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1.
Epilepsy Behav Rep ; 24: 100634, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38076278

ABSTRACT

Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are conditions in which a mutated gene may cause abnormal functioning of the central nervous system, resulting in both encephalopathy and epileptogenesis. We present a case of a girl with a DEE characterized by a Rett-like phenotype in association with febrile and afebrile clusters of focal seizures. The girl presented typical development until the age of 18 months, followed by regression. The first febrile bilateral tonic-clonic seizure was observed at 30 months of age, and the following month seizures recurred in clusters of several episodes per day every 10 days. These seizures were characterized by behavioural arrest, emotional symptoms, head turning, and followed by bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. The administration of valproic acid and levetiracetam led to prolonged seizure control. However, from the age of 7 years, she had monthly recurrent clusters of focal seizures and non-convulsive status epilepticus which occurred at different ages. Brain and spinal cord MRI showed mild non-progressive hemispheric cerebellar atrophy. A next generation sequencing panel for epilepsy identified the de novo splicing mutation c.2973+1G>A of the SMC1A gene.

2.
Food Chem ; 417: 135876, 2023 Aug 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36906945

ABSTRACT

Herein, we demonstrated that bentonites can be incisively used to reduce wine BAs content, especially putrescine molecules. Pioneering kinetic and thermodynamic studies of putrescine adsorption onto two commercially available bentonites (optimal concentration of 0.40 g dm-3) were performed resulting in ca. 60% removal by physisorption mechanism. Both bentonites showed also promising results in more complex systems, resulting in a lower putrescine adsorption due to the competition with other molecules (as proteins, polyphenols), typically present in wines. Nonetheless, we managed to reduce the putrescine content below 10 ppm both in red and white wines.


Subject(s)
Biogenic Amines , Wine , Biogenic Amines/analysis , Putrescine/analysis , Wine/analysis , Bentonite , Polyphenols
3.
Aging Clin Exp Res ; 34(2): 349-357, 2022 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34417734

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Delirium and sarcopenia are common, although underdiagnosed, geriatric syndromes. Several pathological mechanisms can link delirium and low skeletal muscle mass, but few studies have investigated their association. We aimed to investigate (1) the association between delirium and low skeletal muscle mass and (2) the possible role of calf circumference mass in finding cases with delirium. METHODS: The analyses were conducted employing the cross-sectional "Delirium Day" initiative, on patient 65 years and older admitted to acute hospital medical wards, emergency departments, rehabilitation wards, nursing homes and hospices in Italy in 2017. Delirium was diagnosed as a 4 + score at the 4-AT scale. Low skeletal muscle mass was operationally defined as calf circumference ≤ 34 cm in males and ≤ 33 cm in females. Logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between low skeletal muscle mass and delirium. The discriminative ability of calf circumference was evaluated using non-parametric ROC analyses. RESULTS: A sample of 1675 patients was analyzed. In total, 73.6% of participants had low skeletal muscle mass and 24.1% exhibited delirium. Low skeletal muscle mass and delirium showed an independent association (OR: 1.50; 95% CI 1.09-2.08). In the subsample of patients without a diagnosis of dementia, the inclusion of calf circumference in a model based on age and sex significantly improved its discriminative accuracy [area under the curve (AUC) 0.69 vs 0.57, p < 0.001]. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Low muscle mass is independently associated with delirium. In patients without a previous diagnosis of dementia, calf circumference may help to better identify those who develop delirium.


Subject(s)
Delirium , Sarcopenia , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delirium/diagnosis , Delirium/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Italy/epidemiology , Male , Muscle, Skeletal , Sarcopenia/diagnosis , Sarcopenia/epidemiology
4.
J Affect Disord ; 257: 470-476, 2019 10 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31310909

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth does not only affect infants but also represents an unexpected and traumatic event for parents. There are few reports on parenting stress during early infancy comparing preterm and term mothers, with the results being somewhat inconsistent. METHODS: As part of a longitudinal study, preterm mother-infant and term mother-infant dyads were enrolled. Dyads were assessed twice: during hospitalisation in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and at 3 months of infant age (corrected age for preterm). Each mother completed a self-report set of psychological questionnaire in both time points. All the children underwent a neurological examination at 40 weeks post conceptional age and at 3 months (corrected age for preterm). RESULTS: 20 preterm and 20 term dyads were included. NICU mothers reported elevated postnatal depressive symptoms and high stress level, even if the preterm infants were with low perinatal risk and normal neurological examination. Comparing preterm infant with low perinatal risk and normal neurological examination with term-born children at 3 months, we found higher parental stress in term mothers than in preterm mothers. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by a relatively small sample size; findings are preliminary and warrant further investigation in larger-scale study. CONCLUSIONS: Findings confirm that becoming a mother of a preterm infant is an event associated with emotional distress. These symptoms may resolve with time, and sometimes are independent of the infant's clinical severity. Assessing parental sources of stress and subsequent follow-up is essential to promote parental support, both for preterm and term mothers.


Subject(s)
Depression/psychology , Infant, Premature , Mothers/psychology , Psychological Distress , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Adult , Child , Emotions , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Pilot Projects , Pregnancy , Surveys and Questionnaires
5.
Osteoporos Int ; 28(4): 1385-1392, 2017 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28012019

ABSTRACT

Bone status impairment represents a complication of generalized forms of epidermolysis bullosa (EB); however, the prevalence and the main determinants of this event in localized forms remain poorly defined. Birmingham epidermolysis bullosa severity (BEBS) score and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are strongly associated with low bone mass, suggesting that vitamin D may play a potential beneficial role in bone health. Further longitudinal studies are needed in order to confirm this hypothesis. INTRODUCTION: Bone status impairment represents a complication of generalized forms of EB; thus, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of low bone mass, to examine mineralization differences in various EB subtypes and to identify the most important determinants of bone impairment in children with either generalized or localized EB. METHODS: An observational study of 20 children (11 males; mean age ± standard deviation, 11.7 ± 3.9 years) with EB was performed. Clinical history, physical examination, laboratory studies, X-ray of the left hand and wrist for bone age, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scans of the lumbar spine were obtained. Areal bone mineral density (aBMD Z-scores) and bone mineral apparent density were related to the BEBS score. RESULTS: Areal BMD Z-score (mean -1.82 ± 2.33, range, -7.6-1.7) was reduced (<-2 SD) in 8 patients (40%), whereas aBMD Z-score adjusted for bone age was low in 7 patients (35%). BEBS score and 25-hydroxyvitamin D serum levels were the most important elements associated with aBMD (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.016, respectively). A significant correlation between the aBMD Z-score and area of skin damage, insulin-like growth factor-1, C-reactive protein, and sodium serum levels was also found. CONCLUSIONS: Low aBMD can be considered a systemic complication of EB, primarily associated with BEBS score and 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. Therefore, longitudinal evaluation of bone status is ongoing in these patients to define whether vitamin D supplementation would prevent, or at least reduce, bone status impairment.


Subject(s)
Epidermolysis Bullosa/complications , Osteoporosis/etiology , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Absorptiometry, Photon , Adolescent , Bone Density/physiology , Child , Epidermolysis Bullosa/blood , Epidermolysis Bullosa/pathology , Epidermolysis Bullosa/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Immobilization , Lumbar Vertebrae/physiopathology , Male , Osteoporosis/blood , Osteoporosis/physiopathology , Severity of Illness Index , Skin/pathology , Vitamin D/blood
6.
Life Sci ; 64(26): 2479-87, 1999.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-10403507

ABSTRACT

Purine and pyridine metabolism were studied in ten Lesch-Nyhan patients, with virtually no hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) activity in erythrocytes. Increased NAD erythrocyte concentrations were found in all patients. Raised activities of two enzymes catalysing NAD synthesis from nicotinic acid (nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase: NAPRT, and NAD synthetase: NADs) was found in erythrocyte lysates from all patients. The two enzymes had normal apparent Km for their substrates and increased Vmax. The rate of synthesis of pyridine nucleotides from nicotinic acid by intact erythrocytes in vitro was also increased in most patients. These findings suggest that raised NAD concentrations in HPRT- erythrocytes are due to enhanced synthesis as a result of increased enzyme activities.


Subject(s)
Erythrocytes/enzymology , Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase/deficiency , Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome/blood , NAD/biosynthesis , Pyridines/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Amide Synthases/blood , Child , Child, Preschool , Erythrocytes/metabolism , Female , Humans , Infant , Kinetics , Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome/enzymology , Male , Middle Aged , NAD/blood , Nicotinic Acids/blood , Pentosyltransferases/blood , Purine Nucleotides/blood , Purines/blood , Pyrimidine Nucleotides/blood , Tryptophan/blood
7.
Mol Cell Endocrinol ; 141(1-2): 13-20, 1998 Jun 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-9723880

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the levels and the enzymatic characteristics of 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (11beta-HSD) of chorionic villi isolated from first trimester human placenta. The results demonstrated a predominant expression of the NAD-dependent dehydrogenase isoform (11beta-HSD2) over the NADP-dependent oxoreductase (11beta-HSD1). Thus, in tissue homogenates exogenous NAD increased the conversion of corticosterone to 11-dehydrocorticosterone of about 14-fold while NADP was ineffective. There was no conversion of 11-dehydrocorticosterone to corticosterone either with NADH or NADPH demonstrating the lack of reductase activity. In keeping with these results, RT-PCR analysis indicated a mRNA for 11beta-HSD2 in villous tissue while 11beta-HSD1 mRNA levels were undetectable. In addition, immunohistochemical staining localized the 11beta-HSD2 protein to syncytiotrophoblasts and cell columns of the chorionic villi. These results suggest roles for the trophoblast-associated 11beta-HSD2 oxidative activity in modulating the exposure of the embryo to active glucocorticoids in the early gestation and in regulating trophoblasts invasion of the uterine wall.


Subject(s)
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/genetics , Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/metabolism , Trophoblasts/enzymology , 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases , Blotting, Western , Chorionic Villi/enzymology , Corticosterone/metabolism , Female , Humans , Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases/analysis , Immunohistochemistry , Isoenzymes/analysis , Isoenzymes/genetics , Isoenzymes/metabolism , NAD/metabolism , NADP/metabolism , Organ Specificity , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimester, First , RNA, Messenger/analysis , RNA, Messenger/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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