Hyperhomocysteinemia and Low Folate and Vitamin B12 Are Associated with Vascular Dysfunction and Impaired Nitric Oxide Sensitivity in Morbidly Obese Patients.

There is a high prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia that has been linked to high cardiovascular risk in obese individuals and could be attributed to poor nutritional status of folate and vitamin B12. We sought to examine the association between blood homocysteine (Hcy) folate, and vitamin B12 levels and vascular dysfunction in morbidly obese adults using novel ex vivo flow-induced dilation (FID) measurements of isolated adipose tissue arterioles. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was also measured. Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue biopsies were obtained from morbidly obese individuals and non-obese controls. Resistance arterioles were isolated in which FID, acetylcholine-induced dilation (AChID), and nitric oxide (NO) production were measured in the absence or presence of the NO synthase inhibitor, L-NAME, Hcy, or the superoxide dismutase mimetic, TEMPOL. Our results demonstrated that plasma Hcy concentrations were significantly higher, while folate, vitamin B12, and NO were significantly lower in obese subjects compared to controls. Hcy concentrations correlated positively with BMI, fat %, and insulin levels but not with folate or vitamin B12. Brachial and arteriolar vasodilation were lower in obese subjects, positively correlated with folate and vitamin B12, and inversely correlated with Hcy. Arteriolar NO measurements and sensitivity to L-NAME were lower in obese subjects compared to controls. Finally, Hcy incubation reduced arteriolar FID and NO sensitivity, an effect that was abolished by TEMPOL. In conclusion, these data suggest that high concentrations of plasma Hcy and low concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 could be independent predictors of vascular dysfunction in morbidly obese individuals

"Lupara Bianca" a way to hide cadavers after Mafia homicides. A cemetery of Italian Mafia. A case study.

The Gargano, also known as the ‘Spur of Italy’, is a sub-region of Italy which is located in North of Puglia, in the Province of Foggia. A ravine located in this area was used as a dumping ground in past. During a clearing operation, a team of speleologists discovered human skeletal remains, which led to an official investigation by the local prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor called a team of forensic specialist for a scene investigation to recover and identify the human skeletal remains. Four different human skeletal remains located at four different levels of depth underground were found and were in different conditions. A complete forensic investigation was initiated and comprised of radiological imaging with DNA profiling. Three of the four human skeletal remains that were found were identified as those belonging to men who vanished mysteriously in the nineties. The studies conducted have demonstrated that the victims found were murdered and the murders were attributed to the ‘‘Mafia of Gargano’’. The Mafia of Gargano was officially recognized as a criminal organization dating back to 2009 and their criminal activities included the smuggling of firearms and cigarettes, human trafficking, and smuggling of undocumented immigrants. Murders in which corpses are made to disappear is common practice in criminal activities including that of the Italian Mafia. The ‘‘Lupara Bianca’’ is a colloquial term commonly used in Sicily to refer to concealed murders. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported study describing the discovery of one of the locations used extensively by the local Mafia as a ‘‘cemetery’’ for victims of ‘‘Lupara Bianca’’ homicides. Based on evidences collected at the site, an explanation of this homicidal modality will be provided

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Are Elevated in the Brain, Blood, and Adrenal Glands during the Progression of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in a Predator Exposure Animal Model

This study sought to analyze specific pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the progression of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by utilizing an animal model. To examine PTSD pathophysiology, we measured damaging reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines to determine if oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, adrenal glands, and systemic circulation were upregulated in response to constant stress. Pre-clinical PTSD was induced in naïve, male Sprague-Dawley rats via a predator exposure/psychosocial stress regimen. PTSD group rats were secured in Plexiglas cylinders and placed in a cage with a cat for one hour on days 1 and 11 of a 31-day stress regimen. In addition, PTSD group rats were subjected to psychosocial stress whereby their cage cohort was changed daily. This model has been shown to cause heightened anxiety, exaggerated startle response, impaired cognition, and increased cardiovascular reactivity, all of which are common symptoms seen in humans with PTSD. At the conclusion of the predator exposure/psychosocial stress regimen, the rats were euthanized and their brains were dissected to remove the hippocampus, amygdala, and pre-frontal cortex (PFC), the three areas commonly associated with PTSD development. The adrenal glands and whole blood were also collected to assess systemic oxidative stress. Analysis of the whole blood, adrenal glands, and brain regions revealed oxidative stress increased during PTSD progression. In addition, examination of pro-inflammatory cytokine (PIC) mRNA and protein demonstrated neurological inflammatory molecules were significantly upregulated in the PTSD group vs. controls. These results indicate oxidative stress and inflammation in the brain, adrenal glands, and systemic circulation may play a critical role in the development and further exacerbation of PTSD. Thus, PTSD may not be solely a neurological pathology but may progress as a systemic condition involving multiple organ systems