1,720,997 research outputs found
Pesticides exposure and premature thelarche: experimental and epidemiological tools for toxicological assessment
Full text linkPesticides, widely used in agriculture to protect plants and produce a high quality crop, cause serious human health concerns due to a high number of
associated comorbidities such as cancer, neurological, cardiovascular and eproductive diseases including premature thelarche and early puberty. In addition, several pesticides are identified as endocrine disruptors because they may interfere with the functions of the hormonal system. Children due to their developmental stage, peculiar lifestyle and eating habits are more susceptible to the adverse effects of endocrine disruptors. The present study is within the framework of the project “Integrated approach to evaluate children agricultural pesticide exposure and health outcome” (PEACH project) and deals with two aspects converging in the toxicological risk assessment, i.e., the hazard identification and the exposure assessment. Specifically, the study is focused on: (a) the evaluation of the potential toxicological effects of three pesticides widely used in agriculture, such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), imidacloprid (IMI) and glyphosate (GLY), through an in vitro study comparing the response of two mammary cell lines; (b) the setting up of a questionnaire to be used within the epidemiological study
of PEACH project, to design a sampling plan of food locally produced and consumed by the enrolled girls for pesticide residues determination and dietary
exposure assessment. In vitro toxicological study The possible toxicological effects of CPF, IMI and GLY were evaluated by an in vitro study using two human mammary gland cell lines: MCF-7 a breast cancer cell line, commonly used, and MCF-12A a non-tumorigenic cell line, that, although barely used in toxicological studies, could be a more appropriate model simulating the "effective cellular condition" of healthy people; therefore 5 it may be more suitable to investigate the effects of pesticide exposure and the possible association with the idiopathic premature thelarche (IPT), as clue of pubertal disorders. In this respect, the ultimate goal of the study was to set up a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system reproducing the in vivo physiology of the mammary gland, by using the selected cell lines as preparatory step for further studies. To evaluate the effects on cell viability and metabolism and endocrine activity, both cell lines were treated with the three pesticides at concentrations derived from real exposure values in children as reported by epidemiological data. The cytotoxic potential of the substances was measured by CyQUANT® and MTS assays able to detect cell proliferation and cell viability, respectively; cells were treated with five ten-fold serial dilutions of CPF (120 pM- 1.2 μM), IMI (160 pM–1.6 μM) and GLY (230 pM- 2.3 μM). In order to evaluate if the three pesticides might induce oxidative stress, altered
the intracellular ATP production as well as apoptosis or necrosis, appropriate assays were performed in both cell line i.e., Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) and
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) detection and Annexin V assays were performed in both cell lines. Furthermore, the endocrine activity of CPF, IMI and GLY was elucidated by the evaluation of their ability to interfere with estradiol production as well as the gene expression of specific nuclear receptors involved in the development of the mammary gland including estrogen receptors α and β (ERα ERβ), androgen receptor (AR), progesterone receptor (PgR) and Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). Specifically, estradiol concentration and gene expression were determined by Estradiol ELISA assay and real-time PCR, respectively, by using
three ten-fold serial dilutions of CPF (1.2, 12 or 120 nM), IMI (1.6, 16 or 160 nM), GLY (2.3, 23 or 230 nM). Cell proliferation and cell viability were differently affected in MCF-7 and MCF-12A cell lines. In MCF-7 cells, only two pesticides exerted an effect on cell 6 proliferation at different concentrations: CPF at the highest concentration tested induced an increase while GLY at the lowest induced a decrease. In MCF-12A, all three pesticides induced a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation. The results showed that IMI and GLY are able to affect cell proliferation differently depending on the cell model postulating MCF-12A as a more sensitive model. The effects on cell proliferation in MCF-12A are supported by an increased apoptotic signal for GLY indicating activation of the apoptotic mechanism in the cell death process, whereas in MCF-7 cells no significant effect in apoptotic or necrotic signals was observed. In MCF-7 cells, all three pesticides induced a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability although in a different pattern, while in MCF-12A cells, CPF induced a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, IMI at the lowest concentration tested induced an increase in cell viability and GLY had no effect. The decrease in cell viability observed in MCF-7 cells was supported by the decrease in ATP level induced by all three pesticides. No effect in ATP production was observed in MCF-12A. In MCF-7 cells, CPF at the two highest concentrations induced a decrease in ROS production, in contrast, IMI at the lowest concentration induced an increase in ROS production, whereas no effect was recorded for GLY. In MF-12A cells, intracellular ROS production was decreased by all three pesticides. In both cell lines, all three pesticides increased estradiol (E2) secretion although in different patterns. Furthermore, in MCF-7 cells, ERα gene expression was induced by CPF and IMI, whereas it was downregulated by GLY; all three pesticides downregulated ERβ and PgR gene expression and upregulated AR although with different patterns; moreover, IMI e GLY upregulated also AhR although with different pattern. 7 In MCF-12A cells, ERα and ERβ gene expression was upregulated by IMI and GLY; the same pesticides downregulated AR, PgR and AhR although with different pattern; only CPF downregulated ERβ with no effect on the other receptors.
The final step of the in vitro study was to set up a 3D cell culturing that closely
mimic the in vivo mammary gland. For this purpose, a hydrogel system and a
magnetic system were set up and compared by using MCF-7 and MCF-12A cell
lines, respectively. The magnetic system aggregating cells under magnetic
forces appeared to be as a more suitable 3D cell culturing to study the effects of
chemicals providing more reproducible experimental methodology and
conditions.
Epidemiological study: Food Frequency Questionnaire
The aim was to develop a food frequency questionnaire to be filled in by the
girls (or their parents) enrolled in the case-control study performed in the
PEACH project. The food frequency questionnaire is divided into food groups
(i.e., fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, cereals, eggs, oil) and food commodities. For
each commodity, the quantity consumed, the frequency of consumption and the
place of purchase are required. Data from the structured questionnaire were
elaborated to sample food locally produced and consumed by girls, for pesticide
residues determination. Food samples were collected in 17 local farms and 25
private gardens. At the end of PEACH project, data from questionnaires will be
also used to estimate pesticide dietary intake.
Overall, the results of this study, including both the in vitro toxicological study
and the epidemiological study, provide evidence on pesticides toxicology and
suitable tools for chemical risk assessment
Impararae a cambiare.
No full textLa formazione continua è un dovere deontologico e un obbligo giuridico per il professionista della salute. La formazione in genere e, in particolare quella sul campo, è un aspetto epistemologicamente ineliminabile della cultura del cambiamento e del miglioramento continuo della qualità. La formazione è uno strumento decisivo per chi vuole guidare un’organizzazione sanitaria fatta di beni e di persone, per chi crede davvero nella necessità del governo clinico
Il trattamento di gruppo per i pazienti affetti da lombalgia cronica: risultati di uno studio longitudinale.
No full textLe osservazioni indicano una prevalenza annuale dei sintomi nel 50% degli adulti in età lavorativa, dei quali il 15-20% ricorre a cure mediche. I dolori alla schiena sono la più frequente causa di disabilità nei soggetti d’età inferiore ai 45 anni e, per quanto si viva in un’epoca post – industriale, il lavoro continua a richiedere, in modalità nuove, un alto impegno all’apparato osteoarticolare. La richiesta nei nostri ambulatori fisiatrici di un trattamento per la lombalgia è davvero continua e pressante e impegna fisiatri e fisioterapisti, oltre a costituire, come è ovvio, un alto costo sociale.
Solitamente il trattamento riabilitativo del paziente con lombalgia cronica prevede un ciclo di trattamento in gruppo della durata di 10 sedute. Vi sono però iniziali indicazioni della letteratura da cui emerge la raccomandazione di allungare i tempi di trattamento riabilitativo .
Scopo di questo studio longitudinale è stato quello di verificare l’efficacia di un nuovo programma di trattamento di gruppo per pazienti lombalgici cronici.
Quello che vogliamo verificare, in particolare, è se le nostre sedute di trattamento in gruppo sono efficaci a aumentare le performances dei pazienti, come misura indiretta della loro condizione di salute, per usare i termini dell’ICF. Valutiamo gli effetti sul dolore e la disabilità tramite due questionari il Back Ill e il Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire, in italiano
Early warning of shallow landslides: Monitoring of pre-failure suction-induced deformation
Full text linkMost of the Landslides Early Warning Systems (LEWS) in operation are based uniquely on monitoring rainfall data, limiting their performance due to false alarms generated by rainfall thresholds. The accuracy of LEWS may be remarkably improved by monitoring soil-based variables and the stress-strain response of the ground during intense rainfall events. This paper investigates whether slope pre-failure deformation can be used as an additional precursor of landslide triggering. This further precursor would substantially improve LEWS accuracy, especially if pre-failure deformation is combined with suction monitoring. Some tests were conducted using a small-scale physical model of a slope built with unsaturated volcanic silt subjected to artificial rainfall. A new device named tensio-Inclinometer was developed to monitor simultaneously suction and suction-induced deformation. It combines a conventional tensiometer and an accelerometer installed at the top of the tensiometer shaft. It is shown that pre-failure deformation detected by the tensiometer shaft tilting is a suitable landslide precursor. Moreover, it can provide reliable soil-based thresholds for early warning systems if combined with suction
Alterazione del comportamento idrologico di piroclastiti limose indotta da una copertura di elementi combusti
No full textL
a presente nota descri ve un attivit à sperimentale condotta all o s copo di caratterizzare le alterazioni idrologiche
generate in un sotto su olo di piroclastite limosa da lla presenza d i materiale di combustione lignea prodotto da un
incendio boschivo L a risposta idrologica è stata caratterizzata utilizzando un modello f isico di lisimetro ,
ricoprendo un o strato di piroclastiti limose già p rece de ntement e caratterizzato nel l evoluzione del
comportamento idrologico generata dall interaz ione con l atmosfera, con materiale ottenuto dalla combustione
lignea, a granulometria p i ù grossolana . L alterazione idrologica osservata in pr esenza dello strato di ricopri mento
è stata dedotta d al confronto con i risultati precedentemente ottenuti in assenza di tale strato . Essa è risultata
significativa e caratterizzata da notevoli in crem e n ti di contento d acqua
Monitoraggio della suzione e dei movimenti superficiali di una colata in argilla: primi risultati
No full textL’articolo illustra, attraverso misure di suzione e rotazione acquisite a mezzo di uno strumento prototipale, il tensio-inclinometro, sviluppato presso l’Università di Napoli Federico II, come nella frana di Pietrapertosa l’interazione terreno-atmosfera giochi un ruolo non trascurabile nel regolare i livelli di suzione delle zone più superficiali, determinando valori quasi mai coerenti con la profondità del pelo libero della falda (inteso come frontiera del dominio di pressioni interstiziali positive), in quanto la suzione è continuamente perturbata dal flusso di vapor d’acqua in uscita. Il contributo si propone di cogliere, attraverso la misura contestuale dei gradienti di spostamento superficiali e di suzione, il tipo di cinematismo di frana in atto
Group treatment for patient with chronic low backpain: 10 or 20 session exercise programme?
No full textIntroduction. Some authoritative sources in literature suggest to
prolong the rehabilitative treatment for patients with chronic low back
pain well beyond the traditional 10 session. We have, therefore, started
a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a group treatment program
with 10 and 20 sessions and, in parallel, recorded the compliance of
the same patients. Materials and methods. 34 patients, 15 male and
19 female, affected by chronic low back pain (since more than 6
months) have been consecutively recruited with an average age of 45
years (24-74 range). Criteria to be excluded were the contemporary
presence of other severe pathologies, the spondylolisis and spondylolisthesis,
or their need to carry out other treatments at the same time.
The treatment program, lasting 20 biweekly 1-hour-sessions, is based
on the Feldenkrais’s method associated with a cognitive behavioural
treatment. It has been run by the same physiotherapist. Physical disability
and pain have been evaluated at the beginning, after 10 and
after 20 sessions through two questionnaires: the Back Ill (BI) and the
Roland and Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ). In the BI a change
larger than 15%, both toward improvement or worsening, is considered
significant. Results. Out of the 34 patients, screened within the
study, 23 (equivalent to 68%) have carried out 10 sessions, 19 at least
17 and 7 (15%) have stopped after 5 sessions (1-8). The differences
between the results of the BI test after 10 and 20 sessions have not
shown any statistical relevance. The RMDQ have not shown statistically
significant differences between the tenth and twentieth session.
Conclusion. In spite the poorness of the statistical sample, we have
to reconsider whether it is the case or not to extend the cycle beyond
the tenth session. The compliance among patients is good, as the
abandonment takes place well before 10 sessions
Earthflow movement styles. An experience from southern Italy
No full textThis work presents the results of the monitoring of pore water pressure evolution in clay sand, experiencing the reactivation of an earthflow. Pore water pressure measures have been com-bined with those of tilting of a rigid shaft to understand how suction levels relate to the landslide deformational pattern
Disability trends among Italian adult population: a multistate approach
No full textWhile life expectancy continues to increase in Europe, studies in disability trends have not shown such a clear improvement, resulting in increases, decreases or stagnation in disability prevalence over time, and the debate on health expectancies of European populations is still open. The economic crisis has further complicated this debate and most studies show how the effects of the crisis may affect the health behaviours of populations differently. Few studies on health expectancy have been conducted on the national scale in Italy using the longitudinal approach, mainly due to the lack of a national longitudinal survey on health. The MEHM included in the longitudinal component of SILC gives the opportunity to test this approach in the Italian context. The aim of this study is to estimate the trends in disability at 40 years and over of the Italian population, following a longitudinal approach and using the software IMaCh. Results are consistent with the literature, and backward prevalences computed by the new version of IMaCh (0.99) let us verify that the pattern of a reduced prevalence of disability for younger adults was very typical to specific subgroups, and for many years, but it will disappear in the near future
Effetto della componente verticale del moto sismico sulla risposta di una diga in terra zonata attraverso approcci semplificati e avanzati
No full textNelle analisi dinamiche di dighe in terra era pratica diffusa in passato considerare la sola componente orizzontale del moto sismico trascurando quella verticale. Quest’ultima, invece, potrebbe avere un ruolo importante sulla risposta sismica delle dighe, specialmente in condizioni near fault, data la contestualità di forze d’inerzia significative agenti in entrambe le direzioni.
L’articolo descrive uno studio numerico svolto attraverso approcci semplificati e avanzati, con l’obiettivo di indagare l’effetto della componente verticale del moto sismico sulla risposta di una diga in terra zonata. L’opera, situata nel sud Italia, ha la peculiarità di essere stata colpita, durante la sua fase di costruzione, dall’evento sismico dell’Irpinia del 1980 con epicentro a pochi chilometri dallo sbarramento. Le analisi numeriche sono state condotte applicando in input (i) entrambe le componenti del moto (orizzontale e verticale), (ii) la componente verticale con segno invertito e, infine, (iii) ignorando completamente la componente verticale. I risultati ottenuti mostrano che il contributo della componente verticale del moto di input sugli spostamenti permanenti del corpo diga è quasi sempre trascurabile per le analisi di tipo avanzato, in grado di portare in conto la non linearità e la plasticizzazione diffusa del corpo diga, mentre ha un ruolo maggiore sulle previsioni numeriche ottenute tramite l’approccio dinamico semplificato alla Newmark (1965)
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