Nicotinamide downregulates gene expression of interleukin-6, interleukin-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and tumour necrosis factor-α gene expression in HaCaT keratinocytes after ultraviolet B irradiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has profound effects on human skin, causing sunburn, inflammation, cellular-tissue injury, cell death, and skin cancer. Most of these effects are mediated by a number of cytokines produced by keratinocytes. In this study we investigated whether nicotinamide (NCT), the amide form of vitamin B3, might have a protective function in reducing the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α in UV-irradiated keratinocytes. HaCaT cells were treated with UVB in the presence or absence of NCT, and cytokine mRNA levels were examined by quantitative real-time PCR. NCT significantly downregulated IL-6, IL-10, MCP-1 and TNF-α mRNA expression, whereas it did not exert any significant effect on IL-1β or IL-8 expression. Because of its ability to decrease these cytokine mediators after UV exposure, NCT is a possible therapy to improve or prevent conditions induced or aggravated by UV light.

Cadmium accumulation and antioxidant responses in Sparus aurata exposed to waterborne cadmium

Cadmium (Cd), a nonessential trace element, is rapidly accumulated by most living organisms and subsequently exerts its toxicity at different molecular levels. This study exposed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) to waterborne 0.1 mg/l Cd for 11 days and investigated the Cd accumulation pattern, lipid oxidation, and response of antioxidant defences. At the end of the experiment, mean Cd concentrations in gills and liver, the organs most prone to metal accumulation, were 209.4 and 371.7 ng/g ww, respectively. Muscle did not show any Cd retention during the 11 days of exposure. In liver, the cytosolic fraction of the metal was chelated into the nontoxic form by metallothionein (MT), a specific Cd-inducible protein. Zn and Cu concentrations were not influenced by Cd exposure. Glutathione (GSH) concentrations and the antioxidant enzyme activities of GSH reductase and GSH peroxidase showed an overall decreasing trend. In addition, lipid and aqueous hydroperoxide levels did not show any significant variation. Oxidative stress indirectly generated by Cd seems to be compensated for by the different biochemical systems tailored to decrease cellular damage. In particular, the negative effects of Cd accumulation in tissues were probably counteracted by the induction of MT.

Polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in wild, farmed, and frozen marine seafood marketed in Campania, Italy

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in fresh-catch, farmed, and frozen marine fish marketed in Campania, Italy. Additionally, polychlorobiphenyl congeners were found: six were non-dioxin-like (NDL-PCB) (IUPAC no. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153, and 180), and one was dioxin-like (DL-PCB) (IUPAC no. 118). In all, 93% of fresh-catch, 100% of aquaculture, and 74% of the frozen specimens contained PCBs at concentrations varying from 0.12 to 35.11 ng/g, wet weight; NDL-PCBs ranged between 0.12 and 32.44 ng/g. Penta-, hexa-, and heptachlorobiphenyls were predominant. Regarding organochlorine pesticides, hexachlorobenzene was detected in 35% of fresh catch, 36% of farmed, and 46% of the frozen fish specimens, in a range between < 0.01 and 3.29 ng/g. Contents of the dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane isomer amounted to 0.12 to 11.00 ng/g. Finally, PAHs were detected in 100% of the specimens. Benzo[a]pyrene was detected in 66% of the aquaculture, 35% of the fresh catch, and 24% of the frozen species, at concentrations varying from 0.03 to 9.18 ng/g. On the basis of annual fish consumption, an average daily intake of NDL-PCBs of 6.02 ng/kg of body weight was estimated. Calculated daily hexachlorobenzene and total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane intakes were, respectively, 0.11 and 0.90 ng/kg of body weight per day. The contribution of fish to the daily consumption of the noncarcinogenic PAHs can be considered low; for benzo[a]pyrene, the estimated daily intake is considerably lower than the doses considered carcinogenic for experimental animals by the European Union Scientific Committee on Food.

Occurrence of polychlorobiphenyls in buffalo mozzarella cheese from Campania (Italy)

Buffalo milk and mozzarella cheese produced in the Caserta and Salerno areas in Campania region have been investigated on the presence and the levels of polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs). Seven congeners, six non dioxin-like (NDL-PCBs nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) and one dioxin-like (DL-PCB n. 118), were detected. PCBs were found at detectable levels in the 83% of the buffalo milk and in the 100% of the mozzarella cheese samples from Caserta; in those from Salerno the prevalence of contamination was 77% for milk and 73% for mozzarellas, respectively. The NDL-PCB content of mozzarellas collected in Caserta was significantly higher than that found in those from Salerno. The more diffuse congeners were PCB 28, 138 and 153 both in milk and in mozzarella cheese; PCB 118 contributed to the total PCB content for the 7% in milk and 2-3% in mozzarella cheese. On the basis of the Italian annual average consumption the contribution of mozzarella to the daily dietary intake of NDL-PCB can vary between 0.41 and 21.33 ng kg(-1) bw, median value of 3.66 ng kg(-1) bw. The levels of contamination in milk and dairies analyzed are similar or quite lower than those found in other European countries.

[Knowledges and beliefs related to nutrition of obese and overweight patients subjects: a study in Southern Italy]

303 obese and overweight south Italian patients (240 women and 63 men), volunteers to participate in a patient education programme delivered by the university hospital of Foggia, have fullfiled a 50 items true/false test exploring the knowledges and the beliefs on obesity, nutrition, physical activities. The majority of the subjects has both low socio economical status and education level. Women have better performed than men (p<0.005) and obese patients, better than overweight subjects (p<0.005). The more frequent mistakes have concerned items on nutrition, meanwhile a better performance has been observed with the items on beliefs.

Natural co-occurrence of deoxynivalenol and fumonisins B1 and B2 in Italian marketed foodstuffs

A survey was performed to obtain the frequency and levels of contamination by deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisins B1 and B2 (FB1, FB2) mycotoxins in Italian marketed foods. Of 202 samples investigated, including raw materials and processed cereal foods (bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, biscuits, baby and infant foods), 84% were contaminated with DON at levels from 0.007 to 0.930 microg x g(-1) (median 0.065 microg x g(-1)); 26% contained FB1 ranging from 0.010 to 2.870 microg x g(-1) (0.070 microg x g(-1)); 35% contained FB2 at 0.010-0.790 microg x g(-1) (0.080 microg x g(-1)). The highest levels of DON and FB1 were detected in raw cereals and wholemeal flours. The highest levels of FB2 were detected in durum wheat pasta. A widespread DON contamination was found in baby and infant foods at levels varying from 0.007 to 0.166 microg x g(-1).

Evaluation of benzene exposure in children living in Campania (Italy) by urinary trans,trans-muconic acid assay

The urinary benzene metabolite trans,trans-muconic acid (MA) was determined in 144 children living in Campania (Italy): 92 from Naples (1,300,000 inhabitants), designated as an urban source, and compared to 52 from Pollica (300 inhabitants), considered a rural, background exposure for benzene. The children participating in the study were tested by an anonymous questionnaire about the possible sources of exposure to benzene. Quantifiable levels of MA were found in 63% of the urine samples analyzed. Setting the value of nondetectable urinary samples at 7 microg/L MA, a value that is one-half of the instrument detection limit of 14 microg/L, the mean urinary concentration levels were 98.7+/-81.0 microg/L and 48.4+/-71.7 microg/L in Naples and Pollica, respectively; adjustment of these values to creatinine clearance resulted in MA levels of 141.2+/-145.4 microg/L in Naples and 109.8+/-133.2 microg/L in Pollica. Passive smoke exposure did not significantly affect urinary MA levels, but proximity of the home to traffic increased urine MA content. Data show that MA can be utilized as a biomarker for exposure; however, a clear-cut association to benzene requires personal monitoring and control of dietary sorbic acid.

Alkyltins in farmed fish and shellfish

A study to update dibutyltin (DBT) and tributyltin (TBT) residues in farmed fish and shellfish (Mytilus edulis) was carried out 4 years after the adopting of the restricting regulation of the antifouling uses of organotins in Italy. DBT and TBT were simultaneously extracted from farmed fish and shellfish (M. edulis) and from free living specimens, used as control, purchased from retail stores or fishermen in the province of Naples (Italy), and detected using a capillary gas chromatograph equipped with a flame photometric detector (GC-FPD). Dosable amounts of DBT were found in the 10% of the farmed fish analyzed, ranging from 1 to 26 micrograms kg-1 wet wt (mean 10 micrograms kg-1) and in the 23% of the free living fish at an average level of 2 micrograms kg-1 wet wt (range 1-4 micrograms kg-1 wet wt). TBT was detected in 85% of the farmed fish, in concentrations varying from 2 to 260 micrograms kg-1 wet wt (mean 28 micrograms kg-1 wet wt) and in 46% of the free living specimens (mean 39 micrograms kg-1 wet wt; range 1-93 micrograms kg-1). All the mussel samples analyzed were polluted by both DBT and TBT. In the farmed mussels the average amounts of DBT and TBT were, respectively, 4 and 2 micrograms kg-1 wet wt; in the free living they were 4 and 5 micrograms kg-1 wet wt, respectively. The results indicate that the DBT and TBT contamination is as highly diffuse in farmed as in free living fish and mussels on sale in retail markets in Naples province even if the levels of the contamination are meanly quite low.

[Complete congenital atrioventricular block: a case report and review of the literature]

The description of a clinical case of a newborn with congenital complete atrioventricular block, due to maternal connective-tissue disease, is the occasion for a review of the literature. The clinical elements allowing an early diagnosis and treatment of these patients, who often need a permanent pacemaker, are described.

[The electrophysiological bases of aberrant intraventricular conduction during atrial fibrillation]

Twenty-four hours electrocardiogram from 4 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and intraventricular aberrant conduction were analyzed. Aim of the study was to evaluate the reliability of the Ashman's and Akthar's rules in electrocardiographic differential diagnosis between aberrancy and ectopy. We computed parameters related to 10 RR interval preceding the aberrant conduction (AB+ Group), normal complex QRS (AB-Group) and ectopic QRS (E Group): coupling interval (CI), preceding CI cycle (PCL1), preceding PCL1 cycle (PCL2), the difference between PCL1 an PCL2 (delta PCL1), the difference between CI an PCL1 (delta CI), the mean value (RR10) and the standard deviation (RR10SD) of the 10 QRS complexes preceding the end of the sequence. Specificity of Akthar's rule was 48.7% (range 45-50%), sensibility was 90.1% (range 75-100%). PCL2, delta PCL1 and RR10DS were significantly different between AB+ and AB- Group but not between AB+, AB- and E Group. In this work Akthar's rule showed a better reliability than Ashman's rule but specificity was low (probably related to concealed conduction in atrio-ventricular node). RR10DS, but not RR10, were significantly higher in AB+ Group than AB- Group suggesting that acceleration of the cycle length can provoke CVA by increasing the difference between the refractory period of His bundle branches. Aberrant ventricular conduction cannot be determined by a mathematical rule. In the differential diagnosis of wide QRS during atrial fibrillation only morphological analysis of QRS and the study of coupling interval and compensatory pause are helpful.