Usefulness of Pep-Test for Laryngo-Pharyngeal Reflux: A Pilot Study in Primary Care

Alberto Bozzani,Ignazio Grattagliano,Gaia Pellegatta,Manuele Furnari,Carlotta Galeone,Vincenzo Savarino,Edoardo Savarino,Rudi De Bastiani 대한가정의학회 2020 Korean Journal of Family Medicine Vol.41 No.4

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a digestive disorder characterized by nausea, regurgitation, and heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflux is the primary cause of laryngeal symptoms, especially chronic posterior laryngitis. The best diagnostic test for this disease is esophageal impedance-pH monitoring; however, it is poorly employed owing to its high cost and invasiveness. Salivary pepsin measured using a lateral flow device (Pep-test) has been suggested as an indirect marker of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). The present study tested the reliability of Pep-test in diagnosing LPR in uninvestigated primary care attenders presenting with chronic laryngeal symptoms, and evaluated the raw pepsin concentration in patients with LPR. Methods: A multicenter, non-interventional pilot study was conducted on 86 suspected patients with LPR and 59 asymptomatic subjects as controls in three Italian primary care settings. A reflux symptom index questionnaire was used to differentiate patients with LPR (score >13) from controls (score <5). Two saliva samples were collected, and comparisons between the groups were performed using two-sided statistical tests, according to variable distributions. Results: There was no statistical difference in the salivary pepsin positivity between LPR patients and controls, whereas the pepsin intensity value was higher in controls than in LPR patients. Conclusion: A high prevalence of pepsin positivity was observed in asymptomatic controls. Pepsin measurement should not be considered as a diagnostic test for LPR in primary care patients.

Preventing a Mass Disease: The Case of Gallstones Disease: Role and Competence for Family Physicians

Piero Portincasa,Agostino Di Ciaula,Ignazio Grattagliano 대한가정의학회 2016 Korean Journal of Family Medicine Vol.37 No.4

Gallstone formation is the result of a complex interaction between genetic and nongenetic factors. We searched and reviewed the available literature to define how the primary prevention of gallstones (cholesterol gallstones in particular) could be applied in general practice. Electronic bibliographical databases were searched. Prospective and retrospective cohort studies and case–controlled studies were analyzed and graded for evidence quality. The epidemiological data confirmed that genetic factors are estimated to account for only approximately 25% of the overall risk of gallstones, while metabolic/environmental factors are at least partially modifiable in stone-free risk groups, and are thus modifiable by primary prevention measures related to diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors (i.e., rapid weight loss, bariatric surgery, somatostatin or analogues therapy, transient gallbladder stasis, and hormone therapy). There is no specific recommendation for the secondary prevention of recurrent gallstones. Family physicians can contribute to preventing gallstones due to their capability to identify and effectively manageseveral risk factors discussed in this study. Although further studies are needed to better elucidate the involvement of epigenetic factors that may regulate the effect of environment and lifestyle on gene expression in the primary prevention of gallstone formation, preventive interventions are feasible and advisable in the general practice setting.

Fiber optic shape sensor system for a morphing wing trailing edge

Ciminello, Monica,Ameduri, Salvatore,Concilio, Antonio,Dimino, Ignazio,Bettini, Paolo Techno-Press 2017 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.20 No.4

The objective of this work is to present a conceptual design and the modelling of a distributed sensor system based on fiber optic devices (Fiber Bragg Grating, FBG), aimed at measuring span-wise and chord-wise variations of an adaptive (morphing) trailing edge. The network is made of two different integrated solutions for revealing deformations of the reference morphing structure. Strains are confined to typical values along the span (length) but they are expected to overcome standard ranges along the chord (width), up to almost 10%. In this case, suitable architectures may introduce proper modulations to keep the measured deformation low while preserving the information content. In the current paper, the designed monitoring system combines the use of a span-wise fiber reinforced patch with a chord-wise sliding beam. The two elements make up a closed grid, allowing the reconstruction of the complete deformed shape under the acceptable assumption that the transformation refers to regular geometry variations. Herein, the design logic and some integration issues are reported. Preliminary experimental test results are finally presented.

DRINKING SPACES AND CONSUMER CHOICE: A TEST OF FORAGING THEORY APPLIED TO UK PUBLIC HOUSES

Victoria Wells,Nadine Waehning,Kathryn Arnold,Ignazio Cabras 글로벌지식마케팅경영학회 2023 Global Marketing Conference Vol.2023 No.07

Drinking spaces such as bars, taverns, inns, cantinas, bierkellers, offer important social community spaces. Within the UK, a Pub, short for Public House is “a place, especially in Great Britain or Ireland, where alcoholic drinks can be bought and drunk and where food is often available” (Cambridge Dictionary, 2022) and is one of the most common and traditional drinking spaces. Sadly we are losing pubs at an alarming rate, due, over the last 20 years to many factors including government interventions (changes in the structure of the industry), increased competition from other leisure activities and high levels of beer duty/tax (BBPA, 2018) and more recent factors such as struggles to fill vacancies, Brexit and covid (Wells and Waehning, 2022). Now, more than ever, we need to understand consumer behaviour related to pubs and to understand how consumers choose pubs and what features of pubs are important to them.

Sardinian honeys as sources of xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitors

Amalia Di Petrillo,Celestino Santos-Buelga,Benedetta Era,Ana Maria Gonza´lez-Parama´s,Carlo Ignazio Giovanni Tuberoso,RosariaMedda,Francesca Pintus,Antonella Fais 한국식품과학회 2018 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.27 No.1

Sardinian honeys obtained from different floral sources (Arbutus, Asphodelus, Eucalyptus, Thistle, and Sulla) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase enzymes and for their antioxidant activity. Physicochemical parameters, total phenolic, and flavonoids content were also determined. Honey from Arbutus flowers had the highest antioxidant activity followed by Eucalyptus and Thistle ones. These three honeys showed good tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase inhibition properties. Thus, these Sardinian honeys could have a great potential as antioxidant sources for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

Sardinian honeys as sources of xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitors

Di Petrillo, Amalia,Santos-Buelga, Celestino,Era, Benedetta,Gonzalez-Paramas, Ana Maria,Tuberoso, Carlo Ignazio Giovanni,Medda, Rosaria,Pintus, Francesca,Fais, Antonella 한국식품과학회 2018 Food Science and Biotechnology Vol.27 No.1

Sardinian honeys obtained from different floral sources (Arbutus, Asphodelus, Eucalyptus, Thistle, and Sulla) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase enzymes and for their antioxidant activity. Physicochemical parameters, total phenolic, and flavonoids content were also determined. Honey from Arbutus flowers had the highest antioxidant activity followed by Eucalyptus and Thistle ones. These three honeys showed good tyrosinase and xanthine oxidase inhibition properties. Thus, these Sardinian honeys could have a great potential as antioxidant sources for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications.

MiR-155 modulates the inflammatory phenotype of intestinal myofibroblasts by targeting SOCS1 in ulcerative colitis

Surajit Pathak,Alessia Rosaria Grillo,Melania Scarpa,Paola Brun,Renata D’Incà,Laura Nai,Antara Banerjee,Donatella Cavallo,Luisa Barzon,Giorgio Palù,Giacomo Carlo Sturniolo,Andrea Buda,Ignazio Castagli 생화학분자생물학회 2015 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.47 No.-

Abnormal levels of microRNA (miR)-155, which regulate inflammation and immune responses, have been demonstrated in the colonic mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), although its role in disease pathophysiology is unknown. We investigated the role of miR-155 in the acquisition and maintenance of an activated phenotype by intestinal myofibroblasts (IMF), a key cell population contributing to mucosal damage in IBD. IMF were isolated from colonic biopsies of healthy controls, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. MiR-155 in IMF was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR in basal condition and following exposure to TNF-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or TGF-β1. The effects of miR-155 mimic or inhibitor transfection on cytokine release and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) expression were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot, respectively. Regulation of the target gene SOCS1 expression by miR-155 was assessed using luciferase reporter construct. We found that miR-155 was significantly upregulated in UC as compared with control- and CD-derived IMF. Moreover, TNF-α and LPS, but not TGF-β1 and IL-1β, significantly increased miR-155 expression in IMF. Ectopic expression of miR-155 in control IMF augmented cytokines release, whereas it downregulated SOCS1 expression. MiR-155 knockdown in UC-IMF reduced cytokine production and enhanced SOCS1 expression. Luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that miR-155 directly targets SOCS1. Moreover, silencing of SOCS1 in control IMF significantly increased IL-6 and IL-8 release. In all, our data suggest that inflammatory mediators induce miR-155 expression in IMF of patients with UC. By downregulating the expression of SOCS1, miR-155 wires IMF inflammatory phenotype.