14 research outputs found
Strappazzandola di parole ... maltrarrandola apiù un posso... Una lite tra fratello e sorella nella Sicilia di fine seicento
No full textLa sfera domestica, nel passato come nel presente, è "l'ambito privilegiato di espressione e di azione della violenza maschile contro le donne". Nell'ultimo quarantennio gli studi su questo fenomeno di lunga durata e rappresentativo delle relazioni tra uomini e donne si sono moltiplicati. La violenza contro le donne si è rivelata un angolo visuale molto importante per riflettere su "alcuni temi centrali nella storia europea: la famiglia, il potere, la civilizzazione" ed è oggetto di studio in diversi ambiti disciplinari, incluso quello storico. In questo articolo ho preso in esame la lunga contesa giudiziaria tra Anna Ruffo e il fratello maggiore Placido Ruffo, principe della Scaletta, primogenito ed erede del grande uomo d'affari e collezionista messinese Antonio Ruffo. L'oggetto del contendere fu la richiesta di Anna di essere risarcita di quanto le spettava dell'ingente patrimonio del padre, poiché il fratello l'aveva costretta con la forza ad accettare una somma irrisoria, desiderando che lei si monacasse. Anna, nonostante le minacce e le percosse del fratello, riuscì invece a sposare Muzio Spatafora, appartenente ad una potente famiglia del patriziato messinese. Il suo caso fu pertanto quello di una donna che riuscì a sfuggire a una monacazione forzata, a differenza di tante altre giovani aristocratiche nel corso dell'età moderna
Ruthenium complexes bearing glucosyl ligands are able to inhibit the amyloid aggregation of short histidine-peptides
No full textNeurodegenerative diseases are often characterized by the formation of aggregates of amyloidogenic peptides and proteins, facilitating the formation of neurofibrillary plaques. In this study, we investigate a series of Ru-complexes sharing three-legged piano-stool structures based on the arene ring and glucosylated carbene ligands. The ability of these complexes to bind amyloid His-peptides was evaluated by ESI-MS, and their effects on the aggregation process were investigated through ThT and Tyr fluorescence emission. The complexes were demonstrated to bind the amyloidogenic peptides even with different mechanisms and kinetics depending on the chemical nature of the ligands around the Ru(II) ion. TEM analysis detected the disaggregation of typical fibers caused by the presence of Ru-compounds. Overall, our results show that the Ru-complexes can modulate the aggregation of His-amyloids and can be conceived as good lead compounds in the field of novel anti-aggregating agents in neurodegeneration
Fracture Risk in Type 2 Diabetes: Current Perspectives and Gender Differences
No full textType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, resulting in disabilities and increased mortality. The pathophysiological mechanisms linking diabetes to osteoporosis have not been fully explained, but alterations in bone structure and quality are well described in diabetic subjects, likely due to a combination of different factors. Insulin deficiency and dysfunction, obesity and hyperinsulinemia, altered level of oestrogen, leptin, and adiponectin as well as diabetes-related complications, especially peripheral neuropathy, orthostatic hypotension, or reduced vision due to retinopathy may all be associated with an impairment in bone metabolism and with the increased risk of fractures. Finally, medications commonly used in the treatment of T2DM may have an impact on bone metabolism and on fracture risk, particularly in postmenopausal women. When considering the impact of hypoglycaemic drugs on bone, it is important to balance their potential direct effects on bone quality with the risk of falling-related fractures due to the associated hypoglycaemic risk. In this review, experimental and clinical evidence connecting bone metabolism and fracture risk to T2DM is discussed, with particular emphasis on hypoglycaemic treatments and gender-specific implications
Fracture Risk in Type 2 Diabetes: Current Perspectives and Gender Differences
No full textType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with an increased risk of osteoporotic fractures, resulting in disabilities and increased mortality. The pathophysiological mechanisms linking diabetes to osteoporosis have not been fully explained, but alterations in bone structure and quality are well described in diabetic subjects, likely due to a combination of different factors. Insulin deficiency and dysfunction, obesity and hyperinsulinemia, altered level of oestrogen, leptin, and adiponectin as well as diabetes-related complications, especially peripheral neuropathy, orthostatic hypotension, or reduced vision due to retinopathy may all be associated with an impairment in bone metabolism and with the increased risk of fractures. Finally, medications commonly used in the treatment of T2DM may have an impact on bone metabolism and on fracture risk, particularly in postmenopausal women. When considering the impact of hypoglycaemic drugs on bone, it is important to balance their potential direct effects on bone quality with the risk of falling-related fractures due to the associated hypoglycaemic risk. In this review, experimental and clinical evidence connecting bone metabolism and fracture risk to T2DM is discussed, with particular emphasis on hypoglycaemic treatments and gender-specific implications
Corrigendum to “Fracture Risk in Type 2 Diabetes: Current Perspectives and Gender Differences”
No full textMultidimensional assessment of quality of life and locus of control in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes: role of gender
No full textType 2 Diabetes (T2D) in elderly patients is challenging and it may have a strong impact on patients’ quality of life. In this study we evaluated whether personal, clinical, or gender-related variables may influenceDiabetes Specific Quality of Life(DSQoL) and locus of control (LOC) scores in a group of 100 elderly T2D outpatients (60% men, 40% women; mean age 72 years) on oral hypoglycaemic drugs and in good metabolic control (mean HbA1c 6.7%). Overall, women showed a greater cognitive impairment and a lower autonomy in daily lifeas compared to men. Mean DSQoL scores indicated a good quality of life, with a lower level of satisfaction in women (P=0.009).As for LOC, there was a high prevalence of the internal domain, indicating that these subjects had a good awareness of their own role in diabetes’s management. Women reached lower scores in the LOC external domain, suggesting that external factors were perceived as less important determinants of diabetes’ control in elderly women as compared to men (P=0.048). After stratifying all study variables according to QoL and LOC domains, only diabetes duration and hypoglycemic episodes were significantly associated with QoL, whereas only gender and the number of outpatient visits during the previous two years were associated with LOC domains. In conclusion, in elderly T2D patients QoL and LOC scores are clearly influenced by a number of clinical factors, including gender
Glucosyl Platinum(II) Complexes Inhibit Aggregation of the CTerminal Region of the A Peptide
No full textNeurodegenerative diseases are often
caused by uncontrolled amyloid
aggregation. Hence, many drug discovery processes are oriented to
evaluate new compounds that are able to modulate self-recognition
mechanisms. Herein, two related glycoconjugate pentacoordinate Pt(II)
complexes were analyzed in their capacity to affect the self-aggregation
processes of two amyloidogenic fragments, Aβ21–40 and Aβ25–35, of the C-terminal region of
the β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide, the major component of Alzheimerʼs
disease (AD) neuronal plaques. The most water-soluble complex, 1Ptdep, is able to bind both fragments
and to deeply influence the morphology of peptide aggregates. Thioflavin
T (ThT) binding assays, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
(ESI-MS), and ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption
spectroscopy indicated that 1Ptdep shows different kinetics and mechanisms of inhibition toward the
two sequences and demonstrated that the peptide aggregation inhibition
is associated with a direct coordinative bond of the compound metal
center to the peptides. These data support the in vitro ability of pentacoordinate Pt(II) complexes to inhibit the formation
of amyloid aggregates and pave the way for the application of this
class of compounds as potential neurotherapeutics
HDL subclasses and the common CETP TaqIB variant predict the incidence of microangiopatic complications in type 2 diabetic women: A 9 years follow-up study
No full textDietary intake and major food sources of polyphenols in people with type 2 diabetes: The TOSCA.IT Study
No full textPurpose: Proper evaluation of polyphenols intake at the population level is a necessary step in order to establish possible associations with health outcomes. Available data are limited, and so far no study has been performed in people with diabetes. The aim of this work was to document the intake of polyphenols and their major food sources in a cohort of people with type 2 diabetes and in socio-demographic subgroups. Methods: We studied 2573 men and women aged 50â75 years. Among others, anthropometry was measured by standard protocol and dietary habits were investigated by food frequency questionnaire (EPIC). The intake of polyphenols was evaluated using US Department of Agriculture and Phenol-Explorer databases. Results: The mean total polyphenol intake was 683.3 ± 5.8 mg/day. Non-alcoholic beverages represented the main food source of dietary polyphenols and provided 35.5% of total polyphenol intake, followed by fruits (23.0%), alcoholic beverages (14.0%), vegetables (12.4%), cereal products and tubers (4.6%), legumes (3.7%) and oils (2.1%); chocolate, cakes and nuts are negligible sources of polyphenols in this cohort. The two most important polyphenol classes contributing to the total intake were flavonoids (47.5%) and phenolic acids (47.4%). Polyphenol intake increased with age and education level and decreased with BMI; furthermore, in the northern regions of Italy, the polyphenol intake was slightly, but significantly higher than in the central or southern regions. Conclusions: The study documents for the first time the intake of polyphenols and their main food sources in people with diabetes using validated and complete databases of the polyphenol content of food. Compared with published data, collected in people without diabetes, these results suggest a lower intake and a different pattern of intake in people with diabetes
