Assessment of dietary exposure to inorganic and persistent organic contaminants in relation to environmental pollution in the Campania region

The aim of this Ph.D. project is the investigation of the impact that the environmental pollution has had on the quality of Campania food products and, therefore, to determine the exposure level of the population to such contaminants. This objective was pursued through the determination of organic pollutants, mainly in food matrices of animal and vegetable origin, as well as in environmental matrices. Samples were collected both from the areas classified at greater risk, because they are closer to the pollution sources, and from geographical areas not included in the so-called "Land of Fires". In order to study the links between environmental pollution and the contamination levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in food of animal origin, eggs from free-range hens, of Gallus gallus domestics species, were used as bioindicators of the PCDD/F and PCB contamination levels of the environment where the hens live. In addition to food of animal origin, food of plant origin, collected in the same areas of eggs, was also analysed to assess the contamination levels present in vegetable matrices and to investigate the differences that exist in pollutant bioaccumulation in these products compared to food of animal origin. An important phase of the project was to conduct an in vivo study using the hens, designed to investigate the PCDD/Fs and PCBs transfer from the exposure sources, particulary soil and to a lesser extent feed, to hen eggs. Then, through the analysis of the results obtained, it was possible to calculate the biotransfer factors for each PCDD/F and PCB congener and thus their bioavailability. Moreover, in order to achieve a complete understanding of the relationships that exist between environmental pollution and the contamination levels in food, a preliminary study concerning persistent inorganic environmental pollutants has also been carried out. The study was designed within the frame of this Ph.D. project concerning the investigation of persistent organic contaminants

Preliminary Evidence of Efficacy, Safety, and Treatment Satisfaction with Tirbanibulin 1% Ointment: A Clinical Perspective on Actinic Keratoses

background: actinic keratosis is a common precancerous skin lesion that can progress into invasive squamous cell carcinomas. many topical treatments for actinic keratoses often have poor tolerability and prolonged duration. Tirbanibulin is a novel synthetic drug with potent antitumor and antiproliferative activities. methods: we conducted a single-center, prospective and observational study using tirbanibulin ointment on a 25 cm2 area for 5 consecutive days on 30 participants with AKs on the face or scalp. They were followed for at least 57 days to assess the safety profile and efficacy of the drug as well as treatment satisfaction. we evaluated six signs of local skin reaction (LSR): erythema, scaling, crusting, swelling, blisters/pustules, and erosions/ulcerations, grading the severity as mild, moderate, or severe. The effectiveness was evaluated both clinically and dermoscopically. the treatment satisfaction was assessed using the treatment satisfaction questionnaire for medication (TSQM 1.4). results: on day 57, 70% of the patients showed a complete clinical and dermoscopic response. The highest scores obtained from the TSQM 1.4 were more evident in the convenience and side effects domains. most LSRs, including erythema (83.3%), scaling (30%), and swelling (3.3%), occurred on day 8 but resolved spontaneously. Conclusion: Tirbanibulin is a viable therapeutic option with a short regimen treatment and good tolerability, which favors therapy adherence

Human-based approaches to pharmacology and cardiology: an interdisciplinary and intersectorial workshop.

Both biomedical research and clinical practice rely on complex datasets for the physiological and genetic characterization of human hearts in health and disease. Given the complexity and variety of approaches and recordings, there is now growing recognition of the need to embed computational methods in cardiovascular medicine and science for analysis, integration and prediction. This paper describes a Workshop on Computational Cardiovascular Science that created an international, interdisciplinary and inter-sectorial forum to define the next steps for a human-based approach to disease supported by computational methodologies. The main ideas highlighted were (i) a shift towards human-based methodologies, spurred by advances in new in silico, in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo techniques and the increasing acknowledgement of the limitations of animal models. (ii) Computational approaches complement, expand, bridge, and integrate in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo experimental and clinical data and methods, and as such they are an integral part of human-based methodologies in pharmacology and medicine. (iii) The effective implementation of multi- and interdisciplinary approaches, teams, and training combining and integrating computational methods with experimental and clinical approaches across academia, industry, and healthcare settings is a priority. (iv) The human-based cross-disciplinary approach requires experts in specific methodologies and domains, who also have the capacity to communicate and collaborate across disciplines and cross-sector environments. (v) This new translational domain for human-based cardiology and pharmacology requires new partnerships supported financially and institutionally across sectors. Institutional, organizational, and social barriers must be identified, understood and overcome in each specific setting

Association of kidney disease measures with risk of renal function worsening in patients with type 1 diabetes

Background: Albuminuria has been classically considered a marker of kidney damage progression in diabetic patients and it is routinely assessed to monitor kidney function. However, the role of a mild GFR reduction on the development of stage 653 CKD has been less explored in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. Aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic role of kidney disease measures, namely albuminuria and reduced GFR, on the development of stage 653 CKD in a large cohort of patients affected by T1DM. Methods: A total of 4284 patients affected by T1DM followed-up at 76 diabetes centers participating to the Italian Association of Clinical Diabetologists (Associazione Medici Diabetologi, AMD) initiative constitutes the study population. Urinary albumin excretion (ACR) and estimated GFR (eGFR) were retrieved and analyzed. The incidence of stage 653 CKD (eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or eGFR reduction > 30% from baseline was evaluated. Results: The mean estimated GFR was 98 \ub1 17 mL/min/1.73m2 and the proportion of patients with albuminuria was 15.3% (n = 654) at baseline. About 8% (n = 337) of patients developed one of the two renal endpoints during the 4-year follow-up period. Age, albuminuria (micro or macro) and baseline eGFR < 90 ml/min/m2 were independent risk factors for stage 653 CKD and renal function worsening. When compared to patients with eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73m2 and normoalbuminuria, those with albuminuria at baseline had a 1.69 greater risk of reaching stage 3 CKD, while patients with mild eGFR reduction (i.e. eGFR between 90 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) show a 3.81 greater risk that rose to 8.24 for those patients with albuminuria and mild eGFR reduction at baseline. Conclusions: Albuminuria and eGFR reduction represent independent risk factors for incident stage 653 CKD in T1DM patients. The simultaneous occurrence of reduced eGFR and albuminuria have a synergistic effect on renal function worsening

Seasonal Trend of PAHs Concentrations in Farmed Mussels from the Coastal Areas of the Naples, Italy

This paper reports on the results about the chemical pollution pressure in the Gulf of Naples and nearby coastal areas. Farmed mussels were analysed for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The results documented a decreasing trend in the PAHs levels respect to the past years. The Bay of Pozzuoli remains as the most contaminated site within the Lucrino area with the highest reported number of samples exceeding the benzo(a) pyrene and PAHs sum limits. All the samples with concentrations above the European regulatory limit were collected in the winter period illustrating a seasonal trend of PAHs distribution in mussels during the 4 years investigated