Iolanda Grappasonni

Vaccination against hepatitis B: the Italian strategy

Viral hepatitis B, which is a major health problem worldwide, is endemic in Italy. In response to this, vaccination became compulsory in 1991. Vaccine is administered to neonates and 12-year-old adolescents; in 12 years time, all Italians under the age of 24 will be immune to HBV.

Oral Health in Alzheimers Disease: A Review

The main data on oral health and dental pathologies affecting Alzheimers disease (AD) patients were reviewed. Oral health declines and dental pathologies increase with progression of AD. Poor oral hygiene, difficulty in wearing dentures, and the inability to self-care, including carrying out oral hygiene procedures are the most probable cause of impaired oral health in AD. Collection of information on oral/dental conditions from AD patients or their caregivers/ relatives is often difficult and scientific literature on the topic is sparse . The majority of data on the subject consist in retrospective studies affected to some extent by subjective views of dental professionals involved. Appropriate dental interventions in adult-onset dementia disorders will decrease pain and oral pathology and consequently could contribute to maintain enough oral and nutritional health in these patients. Dental treatment in early stages of the disease are important and should be finalized at producing a stable oral condition. This could improve the quality of life and contribute to decrease worsening of oral situations in the later stages of the disease when dental treatment may be difficult. The problem of awareness of good oral health for keeping quality of life more acceptable in adult-onset dementia disorders is discussed.

Novel Composite Plastics Containing Silver(I) Acylpyrazolonato Additives Display Potent Antimicrobial Activity by Contact

New silver(I) acylpyrazolonato derivatives displaying a mononuclear, polynuclear, or ionic nature, as a function of the ancillary azole ligands used in the synthesis, have been fully characterized by thermal analysis, solution NMR spectroscopy, solid-state IR and NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction techniques. These derivatives have been embedded in polyethylene (PE) matrix, and the antimicrobial activity of the composite materials has been tested against three bacterial strains (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus): Most of the composites show antimicrobial action comparable to PE embedded with AgNO3 . Tests by contact and release tests for specific migration of silver from PE composites clearly indicate that, at least in the case of the PE, for composites containing polynuclear silver(I) additives, the antimicrobial action is exerted by contact, without release of silver ions. Moreover, PE composites can be re-used several times, displaying the same antimicrobial activity. Membrane permeabilization studies and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation tests confirm the disorganization of bacterial cell membranes. The cytotoxic effect, evaluated in CD34(+) cells by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) and CFU (colony forming units) assays, indicates that the PE composites do not induce cytotoxicity in human cells. Studies of ecotoxicity, based on the test of Daphnia magna, confirm tolerability of the PE composites by higher organisms and exclude the release of Ag(+) ions in sufficient amounts to affect water environment.

Linkage Isomerism in Silver Acylpyrazolonato Complexes and Correlation with Their Antibacterial Activity

Novel silver(I) acylpyrazolonato coordination polymers of formula [Ag(Q(R))]n (1-3) have been synthesized by interaction of silver nitrate with HQ(R) in methanol in the presence of an equivalent quantity of KOH (in general HQ(R) = 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-RC(═O)-5-pyrazolone, in detail HQ(fb), R = -CF2CF2CF3; HQ(cy), R = -cyclo-C6H11; HQ(be), R = -C(H)═C(CH3)2). [Ag(Q(R))]n react with 2-ethylimidazole (2EtimH), 1-methylimidazole (Meim), and triphenylphosphine (PPh3), affording the mononuclear Ag(Q(fb))(EtimH) (4), Ag(Q(cy))(Meim)2 (5), Ag(Q(be))(Meim) (6), and Ag(Q(R))(PPh3)2 (7-9). All complexes have been analytically and spectroscopically characterized, and for some of them the X-ray crystal structure has been resolved. In particular, the single crystal molecular structure determination of Ag(Q(fb))(EtimH) and Ag(Q(be))(PPh3)2 has confirmed the different coordination modes of the HQ(fb) and HQ(be) acylpyrazolone ligands, the former being bound to the silver(I) ion in a monodentate fashion while the latter in the O2-chelating mode. Density functional theory computations suggest new insights about metal-ligand interactions and the observed linkage isomerism. While phosphine-containing complexes Ag(Q(R))(PPh3)2 (7-9) seem not to be able to efficiently inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the polynuclear complexes [Ag(Q(R))]n (1-3) and the mononuclear Ag(Q(fb))(EtimH) (4), Ag(Q(cy))(Meim)2 (5), and Ag(Q(be))(Meim) (6) show a high and almost steady in time antibacterial activity, comparable to that of AgNO3. This activity is likely related to the degree of saturation of the silver center and to the presence of different ancillary ligands in the diverse typologies of complexes.

Tobacco, alcohol and illegal substances: experiences and attitudes among Italian university students

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this research was to assess the prevalence of addictive drug use among students of University of Camerino (Italy) and to verify aspects related to substance use in this population. METHODS The survey was carried out in the form of anonymous questionnaires completed by 345 participants. Chi-square test was used for statistic evaluation. RESULTS Most students have experienced legal addictive substances: 28.0 % of participants smoke cigarettes regularly and 23.2 % of respondents have admitted regular alcohol consumption. In addition, 50.4 % of subjects have already tried an illegal drug; the most used substance was cannabis (46.7 %), followed by cocaine (13.3 %). CONCLUSION Our results confirmed the increased experimental use of cannabis among young people in Europe and showed a long-term use of drugs, particularly cocaine, among university students.

Gemcitabine-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: A case report

Gemcitabine is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent for a variety of tumors. Although this nucleoside analog antineoplastic agent is similar in structure to cytarabine, central nervous system toxicities have rarely been attributed to gemcitabine. The posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a condition characterized by reversible neurological and radiological findings that has been associated with use of chemotherapeutic and more recently novel targeted therapies. We describe one case of a 41-year-old woman with PRES under treatment for leiomyosarcoma because of the probable association with gemcitabine. Our case, to our knowledge, represents the seventh published report of this particular toxicity. Naranjo algorithm, efficacious method for assessing the causality of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) from a case report, suggests a direct casual relationship. PRES is probably a rare complication of gemcitabine, but the oncologist should take it into careful consideration, because PRES is reversible with treatment of current hypertension or removal of the causative agent. However, failure to quickly recognize the syndrome and discontinue the offending agent may result in profound and permanent central nervous system dysfunction or death.

Immunological pattern alteration in shoe, hide, and leather industry workers exposed to hexavalent chromium

Objective. The aim of this work was to assess the effects of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] on shoe, leather, and hide industry workers, based on the assumption that Cr(VI) can behave as an environmental immunological “stressor.” Methods. The immunological patterns of 84 male subjects were studied in relation to Cr(VI) hematic and urinary levels. Cr(VI) was measured through atomic absorption. Lymphocyte subsets, mitogen‐mediated lymphocyte‐proliferation, cytokine levels, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity were also assayed. Results. The urinary levels of the total amount of Cr(VI) were significantly higher in a subgroup of exposed subjects (group B) than in the control or in the lower exposed (group A). In group B, Cr(VI) caused a decrease in the density of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and a increase of IL‐6. Cr(VI) did not modify NK‐mediated cytotoxicity, the plasmatic levels of inflammatory cytokines and related soluble receptors, and prostaglandin levels, while it tended to increase lymphocyte sensitivity to mitogens and the production of immunomodulant cytokines (IFN‐γ, IL‐4, and IL‐2). The experimental addition of Cr(VI) to the in vitro lymphocyte culture determined a significant inhibition of phagocytosis percentage, index, and killing percentage. These effects were neutralized by exogenous IFN‐γ. Conclusion. Cr(VI) could represent an environmental immunological stressor whose effects can be evaluated through laboratory surveys. The lymphocyte mitogen‐induced proliferation, GR receptor on PBMC, and IL‐6 plasma levels may represent a discriminating element between Cr(VI)‐induced stress and other kinds of stress.

Deaths on board ships assisted by the Centro Internazionale Radio Medico in the last 25 years

Data on occupational diseases of seafarers and of causes of death during their career are sparse. The causes of deaths on board ships assisted by Centro Internazionale Radio Medico (CIRM), the Italian Telemedical Maritime Assistance Service (TMAS) were reviewed by examining 29,146 files of patients treated from 1986 to 2010. In the 25 years, 383 deaths occurred (1.31%). Diseases of the circulation were the most frequent, followed by external causes such as accidents and violence, infectious and parasitic diseases, alcohol and drug addiction, respiratory system diseases. Cardiovascular and external causes were the principal causes of deaths among seafarers. This investigation is the first study on the causes of death on board ships obtained from data of a maritime telemedical centre, that has assisted seafarers when they were alive or immediately after their death. The fact that diseases of the circulatory system are the first cause of death of sailing seafarers deserves specific initiatives. They should include campaigns for adequate lifestyles and the availability on ships of medical devices useful for diagnostic purposes, resuscitation as well as for verification of death.

Metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and nervous system injury: Epidemiological correlates

ABSTRACT Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a common and complex disorder combining hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. MetS represents a risk factor for changes in cognitive functions in older age, and several studies have suggested that MetS may be linked to dementia. This article reviews the main evidences about the relationship between MetS and neurodegenerative disease. Starting from an epidemiological point of view, the article analyzes medico-social aspects related to MetS, considering the reduction of work capacity and the condition of disability that it involves. Some authors affirm that on the basis of current Italian legislation, it is possible to consider the syndrome as a disability. This is because all the diseases that make up MetS are high-risk clinical pathological conditions. For these reasons, a joint action is required to contain the incidence of MetS, the high social costs, and the loss of productivity related to the syndrome. In conclusion, healthcare initiatives could be adopted in order to increase the understanding of the pathogenic contributions of each element on MetS and how they can be modified. These actions will be useful to reduce healthcare costs and can lead to more effective prevention of metabolic disease, thus promoting good health. Abbreviations: MetS: Metabolic syndrome; WHO: World Health Organization; CVD: cerebrovascular diseases; AD: Alzheimer’s Disease; VaD: Vascular Dementia; IDF: International Diabetes Federation; T2DM: type 2 diabetes mellitus; CAD: coronary artery disease; MCI: mild cognitive impairment; NCDs: Non Communicable Diseases; BMI: Body Mass Index; ICIDH: International classification of impairments, disabilities and handicaps

Comparative study by histochemical, biochemical, and histophotometrical methods of carbonic anhydrase activity in the stomach of various vertebrate classes

Histochemical, biochemical, and histophotometrical studies of carbonic anhydrase activity have been carried out on the stomach of the various vertebrate classes, in order to make functional comparisons. Our results on carbonic anhydrase activity of epithelial surface may be interpreted in favour of a protective role by the secretion of an alkaline fluid against damage due to intraluminal low pH values. As regards the presence of carbonic anhydrase in the different types of gastric glandular cells, in addition to the already known function of the enzyme in hydrochloric acid secretion in the oxyntic and oxyntic-peptic cells, we suggest an interpretation of carbonic anhydrase presence observed in many chief cells.