Welcome to Biomedicine & Prevention

The gut microbiome has a dynamic nature and can be influenced by a variety of factors. The bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain is known as the gut-brain axis. This term has been expanded to microbiota-gut-brain axis, since gut microbiota is of primary importance to this pathway. The focus of this review is the role of gut microbiota in specific neurological disorders and the preventive and therapeutic potential deriving from modulation of gut composition with probiotics in such psychiatric conditions.

Environmental pollution is a serious risk factor for human health and for the protection of ecosystems. Aquatic ecosystems are among those most exposed to pollution. The identification of new biomarkers is required to apply the Nutrient, hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (NACCP) process. Recently it has been developed a new method of investigation to evaluate the effects of pollution on the biological component of an ecosystem that assesses physiological state of its populating organisms. The aim of the present study is focusing on reliability of mussels as bioindicator organisms of coastal marine pollution in Calabria.

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