The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Childhood Obesity and Lifestyle-A Report from Italy.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, especially in the first wave of pandemic (March 2020), sedentary lifestyle and calorie intake increase in children became considerably more prevalent. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate changes in children's weights and nutritional habits during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. In this cross-sectional observational study, for 3 years, as part of the corporate wellness program (2019-2021) in Emilia Romagna region of Italy, anthropometric data of Ferrari car company employers' children were collected, analyzed, and compared. Moreover, at the visit of November 2020, performed after the first wave of the pandemic with the most rigorous lockdown rules in Italy, a questionnaire on nutritional and lifestyle habits was administered. We evaluated 307 children (163 M, 10.1 ± 2.3 mean aged in 2019). A significant increase in BMI percentile in 2020 (65.2) compared to 2019 (49.2) was observed; it was confirmed, albeit slightly decreased, in 2021 (64.5). About one-third of participants reported an increase in consumption of fatty condiments and more than half report an increase in consumption of junk food. Levels of physical activity were still high during the COVID-19 lockdown, while sleeping time was significantly reduced. Our findings alert us to the importance of carefully monitoring eating behaviors in young to avoid the adoption of unhealthy food habits and prevent childhood obesity, especially during the period of COVID-19 lockdown.

Energy Drinks and atrial fibrillation in young adults.

The present paper evaluates the association between Energy Drinks (EDs) and occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in young people. Data from three clinical cases of AF after EDs consumption are reported. All patients presented with palpitations, nausea and anxiety. ECG showed AF with high ventricular response (135-170 bpm range frequency). Anamnestic record reported a high consumption of EDs during the previous 8 h from the onset of AF. In one case ED was associated with a moderate quantity of alcohol. Patients were successfully cardioverted both spontaneously and after pharmacological treatment. After cardioversion: the ECG and echocardiogram appeared normal in all patients; the toxicological tests and the laboratory analyses resulted negative. Our experience suggests that larger consumption of EDs, especially when combined with alcoholic beverages, could act as a trigger in the development of AF in young patients. This action may be caused by the synergic effect of caffeine and other substances present in EDs. Following the increasing consumption of EDs in young people, we suggest a careful attention to cardiac complications.

Does stem cell therapy induce myocardial neoangiogenesis? Histological evaluation in an ischemia/reperfusion animal model.

BACKGROUND: In an experimental model in the rabbit, a myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury was obtained. Subsequently, the effects of homologous bone marrow stem cell (BMSC) administration were studied. METHODS: In 21 New Zealand adult rabbits, ischemia/reperfusion damage was induced by temporary occlusion of the anterior descending coronary artery. Homologous BMSCs were isolated, cultured and re-suspended for injection at the level of the ischemic zone. We evaluated the proangiogenetic effect of intramyocardial injections of BMSC at the peri-infarcted area. Histological evaluations were made after 20 days from the surgical procedure. RESULTS: In rabbits treated with intramyocardial BMSC administration, we demonstrated histologically capillary neoangiogenesis, without signs of tissue immunological reaction or of generation of new myocardial cells. On the contrary, only minimal neovascular supply was detected in rabbits treated with intravenous administration of BMSC. Only typical signs of ischemic myocardium injury were observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that the effect of direct BMSC administration in ischemic myocardium could promote a capillary neoangiogenesis, which helps to prevent ischemic myocardial damage.

A comparative analysis between laparoscopy and open colectomy: assessment of perioperative and oncological outcomes.

AIM: Aim of the study was to compare two groups of patients affected by colorectal adenocarcinoma that underwent to open colectomy and laparoscopic colectomy respectively, highlighting the advantage and problems. MATERIAL OF STUDY: This is a retrospective analysis. Between January 2003 and December 2006, 54 patients who underwent colectomy were recruited. Of these, 26 patients underwent open colectomy, and 28 laparoscopy. RESULTS: For open colectomy the average duration of surgery was 177.9 minutes (surgical time) and 280.4 minutes (time of operating room) with a minimum of 110 and a maximum of 360 minutes, with significant differences according to type of surgery performed and the patient's clinical history. For laparoscopy the average duration was 293 minutes, (range 135 - 520), with significant differences depending on the portion of the intestinal tract removed. DISCUSSION: The comparison of two different surgical techniques, laparoscopic and open colectomy revealed some differences. The duration of the resection was greater for laparoscopy when compared to the traditional technique. CONCLUSIONS: Both approaches are technically feasible, safe and oncologically correct. Laparoscopic technique shows a much more favorable outcome in terms of pain, absence of extensive scarring, the incidence of incisional hernias and hospital stay -surgery compared with surgery laparotomy.

Surgical approach to intramyocardial administration of bone marrow stem cells in an animal model.

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical approach to intramyocardial (i.m.) injection of Bone Marrow Stem Cells (BMSCs) in a pre-clinical model and its complications. MATERIAL OF STUDY: In New Zealand rabbits an ischemia reperfusion injury lasting 20 min was induced by temporary ligation of anterior descending coronary artery during cardiac surgical procedure. Homologous BMSCs were isolated from the posterior iliac crest, cultured and re-suspended for injection. BMSC were injected at the peri-infarcted area and side effects were evaluated. A control group with myocardial infarction was treated with i.m. injections of saline, to evaluate possible side effects of injection. Comparison of ventricular premature contractions (VPC), ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation were recorded during surgery and after 7 and 21 days. RESULTS: Seven rabbits developed intractable ventricular fibrillation during the experimental protocol, three during coronary ligation but before cell injections and four following i.m. injections. At day 7, hourly PVC were more frequent in the groups of animals that received i.m. injections of BMSCs (132 ± 19 beats) compared to saline injections. (54 ± 14). CONCLUSIONS: Intramyocardial injections of BMSCs induced an electrical instability as shown by a high number of PVC as compared with intramyocardial injections of saline.

[The usefulness of Moynihan questionnaire in the evaluation of knowledge on healthy diet of patients undergoing cardiology rehabilitation]. / L'utilizzo del Questionario di Moynihan per la valutazione delle conoscenze alimentari nei pazienti sottoposti a riabilitazione dopo intervento cardiochirurgico.

BACKGROUND: The aim of study was to test the usefulness of Moynihan questionnaire in the evaluation of knowledge on healthy diet of patients undergoing cardiology rehabilitation. METHODS: We enrolled 51 patients (pts): 41 men and 10 women, mean age 67.97 +/-11.2 years. The case study included: 21 pts that underwent coronary bypass surgery, 16 pts replaced plastic tube, 14 pts had surgery for the other reasons. All pts underwent nutritional investigation by a dietitian. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were detected and, by the end, the Moynihan questionnaire was administrated. Pts underwent nutritional coaching, and questionnaire and dietary assessment were rechecked after 3 months. RESULTS: At baseline, the mean Questionnaire score was 22.4 +/- 3.2 points, decreased to 20.6 +/-3.1 points after 3 months (p<0.05). A detailed analysis of the questions showed that the major informations gaps were related to consumption of fruits and vegetables, consumption of fat and salt. In addition pts have acquired more general knowledge about food composition. CONCLUSIONS: The Moynihan questionnaire is an useful instrument of evaluation of dietary knowledge even in selected patients population. In the present study involving patients after cardiac surgery the main difficulties were related to high age of pts, the low cultural level and, mainly, to the post-surgery stress. However, an increase of correct answers as well as an increased knowledge about food composition were detected after educational intervention performed by the dietitian.

Atrial Remodeling in Pregnant Hypertensive Women: Comparison between Chronic and Gestational Hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: Left atrial (LA) enlargement is a common finding in hypertensive patients (pts), however little information is available on LA changes during pregnancy. The present study evaluated LA size and function in pregnant women with hypertension. METHODS: Patients population included 30 women with chronic hypertension and 30 patients with gestational hypertension. A control group of 16 normotensive pregnant women was selected. Serial echocardiography was performed at 12 and 24 week of gestation in chronic hypertension and at 24 week in gestational hypertension and after delivery. LA diameters and volumes were measured and compared. LA conduit volume, passive and active emptying volumes were calculated. Patients were divided in 2 groups according to max LAV Index > 32 ml/m(2) at 24 week of gestation. RESULTS: Patients with chronic hypertension showed higher LA diameters (42 ± 2.0 vs. 36.5 ± 1.8; p<0.001) and LA volumes (maximal volume 45.5 ± 4.0 vs. 38.1 ± 7.3; p<0.001) compared with patients with gestational hypertension. The median value of max LAVI was 32 + 6.2 ml/m(2) in chronic and 26 + 5 ml/m(2) in gestational hypertension (p<0.01). During follow-up patients with max LAVI > 32 ml/m(2) had more clinical complications evaluated as increase of therapy, fluid retention that need diuretic and hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Patients with chronic hypertension showed a more marked increased of LA volumes compared to gestational hypertension due to a remodeling of atrial shape as effect of chronic overload. Patients with more dilated LA volumes developed a greater number of clinical complications suggesting that a dilated LA could be a parameter of hemodynamic instability.

Anxiolytic-like effect of neuropeptide S in the rat defensive burying.

Neuropeptide S (NPS) has been recently identified as the endogenous ligand of a previously orphan G-protein-coupled receptor now named NPSR. Both NPS and its receptor are expressed in the brain, where they modulate different functions. In particular, it has been demonstrated that intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of NPS in rodents increases wakefulness and promotes anxiolytic-like effects. In the present study we used the defensive burying (DB) test in rats to further investigate the action of human NPS (0.1-10 nmol, i.c.v.) on anxiety-related behaviors. Diazepam (1.5mg/kg, i.p.) and caffeine (20mg/kg, i.p.) were used in parallel experiments as standard anxiolytic and anxiogenic drugs, respectively. None of the tested drugs produced statistical differences in the latency to contact the probe, burying behavior latency, number of shocks received or immobility/freezing duration. Caffeine increased cumulative burying behavior and the buried bedding height in a statistically significant manner thus promoting anxiogenic like effects. Opposite results were obtained with diazepam that significantly reduced these behavioral parameters. The anxiolytic-like action of diazepam was mimicked by NPS that reduced cumulative burying behavior in a dose dependent manner. Collectively, robust anxiolytic-like effects were recorded in response to NPS in the DB test. These results are of particular interest since the outcome of this assay is marginally influenced by drug effects on locomotor activity. In conclusion, we provide further evidence that NPS evokes genuine anxiolytic-like effects in the rat; therefore NPSR selective agonists are worthy of development as innovative drugs for the treatment of anxiety disorders.