(Re)thinking the city of proximity for Salutogenic purposes.

As centres of population and human activities, nowadays urban environments are simultaneously the main cause of and solution to a growing number of health-related challenges. In this setting, COVID-19 pandemic has helped reiterate this and serves as a wake-up call and an opportunity to rethink the way we approach cities. Aim of this paper is to research what today seems the most promising urban model for long-term individual and global resilience: the ‘‘city of proximity’’, namely about inclusive walkable and cycling environments where people can access all basic destinations within reason- able times and distances from home. Therefore, urban proximity dimension, methodological approach and urban features and functions become the main subject of a quanti- qualitative matrix of comparison of five international case studies centred on the topic, by which it is possible to set out general criteria for such model, along with a methodology to measure all cities in its respect. As a result, residential density, functional mix, pedestrian surface, cycle routes, public transport stops, green areas, schools, cultural facilities, sport facilities, retail services and urban gardens make up the fix components of a comprehensive set of 11+n urban features, whose occurrence is investigated through GIS-based analysis within designated distance ranges, creating a comprehensive assessment framework that is adjustable to all urban contexts worldwide. In the end, the application of such framework to the city of Milan finally helps to validate its effectiveness in providing a picture of city-wide accessibility to proximity services, and in highlighting the value of integrated analysis in view of shaping public policies and informed planning choices which put health and sustainability at the centre

Uremic Toxin Lanthionine Interferes with the Transsulfuration Pathway, Angiogenetic Signaling and Increases Intracellular Calcium

(1) The beneficial effects of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on the cardiovascular and nervous system have recently been re-evaluated. It has been shown that lanthionine, a side product of H2S biosynthesis, previously used as a marker for H2S production, is dramatically increased in circulation in uremia, while H2S release is impaired. Thus, lanthionine could be classified as a novel uremic toxin. Our research was aimed at defining the mechanism(s) for lanthionine toxicity. (2) The effect of lanthionine on H2S release was tested by a novel lead acetate strip test (LAST) in EA.hy926 cell cultures. Effects of glutathione, as a redox agent, were assayed. Levels of sulfane sulfur were evaluated using the SSP4 probe and flow cytometry. Protein content and glutathionylation were analyzed by Western Blotting and immunoprecipitation, respectively. Gene expression and miRNA levels were assessed by qPCR. (3) We demonstrated that, in endothelial cells, lanthionine hampers H2S release; reduces protein content and glutathionylation of transsulfuration enzyme cystathionine--synthase; modifies the expression of miR-200c and miR-423; lowers expression of vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF; increases Ca2+ levels. (4) Lanthionine-induced alterations in cell cultures, which involve both sulfur amino acid metabolism and calcium homeostasis, are consistent with uremic dysfunctional characteristics and further support the uremic toxin role of this amino acid

Diffusion and persistence of multidrug resistant salmonella typhimurium strains phage type DT120 in Southern Italy

Sixty-two multidrug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains isolated from 255 clinical strains collected in Southern Italy in 2006–2008 were characterised for antimicrobial resistance genes, pulsotype, and phage type.Most strains (83.9%) were resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline (resistance pattern ACSSuT) encoded in 88.5% by the PSE-1, floR, aadA2, sul1, and tet(G) gene cluster harboured by the Salmonella Genomic Island (SGI1). In 11.5% of strains, the resistance was encoded by the InH-like integron (OXA-30-aadA1) and the catA1, sul1, and tet(B) genes. STYMXB.0061 (75%) and DT120 (84.6%) were the prevalent pulsotype and phage type identified in these strains, respectively. Five other resistance patterns were also found either in single or in a low number of isolates with TEM, dfrA12, strAB, sul2, tet(A), and tet(B) encoding for the associated ampicillin, trimethoprim, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline resistances, respectively. The pandemic DT104 clone, resistance pattern ACSSuT encoded by SGI1, has largely been identified in Italy since 1992, while strains DT120, resistance pattern ACSSuT (encoded by SGI1), have never been previously reported in Italy. In Europe, clinical S. Typhimurium strains DT120 have mainly been reported from sporadic outbreaks linked to the consumption of pork products.However, none of these strains were STYMXB.0061 and the antimicrobial resistance was not linked to SGI1.Theprevalent identification and persistence ofDT120 isolates would suggest, in Southern Italy, a phage type shifting of the pandemic DT104 clone pulsotype STYMXB.0061.Additionally, these findings raise epidemiological concern about the potential diffusion of these emerging multidrug resistant (SGI linked) DT120 strains

Discriminant analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloid contamination in bee pollen based on near-infrared data from lab-stationary and portable spectrometers

Bee pollen may be contaminated with pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) and their N-oxides (PANOs), which are mainly detected by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC\u2013MS/MS), even though the use of fast near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is an ongoing alternative. Therefore, the main challenge of this study was to assess the feasibility of both a lab-stationary (Foss) and a portable (Polispec) NIR spectrometer in 60 dehydrated bee pollen samples. After an ANOVA-feature selection of the most informative NIR spectral data, canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was performed to distinguish three quantitative PA/PANO classes (\ub5g/kg): 400, high. According to the LC\u2013MS/MS analysis, 77% of the samples were contaminated with PAs/PANOs and the sum content of the 17 target analytes was higher than 400\ua0\ub5g/kg in 28% of the samples. CDA was carried out on a pool of 18 (Foss) and 22 (Polispec) selected spectral variables and allowed accurate classification of samples from the low class as confirmed by the high values of Matthews correlation coefficient ( 65 0.91) for both NIR spectrometers. Leave-one-out cross-validation highlighted precise recognition of samples characterised by a high PA/PANO content with a low misclassification rate (0.02) as false negatives. The most informative wavelengths were within the 2400\ua0nm regions for Foss and > 1500\ua0nm for Polispec that could be associated with cyclic amines, and epoxide chemical structures of PAs/PANOs. In sum, both lab-stationary and portable NIR systems are reliable and fast techniques for detecting PA/PANO contamination in bee pollen

Gender Differences in COVID-19 Lockdown Impact on Mental Health of Undergraduate Students

open13Background: Prolonged university closures and social distancing-imposed measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic obliged students to at-home learning with online lectures and educational programs promoting potential social isolation, loneliness, hopelessness, and episodes of clinical decompensation. Methods: A web-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in a university institute in Milan, Northern Italy, to assess the COVID-19 lockdown impact on the mental health of the undergraduate students. We estimated the odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) using adjusted logistic regression models. Results: Of the 8,177 students, 12.8% reported depressive symptoms, 25.6% anxiety, 8.7% insomnia, and 10.6% reported impulsive tracts, with higher proportions among females than males. Mental health symptoms were positively associated with caring for a person at home, a poor housing quality, and a worsening in working performance. Among males compared with females, a poor housing quality showed a stronger positive association with depressive symptoms and impulsivity, and a worsening in the working performance was positively associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms. In addition, the absence of private space was positively associated with depression and anxiety, stronger among males than females. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first multidisciplinary consortium study, involving public mental health, environmental health, and architectural design. Further studies are needed to confirm or refute our findings and consequent recommendations to implement well-being interventions in pandemic conditions.openAmerio A.; Bertuccio P.; Santi F.; Bianchi D.; Brambilla A.; Morganti A.; Odone A.; Costanza A.; Signorelli C.; Aguglia A.; Serafini G.; Capolongo S.; Amore M.Amerio, A.; Bertuccio, P.; Santi, F.; Bianchi, D.; Brambilla, A.; Morganti, A.; Odone, A.; Costanza, A.; Signorelli, C.; Aguglia, A.; Serafini, G.; Capolongo, S.; Amore, M