Ricerc@Sapienza

The complete mechanism accounting for the progression from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been elucidated. Lipotoxicity refers to cellular injury caused by hepatic free fatty acids (FFAs) and cholesterol accumulation. Excess cholesterol autoxidizes to oxysterols during oxidative stress conditions. We hypothesize that interaction of FAs and cholesterol derivatives may primarily impair mitochondrial function and affect biogenesis adaptation during NAFLD progression.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) supplementation on cardiovascular risk is still in debate, largely due to the heterogeneity of population enrolled and variable dose and composition of the formulations used in the previous studies. Yet, O3FA may favorably impact on cardiovascular risk by reducing major cardiovascular events (including cardiac death and ischemic events).

Purpose of Review: Omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) supplementation has shown conflicting evidence regarding its benefit in cardiovascular events. We performed a pairwise and network meta-analysis to elucidate the benefit of different doses of O3FA supplementation in cardiovascular prevention. Recent Findings: Fourteen studies were identified providing data on 125,763 patients. A prespecified cut-off value of < 1 g per day was set for low-dose (LD) O3FA and > 1 g per day for high-dose (HD) O3FA.

Immunomodulators are agents able to affect the immune system, by boosting the immune defences to improve the body reaction against infectious or exogenous injuries, or suppressing the abnormal immune response occurring in immune disorders. Moreover, immunoadjuvants can support immune system acting on nonimmune targets, thus improving the immune response. The modulation of inflammatory pathways and microbiome can also contribute to control the immune function. Some plant-based nutraceuticals have been studied as possible immunomodulating agents due to their multiple and pleiotropic effects.

Jatropha curcas (Euphorbiaceaefamily) is a multipurpose plant with considerable potential in biodiesel production, and in cosmetic and medicinal uses. The part of J. curcas usually used is the oil obtained from its seeds, whereas the leaves generally represent the waste material. The aim of this study was to characterize the composition and to preliminary investigate the biological activity of J. curcas leaves obtained from plants by a breeding program. To describe genomic structure, molecular markers were applied.

It is widely accepted that chronic stress may alter the homeostatic mechanisms of body weight control. In this study, we followed the metabolic changes occurring in mice when chronic stress caused by psychosocial defeat (CPD) is associated with ad libitum exposure to a palatable high-fat diet (HFD). In this model, CPD mice consumed more HFD than unstressed (Un) mice without gaining body weight. We focused on metabolic processes involved in weight control, such as de novo lipogenesis (DNL), fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO), and thermogenesis.

The connection between chocolate and cocoa is studied. As cocoa is produced in different countries, samples coming from the same geographical region are analysed. The analyses focus on the characterisation of the considered samples for different aspects of quality and to individuate the original locations of production, also connecting this with the nutritional aspects. For this purpose, qualitative and quantitative traditional analysis and determination of fatty acid content are performed. The obtained experimental data show interesting correlations.

Background: Most of the recent reports suggest that inflammatory mediators play a central role in the etiopathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and that the conditions leading to a chronic low-grade inflammation, such as stress, depression, obesity and metabolic syndrome, increase the odds of developing Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and AD.

Hypoxia is defined as the decline of oxygen availability, depending on environmental supply and cellular consumption rate. The decrease in O2 results in reduction of available energy in facultative aerobes. The response and/or adaptation to hypoxia and other changing environmental conditions can influence the properties and functions of membranes by modifying lipid composition.

he search for novel lipid A analogues from anybiological source that can act as antagonists, displaying in-hibitory activity towards the production of pro-inflammatorycytokines, or as immunomodulators in mammals, is a verytopical issue. To this aim, the structure and immunologicalproperties of the lipopolysaccharide lipid A from the purplenonsulfur bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris strainBisA53 have been determined.