Background and aim of the work. The main Food Choice Motives (FCMs) of vegetarianism and veganismare supported by ethical, health, ecological and pleasure motivations, but also family and cultural traditionsplay a definite role. A better health achievement is usually the first goal of turning vegetarians, on thereports that ischemic heart, circulatory and cerebrovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some cancer weresignificantly lower in vegetarians and vegans than in omnivores. In this review, we investigate the main reasonsthat lead to the choice of an increasingly common lifestyle, such as vegetarianism and veganism and thepros & cons of this choice. Methods. We reviewed studies focused on vegetarian and vegan diets, and includedarticles published between 1975 and 2015. We searched Pubmed/Medline using the terms “vegetarianism”,“veganism”, “benefits” and “diseases”, alone or combined. This review aims at describing vegetarian and vegandiets, discussing current knowledge about motivations for pursuing this diet, clinical benefits and limitations.Results. Vegetarian and vegan diets are low in n-3 PUFA, proteins, calcium, zinc, iron, vitamins B12 and D.Conclusions. Different guidelines for vegetarian and especially vegan diets have been settled based on the needto fortify foods with molecules that are reduced or missing in these diets.

La capacità degli squali di resistere alle infezioni e la bassa incidenza dei tumori riscontrata in queste specie marine suggerisce la presenza di specifici composti anti-tumorali estratti dai loro tessuti, quali alchilgliceroli, estratti dal fegato, squalene, estratto dal mesenchima e dalla cute, e cartilagine, estratta dallo scheletro. Gli alchilgliceroli, altamente concentrati nell’olio di fegato di squalo, hanno un’azione anti-tumorale, stimolano l’ematopoiesi e l’immuno-modulazione. Lo squalene è anch’esso un agente antitumorale, nonché antiossidante, detossificante, con azione emolliente, lenitiva, seborestitutiva e protettiva della cute. La cartilagine, con azione anti-infiammatoria, è comunemente utilizzata nella medicina tradizionale per il trattamento di artrite, osteoartrite, retinopatia diabetica e psoriasi.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical relevance, sensitivity and specificity of in vitro blood test, Memory Lymphocyte ImmunoStimulation Assay (MELISA®), in geneticallypredisposed patients that suffer by autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants, after HPV-vaccination and that could have a high metal hypersensitivity. Materials andMethods: Sixteen girls (aged 12–24 years) that developed long-lasting and invalidating somatoform symptoms occurring within 20 days postvaccination are included in this descriptivestudy. The hypersensitivity to five metals (aluminum, nickel, mercury, methyl mercury, and thimerosal) was measured by MELISA® test. Results: Seven girls showed negativity to all thefive metals tested. The findings showed metal hypersensitivity only in nine patients: Toxicity to aluminum (two girls), reactivity to nickel (seven girls), followed by mercury (seven girls).Conclusion: The MELISA® assay is neither sensitive nor specific in detecting metal hypersensitivity and associated chronic diseases, including autoimmune pathologies.

Autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosisand type 1 diabetes mellitus, affect about 5% of the worldwidepopulation. In the last decade, reports have accumulated on variousautoimmune disorders, such as idiopathic thrombocytopeniapurpura, myopericarditis, primary ovarian failure, and systemiclupus erythematosus (SLE), following vaccination. In thisreview, we discuss the possible underlying mechanisms of autoimmunereactions following vaccinations and review cases ofautoimmune diseases that have been correlated with vaccination.Molecular mimicry and bystander activation are reported as possiblemechanisms by which vaccines can cause autoimmunereactions. The individuals who might be susceptible to developthese reactions could be especially not only those with previouspost-vaccination phenomena and those with allergies but also inindividuals who are prone to develop autoimmune diseases, suchas those with a family history of autoimmunity or with knownautoantibodies, and the genetic predisposed individuals.Further research is encouraged into the direct associationsbetween vaccines and autoimmune conditions, and the biologicalmechanisms behind them.

Vaccines against human papilloma virus (HPV) have been demonstrated to be very effective to prevent infectionrelatedneoplasms. However, several reports describing heterogeneous post-vaccination phenomena have beenpublished in last few years. The spectrum of these disorders includes both immune-mediated neurological diseasesand neuropsychiatric functional disorders. Some researchers speculated about a genetic predisposition, butothers hypothesized a role of adjuvants, including some metals and, particularly, aluminum. Here, we testedsixteen young girls developing somatoform and neurocognitive syndromes after the HPV immunization, throughMELISA® test, detecting cell-mediated hypersensitivity to several metals. We found no association between theseneurocognitive disorders and the results provided by this test; importantly, no patients showed hypersensitivityto aluminum, which is the inorganic adjuvant included in HPV vaccines. Thus, if aluminum played a role in thepathophysiology of musculoskeletal and neurocognitive disturbances occurring in some young girls after HPVimmunization, that should recognize other mechanisms than the activation of aluminum-specific lymphocytes.

Summary. The capability of sharks to resist infection and the low incidence of tumors found in differentspecies of sharks (e.g. spiny dogfish shark, tiger shark) suggested the presence into their tissues of active compounds,provided of anticancer activities, such as Alkylglycerols (from the shark liver), Squalene (from theshark mesenchyme and skin), and Cartilage (from the shark skeleton). The Alkylglycerols, highly concentratedin the shark liver oil, have several biological activities: stimulation of hematopoiesis, immune-modulation,anti-tumors. The Squalene is an anticancer, antioxidant, detoxifier, skin hydrating, drug carrier and emollientagent. The Cartilage has anti-inflammatory properties commonly used in the folk medicine for the treatmentof arthritis, osteoarthritis, diabetic retinopathy, psoriasis, and supposedly also anticancer.

Background: The rate of people with significant dermis and epidermis disorders increases linearly with age. The majority of skin changes are a consequence of cumulative exposure to environmental factors, such as chronic ultraviolet exposure. Aims and Objectives: Age-related dermatological changes include skin laxity, nails fragility, hair loss and hair breakage. This spontaneous, anecdotal observational study investigates if a dietary supplementation based on collagen, chondroitin sulfate, low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid, Pycnogenol® and coenzyme Q10 can improve age-related dermatological changes. Materials and Methods: Thirty four patients received the dietary supplement for 2 times/daily for 12 weeks. Facial skin hydration, Trans Epidermal Water Loss (TEWL) and elasticity were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks in five selected areas. Nails hardness of the index, middle and ring fingers were also assessed at baseline and at follow-up by a durometer and by a nail score. The Hair Mass Index (HMI) and the Hair Breakage Index (HBI) were assessed by a mechanical device together with hair score at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: After 12 weeks skin hydration, TEWL and elasticity significantly improved in all the tested areas (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001). Nails hardness of index, middle and ring finger significantly increased (p < 0.001) after 12 weeks. HMI and HBI were both significantly reduced (p < 0.0001) after 12 weeks. In addition, both nails and hair score improved. Conclusions: Dietary supplementation significantly improved age-related dermatological changes.

BACKGROUND:This retrospective, open, anecdotal, spontaneous and observational study investigates the efficacy of a dietary supplement for the treatment of urogenital functional distress, such as overactive bladder and symptoms related to benign prostatic hypertrophy.METHODS: Sixty patients — 40 women aged 38-83 years and 20 men aged 47-78 years — spontaneously appealing to the Second Opinion Medical Consulting Network were recruited. They reported urogenital-related symptoms despite receiving drug therapies. Despite tailored drug administration, we formulated a galenic phytoestrogen-based dietary supplementwith pumpkin seed, soy seed, ginseng root, cranberry juice, and Phyllantus niruri flowers and leaves. Patients were administered 2 tablets 3 times a day in the first week, and 3 tablets daily for two months. Symptoms were rated and recorded using the Urogenital Distress Inventory Short Form and Overactive Bladder Symptom Score, both before and at the end of the treatment. The urine volume of each micturition was measured, and in males further urodynamic information was achieved by means of a new easy and cheap homemade device named target-shooting micturition (TSM)method. In women laying in supine position and active sneezing with a standard involuntary urinary spot, diameters before and after the treatment were measured using oral methylene blue test. Patients’ satisfaction was also scored at the end of the study period.RESULTS: Subjective and objective symptoms significantly improved. Night urinary leakages decreased from ≥3 to one both in men and in women. Daily micturition episodes decreased by 33% at the end of the study period. The mean urine volume of each micturition increased by 41% in men and by 63.6% in women (P<0.01 and P<0.001, respectively), with no change in the total daily urine output and specific weight. Investigation by TSM in male patients demonstrated an improvement in the ejection pressure. In the interviews, women reported a reduction of urinary leakages, according withthe spot diameter by methylene blue test (P<0.01). Almost all patients declared that the benefits were superior compared to previous drug therapies.CONCLUSIONS: The phytoestrogen-based dietary supplement used in this study improved the muscle mass function either in females or in males without gender distinction.

The “Second Opinion Medical Network” is a consultation referralweb and medical office system recruiting a wide panelof real-time available specialists, to whom any patient affectedby any disease or syndrome and not satisfied with the diagnosisor therapy can apply for an individual clinical audit.Due to the physician-patient communication gap, most ofthe patients usually wander around the medical websiteslooking for proper answers to their health problems. However,this search often becomes compulsive and obsessiveand frequently ambiguous and frustrating. Palmieri, et al.defines this borderline or even pathological behavior as the“Web Babel Syndrome”- psychological imbalance affectingyoung and elderly patients, often with multiple synchronousdiseases receiving by their care givers heterogeneous andmisleading informations or advices, as well as, confused,contradictory statements and prescriptions. To deal withthis problem, the “Second Opinion Medical Network” aimsto be a useful “problem-solving” support revisiting each conflictualdiagnostic and therapeutic step and properly re-addressingtailored treatments and prognoses, preventingunnecessary investigations and unhelpful and expensivemedical and surgical interventions.The aim of this editorial is to describe the role and benefitsof such a medical network in our web connected health caresystem.