Maria Vadalà

Mechanisms and therapeutic applications of electromagnetic therapy in Parkinson’s disease

Electromagnetic therapy is a non-invasive and safe approach for the management of several pathological conditions including neurodegenerative diseases. Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative pathology caused by abnormal degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra pars compacta in the midbrain resulting in damage to the basal ganglia. Electromagnetic therapy has been extensively used in the clinical setting in the form of transcranial magnetic stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, high-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation and pulsed electromagnetic field therapy which can also be used in the domestic setting. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms and therapeutic applications of electromagnetic therapy to alleviate motor and non-motor deficits that characterize Parkinson’s disease.

Mechanisms and therapeutic effectiveness of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy in oncology

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. Available treatments are associated with numerous side effects and only a low percentage of patients achieve complete remission. Therefore, there is a strong need for new therapeutic strategies. In this regard, pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy presents several potential advantages including non‐invasiveness, safety, lack of toxicity for non‐cancerous cells, and the possibility of being combined with other available therapies. Indeed, PEMF stimulation has already been used in the context of various cancer types including skin, breast, prostate, hepatocellular, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, bladder, thyroid, and colon cancer in vitro and in vivo. At present, only limited application of PEMF in cancer has been documented in humans. In this article, we review the experimental and clinical evidence of PEMF therapy discussing future perspectives in its use in oncology.

Somatoform and neurocognitive syndromes after HPV immunization are not associated to cell-mediated hypersensitivity to aluminum

Vaccines against human papilloma virus (HPV) have been demonstrated to be very effective to prevent infection-related neoplasms. However, several reports describing heterogeneous post-vaccination phenomena have been published in last few years. The spectrum of these disorders includes both immune-mediated neurological diseases and neuropsychiatric functional disorders. Some researchers speculated about a genetic predisposition, but others hypothesized a role of adjuvants, including some metals and, particularly, aluminum. Here, we tested sixteen young girls developing somatoform and neurocognitive syndromes after the HPV immunization, through MELISA® test, detecting cell-mediated hypersensitivity to several metals. We found no association between these neurocognitive disorders and the results provided by this test; importantly, no patients showed hypersensitivity to aluminum, which is the inorganic adjuvant included in HPV vaccines. Thus, if aluminum played a role in the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal and neurocognitive disturbances occurring in some young girls after HPV immunization, that should recognize other mechanisms than the activation of aluminum-specific lymphocytes.

High-power Magnetotherapy: A New Weapon in Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence (UI) is one of the most common urinary system diseases that mostly affects women but also men. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of functional magnetic stimulation (FMS) as potential UI treatment with improvements in the pelvic floor musculature, urodynamic tests and quality of life.

A hyaluronic acid- and chondroitin sulfate-based medical device improves gastritis pain, discomfort, and endoscopic features

Gastritis is an inflammation of the gastric mucosa. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of a medical device, Esoxx®, based on hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate on gastritis-related upper abdominal pain/discomfort and endoscopic features. Fifty patients, affected by gastritis, were randomised to receive the medical device or placebo. The primary endpoint was the medical device efficacy on upper abdominal pain/discomfort associated with gastritis and measured by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The secondary endpoints were the efficacy of the medical device on gastritis-related mucosal erosions, blood oozing, and hyperemia (redness)/edema, as assessed by endoscopy, and the patients’ rating of their compliance with the treatments. A significant reduction in VAS pain was observed in the treatment group after a 5-week treatment, if compared with placebo (p < 0.001). In summary, administration of a medical device, based on hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, improves gastritis-related upper abdominal pain/discomfort and decreases mucosal erosions, blood oozing, and hyperemia (redness)/edema at 5-week follow-up in patients affected by gastritis.

Vaccination and autoimmune diseases: is prevention of adverse health effects on the horizon?

Autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes mellitus, affect about 5% of the worldwide population. In the last decade, reports have accumulated on various autoimmune disorders, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenia purpura, myopericarditis, primary ovarian failure, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), following vaccination. In this review, we discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of autoimmune reactions following vaccinations and review cases of autoimmune diseases that have been correlated with vaccination. Molecular mimicry and bystander activation are reported as possible mechanisms by which vaccines can cause autoimmune reactions. The individuals who might be susceptible to develop these reactions could be especially not only those with previous post-vaccination phenomena and those with allergies but also in individuals who are prone to develop autoimmune diseases, such as those with a family history of autoimmunity or with known autoantibodies, and the genetic predisposed individuals.Further research is encouraged into the direct associations between vaccines and autoimmune conditions, and the biological mechanisms behind them.

Review of the molecular mechanisms in wound healing: new therapeutic targets?

The restoration of the skin barrier in acute and chronic wounds is controlled by several molecular mechanisms that synergistically regulate cell kinetics, enzymatic functions, and neurovascular activation. These pathways include genetic and epigenetic activation, which modulate physiological wound healing. Our review describes the genetic background of skin repair, namely transcription-independent diffusible damage signals, individual variability, epigenetic mechanism, controlled qualitative traits, post-translational mechanisms, antioxidants, nutrients, DNA modifications, bacteria activation, mitochondrial activity, and oxidative stress. The DNA background modulating skin restoration could be used to plan new diagnostics and therapeutics.

The memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay in immune system disorders: Is useful or useless?

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical relevance, sensitivity and specificity of in vitro blood test, Memory Lymphocyte ImmunoStimulation Assay (MELISA®), in genetically predisposed patients that suffer by autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants, after HPV-vaccination and that could have a high metal hypersensitivity. Materials and Methods: Sixteen girls (aged 12–24 years) that developed long-lasting and invalidating somatoform symptoms occurring within 20 days postvaccination are included in this descriptive study. The hypersensitivity to five metals (aluminum, nickel, mercury, methyl mercury, and thimerosal) was measured by MELISA® test. Results: Seven girls showed negativity to all the five metals tested. The findings showed metal hypersensitivity only in nine patients: Toxicity to aluminum (two girls), reactivity to nickel (seven girls), followed by mercury (seven girls). Conclusion: The MELISA® assay is neither sensitive nor specific in detecting metal hypersensitivity and associated chronic diseases, including autoimmune pathologies.

A dietary supplement improves age-related dermatological changes. Observational, anecdotal, spontaneous study.

Background: The rate of people with significant dermis and epidermis disorders increases linearly with age. The majority of skin changes are a consequence of cumulative exposure to environmental factors, such as chronic ultraviolet exposure. Aims and Objectives: Age-related dermatological changes include skin laxity, nails fragility, hair loss and hair breakage. This spontaneous, anecdotal observational study investigates if a dietary supplementation based on collagen, chondroitin sulfate, low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid, Pycnogenol® and coenzyme Q10 can improve age-related dermatological changes. Materials and Methods: Thirty four patients received the dietary supplement for 2 times/daily for 12 weeks. Facial skin hydration, Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) and elasticity were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks in five selected areas. Nails hardness of the index, middle and ring fingers were also assessed at baseline and at followup by a durometer and by a nail score. The Hair Mass Index (HMI) and the Hair Breakage Index (HBI) were assessed by a mechanical device together with hair score at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: After 12 weeks skin hydration, TEWL and elasticity significantly improved in all the tested areas (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). Nails hardness of index, middle and ring finger significantly increased (p < 0.001) after 12 weeks. HMI and HBI were both significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) after 12 weeks. In addition, both nails and hair score improved. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation significantly improved age-related dermatological changes. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(3) 2017 16-25