Androgens and Hypertension in Men and Women: a Unifying View.

This review was designed to revaluate the androgen role on the mechanisms of hypertension and cardiovascular risks in both men and women. Sex steroids are involved in the regulation of blood pressure, but pathophysiological mechanism is not well understood. Androgens have an important effect on metabolism, adipose and endothelial cell function, and cardiovascular risk in both men and women. A focal point in this contest is represented by the possible gender-specific regulation of different tissues and in particular of the adipose cell. Available data confirm that androgen deficiency is linked to increased prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Adipocyte dysfunction seems to be the main involved mechanism. Androgen replacement reduces inflammation state in man, protecting by metabolic syndrome progression. In women, androgen excess has been considered as promoting factor of cardiovascular risk. However, recent data suggest that excessive androgen production has little effect per se in inducing hypertension in young women of reproductive age. Also in postmenopausal women, data on relative androgen excess and hypertension are missing, while adrenal androgen deficiency has been associated to increased mortality. RECENT FINDINGS: Molecular mechanisms linking androgen dysregulation to hypertension are almost Unknown, but they seem to be related to increased visceral fat, promoting a chronic inflammatory state through different mechanisms. One of these may involve the recruitment and over-activation of NF-kB, a ubiquitous transcription factor also expressed in adipose cells, where it may cause the production of cytokines and other immune factors. The NF-kB signalling pathway may also influence brown adipogenesis leading to the preferential enlargement of visceral adipocytes. Chronic inflammation and adipocyte dysfunction may alter endothelial function leading to hypertension. Both in men and in women, particularly in the post-menopausal period, hypoandrogenism seems to be a major determinant of the increased prevalence of hypertension. The relationship between androgen signalling and NF-kB might explain the pathophysiological mechanism leading to the development of endothelium dysfunction and hypertension

An update on an imperial building complex at the 16th mile of the Via Appia: sources and materials

The paper focuses on an area of the Ager Aricinus at the 16th mile of the Via Appia in the urban area of Ariccia between the Via Appia and the inhabited center, delimited to the west and north by the cell of the so-called temple of Diana. Inside the aforementioned area, now almost entirely urbanized, are still preserved some structures from the mid-2nd century AD for which extensive documentation can be found in the 18th century antiquarian sources and in the cartographic reproductions between the 19th and the 20th centuries. So far, their interpretation has gone through a plurality of hypotheses (amphitheatre, thermal building, statio) for which there is a need to undertake an analytical study in order to understand its function in antiquity and its impact in the landscape context of modern age. The study will take place in two phases: examination of the historical cartography to identify the ownership of the fund on which the structures insisted through the consultation of the Collections of drawings and maps at the State Archive of Rome and the realization of a graphic restitution of the plan, integrating what has been preserved and what has been handed down from past documentation and proposing a vector reconstruction (CAD) of the building.L’intervento prende come focus un’area dell’Ager Aricinus al XVI miglio della Via Appia nell’area urbana di Ariccia compresa tra la Via Appia e il centro abitato, delimitata a ovest e a nord dalla cella del cosiddetto tempio di Diana. All’interno della suddetta area, ora quasi interamente urbanizzata, sono ancora conservate alcune strutture della metà del II secolo d.C. per le quali si rintraccia un’ampia documentazione nelle fonti antiquarie del XVIII secolo e nelle riproduzioni cartografiche tra il XIX e il XX secolo. Finora la loro interpretazione è passata attraverso una pluralità d’ipotesi (anfiteatro, edificio termale, statio) per le quali si avverte l’esigenza di intraprendere uno studio analitico al fine di comprenderne la funzione nell’antichità e l’impatto nel contesto paesaggistico di età moderna. Lo studio si svolgerà in due fasi: esame della cartografia storica per identificare la proprietà del fondo su cui insistono le strutture tramite la consultazione della Collezione I e II dei Catasti e delle Collezioni di disegni e mappe presso l’Archivio di Stato di Roma e la realizzazione di una restituzione grafica dei resti, integrando quanto conservato e quanto tramandato dalla documentazione del passato e proponendo una ricostruzione vettoriale (CAD) dell’edificio

Alimentar el Barrio: Farmers´ Market, a New Opportunity to Drive Change

In Barcelona, food markets have always been a symbol of the city. In recent decades, by adapting to new forms of consumption, they have conformed to largescale distribution, selling only a small percentage of local farmers’ products. Through the project described below—“Alimentar el Barrio”—actions have been undertaken to support farmers, by improving the current market system with low-impact micro-interventions. The research describes a way to create a new “system” of market making to promote local culture and products, thus regenerating the urban space, driving communities towards responsible food consumption, and spreading best practices. This paper shows how design and communication can provide farmers with an adequate physical and culture-driven infrastructure, to increase their competitiveness and decrease inequalities of the large-scale distribution

Photovoltaic road pavements as a strategy for low-carbon urban infrastructures

Urban Heat Islands (UHIs) are expanding in anthropized areas, causing serious climatic consequences such as rising temperatures and citizens' discomfort. Several studies have identified and confirmed how the use of cool road pavements can mitigate and reduce the negative effects of UHIs. This study performs a microclimate simulation of San Pietro in Vincula Square in Rome through ENVI-Met software by replacing the current asphalt pavement in the parking area with a cool one. The proposed layout consists of light concrete pavers in the parking lots, parking aisles made of photovoltaic (PV) panels, and a perimeter hedge. The innovative use of PVs is analysed from the thermal and economic viewpoints alike. In the first case, its thermal characteristics like those of asphalt provide results in terms of air temperature, mean radiant temperature, and predicted mean vote close to the current ones. Furthermore, the energy analysis shows the PV's effectiveness in terms of economic impact. Indeed, the electricity produced by the proposed PV system is enough to light the area, and its surplus can power public activities such as electric vehicle charging. The initial investment would pay for itself in the 25-year service life as confirmed by the positive net present value (NPV), and the cash flow reveals a break-even point in the 15th year

PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH FIRST-EPISODE PSYCHOSIS AND CHRONIC SCHIZOPHRENIA: A DESCRIPTIVE COMPARISON

Only few studies have compared the psychopathological features in first episode psychosis (FEP) and chronic schizophrenia (CS) patients. The aim of our study was to compare sociodemographic and clinical aspects of FEP and CS inpatients using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) in order to better characterize FEP. We did not find significant socio-demographic differences between the two groups apart from age and nationality. About PANSS we found that conceptual disorganization, poor rapport and lack of insight items scores were significantly higher in patients with FEP. Related to BPRS the items of somatic concerns, grandiosity and motor hyperactivity were significantly higher in the CS group; uncooperativeness was significantly higher in FEP group. Our study offers a characterization of FEP patients that confirms evidence and adds some information from the current literature. FEP patients seem to be more uncooperative with a worse interpersonal empathy and insight into the illness than CS patients; this could reduce their compliance with the treatment

CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS DISRUPTIONS AND EATING DISORDERS: CLINICAL IMPACT AND POSSIBLE PSYCHOPATHOLOGICAL CORRELATES

Background: A link between abnormalities in circadian rhythms and the development of eating disorders was extensively hypothesized, mainly in consideration of the influence of the circadian clock on eating behavior. The present review is aimed at summarizing the evidence about biological rhythms disruptions in eating disorders, possibly clarifying their impact on the psychopathological profile of such patients. Methods: Electronic database MEDLINE/PubMed/Index Medicus was systematically searched for original articles examining the prevalence of circadian rhythms disruptions in eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder). Results: Studies included in the review confirmed the hypothesis of a high prevalence of circadian disruptions in eating disorders. The analyzed research mainly focused on sleep-wake cycle, rest-activity abnormalities and hormonal secretion, whilst literature about other circadian rhythms was scanty. Altered biological rhythms presented higher association with specific psychopathological features, but such relationship was assessed in few studies. Conclusions: Circadian rhythms disruptions were confirmed to be relevant aspects in the context of eating disorders. Further research is needed in order to clarify the role of biological rhythms in such illnesses, in the attempt to address adjunctive treatment strategies with the possible focus of circadian abnormalities

Time resolved XANES illustrates a substrate-mediated redox process in Prussian blue cultural heritage materials

The pigment Prussian blue is studied in heritage science because of its capricious fading behavior under light exposure. We show here that XANES can be used to study the photosensitivity of Prussian blue heritage materials despite X-ray radiation damage. We used an original approach based on X-ray photochemistry to investigate in depth the redox process of Prussian blue when it is associated with a cellulosic substrate, as in cyanotypes and watercolors. By modifying cation and proton contents of the paper substrate, we could tune both rate and extent of Prussian blue reduction. These results demonstrate that the photoreduction and fading of Prussian blue is principally mediated by the substrate and its interaction with the oxygen of the environment

Localization of AKAP4 and tubulin proteins in sperm with reduced motility

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DIFFERENTIAL GENDER SEVERITY EXPRESSION OF SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH DUAL DIAGNOSIS: AN IN-PATIENT OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Background: The present retrospective study is aimed at exploring the impact of gender differences in a sample of inpatients with dual diagnosis. Subjects and methods: The study was carried out at the Psychiatric Service of the General Hospital/University of Perugia (Italy). Patients were recruited from January 2015 until December 2018. The sample consists of patients with dual diagnosis, divided into two subgroups based on gender; descriptive and bivariate statistics were performed (p<0.05). Male and females were compared according to socio-demographic, clinical and psychopathological features, measured by Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) and factor models of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Results: In our sample (n=157), no significant differences in socio-demographic features were found between male (n=108, 68.8%) and female subjects (n=49, 31.2%). Women displayed a higher frequency of involuntary hospitalizations (53.1% vs 32.4%, p=0.022) and a higher score on the general psychopathology scale of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) (41.86±8.96 vs 36.54±10.38, p=0.041). Conclusions: Our study confirms the prevalence of dual diagnosis in the male gender. Female sex appears more frequently connected to some indices of clinical severity. We expect to enlarge our sample to confirm these results and further clarify the knowledge on the subject