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Functional Role of Dietary Intervention to Improve the Outcome of COVID-19: A Hypothesis of Work.
Messina, G, Polito, R, Monda, V, Cipolloni, L, Di Nunno, N, Di Mizio, G, Murabito, P, Carotenuto, M, Messina, A, Pisanelli, D, et al
International journal of molecular sciences. 2020;(9)
Abstract
On the 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown origin detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The infection spread first in China and then in the rest of the world, and on the 11th of March, the WHO declared that COVID-19 was a pandemic. Taking into consideration the mortality rate of COVID-19, about 5-7%, and the percentage of positive patients admitted to intensive care units being 9-11%, it should be mandatory to consider and take all necessary measures to contain the COVID-19 infection. Moreover, given the recent evidence in different hospitals suggesting IL-6 and TNF-α inhibitor drugs as a possible therapy for COVID-19, we aimed to highlight that a dietary intervention could be useful to prevent the infection and/or to ameliorate the outcomes during therapy. Considering that the COVID-19 infection can generate a mild or highly acute respiratory syndrome with a consequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6 and TNF-α, a dietary regimen modification in order to improve the levels of adiponectin could be very useful both to prevent the infection and to take care of patients, improving their outcomes.
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2.
NREM Sleep Instability in Pediatric Migraine Without Aura.
Roccella, M, Marotta, R, Operto, FF, Smirni, D, Precenzano, F, Bitetti, I, Messina, G, Sessa, F, Di Mizio, G, Loreto, C, et al
Frontiers in neurology. 2019;:932
Abstract
Children with migraine headaches appear to have a range of sleep disturbances. The aim of the present study was to assess the NREM sleep instability in a population of school-aged individuals affected by migraine without aura (MoA). Thirty-three children with MoA (20 males, 13 females, mean age 10.45 ± 2.06 years) underwent to overnight Polysomnographic (PSG) recordings and Cyclic Alternating Pattern (CAP) analyses accordingly with international criteria. MoA group showed a reduction in sleep duration parameters (TIB, SPT, TST; p ≤ 0.001 for all) and in arousal index during REM sleep and an increase in awakenings per hour (AWK/h) vs. Controls (C) (p = 0.008). In particular, MoA children showed a reduced CAP rate% (p ≤ 0.001), CAP rate% in S1 (p ≤ 0.001) and CAP rate% in SWS (p = 0.004) vs. C. Moreover, A phases distribution were characterized by a reduction in slow wave components (total number CAP A1%, CAP A1 index) (p ≤ 0.001) and an increase of fast components representation (total number of CAP A2% and CAP A3%) (p < 0.001) in MoA vs. C. Moreover, MoA children showed an increased A1 and A2 mean duration (p ≤ 0.001). Our findings show a reduction of arousability in MoA group and lower NREM lower sleep instability associated with MoA in children.
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3.
Autoalgometry: An Important Tool for Pressure Pain Threshold Evaluation.
Lorusso, L, Salerno, M, Sessa, F, Nicolosi, D, Longhitano, L, Loreto, C, Carotenuto, M, Messina, A, Monda, V, Villano, I, et al
Journal of clinical medicine. 2018;(9)
Abstract
The term "pain threshold" refers to the measurement of the intensity of a physical stimulus that evokes pain. To estimate the pain threshold, a mechanical or electrical stimulus with increasing intensity is usually applied until the subject under evaluation refers to a pain sensation. This study aims to evaluate the autoalgometric pain threshold as a perfect technique to determine the effects of stimulation rate in relation to both gender and the site of stimulation. In this experimental model, pressure algometry was applied: the subject under evaluation pushed a finger against a small round metal tip, producing and at the same time controlling the intensity of the noxious stimulus. Through autoalgometry, the stimulus intensity was recorded over time, measuring the force change rate applied and studying the subject's behavior on approaching pain. This test was performed with 50 healthy volunteers on two days, applying a fast or slow rate of stimulation. The results described demonstrate that there is a positive correlation between the pressure increase rate and the pressure threshold evaluation. In light of these findings, autoalgometry can be proposed as an objective measure of pressure pain threshold for clinical and research use.
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4.
Potential therapeutic effects of natural heme oxygenase-1 inducers in cardiovascular diseases.
Barbagallo, I, Galvano, F, Frigiola, A, Cappello, F, Riccioni, G, Murabito, P, D'Orazio, N, Torella, M, Gazzolo, D, Li Volti, G
Antioxidants & redox signaling. 2013;(5):507-21
Abstract
SIGNIFICANCE Many physiological effects of natural antioxidants, their extracts or their major active components, have been reported in recent decades. Most of these compounds are characterized by a phenolic structure, similar to that of α-tocopherol, and present antioxidant properties that have been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Polyphenols may increase the capacity of endogenous antioxidant defenses and modulate the cellular redox state. Such effects may have wide-ranging consequences for cellular growth and differentiation. CRITICAL ISSUES The majority of in vitro and in vivo studies conducted so far have attributed the protective effect of bioactive polyphenols to their chemical reactivity toward free radicals and their capacity to prevent the oxidation of important intracellular components. One possible protective molecular mechanism of polyphenols is nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) activation, which in turn regulates a number of detoxification enzymes. RECENT ADVANCES Among the latter, the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway is likely to contribute to the established and powerful antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties of polyphenols. In this context, it is interesting to note that induction of HO-1 expression by means of natural compounds contributes to prevention of cardiovascular diseases in various experimental models. FUTURE DIRECTIONS The focus of this review is on the role of natural HO-1 inducers as a potential therapeutic strategy to protect the cardiovascular system against various stressors in several pathological conditions.
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5.
Antioxidant properties of anesthetics: the biochemist, the surgeon and the anesthetist.
Li Volti, G, Basile, F, Murabito, P, Galvano, F, Di Giacomo, C, Gazzolo, D, Vadalà, S, Azzolina, R, D'Orazio, N, Mufeed, H, et al
La Clinica terapeutica. 2008;(6):463-9
Abstract
General anesthesia can impair immunological defense mechanisms while inducing an inflammatory reaction. Generalized inflammatory reactions involve leucocytes which in turn release inflammatory mediators and free oxygen radicals. General anesthetics include a series of gaseous and intravenous sedative-hypnotic agents indicated for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia as well as for sedation of intubated, mechanically ventilated adults in intensive care units (ICU). Some anesthetics, such as propofol, are characterized by a phenolic structure similar to that of alpha-tocopherol, and exhibit antioxidant properties that have been demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. Similarly, other anesthetics show antioxidant and protective roles but this mechanism is to be related to their ability to induce antioxidant enzyme (i.e., heme oxygenase-1). The aim of the present review is to evaluate the antioxidant properties of anesthetics in various experimental models and if they may be considered efficient therapeutic tools in counteracting oxidative stress during general anesthesia and sedation in ICU.