Papers by Marco Giammanco
Food Control, Oct 1, 2010
The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of food service staff... more The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge, attitudes and practices of food service staff in nursing homes and long-term care facilities for the elderly in Sicily, Italy. Association with some demographic and work-related variables was also investigated. This survey provides information and outlines many complex questions concerning the basics of food hygiene. Education level, length of service in the employment and attending courses on food hygiene influenced the knowledge, attitudes and practices of food service staff. This study has evidenced the need for continuous training among food service staff regarding food safety in LTCF and nursing homes.
Background: Anthocyanins have been proven to affect multiple cancer-associated processes in diffe... more Background: Anthocyanins have been proven to affect multiple cancer-associated processes in different cancer cell lines. However, relatively few studies have investigated the effects of blueberry anthocyanins on metastatic melanoma. Thus, this study focuses on evaluating the chemopreventive potential of blueberry anthocyanins and their aglycones (anthocyanidins) in B16-F10 melanoma cells. Methods: Blueberry anthocyanin and anthocyanidin extracts were prepared mainly by combined chromatography techniques. Their antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects on B16-F10 cells were evaluated by MTT assay, calcein acetoxymethyl ester/propidium iodide (calcein-AM/PI) staining, and flow cytometry of the cell cycle and apoptosis. Results: The MTT and calcein-AM/PI staining results showed that both anthocyanin (purity of 62.5%) and anthocyanidin (75.1%) extracts could significantly inhibit the viability and proliferation of B16-F10 cells in a dose-dependent manner, while anthocyanidin extracts exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) cytotoxicity than anthocyanin extracts. Furthermore, anthocyanin and anthocyanidin extracts blocked cell cycle procession at the G0/G1 phase below 400 and 200 μg/mL, and induced early apoptosis below 400 and 300 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: These data suggest that both anthocyanin and anthocyanidin extracts inhibit the proliferation and trigger the apoptosis of B16-F10 cells, and anthocyanidin extracts may be a more promising candidate in preventing metastatic melanoma than anthocyanin extracts.
Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale, 2021
Curcumin, an active substance contained in an Indian spice called turmeric or curcuma, is well kn... more Curcumin, an active substance contained in an Indian spice called turmeric or curcuma, is well known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In recent times, it was taken into account and studied as an antitumoral molecule, by relying on its interference on several biological mechanisms, such as the inhibition of inflammatory mediators, the enhancement of detoxifying enzymes’ action and processes of cell growth and proliferation. Studies show how the high dosage of curcumin in vitro inhibits colorectal tumor cells, pancreatic tumor cells, lung cancer cells and glioblastoma’s cells, interfering in signaling pathways as Wnt/β-catenin, NF-kB and PI3K/Akt and leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Furthermore, the association between curcumin and chemotherapeutic agents such as 5-fluorouracil strengthens the drug’s cytotoxicity and cells’ susceptibility towards the chemotherapeutic agent.
Acta Bio Medica : Atenei Parmensis, 2021
Background: inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders that affect the gastrointesti... more Background: inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic disorders that affect the gastrointestinal tract but which also present extraintestinal manifestations. One of the problems related to IBD is the presence of both female and male infertility. Aim: determine the correlation between IBD and male and female infertility by analyzing the literature. Material and methods: Studies carried out in the last twenty years have been selected through the pubmed search engine. Only studies were selected that in their conclusions showed a real correlation between IBD and infertility. Results: the first cause of infertility in both sexes is related to the surgical interventions that patients have to face during the course of the disease, but there are also psychological causes or causes related to the use of drugs used for therapy. Conclusions: further studies are needed to understand what are the real mechanisms underlying infertility in subjects suffering from IBD.
Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale, 2021
The influence of diet on the composition of the intestinal microbiota and related pathologies has... more The influence of diet on the composition of the intestinal microbiota and related pathologies has been known for some time. Some classes of nutrients, such as fatty acids belonging to the omega 3 series, have particular effects on the bacteria that make up the intestinal microbiota. ω-3 PUFAs affect the gut microbiota in three different ways: by modulating the type and abundance of intestinal bacteria, by regulate SCFAs levels, and by alter the levels of proinflammatory mediators. Through these modalities, ω-3 PUFAs could be useful for the prevention of intestinal diseases such as Colorectal Cancer (CRC). The ability of ω-3 PUFAs to modulate the intestinal inflammatory response, to preserve the integrity of the intestinal mucosa and to modulate the bacterial composition of the intestine, could be useful as a preventive strategic approach to hinder the development of CRC.
Studies have highlighted that the administration of 3,5-diiodo- L-thyronine to rats fed diets ric... more Studies have highlighted that the administration of 3,5-diiodo- L-thyronine to rats fed diets rich in lipids induces a decrease of cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels and body weight without inducing liver steatosis. On the basis of these observations we carried out some experimental in vivo studies to assess the effects of multiple high doses of T2 on the pituitary thyroid axis of rats fed diet rich in lipids. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of five animals each. The first group (N group) received standard diet, the second group was fed with a high fat diet (HFD group) while the third group (HFDT2 group), was additionally given with T2 intraperitoneally at a dose level of 70 g/100 g of body weight three time a week up to four weeks. At the end of the treatment period blood sample from each animal was collected, centrifuged and the resultant serum was stored at -20\ub0C. The serum concentrations of TSH, T3, T4, ACTH, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase were then determined at various intervals. In addition, liver of rats was examined by histology order to assess the presence and degree of steatosis. The administration of T2 to rats fed with a high fat diet suppressed TSH secretion (p=0.013) while no steatosis was observed in the liver of these animals. These preliminary data show that multiple administration of high doses of T2 to rats fed diets rich in lipid inhibits TSH secretion and prevents the onset of liver steatosis in these animals
Several studies report that the plasma antioxidant capacity (PAC) increases after a single ingest... more Several studies report that the plasma antioxidant capacity (PAC) increases after a single ingestion of red wine. However, data on the different behaviour of PAC after food intake in subjects of the same sex are still lacking. On the basis of these observations some investigations were undertaken in order to evaluate the effects of red wine intake on PAC in a homogeneous groups of healthy female volunteers (n=18). Additionally, the possible correlation between increase of PAC values and increase in uric acid levels was also assessed. PAC and uric acid concentrations were determined before wine intake and 50, 120 and 240 minutes thereafter. The results obtained following these studied highlighted two different patterns of variation of plasma AC values after red wine intake in women. Group A exhibits a significant increase in PAC at 120 minutes after wine consumption while Group B showed a peak level of AC 50 minutes after wine intake. However, no significant correlation was highlighted between increased levels of uric acid and PAC. These results provide a strong argument for the hypothesis that sampling procedures may be one of the confounding factor in studies on the plasma antioxidant status after food or beverage consumption. These preliminary observations indicate that sex-based selection of volunteers should be considered in further investigations
Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds with different chemical structure and properties... more Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic compounds with different chemical structure and properties. These compounds may scavenge free radical species and other oxidants. In previous studies, we have observed that some polyphenols are able to cross the erythrocyte\u2019smembrane and this process is influenced by the plasmatic albumin; in fact quercetin intracellular concentrations is albumin dose depending. The influence of flavonoids on catalase activity has been reported in some papers but the results are contradictory. Some authors have found an increase of catalase activity in cell in the presence of flavonoids. Others have observed any effect or even a decrease of catalase activity.The present work is based on a study of Krych\u2019s, in which the influence of flavonoids on catalase in model system has been evaluated. Aim of this work was to study the role of red body cells in the antioxidant balance. The primary goal was to evaluate the antioxidant status of no-smokers and ever-smokers healthy subjects by the determination of the plasma antioxidant capacity and of the catalase activity of erythrocyte and then to evaluate if flavonoids (quercetin and luteolin) are able to modify the enzyme activity. This is a pilot study. Nine healthy subjects, aged 24-55 years were recruited. None of the subjects had any pathologies at the time of sampling. We assayed the CAT activity in erythrocytes isolated from whole blood of the subjects by the colorimetric assay and the plasma antioxidant capacity using the spectrophotometric method known crocin bleaching assay. The catalase activity was performed in human erythrocytes (control) and after the incubation of them with the flavonoids (quercetin and luteolin). The flavonoids were efficiently taken up by human erythrocytes in dose-depending manner. There was no significant difference in the percent accumulation of both molecules (quercetin and luteolin) inside the erythrocytes when incubated at the same concentration of 50\u3bcM. In physiologic condition the catalase activity varies from 28.6 mU/g protein to 40.6 mU/g protein. Data have shown that CAT activity of erythrocytes was significantly lower in ever smokers than in nosmokers. It was also found that Quercetin at the concentration of 100\u3bcM is able to increase the catalase levels in ever-smokers up to the normal values observed in no smokers. The study on the luteolin has not produced the same effects. In fact, Luteolin is able to reduce the CAT levels in no-smokers subject according with the data from Krych. The different actions of compounds on catalase can been explained as consequence of flavonoid interaction with enzymatic protein. The inhibiting action of the luteolin can be a consequence of a conformational change which occurs upon the flavonoid binding to catalase. This interaction changes the geometry of the substrate channel and thus inhibits the reaction of H2O2 with the heme center. Plasma antioxidant capacity was lower in no smokers than in smokers. An inverse correlation has been found between age and plasma antioxidant capacity. From the results of this study affirms that an oxidative stress condition is present in ever-smokers respect to non-smokers, but the quercetin is able to restore the erythrocyte oxidative stress condition of ever-smokers back to the normality. Further studies are necessary in the future to better investigate the role of luteolin on the catalase activity of human erythrocytes
Iranian journal of public health, 2017
Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale, 2016
Experimental studies have highlighted that the administration of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) to r... more Experimental studies have highlighted that the administration of 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (T2) to rats fed diets rich in lipids induces a decrease of cholesterol and triglycerides plasma levels and body weight (BW) without inducing liver steatosis. On the basis of these observations we carried out some experimental in vivo studies to assess the effects of multiple high doses of T2 on the pituitary thyroid axis of rats fed diet rich in lipids. Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups of five animals each. The first group (N group) received standard diet, the second group was fed with a high fat diet (HFD group), while the third group (HFDT2 group) was additionally given T2 intraperitoneally at a dose level of 70 µg/100 g of BW three times a week up to four weeks. At the end of the treatment, blood sample from each animal was collected, centrifuged and the serum was stored at -20°C. The serum concentrations of thyroidstimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine, thyroxine,...
Recently, researchers have invested greater interest in studies concerning body-weight, appetite,... more Recently, researchers have invested greater interest in studies concerning body-weight, appetite, and feeding behaviour illnesses. The development of new theoretical models has rendered problems more complex, especially in relation to etiopathogenesis, nosographic classification and to therapeutic strategies. A great number of clinical and experimental studies have brought to light many scarcely known aspects of feeding behaviour, showing the essential neuropeptide and neurotransmitter role. In particular, the so called aminostatic mechanism has been widely accepted, highlighting the close relationship between the serotoninergic system and feeding behaviour, thus allowing an effective therapeutic approach to some clinical conditions. Also the role of hypothalamic peptides in food intake control and energy consumption has recently received greater attention. This work analyses the central regulation feeding behaviour mechanisms; the neurotransmitter and neuropeptide roles are treated in this context given that the great amount of data leads to the expectation of future developments of feeding behaviour regulating substances.
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Papers by Marco Giammanco
body-weight, appetite, and feeding behaviour illnesses. The development of
new theoretical models has rendered problems more complex, especially in
relation to etiopathogenesis, nosographic classification and to therapeutic
strategies. A great number of clinical and experimental studies have brought
to light many scarcely known aspects of feeding behaviour, showing the
essential neuropeptide and neurotransmitter role. In particular, the so called
aminostatic mechanism has been widely accepted, highlighting the close
relationship between the serotoninergic system and feeding behaviour, thus
allowing an effective therapeutic approach to some clinical conditions. Also
the role of hypothalamic peptides in food intake control and energy
consumption has recently received greater attention. This work analyses the
central regulation feeding behaviour mechanisms; the neurotransmitter and
neuropeptide roles are treated in this context given that the great amount of
data leads to the expectation of future developments of feeding behaviour
regulating substances.