection experiments we demonstrate that the distal element D in the promoter region of the human aldolase C gene, which binds a transcriptional activator (NGFI-B), is involved in this regulation. NGFI-B mRNA and protein expression were promptly (15 min) increased after 8-Br-cAMP treatment and precedes aldolase C mRNA increase (30 min). After 4 h of 8-Br-cAMP treatment, the binding of NGFI-B protein to the distal element D in the distal promoter region was increased twofold and this correlates with the increased expression of the clone that contains distal element D. These results indicate that the distal element D in the promoter region of the human aldulase C gene is the target of a cAMP-dependent regulation pathway. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Human Aldolase c gene expression is regulated by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in PC12 cells

We have examined the effects of an adenosine 3',5-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) analog on human aldolase C gene expression in the rat pheochromocytoma cell line PC12. Incubation for 4 h with 500 muM 8-Br-cAMP increased aldolase C mRNA expression 2.5-fold and the expression was still above basal level 24 h later. Using transient transfection experiments we demonstrate that the distal element D in the promoter region of the human aldolase C gene, which binds a transcriptional activator (NGFI-B), is involved in this regulation. NGFI-B mRNA and protein expression were promptly (15 min) increased after 8-Br-cAMP treatment and precedes aldolase C mRNA increase (30 min). After 4 h of 8-Br-cAMP treatment, the binding of NGFI-B protein to the distal element D in the distal promoter region was increased twofold and this correlates with the increased expression of the clone that contains distal element D. These results indicate that the distal element D in the promoter region of the human aldulase C gene is the target of a cAMP-dependent regulation pathway. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved

Differential distribution of Aldolase A and C in the human central nervous system

We have analyzed the distribution of aldolase A and C mRNAs and proteins in various areas of the human brain using Northern blot analyses and immunohistochemistry. Aldolase A mRNA expression was higher than aldolase C mRNA expression in all areas of the brain examined. Aldolase C mRNA expression was highest in the cerebellum. Aldolase C protein was present in well-delimited regions of the CNS, and was distributed in stripes in the Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum, in the inferior olives and in the sensory neurons of the posterior horn of the spinal cord. The novel finding of aldolase C in well-delimited cell compartments of the human cerebellum and in several other areas of the CNS lends weight to the hypothesis that this protein exerts other functions (e.g. sensory transmission) besides those characteristic of a glycolytic enzyme