Ruolo degli Agonisti del GnRH nella schermatura gonadica per preservazione della fertilità in pazienti oncologiche: aspetti endocrino-ginecologici, sicurezza ed efficacia

Ruolo degli Agonisti del GnRH nella schermatura gonadica per preservazione della fertilità in pazienti oncologiche: aspetti endocrino-ginecologici, sicurezza ed efficacia in pazienti con diagnosi di Linfoma di Hodgkin che accedono a un programma di preservazione della fertilità prima della chemioterapia e pazienti sottoposte a chirurgia per carcinoma mammario che ricevono un trattamento ormonale adiuvante. L'obiettivo è confrontare l'associazione di inibitori dell'aromatasi (letrozolo nelle pazienti affette da linfoma e exemestane nelle pazienti affette da ca mammario) con GnRh-a rispetto ad un protocollo standard con GnRh-a nel primo gruppo di pazienti e con GnRh-a + tamoxifene nel secondo gruppo di pazienti

Transcript Regulation of the Recoded Archaeal α-L-Fucosidase In Vivo

Genetic decoding is flexible, due to programmed deviation of the ribosomes from standard translational rules, globally termed “recoding”. In Archaea, recoding has been unequivocally determined only for termination codon readthrough events that regulate the incorporation of the unusual amino acids selenocysteine and pyrrolysine, and for −1 programmed frameshifting that allow the expression of a fully functional α-l-fucosidase in the crenarchaeon Saccharolobus solfataricus, in which several functional interrupted genes have been identified. Increasing evidence suggests that the flexibility of the genetic code decoding could provide an evolutionary advantage in extreme conditions, therefore, the identification and study of interrupted genes in extremophilic Archaea could be important from an astrobiological point of view, providing new information on the origin and evolution of the genetic code and on the limits of life on Earth. In order to shed some light on the mechanism of programmed −1 frameshifting in Archaea, here we report, for the first time, on the analysis of the transcription of this recoded archaeal α-l-fucosidase and of its full-length mutant in different growth conditions in vivo. We found that only the wild type mRNA significantly increased in S. solfataricus after cold shock and in cells grown in minimal medium containing hydrolyzed xyloglucan as carbon source. Our results indicated that the increased level of fucA mRNA cannot be explained by transcript up-regulation alone. A different mechanism related to translation efficiency is discusse

Fatality rate and predictors of mortality in an Italian cohort of hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Clinical features and natural history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) differ widely among different countries and during different phases of the pandemia. Here, we aimed to evaluate the case fatality rate (CFR) and to identify predictors of mortality in a cohort of COVID-19 patients admitted to three hospitals of Northern Italy between March 1 and April 28, 2020. All these patients had a confirmed diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection by molecular methods. During the study period 504/1697 patients died; thus, overall CFR was 29.7%. We looked for predictors of mortality in a subgroup of 486 patients (239 males, 59%; median age 71 years) for whom sufficient clinical data were available at data cut-off. Among the demographic and clinical variables considered, age, a diagnosis of cancer, obesity and current smoking independently predicted mortality. When laboratory data were added to the model in a further subgroup of patients, age, the diagnosis of cancer, and the baseline PaO2/FiO2 ratio were identified as independent predictors of mortality. In conclusion, the CFR of hospitalized patients in Northern Italy during the ascending phase of the COVID-19 pandemic approached 30%. The identification of mortality predictors might contribute to better stratification of individual patient risk

Visual and Physical Degradation of the Black and White Mosaic of a <i>Roman Domus</i> under Palazzo Valentini in Rome: A Preliminary Study

Palazzo Valentini, the institutional head office of Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, stands in in a crucial position in the Roman archaeological and urban contexts, exactly between the Fora valley, Quirinal Hill slopes, and Campus Martius. It stands on a second-century A.D. complex to which belong, between other archeological remains, two richly decorated aristocratic domus. One of these buildings, the domus A, presents an outward porticoed room with a fourth-century AD central impluvium (open air part of the atrium designed to carry away rainwater) with a black/white tiled mosaic pavement, the preservation status of which is compromised by an incoherent degradation product that has caused gradual detachment of the mosaic tiles. To identify the product and determine the causes of degradation, samples of the product were taken and subjected to SEM-EDS, XRF, NMR, FT-IR and GC-MS analyses. The findings reported in this study can help restorers, archaeologists and conservation scientists in order to improve knowledge about the Roman mosaic, its construction phases, conservation problems and proper solutions

Esposizione a nanoparticelle di rame in ambienti indoor

L'inquinamento atmosferico è motivo di grande preoccupazione per la salute pubblica e uno dei maggiori fattori di rischio per l'ambiente e la salute umana in tutto il mondo [1]. L'inquinamento dell'aria outdoor è stato riconosciuto come cancerogeno per l'uomo [2]. Tuttavia, l'aria indoor può essere più inquinata di quella outdoor [3]. Recentemente, diversi studi hanno mostrato che l'uso di alcuni elettrodomestici e apparecchi con motori elettrici a spazzola (trapani, aspirapolveri etc.) contribuisce all'inquinamento indoor da particolato atmosferico (PM), aumentando significativamente i livelli di particelle ultrafini e nanoparticelle (NPs) [3]. A causa della scarica dell'arco elettrico durante il funzionamento di tali motori, alcune NPs contengono rame (Cu), un elemento che sembra svolgere un ruolo importante nell’eziopatogenesi della malattia di Alzheimer. Inoltre, si ipotizza che le NPs, a causa delle loro dimensioni, possano traslocare al cervello attraverso il bulbo olfattivo. Il presente studio è stato eseguito per indagare la morfologia e la composizione delle particelle emesse da alcuni elettrodomestici usati quotidianamente in ambienti indoor e monitorare per un lungo periodo la contaminazione da Cu in ambienti indoor a causa di questo tipo di apparecchi. La caratterizzazione morfologica e chimica tramite microscopio elettronico a scansione con sorgente a emissione di campo (HR-FESEM) ha confermato la presenza di NPs, che sono state osservate sia come particelle singole (20-40 nm) che aggregate a formare particelle di dimensioni dell'ordine dei μm [3]. La microanalisi a dispersione di energia con rivelatore a raggi X (XEDS) ha evidenziato la presenza di Cu insieme ad altri elementi [3]. La contaminazione giornaliera negli ambienti indoor dovuta all’uso di apparecchi con motori elettrici a spazzola è stata confermata monitorando per un anno il contenuto di Cu in campioni di PM10 raccolti in abitazioni private. I risultati hanno evidenziato che la popolazione generale può essere cronicamente esposta a NPs di Cu in ambienti indoor e ciò non può essere trascurato visti i possibili effetti avversi per la salute umana determinati dall’esposizione a NPs e del ruolo del Cu nello sviluppo di disturbi neurologici

Reusable Water Bottles: Release of Inorganic Elements, Phthalates, and Bisphenol A in a “Real Use” Simulation Experiment

Reusable water bottles are growing in popularity; thus, possible chemical release from the internal surface into water should be carefully considered to control related health risks. We experimentally evaluated the release into deionized water of 40 elements, six phthalates, and bisphenol‐A for 20 different reusable bottles by simulating the use in real world scenario. The 20 bottles, identified as those most purchased in Italy, were made of various materials (stainless steel, aluminum, plastic, and silicone). The experiment was carried out for four consecutive weeks in duplicate for each type of bottle. Our results showed the release, to various extents, of inorganic elements from all 20 bottles, while the release of phthalates and bisphenol‐A was never found. The elements most frequently released were Al, Sr, Mo, and Cr, while the highest concentrations were for Ca, K, Mg, and Na; the release of toxic elements (such as Pb, Cd, Ni, Sb) also occurred. The comparison of our results with regulatory limits on drinking water quality revealed no exceeding values except for Al. However, these releases represent a further intake, and the related risks cannot be neglected, especially for highly susceptible populations. Thus, it is essential to correctly inform consumers both with dedicated interventions and exhaustive labelling

Longitudinal effect of emotional processing on psychological symptoms in women under 50 with breast cancer

Breast cancer is a potential traumatic event associated with psychological symptoms, but few studies have analysed its impact in under-50 women. Emotional processing is a successful function in integrating traumatic experiences. This work analysed the relationship between emotional processing and psychological symptoms during three phases of treatment (before hospitalization, counselling after surgery and adjuvant therapy) in 50 women under the age of 50 with breast cancer. Mixed-effects models tested statistical differences among phases. There were significant differences in symptoms during the treatments: the levels of anxiety decrease from T1 to T3 (0.046), while those of hostility increase (<0.001). Emotional processing is a strong predictor of all symptoms. Clinical implications are discussed

Spa and climate therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases [Possibilità crenoterapiche e climatoterapiche nelle malattie ostruttive polmonari croniche]

The authors remind the main epidemiological and clinical findings of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD); the prevalence and incidence of COPD is increasing and COPD is now the IV cause of death in the world. Moreover, it is cause of increasing pharmaceutic and hospital charges. COPD has multifactorial etiology, linked to genetic and exogenous factors, as tobacco smoke, air pollution, microbial infections and cold. The GOLD guide lines of the medical therapy of the COPD are showed. The spa therapy of COPD is based on the inalatory use of mineral water, mainly sulphureous and salsojodic. Sulphureous mineral waters have vasodilating activity on vessels of bronchial mucose, improving its trophic state, and increase the production of secretory IgA and muco-ciliary clearance; they have fluidificant activity on bronchial secretion. Clinical trials showed improvement of cough, sputum and functional indexes as FEV1 and CV. Salsojodic mineral waters increase the fluidity of the bronchial mucus, muco-ciliary clearance and the trophism of the bronchial mucose. The authors remind the properties of sulphate and bicarbonate mineral waters in the spa therapy of COPD. Finally authors refer about some effects of spa therapy and climatic-enviromental situations on COPD morbidity