Introduction: The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is useful in the prevention of overweight, obesity and metabolic disease. High Quality-Extra Virgin Olive Oil (HQ-EVOO), an essential component of this diet, exerts protective effects against chronic diseases. Gut Microbiota (GM), recognized as a key factor in driving metabolic activities, is involved in the regulation of host immunity. Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) and their probio-active cellular substances produce beneficial effects in the gastrointestinal tract.Materials and Methods: Eighteen overweight/obese subjects (cases, BMI ≥25 kg/m2) and 18 normal weight controls (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2) were fed with MD enriched with 40 g/die HQ-EVOO for three months. Feces and blood samples were collected at time 0 (T0) and after three months (T1) for LAB composition, oxidative stress, metabolic and inflammation parameter determinations.Results: Myeloperoxidase and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine, markers of inflammation and oxidative stress, were significantly decreased after MD rich in HQ-EVOO both in controls and in cases. Proinflammatory cytokines levels were significantly decreased in cases in comparison to controls, while IL-10 and adiponectin were significantly increased in cases. LAB’s rpoB copies/ng of DNA increased 55.6 folds in cases compared to their baseline after MD rich in HQ-EVOO. MD rich in HQ-EVOO increased adiponectin and IL-10 concentration in overweight/obese subjects and decreased oxidative stress and inflammation parameters and at the same time, increased LAB number in GM.Discussion: Our results indicate that MD rich in HQ-EVOO induces an increase of LAB in GM and could have a potential role in the prevention of inflammation.Clinical Trial Registration: , identifier NCT03441802.

Calcifications were observed in six cases (66%). By immunohistochemistry, the majority of the tumors were GFAP-(9; 100%), neurofilament-(8, 89%), neuron-specific enolase-(9, 100%), and synaptophysin-(8; 89%) positive. Ultrastructural studies were performed on four cases. In all four there were glial cell processes filled with intermediate filaments. In one case dense core putative neurosecretory granules were appreciable. Our results emphasize the glioneuronal nature of SEGA. We suggest moving it into the group of mixed glio-neuronal tumors under the denomination of subependymal giant cell tumor.

The incidence of endometrial adenocarcinoma in asymptomatic women is low. Nevertheless, some of these women might require endometrial surveillance. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of liquid-based endometrial cytology compared to biopsy in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Three hundred twenty women scheduled for hysteroscopy were enrolled for this study. After hysteroscopy, patients were submitted to endometrial cytology and to biopsy. Two hundred ninety-three (92%) women had sonographically thickened endometrium (>5 mm), 53 (17%) were on tamoxifen, and 16 (5%) were on hormonal substitutive treatment. The evaluation of the biopsies determined that six (2%) women had adenocarcinoma, one (<1%) had adenomatous atypical hyperplasia, and eight (3%) had simple nonatypical hyperplasia. Endometrial cytology evidenced 5 (2%) neoplastic cases, 2 (<1%) hyperplastic with atypia cases, and 25 (8%) hyperplastic without atypia cases. Two hundred twenty-two biopsies (69%) and 17 (5%) cytologies were inadequate. One adenocarcinoma and one simple nonatypical hyperplasia were underrated by cytology resulting, respectively, as atypical hyperplasia and as negative. Four cases were false positive (simple nonatypical hyperplasias on cytology, negative on biopsy). The sensitivity and specificity were estimated, respectively, at 94% and 95%; the positive and negative predictive value were estimated, respectively, at 80% and 99%. Endometrial cytology provided sufficient material more often than biopsy (P < 0.01). We suggest to introduce liquid-based endometrial cytology in the management of some subpopulations of asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Particularly, the combination of liquid-based endometrial cytology and transvaginal sonography may improve their diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary more invasive and expensive procedures.

Liquid-based endometrial cytology: cyto-histological correlation in a population of 917 women Objective: Liquid-based cytology, because of its capacity to reduce the obscuring factors and to provide thin-layer specimens, represents an opportunity to reevaluate endometrial cytology. In order to assess the utility of the liquid-based method in endometrial diagnosis, we evaluated its accuracy in comparison with histology. Methods: Nine hundred and seventeen women scheduled for hysteroscopy were enrolled in the study. After providing informed consent, all the women proceeded sequentially to hysteroscopy, endometrial cytology and then biopsy endometrial sampling. Results: Cyto-histological correlations were possible in 519 cases (57%): in 361 (39%) cases the biopsy was inadequate, in 15 (2%) the cytology was inadequate, and in 22 (2%) both were inadequate. At biopsy 25 (3%) women had adenocarcinoma, 5 (1%) had adenomatous atypical hyperplasia and 21 (2%) had simple non atypical hyperplasia. At cytology two adenocarcinomas and one adenomatous atypical hyperplasia were underrated as atypical hyperplasias and as non-atypical hyperplasia; two simple non-atypical hyperplasias were reported as negative; and eight cases were false positive (non-atypical hyperplasia at cytology, negative at biopsy). In our population, the cytology provided sufficient material more often than biopsy (P < 0.04). Sensitivity was estimated at 96%, specificity at 98%, positive predictive value at 86% and negative predictive value at 99%. Conclusions: We concluded that endometrial cytology may be an efficient diagnostic method. It could be applied to selected patients solely or in association with ultrasonography. The combination of these two noninvasive procedures may improve their diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary hysteroscopies, thereby producing benefits for women and society.Keywords: endometrial neoplasms, uterine neoplasms, cytodiagnosis, cytological techniques, ThinPrep, LBC, liquid-based cytology IntroductionEndometrial adenocarcinoma ranks fifth in incidence among malignancies in women, and it is the most frequent malignancy of the female genital tract in developed countries. The majority of the cases are sporadic whereas about 10% are hereditary. Most important among the latter, is the autosomal dominantly inherited non-polyposis colorectal cancer caused by mutation of a DNA mismatch repair gene that determines constitutive microsatellite instability and Cowden syndrome in patients with germ line PTEN inactivation. Two subtypes of endometrial carcinoma, named type I and type II, have been described on the basis of their different age of development, aetiopathogenesis, histopathological features and prognosis. Type I adenocarcinoma, which accounts for most cases (approximately 80%), occurs in peri-menopausal women, is oestrogen dependent, more often well differentiated and endometrioid, and has a favourable behaviour with appropriate therapy. Conversely, the rare type II endometrial adenocarcinoma affects older postmenopausal wo...

Dietary habits are widely reported to play a primary role in the occurrence of coronary artery disease (CAD). Cardiac rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary intervention that includes nutritional education. Proper nutrition plays an important role in cardiovascular health outcomes and in decreasing morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) as highlighted in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of an educational program to improve the diet of cardiac rehabilitation patients compared to usual treatment. 160 patients with CAD, (124 M, 36 F) were randomized into two groups. Data analysis was conducted on 133 patients (11 % dropped out). All enrolled patients attended two educational seminars about proper nutrition and cardiovascular prevention, and completed a questionnaire about dietary habits (before CAD). The Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated, and basal glycaemia and plasma lipids were assessed at the beginning and at the end of the study (12 months after hospital discharge). The intervention group patients underwent a mid-term evaluation of nutrient intakes, BMI, and received a personalized educational reinforcement by a dietitian. At the end of the study, the intervention group was shown to have significantly reduced their daily caloric intake (reduction of total proteins, total fat, carbohydrate, alcohol), and showed a significant reduction of weight and BMI compared to the control group. Individual nutritional counseling session as a reinforcement of a standard educational program is effective in reducing caloric intake and BMI, which may reduce cardiovascular risk factors in cardiovascular patients.