Dietary habits affect fatty acid composition of visceral adipose tissue in subjects with colorectal cancer or obesity.

PURPOSE: Aim of this study was to identify a possible relationship among dietary fatty acids (FA) intake, FA adipose tissue (AT) profile and cancer condition in lean vs obese subjects affected or not by colorectal cancer (CRC). Actually, inadequate dietary habits together with physical inactivity are primary determinants of obesity and cancer risk. Changes in lipid metabolism play a crucial role in different types of cancer and key enzymes involved in lipid-metabolic pathways, such as stearoyl-coA-desaturase 1 (SCD-1), are differentially expressed in normal and cancer tissues. METHODS: Food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) were analyzed by Winfood software. FA were assessed by gas-liquid chromatography in visceral AT samples. Estimated desaturase activities were calculated as precursor FA/product FA ratio. Desaturase gene expressions were evaluated by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Lean and obese CRC subjects showed inadequate dietary habits. In particular, lean CRC subjects showed increase in the intake of saturated FA, specifically palmitic (p = 0.0042) and stearic acid (p = 0.0091), and a corresponding reduction of monounsaturated FA consumption, in particular oleic acid (p = 0.002) with respect to lean without CRC. Estimated SCD-1 activity in AT was increased in all the groups vs lean without CRC (pANOVA = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: Unhealthy eating habits, characterizing obese and CRC subjects, may influence the visceral AT profile and contribute to the alteration of the metabolic pathways. The quality of the diet, other than the quantity, can have a main role in the establishment of inflammatory microenvironment and in metabolic changes favouring CRC.

Consumption of extra-virgin olive oil rich in phenolic compounds improves metabolic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a possible involvement of reduced levels of circulating visfatin.

AIM: Phenolic compounds naturally contained in extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) have demonstrated anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The present study aimed at evaluating the effects of a polyphenol-rich extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) (high-polyphenol EVOO, HP-EVOO) on the metabolic control and the production of specific pro-/anti-inflammatory adipokines in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). METHODS: Eleven overweight T2D patients not in treatment with insulin were invited to follow their habitual diet for a total of 8 weeks. During the first 4 weeks (wash-out period), they were asked to consume refined olive oil (ROO, polyphenols not detectable) and then to replace ROO with HP-EVOO (25 mL/day, 577 mg of phenolic compounds/kg) for the remaining 4 weeks. Anthropometric parameters, fasting glycaemia, glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), high-sensitive C-reactive protein, plasma lipid profile, liver function and serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, adiponectin, visfatin and apelin were assessed at the end of each 4-week period. RESULTS: HP-EVOO consumption significantly reduced fasting plasma glucose (P = 0.023) and HbA1c (P = 0.039) levels as well as BMI (P = 0.012) and body weight (P = 0.012). HP-EVOO ingestion determined a reduction in serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST, P = 0.0056) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, P = 0.024). Serum visfatin levels strongly decreased after HP-EVOO ingestion (P = 0.0021). CONCLUSIONS: Daily consumption of polyphenol-rich EVOO might improve metabolic control and circulating inflammatory adipokines profile in overweight T2D patients.

High frequency of antithyroid autoantibodies in pregnant women at increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid autoantibodies (ThyAb) and subclinical hypothyroidism occur more frequently in pregnant women with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus than in healthy pregnant women. Few studies have investigated the presence of ThyAb in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and no significant association between diabetes in pregnancy and thyroid function has been reported. OBJECTIVE: To assess the thyroid biochemical profile and estimate the prevalence of ThyAb in a group of pregnant women at increased risk of GDM due to family and personal risk factors, and to investigate the relationship between a positive family history of diabetes or thyroid diseases and the eventual presence of ThyAb during pregnancy. METHODS: Oral glucose tolerance, serum ThyAb and thyroid function were evaluated in 181 pregnant women with increased risk for GDM (study group). Seventeen healthy pregnant women without risk factors for GDM and with a normal glucose tolerance were recruited as controls. RESULTS: The women who developed GDM showed a mean free thyroxine concentration significantly lower than that observed in the healthy pregnant women and in those with impaired gestational glucose tolerance and normal glucose tolerance. Twenty-nine of the 181 women in the study group (16%) were ThyAb positive. However, the risk of being ThyAb positive during pregnancy was three times greater in the women with positive family history of both diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease than in those with no family history of these conditions. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that women with increased risk of GDM, mostly those with family history of diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease, also have an increased risk of being ThyAb positive during pregnancy. It also highlighted the importance of evaluating thyroid function in pregnant women with impaired glucose tolerance, in view of their increased risk of subclinical hypothyroidism.

Acrylamide-induced chromosomal damage in male mouse germ cells detected by cytogenetic analysis of one-cell zygotes.

Within a project coordinated by the Commission of the European Communities for the detection of germ cell mutagens, the cytogenetic analysis of first-cleavage metaphases was carried out to detect chromosomal damage induced by acrylamide (AA) in meiotic and postmeiotic stages of mouse spermatogenesis. Male mice were intraperitoneally injected with single acute doses of 75 or 125 mg/kg or treated with five daily injections of 50 mg/kg and mated either 7 or 28 days after the end of treatment. Chromosomal aberrations were scored in C-banded metaphases prepared from one-cell zygotes by a mass harvest technique. AA treatment of late spermatids-spermatozoa resulted in significant increases of structural aberrations at all doses tested. The data could be fitted to a curvilinear regression and a doubling dose of 23 mg/kg was calculated. The large majority of observed aberrations were of the chromosome type, including dicentrics, rings and translocations, in agreement with a mechanism of chromosomal damage mediated through the alkylation of DNA-associated protamines. Even though the frequency of aberrations 28 days after treatment was not significantly higher than the control value, the presence of multiple rearrangements in two cells suggested that AA might also have a minor effect on spermatocytes. The results of the cytogenetic analysis of first cleavage metaphases agreed well both qualitatively and quantitatively with the outcome of dominant lethal and heritable translocation assays. AA-induced cytotoxicity was monitored by flow cytometric DNA content analysis of testicular cells. By this method, a dose-dependent depletion of mature spermatids after treatment of spermatogonia and a toxic effect upon primary spermatocytes were detected.

Occurrence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies in children vertically infected with HIV-1.

Autoimmune phenomena, especially occurrence of non organ-specific autoantibodies, are common in congenitally acquired HIV infection, mostly in the symptomatic stages of the disease. Anti-thyroid autoantibodies detected in adult patients represent the only type of organ-specific autoantibodies reported in HIV infection. As far as we know, occurrence of these autoantibodies has not been observed in HIV infected children. In this study thyroid biochemical pattern and possible occurrence of anti-thyroid autoantibodies were investigated in 40 vertically HIV infected, 18 seroreverted and 22 healthy children. 34% of HIV infected symptomatic children showed anti-thyroglobulin antibodies. Asymptomatic patients, seroreverted and healthy controls did not show any anti-thyroid antibodies at the time of the study. High Tg levels were observed in 38% of the 40 HIV infected patients and high TSH concentrations were found in 27.5% of the HIV children. High TSH values were more frequently observed in the infected children with moderate or severe immunocompromised status. Thyroxine binding globulin levels were high in 68% of the HIV children and in 22% of the seroreverted. The finding of anti-thyroid autoantibodies in congenital HIV infected children confirms the thyroid's involvement in HIV infection and provides more information about the wide spectrum of autoimmune phenomena observed in the infection.

[Effects of the combined deficiency of selenium and iodine on thyroid function]. / Effetti della deficienza combinata di selenio e iodio sulla funzionalità tiroidea.

Recent studies reported the role of several trace elements in health and disease. The role of iodine deficiency in thyroid dysfunction is well known. Also the selenium deficiency has been reported to be correlated to thyroid dysfunctions. In fact, although the major role of selenium is related to the glutathione peroxidase system, which protects cellular structures from oxidative damages, selenium plays also an important role in thyroid hormone metabolism as an essential component of the three deiodinase. These regulate inter-conversion of active and inactive forms of iodothyronines. Several studies have been carried out to establish the role of combined selenium and iodine deficiency. This review aims to provide information on the relationship between selenium and iodine intake and thyroid function. Furthermore, the state of art on the effects of the combined deficiency of selenium and iodine is also provided.

[Transient congenital hypothyroidism in iodine deficiency areas. Gruppo di Studio per il Registro Nazionale degli Ipotiroidei Congeniti]. / Ipotiroidismo congenito transitorio in aree iodocarenti. Gruppo di Studio per il Registro Nazionale degli Ipotiroidei Congeniti.

On the basis of data collected in the National Register of infants with congenital hypothyroidism (CH), a mean incidence of 1 case of CH to 3200 live births has been estimated in Italy. Nevertheless a higher incidence (> 1:2000) than national mean value has been observed in several districts of our country. The aim of this study was to verify a possible occurrence of transient hypothyroidism (TH) in these areas. Results of our study showed that the proportion of infants with thyroid in situ was significantly higher in the areas with very high CH incidence than in the remaining parts of the country. Also serum TSH levels at confirmation showed a less severe hypothyroidism in infants of these areas when compared with the other CH infants. Furthermore, preliminary results of diagnosis reevaluation showed 58% of TH in the areas with CH incidence > 1:2000. Lower percentages of TH have been observed in the other areas in relation to the decreasing of CH incidence. Most of the high CH incidence areas are historically affected by iodine deficiency. This observation supports the hypothesis that iodine deficiency can contribute to the occurrence of transient disorders of thyroid function in our population and stresses the need of promoting diffusion of an adequate iodine prophylaxis.

Thyroid autoimmunity in pregnant women at risk for GDM.

Presence of antithyroid autoantibodies (ThyAb) during pregnancy is strictly related to the risk of developing post partum thyroiditis (PPT) and this risk is increased in IDDM pregnant women. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity that begins, or is first diagnosed, during pregnancy. GDM is considered a risk factor for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and various non-organ specific autoantibodies have been found to be associated with GDM, although there is little information on the association of GDM with thyroid autoimmunity. In this study oral glucose tolerance and prevalence of ThyAb were evaluated in a group of 41 pregnant women at increased risk of developing GDM and in a healthy control group. Our results showed that 22% of GDM risk group had impaired glucose gestational tolerance (IGGT) or GDM at the time of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). Moreover, ThyAb prevalence found in the women at increased risk of GDM (14.6%) was similar to that observed in healthy pregnant controls (12.5%). Nevertheless ThyAb frequency was higher in those GDM risk women with family history of diabetes (30.7%).

[Congenital forms of hypothyroidism: study of risk factors and preventive interventions]. / Forme congenite di ipotiroidismo: studio dei fattori di rischio e interventi di prevenzione. Gruppo di Studio per il Registro Nazionale degli Ipotiroidei Congeniti.

Maternal and child health represents one of the most relevant fields of interest in public health and particular attention is given to congenital pathologies. In Italy, the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is 1:3200 live birth. CH is diagnosed at birth by neonatal thyroid screening. This allows a precocious onset of substitutive therapy which avoids severe psychomotor deficits in infants with CH. Moreover, the newborn screening program have permitted to identify transient disorders of thyroid function in newborns. These are essentially due to neonatal, maternal and environmental risk factors, especially iodine deficiency. The National Register (NR) of infants with CH was established in 1987. The aim of the NR is to provide disease surveillance and to monitor efficiency and effectiveness of neonatal screening. Furthermore, the NR represents an useful tool for developing epidemiological studies to identify possible environmental and/or familial risk factors of CH.

[Goiter prevalence and urinary excretion of iodine in a sample of school age children in the city of Rome]. / Prevalenza di gozzo ed escrezione urinaria di iodio in un campione di bambini in età scolare della città di Roma.

The aim of the study was the assessment of the urinary iodine excretion and the evaluation of thyroid volume compared with clinical examination in 1040 schoolchildren (6-14 years old), living in Rome. Mean urinary iodine excretion was 98.52 +/- 49.81 micrograms/l (median 92 micrograms/l). Thyroid enlargement, as assessed by palpation, was found to be grade 1A in 35.4% of the children, grade 1B in 9.6% and grade 2 in 0.2%. Thyroid volume, determined by ultrasound, increased with age, was significantly correlated with body surface area and was significantly higher in females, as compared to males, in the 11 and 12 years old group. Eleven children (1.9%) were negative at palpation (grade 0) but showed thyroid enlargement by ultrasound. The prevalence of goiter determined by ultrasound resulted to be 4.7%.

Protocatechuic acid and human disease prevention: biological activities and molecular mechanisms.

Epidemiological evidence has shown that a high dietary intake of vegetables and fruit rich in polyphenols is associated with a reduction of cancer incidence and mortality from coronary heart disease. The healthy effects associated with polyphenol consumption have made the study of the mechanisms of action a matter of great importance. In particular, the hydroxybenzoic acid protocatechuic acid (PCA) has been eliciting a growing interest for several reasons. Firstly, PCA is one of the main metabolites of complex polyphenols such as anthocyanins and procyanidins that are normally found at high concentrations in vegetables and fruit, and are absorbed by animals and humans. Since the daily intake of anthocyanins has been estimated to be much higher than that of other polyphenols, the nutritional value of PCA is increasingly recognized. Secondly, a growing body of evidence supports the concept that PCA can exert a variety of biological effects by acting on different molecular targets. It has been shown that PCA possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory as well as antihyperglycemic and neuroprotective activities. Furthermore, PCA seems to have chemopreventive potential because it inhibits the in vitro chemical carcinogenesis and exerts pro-apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects in different tissues. This review is aimed at providing an up-dated and comprehensive report on PCA giving a special emphasis on its biological activities and the molecular mechanisms of action most likely responsible for a beneficial role in human disease prevention.