Search

This is the story of a giant who lived in Abruzzo 200 years ago. He became a symbol for his people and a strong resilience generator. Gigantism, in the history of humanity has always attracted attention, albeit passing over the centuries from myth, from divinity to the freak phenomenon, the freak of nature that becomes a spectacle to show off. The attraction for understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying gigantism developed by the end of 19th century. Increased levels of growth hormone (GH) or insulin-like growth hormone 1 (IGF1) causes overgrowth in pituitary gigantism. The imposing size of the body, in our imagination, represents strength and health, reason why in our imagination it almost becomes a divine mythical image. The story of the Acciano's Giant represents a cultural heritage that passes from one generation to the next, that contributes in giving a sense of identity and continuity. It provides a link from past to present and to the future. Encourages a sense of identity and responsibility contributing to social cohesion, helping individuals to feel members of one community. A disease, represented by the Giant, has become a symbol capable of bringing the community together and giving it the strength to react to environment, nature and history. This is a lesson that teaches us the sense of community. • The story of the Acciano's Giant represents a cultural heritage that passes from one generation to the next. • The imposing size of the body, in our imagination, represents strength and health, so much so that it is translated into an almost divine mythical image. • Increased levels of growth hormone (GH) or insulin-like growth hormone 1 (IGF1) causes overgrowth in pituitary gigantism. • A disease, represented by the Giant has become a symbol capable of bringing the community together and giving it the strength to react to environment, nature and history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteoporosis is a condition characterized by low bone mass and increased bone fragility, putting patients at risk of fractures. Although ageing and estrogen deficiency are probably the two most important risk factors, osteoporosis can occur in any age of life. Currently, growing understanding of bone physiology suggests that factors involved in inflammation are linked with those critical for bone remodelling process, supporting the theory that immune system significantly contributes to the aetiopathogenesis of osteoporosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The cells of the immune system undergo two different kinds of apoptotic processes: activation-induced cell death (AICD), peculiar to immune cells, and damage-induced cell death (DICD), a more generalized phenomenon in response to a variety of cellular insults, mainly oxidative metabolism by-products. AICD is geared towards the elimination of unnecessary lymphocytes following clonal expansion that results from antigenic stimulation, whereas DICD is particularly important for preventing the onset of neoplastic proliferation. We hypothesize that both oxidative stress and chronic antigenic load, which impinge heavily on the immune system, induce decreased lymphocyte susceptibility to DICD and a proinflammatory status leading to increased AICD. This subtle remodeling of AICD and DICD drives immunosenescence, contributing to the phenotypic and functional characteristics of the elderly immune system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]