Food Literacy as an Instrument for Health Promotion Among Hospital Workers: The "ABCibi Project".

: Health literacy (HL) promotes the achievement of skills and information useful to endorse health. Food Literacy (FL) is a subtype of HL related to the knowledge necessary to achieve a healthy diet. : This pilot study aimed to assess and improve FL of hospital workers through a survey before and after an educational intervention consisting of nutrition courses, infographics, and updates to the canteen service.

Occupational Exposure to Metal-Based Nanomaterials: A Possible Relationship between Chemical Composition and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers.

Nanomaterials (NMs) are in high demand for a wide range of practical applications; however, comprehensively understanding the toxicity of these materials is a complex challenge, due to the limited availability of epidemiological evidence on the human health effects arising from workplace exposures. The aim of this work is to assess whether and how urinary metal concentrations could be reliable and useful in NM biomonitoring. In the framework of "NanoExplore Project" [EU LIFE17 Grant ENV/GR/000285], 43 not-exposed subjects and 40 exposed workers were recruited to measure exposure to NMs (PCN and LDSA) in the proximity of the workstations and biological biomarkers (urinary metal concentrations-Aluminum (Al), Silica (Si), Titanium (Ti), and Chromium (Cr); urinary OS biomarkers-TAP, Isop, and MDA).

Assessing the inhaled dose of nanomaterials by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and its relationship with lung inflammatory biomarkers.

The widespread and increasing use of nanomaterials has resulted in a higher likelihood of exposure by inhalation for nanotechnology workers. However, tracking the internal dose of nanoparticles deposited at the airways level, is still challenging. To assess the suitability of particle number concentration determination as biomarker of internal dose, we carried out a cross sectional investigation involving 80 workers handling nanomaterials.

Working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The role of physical activity to counteract the workers' oxidative stress. A pilot study.

Objective: Office workers spend typically more than two-thirds of their working time sitting and this negative behaviour could have been increased during the pandemic. Low levels of Physical Activity (PA) can have detrimental effects on health, well-being, and Quality of Life (QoL), as well as on the oxidative stress burden. Our aim was to evaluate the role of moderate PA remotely administered in modulating the bio-molecular profile and the QoL of a group of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Air pollution and oxidative stress in adults suffering from airway diseases. Insights from the Gene Environment Interactions in Respiratory Diseases (GEIRD) multi-case control study.

Air pollution is a leading risk factor for global mortality and morbidity. Oxidative stress is a key mechanism underlying air-pollution-mediated health effects, especially in the pathogenesis/exacerbation of airway impairments. However, evidence lacks on subgroups at higher risk of developing more severe outcomes in response to air pollution.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and genotoxicity to assess exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. A literature review.

The increased awareness about possible health effects arising from micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) pollution is driving a huge amount of studies. Many international efforts are in place to better understand and characterize the hazard of MNPs present in the environment. The literature search was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology in two different databases (PubMed and Embase).

The wellbeing of adolescents and the role of greenness: A cross-sectional study among Italian students.

Introduction: Adolescence is a critical period of life, and the level of wellbeing acquired during this stage might have an influence on health status in adulthood. The wellbeing of adolescents is associated with both biological and environmental determinants. To date, few studies have evaluated the effect of exposure to urban green spaces (i.

Air Pollution and Aeroallergens as Possible Triggers in Preterm Birth Delivery.

Preterm birth (PTB) identifies infants prematurely born <37 weeks/gestation and is one of the main causes of infant mortality. PTB has been linked to air pollution exposure, but its timing is still unclear and neglects the acute nature of delivery and its association with short-term effects. We analyzed 3 years of birth data (2015−2017) in Turin (Italy) and the relationships with proinflammatory chemicals (PM2.

Inflammatory Biomarkers in Exhaled Breath Condensate: A Systematic Review.

Inflammation is a comprehensive set of physiological processes that an organism undertakes in response to a wide variety of foreign stimuli, such as viruses, bacteria, and inorganic particles. A key role is played by cytokines, protein-based chemical mediators produced by a broad range of cells, including the immune cells recruited in the inflammation site. The aim of this systematic review is to compare baseline values of pro/anti-inflammatory biomarkers measured in Exhaled Breath Condensate (EBC) in healthy, non-smoking adults to provide a summary of the concentrations reported in the literature.

Fetal and post-natal growth in infants of mothers with multiple sclerosis: A case-control stud.

Background: Multiple sclerosis does not seem to adversely affect fetal and neonatal outcomes, although some studies reported a possible reduction in mean birth weight and length, and a higher incidence of preterm delivery, mainly in relation to the exposure to disease-modifying drugs (DMDs) during pregnancy. Few data are available on intrauterine fetal growth and postnatal somatic development of newborns from mothers with multiple sclerosis compared to those from healthy women. For these reasons, we decided to investigate fetal growth, neonatal anthropometric parameters, and postnatal somatic development up to 12 months of life in offsprings from MS mothers.

The Association between Greenness and Urbanization Level with Weight Status among Adolescents: New Evidence from the HBSC 2018 Italian Survey.

Recent studies have examined how the environment can influence obesity in young people. The research findings are conflicting: in some studies, green spaces have shown a protective association with obesity and urbanization has turned out to worsen this condition, while other studies contradicted these results. The aim of the study was to examine the relationships between greenness, urbanization, and weight status among Italian adolescents.

A Biomonitoring Pilot Study in Workers from a Paints Production Plant Exposed to Pigment-Grade Titanium Dioxide (TiO).

Among particulate matter composing paints, titanium dioxide (TiO2) forms about 20% of the final suspension. Although TiO2 is broadly used in many applications, TiO2 powders represent an established respiratory hazard for workers with long-term exposure. In 35 workers of a paints production plant (15 exposed and 20 not exposed), we assessed pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-17), surfactant protein D (SP-D) and Krebs von den Lungen-6 glycoprotein (KL-6) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC).

The formation of SCEs as an effect of occupational exposure to formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde (FA) is a ubiquitous toxic chemical employed worldwide due to its disinfectant and preservative properties. Despite being classified as a human carcinogen, FA is still employed as formalin in pathology wards as standard fixative. We evaluated its relationship with the formation of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes on 57 pathologists and 48 controls and the risk/protective role played by several genetic polymorphisms.

Multisite greenness exposure and oxidative stress in children. The potential mediating role of physical activity.

Residential greenness exposure has been reported to positively impact health mainly by reducing overweight/obesity risk, improving mental health and physical activity. Less is known on biological pathways involved in these health benefits. We aimed to investigate the association between multisite greenness exposure and oxidative stress in children and explore the potential mediating role of physical activity in this association.

Formaldehyde in Hospitals Induces Oxidative Stress: The Role of and Polymorphisms.

Despite the toxicity and health risk characteristics of formaldehyde (FA), it is currently used as a cytological fixative and the definition of safe exposure levels is still a matter of debate. Our aim was to investigate the alterations in both oxidative and inflammatory status in a hospital working population. The 68 workers recruited wore a personal air-FA passive sampler, provided a urine sample to measure 15-F-Isoprostane (15-F-IsoP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and a blood specimen to measure tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα).

The role of phase I, phase II, and DNA-repair gene polymorphisms in the damage induced by formaldehyde in pathologists.

Formaldehyde (FA) is a human carcinogen used as formalin in hospital laboratories. We evaluated its association with human chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and the risk/protective role played by several genetic polymorphisms in this relationship, on a cohort of 57 exposed pathologists vs 48 controls. All subjects were assessed for CAs on peripheral blood lymphocytes and genotyped for the most common cancer-associated gene polymorphisms which could be related with the genotoxic outcome: CYP1A1 exon 7 (A>G), CYP1A1*2A (T>C), CYP2C19*2 (G>A), GSTT1 (Positive/Null), GSTM1 (Positive/null), GSTP1 (A>G), XRCC1 (G399A), XRCC1 (C194T), XRCC1 (A280G), XPD (A751C), XPC exon 15 (A939C), XPC exon 9 (C499T), TNFα - 308 (G>A), IL10 - 1082 (G>A), IL10 - 819 (C>T) and IL6 - 174 (G>C).

Bisphenol A and S in the Urine of Newborns: Plastic for Non-Food Use Still without Rules.

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of bisphenol (BP) exposure on pregnancy and neonatal life. We have (a) determined BP (BPA and BPS) concentration levels in a group of newborns and their mothers; (b) identified factors, habits, and devices possibly responsible for BP uptake; and (c) determined the effect of BP exposure. No significant correlations were detected between maternal and neonatal BP concentration levels.

Oxidative stress induction in woodworkers occupationally exposed to wood dust and formaldehyde.

Background: Many workers are exposed to wood dust (WD) and formaldehyde (FA), whose carcinogenic activity is supposed to be oxidative stress-mediated. This study aims to assess to what extent the occupational exposure to WD and FA, albeit within regulatory limits, could result in OS induction in a woodworkers' population.

Methods: The sample population consisted of 127 woodworkers from 4 factories and 111 unexposed controls.

Formaldehyde, Oxidative Stress, and FeNO in Traffic Police Officers Working in Two Cities of Northern Italy.

Personal air formaldehyde (air-FA) was measured as risk factor of airways inflammation and oxidative stress (SO) induction. Overall, 154 police officers were enrolled from two differently urbanised Italian cities, Turin and Pavia. Urinary F2t-isoprostane (15-F2t-IsoP), a prostaglandin-like compound, was quantified as a biomarker of general OS in vivo and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was measured for monitoring local inflammatory processes.

Greenness Availability and Respiratory Health in a Population of Urbanised Children in North-Western Italy.

Paediatric Asthma contributes in paediatric global burden of diseases, as the most common chronic disease in children. Children are exposed to many environmental risk-factors, able to determine or worsen respiratory diseases, and contributing to asthma and asthma-like symptoms increases, especially in metropolitan areas. In urban settings, surrounding vegetation (greenness) may provide important benefits to health, including the promotion of physical activity and the mitigation of air and noise pollution.

Tobacco Smoke Exposure, Urban and Environmental Factors as Respiratory Disease Predictors in Italian Adolescents.

Risk monitoring in childhood is useful to estimate harmful health effects at later stages of life. Thus, here we have assessed the effects of tobacco smoke exposure and environmental pollution on the respiratory health of Italian children and adolescents using spirometry and the forced oscillation technique (FOT). For this purpose, we recruited 188 students aged 6-19 years living in Chivasso, Italy, and collected from them the following data: (1) one filled out questionnaire; (2) two respiratory measurements (i.

Bisphenol A, Tobacco Smoke, and Age as Predictors of Oxidative Stress in Children and Adolescents.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate bisphenol A (BPA) and its role in the induction of oxidative stress and confirm the same for tobacco smoke.

Methods: A total of 223 young, healthy students (7-19 years old) were recruited in Chivasso, Italy. A spot of urine of each subject was analyzed to quantify BPA, cotinine, and 15F2t-isoprostane.

Wood dust and urinary 15-F isoprostane in Italian industry workers.

Wood dust is one of the most common occupational exposures, with about 3.6 million of workers in the wood industry in Europe. Wood particles can deposit in the nose and the respiratory tract and cause adverse health effects.

The Asti Study: The Induction of Oxidative Stress in A Population of Children According to Their Body Composition and Passive Tobacco Smoking Exposure.

Obesity and exposure to second-hand tobacco smoking (SHS) may influence oxidative stress (OS) levels, especially in children. This study investigated body composition and SHS influence on OS induction in the paediatric population. The first purpose was identifying an appropriate BMI standard for adiposity assessment in OS investigations.