Gastrointestinal Conditions Affect Chronic Pain and Quality of Life in Women.

Pain is a chronic condition in many women; drugs used for its treatment are often accompanied by detrimental effects on many organs, including the gut. Once inflamed, the gut can affect pain processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the general health of women suffering chronic pain, with particular attention to gastrointestinal (GI) conditions.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Properties of the Quercetin-3-Oleate AV2, a Novel FFAR1 Partial Agonist.

Free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1) has emerged as the most targeted isoform of the free fatty acid receptors because of its involvement in the modulation of energy balance and its potential role in the control of inflammatory and pain conditions. Quercetin-3-oleate (AV2), recognized as a new FFAR1 partial agonist, was investigated for its ability to modulate inflammation and nociception. Human immortal neuroblastoma SH and the murine macrophagic RAW 264.

Potential Human Health Benefits of L. var Venanzio: Effects on Cancer Cell Growth and Inflammation.

It is widely recognized that foods, biodiversity, and human health are strongly interconnected, and many efforts have been made to understand the nutraceutical value of diet. In particular, diet can affect the progression of intestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and intestinal cancer. In this context, we studied the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of extracts obtained from a local endangered variety of L.

A Personalized Mediterranean Diet Improves Pain and Quality of Life in Patients with Fibromyalgia.

Introduction: Fibromyalgia is a form of chronic pain that affects a large number of women. It can start at any age and last a lifetime, with no cure. The Mediterranean diet is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Things Able to Treat Pain.

Chronic pain is a medical condition that affects a considerable number of people of all ages [...

Serum Metabolomics and Proteomics to Study the Antihypertensive Effect of Protein Extracts from .

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for premature death worldwide and significantly contributes to the development of all major cardiovascular disease events. The management of high blood pressure includes lifestyle changes and treatment with antihypertensive drugs. Recently, it was demonstrated that a diet supplemented with (TM) extracts is useful in the management of numerous pathologies, including hypertension.

Food-Specific IgG4 Antibody-Guided Exclusion Diet Improves Conditions of Patients with Chronic Pain.

Introduction: Chronic pain is related to gastrointestinal (GI) functions because food components affect inflammation and pain through their action on the GI immune and/or neural system and because many analgesics interact with the gut to alter its structure and function. Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) are food-specific antibodies resulting from exposure of the gut immune system to nutrients. High IgG4 levels have been found to be associated with inflammation.

New Insights on Formyl Peptide Receptor Type 2 Involvement in Nociceptive Processes in the Spinal Cord.

Formyl peptide receptor type 2 (FPR2/ALX) belongs to the formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) family clustered on chromosome 19 and encodes a family of three Class A of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). A short N-terminal region, an NPXXY motif in transmembrane (TM) region 7 and an E/DRY motif that bridges TM3 and TM6 stabilizing inactive receptor conformations characterize this class of receptors. In recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), FPRs play a crucial role in innate immune responses.

Calceolarioside A, a Phenylpropanoid Glycoside from spp., Displays Antinociceptive and Anti-Inflammatory Properties.

Phenylpropanoid glycosides are a class of natural substances of plant origin with interesting biological activities and pharmacological properties. This study reports the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of calceolarioside A, a phenylpropanoid glycoside previously isolated from various Calceolaria species. In models of acute nociception induced by thermal stimuli, such as the hot plate and tail flick test, calceolarioside administered at doses of 1, 5, and 10 μg in the left cerebral ventricles did not modify the behavioral response of mice.

Effects of Aqueous Extract of L. var. "Camone" Tomato on Blood Pressure, Behavior and Brain Susceptibility to Oxidative Stress in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Behavioral disorders affect millions of people worldwide. Hypertension contributes to both the development and progression of brain damage and cognitive dysfunction and could represent the most powerful modifiable risk factor for cerebral vessel dysfunction and consequent behavioral impairment. Tomato contains antioxidants and bioactive molecules that might play an important role in the prevention of cardiovascular and brain diseases.

Age and training intensity differently affect male runners' endocrine and sexual parameters.

Physical activity is widely recognized to improve health and its inclusion in daily life at all ages is highly recommended. Gonadal hormones are known to be affected by physical activity. The exercise-induced effects on male runners of different ages were investigated by dividing 31 runners by age (Young, Y, 30-55 years; Old, O, 56-70 years) and amount of training (Light, L, <50 km/week; Heavy, H, 50 or more km/week).

Estrogens and phytoestrogens in body functions.

Estrogens are the hormones of reproduction in women as well as of many other important functions in the male and female body. They undergo significant changes in the different phases of life, e.g.

Very-Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet: A Potential Treatment for Binge Eating and Food Addiction Symptoms in Women. A Pilot Study.

Background: many patients who struggle to lose weight are unable to cut down certain ultra-processed, refined types of food with a high glycemic index. This condition is linked to responses similar to addiction that lead to overeating. A very-low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) with adequate protein intake could be considered a valid dietary approach.

Food addiction assessment in a nonclinical sample of the Italian population.

Objective: Discussion about the potential addictive role of certain types of food and their link with obesity has recently increased. Researchers have developed instruments to specifically assess food addiction (FA). The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the prevalence of food addiction in a nonclinical sample of the Italian population.

Pain Study in X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy in Males and Females.

Introduction: X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a metabolic disorder in which very long chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) are accumulated in the nervous system and adrenal cortex, impairing their functions. Three main variants are described in males: adrenomyeloneuropathy (AMN), a cerebral form (cALD or cAMN) and Addison's disease only (AD), while for females no classification is used. To evaluate pain and the functional state of afferent fibers, a series of tests was carried out in male and female patients.

Feeding Your Himalayan Expedition: Nutritional Signatures and Body Composition Adaptations of Trekkers and Porters.

High-altitude exposure leads to many physiological challenges, such as weight loss and dehydration. However, little attention has been posed to the role of nutrition and ethnic differences. Aiming to fulfill this gap, five Italian trekkers and seven Nepalese porters, all males, recorded their diet in diaries during a Himalayan expedition (19 days), and the average daily intake of micro and macro-nutrients were calculated.

Superior Properties of N-Acetylcysteine Ethyl Ester over N-Acetyl Cysteine to Prevent Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Oxidative Damage.

Oxidative stress plays a key role in the pathophysiology of retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, which are the major causes of irreversible blindness in developed countries. An excess of reactive oxygen species (ROS) can directly cause functional and morphological impairments in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), endothelial cells, and retinal ganglion cells. Antioxidants may represent a preventive/therapeutic strategy and reduce the risk of progression of AMD.

The CB2 Agonist β-Caryophyllene in Male and Female Rats Exposed to a Model of Persistent Inflammatory Pain.

Cannabinoids help in pain treatment through their action on CB1 and CB2 receptors. β-caryophyllene (BCP), an ancient remedy to treat pain, is a sesquiterpene found in large amounts in the essential oils of various spice and food plants such as oregano, cinnamon, and black pepper. It binds to the CB2 receptor, acting as a full agonist.

Universality vs experience: a cross-cultural pilot study on the consonance effect in music at different altitudes.

Background: Previous studies have shown that music preferences are influenced by cultural "rules", and some others have suggested a universal preference for some features over others.

Methods: We investigated cultural differences on the "consonance effect", consisting in higher pleasantness judgments for consonant compared to dissonant chords-according to the Western definition of music: Italian and Himalayan participants were asked to express pleasantness judgments for consonant and dissonant chords. An Italian and a Nepalese sample were tested both at 1,450 m and at 4,750 m of altitude, with the further aim to evaluate the effect of hypoxia on this task.

LC-HRMS/MS for the simultaneous determination of four allergens in fish and swine food products.

The inclusion on the label of packed foods of any ingredient or technological adjuvant causing allergies is required by EU food legislation. In this study a targeted proteomics method for detecting four allergens in animal-derived food matrices was developed. Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) was used to select marker peptides from four allergens and develop a quantitative method able to simultaneously detect the presence of milk, egg, crustaceans and soy.

Effects of Intracerebroventricular and Intra-Arcuate Nucleus Injection of Ghrelin on Pain Behavioral Responses and Met-Enkephalin and β-Endorphin Concentrations in the Periaqueductal Gray Area in Rats.

Ghrelin is an endogenous ligand for orphan growth hormone secretagogue receptors. Ghrelin receptors have been found in central nervous system (CNS) areas responsible for pain modulation and transmission. This study investigated the effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) and intra-arcuate nucleus (ARC) injection of ghrelin on pain behavioral responses and levels of β-endorphin (β-EP) and met-enkephalin (MENK) in the periaqueductal gray area (PAG) during the formalin test in rats.

Thermogenic flux induced by lignoceric acid in peroxisomes isolated from HepG2 cells and from X-adrenoleukodystrophy and control fibroblasts.

This work analyzes the thermogenic flux induced by the very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) lignoceric acid (C24:0) in isolated peroxisomes. Specific metabolic alterations of peroxisomes are related to a variety of disorders, the most frequent one being the neurodegenerative inherited disease X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD). A peroxisomal transport protein is mutated in this disorder.

Evaluation of in vitro cell and blood compatibility and in vivo analgesic activity of plant-derived dietary supplements.

Objective: In vitro cell and blood compatibility of three dietary supplements, comprised of multiple plant extracts, Pneumo Go (PG), Green active (GA) and Equistasi (Eq), and their main component, the phytocomplex Matrix U.B.® (Union Bio S.