Comparison of fatty acid profile in lamb meat and baby food based on lamb meat

The aim of this study was to compare the fatty acid (FA) profile of fresh lamb meat with those of baby foods based on lamb meat. For this purpose, samples of commercial homogenized (HO) and lyophilized (LIO) baby food based on lamb meat and fresh lamb meat (FM) were analyzed for their FA composition. All fatty acids, except for oleic acid and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), differed among the three baby products tested. The sum of omega-6 FA and the ratio omega 6/omega 3 FA were lower in FM and LIO meat compared to HO samples. The content of total PUFA n-3 was the highest in FM, because of its highest content of C18:3 n3, EPA, DPA and DHA compared to LIO and HO baby food. The content of arachidonic acid was more than 6-fold higher in FM compared to LIO and HO. This study evidenced the possibility of enhancing the FA profile of commercial baby food based on lamb meat by using meat with healthier FA profile

Canine Coronavirus Activates Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor during In Vitro Infection

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that interacts with substrates, including microbial metabolites. Recent advances reveal that AhR is involved in the host response to coronaviruses (CoVs) infection. Particularly, AhR antagonists decrease the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) via AhR up-regulation, resulting in suppression of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in mammalian cells. Herein, we report that AhR is expressed in canine fibrosarcoma (A72) cells, where it is considerably activated by infection with genotype II of canine coronavirus (CCoV-II). The pharmacological inhibition of AhR, by CH223191, suppressed cell death signs and increased cell viability. Furthermore, the AhR antagonist induced a meaningful decline in virus yield, accompanied by the inhibition of the expression of viral nuclear protein (NP). Fascinatingly, during CCoV infection, a novel co-expression of NP and AhR expression was found. Taken together, our preliminary findings show that infection with CCoV activates AhR, and pharmacologic AhR inhibition reduces CCoV replication, identifying AhR as a possible candidate target for CCoV antiviral therapy

Nurses in Public Health: A profession in continuous evolution

Today, nurses play a fundamental role in Public Health. In the last few decades the health profession has seen strong professional growth, in the areas of Clinical practice, Management and Education. In particular, this growth has been also informed by the progress being made in nursing research. In fact, nursing research has contributed to the establishment of support tools to facilitate and evaluate the daily work done by nurses, contributing significantly to the improvement of their professional performance

Elevate to Alleviate – Evidence Based Vascular Nursing Study

Background: Venous return in the circulatory system of lower limbs results from the interaction of several mechanisms and reflects the balance between blood inflow and outflow. Blood outflow improves during the lying position especially with leg elevation both in patients with chronic venous disease (CVD) and in healthy subjects in sedentary settings with short-term immobilization. This study evaluated the level of comfort of hospital inpatients, without CVD, lying with a moderate leg elevation during hospital stay. Methods: This was a clinical trial examining 60 consecutive patients referred to vascular surgery, cardiac surgery, and nephrology units. After inclusion, patients were randomly assigned to two groups: A (leg elevation) in which patients were made to lie in the hospital bed with moderate elevation of the legs, and B (no leg elevation) in which patients were made to lie in the hospital bed without leg elevation. Results: The whole population consisted of 40 patients undergoing leg elevation (group A) and 20 without leg elevation (group B). During each day of hospitalization, measurements such as ankle and calf circumference, heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature were collected. Subjective data such as perceived heaviness in the lower limbs, comfort perception and hours of sleep were also collected. In this study, patients of group A recorded a decrease in calf and ankle circumference (delta in ankle and calf circumference (difference between end of study visit and baseline visit) were significantly decreased in group A vs group B (p< 0.001 for both sides), and patients perceived less leg heaviness and even reported more leg comfort compared to patients of Group B (p< 0.001)). Among patients of group A, the bigger advantage in terms of comfort perception was recorded in patients with 15° leg elevation. Conclusion: Moderate leg elevation during hospital stay seems to effectively improve leg comfort in hospitalized patients

GENE EXPRESSION TIME-SERIES ANALYSIS OF CAMPTHOTECIN EFFECTS IN U-87-MG AND DBTRG-05 GLIOBLASTOMA CELL LINES

The clinical efficacy of camptothecin (CPT), a drug specifically targetingtopoisomerase I (TopoI), is under evaluation for the treatment of malignant gliomas. Due to thehigh unresponsiveness of these tumours to chemotherapy, it would be very important to study thesignalling network that drives camptothecin outcome in this type of cancer cells. To address thisissue, we had previously compared the expression profile of human U87-MG glioblastoma cellswith that of a CPT-resistant counterpart, giving evidence that the development of a robustinflammatory response was the main transcriptional effect associated with CPT resistance.Here we report time-related changes and cell line specific patterns of gene expression after CPTtreatment by using two p53 wild-type glioblastoma cell lines, U87-MG and DBTRG-05, withdifferent sensitivities to TopoI inhibition

Safety and efficacy of direct-acting antivirals in transfusion-dependent thalassemic patients with chronic hepatitis C

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality among thalassemic patients. New treatments based on direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are highly effective and well-tolerated by patients; nonetheless, they have not been studied in thalassemic populations. In this study, we evaluated the safety and efficacy of these treatments in a cohort of Sardinian thalassemic patients with chronic HCV infection. Methods: We consecutively recruited thalassemic patients with HCV infection, who were eligible for DAA therapy at 3 liver units. Different drug combinations, depending on HCV genotype and hepatic disease severity, were used according to the current guidelines. Sustained virological response was assessed at 12 weeks posttreatment. Data regarding the side effects and transfusion requirements were also collected. Results: We recruited 49 patients, including 29 males (59.2%), with the mean age of 43 years (genotype 1, 55.1%). Twenty-one (42.9%) patients had a history of interferon-based treatment. Cirrhosis was detected in 28 (57.1%) patients; only 1 patient had ascites and hypoalbuminemia (Child-Pugh B7). On the other hand, 35 (71.4%) patients received a sofosbuvir-based regimen. Ribavirin treatment was reported in 26 (53.1%) cases. All the patients were followed-up for at least 12 weeks after therapy, and sustained virological response was observed in 98% of the patients. No treatment discontinuation was required due to adverse events. The most common side effects included fatigue (24.5%), headache (10.2%), and anaemia (77%), requiring further blood transfusion in patients receiving ribavirin. Conclusions: This prospective study showed that DAAs are safe and effective agents in thalassemic patients with advanced liver fibrosis, regardless of previous antiviral treatment responses

Annali storici di Principato Citra, A. 6, n. 2.2 (2008)

A. 6, n. 2.2 (2008): G. Guardia, Editoriale, P. 3 ; A. Trezza, Il Cilento in semiotica del paesaggio: testo della cultura e testo paesaggistico, P. 5 ; M.L. Mautone, Un cofanetto nuziale della bottega degli Embrachi al Museo Diocesano di Vallo della Lucania, P. 35 ; E. Granito, Lotte operaie nel Salernitano dall’Unità all’Età Giolittiana. Menechella la scapricciata e i suoi compagni, P. 48 ; A. Gargano, Affreschi oligarchici: lettere anonime, ricorsi e inchieste prefettizie nella vita socio-amministrativa di Pagani nel tardo Ottocento, P. 69 ; E. Bianco, L’incastellamento medievale nel Cilento interno: il borgo murato di Stio (XI-XVI sec.). Prime indagini, P. 96 ; E. Frescani, L’arte di imparare. Note sull’apprendistato nella valle dell’Irno nel XVII secolo, P. 109 ; E. Catone, I marchesi Forcella a Buccino. Brevi note genealogiche, P. 114 ; G. Pepe, Francesco Durelli: uno storico ignorato, P. 124 ; A. La Greca, “In diem Christi conscientiam onerantes”. L’atto di rifondazione della confraternita del SS. Rosario di Montecorice e del suo trasferimento dalla cappella di S. Sofia alla nuova chiesa parrocchiale di S. Biagio (6 febbraio 1589), P. 139 ; A. Capano, Note di toponomastica in margine al Catasto provvisorio di San Giovanni a Piro (1815) e di Bosco sua frazione (20 sett. 1828), P. 146 ; Nota di Redazione, Pioppi: « culla » della Dieta Mediterranea. Celebrati i 25 anni di “Cronache Cilentane” e la XVIII Edizione degli “Incontri Mediterranei”, P. 180 ; M. Serra, Un’avvincente iniziativa editoriale del Centro di Promozione Culturale per il Cilento, P. 183 ; G. De Vita, “Oltre la torre d’avorio”. Un libro degli allievi per i sessant’anni del prof. Luigi Rossi, P. 188

Shorter androgen receptor polyQ alleles protect against life-threatening COVID-19 disease in European males

Background: While SARS-CoV-2 similarly infects men and women, COVID-19 outcome is less favorable in men. Variability in COVID-19 severity may be explained by differences in the host genome. Methods: We compared poly-amino acids variability from WES data in severely affected COVID-19 patients versus SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive oligo-asymptomatic subjects. Findings: Shorter polyQ alleles (≤22) in the androgen receptor (AR) conferred protection against severe outcome in COVID-19 in the first tested cohort (both males and females) of 638 Italian subjects. The association between long polyQ alleles (≥23) and severe clinical outcome (p = 0.024) was also validated in an independent cohort of Spanish men <60 years of age (p = 0.014). Testosterone was higher in subjects with AR long-polyQ, possibly indicating receptor resistance (p = 0.042 Mann-Whitney U test). Inappropriately low serum testosterone level among carriers of the long-polyQ alleles (p = 0.0004 Mann-Whitney U test) predicted the need for intensive care in COVID-19 infected men. In agreement with the known anti-inflammatory action of testosterone, patients with long-polyQ and age ≥60 years had increased levels of CRP (p = 0.018, not accounting for multiple testing). Interpretation: We identify the first genetic polymorphism that appears to predispose some men to develop more severe disease. Failure of the endocrine feedback to overcome AR signaling defects by increasing testosterone levels during the infection leads to the polyQ tract becoming dominant to serum testosterone levels for the clinical outcome. These results may contribute to designing reliable clinical and public health measures and provide a rationale to test testosterone as adjuvant therapy in men with COVID-19 expressing long AR polyQ repeats. Funding: MIUR project "Dipartimenti di Eccellenza 2018-2020" to Department of Medical Biotechnologies University of Siena, Italy (Italian D.L. n.18 March 17, 2020) and "Bando Ricerca COVID-19 Toscana" project to Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese. Private donors for COVID-19 research and charity funds from Intesa San Paolo

Fine Mapping of Five Loci Associated with Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Detects Variants That Double the Explained Heritability

Peer reviewe

Beta-Blocker Use in Older Hospitalized Patients Affected by Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Italian Survey From the REPOSI Register

Beta (β)-blockers (BB) are useful in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Nevertheless, the use of BBs could induce bronchoconstriction due to β2-blockade. For this reason, both the ESC and GOLD guidelines strongly suggest the use of selective β1-BB in patients with HF and COPD. However, low adherence to guidelines was observed in multiple clinical settings. The aim of the study was to investigate the BBs use in older patients affected by HF and COPD, recorded in the REPOSI register. Of 942 patients affected by HF, 47.1% were treated with BBs. The use of BBs was significantly lower in patients with HF and COPD than in patients affected by HF alone, both at admission and at discharge (admission, 36.9% vs. 51.3%; discharge, 38.0% vs. 51.7%). In addition, no further BB users were found at discharge. The probability to being treated with a BB was significantly lower in patients with HF also affected by COPD (adj. OR, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.37-0.67), while the diagnosis of COPD was not associated with the choice of selective β1-BB (adj. OR, 95% CI: 1.33, 0.76-2.34). Despite clear recommendations by clinical guidelines, a significant underuse of BBs was also observed after hospital discharge. In COPD affected patients, physicians unreasonably reject BBs use, rather than choosing a β1-BB. The expected improvement of the BB prescriptions after hospitalization was not observed. A multidisciplinary approach among hospital physicians, general practitioners, and pharmacologists should be carried out for better drug management and adherence to guideline recommendations