To assess the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in the first year of life and the influence of different neonatal factors on development of FGIDs.
A prospective cohort ...multicenter study including neonates, consecutively enrolled at birth, and followed up until 1 year. Gestational age, neonatal antibiotic administration, duration of hospitalization, mode of delivery, birth weight, and feeding pattern were recorded. FGIDs were classified according to Rome III criteria and assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months of life.
Among 1152 newborns enrolled, 934 (81.1%) completed the study, 302 (32%) were newborns born preterm, 320 (34%) had neonatal antibiotics, and 718 (76.9%) had at least 1 FGID according to Rome III criteria (443 47.4% infantile colic, 374 40.0% regurgitation, 297 31.8% infant dyschezia, 248 26.6% functional constipation, and 34 3.6% functional diarrhea) throughout the first year of life. The proportion of infants born preterm presenting with FGIDs (86%) was significantly greater compared with infants born full term (72.5%) (χ2 = 21.3, P = .0001). On multivariate analysis, prematurity and neonatal use of antibiotics was significantly associated with at least 1 FGID.
We found a high rate FGIDs in infants, likely related to the population recruited, the long observation period, the diagnosis based on Rome III criteria, and parental reports. Preterm delivery and neonatal use of antibiotics in the first months of life are associated with an increased incidence of FGIDs, particularly infantile colic and regurgitation. In our population, cesarean delivery and feeding pattern at 1 month of life emerged as additional risk factors for infant dyschezia and functional diarrhea. Other neonatal factors associated with FGIDs need to be further explored.
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive type of malignant primary brain tumor, and it is characterized by a high recurrence incidence and poor prognosis due to the presence of ...a highly heterogeneous mass of stem cells with self-renewal capacity and stemness maintenance ability. In recent years, the epigenetic landscape of GBM has been explored and many epigenetic alterations have been investigated. Among the investigated epigenetic abnormalities, the bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) chromatin readers have been found to be significantly overexpressed in GBM. In this work, we investigated the effects of BET protein inhibition on GBM cell reprogramming. We found that the pan-BET pharmacological inhibitor JQ1 was able to promote a differentiation program in GBM cells, thus impairing cell proliferation and enhancing the toxicity of the drug Temozolomide (TMZ). Notably, the pro-differentiation capability of JQ1 was prevented in autophagy-defective models, suggesting that autophagy activation is necessary for BET protein activity in regulating glioma cell fate. Given the growing interest in epigenetic therapy, our results further support the possibility of introducing a BET-based approach in GBM clinical management.
Hypertension is the leading cause of death in developed countries and reduction of salt intake is recommended as a key preventive measure.
To assess the dietary sodium and potassium intakes in a ...national sample of Italian children and adolescents and to examine their relationships with BMI and blood pressure (BP) in the framework of the MINISAL survey, a program supported by the Italian Ministry of Health.
The study population included 1424 healthy subjects (766 boys, 658 girls) aged 6-18 years (mean age: 10.1±2.9) who were consecutively recruited in participating National Health Service centers in 10 Italian regions. Electrolyte intake was estimated from 24 hour urine collections tested for completeness by the concomitant measurement of creatinine content. Anthropometric indices and BP were measured with standardized procedures.
The average estimated sodium intake was 129 mmol (7.4 g of salt) per day among boys and 117 mmol (6.7 g of salt) among girls. Ninety-three percent of the boys and 89% of the girls had a consumption higher than the recommended age-specific standard dietary target. The estimated average daily potassium intakes were 39 mmol (1.53 g) and 36 mmol (1.40 g), respectively, over 96% of the boys and 98% of the girls having a potassium intake lower than the recommended adequate intake. The mean sodium/potassium ratio was similar among boys and girls (3.5 and 3.4, respectively) and over 3-fold greater than the desirable level. Sodium intake was directly related to age, body mass and BP in the whole population.
The Italian pediatric population is characterized by excessive sodium and deficient potassium intake. These data suggest that future campaigns should focus on children and adolescents as a major target in the framework of a population strategy of cardiovascular prevention.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has created unique challenges to healthcare systems throughout the world. Ensuring subjects' safety is mandatory especially in oncology, in ...consideration of cancer patients' particular frailty. We examined the proportion of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgM and/or IgG positive subjects in three different groups from Istituto Nazionale Tumori - IRCCS "Fondazione G. Pascale" in Naples (Campania region, Italy): cancer patients treated with Innovative Immunotherapy (Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors, ICIs), cancer patients undergoing standard Chemotherapies (CHTs) and healthcare providers. 9 out of 287 (3.1%) ICIs patients resulted positive, with a significant lower percentage in respect to CHTs patients (39 positive subjects out of 598, 6.5%) (p = 0.04). There was no statistically significant difference between ICIs cohort and healthcare providers, 48 out of 1050 resulting positive (4.6%). Performing a Propensity Score Matching based on gender and tumor stage, the effect of treatment on seropositivity was analyzed through a regression logistic model and the ICIs treatment resulted to be the only protective factor significantly (p = 0.03) associated with positivity (odds ratio-OR: 0.41; 95% confidence interval-CI 0.18-0.91). According to these preliminary data, ICIs would appear to be a protective factor against the onset of COVID-19 infection.
Objectives To prospectively investigate the occurrence of postinfectious functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs), diagnosed according to the Rome III criteria, in children with acute diarrhea ...of different infectious etiology. Study design This was a prospective cohort multicenter study. Children 4-17 years of age presenting with acute diarrhea who tested positive for an enteric infection were recruited within 1 month from the episode and matched with control subjects of similar age and sex. Symptoms were evaluated with a validated questionnaire for FGIDs at the time of enrollment in the study and after 3 and 6 months. Results A total of 64 patients (36 boys; median age 5.3 years; age range 4.1-14.1 years) were recruited, 32 subjects in each arm. Infections included rotavirus (56.8%), salmonella (30%), adenovirus (6.6%), norovirus (3.3%), and Giardia lamblia (3.3%). FGIDs were significantly more common in exposed patients compared with controls within 1 month from acute diarrhea (40.6% vs 12.5% P = .02, relative risk (RR) = 1.9), 3 months (53% vs 15.6% P = .003, RR = 2.2), and 6 months (46.8% vs 15.6% P = .01, RR = 1.9) later. No correlation was found between different etiologies, age, or sex, and any type of FGIDs. Among exposed children, abdominal pain–related FGIDs were significantly more frequent compared with controls after 6 months from infection ( P = .04, RR = 1.7). Conclusion This prospective cohort multicenter study supports postinfectious FGIDs as a true entity in children. There seems to be a significant increase in abdominal pain–related FGIDs after acute diarrhea in children within 1 month and 3 and 6 months later.
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The current availability of new Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase (PARP)-inhibitors for the treatment of ovarian cancer patients independently of the presence of a BRCA pathogenic variant, ...together with the validation of somatic test for the analysis of BRCA1/2 genes, involves the need to optimise the guidelines for BRCA testing.
The AIOM-SIGU-SIBIOC-SIAPEC-IAP Italian Scientific Societies, in this position paper, recommend the implementation of BRCA testing with 2 main objectives: the first is the identification of ovarian cancer patients with higher probability of benefit from specific anticancer treatments (test for response to therapy); the second goal, through BRCA testing in the family members of ovarian cancer patients, is the identification of carriers of pathogenic variant, who have inheredited predisposition to cancer development (test for cancer risk). These individuals with increased risk of cancer, should be encouraged to participate in dedicated high-risk surveillance clinics and specific risk-reducing measures (primary and/or secondary prevention programs).
•Magnetic and chemical biomonitoring methodologies were applied at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice, Italy.•The bioaccumulation of metallic particles was moderate outdoors and negligible ...indoor, according to magnetic susceptibility values.•Chemical analysis did not reveal any statistically significant difference between lichen bags exposed outdoors and indoors.•Pittosporum tobira leaves were unsuited for magnetic biomonitoring and particulate matter removal.•The Peggy Guggenheim Collection's Halls resulted preserved from significant inputs of metallic particles.
Cultural heritage (CH) is heavily threatened by air pollution, especially by airborne particulate matter (PM), that acts on the surfaces of fine arts, causing artistic loss. Therefore, the monitoring of air quality assumes a central role for the preventive conservation of CH.
In this study, magnetic and chemical biomonitoring of PM was applied at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, a contemporary and modern art museum in Venice, Italy. It is located in an aquatic context, where the PM sources are considerably different, with respect to the usual vehicular-dominated urban emissions.
Lichen biomonitoring is a well-established technique for the assessment of air quality, especially where PM collecting devices cannot be operated for aesthetic and practical reasons.
Samples of the lichen species Evernia prunastri were collected from a pristine area and exposed for three months (November 2022–February 2023) at increasing distances from the Grand Canal, planning an outdoor vs. indoor sampling design, for outlining the diffusion of airborne PM inside the museum.
In combination with lichen exposure, the leaves of Pittosporum tobira hedges were sampled for determining their efficiency as bioaccumulators.
The magnetic properties of lichens showed a moderate bioaccumulation of magnetite-like particles outdoors. Conversely, the magnetic properties of the indoor samples were like those of the unexposed ones, indicating a negligible accumulation of metallic particles indoors. Pittosporum tobira leaves mostly showed diamagnetic properties, resulting an ineffective species for preventing conservation purposes. Chemical analysis did not show any significant difference between unexposed, indoor and outdoor samples. A directional gradient of bioaccumulation was not evident, thus implying that the sources of metallic PM are distant or diffused, with respect to the site.
The joint use of magnetic and chemical analyses was useful for evaluating the negligible impact of airborne particulate pollution arising from the Grand Canal towards the Halls of the Collection.
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The prevalence and natural history of gastroesophageal reflux in infants have been poorly documented. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and natural history of infant regurgitation ...in Italian children during the first 2 years of life.
A detailed questionnaire, according to the Rome II criteria, was completed by 59 primary care pediatricians to assess infant regurgitation in consecutive patients seen in their office over a 3-month period. A total of 2642 patients aged 0 to 12 months were prospectively enrolled during this 3-month period. Follow-up was performed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age.
A total of 313 children (12%; 147 girls) received the diagnosis of infant regurgitation. Vomiting was present in 34 of 313 patients. Their score for the Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire was 8.51 +/- 4.75 (mean +/- SD). Follow-up visits were conducted to the end in 210 of 313 subjects. Regurgitation had disappeared in 56 of 210 infants by the first 6 months of age, in 128 by the first 12 months, in 23 at 18 months, and in 3 patients by the first 24 months. At follow-up, 1 of 210 patients had developed a gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, proven endoscopically and histologically; another patient received a diagnosis of cow milk protein intolerance. The Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire score reached 0 after 8.2 +/- 3.9 months in breastfed infants (89 of 210) and after 9.6 +/- 4.1 months in artificially fed infants.
We found that 12% of Italian infants satisfied the Rome II criteria for infant regurgitation. Eighty-eight percent of 210 infants who had completed a 24-month follow-up period had improved at the age of 12 months. Only 1 patient later turned out to have gastroesophageal reflux disease. Use of breast milk was associated with a shorter time necessary to reach an Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire score of 0.
Presentazione del volume L’Anfiteatro di Leptis Magna, a cura di Maria Ricciardi, L’Erma di Bretschneider, Roma 2018, pp. 1-338, ill. 1-441 Roma, 15 marzo 2019. École Française de Rome, Piazza Navona ...62
The aims of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of magnesium alginate in decreasing functional regurgitation symptoms in infants, and to assess the cost-benefit ratio of magnesium alginate ...compared to a thickened formula. A multicenter perspective cross-over study was conducted in formula-fed infants with persisting regurgitation, randomly assigned to receive two weeks of a magnesium-alginate-based formulation followed by two weeks of thickened formula, or vice-versa. Infants, exclusively breast-fed, were followed up for two weeks while receiving magnesium alginate. Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) were evaluated through the Infant Gastroesophageal Reflux Questionnaire Revised (I-GERQ-R). Direct cost of treatments was also calculated. Seventy-two infants completed the study. We found a significant reduction of I-GERQ-R scores over time (F = 55.387;
< 0.001) in all groups with no difference between the sequences of administration (F = 0.268;
= 0.848) in formula-fed infants and between exclusively breast-fed and formula-fed infants receiving magnesium alginate (t = 1.55;
= 0.126). The mean cost savings per infant was € 4.60 (±11.2) in formula-fed infants treated with magnesium alginate compared to thickened formula (t = 2.91,
< 0.0005). Conclusions were that the magnesium-alginate formulation reduces GER symptoms both in formula-fed and breast-fed infants. In formula-fed infants, clinical efficacy is similar to thickened formulas with a slightly lower cost of treatment.
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