Controlled Release of 5-FU from Chi–DHA Nanoparticles Synthetized with Ionic Gelation Technique: Evaluation of Release Profile Kinetics and Cytotoxicity Effect

The ionic gelation technique allows us to obtain nanoparticles able to function as carriers for hydrophobic anticancer drugs, such as 5-fluoruracil (5-FU). In this study, reticulated chitosan– docosahexaenoic acid (Chi–DHAr) nanoparticles were synthesized by using a chemical reaction between amine groups of chitosan (Chi) and carboxylic acids of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and the presence of a link between Chi and DHA was confirmed by FT-IR, while the size and morphology of the obtained Chi-DHAr nanoparticles was evaluated with dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively. Drug-loading content (DLC) and drug-loading efficiency (DLE) of 5-FU in Chi-DHAr nanoparticles were 33.74 ± 0.19% and 7.9 ± 0.26%, respectively, while in the non-functionalized nanoparticles (Chir + 5FU), DLC, and DLE were in the ranges of 23.73 ± 0.14%, 5.62%, and 0.23%, respectively. The in vitro release profile, performed in phosphate buffer saline (PBS, pH 7.4) at 37 °C, indicated that the synthetized Chi–DHAr nanoparticles provided a sustained release of 5-FU. Based on the obtained regression coefficient value (R2), the first order kinetic model provided the best fit for both Chir and Chi-DHAr nanoparticles. Finally, cytotoxicity studies of chitosan, 5-FU, Chir, Chir + 5-FU, Chi-DHAr, and Chi-DHAr + 5-FU nanoparticles were conducted. Overall, Chi-DHAr nanoparticles proved to be much more biocompatible than Chir nanoparticles while retaining the ability to release the drug with high efficiency, especially towards specific types of cancerous cells

Cibo e invecchiamento attivo. Una riflessione condivisa per raccomandazioni di policy inclusive

Per comprendere la complessità dell’invecchiamento attivo e in salute, è fondamentale promuovere il dialogo e il confronto tra discipline. Il progetto NUTRAGE, grazie ai numerosi Istituti partner e al suo approccio interdisciplinare, rappresenta un’opportunità per favorire queste interazioni e stimolare la riflessione tra ricercatori e stakeholder. Le raccomandazioni di policy qui presentate nascono all’interno delle scienze sociali dall’integrazione delle prospettive giuridiche, economiche e sociali. La riflessione condivisa ha messo in evidenza la necessità di considerare i bisogni degli anziani nel loro essere categoria non omogenea sia come anziani sia come consumatori. Ha mostrato come la relazione tra cibo e anziani possa avere diverse manifestazioni — l’acquisto, il consumo individuale e condiviso, la produzione — che presentano tutte delle criticità e delle opportunità nella sfida dell’invecchiamento della popolazione. Ha concluso che l’invecchiamento attivo e in salute è frutto dell’integrazione di pratiche sane negli ambiti dell’alimentazione, dell’attività fisica, dell’ambiente di vita e di relazione. La presente riflessione vuole dare un contributo alla definizione di politiche e strategie che mettano al centro la persona anziana in una prospettiva inclusiva caratterizzata da una tale complessità

Cibo e invecchiamento attivo. Una riflessione condivisa per raccomandazioni di policy inclusive

Per comprendere la complessità dell’invecchiamento attivo e in salute, è fondamentale promuovere il dialogo e il confronto tra discipline. Il progetto NUTRAGE, grazie ai numerosi Istituti partner e al suo approccio interdisciplinare, rappresenta un’opportunità per favorire queste interazioni e stimolare la riflessione tra ricercatori e stakeholder. Le raccomandazioni di policy qui presentate nascono all’interno delle scienze sociali dall’integrazione delle prospettive giuridiche, economiche e sociali. La riflessione condivisa ha messo in evidenza la necessità di considerare i bisogni degli anziani nel loro essere categoria non omogenea sia come anziani sia come consumatori. Ha mostrato come la relazione tra cibo e anziani possa avere diverse manifestazioni — l’acquisto, il consumo individuale e condiviso, la produzione — che presentano tutte delle criticità e delle opportunità nella sfida dell’invecchiamento della popolazione. Ha concluso che l’invecchiamento attivo e in salute è frutto dell’integrazione di pratiche sane negli ambiti dell’alimentazione, dell’attività fisica, dell’ambiente di vita e di relazione. La presente riflessione vuole dare un contributo alla definizione di politiche e strategie che mettano al centro la persona anziana in una prospettiva inclusiva caratterizzata da una tale complessità

Sporadic ALS is not associated with VAPB gene mutations in Southern Italy

Mutations in the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Sod1) gene have been reported to cause adult-onset autosomal dominant Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (FALS). In sporadic cases (SALS) de novo mutations in the Sod1 gene have occasionally been observed. The recent finding of a mutation in the VAMP/synaptobrevin-associated membrane protein B (VAPB) gene as the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS8), prompted us to investigate the entire coding region of this gene in SALS patients. One hundred twenty-five unrelated patients with adult-onset ALS and 150 healthy sex-age-matched subjects with the same genetic background were analyzed. Genetic analysis for all exons of the VAPB gene by DHPLC revealed 5 variant profiles in 83 out of 125 SALS patients. Direct sequencing of these PCR products revealed 3 nucleotide substitutions. Two of these were found within intron 3 of the gene, harbouring 4 variant DHPLC profiles. The third nucleotide variation (Asp130Glu) was the only substitution present in the coding region of the VAPB gene, and it occurred within exon 4. It was found in three patients out of 125. The frequency of the detected exon variation in the VAPB gene was not significantly different between patients and controls. In conclusion, our study suggests that VAPB mutations are not a common cause of adult-onset SALS

Awareness, Identity, and Place Attachment Among Young People Living in a Calabrian Reclamation Landscape

Over the centuries, the reclamation of marshy areas has significantly transformed the Italian rural landscape. The Piana di Sibari (North of Calabria) represents a paradigmatic case of this process, because the current landscape is the result of a vast rural transformation. This paper discusses the results of a survey conducted to evaluate students’ knowledge and perception of this “Reclaim Lands” landscape, focusing on their emotional connection and awareness of its cultural and environmental heritage. The survey was administered to 149 middle school and 177 high school students. The study aims to investigate awareness and perception of landscape among mid-to-late adolescents living in the Piana di Sibari, highlighting the key aspects of the relationship between students and the places they inhabit, recognizing the catalytic role of the landscape in fostering a sense of belonging and identity. The results of this survey encourage reflection on a cultural shift that integrates ecological, social, and cultural perspectives, aligned with the European Landscape Convention, advocating for greater investment in youth education and participation to promote active citizenship and chart a course toward a fairer and more sustainable society

Plants in Menstrual Diseases: A Systematic Study from Italian Folk Medicine on Current Approaches

Background: Plant-based remedies have been used since antiquity to treat menstrual-related diseases (MD). From the late nineteenth to the early to mid-twentieth century, Italian folk remedies to treat “women’s diseases” were documented in a vast corpus of literature sources. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to bring to light the plant-based treatments utilized by Italian folk medicine to heal clinical manifestations of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea and menstrual disorders in an attempt to discuss these remedies from a modern pharmacological point of view. Moreover, we compare the medical applications described by Hippocrates with those utilized by Italian folk medicine to check if they result from a sort of continuity of use by over two thousand years. Results: Out of the 54 plants employed in Italian folk medicine, 25 (46.3%) were already documented in the pharmacopoeia of the Corpus Hippocraticum for treating MD. Subsequently, a detailed search of scientific data banks such as Medline and Scopus was undertaken to uncover recent results concerning bioactivities of the plant extracts to treat MD. About 26% of the plants used by Italian folk medicine, nowadays, have undergone human trials to assess their actual efficacy. At the same time, about 41% of these herbal remedies come back to in different countries. Conclusions: Active principles extracted from plants used by Italian folk healers could be a promising source of knowledge and represent strength candidates for future drug discovery for the management of MD

A rare association between multiple sclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1B

The association between multiple sclerosis (MS) and hereditary and sporadic demyelinating disorders of the peripheral nervous system is extremely rare. We herein report a case of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1B with p.Val102fs mutation in the MPZ gene that developed relapsing remitting MS