Erectile dysfunction in men with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) seems to be a widespread sexual issue in men affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Multiple causes appear to be involved such as hormonal imbalance, smoking habit, chronic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, chronic hypoxia, psychiatric disorders (depression and anxiety), and medications. ED can have a significant impact on COPD men and consequently on their quality of life, which is usually already compromised. Given this situation, however, pneumologists usually do not properly care for the sexuality of COPD patients especially because men can be reluctant to talk about their intimate issues. The aim of this narrative review is to briefly summarize the evidence emerging from literature and to provide a wide point of view about sexual dysfunction in COPD men

Nicotinamide and calcipotriol counteract UVB-induced photoaging on primary human dermal fibroblasts

Background: Photoaging is mainly caused by ultraviolet radiations inasmuch they can damage the DNA, trigger ROS production, and activate p53/p21 pathway, which cause cell cycle arrest and senescence. The accumulationof senescent cells within the dermis contributes to tissue deregulation and skin carcinogenesis. However, the use of photoprotector molecules could reduce UV-induced damages and prevent photoaging. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate whether the active forms of vitamin B3 (nicotinamide) and the analog of vitamin D3 (calcipotriol) might protect primary human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) from UVB-induced photoaging. Methods: HDFs were isolated from a healthy adult donor and stimulated with nicotinamide (25 μM) and calcipotriol (100 nM) for 24h before UVB exposure, and then, cultured for further 24h on vitamin-supplemented media. Then, cell viability, ROS production, DNA damages, senescence markers, protein and gene expression were evaluated. Results: HDFs treated with nicotinamide and calcipotriol showed better proliferation properties and lower DNA damages due to a reduced UVB-induced ROS production. Consequently, p53/p21 pathway was less active which enhanced cell cycle progression and reduced senescence and cell death. Conclusions: Overall, our results suggest that nicotinamide and calcipotriol can counteract UVB-induced effects responsible for the onset of skin photoaging

Effect of Different Carbon and Nitrogen Inputs on Soil Chemical and Biochemical Properties in Maize-Based Forage Systems in Northern Italy

In agroecosystems, manure application and straw return affect carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling and affect soil organic matter (SOM), nutrient supply and losses to the environment. We examined effects of different organic sources on crop production, N uptake and surplus and SOM in maize systems

Tetracyclines in COVID-19 patients quarantined at home: Literature evidence supporting real-world data from a multicenter observational study targeting inflammatory and infectious dermatoses

Tetracyclines (TetraC) are widely used in dermatology for both inflammatory and infectious dermatoses; recently both in vivo and in vitro studies started to suggest also a potential antiviral effect. During COVID-19 outbreak, several dermatological patients contracted SARS-CoV-2 experiencing only mild symptoms, but no protocol were approved. A multicenter prospective observational study that enrolled COVID-19 patients visited with teledermatology and undergoing TetraC was performed. About 38 adult outpatients (M/F: 20/18, age 42.6 years [21-67]) were enrolled. During the TetraC treatment, symptoms resolved in all patients within 10 days. Remarkably, ageusia and anosmia disappeared in the first week of TetraC treatment. TetraC seem a promising drug to treat COVID-19 outpatients with mild symptoms