New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

The Impact of Workplace Violence on Headache and Sleep Problems in Nurses

Workplace violence (WV) is a significant occupational hazard for nurses. Previous studies have shown that WV has a reciprocal relationship with occupational stress. Headaches and sleep problems are early neuropsychological signs of distress. This cross-sectional study aims to ascertain the frequency of physical or verbal assaults on nurses and to study the association of WV with headaches and sleep problems. During their regular medical examination in the workplace, 550 nurses and nursing assistants (105 males, 19.1%; mean age 48.02 +/- 9.98 years) were asked to fill in a standardized questionnaire containing the Violent Incident Form (VIF) concerning the episodes of violence experienced, the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) regarding headaches, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI) on sleep quality. Occupational stress was measured using the Effort/Reward Imbalance questionnaire (ERI). Physical and non-physical violence experienced in the previous year was reported by 7.5% and 17.5% of workers, respectively. In the univariate logistic regression models, the workers who experienced violence had an increased risk of headaches and sleep problems. After adjusting for sex, age, job type, and ERI, the relationship between physical violence and headaches remained significant (adjusted odds ratio aOR = 2.25; confidence interval CI95% = 1.11; 4.57). All forms of WV were significantly associated with poor sleep in a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for sex, age, job type, and ERI (aOR = 2.35 CI95% = 1.44; 3.85). WV was also associated with the impact of headaches and with sleep quality. WV prevention may reduce the frequency of lasting psychoneurological symptoms, such as headaches and poor sleep quality, that interfere with the ability to work

The Role of a-Adducin Polymorphism in Blood Pressure and Sodium Handling Regulation May Not Be Excluded by a Negative Association Study

Information about reprints can be found online at: Reprints: document. Permissions and Rights Question and Answer this process is available in the click Request Permissions in the middle column of the Web page under Services. Further information about Office. Once the online version of the published article for which permission is being requested is located, can be obtained via RightsLink, a service of the Copyright Clearance Center, not the EditorialHypertensionin Requests for permissions to reproduce figures, tables, or portions of articles originally publishedPermissions: by guest on February 27

Geochemical properties of soils in urban allotment gardens from four European cities

Suitma 8, 8th International Conference of the Working Group on Soils in Urban, Industrial, Traffic and Mining Areas , MEXICO, MEXIQUE, 20-/09/2015 - 25/09/2015Urban allotment gardens (UAG) are expanding worldwide, especially in industrialized countries. However, gardens in the urban environment are often subject to environmental pressure, mainly as a result of pollution from urban and industrial activities as well as through gardener's practices (Hursthouse et al., 2004). Potential risks to human health can derive from the presence of harmful substances either by consumption of contaminated vegetables, breathing dust after resuspension or by direct contact with soil. Investigations on the quality of UAGs soils have been launched in 4 European cities: Greenock and Ayr (Scotland), Lisboa (Portugal), Nantes (France- ANR VBD Jassur program). Soils of the UAGs were sampled to characterize the physical properties (soil texture) and chemical properties (fertility (phosphorus, nitrogen, organic carbon), contamination by trace elements). Trace metals contents were determined in the laboratory by ICP OES/MS analysis after digestion with acidic solution. The results were analyzed to evaluate the quality of the UAG soils at city level taking into account the pedo-climatic conditions, the geochemical background and the anthropogenic activities (vs. geogenic anomalies). The heterogeneity of the soil quality within each UAG was also investigated to be able to implement the most appropriate management methods for soils in the case of excessive contamination. The relevance of in situ measurements by portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry was also addressed as a technical means to help in decision-making. The results highlight the wide variation in contamination of soils (e.g background geochemistry, traffic, contaminated backfill materials...). In most situations, the historical and environmental study of the site has been helpful in understanding the contamination. High levels of phosphorus were detected due mainly to gardening practices. The spatial distribution of some trace elements (As, Pb, Zn) was very heterogeneous within each UAG. In case of vegetable contamination, an in situ and fast investigation method such as portable X ray fluorescence spectrometry was proposed to local authorities (in Nantes) to produce trace elements maps of UAGs. The maps help to discriminate the zones within the UAGs with the highest concentrations and to keep cultivation restriction only on relevant plots. This method was proved to be a possible solution to face with the heterogeneity of UAG soil quality

Spatial variability of trace elements in allotment gardens of four European cities: assessments at city, garden, and plot scale

PurposeUrban allotment gardens (UAGs) are expanding worldwide, especially in large cities. Environmental pressures (direct and diffuse pollution, gardener practice, geogenic contamination) often result in the accumulation of potentially harmful trace elements in garden soils. The objectives of this study were to assess the spatial variability of trace element distribution in UAGs from city, garden, and plot scale in four European cities; to provide a baseline understanding and identify abnormal values under environmental pressures; and to evaluate the potential of portable X-ray fluorescence screening as a useful tool in soil management.Materials and methodsThe four cities (Ayr and Greenock (Scotland), Lisbon (Portugal), Nantes (France)) provided a wide range of environmental pressures on soils. The locations of the 14 allotment gardens were identified in consultation with the local municipality in each city to reflect various land uses or according to previous evaluation of soil quality. Soil sampling was carried out in 66 plots in total, from which 3 datasets were produced: (i) basic soil properties and trace element concentrations from a composite sample of topsoil for each plot (trace elements quantified by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry/mass spectrometry (ICP-OES/MS) or using in-lab portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF); (ii) in situ PXRF measurement on composite samples (263 plots in Nantes); and (iii) composite samples from 32 small areas within 4 plots in one garden of Nantes.Results and discussionThe results were analyzed to assess the spatial variability of soil properties. At city and garden scale, the variability observed for basic soil properties and major elements is dominated by local geology/parent material (pH, CaCO3, Fe) and gardening practice (OM, CaCO3), which vary between each country. The range of trace element concentrations is similar between each city except for Greenock. Extreme values are observed for Cu, Pb, and Zn reflecting human disruption. In most situations, the trace element contamination was explained through the historical and environmental situations of the site. The PXRF screening method proved useful in providing detailed mapping for hot spot detection or delineation, providing support for soil management at plot and garden scale.ConclusionsAs anticipated, basic soil properties appear to be controlled by the parent material. At plot and garden scale, the trace element variability shows the influence of land use history and background and strong inputs from external factors (e.g., by industrial activity or traffic emission). The PXRF screening method appears to be an efficient solution for soil management as it can be used to discriminate zones which may require restriction on cultivation

The Role of α-adducin polymorphism in blood pressure and sodium handling regulation may not be excluded by a negative association study

The basic requirement for declaring an association study positive is that the "hypertension-favoring" allele is more frequent in hypertensive cases than in normotensive controls. However, both positive and negative associations with hypertension have been found for the same polymorphism when studied in different populations. In the present study, we addressed the question of the possible cause(s) of this discrepancy among populations by using the α-adducin polymorphism as a paradigm. Four hundred ninety hypertensives and 176 normotensives enrolled in Sassari, Italy, and 468 hypertensives and 181 normotensives enrolled in Milano, Italy, were genotyped for the α-adducin Gly460Trp polymorphism. The blood pressure response to 2 months of hydrochlorothiazide therapy could be evaluated in 143 (85 in Sassari and 58 in Milano) hypertensives with and without the 460Trp α-adducin allele. The α-adducin 460Trp allele was not significantly more frequent in hypertensives in the Sassari population but was more frequent in hypertensives than in normotensives in Milano (P=0.019). Basal plasma renin activity was lower and blood pressure fall after diuretic therapy more pronounced (P&lt;0.01) in hypertensives carrying at least one 460Trp allele than in Gly460Gly homozygotes, irrespective of their membership in the Sassari or Milano cohort. The effect of α-adducin genotype in predicting basal plasma renin activity and blood pressure decrease with diuretic treatment is similar in Sassari and Milano, despite the lack of association of the α-adducin genotype with hypertension in Sassari

Questioni di inizio vita

Il C.I.R.B. (Centro Interuniversitario di Ricerca Bioetica), cui aderiscono tutte le Università campane, è un organismo di ricerca nel quale - con metodo rigorosamente scientifico, grazie al concorso di qualificati cultori delle varie discipline interessate e in un clima di costante e costruttivo dialogo con i rappresentanti delle diverse posizioni culturali - è possibile delineare le trame di una serena e ponderata riflessione comune su tematiche che coinvolgono l’identità stessa della persona umana e il destino delle generazioni future

In vitro activity (MIC and MFC) of voriconazole, amphotericin B, and itraconazole against 192 filamentous fungi: The GISIA-2 study

We evaluated the in vitro activity of voriconazole, amphotericin B, and itraconazole against 192 clinical mould isolates recovered in twenty Italian microbiology laboratories. The vast majority of isolates belonged to the genus Aspergillus (94.2%) with A. fumigatus (58.3%) being the most frequently isolated species. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed using the broth microdilution method defined by the CLSI M38-A standard, and results were compared to those obtained with Sensititre panels. Aspergillus flavus ATCC 204304 was employed as reference strain and results were within all expected ranges. Voriconazole's activity against the 192 mould isolates was comparable to that of amphotericin B and itraconazole: voriconazole MIC90 (CLSI 1 μg/ml, Sensititre 1 μg/ml), itraconazole MIC90 (CLSI 0.5 μg/ml, Sensititre 0.5 μg/ml), amphotericin B MIC90 (CLSI 1 μg/ml, Sensititre 1 μm/ml). In conclusion, these in vitro data highlight voriconazole's broad spectrum activity against filamentous fungi and support its use as a first line agent for the treatment of fungal diseases. © E.S.I.F.T. srl