Age of Onset in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders: Complex Interactions between Genetic and Environmental Factors

Laura Mandelli,Elena Toscano,Stefano Porcelli,Chiara Fabbri,Alessandro Serretti 대한신경정신의학회 2016 PSYCHIATRY INVESTIGATION Vol.13 No.2

In this study we evaluated the role of a candidate gene for major psychosis, Sialyltransferase (ST8SIA2), in the risk to develop a schizophrenia spectrum disorders, taking into account exposure to stressful life events (SLEs). Eight polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested in 94 Schizophreniainpatients and 176 healthy controls. Schizophrenia patients were also evaluated for SLEs in different life periods. None of the SNPs showed association with schizophrenia. Nevertheless, when crossing genetic variants with childhood SLEs, we could observe trends of interaction with age of onset. Though several limitations, our results support a protective role of ST8SIA2 in individuals exposed to moderate childhood stress.

Delayed puberty versus hypogonadism: a challenge for the pediatrician

Mauro Bozzola,Elena Bozzola,Chiara Montalbano,Filomena Andreina Stamati,Pietro Ferrara,Alberto Villani 대한소아내분비학회 2018 Annals of Pediatirc Endocrinology & Metabolism Vol.23 No.2

Constitutional delay of growth and puberty (CDGP) is the most common cause of delayed puberty (DP), is mainly found in males, and is characterized by short stature and delayed skeletal maturation. A family history of the subject comprising the timing of puberty in the parents and physical examination may provide clues regarding the cause of DP. Delayed onset of puberty is rarely considered a disease in either sex. In fact, DP usually represents a common normal variant in pubertal timing, with favorable outcomes for final height and future reproductive capacity. In adolescents with CDGP, a linear growth delay occurs until immediately before the start of puberty, then the growth rate rapidly increases. Bone age is often delayed. CDGP is a diagnosis of exclusion; therefore, alternative causes of DP should be considered. Functional hypogonadotropic hypogonadism may be observed in patients with transient delay in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis maturation due to associated conditions including celiac disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, kidney insufficiency, and anorexia nervosa. Permanent hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (pHH) showing low serum value of testosterone or estradiol and blunted follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH) levels may be due to abnormalities in the central nervous system. Therefore, magnetic resonance imaging is necessary to exclude morphological abnormalities and neoplasia. Moreover, pHH may be isolated, as observed in Kallmann syndrome, or associated with other hormone deficiencies, as found in panhypopituitarism. Baseline or gonadotropin-releasing hormone pituitary stimulated gonadotropin level is not sufficient to easily differentiate CDGP from pHH. Low serum testosterone in male patients and low estradiol values in female patients, associated with high serum FSH and LH levels, suggest a diagnosis of hypergonadotropic hypogonadism. A genetic analysis can reveal a chromosomal abnormality (e.g., Turner syndrome or Klinefelter syndrome). In cases where the adolescent with CDGP is experiencing psychological difficulties, treatment should be recommended.

Use of generic imatinib as first-line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): the GIMS (Glivec to Imatinib Switch) study

Maria Gemelli,Elena Maria Elli,Chiara Elena,Alessandra Iurlo,Tamara Intermesoli,Margherita Maffioli,Ester Pungolino,Maria Cristina Carraro,Mariella D’Adda,Francesca Lunghi,Michela Anghileri,Nicola Pol 대한혈액학회 2020 Blood Research Vol.55 No.3

BackgroundGeneric formulations of imatinib mesylate have been introduced in Western Europe since 2017 to treat patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). However, results on the safety and efficacy of generic formulations are contrasting. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of generic imatinib in CML patients treated in 12 Italian institutes.MethodsThis is an observational, retro-prospective analysis of patients with CML for whom the treatment was switched from brand to generic imatinib. We analyzed and compared the variation in quantitative PCR values before and after the switch, and the proportion of patients who maintained molecular response after changing from brand to generic imatinib. Adverse events (AEs) were also evaluated. ResultsTwo hundred patients were enrolled. The median PCR value after the switch was reduced by 0.25 compared to the values before the switch. A significant difference was found be-tween median PCR values before and after the switch in favor of generic imatinib (P= 0.003). Molecular responses remained stable in 69.0%, improved in 25.5%, and wors-ened in 5.5% of patients. AEs were similar in the pre- and post-switch periods; however, a significant difference was found in favor of generic imatinib for muscular cramps (P<0.0001), periorbital edema (P=0.0028), edema of the limbs (P<0.0001), fatigue (P=0.0482), and diarrhea (P=0.0027).ConclusionOur data indicate that generic imatinib does not have deleterious effects on CML control and present an acceptable safety profile, similar or better than brand imatinib.

Key success factors to be sustainable and innovative in the textile and fashion industry: Evidence from two Italian luxury brands

Bernardi Alberta,Cantù Chiara Luisa,Cedrola Elena 한국마케팅과학회 2022 Journal of Global Fashion Marketing Vol.13 No.2

Sustainable innovation – the introduction of new products and processes that bring economic, social and environmental benefits – have a crucial role in the textile and fashion industry. However, current literature mainly focuses on new product development and the consequent environmental impacts. One of the main challenges for textile and fashion companies is how to be environmentally, socially and economically sustainable and innovative in the meantime. This paper is based on the Triple Bottom Line framework and attempts to address this gap by identifying some key success factors (KSFs) that could allow textile and fashion companies to develop product and process innovations, taking into account their social, environmental and economic outcomes. The research is based on a multiple-case study method and results show that textile and fashion companies can achieve a competitive advantage by being sustainable and innovative and when there are strong corporate values, cultural heritage and stable relationships with the territory. Besides extending the literature on sustainable, the paper highlights the main challenges and opportunities within this sector.

Unusual Cross-Linked Polystyrene by Copper-Catalyzed ARGET ATRP Using a Bifunctional Initiator and No Cross-Linking Agent

Niccolò Braidi,Mirko Buffagni,Valentina Buzzoni,Franco Ghelfi,Francesca Parenti,Maria Letizia Focarete,Chiara Gualandi,Elena Bedogni,Luisa Bonifaci,Gianfranco Cavalca,Angelo Ferrando,Aldo Longo,Ida Mo 한국고분자학회 2021 Macromolecular Research Vol.29 No.4

An anomalous polystyrene gel was obtained during the copper-catalyzed “activators regenerated by electron transfer” “atom transfer radical polymerization” (ARGET ATRP) of styrene at 60-70 °C, using ascorbic acid/Na2CO3 as the reducing system and EtOAc/EtOH as the solvent mixture. The result is remarkable since no branching nor cross-linking reagents were added to the reaction mixture and their formation in situ was excluded. The anomalous PS branching, at the origin of the phenomenon, requires a generic bifunctional initiator and is mechanistically bound to termination reactions between bifunctional macroinitiators. As a matter of fact, the branching/cross-linking phenomenon loses intensity, or even disappears, under reaction conditions that cause the built-up of CuII or increase the chain polymerization rate. The temperature is also a critical variable since no branching was observed for temperatures higher than 90 °C. We believe that the route toward gelation starts with a controlled chain polymerization of styrene from the bifunctional initiator, soon integrated by a step-growth polymerization due to radical coupling of the terminal units. The progressive decrease in the number of chains and free radicals in the reaction mixture should make more and more probable the intramolecular coupling between the C−Cl ends of the remaining long and entangled chains, producing a polycatenane network.