Addressing Inflammaging and Disease-Related Malnutrition: Adequacy of Oral Nutritional Supplements in Clinical Care.

Background: Disease-related malnutrition, with or without inflammation, in older adults is currently emerging as a public health priority. The use of Foods for Special Medical Purposes, including Oral Nutritional Supplements, and supplements is crucial to support patients in achieving their nutritional needs. Therefore, this article aims to comprehensively provide an analysis of the adequacy of FSMPs in meeting the nutritional requirements of different age-related diseases and takes into account the emerging role of inflammation.

Rethinking food policy framework to tackle childhood obesity in the Italian context.

Pediatric obesity has been described by the World Health Organization as 1 of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. Projections of increasing burdens of pediatric obesity and its related diseases on society highlight the need for urgent and substantial action. Many scientific and public debates about the prevention of childhood obesity are centered around simple dichotomies presenting a single-level solution.

An Adapted Questionnaire Tailored for Assessing the Risk of Vitamin D Deficiency in Children That Is Proving Useful in Guiding Clinical Interventions.

Background: The identification of vitamin D (VitD) deficiency in pediatric populations is essential for preventive healthcare. We refined and tested the Evaluation of Deficiency Questionnaire (EVIDENCe-Q) for its utility in detecting VitD insufficiency among children.

Patients And Methods: We enrolled 201 pediatric patients (aged between 3 and 18 years).

Epicardial fat and insulin resistance in healthy older adults: a cross-sectional analysis.

Insulin resistance (IR) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are relevant concerns in the elderly population; as the world's population ages, IR and CVD are two universal public health problems. While a link between IR a CVD has been established, the mediating mechanisms are uncertain and rigorous investigations are needed to fully elucidate them. The study aimed at assessing the relationship between epicardial fat (EF), an indicator of cardiovascular risk, and IR in Italian free-living elderly (n = 89).

In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Hyaluronic Acid and an Aminoacidic Pool on Human Osteoblasts.

The treatment of bone injuries must be timely and effective to improve the chances of full recovery. In this respect, a mix of hyaluronic acid and an amino acidic pool has been marketed to promote soft tissue healing, fastening recovery times. Several studies have reported the in vitro and in vivo influence of hyaluronic acid and amino acids on fibroblasts and keratinocytes, highlighting the enhancement of cell proliferation, motility and cytokines synthesis.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Metabolic Risk in Children and Adolescents with Obesity: A Narrative Review.

Unlabelled: Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are major contributors of free sugars to the diet. A strong relationship between SSB intake and weight gain is described.

Methods: we performed a narrative review to present an overview of the role of SSBs as a pivotal contributor in the development of obesity and metabolism-related complications.

Crohn's Disease and Female Infertility: Can Nutrition Play a Supporting Role?

Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory disease (IBD) that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract in a non-continuous mode. CD is generally diagnosed most commonly between 15 and 35 years of age and may affect female fertility. The role of diet in supporting wellbeing outcome and reproductive potential in women is well-known; however, no effective efforts have been made to improve women's awareness in CD.

COVID-19 Pandemic as Risk Factors for Excessive Weight Gain in Pediatrics: The Role of Changes in Nutrition Behavior. A Narrative Review.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, social isolation, semi-lockdown, and "stay at home" orders were imposed upon the population in the interest of infection control. This dramatically changes the daily routine of children and adolescents, with a large impact on lifestyle and wellbeing. Children with obesity have been shown to be at a higher risk of negative lifestyle changes and weight gain during lockdown.

and Receptor Polymorphisms: Genetic Neuromodulation of the Dopaminergic System as a Risk Factor for ASD, ADHD and ASD/ADHD Overlap.

The dopaminergic system (DS) is one of the most important neuromodulator systems involved in complex functions that are compromised in both autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conditions that frequently occur in overlap. This evidence suggests that both disorders might have common neurobiological pathways involving the DS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the and dopamine receptor single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as potential risk factors for ASD, ADHD, and ASD/ADHD overlap.

Perspective: Practical Approach to Preventing Subclinical B12 Deficiency in Elderly Population.

Vitamin B12 (also known as cobalamin) is an essential water-soluble vitamin that plays a pivotal role for several physiologic functions during one's lifespan. Only certain microorganisms are able to synthetize B12, thus humans obtain cobalamin exclusively from their diet, specifically from animal-derived foods. Specific sub-group populations are at risk of vitamin B12 subclinical deficiency due to different factors including poor intake of animal source foods and age-dependent decrease in the capacity of intestinal B12 uptake.

Sarcopenia and homocysteine: is there a possible association in the elderly? A narrative review.

Background: Sarcopenia (SA) is a progressive skeletal muscle disorder, associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes, including falls, fractures, physical disability and mortality. Several risks factors may contribute to the development of SA in the elderly; among them, nutrition plays a key role in muscle health. The elderly are at risk of inadequate intake in terms of micronutrients affecting muscle homeostasis, such as B vitamins, related to homocysteine (Hcy) metabolism.

CD5/CD20 expression on circulating B cells in HCV-related chronic hepatitis and mixed cryoglobulinemia.

The role of CD5 B cells in patients with HCV infection and HCV-related disorders, including mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC), has been addressed in previous reports with conflicting results. We established a correlation between CD5/CD20 expression on circulating B lymphocytes, characterizing monoclonal B cell lymphocytosis (MBL), and clinical features in a cohort of 45 patients with chronic HCV hepatitis [without MC: 23 patients (MC- group); with MC: 22 patients (MC+ group)], and 45 HCV-negative healthy subjects as controls. By flow cytometry analysis, three B cells phenotypes were singled out: 1) CD5CD20 (CLL-like phenotype); 2) CD5CD20 (atypical phenotype); and 3) CD5CD20 phenotype.

Association between SCN1A gene polymorphisms and drug resistant epilepsy in pediatric patients.

Purpose: "Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs)" could be an important explanation of drug resistance in epilepsy. The aim of this study was to investigate if genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) of the SCN1A gene could influence the response to anti - epileptic drugs (AED) and if they could predispose to a drug resistant epilepsy in pediatric patients.

Methods: We investigated SNPs in exon and intronic regions of the SCN1A gene in a sample of 120 pediatric patients, in both drug-resistant and drug-responsive patients.

Potentiation of cisplatin-induced antiproliferative and apoptotic activities by the antiarrhythmic drug procainamide hydrochloride.

Background: We describe the potentiation of antiproliferative and apoptotic activities triggered by cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (DDP), and obtained in vitro by the co-administration of procainamide hydrochloride (PdHCl) in murine P388, and human A2780 and A549 cells.

Methods: We determined the antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of DDP and PdHCl combinations by different techniques. Moreover, cell cycle analysis, restriction enzyme inhibition followed by agarose gel electrophoresis, and TUNEL analysis of tumour cells in vivo were also used to strengthen our hypothesis.

Increase in interleukin-8 production from circulating neutrophils upon antibiotic therapy in cystic fibrosis patients.

Background: It is not known whether antibiotic therapy for lung disease in cystic fibrosis (CF) has an influence on circulating polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) function and apoptosis.

Patients And Methods: Blood PMNs were obtained from 14 CF patients before and after antibiotic treatment for an acute exacerbation, and from 10 healthy controls. PMNs were evaluated for production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by spectrophotometry, of cytokines in the conditioned medium by ELISA, and apoptotic response by cytofluorimetry.