Senatore cappelli (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) pasta: a study on the nutritional quality of whole grains and its physical form.

Pasta is one of the components of the Mediterranean Diet, despite considerable attention given, its use is still debated. Several studies encouraged the consumption of whole grain because of its many properties and the positive association between refined carbohydrates and insulin resistance, by measuring the Glycaemic Index (GI), an indicator of the physiological effects of a carbohydrate meal. In this study, the GI and polyphenol content of Senatore Cappelli (Triticum turgidum ssp. durum) pasta were evaluated. Using spectrophotometric methods, total polyphenols and flavonoids were found to be 113.5 mg/100 g and 52.96 mg/100 g, respectively. To measure the GI, a standard assay was performed, and values of 47.9 ± 5.2 for long format pasta and 68.5 ± 4.6 for short format pasta were obtained. The present study confirms the presence of polyphenols and flavonoids in pasta Senatore Cappelli. The value of GI is influenced by the pasta shape. These informations could provide valuable data for practitioners preparing personalised diets.

Pathogenic Role of the Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P) Pathway in Common Gynecologic Disorders (GDs): A Possible Novel Therapeutic Target.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid, noteworthy for its involvement both in the modulation of various biological processes and in the development of many diseases. S1P signaling can be either pro or anti-inflammatory, and the sphingosine kinase (SphK)-S1P-S1P receptor (S1PR) axis is a factor in accelerating the growth of several cells, including endometriotic cells and fibrosis. Gynecologic disorders, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine fibroids are characterized by inflammation and fibrosis. S1P signaling and metabolism have been shown to be dysregulated in those disorders and they are likely implicated in their pathogenesis and pathophysiology. Enzymes responsible for inactivating S1P are the most affected by the dysregulation of S1P balanced levels, thus causing accumulation of sphingolipids within these cells and tissues. The present review highlights the past and latest evidence on the role played by the S1P pathways in common gynecologic disorders (GDs). Furthermore, it discusses potential future approaches in the regulation of this signaling pathway that could represent an innovative and promising therapeutical target, also for ovarian cancer treatment.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine alterations in recent onset anorexia nervosa adolescent female patients before and after 6 months of integrated therapy: A case-control study.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex disorder affecting mainly, but not only, teenagers. Researchers agree that AN is deeply associated with a pro-inflammatory state following an impaired immune system, resulting from altered levels of cytokines such as IL-1ß and TNF-α, also impacted by the frequent depressive states. Thus, this case-control study aimed to evaluate the relationship between patients suffering from AN undergoing specialized eating disorder treatment for AN and pro-inflammatory cytokines. To reach our purpose, we assessed eating-related psychopathology and depressive symptoms and measured serum concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α before and after 6 months of integrated therapy (which included psychopharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and nutritional treatment), to define whether selected pro-inflammatory cytokines could be considered a pathophysiological marker of the disorder. A sample of 16 young female patients with early diagnosis of AN, and without any previous treatment, and 22 healthy controls matched by age, sex, and socioeconomic status were enrolled. After 6 months of integrated therapy, a significant decrease of all selected pro-inflammatory cytokines was detected. In addition, an improvement in the anxiety-depressant aspects was also noted. In conclusion, the results obtained suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines are indeed related to the pathophysiology of AN. However, further investigations, involving larger samples of patients with distinct subtypes of AN, are essential to confirm the current findings.

The ALA5/ALA6/ALA7 repeat polymorphisms of the glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx1) gene and autism spectrum disorder.

Autism is a severe neurodevelopmental disorder leading to deficits in social interaction, communication, and several activities. An increasing number of evidence suggests a role of oxidative stress in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Indeed, impaired antioxidant mechanisms may lead to the inadequate removal of H2 O2 with a consequent increase in highly active hydroxyl radicals and other reactive oxygen species causing cellular damages. The GPx1 is one of the most important enzymes counteracting oxidative stress. In this work, we investigated a possible correlation between the GCG repeat polymorphism present in the first exon of GPx1 gene encoding a tract of five to seven alanine residues (ALA5, ALA6, and ALA7) and ASD. Our findings highlighted a high frequency of ALA5 allele in ASD subjects. Moreover, proteins corresponding to the three GPx1 variants were produced in vitro, and the evaluation of their activity showed a lower values for GPx1 having ALA5 polymorphism. The comparison of the secondary and tertiary structure predictions revealed an alpha-helix in correspondence of alanine stretch only in the case of GPx1-ALA7 variant. Finally, to better investigate protein structure, steady-state fluorescence measurements of GPx1 intrinsic tryptophan were carried out and the three tested proteins exhibited a different stability under denaturing conditions. This work demonstrates the importance in adopting a multidisciplinary strategy to comprehend the role of GPx1 in ASD. LAY SUMMARY: Results here obtained suggest a possible role of ALA5 GPx1 variant in ASD. However, given the multifactorial nature of autism, this evidence might be a piece of a more complex puzzle being the GPx1 enzyme part of a complex pathway in which several proteins are involved.

Cerebrospinal Fluid α-Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide: A Comparison between Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) represent an emerging health problem on a global scale, as they are responsible for a significant contribution to the burden of disability in Western countries. Limited numbers of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diagnostic markers are available for each disease (amyloid and tau deposition markers for AD and oligoclonal bands for MS) representing mostly state markers that provide few, if any, clues about the severity of the clinical phenotype. α-CGRP is a neuropeptide implied in nociception, vasodilation, synaptic plasticity and immune functions. This neuropeptide is expressed in encephalic regions connected to memory, attention, autonomic and behavioral functions and is also expressed by spinal motor neurons. The present work confronted α-CGRP levels between 19 AD, 27 MS and 17 control subjects using an ELISA/EIA assay. We measured higher CSF α-CGRP contents in control subjects with respect to AD, as shown in previous studies, as well as in MS patients in comparison to AD. The control subjects and MS patients did not significantly differ between each other. We did not observe a relationship between CSF protein content, albumin quotient and α-CGRP. We also describe, retrospectively, an association between higher CSF CGRP content and higher MRI overall lesion count in MS and between lower α-CGRP and worse attention and visuo-perceptual skills in AD. We speculate that α-CGRP could be differentially involved in both disabling diseases.

The Influence of Age and Oral Health on Taste Perception in Older Adults: A Case-Control Study.

Declining gustatory function, nutrition, and oral health are important elements of health in older adults that can affect the aging process. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of age and oral status on taste discrimination in two different groups of elderly subjects living either in an Italian residential institution (TG) or in the community (CG). A total of 90 subjects were enrolled in the study (58 CG vs. 32 TG). Masticatory performance (MP) was assessed using the two-color mixing ability test. Taste function was evaluated using cotton pads soaked with six taste stimuli (salty, acid, sweet, bitter, fat and water). A positive correlation between age and missing teeth (r = 0.51, C.I. [0.33; 0.65], p < 0.0001), and a negative correlation between age and MP (r = -0.39, C.I. [-0.56; -0.20], p < 0.001) were found. Moreover, significant differences for salty taste, between TG and CG were detected (p < 0.05). Significant differences in bitter taste sensitivity between subjects wearing removable and non-removable prosthesis were also determined (p < 0.05). In addition, significant gender differences and between males in TG and CG were identified (p < 0.05). The best understanding of the relationship between MP, taste sensitivity, and nutritional factors is a necessary criterion for the development of new therapeutic strategies to address more effectively the problems associated with malnutrition in elderly subjects.

A Study on the Relationship between Type 2 Diabetes and Taste Function in Patients with Good Glycemic Control.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has a very high impact on quality of life as it is characterized by disabling complications. There is little evidence about taste alterations in diabetes. Since many individual factors are involved in the onset of diabetes, the purpose of our study is to search a possible link between diabetes and individual taste function. Thirty-two participants with T2DM and 32 volunteers without T2DM (healthy controls) were recruited. Four concentrations of each of the four basic tastes (sweet, sour, salty, bitter), and pure rapeseed oil and water, were applied with cotton pads to the protruded tongue, immediately posterior to its first third, either to the left or right side. The results showed significant differences between groups in the ability to recognize sour, bitter, sweet, and water. Taste scores were lower in subjects with T2DM than in healthy controls, and an age-related decline in taste function was found. The taste function reduction associated with T2DM was not related to gender, disease duration, and glycemic control. In conclusion, it can be hypothesized that a general alteration of taste function can lead patients with type 2 diabetes to search for foods richer in sugars, as in a vicious circle, thus decreasing the likelihood of remission of diabetes mellitus.