Statistical Analysis of Mineral Concentration for the Geographic Identification of Garlic Samples from Sicily (Italy), Tunisia and Spain.

We performed a statistical analysis of the concentration of mineral elements, by means of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), in different varieties of garlic from Spain, Tunisia, and Italy. Nubia Red Garlic (Sicily) is one of the most known Italian varieties that belongs to traditional Italian food products (P.A.T.) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry. The obtained results suggest that the concentrations of the considered elements may serve as geographical indicators for the discrimination of the origin of the different samples. In particular, we found a relatively high content of Selenium in the garlic variety known as Nubia red garlic, and, indeed, it could be used as an anticarcinogenic agent.

Expression patterns and quantitative assessment of neurochemical markers in the lung of the gray bichir, Polypterus senegalus (Cuvier, 1829).

Anatomical and functional studies of the autonomic innervation and the putative oxygen receptors-the neuroepithelial (NEC)-like cells of the bichirs are lacking. The present paper describes the distribution of both NEC-like cells and the polymorphous granular cells (PGCs) that populate the mucociliated epithelium of the lung in the air breathing fish Polypterus senegalus. By using confocal immunohistochemistry we determined the coexpression of specific neurochemical markers. Colocalization studies showed that 5HT is coexpressed with calbindin and nNOS in the NEC-like cells and PGCs, and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) is coexpressed with nNOS in both the two types of cells. Distribution of neurotransmitters (5HT, NO) and neurochemical marker ChAT is also investigated in the lung muscle. The role of these transmitters may be the autonomic control of circulation and respiration. However, the importance of these signals for the respiratory responses in the species studied is still not known. The present study also shows for the first time the simultaneous occurrence of piscidin 1 and 5HT in the PGCs. The function of these cells being equivalent to ones found in fish gill subepithelial parenchyma, is still not known. Due to the importance of piscidin 1 in local immune defense, more research is useful to understand a possible interaction of PGCs with immune response in the bichir lung.

Correlation between dioxin and endometriosis: an epigenetic route to unravel the pathogenesis of the disease.

INTRODUCTION: Environmental toxicants can act as endocrine disrupters on the female reproductive system. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is resistant to degradation and due to its lipophilic nature, accumulates in the fat tissue and in the food chain. Human and animal exposure to TCDD affects levels of the steroid receptors and steroid-responsive gene expression and has an impact on metabolism and serum transport of steroids. Gene expression is commonly altered in endometriosis and in the eutopic endometrium of women with the disease. Aberrantly expressed genes include those associated with the regulation of transcription, proliferation, sex steroid metabolism, apoptosis, cell cycle, the immune response and cell adhesion. METHODS: In this paper, we review the evidence about TCDD's effect on eutopic and ectopic endometrium, in order to unravel the machinery behind the dysregulation of immune and hormonal homeostasis caused by this environmental toxicant. CONCLUSION: The evidence collected in this review suggests that TCDD could modulate transcription at multiple levels, including the epigenetic level, and via microRNAs, thus disturbing the physiologic processes mediated through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathways. Exposure to TCDD also modulates the immune response by influencing the production and action of endometrial cytokines and chemokines, destroying mucosal immunity of the reproductive tract and re-directing the tissue distribution and behavior of leukocytes. Despite this large body of evidence, current human-based epidemiological studies on the association between TCDD and endometriosis remain controversial.

[Contamination of the food products by lead, cadmium and copper in the area at risk of Gela (Sicily)]. / Contaminazione da piombo, cadmio e rame di prodotti alimentari nell'area a rischio di Gela.

OBJECTIVE: to make an initial evaluation on the impact of environmental pollution on the food safety of some agricultural products in the area of Gela, an official area of environmental crisis according to Italian legislation. SETTING: Gela (Caltanisetta ) Sicily MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: the investigation looked at the contamination of the food chain, one of the main sources of exposure for the local population. A sample of 13 artichokes and 13 tomatoes where sprayed with contaminated water and the levels of Pb (II), Cd (II) end Cu (II) where then measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: the analysis of the samples investigated shows a high level of metal contamination which can be linked to both the polluted water and air. It is therefore easier to forecast a scenario of exposure for the local population through the food chain.

Seqüelas bucais em crianças submetidas à terapia antineoplásica: causas e definição do papel do cirurgião dentista / Oral sequelae in children submitted to the antineoplastic therapy: causes and definition of the dental surgeon's role

Crianças imunossuprimidas, dentre elas as portadoras de câncer, requerem um acompanhamento odontológico integrado ao atendimento médico. Isso porque são portadoras de inúmeras condições bucais que surgem em decorrência da terapia antineoplástica. O objetivo do trabalho foi fazer uma revisão bibliográfica sobre as alterações bucais mais freqüentes em crianças com câncer e suas possíveis causas, além de definir o papel do cirurgião dentista nesse processo. As seqüelas bucais mais freqüentes decorrentes do câncer em crianças são: xerostomia, mucosite, candidíase, cárie; todas decorrentes da radioterapia e/ou quimioterapia. A presença de um cirurgião dentista na equipe multidisciplinar que atende esses pacientes é de grande auxílio na prevenção e no controle das seqüelas bucais.

Pesticide and plasticizer residues in bergamot essential oils from Calabria (Italy).

Organophosphorus and organochlorine pesticides, phosphorated plasticizers, chloroparaffins and phthalate esters contamination in bergamot essential oils produced in Calabria in the crop years 1999-2000 was studied by HRGC in connection with detectors FPD, ECD, MS. Residues of dicofol and tetradifon were found in oils from both crop years. The mean dicofol concentration was 0.26 mg/l in samples from 1999 and 0.20 mg/l in those from 2000; the mean tetradifon content was 0.06 mg/l for both the crop years. Among plasticizers, residues of diisobutyl phthalate, di-n-butyl phthalate, and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate were found in samples from crop years 1999 and 2000, the mean content were 1.22 and 1.23 mg/l, 1.51 and 1.65 mg/l, 1.38 and 1.42 mg/l respectively.

Determination of selenium in nuts by cathodic stripping potentiometry (CSP).

The aim of this work was to determine the selenium content in nut samples by cathodic stripping potentiometry. Dry-powdered nuts were digested by HNO(3) and dissolved with concentrated hydrochloric acid. To avoid the interference of natural oxygen, the potentiometric determination of selenium was carried out in an electrolyte solution consisting of 2 M CaCl(2) and 4 M HCl. The analysis was executed applying an electrolysis potential of -150 mV for 60 s and a constant current of -30 microA. Under these conditions, detection limits lower than 1.0 ng g(-)(1) were obtained for selenium analysis in nuts. The relative standard deviation of these measurements (expressed as rsd %) ranged from 0.44 to 0.88% while recoveries ranged from 90.2 to 95.3%. The results obtained with the proposed method were compared with those obtained via hydride vapor generation atomic absorption spectroscopy, a common method for determining selenium. The results of the two methods agreed within 5% for almond, hazelnut, and pistachio samples. The mean concentrations of selenium determined in Sicilian samples of almond, hazelnut, and pistachio were 531 +/- 1, 865 +/- 1, and 893 +/- 4 microg/kg, respectively.