Ferroptosis: Emerging Role in Diseases and Potential Implication of Bioactive Compounds.

Ferroptosis is a form of cell death that is distinguished from other types of death for its peculiar characteristics of death regulated by iron accumulation, increase in ROS, and lipid peroxidation. In the past few years, experimental evidence has correlated ferroptosis with various pathological processes including neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Ferroptosis also is involved in several types of cancer because it has been shown to induce tumor cell death. In particular, the pharmacological induction of ferroptosis, contributing to the inhibition of the proliferative process, provides new ideas for the pharmacological treatment of cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that certain mechanisms including the Xc- system, GPx4, and iron chelators play a key role in the regulation of ferroptosis and can be used to block the progression of many diseases. This review summarizes current knowledge on the mechanism of ferroptosis and the latest advances in its multiple regulatory pathways, underlining ferroptosis' involvement in the diseases. Finally, we focused on several types of ferroptosis inducers and inhibitors, evaluating their impact on the cell death principal targets to provide new perspectives in the treatment of the diseases and a potential pharmacological development of new clinical therapies.

Catechins and Proanthocyanidins Involvement in Metabolic Syndrome.

Recent studies on natural antioxidant compounds have highlighted their potentiality against various pathological conditions. The present review aims to selectively evaluate the benefits of catechins and their polymeric structure on metabolic syndrome, a common disorder characterized by a cluster of three main risk factors: obesity, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. Patients with metabolic syndrome suffer chronic low inflammation state and oxidative stress both conditions effectively countered by flavanols and their polymers. The mechanism behind the activity of these molecules has been highlighted and correlated with the characteristic features present on their basic flavonoidic skelethon, as well as the efficient doses needed to perform their activity in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The amount of evidence provided in this review offers a starting point for flavanol dietary supplementation as a potential strategy to counteract several metabolic targets associated with metabolic syndrome and suggests a key role of albumin as flavanol-delivery system to the different target of action inside the organism.

[Mortality among a cohort of psychiatric patients hospitalized.]. / La mortalità in una coorte di pazienti psichiatrici ospedalizzati nell'ASL 6 di Livorno negli anni 1990-2003.

In this study, standardized mortality ratios (SMR - observed deaths/expected deaths) were calculated among a cohort of psychiatric patients hospitalized in Livorno (Italy) in the years 1990-2003. Findings show an excess of deaths due to both natural (SMR=2.37) and non natural (SMR=2.37) causes, with a higher rate of excess mortality in younger patients and in the first years after discharge. A slightly decreasing trend in excess deaths was found from 1990-2003. Better and more timely access to healthcare, aimed at improving physical as well as well as mental health, is warranted in this population.

[A Survey About Immunization Coverage In A Sample Of Children Born In The First Semester 1999] / Indagine sulla copertura vaccinale in un campione di nati nel primo semestre 1999.

In compliance with the WHO recommendations, the Livorno ASL n degrees 6 (Local Health Unit - Tuscany, Italy) has carried out a survey about immunization coverage so as to improve its knowledge of the local situation. The study concerned immunization coverage and breastfeeding of resident children between 24 and 30 months of age. The authors used a questionnaire that was filled in by the children's parents. The immunization coverage turned out to be similar to the ICONA study as regards mandatory vaccinations (over 95% at the 24th month of age), and better than the ICONA study as regards recommended vaccinations. Breastfeeding was better than previous Italian studies (87.9% at discharge). The authors consider this study a good method for recognizing local situations and organizing specific educational strategies.