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An investigated flavonoid, quercetin, is reviewed in this article. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in red wine, grapefruit, onions, apples, black tea, and, in lesser amounts, in leafy green vegetables and beans. Quercetin has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and prevents cancer. Quercitin inhibits the growth of certain malignant cells in vitro, and histamine and most cyclin-dependent kinases and also displays unique anticancer properties. Quercetin is a natural compound that blocks substances involved in allergies and is able to act as an inhibitor of mast cell secretion, causes a decrease in the release of tryptase, MCP-1 and IL-6 and the down-regulation of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) mRNA from few mast cell lines. Quercetin is a safe, natural therapy that may be used as primary therapy or in conjunction with conventional methods
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The hormonal regulation of hemostasis has had little attention in research, and the existing literature data are relatively contradictory. The possible effects of the hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis on hemocoagulation and the fibrinolytic system are studied here. The study was conducted on 80 white male rats of the Wistar breed. The necessary blood quantity was obtained by cardiac puncture realized under ether narcosis. The basic parameters of the hemocoagulation and fibrinolytic activity of the plasma were determined by Diagnostica Stago tests (France), using an automatic coagulometer (Italy). The hormones employed in the study: Thyreotropin releasing hormone (0.06 mg/kg bw), Thyroid stimulating hormone (1 MU/kg bw), Triiodothyronine (0.08 mg/kg bw), and Thyroxin (0.08 mg/kg bw) applied s.c. for three consecutive days, extended the activated partial thromboplastine time (p less than 0.001), proto-thromboplastine time (p less than 0.001), thrombin time (p less than 0.001), reptilase time (p less than 0.001), and shortened the euglobin clot lysis time of (p less than 0.001). These data indicate that each of the hormones used causes significant changes in hemostasis by suppressing the coagulability by the intrinsic and extrinsic system pathways, and transformation of fibrinogen into fibrin. The shortened euglobim clot lysis time may be recognized as a manifestation of increased levels of plasma plasminogen activators. The results obtained show that hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid hormones are significant regulators of hemostasis, since they cause an expressed hypocoagulation and increase plasma fibrinolytic activity
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The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a nifedipine gel in patients with primary or secondary Raynaud?s phenomenon. Photopletismography was the instrumental examination test used to evaluate recovery time (time necessary for recuperation of normal capillary circulation) in 17 patients with primary or secondary Raynaud?s phenomenon before and after the application of the gel. It emerged that of the 17 patients who used the gel, in 3 cases the recovery time was reduced, in 9 cases the recovery time was cancelled (no spasm occurred), in 5 cases the recovery time was not modified. Therefore, in more than 70 percent of patients the drug had a positive effect. Besides, 50 percent of the patients referred an improvement of the subjective symptomatology with reduction of cooling, torpidity, ache and paresthesias of the fingers. The results obtained, even if related to a restricted number of patients and to a brief interval of time, show the effectiveness of this drug in patients with primary or secondary Raynaud?s phenomenon. We believe that these results, presented here for the first time, are important for investigators involved in the study of Raynaud?s disease
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The aim of this study is to test the response of bone during cutting actions in dental procedures by sampling alkaline phosphatase (ALP) as a biological reference marker. ALP is found abundantly in bone tissue. In the first series of experiments a temporal-minimum quantity of ALP enzyme response was recorded, the observed period was 40 minutes. The ALP samples treated with piezoelectric surgery showed a rapid increase, with peak at 30 min, and then declined rapidly within the next 10 minutes. A second experiment was performed to evaluate 4 cutting instruments: drill bits high speed turbine (T1); drill bits contra-angle (T2) Piezoelectric insertions (T3), and manual instruments (controls). This second experiment was to evaluate the ALP activity at 30 min. The T1 samples produced the highest results (3,66499 +- 0,51394); control groups had a lower response (0,72793 +- 0,22353), while the T2 group produced statistically significant higher results (2,77793 +- 0,40553) than T3 (1,16608 +- 0,32676). The different values obtained for ALP in these two experiments for a short period of time (30 min) cannot be interpreted as a response of bone tissue regeneration subjected to surgical trauma. The MINIMUM trauma caused by the surgical piezoelectric instruments, in respect to conventional surgical instruments is clearly evident from the phosphatase inflammatory activity
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Few studies have investigated personality and psychopathological profiles associated to the choice of university education. Our study examined students from four faculties of Turin University, in Turin, Italy (Medicine, Engineering, Education, Law), comparing sociodemographic features, personality characteristics and psychiatric symptoms. A heterogeneous group of 1,323 students were assessed using a semistructured interview, the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire-Revised (PDQ-R), and the Symptoms Checklist 90 (SCL-90). Statistical analysis included four logistic regression models, each fitted for one faculty, considering the other three as a control group. Associations were found in Medical and Engineering students concerning type of high school, school final score, and father?s socioeducational level. Factors associated with students of Law and Education included socioeducational characteristics, but stronger correlations were seen with PDQ-R personality scales and SCL-90 symptom clusters. In conclusion, four different profiles were identified. Medicine was not significantly related to personality and psychiatric factors. Engineering was related to male gender, choice of technical high school and father?s social level. Law was related to female gender and narcissistic personality profile. These data may be useful for counseling activities addressed to high school and university students
