The hesitancy in the nutritional prevention.

Abstract: Our letter discusses the concept of 'Nutritional Prevention Hesitancy', comparing it to the well-studied phenomenon of 'Vaccine Hesitancy'. Both hesitancies can be fueled by 'infodemics', the rapid spread of accurate and inaccurate information that can lead to public confusion and mistrust in authoritative sources. Drawing parallels between the two, the text highlights that nutritional prevention hesitancy can result in individuals not adopting evidence-based nutritional strategies, potentially leading to poorer health outcomes. The text emphasizes the critical role of diet in preventing diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer, and underscores the need for multifaceted strategies to combat misinformation and promote healthier dietary habits.

The "Nutritional Prevention" within Italy's National Prevention Plan 2020-25.

Abstract: Italy's National Prevention Plan 2020-25 is the first to address nutritional prevention, highlighting its importance in combating chronic diseases. This letter discusses the relationship between food safety, nutritional security, and the need for nutritional prevention in the plan. Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes, are significant public health concerns in Italy, with poor nutrition being a critical risk factor. Incorporating nutritional prevention can promote healthy eating habits, food security and sustainability, reduce healthcare costs, and promote social cohesion and equality. Successful implementation will require cooperation among the government, the private sector, and the civil society to ensure healthier food choices and prevent chronic diseases in Italy.

Mediterranean diet as a natural supplemental resource for athletes and physical activity.

The WHO Global Action Plan on physical activity underlines the binomial "diet and physical activity" for the maintenance of well-being state. The adequate nutritional intake is required for sport and can be achieved by a well-adjusted diet without adding artificial food supplements, whose abuse can even represent a risk and appear as an antechamber of doping. Within a national doping prevention project, a peer education tool was realized in the form of a book and e-book, based on the principle of the Mediterranean Diet as an effective nutritional support in sport and physical activity. This health-literacy book contains recipes from all Italian regions revised for their capability to satisfy sport nutritional needs.

Validación psicométrica de escalas PSS-14, AFA-R, HDRS, CES-D, EV en puérperas mexicanas con y sin preeclampsia / Psychometric validation of scales PSS-14, AFA-R, HDRS, CES-D, EV in postpartum Mexican women with and without preeclampsia / Validação das escalas PSS, AFA-R, HDRS, CES-D e EV em puérperas mexicanas com e sem pré-eclâmpsia

Objetivo: Validar las escalas psicométricas: Estrés percibido (PSS), Apoyo familiar y de amigos (AFA-R), Depresión de Hamilton (HDRS), Sintomatología depresiva (CES-D), Violencia e índice de severidad (EV) en mujeres mexicanas puérperas con y sin preeclamsia. Método: Estudio descriptivo que valida las propiedades psicométricas de las escalas PSS, AFA-R, HDRS, CES-D y EV. Las escalas fueron seleccionadas a través de una búsqueda en la web de los últimos 5 años. Las escalas fueron aplicadas por enfermeras mediante entrevista a 104 puérperas hospitalizadas con y sin preeclampsia. Para la confiabilidad se aplicó el alfa de Cronbach. La validez fue confirmada por un grupo de expertos y prueba piloto. Se utilizó análisis factorial por los métodos componentes principales, Káiser y Varimax. Resultados: Cada escala tuvo consistencia interna; calificaron con nivel aceptable (PSS 0.718 y EV 0.740) y nivel bueno (AFA-R 0.911, CES-D 0.869 y HDRS 0.806). La validez de contenido fue aprobada con: PSS 96.42%; EV 100%; AFA 100%; CES-D 98.75%, y HDRS 92.64%. La estructura factorial estuvo bien distribuida: cada factor obtuvo algunos pesos altos y los demás, próximos a cero. Cada variable estuvo saturada en uno o en 2 factores, por lo que casi no compartieron varianzas. PSS, con 6 factores, tuvo poder explicativo de la varianza total del 72.23%; AFA-R, con 3 factores y poder explicativo del 74.19%; HDRS, con 6 factores y poder explicativo del 70.58%; CES-D, con 6 factores y poder explicativo del 72.87%, y la escala EV tuvo varianza de cero. Conclusiones: Los hallazgos señalan que las escalas PSS, AFA-R, HDRS y CES-D por su confiabilidad, validez y utilidad funcionan teóricamente bien para medir las variables en el grupo de mujeres estudiadas; sin embargo para la escala EV debe considerarse un análisis factorial diferente en otra muestra similar.

Objective: To assess the following scales' psychometric characteristics: Perceived Stress (PSS), Family and Friends Support (AFA-R), Depression-Hamilton (HDRS), Depressive Symptomatology (CES-D), Violence and Index of Severity (EV) among Mexican populations, with and without pre-eclampsia. Method: Descriptive and psychometric study. A web search was conducted to decide on which scales use. Nurses applied the scales to 104 hospitalized post-partum women with and without pre-eclampsia. Cronbach alpha was measured to assess reliability. Validity was confirmed by a group of experts and by a pilot study. Principal components, Kaiser, and varimax factor analyses were carried out.ResultsEach scale had internal consistency-acceptable level: PSS .718 and EV .740; good level: AFA-R .911, CES-D .869 and HDRS .806. Content validity was assessed as PSS: 96.42%, EV: 100%, AFA 100%, CES-D: 98.75% and HDRS: 92.64%. The factor structure was well distributed. Each factor had few important weights, and the rest were close to zero. Each variable was not saturated except in one, and barely in two, factors, thus variance was almost not shared. PSS, with 6 factors, had an explicative power of the total variance of 72.23%; AFA-R, with 3 factors and explicative power of 74.19%; HDRS with 6 factors and explicative power of 70.58%; while CES-D, with 6 factors too, had an explicative power of 72.87%. The EV scale had a variance of zero. Conclusions: Findings suggest that the scales PSS, AFA-R, HDRS, and CES-D, due to their reliability, validity, and usefulness, theoretically work well to assess the different variables among the group of studied women. Another factor analysis on the EV scale should be considered for a similar sample.

Objetivo: Validar as escalas psicométricas: Estrese Percebido (PSS), Apoio Familiar e de Amigos (AFA-R), Depressão de Hamilton (HDRS), Sintomatologia Depressiva (CES-D), Violência e Índice DE Severidade (EV) em mulheres mexicanas puérperas com e sem pré-eclâmpsia. Método: Estudo descritivo que valida as propriedades psicométricas das escalas PSS, AFA-R, HDRS, CES-D e EV. As escalas foram escolhidas a través de uma busca na web dos últimos 5 anos. As escalas foram aplicadas por enfermeiras mediante entrevista a 104 puérperas hospitalizadas com e sem pré-eclâmpsia. Para a confiabilidade aplicou-se alfa de Crombach. A validade foi confirmada por um grupo de experientes e prova piloto. Utilizou-se analise fatorial pelos métodos componentes principais, Káiser e Varimax. Resultados: Cada escala teve consistência interna; qualificaram com nível aceitável (PSS 0.718 y EV 0.740) e com nível bom (AFA-R 0.911, CES-D 0.869 y HDRS 0.806). A validade de conteúdo foi aprovada com: PSS 96.42%; EV 100%; AFA 100%; CES-D 98.75%, e HDRS 92.64%. A estrutura fatorial esteve bem distribuída, cada fator obteve alguns pesos altos e os outros próximos a zero. Cada variável esteve saturada em um ou em outros fatores, pelo que quase não compartilharam variâncias. PSS, com 6 fatores, teve poder explicativo da variância total do 72.23%; AFA-R, com 3 fatores e poder explicativo do 74.19%; HDRS, com 6 fatores e poder explicativo do 70.58%; CES-D, com 6 fatores e poder explicativo do 72.87%, e a escala EV teve variância de zero. Conclusões: As descobertas assinalam que as escalas PSS, AFA-R, HDRS e CES-D por sua confiabilidade, validade e utilidade funcionam teoricamente bem para medir as variáveis no grupo de mulheres estudadas; porém, para a escala EV deve se considerar uma análise fatorial diferente em outra amostra semelhante.

[Improving dietary habits in the effective prevention of excess weight and obesity]. / Migliorare le abitudini alimentari nutrizionali per contra- stare efficacemente sovrappeso e obesità.

The new research survey "Okkio alla salute", conducted in children in the 3rd year of elementary school, has confermed the worrisome phenomenon of the high number of obese and overweight children. Therefore, it is necessary, also in light of the few available resources, to fight back against this phenomenon that has been demonstrated to be a cause of disabling illnesses in adults. There must therefore be collaboration between Departments of Prevention and Hygiene and Nutrition services (SIAN) to build valid and efficient pathways. In this presentation we describe some national projects carried out by various local health agencies to address this health problem.

Presence in the media of the topic "donation and transplantation of organs and tissues" during the 2005 to 2007 period in Venezuela as a strategy to improve its perception in Venezuelan society.

INTRODUCTION: Media are main allies to encourage donation and transplantation. We sought to quantify the presence in the media of the topic "Donation and transplantation (D/Tx)" during the period 2005 to 2007 and to determine the relationship between the volume of information issued by the media and indexes related to the topic. METHODS: We conducted a systematic recording of the news on the topic of D/Tx in print, radio, and television during 2005 to 2007. RESULTS: There was an increased presence in the media by 100% in 2005 and 2006, and by 200% in 2007. The presence in print media was greater than radio (249 +/- 31.5 vs 131 +/- 5.49; P = .05) or television (249 +/- 31.5 vs 92 +/- 7.12; P = .01). We observed a positive correlation between the total number of contacts versus the number of registered volunteer donors (R(2) = 0.9713) and number of contacts versus total number of transplants from cadaveric donors (CTX; R(2) = 0905). The index CTX per million population increased by 30% (2006 vs 2005) and 100% (2007 vs 2005). The percent of family refusals fell from 41% in 2005 to 34% in 2006 and to 31% in 2007. The rate of donors per million population grew steadily from 1.8 in 2005 to 2.3 in 2006, and to 3.6 in 2007. CONCLUSION: The sustained increase in D/Tx briefing as a strategy of Sistema de Procura de Organos y Tejidos has helped to foster a positive perception that is reflected in the increased rate of donation and transplantation in Venezuela.

[The commitment of the SIAN in the prevention of the obesity]. / L'impegno e i risultati dei SIAN nella prevenzione dell'obe- sità.

One of the main objectives of the National Plan of Prevention is prevention of overweight and obesity. The realization of such plan has been submitted at ASL level mostly to the Food and Nutrition Hygiene Services (SIAN) according to their competences, as well specified by the decree of October 16th 1998, which deals with the collective nutritional prevention and overseeing. In the following sections we present the experiences of some SIANs considered meaningful in order to offer a survey, along the whole country, of what already realised about prevention of the obesity and promotion of correct life styles.

Protein kinase A is activated by the n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid in rat ventricular muscle.

During cardiac ischaemia antiarrhythmic n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are released following activation of phospholipase A2, if they are in the diet prior to ischaemia. Here we show a positive lusitropic effect of one such PUFA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the antiarrhythmic concentration range in Langendorff hearts and isolated rat ventricular myocytes due to activation of protein kinase A (PKA). Several different approaches indicated activation of PKA by EPA (5-10 micromol l(-1)): the time constant of decay of the systolic Ca2+ transient decreased to 65.3 +/- 5.0% of control, Western blot analysis showed a fourfold increase in phospholamban phosphorylation, and PKA activity increased by 21.0 +/- 7.3%. In addition myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity was reduced in EPA; this too may have resulted from PKA activation. We also found that EPA inhibited L-type Ca2+ current by 38.7 +/- 3.9% but this increased to 63.3 +/- 3.4% in 10 micromol l(-1) H89 (to inhibit PKA), providing further evidence of activation of PKA by EPA. PKA inhibition also prevented the lusitropic effect of EPA on the systolic Ca2+ transient and contraction. Our measurements show, however, PKA activation in EPA cannot be explained by increased cAMP levels and alternative mechanisms for PKA activation are discussed. The combined lusitropic effect and inhibition of contraction by EPA may, respectively, combat diastolic dysfunction in ischaemic cardiac muscle and promote cell survival by preserving ATP. This is a further level of protection for the heart in addition to the well-documented antiarrhythmic qualities of these fatty acids.

Papel patogénico de los fibroblastos en la membrana sinovial de pacientes con artritis reumatoide / Patogenico paper of fibroblasts in the synovial membrane to the rheumatoide arthritis patient

Desde un punto de vista patogénico la membrana sinovial de pacientes con artritis reumatoide combina dos procesos mutuamente relacionados: 1) un proceso inflamatorio crónico, de base autoinmune, caracterizado por el predominio de linfocitos T del fenotipo cooperador/inductor (CD4+) y 2) un proceso proliferativo del tejido sinovial, denominado pannus, en el cual participan sinoviocitos de estirpe mielomonocítica, los monocitos/macrófagos y sinoviocitos de estirpe mesenquimal, los fibroblastos. Esta última subpoblación celular muestra un fenotipo transformado, y es probablemente responsable del desarrollo incontrolado del pannus, contribuyendo junto a los monocitos/macrófagos a la invasión y destrucción del cartílago y hueso articular. En este artículo se revisan las evidencias que indican trastornos en la regulación de la activación y proliferación de los sinoviocitos tipo fibroblasto en pacientes con artritis reumatoide y se plantea la hipótesis de una posible disregulación funcional de estas células debido a alteraciones en sus mecanismos de señalización post-membrana. La identificación de defectos funcionales a este nivel podría abrir posibilidades terapéuticas novedosas, basadas en la corrección, por métodos farmacológicos, de las posibles alteraciones en la respuesta de los fibroblastos a estímulos ambientales en la sinovial reumatoide

Estudio comparativo del polidocanol (etoxisclero) al 3 por ciento y la solución hipertónica de cloruro de sodio al 20 por ciento en la escleroterapia de várices en miembros inferiores en mujeres: Falcon-Venezuela: agosto-noviembre 1999 / A comparative study of 3 por ciento polidocanol and hypertonic solution of 20 per cent sodium chloride in sclerotherapy of varicose veins in lower limbs of women: Falcon State, Venezuela august-november 1999

Estudio comparativo de polidocanol al 3 por ciento y la solución hipertónica de cloruro de sodio al 20 por ciento en mujeres. Falcón-Venezuela, Agosto-Noviembre 1999. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, para comparar el efecto esclerosante de 2 agentes; solución hiperténica de cloruro de sodio y polidocanol, en el tratamiento de várices en miembros inferiores, en una población de 66 pacientes, con edades comprendidas entre 20 y 70 años. Dividiéndose al azar en dos grupos de 33 pacientes cada uno, el 1er esclerosante se usó en el grupo 1 y el 2do en el grupo 2, con una duración de 3 meses. Obteniendo resultados satisfactorios de 63,64 por ciento con menor número de complicaciones en las pacientes tratadas con polidocanol y 33,34 por ciento en el grupo tratado con la solución hipertónica, las pacientes con tratamiento quirúrgico anterior presentaron mejoría tanto en los s¡ntomas como en la desaparición de várices residuales con la terapia esclerosante

Effect of recombinant human erythropoietin on endothelial cell apoptosis.

BACKGROUND: Recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) induces endothelial cell growth and angiogenesis in vitro. The mechanisms are unknown. Because an increase in endothelial cell survival could play a role in this process, we examined the effect of rHuEPO on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced apoptosis in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs). METHODS: Four groups of cells were studied. The first group was preincubated in serum-free medium followed by treatment with LPS. The second group was preincubated with rHuEPO followed by LPS. The third group was treated with only rHuEPO. Control cells were cultured in the absence of rHuEPO and LPS. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometric DNA analysis, propidium iodide staining, cellular DNA fragmentation by ELISA, and gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: LPS-treated cells showed an increase in hypodiploid DNA (36.4 +/- 6.1%) compared with controls (9.8 +/- 3.3%, P < 0.001). Preincubation with rHuEPO decreased this effect to 14.7 +/- 5.1% (P < 0.001). Apoptosis determined by propidium iodide was observed in 33 +/- 8% of LPS-treated cells, but in only 9 +/- 3% of cells preincubated with rHuEPO cells (P < 0.001). Similarly, DNA fragmentation was decreased in rHuEPO pretreated cells compared with LPS alone (0.155 OD +/- 0.02 vs. 0.538 +/- 0.09 OD, P < 0.001). DNA breakdown was observed in only LPS-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that rHuEPO prevents LPS-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells. This protective effect could be an important factor in the action of rHuEPO on vascular endothelium.

Abnormal pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation in unstimulated peripheral blood T lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Previous reports have shown abnormal responses mediated via the TCR/CD3 pathway in T lymphocytes from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. Recently, we and others have reported augmented TCR/CD3-mediated responses in lupus T cells. It is possible that the pattern of downstream biochemical signals triggered by TCR/CD3 ligation may be altered in T lymphocytes from patients with SLE, thus leading to abnormal distal cell responses. In this paper we have examined the phosphorylation of proteins on tyrosine residues in peripheral blood T lymphocytes from a group of SLE patients and controls. We found a lower frequency of constitutively tyrosine-phosphorylated 119- and 113-kDa substrates and an enhanced frequency of tyrosine-phosphorylated 66- and 25-kDa proteins in unstimulated cultures of SLE T lymphocytes, suggesting an altered pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation in T cells from patients in vivo. Additionally, the protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity of CD45 immunoprecipitates was lower in unstimulated lupus T cells and was enhanced after stimulation via the CD3 pathway in lupus but not control T lymphocytes. The present results seem to suggest abnormal regulation of in-vivo tyrosine phosphorylation in T cells from patients with SLE.

[Role of bones in the physiopathology of idiopathic hypercalciuria: effect of amino-bisphosphonate alendronate]. / Papel del hueso en la fisiopatología de la hipercalciuria idiopática. Efecto del aminobisfosfonato alendronato.

Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that bone mineral content is affected in patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria and that there is a correlation between bone mineral loss and in-vitro cytokine production. At the same time we found that short term treatment with alendronate decreased urinary calcium in these subjects. In the present study we have examined the long-term effects of alendronate treatment (10 mg/day for one year) on urinary calcium, urinary hydroxyproline and bone mineral content in 18 idiopathic hypercalciuric and 8 normocalciuric stone formers. Clinical characteristics, as well as gender and age distribution were similar in both groups. Urinary calcium and hydroxyproline, were measured monthly. Calcium excretion decreased significantly at the end of the first month, and remained lower thereafter (277 +/- 28, before vs. 202 +/- 26 mg/g creatinine, after 12 months on alendronate, p < 0.01). Urinary hydroxyproline decreased significantly during the study (125.5 +/- 32.1 vs. 39.66 +/- 17.5 mg/g creatinine, p < 0.05). Serum calcium, glomerular filtration rate, and urinary sodium, did not change during the study. Lumbar spine bone density (trabecular bone) obtained with X ray absorptiometry revealed a significant increase from 1.162 +/- 0.231 to 1.197 +/- 0.248 g/cm2 (p < 0.01). These changes were associated with a significant decrease in IL-1 alpha mRNA transcription by unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide stimulated blood mononuclear cells, as tested by the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. No changes were observed in bone cortical sites (femoral neck). Normocalciuric subjects showed no significant changes in urinary calcium. In summary, the changes observed in urinary calcium excretion and different bone metabolic parameters, suggest a role of bone in the pathophysiology of idiopathic hypercalciuria.

Possible role of cytokines on the bone mineral loss in idiopathic hypercalciuria.

Decreased bone mass has been reported in patients with idiopathic hypercalciuria. Previous studies, using bioassays, have suggested a role of interleukin-1 (IL-1), in the decreased bone mineral density (BMD) of fasting hypercalciuria. The present study was designed to determine which IL-1 fraction (alpha or beta) correlates with bone resorption and whether other known bone resorting cytokines like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) may play a role in this process. Cytokines production was determined by quantitative and specific analysis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and cytokine production by unstimulated and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined in a group of 29 patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis (17 hypercalciurics and 12 normocalciurics), and 12 healthy controls. The hypercalciuric subjects showed lower vertebral BMD than the normocalciuric or normal controls. There was no difference in spinal or femoral BMD between absorptive or fasting hypercalciurics. A significant negative correlation existed between urinary calcium excretion and vertebral BMD (r = -0.55, P < 0.01). Basal IL-1 alpha production correlated with vertebral BMD (r = -0.45, P < 0.02). This correlation was not seen with IL-1 beta, IL-6 or TNF-alpha production. LPS-induced IL-6 and TNF-alpha production were enhanced in the hypercalciuric patients, when compared to normocalciurics or controls. Control and normocalciuric subjects showed minimal amounts of IL-1 alpha mRNA. In contrast, hypercalciuric patients showed a significant increase of spontaneous IL-1 alpha mRNA transcription. These results suggest that different cytokines could be involved in the bone resorption process observed in hypercalciuria.

[Parasitological research conducted between 1982 and 1991 in a sample of Zinvie (Benin) residents]. / Recherche parasitologique conduite entre 1982 et 1991 chez un échantillon de sujets résidents a Zinvie (Bénin).

The authors point out the frequency of intestinal parasitism in Zinvie (Benin). Out of 18,512 samples, 9,554 (51.60%) were found positive. The main parasites found were: Ankylostoma duodenale, Ascaris lumbricoides, Amoeba, Giardia lamblia. The authors underline the polyparaitism 16.75%.