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Background A large number of studies have demonstrated that regular physical activity during leisure time (LTPA) accounts for a significant protection against cardiovascular diseases (CVD). On the other hand, conflicting findings on the beneficial effects of occupational physical activity (OPA) have been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the possible influence of different amounts of LTPA and OPA on circulating levels of several parameters associated with an increased risk of CVD. Materials and methods We studied 932 individuals (365 M; 567 F, with a mean age of 54 years) living in Florence, Italy, who were enrolled in a population study conducted between 2002 and 2004. Subjects were divided into three classes of LTPA and OPA according to a score derived from a questionnaire that assessed the amount of physical activity performed. Results LTPA was inversely related to body mass index (BMI), hip circumference, diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides, as well as directly correlated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Likewise, a higher OPA was found to be associated with higher HDL cholesterol levels. Moreover, a multivariate logistical regression analysis, adjusted for possible confounders, showed that a moderate-to-high intensity of LTPA was able to confer a significant protection against having abnormal levels of BMI, waist circumference and triglycerides, main features of the metabolic syndrome, whereas no associations between these parameters and OPA were observed. Conclusions A moderate-to-high LTPA was found to be significantly associated with a more favourable cardiovascular risk profile in terms of anthropometric, metabolic and lipid parameters among an Italian population. In addition, a relationship between OPA and HDL-cholesterol was reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate dietary habits and lifestyle of Italian subjects, to provide current data on adequacy of the nutritional guidelines and recommendations especially in relation to primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases and to assess the influence of dietary habits on lipid profile and homocysteine levels. DESIGN:: Cross-sectional. SETTING:: Population-based study. SUBJECTS:: A sample of 520 clinically healthy subjects (211 males, 309 females) with a mean age of 46?y, living in Florence area, Italy. INTERVENTIONS:: Dietary pattern was assessed by trained dietitians through a semiquantitative food questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were drawn for assessment of lipid profile, homocysteine and circulating vitamins. RESULTS:: Contribution from total fats was over 30%in about 70%of subjects and intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA) was above the recommended values in at least 40%of the study population. Furthermore, almost the whole (99.6%) population reported low intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). High levels of total cholesterol were present in over 40%of the study population, whereas abnormal values of LDL-cholesterol were observed in about 30%. High levels of homocysteine were found in 11.7%of the study population. An extremely high percentage of subjects reported low intake of vitamins, especially with regard to folic acid (89%), vitamin B6 (70.1%) and vitamin E (99.6%). In a multiple linear regression model, circulating levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid, and intake of alcohol and vitamin C resulted in being independently associated with homocysteine plasma levels. CONCLUSIONS:: In a typical Mediterranean country, general outlines of Mediterranean diet are not completely followed, especially concerning total fats, SFA, PUFA and vitamins'intake. SPONSORSHIP:: Ministero della Salute (Italy)-‘Progetto per la Salute e la Prevenzione di Malattia’2001-2003.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2005) 59, 584-591. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602112 Published online 2 March 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A multidisciplinary lab was created to test surgical masks due to COVID outbreak. • 435 mask prototypes were tested during the emergency according to the EU standard. • Masks were analyzed according to the material and the number of layers. • A control of aerosol droplet size in the bacterial filtration was found critical. • The standard norm protocols are discussed and best practices are provided. The outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted the worldwide lack of surgical masks and personal protective equipment, which represent the main defense available against respiratory diseases as COVID-19. At the time, masks shortage was dramatic in Italy, the first European country seriously hit by the pandemic: aiming to address the emergency and to support the Italian industrial reconversion to the production of surgical masks, a multidisciplinary team of the University of Bologna organized a laboratory to test surgical masks according to European regulations. The group, driven by the expertise of chemical engineers, microbiologists, and occupational physicians, set-up the test lines to perform all the functional tests required. The laboratory started its activity on late March 2020, and as of the end of December of the same year 435 surgical mask prototypes were tested, with only 42 masks compliant to the European standard. From the analysis of the materials used, as well as of the production methods, it was found that a compliant surgical mask is most likely composed of three layers, a central meltblown filtration layer and two external spunbond comfort layers. An increase in the material thickness (grammage), or in the number of layers, does not improve the filtration efficiency, but leads to poor breathability, indicating that filtration depends not only on pure size exclusion, but other mechanisms are taking place (driven by electrostatic charge). The study critically reviewed the European standard procedures, identifying the weak aspects; among the others, the control of aerosol droplet size during the bacterial filtration test results to be crucial, since it can change the classification of a mask when its performance lies near to the limiting values of 95 or 98%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an aquifer-aquitard system in the subsoil of the city of Ferrara (Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy) highly contaminated with chlorinated aliphatic toxic organics such as trichloroethylene (TCE) and tetrachloroethylene (PCE), a strong microbial-dependent dechlorination activity takes place during migration of contaminants through shallow organic-rich layers with peat intercalations. The in situ microbial degradation of chlorinated ethenes, formerly inferred by the utilization of contaminant concentration profiles and Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis (CSIA), was here assessed using Illumina sequencing of V4 hypervariable region of 16S rRNA gene and by clone library analysis of dehalogenase metabolic genes. Taxon-specific investigation of the microbial communities catalyzing the chlorination process revealed the presence of not only dehalogenating genera such as Dehalococcoides and Dehalobacter but also of numerous other groups of non-dehalogenating bacteria and archaea thriving on diverse metabolisms such as hydrolysis and fermentation of complex organic matter, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis, which can indirectly support the reductive dechlorination process. Besides, the diversity of genes encoding some reductive dehalogenases was also analyzed. Geochemical and 16S rRNA and RDH gene analyses, as a whole, provided insights into the microbial community complexity and the distribution of potential dechlorinators. Based on the data obtained, a possible network of metabolic interactions has been hypothesized to obtain an effective reductive dechlorination process.

Introduction: Treatment with B-vitamins and betaine reduces the high risk of thrombosis in patients with homocystinuria, a metabolic syndrome that is characterized by severe hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy). In contrast, there is no clear demonstration that B-vitamins reduce the risk of thrombosis in patients with mild HHcy: for this reason, many question the clinical utility of measuring total Hcy (tHcy) in patients with thrombosis. However, thrombosis may be the first clinical manifestation of homocystinuria in patients reaching adulthood without signs and symptoms of the syndrome., Aim: 1) to measure the prevalence of severe, previously undiagnosed, HHcy among patients with thrombosis 2) to profile these patients on the basis of their characteristics., Methods: Six Italian Thrombosis Centers completed a first questionnaire, reporting tHcy levels in patients with thrombosis who underwent thrombophilia screening, and a second questionnaire, reporting the characteristics of patients with severe HHcy (tHcy>100μmol/L)., Results: Of 19,678 cross-sectionally collected patients with thrombosis who underwent thrombophilia screening in the last 12.5years (median value, range 6-17), 38 had severe HHcy (0.2%). Their median age at diagnosis was 47years (range 19-83) and the median level of tHcy was 130μmol/L (range 101-262). Venous thromboembolism (71%) was more frequent than arterial thromboembolism (26%); recurrent thrombosis occurred in 42% of cases., Conclusions: Measurement of tHcy in adult patients with thrombosis may reveal the presence of severe HHcy. Since treatment of patients with severe HHcy decreases the risk of thrombosis, measurement of tHcy in patients with thrombosis may prove clinically useful., (© 2013.)

Recently, great interest has focused on the phenomenon of aspirin resistance, which may be defined as clinical or laboratory resistance. Monitoring the antiplatelet effect appears to be relevant in the presence of clinical implications, but no data are available on the possible clinical implications of the failure of aspirin to inhibit tests of platelet function in the setting of acute coronary syndromes. This study evaluated the role of aspirin resistance in the occurrence of 1-year major adverse coronary events (MACEs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who have undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We prospectively evaluated 146 patients (115 men and 31 women; median age 65 years, range 30 to 84) with AMI who underwent primary PCI. Exclusion criteria were the use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, hematocrit

Purpose: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels are a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease; however, little is known about their effects on venous thromboembolism., Methods: We conducted a case-control study of 603 adult patients with a history of venous thromboembolism (at least 6 months after the acute event) and 430 healthy subjects. We measured Lp(a), homocysteine, and antithrombin levels, factor V Leiden and factor II (prothrombin) polymorphisms, and anticardiolipin antibodies., Results: Lp(a) levels >300 mg/L were found in 24% (n = 146) of the patients and in 13% (n = 58) of the controls (P = 0.005). In a multivariate analysis adjusted for acquired and hemostasis-related risk factors, there was an independent association between elevated (>300 mg/L) Lp(a) levels and venous thromboembolism (odds ratio = 2.1; 95% confidence interval: 1.4 to 3.2; P = 0.002). These results were confirmed in the 341 patients with idiopathic venous thromboembolism, as well as in those with recurrent thromboembolism., Conclusion: These results show that Lp(a) is an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism in adults, suggesting that it may be involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic and recurrent disease.

The early onset of atherosclerosis and the involvement of physiological biochemical, and environmental factors in its pathogenesis is well documented. Few data are available on the role of risk factors related to hemostasis in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in the young and, in particular, little information is available on adolescent populations. In the Study of Preventive Medicine and Education Program (Floren-teen Study), von Willebrand factor, a risk factor for cardiovascular disorder, was studied, together with classical cardiovascular risk factors, in apparently healthy students from two high schools in Florence. Familial and personal history, physical examination, and cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated in 144 students (aged 17-19 years). Blood was withdrawn to assess von Willebrand factor (ELISA) and lipid parameters. Levels of von Willebrand factor were significantly higher (P<0.044) in smokers than in nonsmokers and were correlated with the number of cigarettes per day in the whole group (P=0.01) and in females (P=0.006). In females a positive correlation was observed between von Willebrand factor and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=0.0365). There was no significant correlation between von Willebrand factor and blood pressure or between von Willebrand factor and physical activity. In conclusion, this study shows an association between levels of von Willebrand factor and smoking habits and is the first show that even a brief period of smoking affects levels of von Willebrand factor in healthy adolescent females independently of other risk factors. These results stress the relevance of extending prevention programs to reduce smoking in high school students.

Activated protein C resistance (APCR) is a common cause of familial thrombophilia and venous thrombosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of APCR associated with factor V Leiden mutation and its relevance in comparison to other risk factors for thromboembolic disorders in women with a history of previous complicated pregnancies (history of fetal loss in the second and third trimester n = 34, preeclampsia n = 46). The frequency of APCR was significantly higher in women with a history of fetal loss and preeclampsia (23.5 and 26.1%, respectively) compared with a control group (3.8%). The prevalence of antithrombin, protein C and protein S deficiencies and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies were also investigated: the prevalence of at least one disorder was 41.2% in the group with previous fetal loss, 37.0% in the group with previous preeclampsia and 7.5% in the control group., (Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel)