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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of contamination of venous blood with a lipid-containing solution on parameters measured by a modern blood gas analyzer. We collected venous blood from 17 healthcare workers (46 ± 11 years; 53 % women) into three blood gas syringes containing 0 , 5 and 10 % lipid-containing solution. Blood gas analysis was performed within 15 min from sample collection on GEM Premier 5000, while triglycerides and serum indices were assays on Roche COBAS C702. Triglycerides concentration increased from 1.0 ± 0.3 mmol/L in the uncontaminated blood gas syringe, to 39.4 ± 7.8 and 65.3 ± 14.4 mmol/L (both p<0.001) in syringes with 5 and 10 % final lipid contamination. The lipemic and hemolysis indices increased accordingly. Statistically significant variation was noted for all analytes except hematocrit and COHb in the syringe with 5 % lipids, while only COHb did not vary in the syringe with 10 % lipids. Significant increases were observed from 5 % lipid contamination for pO2, SO2 and lactate, while the values of pH, pCO2, sodium, potassium, chloride, ionized calcium, glucose, hematocrit (10 % contamination), hemoglobin and MetHB decreased. All these changes except lactate and CoHb exceeded their relative performance specifications. Artifactual hyperlipidemia caused by contamination with exogenous lipids can have a clinically significant impact on blood gas analysis. Manufacturers of blood gas analyzers must be persuaded to develop new instruments equipped with serum indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rumen-protected choline (RPC) promotes benefits in milk production, immunity, and health in dairy cows by optimizing lipid metabolism during transition period management and early lactation. However, the RPC success in dairy cows depends on choline bioavailability, which is affected by the type of protection used in rumen-protected choline. Therefore, our objectives were to determine the effects of a novel RPC on dry matter intake (DMI), identify markers of metabolism and immunity, and evaluate lactation performance. Dry Holstein (n = 48) cows at 245 ± 3 d of gestation were blocked by parity and assigned to control or RPC treatment within each block. Cows enrolled in the RPC treatment received 15 g/d of CholiGEM (Kemin Industries, Cavriago RE, Italy) from 21 d prepartum and 30 g/d of CholiGEM from calving to 21 d postpartum. During the transition period, DMI was measured daily, and blood was sampled weekly for energy-related metabolites such as β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), as well as immune function markers such as haptoglobin (Hp) and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LPB). Vaginal discharge samples were collected at the calving and 7 d postpartum and stored in microcentrifuge tubes at −80°C until 16S rRNA sequencing. The main responses of body condition score, body weight, DMI, milk yield, milk components, and immune function markers were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with the effects of treatment, time, parity, and relevant covariates added to the models. The relative abundance of microbiome α-diversity was evaluated by 3 indexes (Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson) and β-diversity by principal coordinate analysis and permutational multivariate ANOVA. We found no differences in DMI in the pre- and postpartum periods. Cows fed RPC increased the yields of energy- and 3.5% fat-corrected milk and fat yield in primiparous and multiparous cows, with an interaction between treatment and parity for these lactation variables. However, we found no differences in milk protein and lactose up to 150 DIM between treatments. Glucose, NEFA, and BHB had no differences between the treatments. However, RPC decreased BHB numerically (control = 1.07 ± 0.13 vs. RPC = 0.63 ± 0.13) in multiparous on the third week postpartum and tended to reduce the incidence of subclinical ketosis (12.7% vs. 4.2%). No effects for Hp and LPB were found in cows fed RPC. Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indexes were lower at calving in the RPC treatment than in the Control. However, no differences were found 7 d later for Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indexes. The vaginal discharge microbiome was altered in cows fed RPC at 7 d postpartum. Fusobacterium , a common pathogen associated with metritis, was reduced in cows fed RPC. Rumen-protected choline enhanced lactation performance and health and altered the vaginal discharge microbiome which is a potential proxy for uterine healthy in dairy cows. The current study's findings corroborate that RPC is a tool to support adaptation to lactation and shed light on opportunities for further research in reproductive health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: ANGPTL3 (angiopoietin-like 3) is a therapeutic target for reducing plasma levels of triglycerides and lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol. A recent trial with vupanorsen, an antisense oligonucleotide targeting hepatic production of ANGPTL3, reported a dose-dependent increase in hepatic fat. It is unclear whether this adverse effect is due to an on-target effect of inhibiting hepatic ANGPTL3. METHODS: We recruited participants with ANGPTL3 deficiency related to ANGPTL3 loss-of-function (LoF) mutations, along with wild-type (WT) participants from 2 previously characterized cohorts located in Campodimele, Italy, and St. Louis, MO. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and magnetic resonance proton density fat fraction were performed to measure hepatic fat fraction and the distribution of extrahepatic fat. To estimate the causal relationship between ANGPTL3 and hepatic fat, we generated a genetic instrument of plasma ANGPTL3 levels as a surrogate for hepatic protein synthesis and performed Mendelian randomization analyses with hepatic fat in the UK Biobank study. RESULTS: We recruited participants with complete (n=6) or partial (n=32) ANGPTL3 deficiency related to ANGPTL3 LoF mutations, as well as WT participants (n=92) without LoF mutations. Participants with ANGPTL3 deficiency exhibited significantly lower total cholesterol (complete deficiency, 78.5 mg/dL; partial deficiency, 172 mg/dL; WT, 188 mg/dL; P<0.05 for both deficiency groups compared with WT), along with plasma triglycerides (complete deficiency, 26 mg/dL; partial deficiency, 79 mg/dL; WT, 88 mg/dL; P<0.05 for both deficiency groups compared with WT) without any significant difference in hepatic fat (complete deficiency, 9.8%; partial deficiency, 10.1%; WT, 9.9%; P>0.05 for both deficiency groups compared with WT) or severity of hepatic steatosis as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. In addition, ANGPTL3 deficiency did not alter the distribution of extrahepatic fat. Results from Mendelian randomization analyses in 36 703 participants from the UK Biobank demonstrated that genetically determined ANGPTL3 plasma protein levels were causally associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P=1.7 x 10-17) and triglycerides (P=3.2 x 10-18) but not with hepatic fat (P=0.22). CONCLUSIONS: ANGPTL3 deficiency related to LoF mutations in ANGPTL3, as well as genetically determined reduction of plasma ANGPTL3 levels, is not associated with hepatic steatosis. Therapeutic approaches to inhibit ANGPTL3 production in hepatocytes are not necessarily expected to result in the increased risk for hepatic steatosis that was observed with vupanorsen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is caused by either interstitial deletions in the 17p11.2 region or pathogenic variants in the RAI1 gene and is marked by a distinct set of physical, developmental, neurological, and behavioral features. Hypercholesterolemia has been described in SMS, and obesity is also commonly found. Aim: To describe and characterize the metabolic phenotype of a cohort of SMS patients with an age range of 2.9–32.4 years and to evaluate any correlations between their body mass index and serum lipids, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and basal insulin levels. Results: Seven/thirty-five patients had high values of both total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; 3/35 had high values of triglycerides; none of the patients with RAI1 variants presented dyslipidemia. No patients had abnormal fasting glucose levels. Three/thirty-five patients had HbA1c in the prediabetes range. Ten/twenty-two patients with 17p11.2 deletion and 2/3 with RAI1 variants had increased insulin basal levels. Three/twenty-three patients with the 17p11.2 deletion had prediabetes. Conclusion: Our investigation suggests that SMS 'deleted' patients may show a dyslipidemic pattern, while SMS 'mutated' patients are more likely to develop early-onset obesity along with hyperinsulinism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between severe hepatic steatosis and metabolic alterations; however, few studies have addressed the potential association between different grades of steatosis and clinical patterns in a non-diabetic population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 223 non-diabetic individuals. The severity of steatosis was assessed using B-mode ultrasound. We analyzed lipid and glucose profiles according to the severity of hepatic steatosis. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values were also recorded to investigate the potential impact of steatosis on kidney function. Results: Patients with steatosis were found to have higher insulinemia and mean values of fasting plasma glucose compared to patients without steatosis. A significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein level was observed only in patients with severe or moderate steatosis. All grades of steatosis were associated with increased triglyceride levels, which were more significant in severe steatosis. Subgroup analysis by body mass index demonstrated a significant difference between lean patients with steatosis and lean patients without steatosis for triglycerides (p = 0.002) and high-density lipoprotein levels (p = 0.019). Finally, patients diagnosed with steatosis demonstrated a higher prevalence of estimated glomerular filtration rate < 90 ml/min. Conclusion: The degree of steatosis diagnosed at ultrasound may predict glucose or lipid metabolism disorders and a decline in kidney function in a non-diabetic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: By the mid-20th century, cardiovascular disease (CVD) had become an important cause of mortality and morbidity in developed countries. The aim was to set up a pilot study to screen citizens aged 45–59 in order to identify modifiable risk factors (RFs). Methods: Our study was conducted from February 2019 to February 2020 on citizens of a population of central Italy, aged 45–59, contacted by letter. The variables evaluated were lipid profile, glycemia, anthropometric parameters, lifestyle and utility of screening. Results: It is important to underline that from the comparison with Italian national data, our results showed that blood pressure and lipid profile had better values. On the contrary, there were some alarm bells: a high percentage (57%) of smokers (63.9 in men and 37.1 in women), a sedentary lifestyle (24.5%), and a significantly higher waist circumference than the reference cut-offs for both men and women. The organization of the screening was considered excellent by 56.3% of women and 48.4% of men, and good by 37.5% of women and 46.5% of men. Conclusions: Our study provides a picture to stakeholders of the state of the health of citizens in the area under study, in the immediate pre-pandemic period; however, it is important to underline that their state of health may be modified after the pandemic period. Furthermore, cardiovascular (CV) screening was perceived by the citizens to be important for health care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plasma lipid profile and anthropometric variables are known to be under strong genetic control and the identification of genetic variants associated with bioclinical parameters is of considerable public health importance. In this study, a young cohort of healthy individuals was genotyped for genes related to health and pathological conditions, to analyze the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with different bioclinical parameters, adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) and physical activity, studying the role of lifestyle and body composition parameters on biochemical metabolic profile. Methods: Association analysis of single variants in the genes of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fibronectin type III domain containing protein 5 (FNDC5), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) and haplotype analyses were performed. Results: Multiple (n = 14) common variants in the three genes demonstrated a significant effect on plasma lipoprotein-lipid levels and/or on biochemical parameters in our sample. Specifically, SNPs were related to lipid metabolism (rs3866471, rs4922115, rs11570892, rs248, rs316, rs1059507, rs1801282) or glycemic profile (rs3208305) or anthropometric parameters (rs3480, rs726344, rs1570569) for a total of 26 significant associations (P < 0.01 and/or P < 0.05) and two haplotypes, for the first time, were strongly associated with lipid and body composition parameters. Interestingly, we identified twenty-four new variants not previously described in the literature and a novel significant association between rs80143795 and body composition. Conclusions: In this study we confirm the association between these SNPs on lipid metabolism and body parameters also in a young cohort, indicating the important role of these genetic factors as determinants of health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Group I mesophilic Thaumarchaeota fix dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), accompanied by a biosynthetic fractionation factor of ∼20‰. Accordingly, the δ13C signature of their diagnostic biomarker crenarchaeol was suggested as a potential δ13CDIC proxy in marine basins if input from nonmarine Thaumarchaeota is negligible. Semi-enclosed basins are sensitive to carbon-cycle perturbations, because they tend to develop thermohaline stratification. Water column stratification typified the semi-enclosed basins of the Mediterranean Sea during the late Miocene (Messinian) salinity crisis (5.97-5.33 Ma). To assess how the advent of the crisis affected the carbon cycle, we studied sediments of the Piedmont Basin (northwestern Italy), the northernmost Mediterranean subbasin. A potential bias of our δ13CDIC reconstructions from the input of soil Thaumarchaeota is discarded, since high and increasing branched and isoprenoid tetraether (BIT) index values do not correspond to low and decreasing δ13C values for thaumarchaeal lipids, which would be expected in case of high input from soil Thaumarchaeota. Before the onset of the crisis, the permanently stratified distal part of the basin hosted a water mass below the chemocline with a δ13CDIC value of approximately -3.5‰, while the well-mixed proximal part had a δ13CDIC value of approximately -0.8‰. The advent of the crisis was marked by 13C enrichment of the DIC pool, with positive δ13CDIC excursions up to +5‰ in the upper water column. Export of 12C to the seafloor after phytoplankton blooms and limited replenishment of remineralized carbon due to the stabilization of thermohaline stratification primarily caused such 13C enrichment of the DIC pool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Dietary guidelines recommend to limit egg consumption to 4 servings per week but the relation between egg intake and health outcomes is still controversial. To evaluate the association of egg consumption and mortality risk in Italian adults and to investigate nutritional factors and serum lipids as potentially explaining such associations. Methods: Longitudinal analysis on 20,562 men and women aged ≥ 35y, free from cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer belonging to the Moli-sani Study cohort (enrolled 2005–2010) followed up for a median of 8.2 years. Results: In multivariable-adjusted analysis as compared to low intake (> 0 ≤ 1 egg/week), eating > 4 eggs/week led to an increased risk of all-cause (Hazard ratio [HR] = 1.50; 95%CI 1.13–1.99), CVD (HR = 1.75; 1.07–2.87) and cancer mortality (HR = 1.52; 0.99–2.33). Similarly, an intake of 2–4 eggs/week was associated with higher all-cause (HR = 1.22; 1.01–1.46) and CVD mortality risk (HR = 1.43; 1.03–1.97). An increase of 1 egg per week was associated with higher mortality risk among high-risk individuals, such as those with hypertension and hyperlipidaemia. Dietary cholesterol explained about 43.0% and 39.3% (p values < 0.0001) of the association of eggs with all-cause and CVD mortality, respectively, while serum lipids (e.g., total cholesterol) accounted for a small proportion of egg-mortality relation. Conclusions: Among Italian adults, high egg consumption leads to an increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality, with the risk being evident even at the recommended intake of 2–4 eggs per week. A substantial part of this association was likely due to the egg contribution to dietary cholesterol. Our findings suggest limiting the consumption of eggs in the diet and these results should be considered in the development of dietary guidelines and updates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: High-intensity aerobic interval training (AIT) has been reported to be more effective than continuous aerobic training (CoAT) to improve metabolic health. The aim of our study was to investigate whether moderate-intensity AIT is more effective than CoAT on metabolic health when applied to a walking training program. Design/Metliods: Thirty-two postmenopausal women (55.37 ± 3.46 years) were investigated for body composition, plasma glucose, insulin, lipids, adiponectin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-AD, aerobic fitness, dietary habits, and spontaneous physical activity, and randomly assigned to one of two different walking training programs: CoAT or AIT. Results: CoAT and AIT elicited the same physiological benefits, including: reduction of plasma glucose, insulin. HOMA-IR and HOMA-AD, and increase of plasma HDL-C, adiponectin, and aerobic fitness. Conclusions: An AIT scheme as part of an outdoor walking training program elicits the same physiological adaptations as a CoAT scheme, probably because walking does not promote exercise intensities that elicit greater effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the main causes of mortality and morbidity in Italy. Hypercholesterolemia is a modifiable CVD risk factor. The detection and treatment of hypercholesterolemia can modify the natural history of CVD, making CVD risk for affected patients comparable to that of unaffected ones. In this scenario, the detection of families at high cardiovascular risk is the first step of CVD prevention. This multicenter, observational study is aimed at finding an effective and non-invasive screening strategy to detect families at high risk for CVD. Methods: A survey investigating the knowledge of lipid and CVD issues was distributed to the parents of all infants born at the Neonatology Unit of Piacenza City Hospital and San Paolo Hospital in Milan over a 6 months period. Overall, 554 surveys have been collected. Results: 26.8% newborns had parents who knew their own lipid profile, 40.2% had parents who knew the correct normal blood values of total cholesterol, 37.1% had parents who declared to have first or second degree relatives with lipid disorders, 33.7% had parents who declared to have first or second degree relatives with premature CVD Conclusion: Collecting a problem-tailored and accurate family history seems to be a good strategy to detect high risk families. Our data suggest that the percentage of adults who are unaware of their lipid profile, with a positive family history for CVD and/or lipid disorders is higher than expected. As a result, even the number of undetected paediatric patients at high cardiovascular risk might be greater than expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Elevated cholesterol levels and systemic inflammation are considered relevant risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) development and progression. Increasing evidence suggests that cholesterol-lowering and inflammation-lowering nutraceuticals are useful in the management of moderate hypercholesterolemia. Here, we describe the study protocol of a clinical trial aimed to evaluate the cholesterol and inflammatory lowering effect of an innovative dietary supplement (BruMeChol™, Mivell S.r.l., Italy), composed of a mixture of extracts of bergamot and olive fruits in association with vitamin K2 in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia.Methods: The study was planned as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group clinical trial for 12 weeks at the Cardiology Unit of the IRCCS INRCA of Ancona, Italy. A total of 125 subjects (age ≥ 40 years) with mild hypercholesterolemia (total serum cholesterol levels ≥ 200 and ≤ 250 mg/dl) will be recruited. Intervention arm participants will take one capsule of dietary supplement two times a day, 15 min before the main meal. Control arm participants will receive one capsule of placebo in the same way. The dietary supplement capsule contains the following ingredients: phytosterols, flavonoid-rich extract of bergamot fruit (Citrus bergamia), flavonoid-rich extract of olive fruit (Olea europaea), and vitamin K2. Participants will undergo a medical evaluation and chemical-clinical examinations, which include lipid profile, glycemia, biomarkers of renal, liver and cardiac/muscular functions, interleukins (IL 6, IL-32, IL-37, and IL-38), and innovative mediators of inflammation such as inflamma-miRs (miR-21 and miR-146a), at baseline, and after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. The decrease in total cholesterol levels and inflammatory biomarkers will be the primary and secondary endpoints of the study.Discussion: This protocol study, planned to verify the effects of BruMeChol™ dietary supplementation in subjects with mild hypercholesterolemia, could also contribute to new study designs for next large-scale multicenter clinical trials.Trial Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12619000170123 . Retrospectively registered on 5 February 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of ω-3 fatty acids as part of parenteral nutrition is associated with clinical benefits such as a reduced likelihood of infectious complications and shorter hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stays. As healthcare resources are limited, pharmacoeconomic analyses have been performed, typically modeling studies, using cost and outcomes data to investigate the cost-effectiveness of parenteral nutrition regimens including ω-3 fatty acids from fish oil compared with standard parenteral nutrition without such ω-3 fatty acids. This review covers pharmacoeconomic studies encompassing Italian, French, German, and UK hospitals for ICU and non-ICU hospitalized patients, and for ICU patients in China. The results show that the use of parenteral nutrition including ω-3 fatty acids more than offsets any additional acquisition costs in all national scenarios investigated to date, indicating that parenteral nutrition including ω-3 fatty acids is a clinically and economically beneficial strategy compared with standard parenteral nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The amount of healthy subjects adopting a gluten-free diet (GFD) for nonmedical reasons actually surpasses the numbers of those who are dealing with a permanent gluten-related disorder.Objective: The study aimed to better clarify the interactions between a GFD and physical and psychological well-being.Methods: Sixty healthy subjects with normal weight were enrolled. Thirty subjects (15 female) were submitted to a normocaloric GFD and considered as the experimental group (EG), and 30 subjects (15 female) were submitted to a normocaloric diet (CG) for 6 months. The hematochemical and psychological parameters before and after the diet were recorded.Results: Significant improvement was demonstrated in red blood count, hemoglobin, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein parameters in the EG after the gluten-free diet. However, a significant increase of α-amylase pancreatic activity and reduction of vitamin B12 and magnesium levels in the EG were observed. Regarding the psychological parameters, the GFD significantly improved scores assessing body satisfaction, but increased social insecurity.Conclusions: The study is the first to consider significant modulation in hematochemical parameters as well as psychological ones by gluten avoidance in healthy individuals. Although these subjects were not characterized by intestinal mucosa damage, some of the effects were similar to those observed in celiac disease patients who began to adhere to a GFD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The current use of lipid lowering therapies and the eligibility for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-9 (PCSK9) inhibitors of patients surviving a myocardial infarction (MI) is poorly known. Methods. Using the data from two contemporary, nationwide, prospective, real-world registries of patients with stable coronary artery disease, we sought to describe the lipid lowering therapies prescribed by cardiologists in patients with a prior MI and the resulting eligibility for PCSK9 inhibitors according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/European Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) and the Italian regulatory agency (Agenzia Italiana del Farmaco; AIFA) criteria. The study cohort was stratified according to the following low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels at the time of enrolment: <70 mg/dl; 70–99 mg/dl and ≥100 mg/dl. Results. Among the 3074 post-MI patients with LDL-C levels available, a target level of LDL-C < 70 mg/dl was present in 1186 (38.6%), while 1150 (37.4%) had LDL-C levels ranging from 70 to 99 mg/dl and the remaining 738 (24.0%) an LDL-C ≥ 100 mg/dl. A statin was prescribed more frequently in post-MI patients with LDL-C levels <70 mg/dl (97.1%) compared to the other LDL-C groups (p < 0.0001). A low dose of statin was prescribed in 9.3%, while a high dose in 61.4% of patients. Statin plus ezetimibe association therapy was used in less than 18% of cases. In the overall cohort, 293 (9.8%) and 450 (22.2%) resulted eligible for PCSK9 inhibitors, according to ESC/EAS and AIFA criteria, respectively. Conclusions. Post-MI patients are undertreated with conventional lipid lowering therapies. A minority of post-MI patients would be eligible to PCSK9 inhibitors according to ESC/EAS guidelines and Italian regulatory agency criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and lipid profile on reproductive outcomes of women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted in the Center of Human Reproductive Physiopathology of University of Catania between April 2017 and March 2018 and enrolled 114 couples undergoing ICSI. Levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides were determinate and, according to the BMI, samples were divided into the following groups: group A (BMI: 18.5-24.9 kg/m²); group B (BMI: 25-29.9 kg/m²); and group C (BMI >30 kg/m2). BMI and lipid profile associations with the number of oocytes and embryos retrieved, the oocytes and embryo quality, the fertilization rate as well as the percentage of miscarriages and pregnancies, were assessed. The statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro-Wilk test, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Kruskal -Wallis method. Results: Fertilization and pregnancy rates were lower in women with BMI>30 than in women with BMI: 25-29.9 and BMI: 18.5-24.9, despite the not altered levels of lipoprotein. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that an excess of adipose tissue in women undergoing ICSI was not directly related with altered biochemical lipid values. However, overweight and obese patients showed poor fertilization and pregnancy rate despite the not altered values of lipoprotein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a monogenic disease characterized by high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. FH is caused by loss of function mutations in genes encoding LDL receptor (LDLR), and Apolipoprotein B (APOB) or gain of function (GOF) mutations in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). In this study, we identified a novel variant in PCSK9 , p.(Arg499His), located in the C-terminal domain , in two unrelated FH patients from Spain and Italy. We studied familial segregation and determined variant activity in vitro. We determined PCSK9 expression, secretion and activity of the variant in transfected HEK293 cells; extracellular activity of the recombinant p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant in HEK 293 and HepG2 cells; PCSK9 affinity to the LDL receptor at neutral and acidic pH; the mechanism of action of the p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant by co-transfection with a soluble construct of the LDL receptor and by determining total PCSK9 intracellular accumulation when endosomal acidification is impaired and when an excess of soluble LDLr is present in the culture medium. Our results show high LDL-C concentrations and FH phenotype in p.(Arg499His) carriers. In vitro functional characterization shows that p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant causes a reduction in LDLr expression and LDL uptake. An intracellular activity for this variant is also shown when blocking the activity of secreted PCSK9 and by inhibiting endosomal acidification. We demonstrated that p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant causes a direct intracellular degradation of LDLr therefore causing FH by reducing LDLr availability. Image 1 • We identified a novel PCSK9 GOF variant, p.(Arg499His), in two unrelated FH patients from Spain and Italy. • p.(Arg499His) PCSK9 variant carriers show high LDL-C concentrations and FH phenotype. • In vitro assays revealed reduced LDL receptor expression at membrane surface with p.(Arg499His). • p.(Arg499His) is a GOF mutation that causes FH through an intracellular effect reducing LDLr availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the association of clinical, metabolic and socioeconomic factors with disordered eating behaviors (DEB) among adolescents with type 1 diabetes screened using the Diabetes Eating Problem Survey‐Revised (DEPS‐R). Methods: A cross‐sectional, population‐based study involved 163 adolescents with type 1 diabetes, aged 11–20 years, recruited from the registry for type 1 diabetes of Marche Region, Italy, who completed the DEPS‐R (response rate 74.4%). Clinical characteristics, lipid profile, HbA1c, family profile of education and occupation were evaluated. The Italian version of DEPS‐R was validated, and the prevalence of DEB estimated. The association of demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors with DEB was evaluated by multiple correspondence analysis and multiple logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of DEPS‐R‐positive (score ≥20) was 27% (95% CI 17–38) in boys and 42% (95% CI 31–53) in girls. A clinical profile of DEPS‐R‐positive was identified: overweight, little time spent in physical activity, low socioeconomic status, poor metabolic control, skipping insulin injections. Furthermore, the probability of DEPS‐R‐positive increased 63% for every added unit of HbA1c, 36% for every added number of insulin injections skipped in a week and decreased about 20% for every added hour/week spent in physical activity. Overweight youth were six times more likely to be DEPS‐R‐positive. Discussion: A specific clinical profile of DEPS‐R‐positive was identified. A multidisciplinary clinical approach aimed to normalize eating behaviors and enhance self‐esteem should be used to prevent the onset of these behaviors, and continuous educational programs are needed to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Findings relating to dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are mixed. Erythrocyte membrane PUFA is an accurate objective biomarker of PUFA status; however, there are little data on erythrocyte membrane PUFA and risk of RA. The objective was therefore to compare erythrocyte membrane PUFA between pre-RA individuals and matched controls from a population-based sample, and specifically to test the hypothesis that higher levels of longer chain n-3 PUFA are associated with lower risk of RA.Methods: The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) is a large European prospective cohort study of apparently healthy populations. We undertook a nested case-control study by identifying RA cases with onset after enrolment (pre-RA) in four EPIC cohorts in Italy and Spain. Confirmed pre-RA cases were matched with controls by age, sex, centre, and date, time and fasting status at blood collection. Conditional logistic regression analysis was used to estimate associations of PUFA with the development of RA, adjusting for potential confounders including body mass index, waist circumference, education level, physical activity, smoking status and alcohol intake.Results: The study analysed samples from 96 pre-RA subjects and 258 matched controls. In this analysis, the median time to diagnosis (defined as time between date of blood sample and date of diagnosis) was 6.71 years (range 0.8-15). A significant inverse association was observed with n-6 PUFA linoleic acid (LA) levels and pre-RA in the fully adjusted model (highest tertile: OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.75; P for trend 0.01). No association was observed with any individual n-3 PUFA, total n-3 PUFA or total n-3:n-6 ratio.Conclusions: Erythrocyte levels of the n-6 PUFA LA were inversely associated with risk of RA, whereas no associations were observed for other n-6 or n-3 PUFA. Further work is warranted to replicate these findings and to investigate if lower LA levels are a bystander or contributor to the process of RA development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To assess the effects of a texture-modified food program for dysphagia on the nutritional, biochemical and functional profile in a cohort of institutionalised older people in Italy. Background Dysphagic institutionalised older people, often also affected by dementia, are frequently exposed to malnutrition. Malnutrition in older people has negative effects on mortality, days of hospitalisation, infection, wound healing and risk of pressure injuries. Therefore, it is very important to prevent malnutrition in this frail population. Design A pre-post study without a control group. Methods The study included 479 dysphagic institutionalised older people from 20 nursing homes. Anthropometrical, biochemical, nutritional and functional parameters were collected retrospectively, 6 months before the study intervention, at time zero and, prospectively for 6 months after implementing the NUTRICARE food programme, for a total of nine evaluations. The NUTRICARE programme includes meals without nutritional supplementation, and personalised levels of density, viscosity, texture and particle size. Results The total mean body mass index of our sample passed from 17.88-19.00; body weight averagely improved by 7.19%, as well as their nutritional and biochemical profiles. There was a progressive improvement of total protein and serum albumin values. Nutritional parameters (serum transferrin and lymphocytes) displayed similar changes. Plasma lymphocytes reached normal levels in 98.23% of the sample. Plasma creatinine levels remained steady throughout the study and within the normal range. No side effects were reported. Conclusion The NUTRICARE food programme with a adequate proteins, calories, balanced nutritional and bromatological properties, and appropriate texture and palatability significantly improved the nutritional, biochemical and functional profile in a cohort of institutionalised dysphagic older people. Relevance to clinical practice The introduction of a balanced nutritional programme, using high-quality natural ingredients, appropriate texture and palatability can significantly improve health and quality of life in dysphagic older people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are industrial products extensively used in the past. Because of their widespread presence and toxic effects, the international community adopted control measures to reduce their release into the environment. Currently, PCB concentrations are decreasing, but humans are still exposed. In this paper, we reported the results of a study concerning PCB concentrations in human serum samples collected in Italy over two decades. The aim of the study was to investigate the trend of major determinants of PCB human exposure, several decades after the end of their production. PCB concentrations ranged over three orders of magnitude (from 0.4 to 958 ng/g lipid), with a median value of 85 ng/g lipid. We identified age, sampling year, body mass index, sex, and living near hot spots or being occupationally exposed as relevant factors in determining body burden. Our results can give indications to refine regulatory policies on PCBs in Italy, with particular attention to the disposal of residue PCB-containing products. To improve control measures can further decrease the exposure of citizens to PCBs, limit health implications, and improve citizens' perception about chemical risk management., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: Thyroid hormone influences lipoprotein metabolism. The role of menopausal status in this association has not been extensively studied. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the association between lipid parameters and mild elevations of thyrotropin (TSH), and whether menopause influences this relationship.Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 2,914 women (aged 14-102 years) from the SardiNIA study.Main Outcome Measures: The association of TSH with blood lipid levels was examined using regression analyses, according to menopausal status.Results: Postmenopausal women had lower serum TSH concentrations and higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), and triglycerides than did premenopausal women (p=0.001 or less for all). In premenopausal women, after adjusting for the confounders age, BMI, smoking, insulin and glycaemia, TSH showed a direct relation to the levels of total cholesterol (β=0.046, p=0.010), LDLc (β=0.044, p=0.016) and triglycerides (β=0.085, p<0.001), but no association with HDLc level. In the postmenopausal group, TSH was directly associated only with triglyceride levels (β=0.103, p=0.014).Conclusions: The association between mild elevation of TSH and lipid levels is influenced by menopausal status. Further research is needed to clarify this finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To carry out a deep characterisation of the main androgen-responsive tissues involved in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA).Methods: 73 consecutive Italian patients underwent a full clinical protocol including biochemical and hormonal analyses, genitourinary examination, bone metabolism and densitometry, cardiological evaluation and muscle pathology.Results: Creatine kinase levels were slightly to markedly elevated in almost all cases (68 of the 73; 94%). 30 (41%) patients had fasting glucose above the reference limit, and many patients had total cholesterol (40; 54.7%), low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (29; 39.7%) and triglyceride (35; 48%) levels above the recommended values. Although testosterone, luteinising hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone values were generally normal, in one-third of cases we calculated an increased Androgen Sensitivity Index reflecting the presence of androgen resistance in these patients. According to the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), 7/70 (10%) patients reported severe lower urinal tract symptoms (IPSS score >19), and 21/73 (30%) patients were moderately symptomatic (IPSS score from 8 to 19). In addition, 3 patients were carriers of an indwelling bladder catheter. Videourodynamic evaluation indicated that 4 of the 7 patients reporting severe urinary symptoms had an overt prostate-unrelated bladder outlet obstruction. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan data were consistent with low bone mass in 25/61 (41%) patients. Low bone mass was more frequent at the femoral than at the lumbar level. Skeletal muscle biopsy was carried out in 20 patients and myogenic changes in addition to the neurogenic atrophy were mostly observed.Conclusions: Our study provides evidence of a wide non-neural clinical phenotype in SBMA, suggesting the need for comprehensive multidisciplinary protocols for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective Associations between dyslipidaemia, oxidative stress and periodontitis have emerged in recent years. However, there is a lack of studies investigating these associations in aggressive periodontitis (AgP) cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the lipid and oxidative stress profiles in patients with AgP, and to relate them to clinical variables and interleukin ( IL)-6 genetic variants. Material and Methods Twelve non-smoking Caucasian patients with AgP selected based on their IL6 haplotypes underwent periodontal non-surgical and surgical treatment. Peripheral blood samples taken at baseline and at six different time-points after treatment were processed to determine IL-6 circulating levels, lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein [ HDL] and low-density lipoprotein [ LDL] subclasses) and oxidative stress markers (glutathione and total lipid hydroperoxide levels). Results HDLs were the most prevalent lipoproteins, followed by intermediate-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein and LDL. The LDL subclasses consisted mainly of the less atherogenic large LDL. The lipid profile did not consistently change after treatment up to 3 mo after surgery. Periodontal disease severity was associated with LDL levels and size. The IL6 haplotypes were associated with total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL subclasses after adjusting for confounders. IL-6 circulating levels were associated with both very-low-density lipoprotein and lipid hydroperoxide levels. Conclusion Based on these data, we conclude that both periodontal disease severity and IL6 haplotypes may influence lipid profiles in AgP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nut intake has been associated with reduced inflammatory status and lower risk of CVD and mortality. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nut consumption and mortality and the role of inflammation. We conducted a population-based prospective investigation on 19 386 subjects enrolled in the Moli-sani study. Food intake was recorded by the Italian version of the European Project Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition FFQ. C-reactive protein, leucocyte and platelet counts and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were used as biomarkers of low-grade inflammation. Hazard ratios (HR) were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. During a median follow-up of 4·3 years, 334 all-cause deaths occurred. As compared with subjects who never ate nuts, rare intake (≤2 times/month) was inversely associated with mortality (multivariable HR=0·68; 95 % CI 0·54, 0·87). At intake ≥8 times/month, a greater protection was observed (HR=0·53; 0·32, 0·90). Nut intake (v. no intake) conveyed a higher protection to individuals poorly adhering to the Mediterranean diet (MD). A significant reduction in cancer deaths (HR=0·64; 95 % CI 0·44, 0·94) was also observed, whereas the impact on CVD deaths was limited to an inverse, but not significant, trend. Biomarkers of low-grade inflammation were reduced in nut consumers but did not account for the association with mortality. In conclusion, nut intake was associated with reduced cancer and total mortality. The protection was stronger in individuals with lower adherence to MD, whereas it was similar in high-risk groups (diabetics, obese, smokers or those with the metabolic syndrome), as compared with low-risk subjects. Inflammation did not explain the observed relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Purpose: Treatment with liraglutide in randomized controlled trials is associated with significant reductions in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and weight loss in type 2 diabetes patients. The aim of this retrospective observational study was to investigate correlations of glycemic control and weight outcomes with baseline characteristics of patients starting liraglutide in outpatient clinics in Italy. Methods: Type 2 diabetes patients were followed from baseline to 4, 8, and 12 months. Changes in glycemic parameters, weight, blood pressure, and lipids were assessed. Subanalyses were performed according to baseline characteristics. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to assess correlations between glycemic efficacy, weight reduction, and liraglutide discontinuation after 12 months and baseline characteristics. Findings: Four hundred and eighty-one patients were included. Mean (SD) age at baseline was 57.3 (9.2) years, diabetes duration was 9.5 (6.8) years, weight was 106.7 (20.8) kg, body mass index (BMI; calculated as kg/m²) was 37.1 (6.6), HbA1c was 8.7% (1.3%), fasting plasma glucose was 168.5 (45.3) mg/dL; 38.2% were treated previously with insulin and 52.2% were treated with metformin alone. After 12 months, mean (SD) changes were HbA1c 1.2% (1.4%), fasting plasma glucose -28.3 (41.1) mg/dL, weight -3.5 (5.8) kg, BMI -1.3 (2.1), waist circumference -2.6 (6.7) cm (all, P < 0.001). Drop in weight and HbA1c did not differ between baseline BMI classes ≤30 or >30. Weight loss was unchanged among diabetes duration quartiles, and HbA1c reduction was significantly greater in patients with ≤4 years of diabetes duration (P = 0.01). Non-insulin-treated patients reached HbA1c ≤7% significantly more often than treated patients (44.2% vs 21.2%; odds ratio =2.94; P < 0.001) and had significantly greater weight loss (-4.5 [8.2] kg vs -2.6 [5.4] kg; P = 0.03). Patients on metformin reached HbA1c target more frequently than others (43.1% vs 29.7%; odds ratio = 1.80; 95% CI, 1.05-3.07). Significant positive determinants for HbA1c reduction after 12 months were baseline HbA1c, age, and prior metformin monotherapy, and weight loss at 12 months was positively correlated with baseline weight, and negatively correlated with prior insulin treatment. Overall, 5.0% of patients interrupted liraglutide before the 12th month due to lack of glycemic control; they were less frequently treated with metformin only before liraglutide (29.2% vs 50.2%; P = 0.04). Implications: Treatment with liraglutide in a realworld setting is associated with low therapy failure, good glycemic response, weight loss, and improvement in systolic blood pressure and lipid profile. The HbA1c drop did not differ among baseline BMI classes, indicating that efficacy is maintained in patients with lower BMI. The probability of reaching HbA1c ≤7% was significantly higher in patients previously treated with metformin alone and without any previous insulin. This could reinforce the hypothesis that better results with liraglutide could be achieved in patients after early metformin failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Despite a recent health claim by the European Agency on Food Safety, the effect of high doses of dietary monacolin supplements from red yeast rice on cholesterolemia has not been tested in Italian subjects. Our aim via a crossover, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial was to test if a short-term treatment with 10 mg monacolins could improve lipid pattern, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and vascular remodeling biomarkers in a small cohort of Mediterranean subjects. Thus, 25 healthy, mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects were enrolled, and after 4 weeks of a stabilization diet, subjects were randomized to the sequence placebo-washout-monacolins or monacolins-washout-placebo, with each period being 4 weeks long. At each study step, a complete lipid pattern, safety parameters, hs-CRP, and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 levels were measured. When compared to the placebo group, monacolins-treated patients experienced a more favorable percent change in total cholesterol (-12.45%, 95% CI −16.19 to −8.71), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−21.99%, 95% CI −26.63 to −17.36), non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−14.67%, 95% CI −19.22 to −10.11), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (−28.05%, 95% CI −35.18 to −20.93), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (−27.19%, 95% CI −36.21 to −18.15), and hs-CRP (−23.77%, 95% CI −30.54 to −17.01). No significant differences were observed in regards to triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and safety parameters. On the basis of our data, we demonstrate that a 10-mg monacolin nutraceutical appears to safely reduce cholesterolemia, hs-CRP, and markers of vascular remodeling in Italian subjects. These results have to be confirmed in larger patient samples and longer studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chicken eggs represent a relevant diet source of cholesterol. With the aim of evaluating the cholesterol content of the eggs from Campania Region (Italy) and to test a new analytical procedure, a sample of 100 chicken eggs from local market was analysed by gas chromatography using a polar capillary column. The total free cholesterol was extracted from the egg yolk with n-hexane and trichloroacetic acid, and analysed without the saponification step commonly used. This alternative procedure was compared with the official method. The results indicate that the total free cholesterol content is in the range of 120–193mg/egg (average value 157±3mg/egg) lower than the previously reported value of 213mg/egg. The total free cholesterol quantity is not related to the yolk weight. The bound cholesterol contribution to the total cholesterol was negligible. Dietary recommendations aimed at restricting the egg consumption should be taken with caution and should not include all individuals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article provides information on a zoological study which analyzed the lipid and fatty acid (FA) compositions of Idotea baltica and Sphaeroma serratum, from Mar Piccolo estuary in Taranto, Italy during winter and summer. The aim of the study was to elucidate the spectrum and variety of their food sources and tropic relationships. The study used specific FA as trophic biomarkers to highlight the ability of Idotea baltica and Sphaeroma serratum to use food sources available in their environment. In addition, the study compared FA compositions of these isopods between winter and summer collections.

Aim: To investigate whether healthy women with a previous pregnancy complicated by a small for gestational age (SGA) infant have normal endothelial function, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and normal inflammation parameters. Material and Methods: Brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD, endothelium-dependent) was measured in 16 subjects with previous SGA, and in 15 controls (CTR) with previous normal pregnancies. Lipid panel, glucose, insulin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (s-ICAM), soluble vascular (s-VCAM-1) adhesion molecule-1 (s-VCAM-1), and androgens were also measured. Results: FMD was reduced in women with previous SGA compared to controls ( P < 0.0001). SGA women showed increased insulin resistance ( P < 0.0001), s-ICAM-1 ( P = 0.008), TNF-alpha ( P = 0.02), testosterone ( P = 0.03), and diastolic blood pressure ( P = 0.01) than CTR. Conclusion: Endothelial dysfunction, reduced insulin sensitivity and subclinical inflammation are present in otherwise healthy women with previous SGA. These abnormalities show that the presence of a SGA infant in the obstetric history should be considered as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease later in life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary What is known and Objective: The efficacy of sibutramine has been demonstrated in randomized trials in obese/overweight patients including those with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our objective was to evaluate the effects of 1-year treatment with sibutramine compared to placebo on body weight, glycaemic control, lipid profile, and inflammatory parameters in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: Two hundred and forty-six patients with uncontrolled T2DM [glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) >8·0%] in therapy with different oral hypoglycaemic agents or insulin were randomized to take 10 mg of sibutramine or placebo for 12 months. We evaluated at baseline, and after 3, 6, 9, and 12 months these parameters: body weight, body mass index (BMI), HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post-prandial plasma glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (Tg), leptin, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), adiponectin (ADN), vaspin, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP). Results and Discussion: We observed a decrease of body weight after 9 and 12 months in the group treated with sibutramine, but not in the control group. Regarding glycaemic and lipid profile, although there are differences seen over time within each of the groups, we did not obtain any significant differences between the two groups. Both placebo and sibutramine gave a similar improvement of HOMA-IR, leptin, TNF-α, ADN, and Hs-CRP. No vaspin variations were observed in either group. What is new and Conclusion: Sibutramine resulted in a decrease in body weight at 9 months and at 12 months that was not observed with placebo. Although there were differences seen over time within each of the groups, there were no significant differences between groups for any other parameter that we measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Mediterranean Sea is at the transition between temperate and tropical air masses and as such of importance for studying climate change. The Gulf of Taranto and adjacent SW Adriatic Sea are at the heart of this region. Their sediments are excellently suited for generating high quality environmental records for the last millennia with a sub-decadal resolution. The quality of these records is dependent on a careful calibration of the transfer functions used to translate the sedimentary lipid signals to the local environment. Here, we examine and calibrate the and TEX86 lipid-based temperature proxies in 48 surface sediments and relate these to ambient sea surface temperatures and other environmental data. The -based temperatures in surface sediments reflect winter/spring sea surface temperatures in agreement with other studies demonstrating maximum haptophyte production during the colder season. The TEX86-based temperatures for the nearshore sites also reflect winter sea surface temperatures. However, at the most offshore sites, they correspond to summer sea surface temperatures. Additional lipid and environmental data including the distribution of the BIT index and remote-sensed chlorophyll-a suggest a shoreward increase of the impact of seasonal and spatial variability in nutrients and control of planktonic archaeal abundance by primary productivity, particle loading in surface waters and/or overprint by a cold-biased terrestrial TEX86 signal. As such the offshore TEX86 values seem to reflect a true summer signal to the effect that offshore and TEX86 reconstruct winter and summer temperature, respectively, and hence provide information on the annual temperature amplitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ciauscolo is a short-ripened fermented sausage manufactured in the Marche region (central Italy) that has recently received a protected geographical indication product classification (PGI). The aim of this study was the exploration of the biochemical traits of this traditional Italian salami, with a special focus on protein and lipid composition. Ciauscolo salami was characterized by pH of 5.1 and 0.91 water activity. A prevalence of lactic acid bacteria in the microbiota was found. The free amino acids and biogenic amines average content was 2657 and 255 mg/kg, respectively. With regards to lipids composition unsaturated fatty acids represented 63% and 72% of total and free fatty acids. Despite these results had wide statistical variability, attributable to differences in the processing parameters and raw matter used, some peculiar traits were found: (1) structural muscular proteins underwent to less proteolysis than sarcoplasmic ones; (2) glycogen phosphorylase, enolase, and aldolase were the most proteolyzed among the sacoplasmic proteins; (3) there was inverse correlation between histamine content and yeasts population, and a direct correlation between the gly-pro content and lactic acid bacteria counts; (4) the content of aspartic acid and methyonine seem to be a possible molecular marker able to distinguish between double and single milling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of a study which examined the lipid and fatty acid compositions of Mytilus galloprovincialis cultured in the Mar Grande of Taranto in southern Italy, in relation to their feeding strategies and trophic relationships. Triacylglycerols (TAGs) and total cholesterol were measured by the calorimetric enzymatic Trinder method while phospholipids (PLs) were quantified by a calorimetric enzymatic method with a commercial kit. Statistical analysis of total lipids showed seasonal variations as well as differences in eicosapentaenoic among seasons except between autumn and summer.

Antarctic fish live in very cold water and have adapted to this exceptional environment. Hemoglobin is absent or very low; yet these fish still have erythrocytes, and from these we prepared ghost-like membranes. We studied for the first time the lipid composition of ghost membranes and of plasma in Antarctic fish (C. hamatus and T. bernacchii) and compared our results with those obtained for temperate-water fish (C. auratus and A. anguilla taken from Lake Trasimeno, Perugia, Italy). The membranes of Antarctic fish were richer in glycerophospholipid (especially phosphatidylethanolamine), whereas the membranes of temperate-water fish were richer in sphingomyelin. Unsaturated fatty acids were particularly abundant in Antarctic fish: C. hamatus had long-chain unsaturated fatty acid (especially C22:6 omega-3), whereas T. bernacchii had shorter unsaturated fatty acyl chains (c16:1, omega-7). On the other hand, C. auratus and A. anguilla were particularly rich in C16:0, which constituted more than one-half of the total fatty acid. Plasma lipids (both phospholipid and cholesterol) were much more abundant in temperate-water fish. The differences in phospholipid content were mainly due to choline glycerolipids. Measures of membrane fluidity inferred from the fluorescence anisotropy of DPH indicated that the membranes from Antarctic fish were more fluid at any measured temperature than those obtained from fish living in temperate waters. The ability to live in a very cold environment has therefore been achieved by the two Antarctic species tested in this paper by different strategies, but with the same results on fluidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper focuses on the chemical characterization of samples of black decorations and inscriptions, and of yellow-brown patinas collected from various panels of the ark from the chapel of Saint Anthony (Padua, Italy), using three analytical procedures based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Analytical pyrolysis in the presence of hexamethyldisilazane followed by gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis (Py-GC/MS) and two procedures based on gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after wet-chemical treatment of the samples (GC/MS) were chosen for the recognition of the organic substances (used originally or in the course of restoration) and of their degradation products. In terms of the two GC/MS procedures, one was used to characterize proteins, lipids, resins, waxes, bituminous materials and their degradation products, and the other to characterize saccharide materials. The three analytical procedures used enabled us to obtain information on the presence of egg proteins, lipid materials (beeswax, siccative oil and animal fatty material), saccharide materials and Pinaceae resin. Beeswax, animal fat, egg and saccharide materials have been used in the past as restoration materials, and pine resin and siccative oil were the main ingredients in the black decorations and inscriptions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Laboratory experiments were performed on the amphipod Gammarus aequicauda in order to evaluate the relationship between the seasonal sensitivity to a reference toxicant and seasonal lipid content, temperature and algal biomass. The organisms were collected in a clean site in the Mar Piccolo of Taranto (Ionian sea) from March 2003 to February 2004. The total lipid content of G. aequicauda varied from 5.5% in spring to a maximum of 19% in autumn, then decreased until reaching 9.8% of dry weight in winter. Triacyglycerols (TG) were the most abundant lipid class in G. aequicauda, except in spring, when there was a higher percentage of phospholipids (PL). Sterol levels were lower. The sensitivity of G. aequicauda during different seasons was significantly affected by total lipids (r=0.97; p<0.01), but no relationship was found with algal biomass (r=0.21; p>0.05) and temperature (r=0.29; p>0.05). The highest LC50 values appeared with an increase of total lipids. This study will be used to improve the interpretation of ecotoxicological test results with G. aequicauda. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper specific aspects concerning pathways of the anomalous aggregations of organic matter called mucilages were investigated by means of different analytical approaches applied to natural samples taken in Italian seas and synthetic samples obtained in laboratory under anoxic conditions. Samples of marine mucilages were previously treated by ultrafiltration by means of a 1 KDa cut off membrane to eliminate inorganic salts and then centrifugated to separate the macroaggregate fraction from the fraction of micro and nano particles of organic matter (MNO) present in the aqueous matrix as dissolved and particulate components. Then the obtained subsamples were analyzed by infrared spectroscopy in reflectance diffused mode (FTIR-DRIFT). FTIR spectroscopy supported our already discussed hypothesis that mucilages can be the evolutionary products of smaller organic matter aggregates because the two subfractions always showed high compositional and structural similarities. Synthetic mucilage samples obtained by several algae and molluscs placed in anoxic conditions were investigated by infrared spectroscopy in total attenuated reflectance mode (FTIR-ATR) and by visible ultraviolet spectroscopy (UV–VIS). The comparison between FTIR spectra of synthetic and marine mucilages performed by the multivariate statistic technique principal component analysis (PCA) showed the presence of wide zones of overlapped (similar) samples. This result allowed to use synthetic mucilages to study the characteristics of the mechanisms involved in mucilage formation. FTIR spectra of synthetic mucilages suggested that carbohydrates and proteins play a different role with respect to lipids in the formation of aggregates because they were always significant components of aggregates while lipids (fatty acids, ester fatty acids and aliphatic chains) were more evident during some specific steps of aggregation. Moreover, the examination of second derivative order FTIR spectra sometimes showed the presence of lignin and biogenic silica compounds in the aggregates. The examination of UV–VIS spectra confirmed the presence of aromatic and unsaturated compounds and chlorophyll pigments in mucilages obtained from green algae while brown and red algae showed only the presence of aromatic and unsaturated compounds. All the experimental results confirmed our previous hypothesis that mucilages are formed as a consequence of an altered mechanism of aggregation of organic matter when the degradation reactions become slower than those of polymerization and aggregation. At last, some specific studies on the formation of mucilages in presence of anomalous amounts of Cu and Pb showed that these metals can affect the mechanism of aggregation process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The chemical composition of fossil plants can provide useful data for taxonomy and palaeoecological reconstructions. The Upper Valdarno Basin deposit (central Italy) shows a great diversity of well-preserved fossils. The first results of the analysis of Pliocene Fagus leaf lipids are reported here. Series of long chain aliphatic lipids (n-alkanes, n-alcohols, n-aldehydes, n-ketones) dominated the extract. Their distributions differ for the fossil and the extant European beech, suggesting that they may belong to different species. The occurrence of compounds sensitive to degradation such as n-aldehydes and monoglycerids shows the excellent chemical preservation of the fossils. Two long-chain n-alkyl-1,15-diols were identified. They may come from Eustigmatophyceae microalgae, and their occurrence is in agreement with a freshwater deposit ion environment. Various polycyclic terpenoids were detected (e.g., native plant sterols, triterpenoids of the oleanane type). The occurrence of compounds that do not correspond to Fagus lipids is discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article compares the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in HIV-positive patients with a sample of a general Italian population. The authors determine whether MS and its components have a different frequency in treated and untreated HIV-infected patients. They note that the risk of MS is greater in HIV-infected patients compared with the general population because of a greater prevalence of lipid and glucose abnormalities.

A study of lipid biomarkers in predominantly laminated, organic carbon-rich sediments in Lake Albano (central Italy) has been used to reconstruct changes in the aquatic system variations and changes in the lake catchment area during the Holocene. Biomarkers of aquatic organic matter such as dinosterol, isoarborinol, tetrahymanol, diplopterol, and diploptene reflect two major changes in the mixing behaviour and the biological assemblages of Lake Albano at around 6.5 and 3.8 ky BP, respectively. Biomarkers for higher land plants such as friedelin, long-chain n-alkanes, β-amyrenone and α-amyrenone display different distribution patterns, indicating changes in the lake''s catchment at 6.5 and 5.0 ky BP, resulting from soil erosion and changes in the local vegetation. Analogously, the recognised changes in the water column structure and biological components are coherent with previous reconstructions based on independent parameters. The new data highlight the importance of multiproxy studies to better characterize palaeoenvironmental changes that are in turn the first step towards elucidating their trigger mechanisms (i.e. climate vs. human-induced). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Several epidemiological studies have documented the presence of a ‘J’ or ‘U’ association between total cholesterol levels and total mortality. Not only the mechanism underlying the association between increased mortality and low total cholesterol values is not completely clear, but the relationship itself also appears to be complex in the elderly. Objective:The aim of the study was to evaluate the possible association between some biohumoral markers of the acute phase, comorbidity, disability, and reduced levels of some lipoprotein parameters in a sample of hospitalized elderly subjects. Methods: 341 patients over 65 years of age (185 males, 156 females; mean age 76.2 years), consecutively admitted to our department from 1994 to 1995, were studied. Acute phase was defined as the simultaneous presence of: (1) increased α[sub 2] -plasma protein on electrophoresis (>12%); (2) high fibrinogen concentration (>450 mg/dl), and (3) increased blood sedimentation rate (>15 and >20 mm 1 h in males and females, respectively). Results: The prevalence of signs of acute phase was higher in males and in the youngest patients, but did not change with the level of comorbidity. Patients with signs of acute phase were characterized by lower total, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels compared to subjects without signs of acute phase; this difference was significant even after adjustment for indicators of comorbidity, disability, and nutritional status. Multivariate logistic regression analysis evidenced that the simultaneous presence of these three markers of acute phase was independently associated with low levels of total cholesterol [odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–3.9], and HDL-cholesterol (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2–4.2), considered as the sex-specific first quintile. Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrate an independent association between acute phase markers and low levels of total and HDL-cholesterol, suggesting that recognized or subclinical diseases in elderly patients may determine a reduction in these plasma lipids. Low level of total and HDL-cholesterol should be considered as possible clinical markers of an underlying state of acute phase rather than a sign of malnutrition. Given the high prevalence of chronic diseases in the elderly, epidemiological studies addressing the lipid profile in this age group should take into account the possible confounding effect of the presence of signs of acute phase.Copyright © 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest in development of new non-destructive methods for characterization of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) has been increasing in the recent years. Among different experimental techniques, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxation measurements are very promising in the field of food characterization and authentication. In this study, we focused on relaxation times T 1 and T 2 relaxometry dispersions directly on olive oil samples without any chemical/physical treatments. A large set of EVOO samples produced in two regions of Italy, Tuscany and Apulia, were investigated by means of 1 H NMR T 1 relaxometry dispersions directly on olive oil samples without any chemical/physical treatments. A large set of EVOO samples produced in two regions of Italy, Tuscany and Apulia, were investigated by means of 1 H NMR relaxation techniques. The relaxation studies reported here show several common features between the two sets of EVOO samples, thus indicating that relaxation properties, namely, the ranges of values of T 1 and T 2 at 2 and 100 MHz, are characteristic of EVOOs, independently from the cultivars, climate, and geographic origin. This is a promising result in view of quality control and monitoring.

Depending on the vineyard location, cluster thinning (CT) may represent an effective tool to obtain the desired grape composition and wine quality. The effect of 20% cluster thinning on Ribolla Gialla (Vitis vinifera L.) sparkling wine aroma, lipid compounds, and aromatic amino acid (AAA) metabolites composition was studied for three consecutive seasons in two vineyards located in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region, Italy. In the examined sparkling wines, the vintage meteorological conditions exhibited significant influences on the metabolic profile of the samples. Data were normalized by season, and the impact of the CT treatment was evaluated for each vineyard site separately. Crop removal showed a limited positive impact on aroma compounds in sparkling wines from vineyards located in the valley. Concerning the AAA compounds, their concentration was higher in the vineyard at the foot of the hills. Cluster thinning resulted in a drop in concentration, reducing the risk of atypical aging. Despite minor differences according to targeted metabolome profiling, the sensory analysis confirmed the effects of the CT treatment in the valley floor vineyard. Reducing crop in this site, where the yield was higher, promoted a moderate improvement of Ribolla Gialla sparkling wine. In contrast, for wine produced in the vineyard at the foot of the hills, the sensory analysis indicated a preference for wines from the unthinned control samples. Overall, the study indicates that cluster thinning is a viticultural technique that could potentially improve the quality of Ribolla Gialla sparkling wines, but only in situations of excessive grape production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With an unsupervised GC-MS metabolomics approach, polar metabolite changes of the microalgae Coccomyxa melkonianii SCCA 048 grown under standard conditions for seven weeks were studied. C. melkonianii was sampled at the Rio Irvi River, in the mining site of Montevecchio-Ingurtosu (Sardinia, Italy), which is severely contaminated by heavy metals and shows high concentrations of sulfates. The partial-least-square (PLS) analysis of the GC-MS data indicated that growth of C. melkonianii was characterized by an increase of the levels of threonic acid, myo-inositol, malic acid, and fumaric acid. Furthermore, at the sixth week of exponential phase the lipid fingerprint of C. melkonianii was studied by LC-QTOF-MS. C. melkonianii lipid extract characterized through an iterative MS/MS analysis showed the following percent levels: 61.34 ± 0.60% for triacylglycerols (TAG); 11.55 ± 0.09% for diacylglyceryltrimethyl homoserines (DGTS), 11.34 ± 0.10% for sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerols (SQDG) and, 5.29 ± 0.04% for lysodiacylglyceryltrimethyl homoserines (LDGTS). Noteworthy, we were able to annotate different fatty acid ester of hydroxyl fatty acid, such as FAHFA (18:1&#95;20:3), FAHFA (18:2&#95;20:4), FAHFA (18:0&#95;20:2), and FAHFA (18:1&#95;18:0), with relevant biological activity. These approaches can be useful to study the biochemistry of this extremophile algae in the view of its potential exploitation in the phycoremediation of polluted mining areas.

Residents of a large area of North-Eastern Italy were exposed for decades to high concentrations of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) via drinking water. Serum PFAS levels have been consistently associated with elevated serum lipids, but few studies have been conducted among pregnant women, and none has stratified analyses by trimester of gestation. Elevated serum lipid levels during pregnancy can have both immediate and long-lasting effects on pregnant women and the developing fetus. We evaluated the association between perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluoro-hexanesulfonate (PFHxS) levels in relation to lipid profiles in highly-exposed pregnant women. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 319 pregnant women (age 14–48 years) enrolled in the Regional health surveillance program. Non-fasting blood samples were obtained in any trimester of pregnancy and analyzed for PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated. The associations between ln-transformed PFAS (and categorized into quartiles) and lipids were assessed using generalized additive models. Analyses were adjusted for potential confounders and stratified according to pregnancy trimester. The geometric means of PFOA, PFOS and PFHxS were 14.78 ng/mL, 2.67 ng/mL and 1.89 ng/mL, respectively. The plasma levels of TC, HDL-C and LDL-C increased steadily throughout the trimesters. In the 1st trimester, PFOS was positively associated with TC and PFHxS with HDL-C. In the 3rd trimester, instead, an inverse relationship was seen between PFOA and PFHxS and both TC and LDL-C. Results suggest the associations between PFAS concentrations and lipid profiles in pregnant women might differ by trimesters of pregnancy. In the first trimester, patterns are similar to those of non-pregnant women, while they differ late in pregnancy. Different independent behavior of PFAS and lipid levels throughout the pregnancy might explain our observations. These findings support the ubiquitous exposure to PFAS and possible influence on lipid metabolisms during pregnancy and suggest a careful evaluation of the timing of PFAS measurement, when examining effects of PFAS during pregnancy on gestational outcomes related to serum lipids amounts. • PFAS and cholesterol were analysed in highly exposed pregnant women. • The relationship of PFAS with cholesterol was analysed across trimesters. • In the 1st trimester, PFOS was associated with total cholesterol, PFHxS with HDL-C. • In the 3rd trimester PFOA, PFHxS and cholesterol and LDL-C had inverse relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Novel genetic determinants associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) have been discovered by genome wide association studies. Variants encompassing the CELSR2- PSRC1-SORT1 gene cluster have been associated with CAD. This study is aimed to investigate the rs629301 polymorphism association with the extent of CAD evaluated by coronary angiography (CAG), and to evaluate its associations with an extensive panel of lipid and lipoprotein measurements in a large Italian cohort of 2429 patients., Methods and Results: The patients were collected by four Intensive Care Units located in Palermo and Verona (Italy). Clinical Records were filed, blood samples were collected, lipids and apolipoproteins (apo) were measured in separate laboratories. CAD was defined by the presence of stenotic arteries (>50% lumen diameter) by CAG. The presence of CAD was associated with the rs629301 genotype. Patients with CAD were 78% and 73% (p = 0.007) of the T/T vs. T/G + G/G genotype carriers respectively. T/T genotype was also correlated with the number of stenotic arteries, with a 1.29 (1.04-1.61) risk to have a three-arteries disease. T/T genotype correlated with higher levels of LDL-, non-HDL cholesterol, apoB, apoE and apoCIII, and lower HDL-cholesterol. Logistic Regression confirmed that rs629301was associated with CAD independently from the common risk factors, with a risk similar to that conferred by ten years of age [odds ratios were 1.43 (1.04-1.96) and 1.39 (1.22-1.58) respectively]., Conclusions: rs629301 risk allele was independently associated with the extension and severity of CAD and positively with apoE and apoB containing lipoproteins., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interests to declare., (Copyright © 2021 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)