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This work points out the development of the city of Casablanca, from the colonial period under the French Protectorate until nowadays. A multidisciplinary approach, from the history of architecture to sociology and visual ethnography, has been used to analyse the different urban policies developed for social housing and the inner meanings that the inhabitants link to their home and to the general idea of inhabiting. The analysis of National Archives sources in Morocco and French has been reinforced by a field research. The fieldwork has been carried out in two different moments: in 2015 and in 2017, with some people living in what we have defined as the main models of social housing, implemented during the French government: the slums, the cit�s ouvri�res (workers gated community) and the collective buildings. These spaces have been in the past, and are still nowadays, battleground of social conflicts, in opposition to the dominant system of power. Casablanca, and Morocco in general, is carrying out a strong policy to eradicate slums and informal settlements and the idea of social housing has been implementing with a facilitation to the access of property, not always affordable for people with low incomes. At the same time, thanks to the stability of the monarchy, huge foreign investments are overcoming to finance the construction of international financial hubs and multinational offshore activities. We have then explored the question of what the role of the inhabitants within these processes is and mostly what their narration of the history that involves them is. The realization of an ethnographical documentary has helped us to investigate these subjects.

Forthcoming article, included in the special issue of the peer-reviewed journal 'Studi Magrebini' based on the panel 'Ordinary people, resistance and the politicization of urban spaces and environment in the MENA region' at the 2019 annual conference of the Societa' degli Studi del Medio Oriente, Turin, Jan 31th-Feb 1st. The panel coordinators were Prof. Renata Pepicelli and Dr. Azzurra Sarnataro.

Forthcoming article, included in the special issue of the peer-reviewed journal 'Studi Magrebini' based on the panel 'Ordinary people, resistance and the politicization of urban spaces and environment in the MENA region' at the 2019 annual conference of the Societa' degli Studi del Medio Oriente, Turin, Jan 31th-Feb 1st. The panel coordinators were Prof. Renata Pepicelli and Dr. Azzurra Sarnataro., This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 752547.

It is not possible to ignore the fact that cities are not only moving, vibrant and flourishing spaces, promising hope for better quality of life, but that they also accumulate and reflect significant problems. This book explores the relational and dynamic nature of urban inequalities, including their visible and invisible forms. By using the rather elusive term of ‘uncertainty’, the authors zoom in on specific aspects of urban inequalities that are difficult to measure, yet are acutely sensed and experienced by people and, more and more often, perceived as unfair. Here, in the recognition of inequalities as unjust and in the disagreement with the status quo, lies a positive aspect of uncertainty, which can lead to a social awakening and more active citizenship.

Objective: Our aims were to analyze the relationship between 25hydroxyvitamin D(25[OH]D) plasma levels and clinical and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) values, and to identify any possible association between hypertension and FokI and BsmI vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms in essential hypertensive patients. Design and method: Seventyone essential hypertensive patients and seventytwo controls, 18–75 years old, were enrolled. Clinical physical examination, routine blood chemistry, clinical BP, 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 25[OH]D and Plasma Renin Activity (PRA) assay, and FokI and BsmI VDR polymorphisms analysis were obtained. Results:We observed a significant negative correlation between 25[OH]D and 24 h systolic BP (r = 0.277, p = 0.043) (Figure 1). This correlation persisted in backward stepwise multivariate analyses (b=0.337; p = 0.022) including as covariates first age, gender, body mass index, glomerular filtration rate estimated (eGFR) by MDRD equation, and secondly PRA. Furthermore body mass index (b=0.290; p = 0.037) and eGFRMDRD (b=0.301; p = 0.038) were independently correlated to 24 h systolic BP. We did not observe statistically significant correlation between 25[OH]D and PRA. When we compared anthropometric, clinical and biohumoral parameters among patients with different VDR (FokI and BsmI) genotypes, we found a significant difference of clinic diastolic BP values among the three FokI genotypes (p = 0.018). Significantly higher diastolic BP values in patients with ff FokI genotype compared with patients with Ff FokI genotype (p = 0.002) were disclosed through the MannWhitney U test. Lastly any association between a specific genotype or allele and hypertension or PRAwas not found when we compared allelic frequencies and genotype distribution between patients and controls. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the relation between 25[OH]D and BP values in essential hypertensive patients and they suggest that FokI and BmsI VDR polymorphisms is not associated either with hypertension or with PRA.

RAZIONALE. Il nostro obiettivo è stato quello di analizzare la relazione tra livelli plasmatici di VitaminaD (VitD) e valori di pressione arteriosa clinica ed ambulatoria in ipertesi essenziali e di identificare un’eventuale associazione fra l’ipertensione e i polimorfismi del gene VDR, FokI e BsmI. CASISTICA E METODI. Abbiamo arruolato 71 ipertesi essenziali e 72 controlli di età compresa fra 18 e 75 anni. Nei pazienti sono stati valutati: pressione arteriosa clinica, monitoraggio ambulatorio della pressione arteriosa delle 24 ore, parametri antropometrici, indagini bioumorali di routine e livelli plasmatici di VitD con metodica HPLC. Entrambi i gruppi sono stati sottoposti a tipizzazione dei polimorfismi del VDR FokI e BsmI mediante PCR-RFLP. RISULTATI. Abbiamo osservato una correlazione negativa statisticamente significativa (r=-0,277, p=0,043) tra VitD e pressione arteriosa sistolica media delle 24 ore(PAS24h) nei 71 ipertesi. Tale correlazione persisteva all’analisi di regressione multipla stepwise, considerando come variabile dipendente la PAS24h(β=-0,337; p=0,022) ed includendo nel modello statistico VitD, età, genere, body mass index(BMI) e filtrato glomerulare stimato mediante equazione MDRD (eGFRMDRD). BMI(β=0,290; p=0,037) e eGFR-MDRD(β=-0,301; p=0,038) erano, inoltre, predittori indipendenti della PAS24h. Abbiamo comparato i parametri antropometrici, clinici e bioumorali dei pazienti con differenti genotipi FokI and BsmI ed abbiamo osservato una differenza statisticamente significativa solo tra i valori di pressione arteriosa diastolica(PAD) clinica dei soggetti con differente genotipo FokI (p=0.018). In particolare, abbiamo evidenziato valori di PAD clinica maggiori nei pazienti con genotipo ff rispetto ai soggetti con genotipo Ff(p=0.002). Abbiamo, inoltre, comparato le frequenze alleliche e la distribuzione genotipica tra casi e controlli, senza individuare alcuna associazione fra particolari genotipi o determinati alleli e l‘ipertensione. CONCLUSIONI. I nostri risultati pertanto confermano la relazione esistente fra VitD e valori pressori negli ipertesi essenziali, ma sembrano escludere un’associazione fra l’ipertensione e i polimorfismi Fok I e BsmI del VDR.

Dati non univoci sono riportati in letteratura sul ruolo della dislipidemia nello sviluppo dell’ipertrofia ventricolare sinistra. Scopo del nostro studio, è stato quello di valutare le potenziali associazioni dei principali parametri lipidici con la massa ventricolare sinistra (LVM) in pazienti con ipertensione essenziale (EHs). Abbiamo arruolato 724 soggetti con EH (età media 45±12 anni; 63% maschi), senza complicanze cardiovascolari e non trattati con farmaci ipolipemizzanti. In tutti i soggetti dono stati dosati la colesterolemia totale (Tchol), la trigliceridemia (TG) e il colesterolo HDL (HDLc). Il colesterolo LDL (LDLc) è stato stimato con la formula di Friedewald ed è stato calcolato il colesterolo nonHDLc. Inoltre, sono stati eseguiti un monitoraggio della pressione arteriosa delle 24 ore ed un ecocardiogramma. La LVM è stata indicizzata per la superficie corporea (LVMI). Nessuna correlazione statisticamente significativa è stata osservata tra Tchol, LDLc e nonHDLc e la LVMI. Abbiamo rilevato correlazioni significative della LVMI con l’HDLc (r=-0.14, p

RAZIONALE. Il significato prognostico della variabilità pressoria (VP) a breve termine, espressa come deviazione standard (SD), è controverso. Recentemente sono stati proposti altri indici di VP a breve termine, tra i quali l’Average Real Variability (ARV), sembra essere maggiormente associato al rischio cardiovascolare (CV). Non indagata, finora è la relazione tra ARV e disfunzione renale lieve. Scopo del nostro studio è stato quello di analizzare le relazioni dell’ ARV delle 24 h e di altri indici di VP a breve termine con l’ albuminuria (AER) ed il filtrato glomerulare (eGFR) in un gruppo di ipertesi essenziali, non trattati. CASISTICA E METODI. Sono stati arruolati 248 pazienti (età media 48 ± 14 anni, donne 44 %), con ipertensione arteriosa essenziale e con eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Di essi 73 sono stati considerati affetti da disfunzione renale lieve (DRL), in relazione alla appartenenza ai primi due stadi di CKD, secondo le linee guida KDIGO del 2012. RISULTATI. Nessuno degli indici di VP a breve termine studiati [ARV delle pressioni arteriose (PA) delle 24 h, SD ponderata delle PA delle 24 h, SD delle PA del giorno e della notte] sono risultati diversi nei soggetti con DRL, rispetto agli ipertesi con normale funzione renale. Deboli correlazioni sono state osservate tra logaritmo dell’ARV della PA sistolica e logaritmo dell’ AER (r = 0.130; p = 0.04) e tra il primo e l’eGFR (- 0.131; p = 0.04). Tali correlazioni hanno perduto significatività statistica in modelli di regressione lineare multipla, dopo correzione per potenziali fattori confondenti. Analogamente all’analisi di regressione logistica multipla, nessuno degli indici di VP a breve termine esaminati, è risultato associato in maniera indipendente alla DRL. CONCLUSIONI. I nostri risultati, suggeriscono che nell’iperteso essenziale nessuno degli indici di VP a breve termine, ottenibile mediante monitoraggio discontinuo della PA delle 24 ore, sia associato con la DRL.

The prognostic significance of short–term blood pressure (BP) variability (STBPV), expressed as standard deviation (SD) of blood pressures (BP) intermittently recorded over 24 hours, is debated. Recently, indices of STBPV other than SD have been proposed. Among these, the 24-h BP Average Real Variability (ARV) seems to be associated more consistently than SD with an enhanced cardiovascular risk. The relationship between mild-to-moderate renal dysfunction (MMRD) and ARV was not investigated. Our study was aimed to analyse, in a large group of untreated essential hypertensives, the relationships between ARV, and other STBV indices, with MMRD. We enrolled 329 essential hypertensive patients, with an eGFR > 30 ml/min/1.73 m2. All the subjects were untreated for hypertension and underwent a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Ninety-six of the participants belonged to the first III stages of 2012 KDIGO classification of chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and were considered to have MMRD. Among the STBV indices evaluated [ARV of 24 h BP; Weighted SD of 24 h BP, SD of daytime and nightime BP] only ARV of 24 h systolic BP differed in subjects with MMRD [9.93 (8.57-11.18) mmHg] compared to the hypertensives with normal renal function [9.1 (8-10.2) mmHg; p = 0.001]. This association held (p < 0.03) in multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment for 24 h average systolic BP, age, gender and other confounding factors. Our results seem to suggest that in essential hypertensive patients, ARV of 24 h systolic BP, but not other STBPV indices, is significantly associated with MMRD.

Blood pressure variability

In experimental studies conducted in rats, raising serum uric acid (SUA) levels resulted in stimulation of intrarenal renin expression. Studies in humans exploring the association of SUA with plasma renin activity (PRA) yielded conflicting results. Moreover, little is known about the relationship between plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and SUA. The aim of our study was to analyse the relationships between SUA, PRA and PAC and the influence of age and gender on these relationships in a group of subjects with primary hypertension. We enrolled 281 patients (men 59%), with untreated primary hypertension and normal renal function. The study population wad divided in two subgroups on the basis of the median value of age (47 years). Spearman’s rank-correlation analyses showed that SUA was significantly associated with PRA and with PAC in the overall study population (rho = 0.16, p = 0.007; and rho = 0.23, p < 0.001, respectively), and in the subgroup of subjectsyounger than 47 years (rho = 0.19, p = 0.02; and rho = 0.33, p < 0.001, respectively). The separate analysis by gender disclosed a statistically significant correlation between SUA and PAC in men (rho = 0.20, p = 0.01), whereas in the same gender the correlation between SUA and PRA did not reach statistical significance (rho = 0.14, p = 0.08). No significant correlations were observed between the same variables in subjects older than 47 years and in women. All the associations between SUA, PRA and PAC lost statistical significance in logistic multiple regression analyses aimed at assessing the factors independently associated with an elevation of PRA and of PAC (third tertiles of their distribution). Our results, showing significant relationships of SUA with PRA and PAC only in univariate analyses, seem to suggest that the associations previously reported in some studies between these variables, and particularly that between SUA and PRA, may be mediated by various confounding factors, such as serum creatinine and body mass index.

Introduction: It is well known that the deposition of uric acid crystals exert direct toxic effect on the renal parenchyma and vasculature. Both experimental and some clinical studies suggest the possibility that an increased uric acid level can lead to kidney disease even without deposition of uric acid crystals. However, other studies yielded conflicting results, especially regarding the role of uric acid in the progression of established kidney disease. Aim: To evaluate retrospectively the relationship between asymptomatic hyperuricemia and renal function decline in non-gouty hypertensive patients. Methods: We enrolled 97 hypertensive subjects, 48 with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and 49 without CKD. Fiftyseven of them had normal (N) serum uric acid (SUA) level (SUA\7 mg/dl in men and\6 mg/dl in women) and 40 had hyperuricemia (U). Patients with hyperuricemia had higher systolic blood pressures and lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than N. At the end of followup period (mean: 16 months), eGFR reduction was similar in the two groups (N: -3.6 ± 12.3; U: -3 ± 13.4 ml/min/ 1.73 m2). 186 Results: Two-way ANOVA showed that this result was not influenced by renal dysfunction, diabetes, macroproteinuria, gender or smoking habit. The percentage of subjects with a value of eGFR reduction above the median was not significantly different in the two groups (N: 24.6 %; U: 27.5 %). The absence of a significant difference between the two groups, regarding the eGFR decline was confirmed by the multiple logistic regression analysis, where the variables associated with a greater eGFR reduction were only the proteinuria and the smoking habit. Conclusions: Our findings do not support the hypothesis of a significant effect of asymptomatic hyperuricemia on the renal function decline in subjects with arterial hypertension.

Introduction: The prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension in young adults is increasing worldwide in association with modifiable risk factors. Aim: To assess the prevalence of high blood pressure (BP) in young adults participating to a screening campaign during the World Hypertension Day (17/05/2014), and to determine the possible association with lifestyle factors. Methods: 493 individuals aged 18–35 years were selected in 13 Italian cities. All participants underwent BP measurement together with the administration of a questionnaire exploring: medical and drug history; traditional cardiovascular risk factors and diseases; dietary pattern; salt intake; sleep habits; mood disorders. Results: High BP (≥140/90 mmHg) was found in 54 individuals, with a prevalence of 11 % and awareness of 28 %. Those with high BP values were more frequently men, reported a higher BMI and a greater use of corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and had a lower anxiety score. Concerning dietary habits, they were more likely to eat cheese/cold cuts ≥3 times/week, to have their meals out ≥1/day and to eat in fast foods ≥1/week. In the multiple logistic regression analysis, male sex [OR 3.19, 95 % CI (1.33–7.63)], BMI [OR 1.14 95 % CI (1.04–1.25)], eating in fast foods [OR 3.10 95 % CI (1.21–7.95)], and anxiety [OR 0.85 95 % CI (0.75–0.97)], were independently associated with high BP. Conclusions: High BP values were found in 11 % young adults. Male sex, adiposity and alimentary habits were the main determinants of high BP values, indicating that young men are a suitable target for healthy lifestyle interventions.