The Multifaceted Role of the Polyphenol Curcumin: A Focus on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by chronic hyperglycemia, which often co-exists with other metabolic impairments. This condition can damage various tissues and organs, resulting in the development of severe complications, both microvascular, such as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, and macrovascular, responsible for an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Curcumin is the main bioactive molecule found in the rhizomes of turmeric.

Beneficial Effects on Oxidative Stress and Human Health by Dietary Polyphenols.

During the past few years, researchers have dedicated themselves to studying phytochemicals which make up the nutritional and non-nutritional bioactive compounds found in fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other plant foods [...

The Multifaceted Role of Endothelial Sirt1 in Vascular Aging: An Update.

NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (Sirt1) belongs to the sirtuins family, known to be longevity regulators, and exerts a key role in the prevention of vascular aging. By aging, the expression levels of Sirt1 decline with a severe impact on vascular function, such as the rise of endothelial dysfunction, which in turn promotes the development of cardiovascular diseases. In this context, the impact of Sirt1 activity in preventing endothelial senescence is particularly important.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine alterations in recent onset anorexia nervosa adolescent female patients before and after 6 months of integrated therapy: A case-control study.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex disorder affecting mainly, but not only, teenagers. Researchers agree that AN is deeply associated with a pro-inflammatory state following an impaired immune system, resulting from altered levels of cytokines such as IL-1β and TNF-α, also impacted by the frequent depressive states. Thus, this case-control study aimed to evaluate the relationship between patients suffering from AN undergoing specialized eating disorder treatment for AN and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Homozygous C677T Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Polymorphism as a Risk Factor for Endometriosis: A Retrospective Case-Control Study.

This study was conducted to evaluate the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T homozygous polymorphism as a risk factor for endometriosis. A retrospective case-control study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022 on all patients attending the gynecological outpatient clinic of our institution who had performed an MTHFR polymorphisms test. Patients with endometriosis were considered cases, while those without endometriosis were considered controls.

Prognostic Impact of Blood Lipid Profile in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors Treated With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background: Specific components of lipid profile seem to differently impact on immune activity against cancer and unraveling their prognostic role in patients with solid cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is needed.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively collected baseline clinicopathological characteristics including circulating lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], low-density lipoproteins [LDL], high-density lipoproteins [HDL]) of patients with consecutive solid cancer treated with ICIs, and we investigated their role in predicting clinical outcomes.

Results: At a median follow-up of 32.

Microbiome Changes in Pregnancy Disorders.

The human microbiota comprises all microorganisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, found within a specific environment that live on our bodies and inside us. The last few years have witnessed an explosion of information related to the role of microbiota changes in health and disease. Even though the gut microbiota is considered the most important in maintaining our health, other regions of the human body, such as the oral cavity, lungs, vagina, and skin, possess their own microbiota.

NAD Homeostasis and NAD-Consuming Enzymes: Implications for Vascular Health.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a ubiquitous metabolite that takes part in many key redox reactions. NAD biosynthesis and NAD-consuming enzymes have been attracting markedly increasing interest since they have been demonstrated to be involved in several crucial biological pathways, impacting genes transcription, cellular signaling, and cell cycle regulation. As a consequence, many pathological conditions are associated with an impairment of intracellular NAD levels, directly or indirectly, which include cardiovascular diseases, obesity, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and aging.

Multiple Sclerosis: Inflammatory and Neuroglial Aspects.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) represents the most common acquired demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Its pathogenesis, in parallel with the well-established role of mechanisms pertaining to autoimmunity, involves several key functions of immune, glial and nerve cells. The disease's natural history is complex, heterogeneous and may evolve over a relapsing-remitting (RRMS) or progressive (PPMS/SPMS) course.

Pathogenic Role of the Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P) Pathway in Common Gynecologic Disorders (GDs): A Possible Novel Therapeutic Target.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid, noteworthy for its involvement both in the modulation of various biological processes and in the development of many diseases. S1P signaling can be either pro or anti-inflammatory, and the sphingosine kinase (SphK)-S1P-S1P receptor (S1PR) axis is a factor in accelerating the growth of several cells, including endometriotic cells and fibrosis. Gynecologic disorders, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine fibroids are characterized by inflammation and fibrosis.

Cerebrospinal Fluid α-Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide: A Comparison between Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represent an emerging health problem on a global scale, as they are responsible for a significant contribution to the burden of disability in Western countries. Limited numbers of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diagnostic markers are available for each disease (amyloid and tau deposition markers for AD and oligoclonal bands for MS) representing mostly state markers that provide few, if any, clues about the severity of the clinical phenotype. α-CGRP is a neuropeptide implied in nociception, vasodilation, synaptic plasticity and immune functions.

Senatore cappelli ( ssp. durum) pasta: a study on the nutritional quality of whole grains and its physical form.

Pasta is one of the components of the Mediterranean Diet, despite considerable attention given, its use is still debated. Several studies encouraged the consumption of whole grain because of its many properties and the positive association between refined carbohydrates and insulin resistance, by measuring the Glycaemic Index (GI), an indicator of the physiological effects of a carbohydrate meal. In this study, the GI and polyphenol content of Senatore Cappelli (Triticum turgidum ssp.

The ALA5/ALA6/ALA7 repeat polymorphisms of the glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1) gene and autism spectrum disorder.

Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder leading to deficits in social interaction, communication, and several activities. An increasing number of evidence suggests a role of oxidative stress in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Indeed, impaired antioxidant mechanisms may lead to the inadequate removal of H O with a consequent increase in highly active hydroxyl radicals and other reactive oxygen species causing cellular damages.

Vasoactive neuropeptides and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review focusing on calcitonin gene-related peptide.

Vasoactive peptides constitute a heterogenous family of mediators exerting various physiological functions, mostly studied for their vasotropic effects and role as peripheral neurotransmitters/neuromodulators, mainly involved in nociceptive transmission modulation. They have been divided into vasodilatory or vasoconstrictive peptides, according to their predominant effects on vascular tone. Recent research has shown in the Central Nervous System effects as transmitters and "growth factor-like" signals.

A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study on Oral Health and Nutritional Status of Institutionalized Older Adults: A Focus on Sarcopenia.

The global population aged over 60 will double by 2050. This pilot cross-sectional study aims at evaluating nutritional and oral health status and the prevalence of sarcopenia in older adults living in an Italian residential aged care facility. Thirty-two adults aged ≥65 years were included.

Prospective observational study of taste assay in patients with solid tumors treated with standard chemotherapy (POTATO).

Purpose: The aim of our study is to evaluate taste changes in patients affected by solid tumors not involving oral cavity within the first month of standard chemotherapy.

Methods: In this monocentric, prospective, cohort study, we enrolled patients treated at our institution for different types of solid tumors between February and July 2019. Taste cotton swabs assay was used to assess taste changes.

A Study on the Relationship between Type 2 Diabetes and Taste Function in Patients with Good Glycemic Control.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a very high impact on quality of life as it is characterized by disabling complications. There is little evidence about taste alterations in diabetes. Since many individual factors are involved in the onset of diabetes, the purpose of our study is to search a possible link between diabetes and individual taste function.

Impact of Elderly Masticatory Performance on Nutritional Status: An Observational Study.

Masticatory limitations on the dietary habits of edentulous subjects restrict their access to adequate nutrition, exposing them to a greater risk of protein energy malnutrition. The aim of this study is to verify the existence of an association between Masticatory Performance (MP) and nutritional changes in the elderly. 76 participants were enrolled.

Nitric oxide synthase and VEGF expression in full-term placentas of obese women.

An adequate placental vascularization allows the proper development of the fetus and it is crucial for the gestational success. A number of factors regulate angiogenesis, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which induces the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator produced by three different nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms. NO is essential to maintain a low vascular resistance in the fetoplacental circulation, although at high concentrations, it may combine with excess superoxide to produce peroxynitrite, which reacts with proteins giving rise to nitrotyrosine.

HDL functionality in follicular fluid in normal-weight and obese women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment.

Objective: High-density lipoproteins (HDL) exert pleiotropic roles in follicular fluid (FF). Previous studies have reported a relationship between obesity, infertility, and systemic oxidative stress. The aim of our study was to investigate for the first time the HDL functional properties in FF in obesity.