Lipids in Liver Failure Syndromes: A Focus on Eicosanoids, Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators and Lysophospholipids.

Lipids are organic compounds insoluble in water with a variety of metabolic and non-metabolic functions. They not only represent an efficient energy substrate but can also act as key inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules as part of a network of soluble mediators at the interface of metabolism and the immune system. The role of endogenous bioactive lipid mediators has been demonstrated in several inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, cancer).

Outcomes of non-invasive ventilation in 'very old' patients with acute respiratory failure: a retrospective study.

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is increasingly used to support very old (aged ≥85 years) patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF). This retrospective observational study evaluated the impact of NIV on the prognosis of very old patients who have been admitted to the intermediate care unit (IMC) of the Emergency Department of the University Hospital Policlinico-Vittorio Emanuele of Catania for ARF.

Methods: All patients admitted to the IMC between January and December 2015 who received NIV as the treatment for respiratory failure were included in this study.

Early effects of high-fat diet, extra-virgin olive oil and vitamin D in a sedentary rat model of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background And Aim: Western high-fat diet is related to metabolic syndrome and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Decreased levels of Vitamin D (VitD) and IGF-1 and their mutual relationship were also reported. We aimed to evaluate whether different dietary profiles, containing or not VitD, may exert different effects on liver tissue.

Impact of Western and Mediterranean Diets and Vitamin D on Muscle Fibers of Sedentary Rats.

Background: The metabolic syndrome is associated with sarcopenia. Decreased serum levels of Vitamin D (VitD) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1 and their mutual relationship were also reported. We aimed to evaluate whether different dietary profiles, containing or not VitD, may exert different effects on muscle molecular morphology.

Physical activity and Mediterranean diet based on olive tree phenolic compounds from two different geographical areas have protective effects on early osteoarthritis, muscle atrophy and hepatic steatosis.

Purpose: Osteoarthitis (OA) leads to progressive loss of articular cartilage, pain and joint disability. An acute injury constitutes an important risk factor for early OA, determining an inflammatory process responsible of cartilage degeneration and muscle atrophy, due to the joint pain and immobility. The study aims to assess the effects of conjugation of physical activity and diet enriched by olive tree compounds [extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and olive leaf extract (OLE)], on the musculoskeletal system in OA rat model.

The role of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy in musculoskeletal diseases.

Ultrasonography (US) is a readily available non-invasive tool useful for the detection of musculoskeletal and soft tissue masses. Although X-Ray is often the first imaging study for evaluating both bone and soft tissue lesions, and magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are mandatory in lesions staging, US is increasingly used for the early assessment of musculoskeletal and soft-tissue masses and for guiding procedures and biopsies. Surgical biopsy or fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is needed to ascertain the nature of any lesion.

Nutraceutical Supplements in the Management and Prevention of Osteoarthritis.

Nutraceuticals are dietary compounds which have a role in the balance of anabolic and catabolic signals in joints. Their regulatory function on homeostasis of cartilage metabolism nutraceuticals is increasingly considered for the management and, above all, the prevention of osteoarthritis (OA). OA is a degenerative disease characterized by cartilage and synovium inflammation that can cause joint stiffness, swelling, pain, and loss of mobility.

The importance of physical activity in osteoporosis. From the molecular pathways to the clinical evidence.

Osteoporosis is a very common bone disorder characterized by low bone mass and signs of deterioration, responsible for bone fragility typical in this pathology. The risk factors for the onset of osteoporosis are many and different from each other. Some of them cannot be modified, such as age, hereditary diseases and endocrine diseases.

Co-Expression and Co-Localization of Cartilage Glycoproteins CHI3L1 and Lubricin in Osteoarthritic Cartilage: Morphological, Immunohistochemical and Gene Expression Profiles.

Osteoarthritis is the most common human arthritis characterized by degeneration of articular cartilage. Several studies reported that levels of human cartilage glycoprotein chitinase 3-like-1 (CHI3L1) are known as a potential marker for the activation of chondrocytes and the progression of Osteoarthritis (OA), whereas lubricin appears to be chondroprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the co-expression and co-localization of CHI3L1 and lubricin in normal and osteoarthritic rat articular cartilage to correlate their modified expression to a specific grade of OA.

Molecular Links Between Diabetes and Osteoarthritis: The Role of Physical Activity.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and osteoarthritis (OA) are two of the most relevant and common chronic diseases affecting older people. Both DM and OA are considered metabolic diseases due to their high correlation with the capacity of the body to metabolize some nutritive substances such as glucose, fat, vitamins and also the response to oxidative molecules.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and authors' bibliographies in order to extract articles regarding the relationship between DM and OA.

Biomarkers of Chondrocyte Apoptosis and Autophagy in Osteoarthritis.

Cell death with morphological and molecular features of apoptosis has been detected in osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage, which suggests a key role for chondrocyte death/survival in the pathogenesis of OA. Identification of biomarkers of chondrocyte apoptosis may facilitate the development of novel therapies that may eliminate the cause or, at least, slow down the degenerative processes in OA. The aim of this review was to explore the molecular markers and signals that induce chondrocyte apoptosis in OA.

Importance of serotonin (5-HT) and its precursor l-tryptophan for homeostasis and function of skeletal muscle in rats. A morphological and endocrinological study.

Serotonin (5-HT) is a neurotransmitter, synthesized in serotonergic neurons of the central nervous system and in enterochromaffin cells of the gastrointestinal tract, which is involved in the regulation of several body functions, including muscle tissue development and growth and its contractile response. l-Tryptophan (l-Trp) is an essential amino acid and precursor of 5-HT. The aim of the present study was to better understand the mechanisms that govern neuroendocrine homeostasis of muscle tissue and emphasize the importance of a diet, complete in all its elements, referring specifically to the essential amino acids such as l-Trp, crucial in several neuroendocrine functions.

Biosynthesis of collagen I, II, RUNX2 and lubricin at different time points of chondrogenic differentiation in a 3D in vitro model of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from adipose tissue.

The first aim of the study was to identify the most appropriate time for differentiation of adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to chondrocytes, through the self-assembly process. For this purpose, the expression of some chondrocyte markers, such as collagen type I, collagen type II, RUNX2 and lubricin was investigated at different times (7, 14, 21 and 28 days) of chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs, by using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. The second aim of the study was to demonstrate that the expression of lubricin, such as the expression of collagen type II, could be a possible biomarker for the detection of chondrocytes well-being and viability in the natural self-assembling constructs, called 'cell pellets'.

Lubricin expression in human osteoarthritic knee meniscus and synovial fluid: a morphological, immunohistochemical and biochemical study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of lubricin, the product of the human PRG4 (proteoglycan 4) gene, in menisci and synovial fluid from normal donors and patients with osteoarthritis (OA), using a combination of histology, immunohistochemistry, ELISA and Western blotting analysis, to provide further insight on the role of this protein in the progression of OA and pathological processes in the meniscus. Lubricin expression was studied in samples from 40 patients and in 9 normal donors after arthroscopic partial meniscectomy. Histological analysis confirmed normal microanatomy and the absence of structural changes in control samples.

New perspectives for articular cartilage repair treatment through tissue engineering: A contemporary review.

In this paper review we describe benefits and disadvantages of the established methods of cartilage regeneration that seem to have a better long-term effectiveness. We illustrated the anatomical aspect of the knee joint cartilage, the current state of cartilage tissue engineering, through mesenchymal stem cells and biomaterials, and in conclusion we provide a short overview on the rehabilitation after articular cartilage repair procedures. Adult articular cartilage has low capacity to repair itself, and thus even minor injuries may lead to progressive damage and osteoarthritic joint degeneration, resulting in significant pain and disability.

Advantages of exercise in rehabilitation, treatment and prevention of altered morphological features in knee osteoarthritis. A narrative review.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) represents one of the most common causes of disability in the world. It leads to social, psychological and economic costs with financial consequences, also because a further increase is expected. Different knee OA treatments are usually considered in relation to the stage of the disease, such as surgical management and pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments.

Post-operative rehabilitation and nutrition in osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative process involving the progressive loss of articular cartilage, synovial inflammation and structural changes in subchondral bone that lead to loss of synovial joint structural features and functionality of articular cartilage. OA represents one of the most common causes of physical disability in the world. Different OA treatments are usually considered in relation to the stage of the disease.

4Ps medicine of the fatty liver: the research model of predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory medicine-recommendations for facing obesity, fatty liver and fibrosis epidemics.

Relationship between adipose tissue and fatty liver, and its possible evolution in fibrosis, is supported by clinical and research experience. Given the multifactorial pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), treatments for various contributory risk factors have been proposed; however, there is no single validated therapy or drug association recommended for all cases which can stand alone. Mechanisms, diagnostics, prevention and treatment of obesity, fatty liver and insulin resistance are displayed along with recommendations and position points.

Extra-virgin olive oil diet and mild physical activity prevent cartilage degeneration in an osteoarthritis model: an in vivo and in vitro study on lubricin expression.

Mediterranean diet includes a relatively high fat consumption mostly from monounsaturated fatty acids mainly provided by olive oil, the principal source of culinary and dressing fat. The beneficial effects of olive oil have been widely studied and could be due to its phytochemicals, which have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Lubricin is a chondroprotective glycoprotein and it serves as a critical boundary lubricant between opposing cartilage surfaces.

Serotonin (5HT) expression in rat pups treated with high-tryptophan diet during fetal and early postnatal development.

Serotonin (5HT) is a neurotransmitter synthesized in serotonergic neurons of the central nervous system and in the enterochromaffin cells of the gastrointestinal tract. 5HT regulates growth and maturation of some cerebral regions in the developing brain as well as the secretion of pituitary growth hormone. This hormone is necessary for development and growth through the stimulation of insulin-like growth factor synthesis.

Effects of dietary extra-virgin olive oil on oxidative stress resulting from exhaustive exercise in rat skeletal muscle: a morphological study.

Physical exercise induces oxidative stress through production of reactive oxygen species and can cause damage to muscle tissue. Oxidative stress, resulting from exhaustive exercise is high and improvement of antioxidant defenses of the body may ameliorate damage caused by free radicals. Extra-virgin olive oil is widely considered to possess anti-oxidative properties.

Effects of high-tryptophan diet on pre- and postnatal development in rats: a morphological study.

Purpose: Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, precursor of serotonin. Serotonin (5HT) regulates the secretion of pituitary growth hormone (GH), which in turn stimulates the liver to produce insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) that is necessary for development and growth. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of an excess of tryptophan in the diet of pregnant rats on the differentiation of skeletal muscle tissue.

Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) and phospho-RKIP expression in melanomas.

Melanoma, a cancer notorious for its high potential to metastasize, arises from melanocytes, cells dedicated to melanin production and located in the basal layer of the epidermis. Raf-1 kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) is an inhibitory molecule that down-regulates the effects of the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of RKIP and pRKIP in melanomas at different stages.