Ruolo del citrato nel metabolismo osseo

Citrate is an organic compound involved in tricarboxylic acid cycle, regulation of acid-base balance, lipid metabolism and bone formation. The 90% of body citrate is deposited in bone tissue and is released with calcium ions during bone resorption; therefore, bone resorption contributes to maintain normal plasma levels of citrate together with kidney excretion. The parallel release of citrate and calcium from bones decreases the possibility of calcium-phosphate precipitation in soft tissues, as citrate can bind calcium ions in organic fluids. Citrate may also take part to the bone formation as it sustains the correct mineralization of bone organic matrix: its molecule binds calcium ions at the surface of hydroxyapatite nanocrystals and maintains the correct spatial disposition of nanocrystals, thus, stabilizing the structure of bone lamellae and sustaining biomechanical characteristics of bone tissue. Multiple studies observed that citrate administration significantly increased areal and volumetric bone mineral density at different locations of 1-2% per year and improved bone resorption markers as well. Therefore, it has been hypothesised a therapeutic role of citrate in osteoporosis; however, this role has to be better clarified to understand its real anti-fracture effect

Phthalate esters (PAEs) concentration pattern reflects dietary habitats (δ13C) in blood of Mediterranean loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta)

Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are classified as endocrine disruptors, but it remains unclear if they can enter the marine food-web and result in severe health effects for organisms. Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) can be chronically exposed to PAEs by ingesting plastic debris, but no information is available about PAEs levels in blood, and how these concentrations are related to diet during different life stages. This paper investigated, for the first time, six PAEs in blood of 18 wild-caught Mediterranean loggerhead turtles throughout solid-phase extraction coupled with gas chromatography-ion trap/mass spectrometry. Stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen were also performed to assess the resource use pattern of loggerhead turtles. DEHP (12-63 ng mL(-1)) and DBP (6-57 ng mL(-1)) were the most frequently represented PAEs, followed by DiBP, DMP, DEP and DOP. The total PAEs concentration was highest in three turtles (124-260 ng mL(-1)) whereas three other turtles had concentrations below the detection limit. PAEs were clustered in three groups according to concentration in all samples: DEHP in the first group, DBP, DEP, and DiBP in the second group, and DOP and DMP in the third group. The total phthalates concentration did not differ between large-sized (96.3 +/- 86.0 ng mL(-1)) and small-sized (67.1 +/- 34.2 ng mL(-1)) turtles (p < 0.001). However, DMP and DEP were found only in large-sized turtles and DiBP and DBP had higher concentrations in large-sized turtles. On the other hand, DEHP and DOP were found in both small- and large-sized turtles with similar concentrations, i.e. ~ 21.0/32.0 ng mL(-1) and ~ 7(.1)/9.9 ng mL(-1), respectively. Winsored robust models indicated that delta C-13 is a good predictor for DBP and DiBP concentrations (significant Akaike Information criterion weight, AIC(wt)). Our results indicate that blood is a good matrix to evaluate acute exposure to PAEs in marine turtles. Moreover, this approach is here suggested as a useful tool to explain the internal dose of PAEs in term of dietary habits (delta C-13), suggesting that all marine species at high trophic levels may be particularly exposed to PAEs, despite their different dietary habitats and levels of exposure

QAMARIYYĀT: OLTRE OGNI FRONTIERA TRA LETTERATURA E TRADUZIONE. STUDI IN ONORE DI ISABELLA CAMERA d’AFFLITTO

Il volume raccoglie saggi da studiosi e studiose provenienti da tutto il mondo che, con i loro contributi su temi riguardanti la produzione letteraria araba moderna e contemporanea, hanno deciso di omaggiare la carriera dell'arabista italiana Isabella Camera d'Afflitt

Energy Requirement for Elderly CKD Patients

The correct management of energy intake is crucial in CKD (chronic kidney disease) patients to limit the risk of protein energy wasting especially during low-protein regimes, but also to prevent overweight/obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the energy requirement of older CKD patients using objective measurements. This cross-sectional study enrolled 67 patients (aged 60–86 years) with CKD stages 3–5 not on dialysis, all of whom were metabolically and nutritionally stable. All patients underwent indirect calorimetry and measurement of daily physical activity level expressed by the average daily Metabolic Equivalent Task, using an accelerometer, in order to measure total energy expenditure (mTEE). Estimated TEE (eTEE) was derived from predictive equations for resting energy expenditure and physical activity levels coefficients. The mTEE were lower than eTEE-based on Harris–Benedict or Schofield or Mifflin equations (1689 ± 523 vs. 2320 ± 434 or 2357 ± 410 or 2237 ± 375 Kcal, p < 0.001, respectively). On average mTEE was 36.5% lower than eTEE. When eTEE was recalculated using ideal body weight the gap between mTEE and eTEE was reduced to 26.3%. A high prevalence of a sedentary lifestyle and reduced physical capabilities were also detected. In conclusion, our data support the energy intake of 25–35 Kcal/Kg/d recently proposed by the NKF-KDOQI (National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Improving Quality Initiative) guidelines on nutritional treatment of CKD, which seem to be more adequate and applicable than that of previous guidelines (30–35 Kcal/Kg/d) in elderly stable CKD patients with a sedentary lifestyle. According to our findings we believe that an energy intake even lower than 25 Kcal/Kg/d may be adequate in metabolically stable, elderly CKD patients with a sedentary lifestyle

Comunicare in arabo. Livelli B1-B2 del Quadro Comune Europeo di Riferimento per le Lingue. Con File audio scaricabile e online

Comunicare in arabo è un corso in tre volumi per l’apprendimento della lingua araba che sviluppa in modo armonioso ed efficace le competenze comunicative (linguistiche, sociolinguistiche e pragmatiche) dei livelli A1-B2 del Quadro Comune Europeo di Riferimento per le Lingue. Il volume 3 copre i livelli B1-B2 e si struttura in 10 unità ognuna delle quali affronta una tematica differente attraverso testi di lettura di generi e stili molteplici, integrati da attività di comprensione e analisi, rubriche di approfondimento lessicale, spiegazioni e schemi grammaticali con esercizi di varia tipologia sugli argomenti trattati. In ciascuna unità, inoltre, compaiono due sezioni autonome, dedicate alla produzione orale, incoraggiata attraverso materiali testuali e/o grafici, e alla stesura di un testo scritto, guidata da spunti linguistici e tematici. Le unità sono arricchite da approfondimenti culturali e dialettali e da materiali audio (interviste, podcast ecc.) accompagnati da attività di comprensione e rielaborazione

Deep Inorganic Fraction Characterization of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 in an Industrial Area Located in Central Italy by Means of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

Atmospheric pollution is an important task in life sciences and, in particular, inorganic fraction characterization is considered as an important issue in this field. For many years, researchers have focused their attention on the particulate matter fraction below 10 μm: in this case, our attention was also focused on PM2.5 (i.e., particles with a size fraction smaller than 2.5 μm) and PM1 (below 1 μm). This paper would like to investigate whether the element accumulation in different granulometric fractions is similar, or whether there are behavior dissimilarities. Among the different analytical techniques, the instrumental neutron activation analysis, an instrumental nuclear method, was used for its peculiarity of investigating the sample without performing any chemical-physical treatment. Forty-two daily samples using the reference method were collected, 15 filters for PM10, 18 for PM2.5, and 12 for PM1; the filters, along with primary standards and appropriate standard reference materials, were irradiated at the National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) R.C.-Casaccia’s Triga MARK II reactor. The irradiations carried out in the Rabbit and Lazy Susan channels allowed for the investigation of 36 elements and the relative Pearson’s correlations between elements and PM-fractions (PM10 vs. PM2.5 was good, whereas PM10 vs. PM1 was the worst). The Enrichment Factors were studied for the three fractions to show how anthropogenic sources have affected the element content. A comparison between these data and element levels determined worldwide showed that our concentrations were lower than those determined in similar scenarios. Furthermore, a statistical approach (source discrimination, hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis) has allowed us to identify similarities between the samples: the airborne filters can be divided in two main groups (i.e., one made of PM10 and PM2.5 filters and one only of PM1 filters), meaning a different element contribution to this fraction coming from other sources present at the site

Animal Models in Studies of Cardiotoxicity Side Effects from Antiblastic Drugs in Patients and Occupational Exposed Workers

Cardiotoxicity is an important side effect of cytotoxic drugs and may be a risk factor of long-term morbidity for both patients during therapy and also for staff exposed during the phases of manipulation of antiblastic drugs. The mechanism of cardiotoxicity studied in vitro and in vivo essentially concerns the formation of free radicals leading to oxidative stress, with apoptosis of cardiac cells or immunologic reactions, but other mechanisms may play a role in antiblastic-induced cardiotoxicity. Actually, some new cytotoxic drugs like trastuzumab and cyclopentenyl cytosine show cardiotoxic effects. In this report we discuss the different mechanisms of cardiotoxicity induced by antiblastic drugs assessed using animal models

Activated Porous Carbon Fiber: New Adsorbent for Sampling and Analysis by Thermal Desorption of Siloxanes in Biogas and Biomethane

The growing global energy demand requires the continuous development and optimization of the production of alternative energy sources. According to the circular economy approach, waste conversion into biogas and biomethane represent an interesting energy source. The input into the distribution network and energy conversion systems of biomethane requires quality monitoring and the use of cleaning up systems. Therefore, there is a need to constantly invest in the development of sampling and analysis systems that save time, costs, and materials. The purpose of this study was to use activated porous carbon fiber (APCF), an extremely versatile material for sampling and analysis by thermal desorption, to show the advantages it has over the adsorbents traditionally used for siloxane monitoring. Siloxanes are among the contaminating compounds that are mainly present in biogas and biomethane, and if not removed sufficiently, they endanger the quality and use of the gas. These are highly harmful compounds since during combustion, they produce quartz particles that are abrasive to the surfaces of the materials involved in the energy production process. In addition, siloxanes directly hinder the energy properties of biomethane during combustion, due to their radical scavenger properties. In this work, the efficiency of APCF tube was evaluated by comparing it with common multilayer tube thought sampling and analyzing siloxanes in lab scale and in real scale (biogas plant). Thermal desorption analysis coupled with GC-MS for the determination of siloxanes showed that the use of APCF allows to obtain better performance. This allows to deduce that APCF is an innovative material for the establishment of a better sampling and analysis method than the current ones, enabling better results to be achieved in the process of monitoring fuel quality in biomethane production and storage facilities