Gender oncology: recommendations and consensus of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM).

BACKGROUND: Following the development of gender medicine in the past 20 years, more recently in the field of oncology an increasing amount of evidence suggests gender differences in the epidemiology of cancers, as well as in the response and toxicity associated with therapies. In a gender approach, critical issues related to sexual and gender minority (SGM) populations must also be considered. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A working group of opinion leaders approved by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM) has been set up with the aim of drafting a shared document on gender oncology. Through the 'consensus conference' method of the RAND/University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) variant, the members of the group evaluated statements partly from the scientific literature and partly produced by the experts themselves [good practice points (GPPs)], on the following topics: (i) Healthcare organisation, (ii) Therapy, (iii) Host factors, (iv) Cancer biology, and (v) Communication and social interventions. Finally, in support of each specific topic, they considered it appropriate to present some successful case studies. RESULTS: A total of 42 articles met the inclusion criteria, from which 50 recommendations were extracted. Panel participants were given the opportunity to propose additional evidence from studies not included in the research results, from which 32 statements were extracted, and to make recommendations not derived from literature such as GPPs, four of which have been developed. After an evaluation of relevance by the panel, it was found that 81 recommendations scored >7, while 3 scored between 4 and 6.9, and 2 scored below 4. CONCLUSIONS: This consensus and the document compiled thereafter represent an attempt to evaluate the available scientific evidence on the theme of gender oncology and to suggest standard criteria both for scientific research and for the care of patients in clinical practice that should take gender into account.

The gender role in the publishing of Authorships in high-impact orthopedic journals.

To evidence the existence of a gender gap in the orthopedic scientific literature by including also differences between some specific orthopedic surgery specialities, such as hands and feet. Then, we also considered gender role in the Authorship linked with the economic wealth of each country belonging to each Author. The gender of the first Authors of journals on orthopedics and sports medicine indexing in the Scopus database with the highest impact factor (IF) related to the year 2019, for the period from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020, were considered. A total of 11 journals were considered, including a total of 5474 articles, 1087 (19.86%) had a woman as the first Author and 4387 (80.14%) a man. During the studied period, the trend seems to be the same (p = 0.906): Men were significantly more producing than women in the orthopedic field both by considering the topic of the journal (p = .003), all the most impacted orthopedic journals (p < 0.001) and economies (p < 0.001). There was therefore a strong significance: In the orthopedic field, there were significantly more male researchers who presented their first name in scientific publications compared to females in all orthopedic subspecialties. The economically poorer countries published less and the role of women became almost absent.

Inspiratory Effort and Respiratory Mechanics in Patients with Acute Exacerbation of Idiopathic Pulmonary fibrosis: A Preliminary Matched Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) may experience severe acute respiratory failure, even requiring ventilatory assistance. Physiological data on lung mechanics during these events are lacking. METHODS: Patients with AE-IPF admitted to Respiratory Intensive Care Unit to receive non-invasive ventilation (NIV) were retrospectively analyzed. Esophageal pressure swing (ΔPes) and respiratory mechanics before and after 2 hours of NIV were collected as primary outcome. The correlation between positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) levels and changes of in dynamic compliance (dynCRS) and PaO2/FiO2 ratio was assessed. Further, an exploratory comparison with a historical cohort of ARDS patients matched 1:1 by age, sequential organ failure assessment score, body mass index and PaO2/FiO2 level was performed. RESULTS: At baseline, AE-IPF patients presented a high respiratory drive activation with ΔPes = 27 (21-34) cmH2O, respiratory rate (RR) = 34 (30-39) bpm and minute ventilation (VE) = 21 (20-26) L/min. Two hours after NIV application, ΔPes, RR and VE values showed a significant reduction (16 [14-24] cmH2O, p<0.0001, 27 [25-30] bpm, p=0.001, and 18 [17-20] L/min, p=0.003, respectively) while no significant change was found in dynamic transpulmonary pressure, expiratory tidal volume (Vte), dynCRS and dynamic mechanical power. PEEP levels negatively correlated with PaO2/FiO2 ratio and dynCRS (r=-0.67, p=0.03 and r=-0.27, p=0.4, respectively). When compared to AE-IPF, ARDS patients presented lower baseline ΔPes, RR, VE and dynamic mechanical power. Differently from AE-IPF, in ARDS both Vte and dynCRS increased significantly following NIV (p=0.01 and p=0.004 respectively) with PEEP levels directly associated with PaO2/FiO2 ratio and dynCRS (r=0.24, p=0.5 and r=0.65, p=0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, patients with AE-IPF showed a high inspiratory effort, whose intensity was reduced by NIV application without a significant improvement in respiratory mechanics. In an exploratory analysis, AE-IPF patients showed a different mechanical behavior under spontaneous unassisted and assisted breathing compared with ARDS patients of similar severity.

The influence of electrolytes in the adsorption kinetics of reactive BF-5G blue dye on bone char: a mass transfer model.

The discharge of harmful dyes in water bodies is a serious pollution problem, dangerous for the ecosystem's equilibrium and human health. In this sense, the aim of this work was to determine the influence of electrolytes (NaCl, KCl, CaCl2 and MgCl2) in the adsorption of Reactive Blue BF-5G dye, the most common dye used in industrial process for fabric colouring, using bovine bone char as the adsorbent. The bovine bone char was characterized by pH of point of zero charge (pHPZC), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray diffractometry (XDR). The characterization revealed a mesoporous structure (pore mean diameter of 94 Šand SBET ∼107 m2 g-1) with negative charge distribution at the surface (pHPZC = 3.8). The adsorption experiments revealed that the presence of KCl enhanced the material adsorption capacity (qmax = 195 mg g-1), that the Sips isotherm best fitted the experimental data (R2 > 0.9 except for KCl solution) and the adsorption process was mono- and multilayered. The kinetic adsorption experiments indicated that the inorganic electrolytes increased the initial adsorption velocity and the data was best modelled by the surface diffusional model (SDM), implying a resistance (aqueous > CaCl2 > NaCl > MgCl2 > KCl) to mass transfer at the surface of the pores which, in turn, prevented the dye diffusion to the interior of the adsorbent (qe = 71 mg g-1). Therefore, small quantities of KCl can be used to lower the mass transfer resistance and provide higher adsorption capacity with reduced time of operation, thus increasing the overall process efficiency.

Which physical activity in patients affected by hypoparathyroidism? A review of the literature and practical recommendations.

BACKGROUND: Hypoparathyroidism (HypoP) is a rare endocrine condition characterized by hypocalcaemia and hyperphosphatemia, as a consequence of absent or improperly low parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels. Patients affected by HypoP have a clinical condition often characterized by paresthesias and muscle spasms, as well as long-term consequences as nephrolithiasis, extraskeletal calcification, and fractures. In the literature, likely due to these symptoms, few data exist regarding the appropriate physical activity (PA) in subjects suffering from HypoP. PURPOSE: This review evaluates the literature on exercise-based approaches to the management of individuals affected by HypoP and evaluates: (1) the effects of physical exercise on muscle cramps and other clinical symptoms; (2) the effects of exercise on PTH and calcium level; (3) the most suitable clinical exercise testing; and (4) the most suitable exercise combination. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic search was conducted using the databases MEDLINE, Google Scholar using "hypoparathyroidism AND Physical Activity", "Training AND hypoparathyroidism", "Exercise AND muscle cramps", "Exercise AND Fatigue" as keywords. In addition, references list from the included articles were searched and cross-checked to identify any further potentially eligible studies. A total of 50 manuscripts were found among which 39 manuscripts were selected. A few clinical studies have been performed in HypoP patients to evaluate PA training protocols. CONCLUSION: Although further research is needed to draw solid conclusions regarding best PA protocols in subjects affected by HypoP, a PA protocol has been proposed within the manuscript to encourage patients to attempt exercise to improve their clinical conditions and their quality of life.

Influence of sex and gender on the management of late-stage knee osteoarthritis.

PURPOSE: The exact nature of sex and gender differences in knee osteoarthritis (OA) among patient candidates for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains unclear and requires better elucidation to guide clinical practice. The purpose of this investigation was to survey physician practices and perceptions about the influence of sex and gender on knee OA presentation, care, and outcomes after TKA. METHODS: The survey questions were elaborated by a multidisciplinary scientific board composed of 1 pain specialist, 4 orthopedic specialists, 2 physiatrists, and 1 expert in gender medicine. The survey included 5 demographic questions and 20 topic questions. Eligible physician respondents were those who treat patients during all phases of care (pain specialists, orthopedic specialists, and physiatrists). All survey responses were anonymized and handled via remote dispersed geographic participation. RESULTS: Fifty-six physicians (71% male) accepted the invitation to complete the survey. In general, healthcare professionals expressed that women presented worse symptomology, higher pain intensity, and lower pain tolerance and necessitated a different pharmacological approach compared to men. Pain and orthopedic specialists were more likely to indicate sex and gender differences in knee OA than physiatrists. Physicians expressed that the absence of sex and gender-specific instruments and indications is an important limitation on available studies. CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare professionals perceive multiple sex and gender-related differences in patients with knee OA, especially in the pre- and perioperative phases of TKA. Sex and gender bias sensitivity training for physicians can potentially improve the objectivity of care for knee OA among TKA candidates.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and flecainide toxicity: a case report and brief literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Takotsubo syndrome, also known as stress cardiomyopathy, is predominantly reported in postmenopausal women and it is often triggered by a physical or emotional stressor. CASE REPORT: We present the case of a 44-year-old Caucasian woman admitted to the emergency department after voluntary intake of 20 tablets of flecainide 150 mg to commit suicide. During the in-hospital stay in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, the patient developed Takotsubo syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: The relative role of flecainide as a possible trigger of the syndrome is discussed in the context of the current literature evidence.

The role of bone anabolic drugs in the management of periodontitis: a scoping review.

The aim of this scoping review was to summarise current knowledge about the effects of bone anabolic drugs on periodontitis, in order to identify new therapeutic strategies for preventing disease progression and reducing tooth loss. A technical expert panel (TEP) was established of 11 medical specialists, including periodontists and bone specialists that followed the PRISMA-ScR model to perform the scoping review and considered for eligibility both pre-clinical and clinical studies published in the English language up to September 2020. 716 items were initially found. After duplicate removal and screening of articles for eligibility criteria, 25 articles published between 2001 and 2019 were selected. Only studies concerning teriparatide, strontium ranelate, sclerostin antibodies and DKK1 antibodies met the eligibility criteria. In particular, only for teriparatide were there both clinical studies and experimental studies available, while for other bone anabolic drugs only animal studies were found. Available evidence about the use of bone anabolic drugs in periodontology demonstrates beneficial effects of these agents on biological pathways and histological parameters involved in periodontal tissue regeneration that suggest relevant clinical implications for the management of periodontitis.

Genetic polymorphisms associated to SDHI fungicides resistance in selected Aspergillus flavus strains and relation with aflatoxin production.

Aspergillus flavus is a common and ubiquitous fungal species able to colonize several agricultural commodities, in both pre- and post-harvest conditions. This species represents a very harmful plant pathogen for its ability to synthesize aflatoxin B1, responsible for human primary hepatocellular carcinoma and classified as a group I (human carcinogenic) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Several approaches have been proposed to control A. flavus development and related aflatoxin production in field and storage conditions. The Succinate Dehydrogenase Inhibitor (SDHI) fungicide boscalid has been shown to control A. flavus growth and aflatoxin contamination both in vitro and in field experiments. However, this compound is classified as medium-high risk fungicide for triggering fungal resistance and, indeed, resistant strains can occur on crops treated with boscalid. In this paper, we selected laboratory A. flavus strains resistant to boscalid grown on agar medium containing 50 mg/L of boscalid. In order to investigate the molecular mechanism responsible for the resistant phenotype, specific primer pairs were designed to amplify the whole SdhB, SdhC and SdhD genes. By amino acid sequence analysis, two point mutations, Tyrosine replacing Histidine at codon 249 of SdhB (H249Y) and Arginine replacing Glycine at codon 91 of SdhC (G91R), were identified. The effect of SDHI boscalid and isopyrazam on mycelial growth and conidial germination was evaluated. Both resistant genotypes showed high resistance (MIC and EC50 > 1000 mg/L) to boscalid. A positive cross-resistance was found between boscalid and isopyrazam. Specific sub-lethal doses of both fungicides (0.5 mg/L of boscalid and 0.01 mg/L of isopyrazam) interfered with the mechanisms associated to pigmentation of colonies. In particular, fungal colonies appeared depigmented lacking the typical A. flavus green colour shown on un-amended fungicide medium. A strict correlation between lack of pigmentation and increasing aflatoxin production was also observed.

The role of ozonized oil and a combination of tobramycin/dexamethasone eye drops in the treatment of viral conjunctivitis: a randomized clinical trial.

PURPOSE: To determine whether topical tobramycin 0.3%/dexamethasone 0.1% plus ozonized oil eye drops reduces clinical signs and infectious viral titers of presumed viral conjunctivitis more than tobramycin/dexamethasone eye drops alone. METHODS: Prospective, single-blind, randomized, parallel-groups trial. Eighty patients with a clinical diagnosis of presumed viral conjunctivitis were randomizedly divided into two treatment groups: a study group and a control group, 40 for each group. Patients in the study group received topical tobramycin 0.3%/dexamethasone 0.1% eye drops, plus ozonized oil eye drops, both four times daily; patients in the control group received only topical tobramycin 0.3%/dexamethasone eye drops four times daily. The treatment was for seven days in both groups. Swabs were taken from the conjunctival fornix for adenovirus PCR analysis on the day of recruitment and at seven days follow-up. Clinical signs were also recorded on the day of recruitment and at follow-up examination: the main outcomes were conjunctival injection and conjunctival chemosis, graded on a 4-point clinical scale, presence or absence of superficial punctate keratitis and subepithelial corneal infiltrates. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was reached in adenoviral infection negativization between the two groups, although the study group showed a higher number of PCR negative results at seven days follow-up. PCR real time detected adenoviral infection in 17 of 24 patients on the day of recruitment and it was positive in 4 patients on the seventh day (viral positivity reduction of 76%). In the control group PCR was positive for adenovirus in 18 of 24 patients on the day of recruitment and in 7 patients at seven days follow-up (reduction of 61%). There was statistically significant difference on conjunctival clinical signs between the study and control groups. Significant difference was also found on superficial punctate keratitis resolution between the study and the control group. In the former superficial punctate keratitis was detected in 14 eyes on the first day and in 5 eyes after seven days while in the latter superficial punctate keratitis was found in 124 eyes on the first day and in 6 eyes on the seventh day. No difference was found in subepithelial corneal infiltrates appearance between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The use of ozonized-oil containing eye drops in combination with topical tobramycin 0.3%/dexamethasone 0.1% eye drops four times daily seems to reduce the signs of conjunctivitis, and the duration of viral infection, although it does not affect the subepithelial corneal infiltrates appearance.

Somatic gene editing ameliorates skeletal and cardiac muscle failure in pig and human models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Frameshift mutations in the DMD gene, encoding dystrophin, cause Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), leading to terminal muscle and heart failure in patients. Somatic gene editing by sequence-specific nucleases offers new options for restoring the DMD reading frame, resulting in expression of a shortened but largely functional dystrophin protein. Here, we validated this approach in a pig model of DMD lacking exon 52 of DMD (DMDΔ52), as well as in a corresponding patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell model. In DMDΔ52 pigs1, intramuscular injection of adeno-associated viral vectors of serotype 9 carrying an intein-split Cas9 (ref. 2) and a pair of guide RNAs targeting sequences flanking exon 51 (AAV9-Cas9-gE51) induced expression of a shortened dystrophin (DMDΔ51-52) and improved skeletal muscle function. Moreover, systemic application of AAV9-Cas9-gE51 led to widespread dystrophin expression in muscle, including diaphragm and heart, prolonging survival and reducing arrhythmogenic vulnerability. Similarly, in induced pluripotent stem cell-derived myoblasts and cardiomyocytes of a patient lacking DMDΔ52, AAV6-Cas9-g51-mediated excision of exon 51 restored dystrophin expression and amelioreate skeletal myotube formation as well as abnormal cardiomyocyte Ca2+ handling and arrhythmogenic susceptibility. The ability of Cas9-mediated exon excision to improve DMD pathology in these translational models paves the way for new treatment approaches in patients with this devastating disease.

MicroRNA in Sjögren's Syndrome: Their Potential Roles in Pathogenesis and Diagnosis.

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) or sicca syndrome was described by Swedish ophthalmologist Sjögren in the year 1933 for the first time. The etiology of the SS is multifunctional and includes a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental as well as epigenetic factors. It is an autoimmune disease characterized by features of systemic autoimmunity, dysfunction, and inflammation in the exocrine glands (mainly salivary and lacrimal glands) and lymphocytic infiltration of exocrine glands. In fact, the involvement of lacrimal and salivary glands results in the typical features of dry eye and salivary dysfunction (xerostomia). Only in one-third of the patients also present systemic extraglandular manifestations. T cells were originally considered to play the initiating role in the autoimmune process, while B cells were restricted to autoantibody production. In recent years, it is understood that the roles of B cells are multiple. Moreover, autoantibodies and blood B cell analysis are major contributors to a clinical diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome. Recently, there has been rising interest in microRNA implication in autoimmunity. Unfortunately, to date, there are only a few studies that have investigated their participation in SS etiopathogenesis. The purpose of this work is to gather the data present in the literature to clarify this complex topic.

Localized morphea after breast implant for breast cancer: A case report.

PURPOSE: Early breast cancer follow-up guidelines for patients who underwent surgery suggest a regular and accurate clinical examination of the breast area, for an early identification of cutaneous or subcutaneous breast cancer relapse. Nonetheless, breast skin lesions arising in patients treated with mastectomy for breast cancer can be caused by several diseases. A series of diagnostic hypotheses should be considered, not only focusing on cutaneous metastasis, but also on dermatologic and systemic diseases. CASE REPORT: In February 2015, a 37-year-old patient underwent a right subcutaneous mastectomy for stage IIA breast cancer. Five months after beginning adjuvant chemotherapy, she noted hyperpigmentation and thickening of the skin on the right breast. Differential diagnosis included local relapse, skin infection, lymphoma, or primary cutaneous disease, and a skin biopsy was performed. The histopathologic specimen showed full-thickness sclerosis, with features of localized morphea. Therapy with clobetasol was prescribed, with progressive resolution of the thickness. The collaboration between many professionals in a multidisciplinary team (oncologist, dermatologist, plastic surgeon, and pathologist) was crucial to achieving the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: In the literature, some articles describe correlation between connective tissue diseases and silicone breast implants, but the pathogenetic mechanisms are unknown. We report a rare case of breast morphea after positioning a silicone implant in a patient who had undergone mastectomy. This clinical report represents an interesting model of multidisciplinary management of a patient with breast cancer who developed an uncommon dermatologic disease. Further studies are needed to clarify the association between silicone implants and breast morphea.

Monitoring of ochratoxin A and ochratoxin-producing fungi in traditional salami manufactured in Northern Italy.

Fungi have a crucial role in the correct maturation of salami, but special attention should be addressed to the production of the nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, and carcinogenic mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA). In a monitoring study conducted in Northern Italy, OTA was detected by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry in 13 out 133 samples of traditional salami (9.8% of the total count). Mycological analysis of these samples yielded 247 fungal isolates which were identified to species level. The most frequent species were Penicillium nalgiovense, P. solitum, and P. chrysogenum. P. nordicum, an OTA-producing species commonly found in proteinaceous food, was not found in these samples. Three isolates were found to be Aspergillus westerdijkiae, an OTA-producing species. In order to check the results of the microbiological identification, 19 different strains of Aspergillus and 94 of Penicillium were tested for the presence of a sequence common to OTA-producing fungi by real-time PCR. None of the studied isolates, including the three A. westerdijkiae, possessed the otanpsPN target which is common to OTA-producing strains. Two out of three isolates of the A. westerdijkiae were also PCR-negative for the otanpsPN gene and did not produce OTA in culture. Conversely, this target sequence was amplified from the DNA purified from 14 salami casings including three casings harboring A. westerdijkiae. The amplification of sequences specific for OTA-producing strains performed on total genomic DNA extracted directly from salami casings provided a more suitable approach than PCR analysis of isolates from salami for the OTA-related otanpsPN gene to evaluate the risk of OTA contamination.

Pathogenicity of Fumonisin-producing and Nonproducing Strains of Aspergillus Species in Section Nigri to Maize Ears and Seedlings.

Species of Aspergillus section Nigri are commonly associated with maize kernels, and some strains can produce fumonisin mycotoxins. However, there is little information about the extent to which these fungi contribute to fumonisin contamination in grain, the damage they cause to maize ears, or their effects on maize seed germination and seedling health. We compared fumonisin-producing and nonproducing strains of A. niger, A. welwitschiae, A. phoenicis, A. tubingensis, and A. carbonarius from the United States and Italy in laboratory and field studies to assess their ability to contribute to fumonisin contamination, to cause maize ear rot, and to affect seed germination and seedling growth. In laboratory experiments, some strains of each Aspergillus species reduced germination or seedling growth, but there was high variability among strains within species. There were no consistent differences between fumonisin-producing and nonproducing strains. In field studies in Iowa and Illinois, strains were variable in their ability to cause ear rot symptoms, but this was independent of the ability of the Aspergillus strains to produce fumonisins. Contamination of grain with fumonisins was not consistently increased by inoculation with Aspergillus strains compared with the control, and was much greater in F. verticillioides-inoculated treatments than in Aspergillus-inoculated treatments. However, the ratio of the FB analogs FB2 and FB1 was altered by inoculation with some Aspergillus strains, indicating that FB2 production by Aspergillus strains occurred in the field. These results demonstrate the pathogenic capabilities of strains of Aspergillus in section Nigri, but suggest that their effects on maize ears and seedlings are not related to their ability to produce fumonisins, and that fumonisin contamination of grain caused by Aspergillus spp. is not as significant as that caused by Fusarium spp.

Persistence with denosumab therapy in women affected by osteoporosis with fragility fractures: a multicenter observational real practice study in Italy.

BACKGROUND: Persistence is commonly considered a key factor for the successful management of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. Denosumab is the first biologic agent developed for the treatment of osteoporosis with satisfying data regarding the persistence with this therapy. AIM: The purpose of this multicenter observational real practice study was to evaluate the persistence with denosumab treatment in post-menopausal women affected by osteoporosis. MATERIAL/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Women were recruited in four specialized centers for the management of osteoporosis in North, Center and South of Italy. We included women with a diagnosis of post-menopausal osteoporosis, aged >50 years, able to obtain a prescription according to the Italian reimbursement criteria in force during the study period for anti-osteoporotic pharmacological treatment. They initiated a treatment with subcutaneous denosumab (Prolia®) 60 mg/every 6 months between November 2011 and May 2016. Women who had received aromatase inhibitors were excluded. Patients were assessed at baseline and every 6 months for all treatment length. Persistence data were evaluated for a total of 36 months. RESULTS: Eight hundred seventy women were enrolled; mean aged 70 years, with a mean body mass index of 24.8 ± 4.1 kg/m2. At the Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry assessment, the mean lumbar spine T-score was -2.76 ± 1.14 standard deviations (SD) and the mean femoral neck T-score was -2.49 ± 0.80 SD. During the study, the total persistence was 91.4%. Total dropouts were 75 (8.6%), higher within the initial 6-month period of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Persistence to denosumab treatment in our observational real practice study was very high. These results suggest that factors such as frequency of visits, pharmacological schedule, and opportunity to call the doctor might play an important role in the persistence and adherence to treatment to obtain maximum therapeutic effect and avoid further fragility fractures.

Are Dietary Supplements and Nutraceuticals Effective for Musculoskeletal Health and Cognitive Function? A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our scoping review was to summarize the state of the art regarding micronutrients in order to identify which of them might effectively improve health status in the areas typically impaired in older people: bone, skeletal muscle, and cognitive function. DESIGN: Scoping review. METHODS: The Italian Study Group on Healthy Aging by Nutraceuticals and Dietary Supplements (HANDS) performed this scoping review, based on the following steps: doing a list of micronutrients related with musculoskeletal or cognitive functions, included in dietary supplements and nutraceuticals commercialized in Italy; planning a research on PubMed, according to an evidence-based approach, in order to the most relevant positive study for each micronutrient into each of the three areas involved (bone, skeletal muscle and cognitive function); identifying the micronutrients effective in maintaining or achieving an adequate health status in older people, specifying the effective and safe daily doses, according to the selected studies. RESULTS: In literature we found 12 relevant positive studies (1 international society guidelines/recommendations, 1 systematic review, 7 randomized controlled trials, and 3 prospective cohort studies). We showed that only 16 micronutrients resulted to have appropriate scientific evidences in terms of improving musculoskeletal health and/or cognitive function in older people: beta-alanine, calcium, creatine, fluorides, leucine, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, vitamin B6, vitamin B9, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K2, and zinc. CONCLUSION: This scoping review showed that selected micronutrients in adequate doses might have an ancillary role in musculoskeletal health and cognitive functions in older people.

The Botanical Monoterpenes Linalool and Eugenol Flush-Out Nymphs of Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera: Reduviidae).

Monoterpenes are the main components of essential oils. Some members of this chemical family present insecticidal activity. Triatoma infestans (Klug) is the main vector of Chagas disease in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Perú. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of six monoterpenes (1,8-cineole, eugenol, linalool, menthol, α-terpineol, and thymol) on the locomotor and flushing out activity of T. infestans. A video tracking technique was used to evaluate the locomotor activity of nymphs exposed to different concentrations of these chemicals applied as films on filter paper. Papers treated with acetone alone were used as negative controls, while solutions of tetramethrin were applied as positive controls. Only linalool and menthol produced hyperactivation. Flushing out was assessed under laboratory conditions using a standardized aerosolization method. All monoterpenes were applied at 1.5 g/m3. 1,8-Cineole, α-terpineol, and thymol flushed out 10% or less nymphs. The average flushing out produced by eugenol was 36.7%. Values of median flushing out time (FT50) could only be calculated for linalool and menthol (16.67 and 42.98 min, respectively). The FT50 value for the positive control tetramethrin (applied at 0.006 g/m3) was 8.29 min. Following these results, the flushing out activity of a mixture of linalool and eugenol was evaluated. The FT50 of this 2:1 linalool:eugenol mixture was 40.73 min. Finally, flushing out assays performed in semifield conditions showed similar results to those obtained at the laboratory.