Ageing is a complex process that negatively impacts the development of the different systems and its ability to function. On the other hand, the rate of ageing in humans is not uniform, due to ...genetic heterogeneity and the influence of environmental factors. Thus, the ageing rate, measured as the decline of functional capacity and stress resistance, seems to be different in every individual. Therefore, attempts have been made to analyse this individual age, the so-called biological age, in comparison to chronological age. Age-related changes in body function or composition that could serve as a measure of biological age and predict the onset of age-related diseases and/or residual lifetime are termed biomarkers of ageing. Such biomarkers of ageing should help on the one hand to characterise this biological age and, as age is a major risk factor in many degenerative diseases, could be subsequently used on the other hand to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated diseases or disabilities. Unfortunately, most of the markers under discussion are related to age-related diseases rather than to age, so none of these markers discussed in literature is a true biomarker of ageing. Hence, we discuss some disease-related biomarkers useful for a better understanding of ageing and the development of new strategies to counteract it, essential for improving the quality of life of the elderly population. Biomarkers discussed are based on immunosenescence, inflammatory responses and oxidative stress, since the review is based on data from author laboratories rather than on an extensive review of the literature. However, this kind of knowledge is useful to anti-ageing strategies aimed to slow ageing and to postpone death by preventing infectious diseases and delaying the onset of age-related diseases.
Several studies suggest that genetic variants that influence the onset, maintenance and resolution of the immune response might be fundamental in predicting the evolution of COVID-19. In the present ...paper, we analysed the distribution of GM allotypes (the genetic markers of immunoglobulin γ chains) in symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients and in healthy controls, all born and residing in Sicily. Indeed, the role played by GM allotypes in immune responses and infection control is well known. Our findings show that the GM23 allotype is significantly reduced in healthy controls. Interestingly, in a previous study, Sicilians carrying the GM23 allotype were associated with the risk of developing a symptomatic Human Cytomegalovirus infection. However, a note of caution should be considered, due to the small sample size of patients and controls.
BACKGROUNDInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is linked to a definite risk of thromboembolic events (TE), but data on the role of prothrombotic genetic mutations are conflicting.
STUDYFourteen genetic ...factors involved in TE pathogenesis were investigated in a homogeneous cohort of Sicilian patients with IBD with and without history of TE and in healthy controls. Forty IBD patients (21 CD, 19 UC) and 20 healthy individuals were enrolled. Genetic testing was based on the reverse hybridization principle by a commercial assay that analyzes 14 polymorphisms involved in thrombophilia and cholesterol metabolism. The rate of genetic polymorphisms and mutations was compared between IBD patients and healthy controls.
RESULTSNo significant difference in allelic frequency was found between IBD patients and controls except AGT T/T, though a trend toward significance was found also for ACE D/D. Eight out of 9 patients with earlier history of TE had more than 1 polymorphism, compared with 12 out of 31 without TE. In patients with IBD the mutation AGT T/T was related to male sex (P<0.0259) and, marginally, to arterial hypertension (P<0.06) and diabetes (P<0.09).
CONCLUSIONSOur data confirm a definite risk of TE in IBD (22.5% of our series). An increased frequency of the genotypes ACE D/D and AGT T/T, never reported so far, was found. In IBD patients TE has a multifactorial genesis with involvement of several genes as well and acquired factors. Genetic screening for prothrombotic factors could help segregate IBD patients at higher risk of TE.
Some results from laboratory and epidemiologic studies suggest that diet may influence the risk of melanoma, but convincing evidence for a role of single nutrients or food items is lacking. Diet ...quality, which considers the combined effect of multiple food items, may be superior for examining this relation. We sought to assess whether diet quality, evaluated with the use of 4 different dietary indexes, is associated with melanoma risk. In this population-based case-control study, we analyzed the relation between 4 diet quality indexes, the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) index, Greek Mediterranean Index (GMI), and Italian Mediterranean Index (IMI), and melanoma risk in a northern Italian community, with the use of data from 380 cases and 719 matched controls who completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. In the overall sample, we found an inverse association between disease risk and the HEI-2010 and DASH index, but not the Mediterranean indexes, adjusting for potential confounders (skin phototype, body mass index, energy intake, sunburn history, skin sun reaction, and education). However, in sex stratified analyses, the association appeared only in women (P-trend: 0.10 and 0.04 for the HEI-2010 and DASH index, respectively). The inverse relations were stronger in women younger than age 50 y than in older women, for whom the GMI and IMI scores also showed an inverse association with disease risk (P-trend: 0.05 and 0.02, respectively). These results suggest that diet quality may play a role in cutaneous melanoma etiology among women.
Background: Some results from laboratory and epidemiologic studies suggest that diet may influence the risk of melanoma, but convincing evidence for a role of single nutrients or food items is ...lacking. Diet quality, which considers the combined effect of multiple food items, may be superior for examining this relation.
Objective: We sought to assess whether diet quality, evaluated with the use of 4 different dietary indexes, is associated with melanoma risk.
Methods: In this population-based case-control study, we analyzed the relation between 4 diet quality indexes, the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) index, Greek Mediterranean Index (GMI), and Italian Mediterranean Index (IMI), and melanoma risk in a northern Italian community, with the use of data from 380 cases and 719 matched controls who completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire.
Results: In the overall sample, we found an inverse association between disease risk and the HEI-2010 and DASH index, but not the Mediterranean indexes, adjusting for potential confounders (skin phototype, body mass index, energy intake, sunburn history, skin sun reaction, and education). However, in sex stratified analyses, the association appeared only in women (P-trend: 0.10 and 0.04 for the HEI-2010 and DASH index, respectively). The inverse relations were stronger in women younger than age 50 y than in older women, for whom the GMI and IMI scores also showed an inverse association with disease risk (P-trend: 0.05 and 0.02, respectively).
Conclusions: These results suggest that diet quality may play a role in cutaneous melanoma etiology among women.
Background:
Some results from laboratory and epidemiologic studies suggest that diet may influence the risk of melanoma, but convincing evidence for a role of single nutrients or food items is ...lacking. Diet quality, which considers the combined effect of multiple food items, may be superior for examining this relation.
Objective:
We sought to assess whether diet quality, evaluated with the use of 4 different dietary indexes, is associated with melanoma risk.
Methods:
In this population-based case-control study, we analyzed the relation between 4 diet quality indexes, the Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI-2010), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) index, Greek Mediterranean Index (GMI), and Italian Mediterranean Index (IMI), and melanoma risk in a northern Italian community, with the use of data from 380 cases and 719 matched controls who completed a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire.
Results:
In the overall sample, we found an inverse association between disease risk and the HEI-2010 and DASH index, but not the Mediterranean indexes, adjusting for potential confounders (skin phototype, body mass index, energy intake, sunburn history, skin sun reaction, and education). However, in sex stratified analyses, the association appeared only in women (
P
-trend: 0.10 and 0.04 for the HEI-2010 and DASH index, respectively). The inverse relations were stronger in women younger than age 50 y than in older women, for whom the GMI and IMI scores also showed an inverse association with disease risk (
P
-trend: 0.05 and 0.02, respectively).
Conclusions:
These results suggest that diet quality may play a role in cutaneous melanoma etiology among women.
Aim
To evaluate the effects of display pixel pitch and maximum luminance on intra- and inter-observer reproducibility and observer performance when evaluating chest lesions and bone fractures.
...Materials and methods
This was a multi-institutional study for a retrospective interpretation of selected digital radiography images. Overall, 82 images were selected by senior radiologists, including 50 cases of chest lesions and 32 cases of bone fractures. These images were displayed at two pixel pitches (0.212 and 0.165 mm size pixels) and two maximum luminance values (250 and 500 cd/m
2
) and reviewed twice by senior and junior radiologists. All the observers had to indicate the likelihood of the presence of the lesions and to rate the relative confidence of their assessment. Cohen Kappa statistic was computed to estimate the reproducibility in correctly identifying lesions; for multi-reader-multi-case (MRMC) analysis, weighted Jackknife Alternative Free-response Receiver Operating Characteristic (wJAFROC) statistical tools was applied.
Results
The intra-radiologist and inter-observer reproducibility values were the highest for the 0.165 mm size pixel at 500 cd/m
2
display, for both chest lesions and bone fractures evaluations. As regards chest lesions, observer performances were significantly greater with 0.165 mm size pixel display at 500 cd/m
2
than with lower maximum luminance and/or larger pixel pitch displays. Concerning bone fractures, the performance obtained with 0.212 mm size pixel display at 250 cd/m
2
was statistically lower than that obtained with 0.165 mm sixe pixel display at 500 cd/m
2
.
Conclusion
Our results indicate that an increased maximum luminance level and a decreased pixel pitch of medical-grade display improve the accuracy of detecting both chest lesions and bone fractures.
Congenitally corrected transposition of the great vessels (CCTGV) is a rare congenital heart defect associated with multiple cardiac morphological abnormalities and conduction defects. Complete ...atrioventricular (AV) block occurs in 30% of patients and it may be present at birth or develop later with a rate of 2% per year; moreover, a systemic right ventricle is frequently characterized by heart failure in adult life. We used a bifocal cardiac stimulation for a young woman affected by CCTGV and atrioventricular Mobitz 2 and 2:1 block, considering structural, anatomic condition, and the high rate of pacing she underwent. (PACE 2012; 35:e296–e298)
Strong evidence suggests that systemic inflammation and central adiposity contribute to and perpetuate metabolic syndrome. All of these alterations predispose individuals to type 2 diabetes mellitus ...(T2DM), cardiovascular disease, as well as Alzheimer's disease (AD), all characterized by chronic inflammatory status. On the other hand, extensive abnormalities in insulin and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-II signaling mechanisms in brains with AD have been demonstrated, suggesting that AD could be a third form of diabetes. The Src homology domain-containing inositol 5-phosphatase 2 (SHIP2) has an important role in the insulin pathway because its over-expression causes impairment of insulin/IGF-1 signaling. Because some single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the gene encoding SHIP2 were significantly associated in T2DM patients with metabolic syndrome and some related conditions, we decided to conduct a case-control study on this gene, analyzing AD and T2DM subjects as cases and young, old, and centenarians as controls. Our results suggest a putative correlation between the the rs144989913 SNP and aging, both successful and unsuccessful, rather than age-related diseases. Because this SNP is an insertion/deletion of 28 bp, it might cause an alteration in SHIP2 expression. It is noteworthy that SHIP2 has been demonstrated to be a potent negative regulator of insulin signaling and insulin sensitivity. Many studies demonstrated the association of the insulin/IGF1 pathway with aging and longevity, so it is tempting to speculate that the found association with SHIP2 and aging might depend on its effect on the insulin/IGF-1 pathway.
Fragmented data exist on the emotional and psychological distress generated by hospital admission during the pandemic in specific populations of patients, and no data exists on patients scheduled for ...surgery. The aim of this multicentre nationwide prospective cross-sectional survey was to evaluate the impact of pandemic on emotional status and fear of SARS-CoV-2 contagion in a cohort of elective surgical patients in Italy, scheduled for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Twenty-nine Italian centres were involved in the study, for a total of 2376 patients surveyed (mean age of 58 years ± 16.61; 49.6% males). The survey consisted of 28 total closed questions, including four study outcome questions. More than half of patients had at least one chronic disease (54%), among which cardiovascular diseases were the commonest (58%). The most frequent type of surgery was abdominal (20%), under general anaesthesia (64%). Almost half of the patients (46%) declared to be frightened of going to the hospital for routine checkups; 55% to be afraid of getting SARS-CoV-2 infection during hospitalization and 62% were feared of being hospitalised without seeing family members. Having an oncological disease and other patient-related, centre-related or perioperative factors were independently associated with an increased risk of fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection during hospitalization and of being hospitalised without seeing family members. A previous infection due to SARS-COV-2 was associated with a reduced risk of worse emotional outcomes and fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection during hospitalization. Patients who showed the most emotionally vulnerable profile (e.g. use of sleep-inducing drugs, higher fear of surgery or anaesthesia) were at higher risk of worse emotional status towards the hospitalization during COVID-19 pandemic. Being operated in hospitals with lower surgical volume and with COVID-19 wards was associated with worse emotional status and fear of contagion.
Additional fear and worse emotional status may be frequent in patients scheduled for elective surgery during COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of the participants to the survey were worried about not being able to receive family visits. Psychological support may be considered for patients at higher risk of psychological distress to improve perioperative wellbeing during the pandemic.
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