Health surveillance for SARS-CoV-2: infection spread and vaccination coverage in the schools of Modena province, Italy.

Introduction: In Italy, over 4.8 million individuals aged 0-19 years have been infected with SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to evaluate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 within schools in Modena province and the influence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination coverage.

Fear of hypoglycemia in children with type 1 diabetes and their parents: Validation of the Italian version of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey for Children and for Parents.

Background: Currently, Italian versions of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey for Children (CHFS) and for Parents (PHFS) quantifying Fear of Hypoglycemia (FoH) in pediatric diabetes are not available.

Objective: To validate the Italian version of the CHFS and PHFS.

Subjects And Methods: One hundred and seventy-four children with type 1 diabetes aged 6-18 and 178 parents completed the CHFS and PHFS, the PedsQL 3.

Characteristics and risk factors of isolated and quarantined children and adolescents during the first wave of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: A cross-sectional study in Modena, Northern Italy.

Background And Aim: In early 2020, SARS-CoV-2 was declared a pandemic by the WHO and Italy was one of the first and most severely affected country in Europe. Despite the global interest about COVID-19 pandemic, several aspects of this infection are still unclear, especially in pediatric population. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of the isolated or quarantined children and adolescents followed by the Public Health Department of the Italian province of Modena during the first wave of COVID-19.

Insulin/carbohydrates ratio during the first 6-month therapy with insulin degludec in a paediatric population with type 1 diabetes previously treated with insulin glargine. An observational longitudinal study.

Background: No data exist about the changes induced by the transition from first-generation long-acting insulins to second-generation long-acting analogues in the paediatric population.

Objective: To assess changes in insulin/carbohydrate ratio (I:CHO) after the first 6 months of degludec therapy in a paediatric population with type 1 diabetes previously treated with glargine U100.

Subjects: All patients treated with degludec under routine clinical practice conditions were retrospectively analysed.

Effectiveness and safety of flexible therapeutic schemes including first- and secondgeneration basal insulins during a pediatric summer diabetes camp.

Outcomes of insulin analogues in pediatric diabetes camps are poorly investigated; no data is available about insulin degludec (IDeg).Our aim was to assess impact of insulin therapy adopted by the participants to a 4-day diabetes camp held in 2017, hypothesizing a possible excess risk of hypoglycemia in patients treated with IDeg. Overall, 40 children with type 1 diabetes (mean age 13.

Respirable inorganic fibers dispersed in air and settled in human lung samples: Assessment of their nature, source, and concentration in a NW Italy large city.

The present investigation represents a new approach useful to evaluate the general population risk correlated with environmental exposure to air dispersed inorganic fibers. The used method is based on the evaluation of the respirable inorganic fibers both air dispersed in a big city and contained in lungs of the general population following their respiration. Moreover, these data allow to identify the sources of dispersion (anthropogenic or natural) in air of the inorganic fibers and therefore to apply strategies to improve air quality.

Glioblastoma complicated by fatal malignant acute ischemic stroke: MRI finding to assist in tricky surgical decision.

Background: In most cases, glioblastomas are associated with seizures, headaches, neurological deficits, aphasia, or bleeding. But these tumors are rarely associated with cerebral infarction and never so deadly.

Case Report: A 40-year-old man presented with sudden morning isolated aphasia.

50 Hz extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields enhance protein carbonyl groups content in cancer cells: effects on proteasomal systems.

Electromagnetic fields are an assessed cause of prolonging free radicals lifespan. This study was carried out to investigate the influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on protein oxidation and on the 20S proteasome functionality, the complex responsible for the degradation of oxidized proteins. Caco 2 cells were exposed, for 24-72 hours, to 1 mT, 50 Hz electromagnetic fields.

Interplay between 20S proteasomes and prion proteins in scrapie disease.

Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy affecting the central nervous system in sheep. The key event in such neurodegeneration is the conversion of the normal prion protein (PrP(C)) into the pathological isoform (PrP(Sc)). Misfolded prion proteins are normally degraded by the proteasome.

Biosensor-based screening method for the detection of aflatoxins B1-G1.

Aflatoxins are extremely toxic metabolites from Aspergillus species that can adulterate a wide range of human foodstuff. Herein, we propose a novel assay designed as an analytical test for aflatoxin B1 and G1 (AFB1 and AFG1, respectively) that could represent an alternative screening technique for this class of mycotoxins. The approach for the determination of these toxins is based on surface plasmon resonance using neutrophil porcine elastase as a "bait" for these aflatoxins.

Wheat sprout extract-induced apoptosis in human cancer cells by proteasomes modulation.

Natural occurring modulators of proteasome functionality are extensively investigated for their implication in cancer therapy. On the basis of our previous evidences both on proteasomal inhibition by monomeric polyphenols, and on the characterization of wheat sprout hydroalcoholic extract, herein we thoroughly report on a comparative study of the effect of wheat sprout extract on both normal and tumour cells. Treatment of isolated 20S proteasomes with wheat sprout extracts induced a gradual inhibition of all proteasome activities.

Pomegranate fruit components modulate human thrombin.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is an important source of polyphenols with assessed antioxidant properties. The aims of this study were: (i) the characterization of the monomeric phenolic variability on each isolated fruit component (endocarp, mesocarp, aril); (ii) the study on the effect of pomegranate fruit components on human thrombin amidolytic activity. Collectively, our data show that pomegranate components contain bioactive metabolites (mainly ellagic acid) and suggest a potential role for the pomegranate extract in the regulation of a number of physio-pathological processes involving thrombin (or thrombin-like proteinase).

Influence of dietary feeding of low monomer content grape seed extract on vitellogenin production and cholesterol levels in goldfish, Carassius auratus.

Grape seed extract (GSE) is a source of naturally occurring compounds known as proanthocyanidins and flavan-3-ols, which are recognized to exert a protective effect on human health, so GSE is widely used mainly as a nutritional supplement. However, polyphenols may have, in some cases, estrogenic effects or may interfere with the endocrine system. For that reason, it was considered of interest to investigate the beneficial or detrimental effects induced by low monomer content grape seed extract (LMC-GSE) in a teleost experimental model, the juvenile goldfish (Carassius auratus); therefore, biomarkers of estrogenic exposure together with cholesterol titers were assessed in both plasma and tissue samples taken from fish fed with different doses of LMC-GSE for 4 weeks.

Antiplasmin activity of natural occurring polyphenols.

The equilibrium between proteolytic enzymes and their cognate inhibitors is crucial in a number of physiological as well as pathological processes, including cancer, inflammatory processes and thrombosis. Therefore, both synthetic and natural small molecule inhibitors are object of extensive studies as drugs in the treatment of these pathologies. Two natural occurring polyphenolic compounds, representative of glycosylated and unglycosylated flavonoid structures, namely quercetin and rutin, were thereby tested as potential ligands of plasmin(ogen), a serine (pro)protease, whose role in tumor cell invasion and migration has been reported.

Mechanism of inhibition of wt-dihydrofolate reductase from E. coli by tea epigallocatechin-gallate.

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is a ubiquitous enzyme involved in major biological process, including DNA synthesis and cancer inhibition, and its modulation is the object of extensive structural, kinetic, and pharmacological studies. In particular, earlier studies showed that green tea catechins are powerful inhibitors of bovine liver and chicken liver DHFR. In this article, we report the results of inhibition kinetics for the enzyme from another source (DHFR from E.

Wheat sprout extract induces changes on 20S proteasomes functionality.

Wheat sprouts contain a very high level of organic phosphates and a powerful cocktail of different molecules such as enzymes, reducing glycosides and polyphenols. The antioxidant properties of wheat sprouts have been widely documented and it has been shown that they are able to protect DNA against free-radicals mediated oxidative damage. Furthermore, we have recently reported on the effects of several polyphenols on 20S proteasomes, underlying the dual role of epigallocatechin-3-gallate as an antioxidant and a proteasome effector in cancer cells.

Binding of aflatoxins to the 20S proteasome: effects on enzyme functionality and implications for oxidative stress and apoptosis.

Aflatoxins (AF) are contaminants of improperly stored foods; they are potent genotoxic and carcinogenic compounds, exerting their effects through damage to DNA. They can also induce mutations that increase oxidative damage. The goal of this study was to evaluate the possibility that a third mechanism could be involved in the carcinogenic action of aflatoxins, namely, direct binding to key enzymes involved in the regulatory pathways of the cell cycle, thereby modulating enzyme functionality.

Protein oxidation and cellular homeostasis: Emphasis on metabolism.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated as the result of a number of physiological and pathological processes. Once formed ROS can promote multiple forms of oxidative damage, including protein oxidation, and thereby influence the function of a diverse array of cellular processes. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which ROS are generated in a variety of cell types, outlines the mechanisms which control the levels of ROS, and describes specific proteins which are common targets of ROS.

Flavonoids inhibit the amidolytic activity of human thrombin.

The effect of a group of natural flavonoids on human thrombin amidolytic activity was investigated using a spectrophotometric inhibition assay while information on the kinetics and thermodynamics was obtained using optical biosensor techniques. All the flavonoids tested acted as reversible inhibitors, and the quercetin-thrombin complex was found to be most stable at pH=7.5.

Effect of polyphenolic compounds on the proteolytic activities of constitutive and immuno-proteasomes.

The effect of several polyphenols on the 20S proteasomes, both the constitutive and the LMP proteasomes, isolated from bovine tissues, has been investigated. Polyphenolic compounds show many biological activities such as antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and antiallergic activities. However, the molecular mechanism underlying these effects has not been identified.

Aspirin modulates LPS-induced nitric oxide release in rat glial cells.

Nitric oxide and prostaglandins are among the numerous substances released by activated glial cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-level aspirin on iNOS expression in cultured rat glial cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as pathological stimulator. Using Western Blotting, we verified that aspirin enhanced LPS-induced iNOS expression and the presence of 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14)-prostaglandin (15d-PGJ2) suppressed this aspirin effect.

Development of an ELISA test for determination of the urinary trypsin inhibitor: analytical performance and applications.

Increased urinary excretion of urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) has been reported in various inflammatory conditions and in Alzheimer's subjects, but its diagnostic potential remains to be elucidated. A reliable and specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test for the determination of the UTI in human urine was developed. This assay was performed using 96-well microtiter plates.

Peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation of the C85S/C152E mutant of dihydrofolate reductase from Escherichia coli: functional and structural effects.

Peroxynitrite is a potent reactive oxygen species that is believed to mediate deleterious protein modifications in a wide variety of neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we have analysed the effects of oxidative damage induced by peroxynitrite on a cysteine-free mutant of dihydrofolate reductase (SE-DHFR), from a functional and a structural point of view. The peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation results in the inhibition, concentration-dependent, of the catalytic activity.

Peroxynitrite-induced oxidation and its effects on isolated proteasomal systems.

The proteasomes are the major intracellular proteolytic systems involved in the removal of altered proteins. In this study, we examined different susceptibilities of constitutive (XYZ) and interferon-gamma inducible (LMP) 20S proteasomes, isolated from bovine brain and thymus, respectively, to peroxynitrite-mediated oxidation. Exposure of XYZ and LMP proteasomes to increasing amounts of peroxynitrite resulted in different levels, in the two enzymes, of 3-nitrotyrosine groups and tryptophan residues oxidation.

Effect of neurotoxic metal ions on the proteolytic activities of the 20S proteasome from bovine brain.

The effect of oxidative stress induced by neurotoxic metal ions on the properties of the brain 20S proteasome or multicatalytic proteinase complex (MPC) has been studied. Exposure of the 20S proteasome to increasing amounts of Fe(III), Fe(II), Cu(II) or Zn(II) affects its main hydrolytic activities: trypsin-like (T-L), chymotrypsin-like (ChT-L), peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolase (PGPH), branched-chain amino acid preferring (BrAAP) and caseinolytic activities, although in different ways. T-L activity showed gradual activation by both iron ions but inhibition by Cu(II) and Zn(II).