Geriatric Evaluation Programs and Elderly Oncology Patients

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Sicurezza e lavoro. Il fenomeno, gli enti preposti, le norme tecniche e i sistemi di gestione integrati. Dal d.lgs. 81/08 alla Ohsas 18001

Un approccio compiuto sulla tematica della sicurezza nei luoghi di lavoro richiede una notevole attenzione a tutta la fenomenologia collegata sia ai luoghi in cui si esplica l’attività lavorativa sia anche alla valutazione soggettiva del rischio ovvero l’approccio con i cui il datore di lavoro e i lavoratori trattano pericoli reali e potenziali di tale attività. Quindi da una parte è bene comprendere l’approccio normativo tecnico ― cogente e non cogente (legge 626/94, legge 81/08, Ohsas 18001, SA 8000, ecc.) ― e dall’altra ci sembra opportuno che si debbano indagare sia il concetto di pericolo sia quello di “sicurezza soggettiva”, spesso particolarmente e drammaticamente significativi in caso di incidente. Da una parte l’uomo, dall’altra l’organizzazione in cui si svolge la mansione lavorativa, con un comune denominatore che si ritrova in una cultura organizzativa sviluppata secondo una “security vision”

Antimicrobial Peptides: Phylogenic Sources and Biological Activities. First of Two Parts

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are phylogenetically ancient substances released by living organisms for self protection against a broad variety of microbes. Moreover, AMPs are endowed with immune modulatory activities, linking innate and adaptive immunity together. Lantibiotics are AMPs of bacterial origin currently investigated for the generation of a new class of anti-infective compounds, owing to the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance against a broad variety of bacteria. Also, plants and marine AMPs are screened as novel drugs against human pathogens. Human AMPs encompass defensins and cathelicidins produced by various cell types mostly at mucosal sites. Besides their antimicrobial activity, both AMPs have been shown to trigger either inflammatory or anti-inflammatory pathways. Food-derived AMPs are mostly represented by lactoferrin and lysozyme both present in secretions, e.g., milk, and appear to be very exploitable for the generation of functional foods. Finally, the role of natural products ingested with food or administered as supplements on induction and production of AMPs will be discussed

Cocoa and Dark Chocolate Polyphenols: From Biology to Clinical Applications

It is well known that cocoa and dark chocolate possess polyphenols as major constituents whose dietary consumption has been associated to beneficial effects. In fact, cocoa and dark chocolate polyphenols exert anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities switching on some important signaling pathways such as Toll-like receptor 4/Nuclear factor B/Signal transducer and activator of transcription. In particular, cocoa polyphenols induce release of nitric oxide (NO) through activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase which, in turn, accounts for vasodilation and cardioprotective effects. In the light of the above described properties, a number of clinical trials based on the consumption of cocoa and dark chocolate have been conducted in healthy subjects as well as in different categories of patients, such as those affected by cardiovascular, neurological, intestinal and metabolic pathologies. Even if data are not always concordant, modifications of biomarkers of disease are frequently associated to improvement of clinical manifestations. Quite interestingly, following cocoa and dark chocolate ingestion cocoa polyphenols also modulate intestinal microbiota, thus leading to the growth of bacteria which trigger a tolerogenic anti-inflammatory pathway in the host. Finally, many evidences encourage the consumption of cocoa and dark chocolate by aged people for the recovery of the neurovascular unit

Role of immune cells in the course of central nervous system injury: Modulation with natural products

Immune cells actively participate to the central nervous system (CNS) injury either damaging or protecting neural tissue with release of various mediators. Residential microglia and monocyte-derived macrophages play a fundamental role within the injured CNS and, here, special emphasis will be placed on M1 and M2 macrophages for their different functional activities. On the other hand, peripheral T regulatory (Treg) cells exert antiinflammatory activities in the diseased host. In this respect, activation of Treg cells by nutraceuticals may represent a novel approach to treat neuroinflammation. Omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols will be described as substances endowed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, taking into account that Treg cells act in the later phase of CNS injury, favoring immune suppression, manipulation of host immune system with both sub- Thea Magrone stances requires caution to avoid undesired side effects

Cigarette Smoke-mediated Perturbations of the Immune Response: A New Therapeutic Approach with Natural Compounds

Cigarette smoke (CS) accounts for the outcome of several pathologies, even including lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Under healthy conditions, lung immune system becomes tolerant in response to various external stimuli. CS exposure alters the pulmonary immune equilibrium, thus leading to a condition of hyper activation of the local innate and adaptive immunity. COPD is one of the major complications of chronic CS exposure where a pro-inflammatory profile of the pulmonary and systemic immunity is predominant. In this review, alternative treatments with natural products to mitigate CS-mediated pulmonary inflammation are proposed. In particular, polyphenols, a class of natural compounds largely present in fruits and vegetables, have been shown to act as anti-inflammatory agents. Accordingly, recent experimental and clinical evidences support polyphenol-mediated potential health benefits in smokers. For instance, pomegranate juice is able to attenuate the damage provoked by CS on cultured human alveolar macrophages. In addition, maqui beery extract has been proven to normalize H2O2 and interleukin-6 levels in exhaled breath condensate in healthy smokers. However, some limitations of alternative treatments are represented by a better knowledge of the mechanism(s) of action exerted by polyphenols and by the lack of animal models of COPD. In any case, the potential targets of polyphenols in the course of COPD will be outlined with special reference to the activation of T regulatory cells as well as to the inhibition of the polymorphonuclear cell and monocyte respiratory burst and of the NF-κB pathway, respectively

Antimicrobial peptides in human disease: Therapeutic approaches. Second of two parts

Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) are produced by a variety of human immune and non immune cells in health and disease. In virtue of their antimicrobial activity, AMPs have been exploited in human disease and here this aspect will extensively be described. AMPs in comparison to antibiotics possess a larger spectrum of antimicrobial activity without inducing microbial resistance. Therefore, their use in the course of antibiotic-resistant infections is justified. AMP activity in early life, in the airways, in the oral and gastro-enteric system, in the skin and in the female reproductive tract, respectively, will be elucidated. In addition, the use of AMPs in sepsis will be discussed due to the frequency of this pathological condition characterized by multiple organ dysfunctions. Finally, the evidence that AMPs represent valid substitutes of antibiotics will be provided and a series of novel substances able to reinforce the innate immune response in different clinical settings will be discussed

In vitro effects of nickel on healthy non allergic peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The role of red grape polyphenols

Nickel (Ni) is widely distributed in the environment and continuous exposure to this metal may lead to pathological manifestations, such as the human allergic contact dermatitis.METHODS: The in vitro effects of Ni on human healthy non allergic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in the absence or presence of red grape polyphenols have been evaluated. In the culture supernatants, levels of cytokines have been determined by ELISA, while nitric oxide (NO) concentration has been evaluated by a colorimetric procedure. RESULTS: Ni per se did not affect release of interferon-g, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10. Instead, this metal dramatically reduced production of IL-17 which was restored by supplementation of polyphenols. Finally, while Ni significantly increased generation of NO, polyphenols reduced production of this compound. CONCLUSION: Taken together, all these data may indicate a preventative role of polyphenols against Ni exposure in non allergic to Ni individuals, also confirming the immunomodulating role of these natural products. The interaction Ni/polyphenols/lipopolysaccharides will also be discussed

Polyphenol Effects on Splenic Cytokine Response in Post-Weaning Contactin 1-Overexpressing Transgenic Mice

Background: In mice, postnatal immune development has previously been investigated, and evidence of a delayed maturation of the adaptive immune response has been detected. Methods: In this study, the effects of red grape polyphenol oral administration on the murine immune response were explored using pregnant mice (TAG/F3 transgenic and wild type (wt) mice) as the animal model. The study was performed during pregnancy as well as during lactation until postnatal day 8. Suckling pups from polyphenol-administered dams as well as day 30 post-weaning pups (dietary-administered with polyphenols) were used. Polyphenol effects were evaluated, measuring splenic cytokine secretion. Results: Phorbol myristate acetate-activated splenocytes underwent the highest cytokine production at day 30 in both wt and TAG/F3 mice. In the latter, release of interferon (IFN)-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α was found to be higher than in the wt counterpart. In this context, polyphenols exerted modulating activities on day 30 TAG/F3 mice, inducing release of interleukin (IL)-10 in hetero mice while abrogating release of IL-2, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-4 in homo and hetero mice. Conclusion: Polyphenols are able to prevent the development of an inflammatory/allergic profile in postnatal TAG/F3 mice