Environmental and Occupational Risk Factors of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease with still unknown etiology. We aimed at investigating the association between environmental and occupational factors with ALS risk. Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study in four Italian provinces (Catania, Modena, Novara, and Reggio Emilia) by administration of tailored questionnaires to ALS cases (n = 95) and randomly selected population referents (n = 135). We estimated ALS risk by calculating the odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) using an unconditional logistic regression model. Results: We found a positive association with disease risk for history of occupation in the agricultural sector (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 0.79-7.54), especially for longer than 10 years (OR = 2.72, 95% 1.02-7.20). Overall occupational exposure to solvents also suggested a positive association, especially for thinners (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.14-4.54) and paint removers (OR = 2.01, 95% CI 0.90-4.48). Both occupational and environmental exposure to electromagnetic fields show a slightly increased risk with OR = 1.69 (95% CI 0.70-4.09) and 2.41 (95% CI 1.13-5.12), respectively. Occupational but not environmental exposure to pesticides (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 0.63-2.37), particularly fungicides, and exposure to metals (OR = 4.20, 95% CI 1.88-9.38), particularly lead, mercury, and selenium, showed an imprecise but positive association. Finally, there was an indication of increased risk for living in proximity to water bodies. Conclusions: Despite the caution that needs to be used due to some study limitations, such as the low number of exposed subjects and the possibility of recall bias, these results suggest the potential role of some environmental and occupational factors in ALS etiology

Clinical and Lifestyle Factors and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease of the motor neurons. The etiology of ALS remains largely unknown, particularly with reference to the potential environmental determinants. Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study in four provinces from both Northern and Southern Italy in order to assess non-genetic ALS risk factors by collecting through tailored questionnaires information about clinical and lifestyle factors. We estimated ALS risk by calculating odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) using unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age and educational attainment. Results: We recruited 230 participants (95 cases and 135 controls). We found a possible positive association of ALS risk with trauma, particularly head trauma (OR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.19-5.72), electric shock (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 0.62-7.06), and some sports, although at a competitive level only. In addition, our results suggest an increased risk for subjects reporting use of private wells for drinking water (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 0.73-2.27) and for use of herbicides during gardening (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 0.88-2.27). Conversely, there was a suggestion of an inverse association with overall fish consumption (OR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.12-0.60), but with no dose-response relation. Consumption of some dietary supplements, namely those containing amino acids and, in the Southern Italy population, vitamins and minerals such as selenium, seemed associated with a statistically imprecise increased risk. Conclusions: Our results suggest a potential etiologic role a number of clinical and lifestyle factors with ALS risk. However, caution is needed due to some study limitations. These include the small sample size and the low number of exposed subjects, which affect statistical precision of risk estimates, the potential for exposure misclassification, and the uncertainties about mechanisms underpinning the possible association between these factors and disease risk

Progettazione e sintesi di ligandi ibridi sigma-no light-activated a potenziale attività antiproliferativa. Nih 10495 e derivati: modulazione dell'attività oppioide, sigma-1 ed hdac nel dolore

Il radicale NO è una fra le biomolecole più studiate in quanto mediatore di numerosi processi fisiologici come: neurotrasmissione, vasodilatazione, secrezione ormonale e soprattutto come inibitore della crescita tumorale. Il suo ruolo multifattoriale ha ispirato la progettazione e sintesi di ligandi ibridi NO/sigma attivati dalla luce a potenziale attività antitumorale, sfruttando l'overespressione dei recettori sigma in molte linee cellulari tumorali umane. Dato il crescente interesse per i ligandi sigma come potenziali agenti chemioterapici e sulla base degli studi sul fotorilascio di NO, abbiamo concentrato l attività di ricerca sulla progettazione e sintesi di ligandi sigma (derivati piperidinici e piperazinici etc. opportunamente sostituiti) capaci di svolgere un azione antitumorale attraverso: elevata affinità e attività antagonista sigma1 e/o agonista sigma-2 e rilascio light-activated di NO. La duplice azione si presume che comporti un incremento sia dell attività antiproliferativa che un azione più selettiva verso cellule tumorali over-esprimenti i recettori sigma rispetto a quelle sane con ridotta espressione di tali recettori. Inoltre questo lavoro di tesi si occupa della modulazione dell'attività oppioide, sigma-1 e HDAC nel trattamento del dolore neuropatico. Studi condotti da Woods, Smith, Medzhiradsky e Winger sul ligando oppioide NIH10495, strutturalmente correlato all Aloperidolo, al fine di differenziarne l effetto sul sito di legame della Fenilciclidina con 3H-TCP come radioligando e con 3H-(+)SKF 10,047 per esaminare la loro affinità sul sistema recettoriale sigma1 hanno messo in evidenza che grazie alla presenza dell estere propilico in posizione 4 sulla piperidina il composto mostrava un tipico profilo analgesico oppioide. NIH10495 è un inusuale agonista oppioide nel MVD, in quanto la sua azione viene antagonizzata in maniera non competitiva dal Naltrexone. Infatti i saggi di binding mostrano un affinità recettoriale simile alla morfina per il sito di legame del recettore oppioide. Inoltre, in questi studi è stato evidenziato che NIH10495, in vivo, ha un inizio e durata d azione simile alla morfina ed è approssimativamente 30 volte più potente della morfina quando raggiuge l effetto massimo. L obiettivo di questa linea di ricerca è lo sviluppo di profarmaci utili nel trattamento del dolore neuropatico, sostanzialmente correlati all agonista oppioide ad attività analgesica e neurolettica NIH10495 in grado di modulare l attività oppioide interagendo da antagonista con il sistema recettoriale sigma-1 e inibendo alcune isoforme dell enzima HDAC (sottotipi I e IIa). A tale scopo si è pensato di progettare una serie di esteri dell acido butirrico capaci di interagire in modo sinergico come agonisti oppioidi ed antagonisti sigma-1, ma allo stesso tempo capaci di idrolizzarsi in vivo liberando acido butirrico, inibitore classico degli enzimi HDACs. Allo scopo di ridurre la componente neurolettica dopaminergica la funzione chetonica è stata ridotta a gruppo alcolico che è stato ulteriormente esterificato con acido butirrico per rafforzare l effetto inibitorio HDAC

Detailed functional studies on androgen receptor mild mutations demonstrate their association with male infertility

CONTEXT: Mutations in the androgen receptor (AR) gene can cause the androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). For complete and severe partial AIS, well-characterized in vitro functional assays can be used for genotype-phenotype correlation; however, for mild forms of AIS, as associated with male infertility, experimental evidence is scarce or lacking. In particular, optimal in vitro functional tests informative about the genotype-phenotype relation have not been described. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the association among genotype and phenotype for AR mutations found in infertile males by conventional functional assays and additional in-depth studies performed with several gene reporters. DESIGN: To this aim, we selected four AR missense mutations associated with isolated male infertility (L547F and two novel mutations A474V and S650G) or partial AIS (Y571H). After introduction of the specific mutations in AR expression plasmid, we performed classical in vitro studies (Western immunoblotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, hormone-response curves) and transactivation assays with different reporter constructs (MMTV, Sc-ARU-TK, TAT-GRE- 2X, Slp-ARU-TK and PEM). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that standard functional tests provide sufficient information only for severe AR mutations, whereas for AR mutations found in mild AIS patients with male infertility, only an extensive analysis with different in vitro systems, and in particular with PEM promoter, can give information on the functionality of the AR and therefore on the pathogenicity of the mutations and on genotype-phenotype correlation

Synaptic and memory dysfunction induced by tau oligomers is rescued by up-regulation of the nitric oxide cascade

Background Soluble aggregates of oligomeric forms of tau protein (oTau) have been associated with impairment of synaptic plasticity and memory in Alzheimer’s disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the synaptic and memory dysfunction induced by elevation of oTau are still unknown. Methods This work used a combination of biochemical, electrophysiological and behavioral techniques. Biochemical methods included analysis of phosphorylation of the cAMP-responsive element binding (CREB) protein, a transcriptional factor involved in memory, histone acetylation, and expression immediate early genes c-Fos and Arc. Electrophysiological methods included assessment of long-term potentiation (LTP), a type of synaptic plasticity thought to underlie memory formation. Behavioral studies investigated both short-term spatial memory and associative memory. These phenomena were examined following oTau elevation. Results Levels of phospho-CREB, histone 3 acetylation at lysine 27, and immediate early genes c-Fos and Arc, were found to be reduced after oTau elevation during memory formation. These findings led us to explore whether up-regulation of various components of the nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathway impinging onto CREB is capable of rescuing oTau-induced impairment of plasticity, memory, and CREB phosphorylation. The increase of NO levels protected against oTau-induced impairment of LTP through activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. Similarly, the elevation of cGMP levels and stimulation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinases (PKG) re-established normal LTP after exposure to oTau. Pharmacological inhibition of cGMP degradation through inhibition of phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5), rescued oTau-induced LTP reduction. These findings could be extrapolated to memory because PKG activation and PDE5 inhibition rescued oTau-induced memory impairment. Finally, PDE5 inhibition re-established normal elevation of CREB phosphorylation and cGMP levels after memory induction in the presence of oTau. Conclusions Up-regulation of CREB activation through agents acting on the NO cascade might be beneficial against tau-induced synaptic and memory dysfunctions

Seroepidemiological Survey on the Impact of Smoking on SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 Outcomes: Protocol for the Troina Study

Background: After the global spread of SARS-CoV-2, research has highlighted several aspects of the pandemic, focusing on clinical features and risk factors associated with infection and disease severity. However, emerging results on the role of smoking in SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility or COVID-19 outcomes are conflicting, and their robustness remains uncertain.Objective: In this context, this study aims at quantifying the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence, studying the changes in antibody levels over time, and analyzing the association between the biochemically verified smoking status and SARS-CoV-2 infection.Methods: The research design involves a 6 -month prospective cohort study with a serial sampling of the same individuals. Each participant will be surveyed about their demographics and COVID-19 related information, and blood sampling will be collected upon recruitment and at specified follow-up time points (ie, after 8 and 24 weeks). Blood samples will be screened for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies and serum cotinine, being the latter of the principal metabolite of nicotine, which will be used to assess participants' smoking status.Results: The study is ongoing. It aims to find a higher antibody prevalence in individuals at high risk for viral exposure (ie, health care personnel) and to refine current estimates on the association between smoking status and SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.Conclusions: The added value of this research is that the current smoking status of the population to be studied will be biochemically verified to avoid the bias associated with self-reported smoking status. As such, the results from this survey may provide an actionable metric to study the role of smoking in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 outcomes, and therefore to implement the most appropriate public health measures to control the pandemic. Results may also serve as a reference for future clinical research, and the methodology could be exploited in public health sectors and policies

Search for High-energy Neutrinos from Binary Neutron Star Merger GW170817 with ANTARES, IceCube, and the Pierre Auger Observatory

The Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo observatories recently discovered gravitational waves from a binary neutron star inspiral. A short gamma-ray burst (GRB) that followed the merger of this binary was also recorded by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (Fermi-GBM), and the Anti-Coincidence Shield for the Spectrometer for the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), indicating particle acceleration by the source. The precise location of the event was determined by optical detections of emission following the merger. We searched for high-energy neutrinos from the merger in the GeV–EeV energy range using the Antares, IceCube, and Pierre Auger Observatories. No neutrinos directionally coincident with the source were detected within ±500 s around the merger time. Additionally, no MeV neutrino burst signal was detected coincident with the merger. We further carried out an extended search in the direction of the source for high-energy neutrinos within the 14 day period following the merger, but found no evidence of emission. We used these results to probe dissipation mechanisms in relativistic outflows driven by the binary neutron star merger. The non-detection is consistent with model predictions of short GRBs observed at a large off-axis angle