Assessment of vascular and endothelial dysfunction in nutritional studies.

Vascular and endothelial dysfunction (VED) is emerging as a potential set of early markers of cardiovascular disease risk and tests for its measurement have been widely used in clinical research. The aim of this viewpoint is to describe and discuss the current usage of these measures in well-designed nutritional trials, using the potential relationship between fruit juice intake and VED as example. A search was conducted using the NHS evidence portal including studies published in English between January 1980 and October 2013. Only 10 suitable studies were selected, which investigated the effect of fruit juice intake on VED, among which 4 interventions used flow-mediated dilatation, 2 arterial stiffness, 2 a combination of arterial stiffness and flow-mediated dilatation, 2 carotid intimal media thickness and 1 iontophoresis with laser Doppler. Despite minimal effects reported on classical CVD markers, such as lipids, 8 out of the 10 identified studies reported an effect on endothelial function following juice consumption, indicating that VED tests can be effectively used in human dietary interventions to identify relationships between bioactive compounds from fruit and CVD risk. However, paucity of available data, scarcity of compound bioavailability and metabolism information, strong heterogeneity among experimental methodologies and a number of limitations to study designs, still limit the interpretation of the results obtained through these measures. Future, well-designed studies with greater attention to consider use of VED measures are needed to strengthen the utility of VED tests in nutrition research such as those investigating the impact of polyphenol-rich juices and CVD risk.

Tuberculous meningoencephalitis in a patient with hairy cell leukemia in complete remission.

Tuberculous meningoencephalitis is a rare disease associated with high morbidity and mortality. We report a patient with hairy cell leukemia in complete remission who, after a single cycle of chemotherapy with cladribine, presented fever and neurological deficits. Laboratory diagnosis of tuberculous meningoencephalitis was made by polymerase chain reaction testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis in cerebrospinal fluid. Despite the prompt institution of antitubercular-therapy, patient's general condition did not improve and he died. Mycobacterial infection should be considered in patients with intra-cranial lesions, affected by hematological malignancies and persistent immunosuppression.

Modulation of plasma non enzimatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC) by plant foods: the role of polyphenols.

A large body of evidence has described the antioxidant properties of phytochemicals such as PolyPhenols (PP) in different in vitro and ex vivo models. PP have been shown to scavenge oxygen and nitrogen derived free radicals, modulating antioxidant enzymes and cellular redox transcription factors. Dietary intervention studies have shown that consumption of plant foods modulate plasma Non Enzymatic Antioxidant Capacity (NEAC), biomarker of endogenous antioxidant network, in human subjects. However the identification of the molecules responsible for this effect is far to be obtained and evidences of an antioxidant in vivo action of PP are contrasting. There is a clear discrepancy between PP concentration in body fluids and the extent of increase of plasma NEAC. The low degree of absorption and the extensive metabolism of PP within the body have raised questions about their contribution to the in vivo antioxidant network. The available evidence from human intervention studies on the role of plant foods as modulators of plasma/serum NEAC and the involvement of PP will be presented and critically discussed.

Distribution of trace elements in organs of six species of cetaceans from the Ligurian Sea (Mediterranean), and the relationship with stable carbon and nitrogen ratios.

Mercury (total and organic), cadmium, lead, copper, iron, manganese, selenium and zinc concentrations were measured in different organs of 6 different cetacean species stranded in an area of extraordinary ecological interest (Cetaceans' Sanctuary of the Mediterranean Sea) along the coast of the Ligurian Sea (North-West Mediterranean). Stable-isotopes ratios of carbon ((13)C/(12)C) and nitrogen ((15)N/(14)N) were also measured in the muscle. A significant relationship exists between (15)N/(14)N, mercury concentration and the trophic level. The distribution of essential and non-essential trace elements was studied on several organs, and a significant relationship between selenium and mercury, with a molar ratio close to 1, was found in the cetaceans' kidney, liver and spleen, regardless of their species. High selenium concentrations are generally associated with a low organic to total mercury ratio. While narrow ranges of concentrations were observed for essential elements in most organs, mercury and selenium concentrations are characterised by a wide range of variation. Bio-accumulation and bio-amplification processes in cetaceans can be better understood by comparing trace element concentrations with the stable-isotopes data.

Abstraction skillfulness in monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs.

The computerized version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) was administered to a sample of 96 subjects (Ss), constituted in equal parts by monozygotic twins (MZ), dizygotic twins (DZ), unique children and couples of "almost contemporary" brothers. The statistic tests (Analysis of principal components, ANOVA) underline, as far as the rapidity to define a category is concerned, a statistically significant difference between DZ and singletons, independently from the fact that the latter may be unique children. A significant difference emerged neither between MZ and singletons, nor between MZ and DZ.

Field dependence and characteristics of conceptualization in identical twins.

This study falls in the areas of both differential psychology and twin psychology. Using the EFT and the WCST (computerized version), we examined 11 MZFF pairs between 18 and 35 years of age. The aim was to establish the genetic and/or environmental determination of global-analytical cognitive style as well as some characteristics of conceptualization linked to field dependence. The research strategy consisted of introducing three other groups of the same size to control the weight of environmental factors different from those determined by subject selection. The results seem to support the hypothesis of genetic determination of field dependence of the MZFFs, probably linked to the XX chromosome combination. The "couple effect" and the attitude of parents and others toward two identical female subjects may contribute to full expression of the genome. The characteristics of conceptualization revealed by the WCST show that MZFFs persevere in errors typical of a global approach to experience.

Self-awareness in monozygotic twins: a relational study.

This study considers the replies to a 14-item questionnaire, by 27 monozygotic (MZ) and 38 dizygotic (DZ) pairs. Another sample consisting of 48 sets of parents of twins (24 of whom were MZ and 24 DZ, not necessarily corresponding to the couples of twins actually studied) was used, to answer a questionnaire directly related the one put to the twin pairs. The results of statistical tests performed (canonical correlation and Fisher's discriminant) indicate that only in MZ twins does self-awareness outweigh pair-awareness. This does not seem to be related to any difference between MZ and DZ twins in the education/upbringing received from their parents.

[The fetal alcohol syndrome. Description of 2 cases]. / La sindrome feto-alcoolica. Descrizione di due casi.

The Authors present two cases of fetal alcohol syndrome, in an infant 15 months old and in a child 10 years old. In both cases were present a growth deficiency, many dysmorphic features and a psycho-motor impairment. The Authors emphasize the importance of this disease and its present high frequency among the population.

[Reye's syndrome. Discussion of a clinical case]. / Sindrome di Reye. Discussione su di un caso clinico.

A case of Reye's syndrome in an unweaned child aged 5 1/2 months is reported. The boy presented ingravescent neurological symptomatology accompanied by sporadic gastrointestinal signs and by marked renal impairment, with total, or nearly total absence of pathognomonic laboratory data. The diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy.

[Maternal and neonatal factors determining bilirubinemia during the 1st four days of life]. / Fattori materni e neonatali nel determinismo della bilirubinemia nei primi quattro giorni di vita.

The influence of various maternal and neonatal factors on blood bilirubin is examined. An increase in neonatal values may be due to the relatively advanced age of the mother, whereas neonatal age, sex and weight, increase in maternal weight during pregnancy, and maternal body surface area would appear to be without influence.

[Value of the method of Cerasi and Luft in checking the progression of metabolic disorders in childhood]. / Validità della metodica di Cerasi e Luft nel controllo dell'evoluzione dei dismetabolismi nell'infanzia

The method of Cerasi & Luft was evaluated after 6 months and 1 yr of dietary management in 7 children with familial diabetes and/or very slight clinical and laboratory symptoms, and one obese girl. There was a marked reduction in the blood insulin area in the obese subject, whereas the remainder of the series displayed stationary pictures. It is felt that the method deserves emphasis on account of its constant evocation of a reproducible response and the possibilities of interpretation that it offers in the field of paediatrics.

[Comparative evaluation of the results obtained with the Cerasi and Luft method and the OGGT in children]. / Valutazione comparativa dei risultati ottenuti con la metodica di Cerasi e Luft e con l'OGTT nel bambino

Results obtained with Cerasi & Luft's method and OGTT in subjects with a historical, clinical and laboratory suspicion of dysmetabolism were compared. It was found that: 1) obese subjects showed increased blood sugar and insulinase areas by comparison with normal controls; 2) subjects of normal weight displayed: a) a mean increase in blood sugar areas by comparison with normal controls; b) less evident changes in blood insulin areas; in these subjects, it was also noted that, c) an early-phase secretion irregularity detected with Cerasi & Luft's method did not involve changes in the oral loading pattern displayed by subjects classed as normal by means of such method; d) in subjects classed as "chemical diabetics" by OGTT, the response to glucagon after venous loading was defective. In border-line cases, early-phase changes were observed in the venous curve after oral glucose, whereas the response to glucagone remained efficient. It is felt that OGTT is an effective means in the diagnosis of infantile dysmetabolism. Attention is also drawn to the possibilities offered by the method of Cerasi & Luft in the detailed and specific appraisal of insulin secretion.