Glutathione Peroxide and Glutathione to Disulfide Glutathione Ratio in Presbycusis: a Case-control Study.

Background: Presbycusis is a gradual hearing loss caused by the ageing process. This is a chronic condition that affects the elderly population, and sensorineural progressive bilateral symmetry occurs with predominantly high-frequency hearing loss. The ability to discriminate speech decreases; hence, most of the affected patients have conversation problems, especially in noisy environments.This situation is a serious problem among elderly individuals. Social isolation, depression, and paranoia can be related to presbycusis. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate GPx and the GSH:GSSG ratio as risk factors for presbycusis. Methods: A case-control study was conducted to determine the role of GPx activity with the GSH:GSSG ratio as a presbycusis risk factor in 60 subjects aged 55 to 75 years old during the period of August 2012 - April 2014. All of the subjects passed an ENT examination, pure tone audiometry, and tympanometry. The activity of GPx was measured with the Paglia and Valentine method, and the GSH:GSSG ratio was measured by the calorimetric method. Results: The activity of GPx and the GSH:GSSG ratio were significantly different between the groups (p<0.05), and the odds ratio for high GPx with a low GSH:GSSG ratio was 135 (CI 95%: 5.17-20,028.88). Conclusion: High GPx activity with a low GSH:GSSG ratio is a risk factor for presbycusis.

[Surveillance system OKkio alla SALUTE: the role of primary school in the promotion of healthy life style--results in 2008]. / Il sistema di sorveglianza OKkio alla SALUTE: il ruolo della scuola primaria nella promozione di stili di vita salutari. Risultati 2008.

In 2007 the Italian Ministry of Health/CCM promoted and funded the project "System of surveys of behavioral risks in ages 6-17", coordinated by the National Institute of Health. One of the aims of the project is the definition and implementation of a data collection system on the weight of primary school children, their eating habits, physical activity and school initiatives favoring the healthy growth of children, called "OKkio alla SALUTE". In 2008 the first survey of OKkio was conducted in 18 Italian regions. 45,590 third grade school children in 2610 classes participated. Information was collected from 2461 schools. The responses of the head teachers showed that 64% of the schools have a canteen, used by 70% of children. Only 12% of schools include the provision of a balanced mid-morning snack. Frequently there are educational activities related to physical activity and healthy eating that, in some cases, also involve the families of the children. 29% of the schools cannot guarantee two hours of physical activity as suggested by the school curriculum because of the lack or inadequacy of the gym or the structure of the timetables. The information gathered through the cooperation of school administrators, teachers and health workers, has helped to describe the major health educational activities of the school, that is confirmed to be the ideal venue for promoting healthy lifestyles in young people.