Effect of the addition of basil essential oil on the degradation of palm olein during repeated deep frying of French fries.

The potential antioxidant power of basil essential oil under frying conditions was explored. Two concentrations (200 or 500 ppm) were added to palm olein (PO) to evaluate their effect on fat oxidation/degradation during repeated frying of French fries at 180 °C. A higher oxidative stability index was detected for PO with basil essential oil at 200 ppm. Both concentrations showed lower p-anisidine values than PO without basil essential oil after 5 d of frying. Addition at 500 ppm resulted in the lowest total polar compounds and free fatty acids contents. Thus, the addition of basil essential oil improved the performance of PO during repeated frying of French fries.

Redescription of the male of Ixodes festai Rondelli, 1926 (Ixodida: Ixodidae) on specimens from Sardinia (Italy).

Ixodes festai Rondelli, 1926 is a poorly known bird parasite tick. Its immature forms have not been described yet, while the adult forms only insufficiently, especially the male. In this note the presence of the male of Ixodes festai for the first time in Sardinia (Italy) is reported and a detailed redescription is provided. Morphometric data as well as photographs performed both with optical and electron microscope (ESEM FEI Quanta 200) are also shown.

[Human cystic hydatidosis in Italy: a public health emergency? Past to present]. / Idatidosi cistica umana in Italia: un problema di salute pubblica? Passato e presente.

Starting from 1991 the Central Office of Statistics ISTAT, according to changed regulations on notification of infective diseases, stopped reporting official national data on human hydatidosis. On the other hand until then notified data, concerning only about a hundred cases per year in mean during the last decades and just 36 in 1991, appeared unreliable, suggesting a diffusion far from the actual. Owing to specific studies on different research groups it is possible to try to describe a not exhaustive but indicative pattern of trend of human hydatidosis in Italy. More recent publications regarding different regions report an annual mean incidence rate of surgical cases of 9.77/100,000 inhabitants in Sardinia, of 1.57 in Emilia Romagna, of 2.30 in Sicily and of 2.33 in Apulia, the latter encompassing only hepatic cysts treated in the region, irrespective of residence of subjects. A comparison with previous studies regarding the period between 1948-1952 and 1980-84 respectively, indicates an increase in the more recent surveys. However, as even underlined by Authors, former surveys were not all-embracing (for example not including patients from private Clinics etc). On the other hand during time, improvements in surgical as well in anaesthesiological skills have made surgery possible in patients previously inoperable, and particularly in old subjects. Conversely, at present, availability of alternative therapies such as chemotherapy, PAIR or modified PAIR-based techniques may allow cases to avoide surgical surveys. However, actual parasite burden in humans may be estimated by assessing the trend of likely young cysts, as due to recent infections. Rate of pulmonary cysts, that are sure to be young, was of 48.6%/100,000 inhab. in 1952 in Italy, then falling to 18.2 in 1980-84 in the 9 considered regions, to 12.7 in Sicily (1989-91), 6.5 in Emilia-Romagna (1989-93) and 15.7 in Sardinia (1990-95). Another "class" of surely young cysts regards all cysts in young age group that necessarily have been recently infected. Ratio of infection rates in the old/young people was around 1 in 1941-52 but was exceeding 3 in 1980-84. In addition available data from more recent surveys indicate that ratio is at present still relatively low in Sardinia (3.9), where sheep-breeding is widespread, and dog-livestock-man interaction is most likely to exist, and conversely is very high in Emilia-Romagna (5.75) where pastoral economy is not prevalent (just 92,000 sheep). Actual trend both parasitological and in terms of public health would ameliorate if studies were provided with long temporary series. In Sardinia all hydatid cases surgically treated from 1969 to 1995 have been registered and analysed with a standardized methodology. During the considered period incidence appears nearly unvaried (16.9 in 1969 vs 15.8 in 1985), with a fall only for the last 5 years (9.1 in 1995), and with an increase regarding 1984-88 period. Analysis according to cyst localization strongly suggests that fall in the last period is only weakly related to hepatic cysts, that conversely are near completely responsible of rise in 1984-88. On the contrary for pulmonary cysts, i.e. young cysts, a slow but continuous and significant decrease (from 6.5 in 1969 to 1.4 in 1995) is evident. In the same way the above- mentioned old/young ratio rises from 1.7 (1969-79) to 3.9 (1990-95). On the whole analysed data suggest that although parasitic burden, strong in central-south Italy for decades, is now slow lowering due to structural changes and improvements in general conditions of life rather to specific preventive actions, human hydatidosis still represents a public health problem that will continue in the future as, because of latency, incidence rates will stay long relevant.

Causality or coincidence: may the slow disappearance of helminths be responsible for the imbalances in immune control mechanisms?

Intestinal infection continues to be a problem worldwide and helminths, which currently infect billions of individuals, are primary culprits. The major burden of disease falls on the populations of developing countries, given that over the last four to five decades helminth infections are disappearing in industrialized societies. In developing countries, a major source of immunomodulatory signals in post-natal life are parasites, particularly helminths, which, unlike most bacteria and viruses, selectively stimulate Th2 function. Helminths and their eggs are probably the most potent stimulators of mucosal Th2 responses. Responses elicited by worms can modulate immune reactions to other parasites, bacterial, viral infections and several unrelated diseases. Bacterial and protozoal infections may also protect against atopy and asthma, through the induction of the Th1 regulatory responses. Today, people in developed countries often live in ultra-hygienic environments, avoiding exposure to viruses, bacteria, ectoparasites and endoparasites, particularly helminths. Perhaps failure to acquire worms and experience mucosal Th2 conditioning predisposes to unrelated diseases. In contrast to this hypothesis it has also been suggested that Th2 responses can make the host more susceptible to other important diseases and to contribute to the spread of them.

Study on immunobiology in endoparasites of public health interest: echinococcosis-hydatidosis.

Cystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus is one of the most widespread zoonoses in the Mediterranean, endemic in some regions such as Sardinia. Some aspects of the research conducted in this area are briefly reviewed for an integrated analysis of both epidemiological and immunobiological knowledge, gained from field observations and experimental studies. Data on epidemiology in intermediate hosts, immunological assessment of exposure in humans, immune response and Th1/Th2 polarization in secondary experimental hydatidosis, kinetics of response in definitive host and cytokine production in experimental models are briefly reported. They confirm the usefulness of an immunobiological approach both in intermediate and definitive hosts and their potential in prevention, monitoring and control of E/H.

Study on immunobiology in ectoparasites of public health interest: Rhipicephalus sanguineus.

The recently defined range of Mediterranean Spotted Fever (MSF) in Sardinia coincides with that of the widely studied Rickettsia conorii vector, the brown dog tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus. This tick is major vector of disease in humans, domestic and wild animals. Characteristic features of the vector with respect to their seasonal activity, abundance as well as incidence of human-tick contact and how these factors influence the incidence of MSF were studied. This paper also looks at host, pathogen and tick vector interactions, re-examining some of the immunobiological parameters involved. However, the primary objective of this research is to develop a strategy that will allow better and safer tick control.

Neonatal acquired paraplegia: retrospective review of 30 patients.

Thirty patients with neonatal acquired paraplegia without an identified cause were reviewed. The mean gestational age was 33 weeks (range, 25-40 weeks); the mean Apgar scores were 6 and 8 (range, 0-10); the mean weight at birth was 1.739 kg (range, 0.750-4.200 kg). Half of the infants needed neonatal intensive care for a mean period of 42 days. Fourteen (46%) had local or generalized infections, 12 (40%) had respiratory complications, and seven (22%) required mechanical ventilation. Seven (22%) had polycythemia, six (20%) had anemia, six (20%) underwent umbilical artery catheterization, and five (16%) received full exchange transfusion. Two clinical presentations were observed: flaccid (24 patients) and hypertonic (6 patients). The secondary deformities that were found and the orthopedic procedures to correct them are described. A vascular or intravascular change, such as thrombosis/embolism or ischemia/hypoxia by vasospasm or failure of autoregulation of spinal blood perfusion, is the final pathway of many events that may produce paraplegia in preterm and low birthweight neonates.

Proportional mortality of dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) workers: a preliminary report.

The authors conducted a proportional mortality study of 1,043 deaths that occurred between 1956 and 1992 among men who used mainly dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDT) in an anti-malarial campaign in Sardinia, Italy, during the late 1940s. For each cause of interest, investigators compared observed deaths with expected deaths. The estimated DDT exposure ranged from 170 to 600 mg/m3 in indoor operations and from 24 to 86 mg/m3 in outdoor operations. Workers directly exposed to DDT had a significant increase in risk for liver and biliary tract cancers (PMR = 228; 95% confidence interval = 143, 345) and multiple myeloma (PMR = 341; 95% confidence interval = 110, 795). However, the PMR for liver and biliary tract cancers was also elevated among workers who did not have direct occupational contact with DDT, and the authors observed no increase in either PMR, by number of days in exposed jobs. Perhaps DDT did not increase the risk or perhaps occupational exposure, although quite high, did not further increase the risk, compared with the heavy baseline exposure of the entire Sardinian population, (i.e., mainly through diet and drinking water). Expansion of the cohort to include all exposed workers, and collection of information to improve exposure assessment are needed to clarify these findings.

Cytokine production during infection with Hymenolepis diminuta in BALB/c mice.

Levels of the cytokines IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4 and IL-5 were monitored in cells from the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of BALB/c mice infected with Hymenolepis diminuta after stimulation in vitro with Con-A. Infection was associated with an increased production of IL-3, IL-4 and IL-5 and a low production of IFN-gamma, indicating the preferential activation of a Th2 response. It is suggested that this reflects the purely lumenal development of this worm. The results are discussed in relation to effector mechanisms known to be involved in immunity to intestinal helminths.

Immune response to the cestode Hymenolepis nana: cytokine production during infection with eggs or cysts.

Analysis of cytokine production (IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5) by in vitro Con A-stimulated mesenteric lymph node cells measured daily after egg or cyst infection of mice with Hymenolepis nana showed that cytokine production varies during parasite development and between different host strains (BALB/c and C3H/He mice). Egg infection stimulates a rapid increase in IFN-gamma, independent of mouse strain. In addition, in BALB/c mice a Th2-like response (IL-4, IL-5 secretion) was stimulated 4-5 days p.i., when the parasites are thought to begin their lumenal phase. After infection with cysts significant increases in IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 were observed at the time when autoinfection with eggs is thought to occur. The level of IFN-gamma paralleled that seen after a primary egg infection. This suggests that there is a predominantly Th1-type response during the tissue phase of H. nana development and that, in BALB/c mice, a Th2 polarization occurs during the first few days of the lumenal phase. The cytokine patterns observed are discussed in relation to host responses during chronic helminth infection.

Epidemiology of hydatid disease in the Mediterranean basin with special reference to Italy.

Hydatidosis, caused by dog tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus, is one of the most important cestode infections in man. Of the four species of the genus Echinococcus, only Echinococcus granulosus is widespread in the Mediterranean basin which is still, unfortunately, a major endemic focus. This article critically reviews its diffusion in humans and sheep over the past twenty years. Although most of the available data are scarce, fragmentary, and not homogeneous, they represent the only possibility at present of evaluating the parasitic pressure.

[Recurring duodenal ulcer. Evaluation of previous complications as a predictive factor of ulcer recurrence after eradication of Helicobacter pylori]. / Ulcera duodenale recidivante. Valutazione della pregressa complicanza come fattore predittivo di recidiva ulcerosa dopo eradicazione dell'Helicobacter pylori.

Duodenal ulcer is a chronic disease, punctuated by acute relapses. The pathogenic mechanism in 90-100% of cases is infection by Helicobacter pylori. Two major strains exist of this bacterium: I strain, which secretes a vacuolating cytotoxin (Vac-A), and another protein named cytotoxin-associated (Cag-A) and type II strain, unable to produce both proteins and unable to produce duodenal pathology. We sought to identify the natural history of relapsing duodenal ulcer after cure of the bacterial infection. In particular, we followed the outcome of patients who repeatedly had bled from their recurrent ulcer disease, after success in eliminating the microorganism from the stomach. None of 12 repeated bleeders had an ulcer recurrence after the cure of Helicobacter pylori infection. Only 3 (5%) of 60 frequent relapser had a new episode of duodenal ulcer during a follow-up reinfection by Helicobacter pylori. We demonstrated that the cure of bacterial infection is also the cure of duodenal ulcer recurrence, but for a few cases, in the latter, event one could hypothesize a defect in the production of growth factors (Epidermal Growth Factor, Fibroblast Growth Factor) or of cellular polyamines synthesis. It is important to improve the diagnosis of reinfection by implementing the urea breath test.

Long-term health effects of the occupational exposure to DDT. A preliminary report.

We conducted a proportional mortality study of 1043 deaths among men who took part in an antimalarial campaign in Sardinia, Italy from 1946 to 1950. DDT comprised 94% of the insecticide used during the campaign, and was sprayed over the soil of the entire region at an average concentration of 10 mg/m2, as well as in all dwellings and animal shelters. Expected deaths were derived from the proportional mortality rates of the general Italian male population, specific by cause, 5-year age groups, and 5-year calendar periods in the period from 1956 to 1992. The proportional mortality ratio (PMR) for cardiovascular diseases was significantly decreased, while nonmalignant respiratory diseases showed a 22% increase in risk of borderline statistical significance. Significant increases in risk among workers exposed to DDT in application or inspection jobs were observed for liver and biliary tract cancer (PMR = 228; 95% C.I. = 143-345) and multiple myeloma (PMR = 341; 95% C.I. = 110-795). The PMR for myeloid leukemia was also increased (PMR = 189; 95% C.I. = 38-552), although it was not statistically significant. PMRs for liver and biliary tract cancer and myeloid leukemia were also elevated among workers who did not have direct occupational contact with DDT (liver and biliary cancer: PMR = 210; 95% C.I. = 117-346; myeloid leukemia: PMR = 170; 95% C.I. = 19-614). No trends occurred according to length of employment in exposed jobs. These preliminary results are somewhat in agreement with experimental studies in rodents and previous epidemiologic findings. Expansion of the cohort to include all applications, and collection of information to improve exposure assessment is needed to clarify these findings.

Hydatidosis: a comprehensive view of the Sardinian case.

In Sardinia the close association of sheep, dogs and humans still exists in some parts of the region, so that ideal conditions persist for the perpetuation of the parasite's life cycle. Two factors contribute to the spread of the disease: the practice of slaughtering sheep at home and the proliferation of dogs, mainly strays. This paper reviews the epidemiological picture and the economic consequences of the disease in man and livestock, strongly suggesting that this endemic disease is a major public health problem.

Effect of an intraperitoneal injection with activated Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta cysticercoids on homologous challenge.

The intraperitoneal injection of excysted-activated cysticercoids of Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta stimulates a protective immunity in mice and rats against an oral homologous challenge with different levels of effectiveness. The immunizing dose reduced only worm growth in the natural host (i.e. H. nana/mouse and H. diminuta/rat models), while in the unnatural host (i.e. H. diminuta/mouse model) expulsion of the worms from the intestine was accelerated. In mice infected with H. nana the effect appeared about 20 days after injection, but a greater effect was found in both models 40 days later even at low dose (1 cysticercoid). In rats the effect appeared 40 days after injection when a large inoculum (50 or 100 cysticercoids) was used. The induced immunity was slow in developing and only partially effective: this was probably related to host difficulties in processing somatic worm antigens, or to the slow production of metabolites by the worms in the peritoneal cavity.

Onset of resistance to light Hymenolepis nana infection in mice of different strains.

Rapidity in onset of resistance against Hymenolepis nana egg infection after a light primary infection was studied in low and high responder mice challenged at different time intervals. A very rapid acquisition of protection was observed in C57 and a delayed response in C3H mice. In both cases the effect of resistance on weight or worm number was related to the time of challenge infection, suggesting a "race against time" involving host response and parasite development, the outcome varying according to host genetic background.

[Congenital diverticulum of the small intestine: Meckel's diverticulum or intestinal duplication?]. / Il diverticolo congenito del tenue: diverticolo di Meckel o duplicazione intestinale?

A congenital diverticulum of the small intestine is a condition with only a low morbidity and is generally a Meckel's diverticulum. There is, however, another congenital malformation, which can closely resemble a Meckel's diverticulum, but has another etiology, the tubular duplication of the small intestine. The authors point out the embryologic, anatomic and histological findings between these different but very similar malformations. It seems that the diagnosis of duplication is not often considered when finding a diverticulum of the small intestine and such a malformation is too easily called a Meckel's diverticulum.

Immune stimulation and Hymenolepis nana cysticercoid expulsion in C3H/He and BALB/c mice.

Adoptive transfer of immunity with heterologous and homologous immune serum, and drug-abbreviated immunizations were used in C3H and BALB/c mice to determine the strain-characteristic time of expulsion of H. nana cysts. Transfer of immune serum did not accelerate worm expulsion in C3H, while elimination of worms was virtually complete by day 8 in BALB/c mice. Loss of worms was also obtained when BALB/c mice were stimulated with abbreviated infections using 20 or 1000 H. nana eggs. The immunizing infection terminated immediately after the tissue phase. After similar immunizations C3H mice again appeared slow responders but were able to affect the intestinal worms population after the higher immunizing infection. The data obtained suggest that the time of worm expulsion was related to the genetically-determined ability of the mice to respond and was independent of the stimulations used for immunization. A quantitative difference in response is proposed to explain the slow responder status of C3H.

Specific cross-immunity between Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta: effects of transfer of immunity with homologous and heterologous immune mesenteric lymph node cells in BALB/c mice.

In BALB/c mice, Hymenolepis nana and H. diminuta stimulate a strong response. Accelerated expulsion of adult worms, as well as protection against larvae, occurred anamnestically when homologous or heterologous mesenteric lymph node cells from immune mice were transferred before challenge. The results further support the hypothesis that worm expulsion is a thymus dependent phenomenon. The extensive cross reactivity found is discussed in relation to the distinctive characteristics of the two worms. These results strongly suggest that there are antigenic similarities between the two parasites and that the accelerated expulsion of heterologous challenge infections is the result of a specific response to shared antigens.

Failure to demonstrate suppressor T cell activity in the lamina propria of Hymenolepis diminuta-infected rats.

The aim of this study was to examine whether there was an increase of suppressor T cells, relative to helper T cells, in the intestinal lamina propria of Hymenolepis diminuta-infected rats, a condition which might allow the parasite to survive for the life-span of the host. Lamina propria cells were isolated by enzymatic procedure. All lymphocytes were passed over nylon wool columns in order to remove B cells; then the T cells were purified by a panning technique using monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies. Changes in the mitogen-stimulated synthesis of IgM, IgG and IgA by normal peripheral blood indicator lymphocytes, as measured by sandwich ELISA, was used as an index of help and/or suppression. No significant suppressor T cell activity was observed in the cultures, either from control or infected intestine.