Two lathyrane diterpenoid stereoisomers containing an unusual trans-gem-dimethylcyclopropane from the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris

Two novel lathyrane-type diterpenoids, the Euphorbia factors L(2a) (1) and L(2b) (2), and their stereoisomer Euphorbia factor L(2) (3) were obtained from seeds of Euphorbia lathyris. Both Euphorbia factors L(2a) and L(2b) possess an unprecedented trans-gem-dimethylcyclopropane as structural feature. Also, the Euphorbia factor L(2a) is the first example of a lathyrane diterpenoid with an endocyclic 12(Z)-double bond. The structures of the molecules and their absolute configurations were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, Cu-Kα radiation X-ray diffraction, and comparison with calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) data. The Euphorbia factor L(2b) exhibited an inhibitory effect against U937 cell line with an IC(50) value of 0.87 μM

Environmental and lifestyle risk factors of breast cancer in Malta-a retrospective case-control study

The funding for this research was obtained as part of IMaGenX – and ItaliaMalta co-financed EU project Operational Programme 2007–2013.AIM AND BACKGROUND: Environmental exposures are known to play a role in the development of cancer, including breast cancer. There are known associations of breast cancer with environmental factors such as sunlight exposure, diet and exercise and alcohol consumption as well as physiological factors. This study examines the prevalence of risk factors for breast cancer related to dietary intake, environment and lifestyle in the female population of Malta. Malta has had little research in this area, and therefore an exploratory study was carried out. METHODS: A retrospective case-control design was applied. Two hundred cases and 403 controls were included. Both cases and controls were subjects without a known family history for breast cancer. Controls were age-matched to cases in an age-decade category roughly at a 2:1 ratio. Interviews were carried out face-to-face using a questionnaire designed by Maltese and Sicilian researchers, encompassing various factors including diet, lifestyle, physiological factors and medical history. Breast cancer risk was then analysed using both univariate and multivariate analyses. For factors having a metric scale, the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare mean scores, while for categorical factors, the chi-square test was used to compare percentages between the case and control groups. Statistical modelling was carried out using binary logistic regression to relate the likelihood of breast cancer to over 50 risk/protective factors analysed collectively. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed around 20 parameters of interest, 14 of which were statistically significant at a 0.05 level of significance. Logistic regression analysis identified 11 predictors of interest that were statistically significant. Tomato, coffee and canned meat consumption were associated with lower likelihood of breast cancer (OR = 0.988, 0.901, 0.892, respectively), whereas beans and cabbage consumption and low sodium salt were positively associated with breast cancer (OR = 1.045, 1.834, 1.028, respectively). Premenopausal status was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer compared to postmenopausal status (OR = 0.067). Not having experienced myocardial infarction was associated with lower odds of breast cancer (OR = 0.331). Increased height was also found to have a strong association with risk of breast cancer, with the odds of having breast cancer increasing for every centimetre increase in height (OR = 1.048). In terms of quantity, odds of having breast cancer were lower in those exposed to sunlight (OR = 0.891). The odds of having breast cancer were also lower in those not using the oral contraceptive pill (OR = 0.454). CONCLUSIONS: Various factors in this exploratory study were found to be associated with development of breast cancer. While causal conclusions cannot be made, tomato consumption is of particular interest, as these results corroborate findings found in other studies. A negative association of breast cancer with sunlight exposure and oral contraceptive pill use corroborates findings in other studies. Other associations with dietary intake can be explained by dietary changes. More robust studies in this area, including possible longitudinal studies, are warranted.peer-reviewe

LA RESPONSABILITA' DEI PREPOSTI PER LA SICUREZZA DEI LAVORATORI NEL Ssn: INDAGINE CONOSCITIVA IN ALCUNE AZIENDE SANITARIE SICILIANE

Gli autori analizzano la figura professionale del preposto nell'ambito delle Strutture Sanitarie sottolineando le responsabilità ricadenti su detto operatore, anche alla luce di alcune sentenze della Cassazione (civile e penale), IV sezione. Vengono inoltre presentati i risultati di una indagine conoscitiva condotta mediante distribuzione di un questionario anonimo ai preposti di alcune Aziende Sanitarie Sicilian

Competenze e limiti della nuova figura del mediatore di cui al D.Lgs. 28/2010

Gli autori dopo aver ripercorso l'iter normativo che ha introdotto in Italia l'Istituto della Mediazione/Conciliazione, delineano la figura del mediatore e le sue competenze nell'ambito della valutazione del danno da responsabilità civile, soffermandosi inoltre sulle specifiche competenze necessarie per il mediatore chiamato ad assolvere il suo ruolo in que casi ove la proposta conciliativa deve prevdere una valutazione della pretesa stessa, l'accertamento del nesso causale ed al contempo del quantum risarcitorio

Infortunio Mortale in Edilizia e profili di responsabilit\ue0: analisi di una casistica

Sulla base di tre casi di infortunio mortale verificatisi nell'ambito dell'edilizia, gli autori hanno analizzato le problematiche connesse al mancato impiego dei DPI quali fattori favorenti il determinismo nonch\ue8 quale elemento di individuazione di possibile responsabilit\ue0 per le figure coinvolte

Quality of life, insomnia and coping strategies during COVID-19 pandemic in hospital workers. A cross-sectional study

COVID-19 became a pandemic in a few months, leading to adverse health outcomes, reducing the quality of life, affecting the sleep/wake cycle, and altering coping strategies, especially among hospital personnel. Life quality, insomnia, and coping strategies were thus assessed among hospital personnel during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. This cross-sectional study was conducted from May to November 2020 through an online survey. There were 558 participants (28.5% males and 71.5% females) enrolled in two different metropolitan areas (in North and South of Italy, respectively). Three standardized questionnaires were administered: European Quality of life–5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), and Brief COPE. Differences in sociodemographic characteristics and work-related factors were also investigated in order to identify possible predictors through a generalized linear model and logistic regression analysis. Results showed good perceived life quality and high insomnia prevalence. After sample stratification, the statistical analysis highlighted that personal (gender, age, educational level) and work-related factors (employment in COVID wards, remote working) played different roles in predicting quality of life, insomnia, and coping attitude. Active, Planning, and Acceptance were the most frequently adopted coping strategies. Despite women confirming their attitude in reacting to the difficulties, adopting emotion-focused coping strategies, they showed a higher probability to develop insomnia, so a gender perspective should be considered in the health protection of this working category. An integrated approach should be implemented at individual, interpersonal and organizational levels aiming to monitor psychological distress, favor regular sharing and communication between peers, and also allow conciliation of work with family life. At the organizational level, preventive and protective measures adequate to work-related risk to COVID-19 should be adopted