The Role of Glutathione-S Transferase in Psoriasis and Associated Comorbidities and the Effect of Dimethyl Fumarate in This Pathway.

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by well-demarcated scaly plaques. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the psoriasis pathogenesis and is associated with the disease severity. Dimethyl fumarate modulates the activity of the pro-inflammatory transcription factors. This is responsible for the downregulation of inflammatory cytokines and an overall shift from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory/regulatory response. Both steps are necessary for the amelioration of psoriatic inflammation, although additional mechanisms have been proposed. Several studies reported a long-term effectiveness and safety of dimethyl fumarate monotherapy in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Furthermore, psoriasis is a chronic disease often associated to metabolic comorbidities, as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, in which glutathione-S transferase deregulation is present. Glutathione-S transferase is involved in the antioxidant system. An increase of its activity in psoriatic epidermis in comparison with the uninvolved and normal epidermal biopsies has been reported. Dimethyl fumarate depletes glutathione-S transferase by formation of covalently linked conjugates. This review investigates the anti-inflammatory role of dimethyl fumarate in oxidative stress and its effect by reducing oxidative stress. The glutathione-S transferase regulation is helpful in treating psoriasis, with an anti-inflammatory effect on the keratinocytes hyperproliferation, and in modulation of metabolic comorbidities.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in a Large Cohort of Italian Police Officers.

Certain professional categories are at a high occupational exposure to COVID-19. The aim of this survey was to quantify the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among police officers in Italy and identify its correlates. In this cross-sectional study, a nationally representative sample of State police employees was tested for IgG and IgM before the start of the National vaccination campaign. A total of 10,535 subjects (approximately 10% of the total workforce) participated in the study. The overall seroprevalence was 4.8% (95% CI: 4.4-5.3%). However, seropositivity was unevenly distributed across the country with a clear (p < 0.001) North-South gradient. In particular, the seroprevalence was 5.6 times higher in northern regions than in southern regions (9.0% vs. 1.6%). Most (71.2%) seropositive subjects reported having no recent symptoms potentially attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Previous dysosmia, dysgeusia, and influenza-like illness symptoms were positive predictors of being seropositive. However, the prognostic value of dysosmia depended (p < 0.05) on both sex and prior influenza-like illness. The baseline seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in police employees is considerable. A significant risk of occupational exposure, frequent asymptomatic cases and the progressive waning of neutralizing antibodies suggest that the police workers should be considered among the job categories prioritized for the booster COVID-19 vaccine dose.

Suicide mortality data from the Italian police during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suicide is a major public health issue worldwide, with about 880,000 dying annually for such a cause. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to severe social disruption both from health and economic standpoints. Law enforcement personnel have been significantly involved in helping to face the many difficulties due to the pandemic. Police officers have been subjected to further stress from managing social restrictions imposed by governments to contain the pandemic. The Italian State Police steadily approximate 100,000 people aged 25-65 years: 14 subjects (mean age 43.64 years) died by suicide in 2015, 7 (mean age 47.5 years) in 2016, 13 (mean age 45.62 years) in 2017, 10 (mean age 48.1 years) in 2018, 18 (mean age 46.78 years) in 2019, and 12 (mean age 52 years) in 2020. Our records excluded significant changes in suicide incidence rate within 2015-2020 (till December 2020). However, the COVID-19 pandemic spread faster in Italy than in other regions, meaning that the Italian State Police possibly faced prolonged, intense stress. Suicide prevention, therefore, remains a priority, especially during this difficult time.

Prevalence and predictors of latent tuberculosis infection among Italian State Policemen engaged in assistance to migrants: a national cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Better knowledge about tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) epidemiology is a crucial step for the development of effective strategies towards the control and elimination of this deadliest and persistent health threat. No study has investigated LTBI epidemiology in policemen who act as an interface with cross-border migrants. METHODS: A survey to measure the LTBI prevalence and assess the demographic, professional and clinical features potentially associated with tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity was performed in Italian State Police (ISP) employees engaged, even occasionally, in relief activities, hospitality, photographical identification, escorting and accompanying of migrants, regardless of contact with active TB cases. Variables potentially associated with TST positivity were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: From September to December 2014, 4225 ISP workers underwent TST screening and completed the questionnaire for data collection, according to study procedures. The TST was positive in 9.9% of individuals: no active TB cases were registered among the entire study population. Age, previous BCG vaccination and work category resulted independently associated with TST positivity. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study providing updated data about LTBI epidemiology among ISP employees engaged in assistance to migrants and furnish preliminary evidence of possible associations between TST positivity and different conditions that need to be deeply investigated with prospective studies.

[Risk factors in police activities: operational criticism in surveillance programs]. / Fattori di rischio nell'attività di Polizia: criticità operative nei protocolli di sorveglianza.

The planning of specific health surveillance programs for police officers is extremely complex due to difficulty in predictability and variety of occupational hazards. Even in the case of conventional occupational risk factors clearly identified by current regulations, particular working conditions may require specific assessment to effectively identify and quantify the risk of occupational exposure. An extensive program of health surveillance, aimed at promoting overall health and effectiveness of the operators, would be really desirable, in order to help better address a number of risks that cannot be easily predicted. The progressive increase in the average age of the working population and the increasing prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases, may also suggest the need for health surveillance procedures designed to verify continued unqualified suitability to police service, providing for the identification of diversified suitability profiles in relation to age and state of health: accordingly, in regard to our field of interest, there is a close link between medico-legal eligibility and occupational medicine.