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Background: Active and Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) are a global cause of death. Osteoporosis (Op) is the most common metabolic bone disorder worldwide, impacting on mortality and disability, with high health and welfare costs. Active smoking is a known risk factor for Op, but there is few information regarding Op and ETS in men. Purpose: The study aim is to evaluate the association between smoking habits and Op in community-dwelling men that have been subjected to Dual-X-ray Absorptiometry and completed a questionnaire about their own and cohabiter’s smoking habits. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study based on administrative data. This study is part of the SIMON protocol. The binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the role of ETS on the risk of Op, adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and eGFR. Results: Four hundred sixteen men were selected and, based on questionnaire replies, 167 were classified as current smokers (CS), 93 as passive smokers (PS) and 156 as never smokers (NS). NS showed a lower prevalence of past fragility fracture, radiological features of osteoporosis and hypovitaminosis D compared to PS and CS (p < 0.05). NS showed a lower prevalence of Op compared to PS and CS, also after correction for age, BMI, T2DM and eGFR (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study results demonstrate that PS and CS have a higher risk of Op, fragility fractures and vitamin D deficiency compared to NS.

Purpose: Current smoking is a risk factor for osteoporosis (Op), but few data are available regarding the passive smoke impact on Op susceptibility. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the association between the smoking habits and Op in community-dwelling women undergoing dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Methods: On 01/06/2018, general practitioners from “COMEGEN” Medical Cooperative, Naples, Italy, selected the medical records from the last 10 years of women who had a measurement of bone mineral density performed and simultaneously completed a questionnaire about their smoking behaviour and their cohabiters’. The binary logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the role of passive smoke on the risk of Op, adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI). Results: Among 10,616 subjects, 3942 were currently smokers [CS; mean age 69.4 ± 10.4 years; BMI 27.0 ± 4.9 kg/m2], 873 were passive smokers (PS; mean age 67.8 ± 11.6 years; BMI 27.0 ± 4.9 kg/m2) and 5781 were never smokers (NS; mean age 67.8 ± 11.6 years; body mass index (BMI) 27.0 ± 4.9 kg/m2). Of all, 8562 women (mean age 70.3 ± 10.2 yrs; BMI 27.0 ± 4.9 kg/m2) received the Op diagnosis. PS showed an increased Op risk compared to NS [odds ratio (OR) 1.38 (1.14–1.67)] and comparable to CS [OR 1.02 (0.84–1.24)]. Conclusion: The study results demonstrate an association between passive smoke and Op in community-dwelling women already presenting with susceptibility to Op according to Italian essential assistance levels, suggesting that passive and active smoke are equivalent Op risk factors in women.

AbstractThe European hare (Lepus europaeus) is cosmopolitan species, living in a variety of habitats and showing a diversified diet, that has been described mainly from agricultural meadows and crops, with little information available for extreme environments. Here, we describe, for the first time, the diet of the European hare from Mount Vesuvius, using DNA metabarcoding and high-throughput sequencing on DNA extracted from faecal pellets, a proxy for a population living in a volcanic environment. The DNA from pellets was first genetically assigned to European hare using high-resolution melting analysis. The diet of the hare on Vesuvius is mainly composed of herbaceous species belonging to Fabaceae (86.26% of total diet). The most frequent plant items ingested by the species are Galega officinalisand Lupinus angustifolius(67.10% of total diet), although these are detected only sporadically in the study area. Indeed, the spectrum of available plants also includes other easily accessible wild (i.e. Loliumsp., Bromussp., Rumexsp.) and cultivated (i.e. Solanum lycopersicum, Cucumis melo, Pisum sativum) plant items, found only in traces in the diet of the hares. Our contribution adds information on the trophic ecology of the European hare, exploring its ability to live in an extreme environment. This could be useful to set a management strategy for conservation of the species, which is ecologically relevant on Vesuvius as prey for birds and mammals, as well as a vegetation modulator via selective grazing by endozoochory. Furthermore, our study represents the latest information on the diet of the hare living in an environment that no longer exists: an extensive fire destroyed about 80% of the woody area after our sampling. The post-fire regrowth is transforming the original environment and consequently the trophic availability for the European hare.

Purpose: We have recently demonstrated a significant association between osteoporosis (Op) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Caucasian women examined by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for suspected Op. This cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the association between MetS and Op in Caucasian men enrolled in the same geographical area, with identical criteria and in the same time range. Methods: Among subjects enrolled in the SIMON study, we selected the medical records of all free-living men who performed a contextual evaluation of both bone mineral density (BMD) by DXA and MetS constitutive elements (arterial blood pressure, waist circumference, serum levels of triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and fasting glucose). All enrolled subjects refer to “COMEGEN” general practitioners’ cooperative operating in Naples, Southern Italy. Results: Overall, the medical records of 880 men were examined. No significant association between MetS and Op was observed. Among MetS constitutive elements, waist circumference was inversely related to Op risk. Conclusion: In Caucasian men examined by DXA for suspected Op, no significant association was observed between Op and MetS. The study results contrast to those observed in women enrolled in the same geographical area, with identical criteria and in the same time range and may be related to sexual dimorphism occurring in clinical expressiveness of both MetS and Op.

En la actualidad, la obesidad en el niño está mundialmente considerada como una enfermedad de proporciones epidémicas. En 20 años, se ha incluido de forma duradera dentro del panorama pediátrico; muchas enfermedades, consideradas hasta ahora como exclusivas de la edad adulta (hipertensión arterial «idiopática», dislipidemia, diabetes tipo 2) han hecho su aparición en los niños y adolescentes, con dificultades inimaginables de gestión a corto y sobre todo largo plazo. Estos factores aumentan el riesgo cardiovascular y pueden presentarse agrupados en un mismo paciente, formando una entidad nosológica que adquiere el nombre de síndrome metabólico. Actualmente no existe un consenso unánime para definir el síndrome metabólico en el niño. El tratamiento del síndrome metabólico se basa principalmente en el tratamiento de la obesidad y en ocasiones en el tratamiento de la comorbilidades. La elaboración de estrategias de prevención y tratamiento requiere una visión global del síndrome metabólico, interpretado como una entidad dinámica y no estática.

Pituitary deficiency, or hypopituitarism, is a rare chronic disease. It is defined by insufficient synthesis of one or more pituitary hormones (growth hormone, TSH, ACTH, LH-FSH, prolactin), whether or not associated with arginine vasopressin deficiency (formerly known as diabetes insipidus). In adult patients, it is usually acquired (notably during childhood), but can also be congenital, due to abnormal pituitary development. The present study focuses on congenital pituitary deficiency in adults, from diagnosis to follow-up, including special situations such as pregnancy or the elderly. The clinical presentation is highly variable, ranging from isolated deficit to multiple deficits, which may be part of a syndromic form or not. Diagnosis is based on a combination of clinical, biological (assessment of all hormonal axes), radiological (brain and hypothalamic-pituitary MRI) and genetic factors. Treatment consists in hormonal replacement therapy, adapted according to the period of life and the deficits, which may be progressive. Comorbidities, risk of complications and acute decompensation, and the impact on fertility and quality of life all require adaptative multidisciplinary care and long-term monitoring.

Metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for nephrolithiasis. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical and biochemical profile of calcium-oxalate nephrolithiasis in stone formers with metabolic syndrome.A total of 526 recurrent stone formers, 184 of them with metabolic syndrome, and 214 controls were examined. Stone formers with metabolic syndrome showed higher sodium excretion [mean (95% confidence interval), 196 (176–218) vs 160 (150–168) mmol/24h; p<0.01] and lower citrate excretion [2.23 (1.99–2.58) vs 2.84 (2.51–3.17) mmol/24 h; p<0.01] compared to controls, whereas stone formers without metabolic syndrome showed higher calcium and oxalate excretion [5.43 (5.01–5.82) vs 3.58 (2.84–4.19) and 0.34 (0.32–0.36) vs 0.26 (0.20–0.31) mmol/24h for calcium and oxalate, respectively; p<0.01] and lower citrate excretion [2.18 (1.98–2.38) vs 2.84 (2.51–3.17) mmol/24 h; p<0.01] compared to controls.The biochemical profiles was significantly different between stone formers with metabolic syndrome and those without. Dietary habits play a central role in the pathogenesis of nephrolithiasis in stone formers with metabolic syndrome.

Parametric four-wave mixing, stimulated electronic Raman scattering and amplified spontaneous emission cascades have been studied experimentally by single-photon resonant and near-resonant excitation of the 42P levels of dense sodium vapour. The dependence of emission intensities on laser detuning and exciting laser power is discussed.

By illuminating barium vapor with a cw broadband laser tuned to the blue of the 6s1S0→ 6p1P1transition we have observed a red-shifted conical emission. For the same laser detuning we measured a substantial population of the metastable barium levels 5d3DJ. The spatial population distributions appear to be much broader than in the case of zero detuning. The implications of these results on the existing models for conical emission are discussed.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether the proportion of circulating B cells expressing the differentiative antigen CD5 was increased in children affected by type 1 diabetes, and whether the number of these cells was correlated with the presence of anti-islet cell autoantibodies. Sixteen children affected by insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 1) were investigated for the presence of B lymphocytes bearing the CD5 surface molecule, T-cell- specific activation markers, organ- and nonorgan-specific autoantibodies. The number of CD5+CD19+ cells was higher in type 1 children with a very recent onset of the disease, as compared with patients on insulin therapy for more than 30 days and controls (P<0.05). No correlation was found between the number of CD5+CD19+ cells and the presence of either organ- or nonorgan-specific autoantibodies. Our results indicate that CD5+CD19+ cells are involved in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes in children. A potential immunoregulatory role of this B cell population is discussed.

Le test GnRH/LHRH est largement utilisé dans l’exploration des HHC. Pourtant, son intérêt, qui n’a pas été évalué, est incertain.

En France, des dizaines de milliers d’enfants et d’adolescents sont en surpoids. La majorité n’a qu’un excès de quelques kg, mais un petit nombre rentre dans la définition de « superobésité », ce qui correspond à un IMC de 50 à l’âge adulte. Les défauts métaboliques ne sont pas le problème principal de ces adolescents. Progressivement désocialisés, ils ne forment plus aucun projet d’avenir, et n’imaginent pas pouvoir se sortir un jour de leur état. De 1995 à 2010 nous avons pris en charge une grande cohorte d’enfants obèses : plus de 90 % ne purent stabiliser leur poids, ni améliorer de façon perceptible les conséquences de l’obésité. En 2010, nous avons tiré les conséquences de nos échecs, en décidant de consacrer notre effort à la très grande obésité. Après une expérience de pose d’anneaux gastriques, nous avons abandonné cette technique pour concentrer notre offre de soins sur un programme de sleeve gastrectomie par trocart unique. Indications : prédiction d’un poids supérieur à 120kg à 16–18ans, échec de la prise en charge classique. Procédure : parcours d’un an avec consultations et hospitalisations de jour. Détection des complications. Décision finale selon une procédure RCP. À trois années de la mise en place du programme, notre unité assure maintenant une trentaine d’interventions par an. Les résultats ont été brillants, sans complications à ce jour et surtout la perception par tous les patients d’une amélioration de la qualité de vie. L’évidence d’une obésité massive, résistante, évoluant rapidement à l’adolescence, est devenue notre indication.