Functional properties of edible insects: a systematic review.

Consumption of edible insects has been widely suggested as an environmentally sustainable substitute for meat to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the novel research field for edible insects relies on the content of bioactive ingredients and on the ability to induce a functional effect in humans. The goal of this manuscript is to review the available body of evidence on the properties of edible insects in modulating oxidative and inflammatory stress, platelet aggregation, lipid and glucose metabolism and weight control. A search for literature investigating the functional role of edible insects was carried out in the PubMed database using specific keywords. A total of 55 studies, meeting inclusion criteria after screening, were divided on the basis of the experimental approach: in vitro studies, cellular models/ex vivo studies or in vivo studies. In the majority of the studies, insects demonstrated the ability to reduce oxidative stress, modulate antioxidant status, restore the impaired activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduce markers of oxidative damage. Edible insects displayed anti-inflammatory activity reducing cytokines and modulating specific transcription factors. Results from animal studies suggest that edible insects can modulate lipid and glucose metabolism. The limited number of studies focused on the assessment of anti-coagulation activity of edible insects makes it difficult to draw conclusions. More evidence from dietary intervention studies in humans is needed to support the promising evidence from in vitro and animal models about the functional role of edible insect consumption.

[Distribution and correlation of uric acid with classic cardiovascular risk factors in an adult population in Campania. VIP project data]. / Distribuzione e correlazione dell'acido urico con i classici fattori di rischio cardiovascolare in una popolazione adulta della Campania. I data del progetto VIP.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to correlate uric acid levels with the classic cardiovascular risk factors in an adult population in Campania. METHODS: The following parameters were assessed in the study population (600 men and 600 women) aged between 25-74 years old, subdivided into 5 age groups (25-34, 35-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74): ECG, arterial pressure and body mass index (obtained by dividing weight in kg by height in metres squared). A blood sample was also taken to evaluate uric and other biochemical variables including: total cholesterol, HDL, L DI, glycemia, triglycerides, red and white blood cells, C3, fibrinogen, platelets and insulin serum levels. RESULTS: The results confirmed the positive correlation between uric acid and red and white blood cells in males, and between uric and the following variables in females: cholesterol, C3, LDL, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, white blood cells, BMI and fibrinogen. When the correlation was performed in the entire population, uric acid correlated with triglycerides and red and white blood cells. Multivariate analysis for the entire population showed a strong correlation between uric acid, triglycerides and white blood cells. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the data reported in the literature and highlights the correlation between uric and the classic cardiovascular risk factors. This association is more evident in females.

[The VIP Project: prevalence of risk factors for ischemic cardiopathy in an area of Campania]. / Il Progetto VIP: prevalenza dei fattori di rischio della cardiopatia ischemica in un'area della Campania.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the VIP Project was to verify the distribution of coronary risk factors and the treatment of high risk subjects among the population in an area of Irno Valley in South Italy. METHODS: In this study, people aged 25-74 years were randomly enrolled from the electoral register and were then visited and subjected to blood venous drawing. The project consisted of three phases: identification and classification of high risk subjects; treatment; follow-up (after 5 and 10 years). In this paper all data gathered during the first control (1998-1999) are reported. Data refer to 1200 subjects (600 men and 600 women). RESULTS: The prevalences of risk factors were the following: hypercholesterolemia (serum cholesterol > or = 240 mg/dl): men 13.6%, women 18.6%; hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglycerides > or = 170 mg/dl): men 33.6%, women 17.9%; hyperglycemia (blood glucose > or = 126 mg/dl): men 11.2%, women 10.4%. The mean levels of systolic blood pressure were: men 132.6 mmHg and women 132.15 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure: men 83.97 mmHg and women 82.86 mmHg. Male subjects with hypertension (> 159/94 mmHg) were 29.1% while female subjects were 28.9%. The prevalence of smokers was 43% for men and 21.7% for women. CONCLUSIONS: Data show some important aspects (especially when they are compared with Montecorvino Rovella Project, an epidemiologic research on cardiovascular risk factors also carried out in the Province of Salerno in 1988-1989): there is a reduction of cholesterolemia and of prevalence of hypercholesterolemia; smokers are decreasing but there is an increase in female smokers; doctors treat men more efficaciously than women; in the female population, aged 45 to 54 years, there is an increase, in unacceptable proportions, in cardiovascular risk factors.

Brain damage in hanging: a new CT finding.

We report a 23-year-old man who attempted suicide by hanging. There have been few reports of involvement of the brain parenchyma shown on CT, all showing ischaemic lesions. This is the first report of multifocal intracerebral haematomas due to hanging seen on CT.

The increased frequency of hypercholesterolemia in southern Italy is induced only by changing diet quality?

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this paper is to evaluate cholesterolemia and triglyceridemia in relation to BMI, alimentary habits and physical activity. DESIGN: We compare our epidemiological data with those obtained in other studies previously carried out in Campania: "CNR-ATS-RF2-OB43". SETTING: Campania (Italy). RESULTS: Data show an increase of these risk factors in Southern Italy from 1978 to 1989. In males, between 20 and 59 years the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia increases from 15.9% in 1978-1979 (CNR-RF2) to 17.8% in 1983-1984 (ATS-OB43), and 20.6% in our own data (1988-1990). The pattern is similar for females: 14.4% (1978-79), 16.7% (1983-1984), and 18.6% (1988-1990). In males hypertriglyceridemia increases from 17% in 1978-1979, to 21.3% in 1983-1984 and 36.2% in 1988-1990. In females from 9.8% to 12.4% and 18% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This reality can be explained through the gradual changing of alimentary habits (high consumption of saturated fats and very little intake of vegetal fibres) and by reduced physical activity that contributes to the progressive BMI increase.

Inheritance of annual habit in celery: cosegregation with isozyme and anthocyanin markers.

Vernalization response was determined in an annual and two biennial celery strains, Apium graveolens L. and their F2 hybrids. Although the annual strain did not require vernalization to bolt, plants exposed to 10°C for 7 days bolted 2 weeks earlier than non-treated plants. Inheritance studies based on F2 and backcross segregations demonstrate that annual habit in celery is partially dominant over biennial and determined by a single gene designated Hb. Cosegregation studies of this trait with nine isozyme loci and a gene determining petiole anthocyanin pigmentation disclosed the following linkage relationships: Adh-1-Sdh-1-Mdh-1, and Got-1-Mdh-2-Hb-A. The recombination frequency observed for Hb and Mdh-2 was too large to use the latter as a useful marker for annual habit.