Aspetti epidemiologici della calcolosi di calcio in Italia: distribuzione dei fenotipi intermedi nella popolazione italiana

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Metabolic diagnosis and medical prevention of calcium nephrolithiasis and its systemic manifestations: a consensus statement

Background: Recently published guidelines on the medical management of renal stone disease did not address relevant topics in the field of idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis, which are important also for clinical research. Design: A steering committee identified 27 questions, which were proposed to a faculty of 44 experts in nephrolithiasis and allied fields. A systematic review of the literature was conducted and 5216 potentially relevant articles were selected; from these, 407 articles were deemed to provide useful scientific information. The Faculty, divided into working groups, analysed the relevant literature. Preliminary statements developed by each group were exhaustively discussed in plenary sessions and approved. Results: Statements were developed to inform clinicians on the identification of secondary forms of calcium nephrolithiasis and systemic complications; on the definition of idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis; on the use of urinary tests of crystallization and of surgical observations during stone treatment in the management of these patients; on the identification of patients warranting preventive measures; on the role of fluid and nutritional measures and of drugs to prevent recurrent episodes of stones; and finally, on the cooperation between the urologist and nephrologist in the renal stone patients. Conclusions: This document has addressed idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis from the perspective of a disease that can associate with systemic disorders, emphasizing the interplay needed between urologists and nephrologists. It is complementary to the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology guidelines. Future areas for research are identified

Preformulation Studies of Food Supplements Containing Basil (Ocimum basilicum l.) Extracts

In recent years, the therapeutic properties of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) oil were studied. In addition, some pharmacological studies have also supplied new evidence concerning antibacterial, antifungal (mainly with regard to Candida albicans), antiviral and antioxidant activity of basil extracts. The purpose of this preformulation study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity of bioactive molecules from basil extracts over time. These extracts were utilized for the formulation of a supplement, based on vaginal suppository, prepared using either lipophilic-based matrix or hydrophilic matrix system. The results show the capacity of basil extracts to maintain its properties both over time (15 days) and placed in a lipophilic formulation. As far as the differences in the concentration of polyphenols and antioxidant activity are concerned, should be pointed out how important is to use plants harvested in late spring or early summer, to achieve more homogeneous results, regarding both polyphenolic concentrations and TEAC values. As far as the preparation of vaginal suppositories is concerned, the release kinetics shows that the formulative process does not interfere with the chemical constituents of basil, even if the antioxidant activity appears significantly reduced compared with the antioxidant activity of basil extracts. Further studies are necessary to increase the concentration of basil extracts in each vaginal suppository and to evaluate the antimicrobial activity

Anthropometric variables, physical activity and dietary intakes of patients with uric acid nephrolithiasis

To evaluate anthropometric variables, energy expenditure by physical activity and nutrient intake of uric acid stone formers (UA-RSFs) compared to non-forming subjects (C). The study included 33 consecutive male patients with a diagnosis of \u201cpure\u201d stones of anhydrous uric acid at infrared spectroscopy and 49 male control subjects with no history of urinary stones. A personal interview was conducted including questionnaires for physical activity and dietary intakes. Anthropometric parametric and blood pressure were measured. Mean age, weight, height, waist circumference, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, dietary energy, carbohydrate intake, lipid intake, dietary acid load, time spent for different physical activities and total energy expenditure for physical activity were not different in UA-RSFs with respect to C. Mean dietary protein (76.2 \ub1 19.6 vs 65.4 \ub1 14.7 g/day, P = 0.006) and ethanol intake (10.4 \ub1 8.8 vs 4.1 \ub1 8.6, P = 0.002) were higher in UA-RSFs than in C. History of renal disease, heart disease and treatment with thiazides or allopurinol were more frequent and mean serum glucose and triglycerides (104 \ub1 12 vs 97 \ub1 11 mg/dl, P = 0.043) (172 \ub1 77 vs 123 \ub1 52 mg/dl, P = 0.023) were higher in UA-RSFs. Metabolic syndrome was more frequent in UA-RSFs (57% vs 39%) but not significant (p = 0.09). Increased dietary animal protein (and ethanol) intake can act as co-factors for uric acid stone formation although a more complex and not fully elucidated metabolic background can have an even more crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease even in the absence of overweight

Cigarette-smoking effects on circadian rhythm parameters of blood pressure

Ambulatory monitoring of blood pressure (bp) and heart rate in a multicentric Italian study is used to investigate effects of smoking and of a family history of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease in clinically healthy adults of both genders between 40 and 59 years of age. A higher 24-h rhythm-adjusted mean of systolic blood pressure is found in smokers having a positive family history of high blood pressure. The results of this chronobiologic investigation are reviewed in the context of relations between smoking and cardiovascular morbidity. It appears that the effect of smoking depends in part on interacting factors. The major factor in this context may well be the family history of bp insofar as the results of this study based on a considerable number of observations are considered