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The heart failure cannot be managed only with drugs, there are several lifestyle behaviours that need attention and that can make the difference in terms of quality of life. Changing lifestyle is a long trip that requires a guide, nursing education could be a good approach to reach it. Moreover, an ICD implantation is a second condition that worsens due to the complexity of the chronic illness. A qualified nurse in cardiovascular disease has all the knowledge to follow the patients through this process. We aimed to introduce this support, during the transaction period, in health services in which it was not available.

In Zambia children’s diet is often inappropriate, with poor feeding practices directly correlated with children’s nutritional status and health. This study aimed to assess feeding practices and dietary consumption of 37 Zambian malnourished children admitted in Rainbow Supplementary Feeding Programs (SPFs), evaluating the impact of nutritional counseling on feeding habits and response to nutritional rehabilitation. Dietary assessment was collected at two times: admission (baseline: T1) and discharge (follow up: T2). The differences in feeding habits and dietary characteristics between T1 and T2, and the association between dietary diversity and response in nutritional rehabilitation were investigated. Our results show that children’s dietary characteristics at baseline were very poor, specifically on meal frequency and quality. After nutritional counseling significant improvements were observed in general children’s feeding habits, with consistent rise in energy and macronutrients intakes. Consistent changes in food groups consumed were noted, especially when considering fruit, vegetables and animal-source food. Higher dietary diversity was positively associated with response to nutritional rehabilitation. Nutritional counselling within SFPs was therefore effective in the education of mothers/guardians, driving changes in Zambian children’s feeding practices such as dietary diversity, meal quality and frequency.

Hydroxytyrosol (3,4 dihydroxyphenylethanol; 3,4-DHPEA or HT) represents one of the most abundant phenolic compound in extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). It plays a significant role in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) protection and its metabolites are able to prevent the endothelial dysfunction commonly present in atherosclerosis. We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial in order to verify the role of a new pharmaceutical formulation containing HT for the prevention of oxidative stress related to CVD. Protective Oxidative stress biomarkers, like thiols groups and total antioxidant status, were significantly increased, while pro-oxidant were drastically reduced. Significant up-regulation of superoxide dismutase-1, encoding for a cytoplasmic antioxidant enzyme, was observed. These results could be associated with the significant increase in the plasma concentration of HT. Our data support the hypothesis that 15 mg/day of HT could prevent oxidative damage and related CVD. The new formulation could be proposed to EFSA to obtain “health claim” according to Regulation (CE) n. 1924/2006, related to the following nutritional and health indications: “reduction of oxidative stress”, “maintenance of normal blood HDL-cholesterol concentrations”, “anti-inflammatory properties”, “antioxidant properties”, and “contribution to body defense against external agents” .

In this manuscript, we have analysed the current Italian situation of promoting blood donation and the blood self-sufficiency of each Italian region

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a multisystem genetic disorder that may affects almost all organs and systems and is associated with a range of neuropsychiatric manifestations, including epilepsy, intellectual disability and autism. TSC is one of the syndromic forms most strongly associated with a high prevalence rate of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Aim of this study is to assess whether there is scientific evidence of an increased risk of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases in the area of Piegaro and Panigale, two small towns in the Province of Perugia, central Italy. This purpose has been fulfilled comparing the incidence of selected diagnoses for residents in Piegaro and Panigale with those of all residents in Italy during the same time-period. During the investigated period no clear trend was identified. Concerning leukemia, a slight excess in the incidence of myeloid leukemia for the whole population (male and female) was detected in the city of Piegaro. The most plausible environmental factors for this association are smoking and exposure to benzene. A search for the presence of these risk factors might be useful in order to implement effective preventive measures.