Eating disorder inventory in the assessment of psychosocial status in the obese patients prior to and at long term following biliopancreatic diversion for obesity

Psychological traits of obese patients, assessed with the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI), were compared to those of subjects in the long term following biliopancreatic diversion for obesity (BPD), when body weight has been steadily normal for over 1 year and any preoccupation with dieting and weight has been completely abandoned. The overall results suggest that the stable body weight normalization on a completely free diet does confer considerable psychological benefit on obese individuals. On the basis of the EDI results, post-BPD subjects were divided into weight-preoccupied and not-weight-preoccupied individuals. In the not-weight-preoccupied subjects, the psychosocial status and emotional rectivity were closely similar to those observed in lean control persons, whereas the few weight-preoccupied subjects, in spite of completely normal body weight, showed residual body dissatisfaction and personality traits very similar to those of eating-disordered patients. © 1994 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Trimerization and cyclization of reactive P-functionalities confined within OCO pincers

In order to stabilize a 10–P–3 species with C_2v symmetry and two lone pairs on the central phosphorus atom, a specialized ligand is required. Using an NCN pincer, previous efforts to enforce this planarized geometry at P resulted in the formation of a C_s-symmetric, 10π-electron benzazaphosphole that existed as a dynamic “bell-clapper” in solution. Here, OCO pincers 1 and 2 were synthesized, operating under the hypothesis that the more electron-withdrawing oxygen donors would better stabilize the 3-center, 4-electron O–P–O bond of the 10–P–3 target and the sp³-hybridized benzylic carbon atoms would prevent the formation of aromatic P-heterocycles. However, subjecting 1 to a metalation/phosphination/reduction sequence afforded cyclotriphosphane 3, resulting from trimerization of the P(i) center unbound by its oxygen donors. Pincer 2 featuring four benzylic CF₃ groups was expected to strengthen the O–P–O bond of the target, but after metal–halogen exchange and quenching with PCl₃, unexpected cyclization with loss of CH₃Cl was observed to give monochlorinated 5. Treatment of 5 with (p-CH₃)C₆H₄MgBr generated crystalline P-(p-Tol) derivative 6, which was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. The complex ¹⁹F NMR spectra of 5 and 6 observed experimentally, were reproduced by simulations with MestreNova.

Attempted synthesis of OCO-supported 10–P–3 species led to trimerization or cyclization.     

Olea europea L. Leaves and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. Petals Extracts: Herbal Mix from Cardiovascular Network Target to Gut Motility Dysfunction Application

It is well known that diet and nutrition play a critical role in the etiopathogenesis of many disorders. On the other hand, nutrients or bioactive compounds can specifically target and control various aspects of the mechanism underlying the pathology itself, and, in this context, diseases related to intestinal motility disorders stand out. The Herbal Mix (HM) consisting of Olea europea L. leaf (OEE) and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HSE) extracts (13:2) has been proven to be a promising nutraceutical option for many diseases, but its potential in inflammatory-driven gastrointestinal disorders is still unexplored. In this study, HM effects on guinea-pig ileum and colon contractility (induced or spontaneous) and on human iNOS activity, as well as on human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells, were studied. Results showed that the HM can control the ileum and colon contractility without blocking the progression of the food bolus, can selectively inhibit iNOS and possesses a strong pro-apoptotic activity towards Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, the present results suggest that, in some diseases, such as those related to motility disorders, an appropriate nutritional approach can be accompanied by a correct use of nutraceuticals that could help not only in ameliorating the symptoms but also in preventing more severe, cancer-related conditions.     

Perinatal and familial risk factors for soft tissue sarcomas in childhood through young adulthood: A population-based assessment in 4 million live births

Perinatal factors have been associated with soft tissue sarcomas (STS) in case-control studies. However, (i) the contributions of factors including fetal growth remain unknown, ( ii ) these factors have not been examined in cohort studies and (iii) few assessments have evaluated risk in specific STS subtypes. We sought to identify the role of perinatal and familial factors on the risk of STS in a large population-based birth cohort. We identified 4,023,436 individuals in the Swedish Birth Registry born during 1973–2012. Subjects were linked to the Swedish Cancer Registry, where incident STS cases were identified. We evaluated perinatal and familial factors obtained from Statistics Sweden, including fetal growth, gestational age, and presence of a congenital malformation. Poisson regression was used to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between perinatal factors and STS overall, as well as by common subtypes. There were 673 individuals diagnosed with STS in 77.5 million person-years of follow-up. Having a congenital malformation was associated with STS (IRR = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.23–2.35). This association was stronger (IRR = 2.90, 95% CI: 1.25–6.71) in recent years (2000–2012). Low fetal growth was also associated with STS during the same time period (IRR = 1.86, 95% CI: 1.05–3.29). Being born preterm was associated with rhabdomyosarcoma (IRR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.08–2.79). In our cohort study, those with congenital malformations and other adverse birth outcomes were more likely to develop a STS compared to their unaffected contemporaries. These associations may point to disrupted developmental pathways and genetic factors influencing the risk of STS.     

Outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery in adult lung transplant patients with cystic fibrosis

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease in Caucasian population. Due to its pathological mechanism, chronic rhino sinusitis...     

Allergen Content of Therapeutic Preparations for Allergen-Specific Immunotherapy of European Paper Wasp Venom Allergy

Allergy to Polistes dominula (European paper wasp) venom is of particular relevance in Southern Europe, potentially becoming a threat in other regions in the near future, and can be effectively cured by venom immunotherapy (VIT). As allergen content in extracts may vary and have an impact on diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, the aim was to compare five therapeutic preparations for VIT of P. dominula venom allergy available in Spain. Products from five different suppliers were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS and compared with a reference venom sample. Three products with P. dominula venom and one product with a venom mixture of American Polistes species showed a comparable band pattern in SDS-PAGE as the reference sample and the bands of the major allergens phospholipase A1 and antigen 5 were assignable. The other product, which consists of a mixture of American Polistes species, exhibited the typical band pattern in one, but not in another sample from a second batch. All annotated P. dominula allergens were detected at comparable levels in LC-MS/MS analysis of products containing P. dominula venom. Due to a lack of genomic information on the American Polistes species, the remaining products were not analyzed by this method. The major Polistes allergens were present in comparable amounts in the majority, but not in all investigated samples of venom preparations for VIT of P. dominula venom allergy.     

Neuropeptide Y receptor expression in human primary ovarian neoplasms

Peptide hormone receptors overexpressed in human malignant neoplasms are potential targets for diagnostic scintigraphy and radiotherapy. One such receptor is the neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor, mediating primarily feeding behavior in the brain but shown recently to play a role in breast cancer. In this study, the presence of NPY receptors was evaluated in another group of gynecological tumors, namely ovarian tumors, using in vitro receptor autoradiography with (125)I-labeled peptide YY and receptor subtype selective analogs. Remarkably, all 10 investigated inhibin-expressing granulosa cell tumors, Leydig cell tumors, and Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors expressed NPY receptors. In contrast, receptors were found in only seven of 22 ovarian adenocarcinomas (32%). Pharmacological characterization of the expressed NPY receptor subtypes in the various tumors revealed the presence of Y1, Y2, or both. In addition, Y1 receptors were observed in intra- and peritumoral blood vessels as well. NPY receptors were not expressed in three ovarian adenomas, three borderline tumors, four fibromas and fibrothecomas, and one dysgerminoma. This is the first time that NPY receptors are described in human ovarian tissue. They may play a role in the pathogenesis and also in the pathophysiology of ovarian malignancies. Moreover, the high incidence and density of NPY receptors in sex cord-stromal tumors suggest that these receptors represent a new potential target for the diagnostic and therapeutic administration of NPY analogs in these tumors.     

A Community Study of SARS-CoV-2 Detection by RT-PCR in Saliva: A Reliable and Effective Method

Efficient, wide-scale testing for SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for monitoring the incidence of the infection in the community. The gold standard for COVID-19 diagnosis is the molecular analysis of epithelial secretions from the upper respiratory system captured by nasopharyngeal (NP) or oropharyngeal swabs. Given the ease of collection, saliva has been proposed as a possible substitute to support testing at the population level. Here, we used a novel saliva collection device designed to favour the safe and correct acquisition of the sample, as well as the processivity of the downstream molecular analysis. We tested 1003 nasopharyngeal swabs and paired saliva samples self-collected by individuals recruited at a public drive-through testing facility. An overall moderate concordance (68%) between the two tests was found, with evidence that neither system can diagnose the infection in 100% of the cases. While the two methods performed equally well in symptomatic individuals, their discordance was mainly restricted to samples from convalescent subjects. The saliva test was at least as effective as NP swabs in asymptomatic individuals recruited for contact tracing. Our study describes a testing strategy of self-collected saliva samples, which is reliable for wide-scale COVID-19 screening in the community and is particularly effective for contact tracing.