30 research outputs found
Losartan ameliorates diabetic vascular hyper-reactivity to angiotensin II by reducing ROCK1 expression and activity
Influence of resting tension on protease-activated receptor-mediated relaxation in guinea-pig tracheas.
Pirenoxine prevents oxidative effects of argon fluoride excimer laser irradiation in rabbit corneas: biochemical, histological and cytofluorimetric evaluations.
Antioxidant protection in cultured corneal cells and whole corneas submitted to UV-B exposure.
Evaluation of the effects of a novel carbon monoxide releasing molecule (CORM-3) in an in vitro model of cardiovascular inflammation
Ultra-rare RTEL1 gene variants associate with acute severity of COVID-19 and evolution to pulmonary fibrosis as a specific long COVID disorder
Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that caused an ongoing pandemic of a pathology termed Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19). Several studies reported that both COVID-19 and RTEL1 variants are associated with shorter telomere length, but a direct association between the two is not generally acknowledged. Here we demonstrate that up to 8.6% of severe COVID-19 patients bear RTEL1 ultra-rare variants, and show how this subgroup can be recognized. Methods: A cohort of 2246 SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects, collected within the GEN-COVID Multicenter study, was used in this work. Whole exome sequencing analysis was performed using the NovaSeq6000 System, and machine learning methods were used for candidate gene selection of severity. A nested study, comparing severely affected patients bearing or not variants in the selected gene, was used for the characterisation of specific clinical features connected to variants in both acute and post-acute phases. Results: Our GEN-COVID cohort revealed a total of 151 patients carrying at least one RTEL1 ultra-rare variant, which was selected as a specific acute severity feature. From a clinical point of view, these patients showed higher liver function indices, as well as increased CRP and inflammatory markers, such as IL-6. Moreover, compared to control subjects, they present autoimmune disorders more frequently. Finally, their decreased diffusion lung capacity for carbon monoxide after six months of COVID-19 suggests that RTEL1 variants can contribute to the development of SARS-CoV-2-elicited lung fibrosis. Conclusion: RTEL1 ultra-rare variants can be considered as a predictive marker of COVID-19 severity, as well as a marker of pathological evolution in pulmonary fibrosis in the post-COVID phase. This notion can be used for a rapid screening in hospitalized infected people, for vaccine prioritization, and appropriate follow-up assessment for subjects at risk. Trial Registration NCT04549831 (www.clinicaltrial.org
Alimentazione e salute oculare
Il lavoro mette in relazione alcune delle più comuni patologie oculari (cataratta, retinopatia e glaucoma) con la dieta. Attraverso un’analisi della recente letteratura evidenzia le carenze dietetiche che possono favorire lo sviluppo di tali malattie e mettere in risalto quella che attualmente è considerata una corretta alimentazione come efficace strategia di prevenzione.
È importante sottolineare che in alcune patologie (come nel diabete) la dieta deve essere sempre modificata con il consenso del medico curante.
Allo stato delle conoscenze attuali si desume che la dieta ideale per mantenere la salute dell'occhio pare essere una dieta povera in grassi ed in proteine e ricca in fibre, carboidrati, vitamine, carotenoidi ed antiossidanti, con l’aggiunta di alcuni integratori quali lo zinco. Gli alimenti ricchi di vitamina A come fegato, uova, formaggio, olio di fegato di merluzzo e latticini sono essenziali per la salute del tessuto oculare. Anche i bioflavonoidi rinforzano i tessuti oculari e si trovano in alimenti come agrumi (nella buccia e nel succo), nelle cipolle rosse, nelle bacche rosse o nere e nelle verdure a foglie. La vitamina C e la rutina sono necessarie come profilassi per le infezioni e aiutano anche a prevenire la fragilità capillare e le emorragie dei tessuti.
Soprattutto le vitamine, quali la riboflavina, può correggere disturbi ed insieme a niacina e vitamina E possono essere efficaci per le emorragie della retina.
Dalle evidenze della letteratura sopra riportate si può riassumere che la vitamina A, il complesso B, le vitamine C ed E, i carotenoidi e l’acido folico sono tutti elementi nutritivi importanti per la salute degli occhi.
In conclusione una dieta corretta può essere considerata una efficace strategia di prevenzione per le patologie oculari