Prevention of Eating Disorders (EDs): longitudinal study in preadolescent girls

Minerali Macro

Antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities of hydroxytyrosol derivates on human promyelocytic leukemia cell lines.

Antioxidant effectiveness of sicilian red wines in comparison with french red wines.

Effect of uric acid on plasma antioxidant capacity after red wine consumption in human

PREVENTION OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS:DIETARY HABITIS AND NUTRITIONAL EDUCATION IN SCHOOLCHILDREN

Flavonoids as bioactive components of food: Influence of the 7–o–glycosilation on antioxidant activity of flavanones

Modulating activity of dietary flavonols and flavan-3ols on the enzymes xanthina oxidase (XO) and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD)

Adipokines in obesity and metabolic diseases

Adipose tissue secretes many adipokines that regulate important physiological functions. Growing studies have highlighted that these bioactive molecules may contribute to the development of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Adipokines exert systemic metabolic effects and independent activity on numerous cells of the cardiovascular system, including cardiomyocytes and vascular cell walls. Adiponectin shows anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic activity on blood vessels. Conversely, resistin is endowed with pro-inflammatory effects and stimulates the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, thus promoting the development of atherosclerotic plaque. Leptin plays an important role in card…

CBS and MTRR mutations, observed in Sicily, in thromboembolic and hyperhomocystemic patients, unresponsive to administration of folate and vitamin B12

"Prevalence of owerweight and obesity in children form some school of Palermo"

Study on the polyphenolic contents in oils from olea europea (var. nocellara del Belice, Sicily) plants: comparison between traditional and organic cultivation

Knowledge, attitudes and self-reported practices of food service staff in nursing homes and long-term care facilities

The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of food service staff in nursing homes and long-term care facilities for the elderly in Sicily, Italy. Association with some demographic and work-related variables was also investigated. This survey provides information and outlines many complex questions concerning the basics of food hygiene. Education level, length of service in the employment and attending courses on food hygiene influenced the knowledge, attitudes and practices of food service staff. This study has evidenced the need for continuous training among food service staff regarding food safety in LTCF and nursing homes.

Acidi grassi e composti antiossidanti degli oli extravergine D. O. P. Siciliani e la prevenzione delle patologie cardiovascolari

Antioxidant capacity and total phenolics of Sicilian wines from different varieties and vintage year

"Prevention of eating disorders(eds) in preadolescent girls form some schools of Palermo: self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness"

Different Behaviour of Plasma Antioxidant Status after Red Wine Consumption in Subjects of the Same Sex: A Preliminary Report

<p>Several studies report that the plasma antioxidant capacity (PAC) increases after a single ingestion of red wine. However, data on the different behaviour of PAC after food intake in subjects of the same sex are still lacking. On the basis of these observations some investigations were undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of red wine intake on PAC in a homogeneous groups of healthy female volunteers (n=18). Additionally, the possible correlation between increase of PAC values and increase in uric acid levels was also assessed. PAC and uric acid concentrations were determined before wine intake and 50, 120 and 240 minutes thereafter. The results obtained following these studi…

Variation of the Body Mass Index and the body composition in overweight and obese children submitted to nutritional counselling

The nutritional properties of sicilian red wines as determined by the analysis of their polyphenolic composition and antioxidant capacity

A protocol to evaluate the antioxidant capacity by crocin bleaching assay in Pleurotus edible mushrooms

Unpublished data on the chemical composition and nutritional value of Pleurotus mushrooms, growing on Umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae), are here reported. Cultivated basidiomata of four different Pleurotus taxa were analyzed in order to evaluate the composition in lipids, sugars, nitrogen, water, vitamins, ashes, and energetic values. The results showed that Pleurotus mushrooms are suitable in every type of diet thanks to their low caloric content, gastronomic value, vitamins, and mineral salt contents. The presence of a high content of vitamin B12 and riboflavin in Pleurotus nebrodensis is noteworthy.

Correlation between substance “P” and enzymatic activity of lysosomal Cathepsin A in rat peritoneal mast-cells, in physiologic conditions

Food safety in hospitals and in nursing homes for the elderly: knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses and domestic staff

Prevalence of overweight ad obesity in children from some schools of Palermo

Preliminary observation on antioxidant capacity in Pleurotus eryngii species-complex

Relationship between diet in the first year of life, social factors and body weight in preadolescent schoolchildren in Palermo

A review of the literature and a new classification of the early determinants of childhood obesity: from pregnancy to the first years of life

Abstract From as early on as the development of the fetus, the risk of obesity can be evaluated. At the beginning of life, nutritional intake in man is controlled by innate biological systems and internal signals; and later on, the learning processes determine cognitive structures about food and nutrition, strongly influencing eating habits. It is important to identify all the factors that have an influence on childhood obesity and intervene with prevention programs. In this review, the databases “Pubmed" and “The Cochrane Library" were consulted to provide a review of recent literature (1982-2007) concerning childhood obesity. A particular importance is given to the influence exerted by th…

Stilbenes in red wine and their effects on antioxidant capacity.

Histamine release: a proof of physiologic inhibition mechanism of inflammatory function of Substance P, caused by Cathepsin A

Leptin and leptin receptor expression in asthma.

Background The adipokine leptin is a potential new mediator for bronchial epithelial homeostasis. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway remodeling that might affect disease chronicity and severity. TGF-β is a tissue growth factor the dysregulation of which is associated with airway remodeling. Objective We sought to determine whether a bronchial epithelial dysfunction of the leptin/leptin receptor pathway contributes to asthma pathogenesis and severity. Methods We investigated in vitro the presence of leptin/leptin receptor on human bronchial epithelial cells. Then we studied the effect of TGF-β and fluticasone propionate on leptin receptor expression. Finally, th…

Molecular identification of yeasts from Sicilian red wine

Comparison between mediterranean extra–virgin olive oils

Molecular identification of yeast from Sicilian red wine.

Nutritional counselling in overweight and obese children of some schools from Palermo.

Study on the plasma antioxidant capacity after red wine intake: different behaviour of women and men.

Extra-virgin olive oils of the Mediterranean basin: Nocellara del Belice, (Sicily) and Koroneiki (Crete)

Nutritional properties of red wine: composition of anthocyanins and flavan-3-ols of different Sicilian varieties

"Prevention of atherosclerosis: dietary habits and nutritional education in schoolchildren."

Prevention of atherosclerosis: dietary habitus and nutritional education in schoolchildren

Hyperhomocysteinemia in thromboembolic disease: role of mthfr,cbs and mtrr mutations in Sicily

The control of abstinence in the treatment of alcohol dependence: the use of acamprosate in relapse prevention

"The alcoholism can also deal with drug treatments." This is the message that emerges from the press conference of presentation of Campral, trade name of acamprosate, a neuromodulator specifically indicated in the maintenance of abstinence in alcohol-dependent patients.Alcoholism is a disease characterized by: craving, loss of control, tolerance and physical dependence.For many years the prevention of relapse in use of alcohol after detoxification was supported almost exclusively by psychosocial procedures and techniques with modest success. Treatment with acamprosate is a valid tool to complement psychotherapy as it does not cause addiction, abuse or withdrawal of its suspension and does n…

Dietary habits and food consumptions

Antioxidant capacity of plasma after red wine intake in Human volunteers

Schoolchildren obesity, food consumptions, socio–cultural level and nutritional education in Sicily during the last 15 years

Study of the physiological effects of Quercetin and Kaempferol (alone or mixed) on the MnSOD enzyme

Extra virgin olive oil, Nutritional quality related to Jaen index

Dietary calcium intake and evaluation of some influencing factors, in preadolescent schoolchildren from Palermo, for the prevention of osteoporosis

Evaluation of the factors of family risk and style of food life in obese and overweight children

Wild-type Saccharomyces characterization in spontaneous fermentation of red bulgarian wine

Il progetto Mentori per la Didattica dell’Università degli Studi di Palermo: l’estensione del numero dei partecipanti, la figura del Mentore Senior e le esperienze di innovazione didattica

L’esperienza del Progetto Mentore (PM) nasce nel 2013 dalla percezione, da parte di diversi docenti dell’Ateneo di Palermo, che l’Accademia italiana stesse abbandonando a sé stessa la funzione didattica, confidando di fatto nelle capacità di ognuno di organizzarsi, aggiornarsi e valutarsi (Felisatti, Scialdone, Cannarozzo, & Pennisi, 2019; Caradonna, Morale, Pace, Scargiali, Scialdone, & Auteri, 2020). Tale impressione era tra le altre cose basata sul fatto che nessuno dei sistemi di valutazione dei docenti universitari (il processo di abilitazione scientifica nazionale, ma anche la stessa valutazione della qualità dei corsi di studio) mettesse enfasi sulla necessità da parte del do…

3,5-DIIODO-L-THYRONINE-INDUCED MODIFICATION IN PITUITARY-THYROID AXIS IN RATS FED HIGH-FAT DIET. A PRELIMINARY REPORT

Experimental observations highlight that the administration of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) may decrease the body weight and the plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and may prevent the onset of hepatic steatosis in rats fed diets rich in lipids (HFD). On the basis of these findings we have carried out some in vivo studies to evaluate the effects of increased levels of T2 on pituitary thyroid axis function in HFD rats. Fifteeen Wistar male rats were divided in 3 groups. The first group (N) was fed with a standard diet. The second group (G) was fed with a diet high in fat (HDF), while the third group (GT2) was additionally administered intraperitoneally with T2 (70 ug/100g body weig…

Trends in childhood obesity, food habits, life styles and knowledge over three years: results from a longitudinal study

Alterated expression of leptin and its receptor in the epithelium of asthmatic patients

Influence of flavonoids on the transmembrane electron transport:study ex-vivo

The oxidative stress results from a change in the physiological balancebetween oxidant and antioxidant species. This condition induces an chemical change in the redox state of cells.. The function of t-PMET is to cooperate with intracellular redox pairs, like piruvate and lactate, to maintain thecytoplasmatic NAD+/NADH balance. The t-PMET is correlated with the modulation of internal pH and redox homeostasis, as it is able to activate proton release. Thus, t-PMET causes external and internal pH modification, as well as development of an inside negative membrane potential. The aim of this work was evaluate the erythrocytes redox status in a group of health volunteers and then to study whethe…

La termoregolazione corporea

Flavonols and flavan-3-ols as modulators of xanthine oxidase and manganese superoxide dismutase activity.

Experiments were performed to assess the dose-dependent effects of quercetin, kaempferol, (+) catechin, and (-) epicatechin on superoxide radical production through the modulation of manganese superoxide dismutase and xanthine oxidase activities. The experiments were carried out at flavanoid concentrations ranging from 1 µM to 100 µM. This investigation highlighted that flavonols induced opposite effects on superoxide radical production at different doses, i.e. pro-oxidant at the highest concentration (100 µM) and anti-oxidant at the lowest concentration (1 µM). Similar behaviors were observed for xanthine oxidase with flavan-3ols. The diastereoisomer (the catechin) acted as a stronger radi…

The phenolic compound of olive oil and human health

The influence of two different pH levels on the antioxidant properties of flavonols, flavan-3-ols, phenolic acids and aldehyde compounds analysed in synthetic wine and in a phosphate buffer

Abstract The aim of this study is evaluate either the antioxidant or pro-oxidant behaviour of some typical polyphenolic compounds of red wine, to investigate the influence of two different pH levels on the antioxidant properties and to clarify their activity–structure relationship. The antioxidant activity of compounds in hydrophilic solutions at pH 3.5 and pH 7.4 were measured by a competition kinetic test, based on the crocin bleaching. The position and the number of substitution groups influence the magnitude of the antioxidant activity of the polyphenolic compounds, but their antioxidant properties are also strongly influenced by the pH conditions. Increasing the pH, a considerable incr…

Vitamin D in cancer chemoprevention

Context: There is increasing evidence that Vitamin D (Vit D) and its metabolites, besides their well-known calcium-related functions, may also exert antiproliferative, pro-differentiating, and immune modulatory effects on tumor cells in vitro and may also delay tumor growth in vivo. Objective: The aim of this review is to provide fresh insight into the most recent advances on the role of Vit D and its analogues as chemopreventive drugs in cancer therapy. Methods: A systematic review of experimental and clinical studies on Vit D and cancer was undertaken by using the major electronic health database including ISI Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar. Results and conclus…

DIETARY HABITS, LIFE STYLES, FOOD CONSUMPTION

Wild-type Saccharomyces characterisation in spontaneous fermentations of red Bulgarian wine

The Role of Vitamin K in Bone Remodeling and Osteoporosis

Vitamin K is an essential fat soluble vitamin involved in the regulation of normal coagulation. However, growing evidence highlights that this molecule appears to be also implicated in the regulation of other important biological functions such as bone mineralization, calcium homeostasis, apoptosis, cell growth and signal transduction. In particular, many studies have focused their attention on the protective effects of vitamin K on bone tissue in the outlook of its use in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. The objective of the present paper is to review data of the literature regarding the metabolic effects of Vitamin K in bone tissue and its clinical ro…

HOW CBT (COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY) CAN MODULATE NEGATIVE EMOTIONAL FACTORS AS ANXIETY OR DEPRESSION IN OBESE PATIENTS

Emotional factors have great influence on eating habits and increase the risk of obesity (1). Few studies demonstrate that patients affected by binge eating disorder felt negative emotions before overeatings; the main emotions reported were anxiety, then sadness and tiredness. Emotional eating is related to the stress (2,3), so when subjects feel anxiety and depression, is more probable that they use food as modulator of their emotions, in this way the weight develops fast with all risks of obesity. The obesity is often attended by a specific syndrome called metabolic syndrome; the main symptoms are insulin resistence, hyperinsulinemia, not-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia,…

Le secrezioni gastrointestinali

Effects of extra virgin olive oil phenols on HL60 cell lines sensitive and resistant to anthracyclines

Risk factors for eating disorders and correlation with the body mass index, in preadolescent girls from some schools of Palermo

Effects of an intervention of nutrition and health on weight status and physical activity of sicilian schoolchildren.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in children from some schools of Palermo

Polyphenols, tocopherols and fatty acids of extra virgin olive oils D.O.P. in Sicily

Antioxidant capacity as an index to charaterise wine nutraceutic properties: a study on Sicilian red wines

Total phenols, α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol and related antioxidant capacity in olive oil with different Jean index values

Polifenoli del vino come agenti protettivi contro l’aterogenesi: correlazione tra contenuto polifenolico e capacità antiossidante di vini siciliani

The antioxidant capacity of red wine in relationship with its polyphenolic constituents

The aim of this study is evaluate either the antioxidant or pro-oxidant behaviour of some typical polyphenolic compounds of red wine, to investigate the influence of two different pH levels on the antioxidant properties and to clarify their activity–structure relationship. The antioxidant activity of compounds in hydrophilic solutions at pH 3.5 and pH 7.4 were measured by a competition kinetic test, based on the crocin bleaching. The position and the number of substitution groups influence the magnitude of the antioxidant activity of the polyphenolic compounds, but their antioxidant properties are also strongly influenced by the pH conditions. Increasing the pH, a considerable increase in a…

RELAZIONE TRA ECCESSO DI PESO, ATTIVITÀ FISICA E PATOLOGIE CARDIOVASCOLARI IN GENITORI E FIGLI: INDAGINE NELLE SCUOLE DEL PALERMITANO

Nutraceutic properties of wine: influence of resveratrol and malvidin-3-O-glucoside sorption by Oak wood

ROLE OF 3,5-DIIODO-L-THYRONINE ON THE PITUITARY-THYROID AXIS

Dietary flavonols and flavan-3ols as modulators of superoxide radicals production: opposite dose-dependent effects

Preliminary study on food habitus and consumpitions in adult subjects attendine general medicine outpatientients

Genetic heterogeneity of familial hypercholesterolemia in Sicily

"Relazione fra stato ponderale e rischio cardiovascolare in soggetti obesi e in sovrappeso, in età scolare, previa analisi di composizione corporea"

Food safety in hospital: knowledge, attitudes and practices of nursing staff of two hospitals in Sicily, Italy.

Abstract Background Food hygiene in hospital poses peculiar problems, particularly given the presence of patients who could be more vulnerable than healthy subjects to microbiological and nutritional risks. Moreover, in nosocomial outbreaks of infectious intestinal disease, the mortality risk has been proved to be significantly higher than the community outbreaks and highest for foodborne outbreaks. On the other hand, the common involvement in the role of food handlers of nurses or domestic staff, not specifically trained about food hygiene and HACCP, may represent a further cause of concern. The purpose of this study was to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practices concerning food safet…

PLASMA ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY STATUS AFTER RED WINE CONSUMPTION

Several studies report that the plasma antioxidant capacity (PAC) increases after a single ingestion of red wine. However, data on the different behaviour of PAC after food intake in subjects of the same sex are still lacking. On the basis of these observations some investigations were undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of red wine intake on PAC in a homogeneous groups of healthy female volunteers (n=18). Additionally, the possible correlation between increase of PAC values and increase in uric acid levels was also assessed. PAC and uric acid concentrations were determined before wine intake and 50, 120 and 240 minutes thereafter. The results obtained following these studied highli…

Squalene, α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol concentration during ripening phase in olive oil pulp

CHEMICAL AND NUTRITIONAL PROPERTIES OF SICILIAN P.O.D. OLIVE OILS

Effects of extra-virgin olive oil enriched with E-vitamin and Q10-coenzyme on the heart rate variability and plasma antioxidant status in athletes

OBJECTIVES: To examine whether the assumption of extra virgin olive oil enriched with E-vitamin and Q10-coenzyme may improve the plasma anti-oxidant/pro-oxidant balance and be associated with favorable changes in heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS: Four male athletes, mean age 22 (range 21-24), were recruited. They assumed 20 ml per day of the integrator (20 mg Q10 and 15 mg Vit E) for one month. The plasma antioxidant capacity (AC) was evaluated by the crocin bleaching assay. The frequency-domain analysis of HRV was carried out using Cardioline Cube recorder and specific software to obtain, from an autoregressive power spectrum approach, the power in normalized units (nu) of the low-(LF…

Preadolescent obesity in schoolchildren from Palermo: analysis of some correlated factors

NUTRIZIONE E MICROFLORA BATTERICA INTESTINALE

Due diverse esperienze di lezioni sperimentali condotte secondo il metodo di co-teaching

Nell’ambito del progetto “Mentori per la didattica”, nato nel 2013 da un ristretto gruppo di docenti dell’Università di Palermo e che comprende oggi 120 docenti, oltre alle attività di mentoring fra pari, sono state promosse diverse attività formative. Fra queste, tre workshop in tre anni consecutivi sono stati dedicati alla formazione sull’active learning e su metodi e tecniche di didattica innovativa ed in particolare nell’ultimo anno è stata importante la partecipazione di alcuni componenti del progetto al congresso “Faculty development“ e al pre-workshop del convegno di Genova di maggio 2019. A partire da tutte queste esperienze, diversi docenti hanno iniziato a sperimentare nuove modal…

The phenolic compounds of olive oil: structure, biological activity and beneficial effects on human health

AbstractThe Mediterranean diet is rich in vegetables, cereals, fruit, fish, milk, wine and olive oil and has salutary biological functions. Epidemiological studies have shown a lower incidence of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases and certain kinds of cancer in the Mediterranean area. Olive oil is the main source of fat, and the Mediterranean diet's healthy effects can in particular be attributed not only to the high relationship between unsaturated and saturated fatty acids in olive oil but also to the antioxidant property of its phenolic compounds. The main phenolic compounds, hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, which give extra-virgin olive oil its bitter, pungent taste, have powerful a…

Cytotoxic effects of polyphenols from waste-water of extra virgin olive oil on human HL60 and K562 cell lines.

Antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities of hydroxytyrosol derivatives on human promyelocytic leukemia cell lines

Purpose Hydroxytyrosol (3,4-DHPEA) derivatives (disulfide, thioacetate and thiohydroxytyrosol) were synthesized in order to test in vitro if the combination of catechol moiety of 3,4-DHPEA and sulfur containing functions results in an improvement of the pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative activities shown by 3,4-DHPEA. The involvement of H2O2 production in the cell culture medium has been studied. Methods The effects of thiohydroxytyrosol derivatives and 3,4-DHPEA on cell proliferation, apotosis and cell cycle of HL60 and its MDR variant HL60R were assessed by the Trypan Blue exclusion test, by fluorescence microscopy or by flow cytometry respectively. H2O2 concentrations in the culture me…

Composition de vins rouges siciliens et leurs propriétés "nutraceutiques"

Chemical and nutritional properties of Sicilian P.O.D. extravirgin olive oils.

Analysis of total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content during ripeting of Sicilian red grapes

Alimentazione e tumori

The influence of hypocaloric diet, associated with moderate physical activity and CBT (cognitive behavioral theraphy), on self-esteem and self-efficacy and their modulator role on emotional eating.

Prevention of Eating Disorders (EDs) in preadolescents girls from some schools of Palermo: self-esteem, body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness.

The phenolic compounds of olive oil and human health

Additional file 1 of Food safety in hospital: knowledge, attitudes and practices of nursing staff of two hospitals in Sicily, Italy

Additional file 1: Questionnaire about food safety knowledge, attitudes and practices of nursing staff of two hospitals in Sicily, Italy. It included five sections: a) demographic characteristics, employment status and hospital/ward where the nurse worked; b) knowledge about food hygiene; c) attitudes towards prevention of foodborne diseases; d) measures to be used in prevention of foodborne diseases; e) sources of information about food hygiene. (DOC 33 KB)

Flavanones in Citrus fruit: structure-antioxidant activity relationships

Epidemiological surveys have shown an inverse relationship between the intake of fruit and the incidence of coronary heart disease and some type of cancer. Data found in the literature regarding the flavonoids in general while this study focuses on flavanones, a subclass of flavonoids which occurs in Citrus fruit. The aim of this work is to elucidate the antioxidant or pro-oxidant behaviours of some common flavanones and to determine their activity–structure relationships as antioxidant using the crocin bleaching inhibition assay. The compounds studied were regarding both the aglycon form and the glycoside form. Data evidence that the substitution of the 7th OH group of the flavanones by a …

Nutritional counselling in overweight and obese children of some school from Palermo

Influence of Oak wood contact on nutraceutical properties of a model wine

SICILIAN OLIVE OIL ANTIOXIDANT AND PREVENTION OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Additional file 2 of Food safety in hospital: knowledge, attitudes and practices of nursing staff of two hospitals in Sicily, Italy

Authors’ original file for figure 1

The effects of extra-virgin olive oil supplemented with Vit. E and Q10 on plasma antioxidant capacity and aerobic performance in athletes

Behaviour of different nutritional parameters, in extra virgin olive oil, during the ripening phase

capacity and total phenolics of sicilian wines from different varieties and vintage year

On the chemical composition and nutritional value of Pleurotus taxa growing on Umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae)

Unpublished data on the chemical composition and nutritional value of Pleurotus mushrooms, growing on Umbelliferous plants (Apiaceae), are here reported. Cultivated basidiomata of four different Pleurotus taxa were analyzed in order to evaluate the composition in lipids, sugars, nitrogen, water, vitamins, ashes, and energetic values. The results showed that Pleurotus mushrooms are suitable in every type of diet thanks to their low caloric content, gastronomic value, vitamins, and mineral salt contents. The presence of a high content of vitamin B(12) and riboflavin in Pleurotus nebrodensis is noteworthy.

Effect of extra virgin olive oli phenols on HL60 cell lines sensitive and resistant to anthracyclines

How cognitive behavioural therapy can modulate negative emotional factors as anxiety or depression in obese patients

ROLE OF THE NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND PEPTIDES INVOLVED IN FEEDING BEHAVIOUR CONTROL.

Citrus flavonoids: Molecular structure, biological activity and nutritional properties: A review

Abstract Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse relationship between dietary flavonoid intakes and cardiovascular diseases. Citrus fruits are the main winter fruits consumed in the Mediterranean diet, so they are the main source of dietary flavonoids. The possible beneficial effects are due, not only to the high amounts of vitamins and minerals, but also to the antioxidant properties of their flavonoids. Dietary flavonoids may help to supplement the body antioxidant defences against free radicals. These compounds’ possible beneficial effects are due to their antioxidant activity, which is related to the development of atherosclerosis and cancer, and to anti-inflammatory and antimicro…

Nutritional and psychological therapies in the treatment of obesity: preliminary findings

Follistatin as potential therapeutic target in prostate cancer

Follistatin is a single-chain glycosylated protein whose primary function consists in binding and neutralizing some members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily such as activin and bone morphogenic proteins. Emerging evidence indicates that this molecule may also play a role in the malignant progression of several human tumors including prostate cancer. In particular, recent findings suggest that, in this tumor, follistatin may also contribute to the formation of bone metastasis through multiple mechanisms, some of which are not related to its specific activin or bone morphogenic proteins' inhibitory activity. This review provides insight into the most recent advances in understa…

Effects of extra virgin olive oil phenols on HL60 cell lines sensitive and resistant to anthracyclines

The aim of our study was to evaluate the capability of a crude extract of phenols from extra virgin olive oil of Moraiolo cultivar to induce apoptosis and/or differentiation in sensitive and resistant HL60 cell lines to anticancer drugs (Typical Multidrug Resistance). Our data highlight that the crude extract is able to induce apoptosis on both sensitive and resistant cells, whereas the exposure to a number of anticancer drugs does not induce apoptosis in resistant cells. In differentiation experiments we investigated the capability of crude extract of phenols to induce the expression of CD11 granulocytic or CD14 monocytic cell surface antigen in sensitive and resistant HL60 cell lines. At …

"Dietary calcium intake and evaluation of some influencing factors, in preadolescent schoolchildren form Palermo, for the prevention of dsteoporosis"

Effects of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine on the liver of high fat diet fed rats

Experimental studies have highlighted that the administration of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) to rats fed diets rich in lipids induces a decrease of cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels and body weight (BW) without inducing liver steatosis. On the basis of these observations we carried out some experimental <em>in vivo</em> studies to assess the effects of multiple high doses of T2 on the pituitary thyroid axis of rats fed diet rich in lipids. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of five animals each. The first group (N group) received standard diet, the second group was fed with a high fat diet (HFD group), while the third group (HFDT2 group) was additi…

ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY IN EVER-SMOKERS AND NO-SMOKERS HEALTHY SUBJECTS: INFLUENCE OF FLAVONOIDS (QUERCETIN AND LUTEOLIN)

ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY IN EVER-SMOKERS AND NO-SMOKERS HEALTHY SUBJECTS: INFLUENCE OF FLAVONOIDS(QUERCETIN AND LUTEOLIN) Background. Oxygen free radicals are highly reactive species that can cause cell damage including lipid peroxidation, enzyme inactivation and DNA damage. Inactivation and removal of highly reactive species depend by the antioxidant defence systems. The catalase (CAT) belongs to the primary antioxidant defence system of the cell which catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide to water and molecular oxygen. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds with different chemical structure and properties. They are widely distributed in fruits, vegetables, nuts, …

Hospital catering and food safety: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour of the nursing staff in sicilian hospitals

Effects of phenolic compounds on metabolic syndrome: study on higth-fructose-fed rats.