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Background: Tissue fibrosis is a common pathway to failure in many organ systems and is the cellular and molecular driver of myriad chronic diseases that are incompletely understood and lack effective treatment. Recent studies suggest that gut microbe-dependent metabolites might be involved in the initiation and progression of fibrosis in multiple organ systems., Main Body of the Manuscript: In a meta-organismal pathway that begins in the gut, gut microbiota convert dietary precursors such as choline, phosphatidylcholine, and L-carnitine into trimethylamine (TMA), which is absorbed and subsequently converted to trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) via the host enzyme flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) in the liver. Chronic exposure to elevated TMAO appears to be associated with vascular injury and enhanced fibrosis propensity in diverse conditions, including chronic kidney disease, heart failure, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and systemic sclerosis., Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of fibrosis, little is known to date about the role of gut dysbiosis and of microbe-dependent metabolites in its pathogenesis. This review summarizes recent important advances in the understanding of the complex metabolism and functional role of TMAO in pathologic fibrosis and highlights unanswered questions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The deep changes in values, beliefs and behaviour, both individual and group, have been examined, referred to the sexuality, by various methods and prospects. Sexual differentiation, typical of the plast, has been rediscussed and modified. As a result of these changes we can talk about old myths, concerning the conception of sexuality in the past, and new myths that concern the present. In this work we have reviewed the different aspects of male and female roles: masturbation, the obsession abort performance, the orgasm and, not last, the sexuality in old age condition.

Buerger's disease is generally not improved by reconstructive surgery. This one may be expected to succeed only on the atherosclerotic occlusions which eventually occur. Surgical treatment is therefore essentially based on the lumbar sympathectomy, both for trophic purpose as well as for pain relief. Criteria for unavoidable amputations are then exposed.

In four experiments the role of contrast effects in producing learned flavour preferences was examined. The experiments showed that contrast effects are pervasive in flavour preference learning, producing results that are often paradoxical from a traditional reinforcement point of view. In Experiment 1, rats preferred a reinforced flavour over a nonreinforced flavour more if the reinforcer was 1% sucrose than if the reinforcer was 8% sucrose. Because the cue flavour was dissolved in 8% sucrose, this represents an anticipatory positive contrast effect. In Experiment 2, the relationship between cue and consequence was shown to be important in flavour preference learning, as expected if contrast effects are involved. In Experiment 3, rats preferred a flavour that was reinforced 4 times, and they preferred this flavour more than one reinforced 8 times, presumably because the greater the expectancy of the consequence, the greater the anticipatory negative contrast. In Experiment 4, rats consumed less of 0.15% saccharin if they received 32% sucrose randomly 90 min either before or after the 0.15% saccharin than if they received only 0.15% saccharin, a simultaneous negative contrast effect.