36 research outputs found
GLP2: An underestimated signal for improving glycaemic control and insulin sensitivity
Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP2) is a proglucagon-derived peptide produced by intestinal enteroendocrine L-cells and by a discrete population of neurons in the brainstem, which projects mainly to the hypothalamus. The main biological actions of GLP2 are related to the regulation of energy absorption and maintenance of mucosal morphology, function and integrity of the intestine however, recent experimental data suggest that GLP2 exerts beneficial effects on glucose metabolism, especially in conditions related to increased uptake of energy, such as obesity, at least in the animal model. Indeed, mice lacking GLP2 receptor selectively in hypothalamic neurons that express proopiomelanocortin show impaired postprandial glucose tolerance and hepatic insulin resistance (by increased gluconeogenesis). Moreover, GLP2 acts as a beneficial factor for glucose metabolism in mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity. Thus, the aim of this review is to update and summarize current knowledge about the role of GLP2 in the control of glucose homeostasis and to discuss how this molecule could exert protective effects against the onset of related obesity type 2 diabetes
Marine organisms as source of bioactive molecules applied in restoration projects
In recent decades research in the conservation and restoration field has provided sustainable alternatives to
traditional procedures for cleaning or controlling the microbial colonization of works of art. In the present study,
for the first time novel bioactive molecules extracted from marine invertebrate organisms (Anthozoa) were tested
instead of chemical compounds for removing protein layers or as a biocide for controlling fungal or bacterial
colonization. In particular, Bioactive Molecules with Protease activity (BMP), acting in a temperature range of 4- 30\ub0C,
were tested for the hydrolysis of protein layers on laboratory specimens. The cleaning protocol provides a selective
procedure to avoid damage to the original materials constituting the heritage object.
Concurrently, enzymatic cleaning was also performed using commercial Protease from Aspergillus sojae (Type XIX),
in order to compare their hydrolytic activities. Bioactive Molecules with Antimicrobial activity (BMA1, BMA2) were
tested to control bacterial (Bacillus, Micrococcus) or fungal (Aspergillus, Penicillium) growth, previously isolated from
colonized canvas samples and characterized by an integrated approach based on in vitro culture, microscopy and
molecular investigations. These molecules were tested to define the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and
Minimal Bactericidal/ Fungicidal Concentration (MBC/MFC). Specifically, BMAs were used to control fungal growth
during the relining of the painting (laboratory specimens), carried out using a canvas support, and glue paste as
binder.
In our hypothesis, these molecules provide an important contribution to the development of innovative protocols
for biocleaning or microbial growth control, based on fast and easy application, operator friendly and
environmentally sustainable molecules
Working Memory, Jumping to Conclusions and Emotion Recognition: a Possible Link in First Episode Psychosis (Fep)
Introduction
A large body of literature has demonstrated that people affected by psychotic disorders show deficits in
working memory, in Emotion Recognition (ER) and in data-gathering to reach a decision (Jumping To
Conclusions - JTC).
Aims
To investigate a possible correlation between working memory, JTC and ER in FEP.
Methods
41 patients and 89 healthy controls completed assessments of working memory using WAIS shortened
version, JTC using the 60:40 Beads Task and ER using Degraded Facial Affect Recognition Task.
Results
According to the literature, cases had poorer performance in working memory tasks (Digit Span: \u3bc7,72
[ds=2,98] vs \u3bc10,14 [ds=3,10], U=865,00, p=0,00; Digit Symbol: \u3bc5,36 [ds=2,43] vs \u3bc10,05 [ds=3,10],
U=455,50, p=0,00; Arithmetic: \u3bc5,46 [ds=2,76] vs \u3bc8,74 [ds=3,24], U=865,50, p=0,00; Block Design: \u3bc4,82
[ds=2,72] vs \u3bc7,60 [ds=3,18], U=912,00, p=0,00), in Beads Task (81,6% vs 51,1%, \u3c72=10,27, p=0,001,
\u3bc2,53 [ds=3,57] vs \u3bc4,23 [ds=4,77], U=1171,00, p=0,006) and in DFAR (total errors: \u3bc21,62 [ds=7,43] vs
\u3bc16,58 [ds=8,69], U=554,50, p=0,002). Furthermore working memory tasks in cases group correlated
significantly with JTC (Digit Span: rrho=0,276, p=0,003; Digit Symbol: rrho=0,275, p=0,002; Arithmetic:
rrho=0,265, p=0,003; Block Design: rrho=0,292, p=0,001), but only Digit Span with ER (rrho=-0,239; p=0,021).
In addition, we found that JTC and ER were significantly associated (rrho=-0,281; p=0,004).
Conclusions
Data show that working memory impairments, JTC style and dysfunctions in the facial emotions recognition
are phenomena strongly correlated in the group of patients. Preliminary results suggest the importance of
early rehabilitation as the impairments detected may lead to difficulties in social and relational adaptation in
psychotic patients
Cannabis consumption and the risk of psychosis
Summary
Objectives: Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug globally and its use
has been linked to an increased risk for psychotic disorders. An association
between cannabis consumption and psychotic symptoms was consistently reported
by several studies. This case-control study aimed to widen the current
findings about the impact of cannabis exposure on the risk of psychosis, by
investigating the pattern of cannabis consumption in a sample of first-episode
of psychosis (FEP) patients compared to healthy controls.
Material and methods: 68 individuals who presented for the first time to mental
health services of Palermo (Italy) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of psychotic disorders
and 74 healthy were enrolled as part of the Sicilian Genetics and Psychosis
study. Psychopathological assessment and diagnosis were carried out by
the Schedule for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN). Socio-demographic
data were collected by the modified version of the Medical Research
Council (MRC) socio-demographic scale. All participants were interviewed using
the Cannabis Experience Questionnaire \u2013 Modified Version to obtain a detailed
assessment of lifetime patterns of cannabis and other illicit drug consumption.
Logistic regression was applied to investigate the relationships between various
aspects of cannabis use (lifetime use, age at first use, duration, and frequency of
use) and case-control status while controlling for potential confounders.
Results: Patients started cannabis consumption about 3 years earlier than
the control group (t = 3.1, p = 0.002) and were 8 times more likely to having
started using cannabis before 15 years (adjusted OR = 8.0, 95% CI 2.4-27)
than controls. Furthermore cases were more likely to smoke more frequently
than controls (adjusted OR = 4.4, 95% CI 1.08-18). We did not find a difference
in duration of cannabis use between cases and controls.
Conclusions: The findings suggest that cannabis exposure, and especially
daily cannabis consumption, is associated with the risk for psychosis; however,
the retrospective study design does not allow drawing firm conclusions about
causality
KNOWLEDGE AND VIEWPOINTS ON THE EFFECTS OF CORRUPTION ON HEALTHCARE: A SURVEY CONDUCTED AMONG STUDENTS OF PALERMO UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL, ITALY
Corruption affects healthcare effectiveness and efficiency and limits equity in access to health
services. Aim of the survey was to document knowledge and viewpoints on the impact of
corruption on healthcare system in a sample of students attending pre-lauream healthcare
professional courses at Palermo University Medical school and to evaluate any improvement in
their awareness on this topic after a dedicated multidisciplinary educational intervention.
An anonymous questionnaire was administered to students before and after the intervention.
Absolute and relative frequency of correct and incorrect answers was computed. Chi-squared test
was used to compare answers given before and after the educational intervention.
Approximately less than a quarter of the respondents were able to correctly estimate impact of
corruption, inappropriateness and waste in healthcare on NHS.
The study documented how improving students\u2019 knowledge of the impact of corruption in the
healthcare system could represent a possible strategy to prevent corruption in healthcare
Perceived stigma in patients affected by psychosis: Is there an impact on relapse?
Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) considers
stigma of mental illness as a crucial problem (WHO, 2001). Stigma
contributes to the onset (Morgan et al., 2010) and the outcome of
people affected by schizophrenia (Himan, 2015).
Objectives To evaluate the perception of patients affected by psychotic
disorders of being stigmatized by the community.
Aims To compare the perception of stigma among subgroups of
patients at different stage of their disorder.
Methods Thirty-five patients affected by a first-episode of psychosis
(FEP) and 96 patients affected by chronic psychosis were
recruited. The Devaluation of Consumers Scale (DCS) and the Devaluation
of Consumer Families Scale (DCFS) were administered to
assess the perceived public stigma (Struening et al., 2001). The Positive
And Negative Schizophrenic Symptoms Scale (PANSS) (Kay
et al., 1987) and the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) (Goldman
et al., 1992) were administered to assess psychotic symptoms
and global level of functioning.Results Patients affected by chronic psychosis perceived higher
devaluation against mental disorders than patients with a
recent onset of psychosis (Mann\u2013Whitney\u2019s U = 910.500, P = 0.017).
DCS and DCFS correlated with increased voluntary admissions
(Rho = 0.355, P = 0.002; Rho = 0.257, P = 0.029) and DCS with
increased compulsory admissions (Rho = 0.349, P = 0.003). Only
among chronic patients, DCS factor 2 was related to global level
of functioning (Rho = 0.217, P = 0.041).
Conclusions Patients affected by chronic psychotic disorders
perceived a more pessimistic attitude of the community towards
their participation in social and community life and this is related
to increased admissions and disability.
Disclosure of interest The authors have not supplied their declaration
of competing interest
Influence of endogenous glucagon-like peptide-2 on lipid disorders in mice fed a high-fat diet
Aim: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of endogenous glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) on lipid profile in mice fed a standard diet (STD) or a high-fat diet (HFD). Materials and methods: HFD- and age-matched STD mice were injected once a day with GLP-2 (3-33), a GLP-2 receptor (GLP-2R) antagonist, or vehicle for 4 weeks. Results: HFD mice displayed increased intrahepatic lipid concentration and hepatic steatosis and higher plasma concentrations of cholesterol, LDL, AST, and ALT than STD mice. No difference was observed in lipid fecal elimination. In STD mice, the chronic treatment with GLP-2 (3-33) did not affect any parameter, while in HFD mice, it enhanced plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, ALT, and AST and reduced HDL, it increased intrahepatic lipid concentration, and it worsened the hepatic steatosis degree, without affecting lipid fecal elimination. Conclusions: The present results suggest that GLP-2R antagonism worsens lipid disorders in HFD mice, and endogenous GLP-2 might even exert a defensive role against lipid imbalance
Better social but worse academic premorbid adjustment in cannabis-users psychotic patients across Europe
Background: Several studies report that patients with psychosis who
used cannabis have a better cognitive performance than those whodid not (Rabin et al. 2011). In a previous study we found out a higher
premorbid IQ, and a better IQ in psychotic patients who smoked
cannabis in their lifetime, and our findings were consistent with the
idea that this association is due to a better premorbid functioning
rather than to an ameliorative effect of cannabis use on cognitive
performance (Ferraro et al., 2013). A number of authors have
hypothesized that psychotic patients who consume cannabis constitute
a differentiated subgroup of patients that have better cognitive
and social skills, necessary to engage in illegal drug consumption,
than non-using patients (Compton et al., 2011; L\uf8berg et al., 2014;
Arnold et al., 2015). Given that the prevalence, and patterns, of
cannabis use are culturally driven, we wanted to test the hypothesis of
a better premorbid functioning in First Episode Psychosis (FEP)
cannabis-using and non-using patients coming from different
European countries (England, Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands)
as part of the EUGEI-STUDY.
Methods: 1.745 people (746 cases; 999 controls) completed the
assessment for Intellectual Quotient (IQ) (WAIS-brief version) premorbid
adjustment (Premorbid Adjustment Scale \u2013 PAS) and cannabis
use (CEQ-Revised). We first performed a factor analysis on PAS
components, by obtaining two main factors: \u201cPremorbid Social
Adjustment\u201d (PSA) and \u201cPremorbid Academic Adjustment\u201d (PAA). We
therefore performed linear mixed models with IQ, PSA, and PAA as
dependent variables and cannabis lifetime (Yes/No), subject status
(Cases/Controls), gender and age as independent variables.
Results: Across all countries, IQ was higher in those patients who
smoked cannabis in their lifetime compared to those who did not
(P = 0.027). This IQ difference was only 3 points and was the same for
cases and healthy controls (P = 0.949). Similarly, patients who had
smoked cannabis in their lifetime showed better PSA scores than non
users (P = 0.009). The difference in PSA score between cannabis-users
and non-users was significantly greater in cases than controls
(P = 0.038). Conversely, across all countries, PAA resulted worst in
patients who smoked cannabis lifetime than patients who did not
(Po0.001) and this PAA score difference was the same for cases and
controls (P = 0.693).
Discussion: Our cannabis-using FEP patients have higher IQ, better PSA
and lower PAA than non user patients across 5 different European
countries. Starting from these preliminary results, we can conclude
that a better PSA is significantly associated with cannabis use in FEP
patients. Nevertheless, in an exploratory analysis, a better IQ resulted
related to a better PAA (o0.001) but not to PSA (P = 0.260); thus
indicating an independent relationship of IQ and PSA with cannabis
use. Further analysis are required in order to model these multivariate
relationships
Serum uric acid is not independently associated with plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone in hypertensive adults
Background and Aims In experimental investigations conducted in rats, raising serum uric acid (SUA) levels resulted in the stimulation of intrarenal renin expression. Studies in humans exploring the association of SUA with plasma renin activity (PRA) yielded conflicting results. Moreover, little is known about the relationship of SUA with plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC). The study aimed to assess the relationship between SUA levels, PRA, and PAC and the influence of age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and hyperuricemia on these relationships in subjects with essential hypertension (EH). Methods and Results We enrolled 372 hypertensive patients (mean age 45 \ub1 12 years, men 67%) with uncomplicated EH that was not pharmacologically treated. The study population was divided in tertiles according to SUA levels. While PRA did not differ significantly across the three tertiles, PAC was higher in subjects belonging to the uppermost tertile of SUA than those in the lower ones (p = 0.0429); however, this difference lost statistical significance after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and serum creatinine. Univariate correlation analyses showed significant associations of SUA with PRA (r = 0.137; p = 0.008) and PAC (r = 0.179; p < 0.001). However, these relationships were not significant after correcting for confounding factors in multiple linear regression analyses. We did not observe statistically significant effect modification by gender, age, BMI, and hyperuricemia. Conclusion SUA levels are weakly associated with PRA and PAC in adults with untreated EH. These relationships were lost after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and serum creatinine