Eziopatogenesi virale (HCV) nel determinismo dell'aborto ricorrente (ripetuto ed abituale)

L’aborto ricorrente può essere definito come la presenza di due (aborto ripetuto) o più aborti (aborto abituale) di tipo consecutivo. Diverse condizioni possono essere individuate come fattori eziopatogenetici di aborto ricorrente; tuttavia, circa la metà dei casi rimane ancora senza causa apparente (aborto “sine causa”).Nel nostro studio sono state inserite 350 donne in stato di gravidanza con storia clinica di aborto ricorrente, le quali sono state studiate in riferimento all’infezione da HCV. Delle 350 donne esaminate, 65 (18,6%) sono risultate positive per tale infezione. In particolare, 53 (81%) hanno presentato una positività della viremia compresa tra 105 e 106 copie/ml; mentre, le restanti 12 (19%) hanno evidenziato una positività della viremia > 106 copie/ml. Pertanto, l’interessamento del prodotto del concepimento da parte dell’HCV potrebbe essere suggestivo di un significativo aspetto eziopatogenetico nel determinismo dell’aborto ricorrente

Steatosis, steatohepatitis and cancer immunotherapy: An intricate story

Immune checkpoint inhibitors represent one of the most significant recent advances in clinical oncology, since they dramatically improved the prognosis of deadly cancers such as melanomas and lung cancer. Treatment with these drugs may be complicated by the occurrence of clinically-relevant adverse drug reactions, most of which are immune-mediated, such as pneumonitis, colitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis, Stevens Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Drug-induced steatosis and steatohepatitis are not included among the typical forms of cancer immunotherapy-induced liver toxicity, which, instead, usually occurs as a panlobular hepatitis with prominent lymphocytic infiltrates. Nonetheless, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a risk factor for immunotherapy-induced hepatitis, and steatosis and steatohepatitis are frequently observed in this condition. In the present review we discuss how these pathology findings could be explained in the context of current models suggesting immune-mediated pathogenesis for steatohepatitis. We also review evidence suggesting that in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, the presence of steatosis or steatohepatitis could predict a poor therapeutic response to these agents. How these findings could fit with immune-mediated mechanisms of these liver diseases will also be discussed

Analysis of tomato glycoalkaloids by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

Steroidal glycoalkaloids (SGAs) extracted from tomato leaves and berries (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) were separated and identified using optimized reversed-phase liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization (ESI) and ion trap mass spectrometry (ITMS). The ESI source polarity and chromatographic conditions were evaluated. The ESI spectra contain valuable information, which includes the mass of SGAs, the mass of the aglycones, and several characteristic fragment ions. Cleavage at the interglycosidic bonds proximal to the aglycones is the most prominent process in the ESI process. A protonated molecule, [M+H]+, accompanied by a mixed adduct ion, [M+H+Na]2+, was observed for a-tomatine (i.e., m/z 1034.7 and 528.9) and dehydrotomatine (i.e., m/z 1032.6 and 527.9) in positive ion mode spectra. The structures of these tomato glycoalkaloids were confirmed using tandem mass spectrometry. The identification of a new a-tomatine isomer glycoalkaloid, named filotomatine (MW 1033), which shares a common tetrasaccharide structure (i.e., lycotretraose) with a-tomatine and dehydrotomatine, and soladulcidine as an aglycone, is described for the first time. It occurs in significant amounts in the extracts of wild tomato foliage. Multistage mass spectrometry both of the protonated molecules and of the doubly charged ions was used for detailed structural elucidation of SGAs. Key fragmentations and regularities in fragmentation pathways are described and the fragmentation mechanisms involved are propose

Atherosclerosis and Its Related Laboratory Biomarkers

Atherosclerosis constitutes a persistent inflammatory ailment, serving as the predominant underlying condition for coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and cerebrovascular disease. The progressive buildup of plaques within the walls of medium- and large-caliber arteries characterizes the atherosclerotic process. This accumulation results in significant narrowing that impedes blood flow, leading to critical tissue oxygen deficiency. Spontaneous blockage of thrombotic vessels can precipitate stroke and myocardial infarction, which are complications representing the primary global causes of mortality. Present-day models for predicting cardiovascular risk incorporate conventional risk factors to gauge the likelihood of cardiovascular events over a ten-year span. In recent times, researchers have identified serum biomarkers associated with an elevated risk of atherosclerotic events. Many of these biomarkers, whether used individually or in combination, have been integrated into risk prediction models to assess whether their inclusion enhances predictive accuracy. In this review, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the most recently published literature concerning serum biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis. We have explored the potential utility of incorporating these markers in guiding clinical decisions

The Influence of Physical Education on Self-Efficacy in Overweight Schoolgirls: A 12-Week Training Program

The purpose of this randomized controlled study was to investigate the impact of a 12- week physical education (PE) program on the self-efficacy of overweight schoolgirls. We randomly assigned 60 overweight schoolgirls (15–17 years) to either an experimental moderate to vigorous aerobic exercise (∼90 min, three times a week) group (n = 30) or a control group (CG) (n = 30) that received non-specific regular PE lessons with activities chosen by the curricular teacher mainly focused on team games and sports skills that aimed to achieve general psycho-physical wellness (∼90 min, three times a week). To assess the starting level of students and significant changes reached, at baseline and after training, a battery of standardized assessment motor tests and a psychometric scale (generalized self-efficacy scale, GES) were administered. At the end of the intervention, the experimental group reported a considerable decrease in body mass index (BMI) and a large improvement in self-efficacy (p < 0.001). No significant changes were found in the CG. The results suggested that the 12-week moderate to a vigorous aerobic exercise program is an effective weight loss intervention and a vehicle to promote a range of outcomes important to the qualitative growth of adolescents. In fact, it could provide a positive and significant impact on the self-efficacy of overweight schoolgirls

Spaceflight Induced Disorders: Potential Nutritional Countermeasures

Space travel is an extreme experience even for the astronaut who has received extensive basic training in various fields, from aeronautics to engineering, from medicine to physics and biology. Microgravity puts a strain on members of space crews, both physically and mentally: short-term or long-term travel in orbit the International Space Station may have serious repercussions on the human body, which may undergo physiological changes affecting almost all organs and systems, particularly at the muscular, cardiovascular and bone compartments. This review aims to highlight recent studies describing damages of human body induced by the space environment for microgravity, and radiation. All novel conditions, to ally unknown to the Darwinian selection strategies on Earth, to which we should add the psychological stress that astronauts suffer due to the inevitable forced cohabitation in claustrophobic environments, the deprivation from their affections and the need to adapt to a new lifestyle with molecular changes due to the confinement. In this context, significant nutritional deficiencies with consequent molecular mechanism changes in the cells that induce to the onset of physiological and cognitive impairment have been considered

Physical exercise and prevention of falls. Effects of a Pilates training method compared with a general physical activity program A randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Falls are the leading cause of injury-related mortality and morbidity in the elderly. Physical activity plays a key role in the prevention of falls and stimulates postural control. The aim of this study was to compare a general physical activity program for the elderly with a Pilates program to evaluate the effects on balance and on reducing the risk of falling. Materials and Methods: Forty-six subjects were enrolled in this study, but only 41 were included in the study. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: Pilates group (P-G) and a group following a nonspecific program of physical activity (Pa-G). Each subject underwent the hand grip test, Berg balance scale test, and posturographic analysis. Results: Spearman correlation coefficient showed correlations between the following parameters: BBS versus hand grip test (r = 0.68); BBS versus ellipse surface area (r = -0.75). There were significant differences between groups after the exercise program: both groups showed an improvement in performance but the P-G recorded significantly better results than the Pa-G. Discussion and conclusions: This study confirmed that physical activity improves both balance and strength. However, our data show that Pilates has a greater effect on these physical abilities than a general physical activity program

The importance of lipidomic approach for mapping and exploring the molecular networks underlying physical exercise: A systematic review

Maintaining appropriate levels of physical exercise is an optimal way for keeping a good state of health. At the same time, optimal exercise performance necessitates an integrated organ system response. In this respect, physical exercise has numerous repercussions on metabolism and function of different organs and tissues by enhancing whole‐body metabolic homeostasis in response to different exercise‐related adaptations. Specifically, both prolonged and intensive physical exercise produce vast changes in multiple and different lipid‐related metabolites. Lipidomic technologies allow these changes and adaptations to be clarified, by using a biological system approach they provide scientific understanding of the effect of physical exercise on lipid trajectories. Therefore, this systematic review aims to indicate and clarify the identifying biology of the individual response to different exercise workloads, as well as provide direction for future studies focused on the body’s metabolome exercise‐related adaptations. It was performed using five databases (Medline (PubMed), Google Scholar, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library). Two author teams reviewed 105 abstracts for inclusion and at the end of the screening process 50 full texts were analyzed. Lastly, 14 research articles specifically focusing on metabolic responses to exercise in healthy subjects were included. The Oxford quality scoring system scale was used as a quality measure of the reviews. Information was extracted using the participants, intervention, comparison, outcomes (PICOS) format. Despite that fact that it is well‐known that lipids are involved in different sport‐related changes, it is unclear what types of lipids are involved. Therefore, we analyzed the characteristic lipid species in blood and skeletal muscle, as well as their alterations in response to chronic and acute exercise. Lipidomics analyses of the studies examined revealed medium‐ and long‐chain fatty acids, fatty acid oxidation products, and phospholipids qualitative changes. The main cumulative evidence indicates that both chronic and acute bouts of exercise determine significant changes in lipidomic profiles, but they manifested in very different ways depending on the type of tissue examined. Therefore, this systematic review may offer the possibility to fully understand the individual lipidomics exercise‐related response and could be especially important to improve athletic performance and human health