The relevance of the food roduction chain with regard to the population exposure to chemical substances and its role in contaminated sites

Food may be contaminated with many chemical substances at any level along the production chain. Chemicals that may be found in food items can simultaneously be present in other matrices, as air, water, soil and dust; therefore, human exposure to chemicals via food has to be summed to the exposure through all the other possible routes. The role played by the food production chain with regard to the population exposure to chemicals assumes amplified proportions when considering contaminated sites. Indeed the link between environment and food production is undeniable and consequently, when population chemical exposure is considered, an integrated approach assessing the contribution of the different routes of exposure, including dietary exposure, is needed. Such integrated approach allows a realistic and comprehensive risk assessment of chemical substances in order to identify and deploy effective prevention and intervention measures to protect human health

Italian Children Exposure to Bisphenol A: Biomonitoring Data from the LIFE PERSUADED Project

A human biomonitoring (HBM) study on bisphenol A (BPA) in Italian children and adolescents was performed within the LIFE PERSUADED project, considering the residing areas, sex and age. The median urinary BPA level was 7.02 mu g/L, with children living in the South of Italy or in urban areas having higher levels than those residing in the North or in rural areas. Children aged 4-6 years had higher BPA levels than those aged 7-10 and 11-14 years, but no differences were detected between sexes. The exposure in Italian children was higher compared to children from other countries, but lower than the HBM guidance value (135 mu g/L). The estimated daily intake was 0.17 mu g/kg body weight (bw) per day, about 24-fold below the temporary Tolerable Daily Intake of 4 mu g/kg bw per day established by the European Food Safety Authority. However, this threshold was exceeded in 1.44% of the enrolled children, raising concern about the overall exposure of Italian young population

4-(3-Phenyl-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-1H-pyrrol-1-yl)benzenesulfonamide, a Novel Carbonic Anhydrase and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Dual-Targeting Inhibitor with Potent Activity against Multidrug Resistant Cancer Cells

We synthesized new pyrrole and indole derivatives as human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) inhibitors with the potential to inhibit the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The presence of both N1-(4-sulfonamidophenyl) and 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl) substituents was essential for strong hCA inhibitors. The most potent hCA XII inhibitor 15 (Ki = 6.8 nM) suppressed the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and its target genes MYC, Fgf20, and Sall4 and exhibited the typical markers of apoptosis, cleaved poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase, and cleaved caspase-3. Compound 15 showed strong inhibition of viability in a panel of cancer cells, including colorectal cancer and triple-negative breast cancer cells, was effective against the NCI/ADR-RES DOX-resistant cell line, and restored the sensitivity to doxorubicin (DOX) in HT29/DX and MDCK/P-gp cells. Compound 15 is a novel dual-targeting compound with activity against hCA and Wnt/β-catenin. It thus has a broad targeting spectrum and is an anticancer agent with specific potential in P-glycoprotein overexpressing cell lines

Report of the 1st and 2nd Mystery of Reactive Oxygen Species Conferences

Non peer reviewe

How future surgery will benefit from SARS-COV-2-related measures: a SPIGC survey conveying the perspective of Italian surgeons

COVID-19 negatively affected surgical activity, but the potential benefits resulting from adopted measures remain unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in surgical activity and potential benefit from COVID-19 measures in perspective of Italian surgeons on behalf of SPIGC. A nationwide online survey on surgical practice before, during, and after COVID-19 pandemic was conducted in March-April 2022 (NCT:05323851). Effects of COVID-19 hospital-related measures on surgical patients' management and personal professional development across surgical specialties were explored. Data on demographics, pre-operative/peri-operative/post-operative management, and professional development were collected. Outcomes were matched with the corresponding volume. Four hundred and seventy-three respondents were included in final analysis across 14 surgical specialties. Since SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, application of telematic consultations (4.1% vs. 21.6%; p < 0.0001) and diagnostic evaluations (16.4% vs. 42.2%; p < 0.0001) increased. Elective surgical activities significantly reduced and surgeons opted more frequently for conservative management with a possible indication for elective (26.3% vs. 35.7%; p < 0.0001) or urgent (20.4% vs. 38.5%; p < 0.0001) surgery. All new COVID-related measures are perceived to be maintained in the future. Surgeons' personal education online increased from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 86.6% (post-COVID; p < 0.0001). Online educational activities are considered a beneficial effect from COVID pandemic (56.4%). COVID-19 had a great impact on surgical specialties, with significant reduction of operation volume. However, some forced changes turned out to be benefits. Isolation measures pushed the use of telemedicine and telemetric devices for outpatient practice and favored communication for educational purposes and surgeon-patient/family communication. From the Italian surgeons' perspective, COVID-related measures will continue to influence future surgical clinical practice

Acute diverticulitis management: evolving trends among Italian surgeons. A survey of the Italian Society of Colorectal Surgery (SICCR)

Acute diverticulitis (AD) is associated with relevant morbidity/mortality and is increasing worldwide, thus becoming a major issue for national health systems. AD may be challenging, as clinical relevance varies widely, ranging from asymptomatic picture to life-threatening conditions, with continuously evolving diagnostic tools, classifications, and management. A 33-item-questionnaire was administered to residents and surgeons to analyze the actual clinical practice and to verify the real spread of recent recommendations, also by stratifying surgeons by experience. CT-scan remains the mainstay of AD assessment, including cases presenting with recurrent mild episodes or women of child-bearing age. Outpatient management of mild AD is slowly gaining acceptance. A conservative management is preferred in non-severe cases with extradigestive air or small/non-radiologically drainable abscesses. In severe cases, a laparoscopic approach is preferred, with a non-negligible number of surgeons confident in performing emergency complex procedures. Surgeons are seemingly aware of several options during emergency surgery for AD, since the rate of Hartmann procedures does not exceed 50% in most environments and damage control surgery is spreading in life-threatening cases. Quality of life and history of complicated AD are the main indications for delayed colectomy, which is mostly performed avoiding the proximal vessel ligation, mobilizing the splenic flexure and performing a colorectal anastomosis. ICG is spreading to check anastomotic stumps' vascularization. Differences between the two experience groups were found about the type of investigation to exclude colon cancer (considering the experience only in terms of number of colectomies performed), the size of the peritoneal abscess to be drained, practice of damage control surgery and the attitude towards colovesical fistula

The invertebrate fauna in sandy shores of Lake Vico (Italy) : its use in a trophic evaluation of littoral sediments

The zoobenthos in sandy shores of Lake Vico was analysed in sites differently influenced by the surrounding cultivations in order to test its role in the assessment of environmental quality. The fauna, comprising 59 taxa, was largely represented in density and species richness by Oligochaeta, Diptera Chironomidae, Nematoda and Copepoda. The distribution and abundance of bioindicator taxa and the measure of some biotic indices allowed the different trophic level in the sediments at the sites of sampling to be revealed and thus also early stages of environmental deterioration.Les invertébrés associés aux sédiments sableux du lac de Vico ont été analysés dans des stations différentes soumises à l’impact des terrains agricoles environnants dans le but de tester le rôle de cette communauté dans une appréciation de la qualité du milieu. Le peuplement comprenait 59 taxa, les plus abondants et diversifiés étant les oligo-chètes, les chironomides, les nématodes et les copépodes. La distribution et les densités de bioindicateurs et la mesure de certains indices biologiques ont permis de révéler différents niveaux trophiques dans les sediments et les premiers stades de détérioration de l'environnement.Mastrantuono Luciana, La Rocca Cinzia. The invertebrate fauna in sandy shores of Lake Vico (Italy) : its use in a trophic evaluation of littoral sediments. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 14 n°3-4, 1988. pp. 121-129

Special Issue “Molecular Mechanisms of Bisphenol A Toxicity and Effects of Environmental Levels on Health”

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a plasticizer that is widely used in the manufacturing of polycarbonate plastics (PC) and epoxy resins for use in a broad range of consumer products, including materials in contact with food and beverages, as well as medical devices, toys and dental sealants [...