Obesity-related changes in the vascular actions of insulin

Abstract Over the past 2 to 3 decades, research has focused on the changes in the vascular effects of insulin occurring in insulin resistant states like obesity. Consistent evidence indicates that obesity results in reduced endothelial release of nitric oxide in response to insulin, associated with concomitant enhancement in the production of endothelin-1. More recent work has pointed toward reduced vascular permeability and changes in the physical-chemical characteristics of the perivascular extracellular matrix as additional mechanisms of impaired insulin sensitivity in obesity. All these perturbations are important, because they contribute to impaired delivery of insulin itself and metabolic substrates to the target tissues and may play a role in the development of both diabetes and vascular damage. This review will describe the physiological vascular actions of insulin and their changes in obesity, focusing on some established pathophysiological determinants of the derangement of vascular insulin signaling, such as the lipid overflow from expanded fat depots and signals originating from inflamed obese adipose tissue (both distant and perivascular). Also, it will outline novel evidence underscoring the contribution of dysregulated adipokine secretion and changes in intestinal permeability and gut microbiome. Finally, it will touch upon some unresolved issues, such as the potential role of vascular insulin resistance in obesity-driven adipose tissue remodeling, and will discuss perspectives for future studies, regarding in particular possible therapeutic strategies with translational implications for the patients care

MAPPING LANDSCAPE AND WINE PRODUCTION AREAS

Lo studio delle zone di produzione vinicola parte abitualmente dall’esame di dati geologici e geomorfologici che si possono rappresentare in carte tematiche. La rappresentazione cartografi ca costituisce uno strumento completo per una conoscenza approfondita ed un’immagine immediata delle aree studiate. Ogni vino ha il proprio paesaggio: naturale e culturale. Il progetto Carta della Natura (L.394/91) studia il territorio italiano a 2 principali scale d’analisi (1:250.000;1:50.000) al fi ne di valutare lo stato dell’ambiente naturale: Paesaggi e habitat sono stati identificati seguendo un approccio sistemico. Alcuni di questi temi sono integrati nel progetto IYPE Geologia e Vino, per analizzare il profondo legame tra scienze della terra e patrimonio culturale.The study of a wine production area, starts usually from geological, geomorphological and pedological data as those that we can represent in a detailed area map. Maps are complete tools in order to have a deep knowledge and a clear image of the studied areas. Each wine has its own landscape: natural and cultural landscape. The Carta della Natura project (L.394/91) studies the whole Italian territory at two main scales of analysis (1:250.000; 1:50.000) in order to evaluate the state of the environment. Landscapes and habitats were identified following a holistic approach. Some of these topics are integrated in the IYPE project Geology and Wine in order to explain the complex link between earth sciences and cultural heritage

Metabiotic effects of Fusarium spp. on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes on raw portioned tomatoes.

The metabiotic effects of Fusarium proliferatum, F. avenaceum, and F. oxysporum on Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes in fresh tomatoes were investigated. Tomatoes were preinoculated with the molds and incubated at 15 degrees C for 7 days; then they were inoculated separately with the pathogens, packaged in air and modified atmosphere (5% O2, 30% CO2, and 65% N2), and stored at 4, 8, and 12 degrees C for 9 days. The cell loads of pathogens and lactic acid bacteria and the pH were evaluated periodically. The data were modeled through some different mathematical models to assess the shoulder length, i.e., the time before the beginning of the exponential death phase, the 1-log reduction time (s), and the pathogen death time (deltastand). The preinoculation of tomatoes with the molds enhanced the survival of E. coli O157:H7 by prolonging shoulder length and 8 parameters; this effect, however, was not observed for L. monocytogenes. pH values did not undergo significant changes within the storage time, and the lactic acid bacteria increased from 5 to 7 log CFU/g, without significant differences among the storage temperatures or the packaging atmospheres. The results of this research showed that the use of fresh tomatoes colonized by fusaria (even if the contamination is not visible) could increase significantly the risk of outbreaks due to some pathogens that could be on the surface of fruits and vegetables as a result of cross-contamination at home or incorrect postharvest operations

Metabolic and Cardiovascular Effects of Ghrelin

Ghrelin, an endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, is synthesized as a preprohormone and then proteolytically processed to yield a 28-amino acid peptide. This peptide was originally reported to induce growth hormone release; large evidence, however, has indicated many other physiological activities of ghrelin, including regulation of food intake and energy balance, as well as of lipid and glucose metabolism. Ghrelin receptors have been detected in the hypothalamus and the pituitary, but also in the cardiovascular system, where ghrelin exerts beneficial hemodynamic activities. Ghrelin administration acutely improves endothelial dysfunction by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability and normalizes the altered balance between endothelin-1 and nitric oxide within the vasculature of patients with metabolic syndrome. Other cardiovascular effects of ghrelin include improvement of left ventricular contractility and cardiac output, as well as reduction of arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. In addition, antinflammatory and antiapoptotic actions of ghrelin have been reported both in vivo and in vitro. This review summarizes the most recent findings on the metabolic and cardiovascular effects of ghrelin through GH-dependent and -independent mechanisms and the possible role of ghrelin as a therapeutic molecule for treating cardiovascular diseases

Endothelin-dependent vasoconstrictor activity in metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese patients

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Modelling the Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Raw Portioned Tomatoes, Inoculated with Aspergillus fumigatus and Emericella nidulans

The metabiotic interactions occurring among two fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Emericella nidulans) and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on raw portioned tomatoes were studied. Tomatoes, preinoculated with the moulds and inoculated with the pathogen, were packaged in air and stored at 4, 8 and 12∘C for 9 days; pathogen cell number and pH were monitored throughout the storage and the data were modeled using three different equations (Geeraerd, Weibull, and modified Weibull), to assess the shoulder length, the 1-log reduction time, and the death time. Both A. fumigatus and E. nidulans increased the survival of E. coli O157:H7 through the prolongation of the shoulder length; in contrast, the death time was significantly increased. The results of this paper suggested that the metabiotic interactions aspergilli/E. coli O 157:H7 could be of public concern, as the consumption of tomatoes (or other fruits and vegetables) contaminated both by the moulds and the pathogen is a possible scenario

Territorial knowledge and cartographic evolution

The role of geological and geotematic mapping has recently come to the forefront in spatial/environmental management. This paper aims to present some cases of boundary extension in the use of contemporary cartographic tools (GIS and WEBGIS). The potential of digital maps and associated databases offers a wide range of applications, responding to the urgent need to make available to users (practitioners in the technical sectors, planners and society as a whole) the most important concepts to concretely achieve better land management, active risk prevention and sustainable resource enhancement. The application of geomorphological maps to issues closer to society can effectively create its approach to more properly technical-scientific issues, fostering a shared awareness, useful in protecting and enhancing the fragile Italian territory. The described experiences focus on GIS, which confirms its effectiveness both for social involvement in environmental issues, and in territorial/environmental management

Inequities in Organ Donation and Transplantation Among Immigrant Populations in Italy: A Narrative Review of Evidence, Gaps in Research and Potential Areas for Intervention

Immigrants from outside Europe have increased over the past two decades, especially in Southern European countries including Italy. This influx coincided with an increased number of immigrants with end-stage organ diseases. In this narrative review, we reviewed evidence of the gaps between native-born and immigrant populations in the Organ Donation and Transplantation (ODT) process in Italy. Consistent with prior studies, despite the availability of a publicly funded health system with universal healthcare coverage, non-European-born individuals living in Italy are less likely to receive living donor kidney transplantation and more likely to have inferior long-term kidney graft function compared with EU-born and Eastern European-born individuals. While these patients are increasingly represented among transplant recipients (especially kidney and liver transplants), refusal rates for organ donation are higher in some ethnic groups compared with native-born and other foreign-born referents, with the potential downstream effects of prolonged waiting times and inferior transplant outcomes. In the process, we identified gaps in relevant research and biases in existing studies. Given the Italian National Transplant Center’s (CNT) commitment to fighting inequities in ODT, we illustrated actions taken by CNT to tackle inequities in ODT among immigrant communities in Italy

Anthropometric characteristics of young Italian tennis players

Purpose. Aim of our study is to observe specific body differences induced by training in young agonist tennis players at pre-pubertal and pubertal age, using anthropometry. Method. We analyzed 101 tennis players (27 females and 74 males) coming from South Italy, aged 8-14, which played tennis from at least 1 year. Anthropometric measurements like wrist, mid-thigh, mid-arm circumferences and arms length were compared between dominant and not dominant side of the body. Results. The mean Z-score for females was 0.9627, corresponding to the 83.22th centile of Italian growth chart, the mean Z-score for males was 1.0157, corresponding to 84.51th centile of Italian growth chart. For weight the mean Z-score for females was 0.2394 (59.46th centile) and the mean Z-score for males was 0.4032 (65.66th centile). The mean Z-score for females Body Mass Index was -0.1451 (44.23th centile), instead the mean Z-score for males was -0.0768 (46.94th centile). The Wilcoxon test reported a statistically significant difference between dominant and not dominant wrist circumferences regardless of sex (p-value=1.87e-10). Conclusions. Our study revealed that playing tennis starting from childhood may be useful for a regular growth. Analysis of wrist circumference and height may confirm the osteogenic potential of the sport