No abstract

Mushroom cell walls are rich in β-glucans, long or short-chain polymers of glucose subunits with β-1,3 and β-1,6 linkages, that are responsible for the linear and branching structures, respectively. β-glucans from cereals, at variance, have no 1,6 linkages nor branching structures. Both immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of mushrooms have been described using purified β-glucans or fungi extracts on cellular and experimental models; their potential clinical use has been tested in different conditions, such as recurrent infections of the respiratory tract or complications of major surgery. Another promising application of β-glucans is on cancer, as adjuvant of conventional chemotherapy. β-glucans may protect the cardiovascular system, ameliorating glucose, lipid metabolism, and blood pressure: these activities, observed for oat and barley β-glucans, require confirmation in human studies with mushroom β-glucans. On the other hand, mushrooms may also protect the cardiovascular system via a number of other components, such as bioactive phenolic compounds, vitamins, and mineral elements. The growing knowledge on the mechanism(s) and health benefits of mushrooms is encouraging the development of a potential clinical use of β-glucans, and also to further document their role in preserving health and prevent disease in the context of healthy lifestyles.

Household income in 2019 (EUR/y) ≤10.000 >10.000≤25.000 >25.000≤40.000 >40.000≤60.000 >60.000≤100.000 >100.000 Refused/I do not know Housing tenure Rent 1 dwelling ownership > 1 dwelling ownership Refused/I do not know Number of rooms in the house (bathrooms and additional rooms excluded) lockdown? (multiple choice) Blood pressure medications Cholesterol medications Diabetes drugs Anti-cancer drugs Corticosteroids Thyroid medications Anti-inflammatory drugs Anxiolytics Antidepressants Immunomodulators None Refused/I do not know Did you get flu vaccination last autumn (2019)? Yes/No/Refused/I do not know Did you get anti pneumococcal vaccine last autumn (2019)? Yes/No/Refused/I do not know Moli-LOCK Study Investigators

Objective: To evaluate changes in ultra-processed food (UPF) intake and its major correlates during the first Italian lockdown (March 9 -May 3 2020). Design: Retrospective observational study. Setting: Italy. Participants: We analysed 2,992 subjects (mean age 57.9±15.3 y, 40.4% men). Individual participant data were pooled from 2 retrospective cohorts: 1) The Moli-LOCK cohort consists of 1,501 adults, a portion of the larger Moli-sani Study (n=24,325; 2005-2010) who were administered a phone-based questionnaire to assess lifestyles and psychological factors during confinement; 2) the ALT RISCOVID-19 is a web-based survey of 1,491 individuals distributed throughout Italy who self-responded to the same questionnaire by using Google forms. UPF was defined according to NOVA classification based on degree of food processing. An UPF score was created by assigning 1 point to increased consumption, -1 to decreased and 0 point for unchanged intakes of 19 food items, with higher values indicating an increase in UPF during confinement. Results: Overall, 37.5% of the population reported some increase in UPF (UPF score ≥1). Adults were more likely to decrease UPF (multivariable regression coefficient β=-1.94; 95%CI: -2.72,-1.17 for individuals aged >75 y as compared to 18-39 y) as did individuals from southern Italian regions as compared to Northern inhabitants (β=-1.32; -1.80,-0.84), while UPF lowering associated with increased exercise (β=-0.90; -1.46,-0.35) and weight loss (β=-1.05; -1.51, -0.59) during confinement. Conclusions: During the first Italian lockdown, about 40% of our population switched to unfavourable eating as reflected by increased UPF intake and this may have long-term effects for health.

Objective: To assess ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption and its sociodemographic, psychosocial and behavioural correlates in a general population of Italian children, adolescents and adults. Design: Cross-sectional telephone-based survey Setting: Italy, 2010-2013 Participants: 9,078 participants (5-97 y), from the Italian Nutrition & HEalth Survey (INHES). Dietary intakes were collected by a one-day 24-h dietary recall. UPF was defined by the NOVA classification and expressed as percentage of total calories. Results: Average energy intake from UPF (95% confidence interval) was 17·3% (17·1%, 17·6%) among adults and 25·9% (24·8%, 27·0%) in children/adolescents. Top sources of UPF were processed meats (32·5%) and bread substitutes (16·7%). Among adults, age (β=−3·10; 95%CI: −4·40, −1·80 for >65 y vs 20-40 y; βs are dimensionless) and residing in Southern Italy (β=−0·73; −1·32, −0·14 vs Northern) inversely associated with UPF. Screen view during meals was directly linked to UPF, as well as poor self-rated health (β=5·32; 2·66, 7·99), adverse life events (β=2·33; 1·48, 3·18) and low sleep quality (β=2·34; 1·45, 3·24). Boys consumed 2-point percent more UPF of the total energy than girls (β=2·01; 0·20, 3·82). For all ages, a Mediterranean diet was inversely associated with UPF (β=−4·86; −5·53, −4·20 for good vs poor adherence in adults and β=−5·08; −8·38, −1·77 for kids). Conclusions: UPF contribute a modest proportion of energy to the diets of Italian adults while being one quarter of the total calories in children/adolescents. UPF was associated with several psychosocial factors and eating behaviours. Increased adherence to Mediterranean diet would possibly result in lower UPF consumption.

SummaryRecent data indicate that age-related N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) transmission impairment is correlated with the reduction in serine racemase (SR) expression and D-serine content. As apoptosis is associated with several diseases and conditions that generally occur with age, we investigated the modulation of SR ⁄ D-serine pathway during neuronal apoptosis and its impact on survival. We found that in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs), undergoing apoptosis SR/D-serine pathway is crucially regulated. In the early phase of apoptosis, the expression of SR is reduced, both at the protein and RNA level through pathways, upstream of caspase activation, involving ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) and c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs). Forced expression of SR, together with treatment with NMDA and D-serine, blocks neuronal death, whereas pharmacological inhibition and Sh-RNA-mediated suppression of endogenous SR exacerbate neuronal death. In the late phase of apoptosis, the increased expression of SR contribute to the last, NMDAR-mediated, wave of cell death. These findings are relevant to our understanding of neuronal apoptosis and NMDAR activity regulation, raising further questions as to the role of SR/D-serine in those neuro-pathophysiological processes, such as aging and neurodegenerative diseases characterized by a convergence of apoptotic mechanisms and NMDAR dysfunction.

No abstract

Le chiediamo pochi minuti del suo tempo per compilare questo questionario che ci servirà a comprendere il consumo di alimenti ultra-processati nella popolazione italiana.Compilando il questionario, le chiediamo di considerare le sue abitudini alimentari nell'arco dell'ultimo anno e, per ogni alimento, di considerare sia la frequenza di consumo che le quantità medie consumate ogni qualvolta ha mangiato quell'alimento. Qui sotto le mettiamo un esempio del questionario e delle possibili risposte:☞ Nel caso di consumo inferiore ad una volta al mese, contrassegni solo la prima casella senza indicare la quantità; ☞ Nel caso di consumo superiore ad una volta al mese, contrassegni anche la casella relativa alla quantità consumata in termini di porzione media in ogni occasione di consumo; ☞ Nel caso di consumo giornaliero, indichi con un numero anche le volte al giorno che lo ha consumato.Se utilizza gli alimenti per preparare ricette specifiche (che non trova nell'elenco) può considerare i singoli alimenti nelle relative sezioni ed indicarne la frequenza di consumo e le quantità consumate. Nel caso in cui non dovesse trovare nella lista alcuni alimenti che consuma o utilizza abitualmente, nell'ultima pagina troverà una sezione nella quale poterli inserire.Se ha modificato la sua dieta per motivi di salute o personali per brevi periodi di tempo, le ricordiamo di compilare il questionario riferendosi alla sua abituale alimentazione.