Difa Cooper (Italy)

ABSTRACTBackgroundMinoxidil and finasteride are currently the only FDA‐approved pharmacological treatments for androgenic alopecia (AGA) and female androgenic alopecia (FAGA). However, substantial improvement is observed in no more than 20% of patients in the medium term. To enhance clinical responses, nonpharmacological dietary supplementation is often utilized.AimsThis study evaluated the efficacy of a novel dietary supplement, AGA‐P, which contains Serenoa repens extract, Cucurbita pepo extract, L‐Cystine, and Vitamin C, in a multicenter, randomized, assessor‐blinded, real‐life trial alongside pharmacological treatments. The objective was to determine whether dietary supplementation could improve the clinical efficacy of minoxidil and finasteride.Patients and MethodsA total of 225 subjects with AGA or FAGA (165 men, mean age 40 ± 14 years, range 18–74) were enrolled after obtaining informed consent. Inclusion criteria included male subjects over 18 years and postmenopausal women with mild to moderate AGA/FAGA, eligible for dietary and/or pharmacological treatment. Of these participants, 106 (24 women and 82 men) were assigned to receive pharmacological treatment plus dietary supplementation (one capsule daily; Group A), while 119 (36 women and 83 men) received drug treatment only (Group B). The pharmacological treatments consisted of topical minoxidil and oral finasteride in most cases. Treatment duration was 6 months.ResultsThe results indicated that oral supplementation significantly increased the clinical efficacy of pharmacological treatments for mild‐to‐severe AGA/FAGA compared to drug treatment alone (great improvement: Group A 36.5% vs. Group B 25%; p = 0.04).ConclusionOral supplementation of AGA‐P significantly increases the clinical efficacy of pharmacological treatments for mild‐to‐severe AGA/FAGA (Study Registration: ISRCTN‐19671217).

Reproduction, Fertility and Development is an international journal publishing original research , review and comment in the fields of reproduction and developmental biology in humans, domestic animals and wildlife

Oral supplementation with some amino acids (like methionine, taurine, and cysteine) could be useful in subjects with hair loss conditions such as androgenic alopecia (AGA or FAGA) or telogen effluvium (TE). Hydrolysed collagen (HC) oral supplementation has demonstrated to have beneficial effects on nail and skin health and could improve hair growth. A food supplement in tablet formulation containing hydrolysed fish-origin collagen (300mg/dose), taurine, cysteine, methionine, iron, and selenium has been recently available. To date no controlled data are available regarding the clinical efficacy of this product as adjuvant to hair loss specific treatments in these clinical conditions. To evaluate and compare the efficacy and tolerability of an oral supplementation based on HC and amino acids in subjects with hair loss due to AGA/FAGA or chronic TE in combination with drug treatments in comparison with drug treatments alone. In a prospective, 12-week, randomized, assessor-blinded controlled trial 83 subjects (mean age 41±16 years; 26 men and 57 women) were enrolled in the study. Fifty-nine subjects suffered from AGA/FAGA (Hamilton I-VA, Ludwig I-1, II-2) and 24 from chronic TE. Subjects were randomized to oral supplementation (1 tablet day) in combination with the specify drug treatment decided by the investigator according to the type of hair loss (AGA/FAGA or TE) (Group A; N=48) or to specific drugs treatment only (Group B; N=35). The main outcome of the trial was the clinical efficacy evaluation using a 7-point global assessment score (GAS) (from +3: Much Improved to -3 Much worsened; with score 0 representing no modification). The GAS score was evaluated using standardized photographs by an investigator unaware of the treatment groups at week 6 and at week 12. A secondary outcome was the evaluation of acceptability of the treatment regimen using a 10-point evaluation score. Seventy-six participants (91.6%) completed the 12-week study period. The GAS score at week 6 was 0.5±0.2 in group A and 0.0±0.1 in Group B (p<0.05; Mann-Whitney). At week 12 the GAS score in Group A was statistically significant higher in comparison with Group B (1.67±0.16 and 0.66±0.20, p<0.001; Mann-Whitney test). A higher percentage of Group A subjects achieved a GAS score of ≥2 in comparison with group B (50%vs. 23%). The oral supplement was generally well tolerated. An oral supplement containing hydrolysed fish-origin collagen, taurine, cysteine, methionine, iron, and selenium has demonstrated to improve the clinical efficacy of specific anti-hair loss treatments in subjects with AGA/FAGA or chronic TE.

The recent research on chronic degenerative diseases (CDD), such as obesity, diabetes, neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis, autoimmune diseases, cancer and aging itself, has shown that Venous and Lymphatic Diseases (VLD) may play an important role in their development, de facto pushing phlebology and especially lymphology under a spotlight in biomedical research [...].

The aim of this study was to investigate if compression therapy (CT) can be safely applied in diabetic patients with Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU), even when a moderate arterial impairment (defined by an Ankle-Brachial Pressure Index 0.5–0.8) occurs as in mixed leg ulcers (MLU). Materials and methods: in one of our previous publications we compared the outcomes of two groups of patients with recalcitrant leg ulcers. Seventy-one patients were affected by mixed venous and arterial impairment and 109 by isolated venous disease. Both groups were treated by tailored inelastic CT (with compression pressure <40 mm Hg in patients with MLU and >60 mm Hg in patients with VLU) and ultrasound guided foam sclerotherapy (UGFS) of the superficial incompetent veins with the reflux directed to the ulcer bed. In the present sub analysis of the same patients we compared the healing time of 107 non-diabetic patients (NDP), 69 with VLU and 38 with MLU) with the healing time of 73 diabetic patients (DP), 40 with VLU and 33 with MLU. Results: Twenty-five patients were lost at follow up. The results refer to 155 patients who completed the treatment protocol. In the VLU group median healing time was 25 weeks for NDP and 28 weeks in DP (p = 0.09). In the MLU group median healing time was 27 weeks for NDP and 29 weeks for DP (p = −0.19). Conclusions: when providing leg ulcer treatment by means of tailored compression regimen and foam sclerotherapy for superficial venous refluxes, diabetes has only a minor or no effect on the healing time of recalcitrant VLU or MLU.

Persistent centrofacial erythema associated with telangiectasias is one of the most common phenotypes of rosacea in clinical practice, and the assessment of each component is crucial as each of them may require a different approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inter-observer reliability of standard photography vs erythema-directed photography for the assessment of erythema and telangiectasias in rosacea. One hundred full-face images of 50 rosacea patients (50 standard photographs and 50 erythema-directed digital photographs) were evaluated by 8 independent experienced dermatologists using a 5-item score for erythema and telangiectasias, respectively. Inter-rater reliability, by comparing erythema and telangiectasias scores and calculating the percentage of agreement between evaluators, was assessed and the strength of agreement using the Cohen's Kappa values (95% CI) was calculated. Poor and fair strength of agreement for erythema and telangiectasias using standard photography vs moderate and good strength of agreement using erythema-directed digital photography was found. Erythema-directed digital photography may provide a better strength of agreement and higher reliability among independent observers compared to standard photography in the assessment of erythema and telangiectasias in rosacea, thus suggesting new horizons for digital appraisal of skin diseases.

A new propylene glycol (PG)-free 5% minoxidil (Mnx) lotion has been recently commercialized. Aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptability/tolerability and clinical efficacy of 3-month application of this new PG-free Mnx lotion and the penetration of the active compound in a reconstructed human epidermis (RHE/Episkin) model in comparison with a PG Mnx 5% lotion. Thirty subjects of both sex with a diagnosis of AGA were enrolled in the trial. Cosmetic acceptability and clinical efficacy were evaluated after 4, 8 and 12 weeks of treatment. Global tolerability was evaluated at week 12. Cosmetic acceptability evaluation was assessed using a 7-item questionnaire using a 10-point scale score. Global Tolerability was evaluated with a 4-grade scale. Clinical efficacy was evaluated with a 5-grade scale. Skin absorption of PG-free Mnx was evaluated and compared with a PG Mnx solution using the Episkin model. All subjects concluded the study. The 7-item questionnaire mean values were always <2 at each time-point evaluation, demonstrating high cosmetic acceptability/tolerability. No subjects reported burning, itching or redness sensations. Global Tolerability score mean±SD value was 1.7±0.4. Clinical efficacy scores were 0.4, 0.6 and 1.2 at week 4, 8 and 12, respectively. PG-free Mnx showed similar amount of absorbed dose in comparison with PG Mnx. This new PG-free lotion shows a very good cosmetic acceptability/tolerability profile. Clinical efficacy was also documented. The skin penetration of this formulation is comparable to the PG Mnx lotion, supporting the bioequivalence of the two products.

Simple SummaryBovine milk contains several β-casein variants, with the A1 and A2 variants occurring most frequently. The presence of some variants, such as A1, B, and C, is considered a risk factor for disease in humans who consume milk. These variants are probably involved in intolerance to milk and some human diseases due to the production of a bioactive peptide with opioid activity during digestion, β-casomorphin 7 (BCM-7). In contrast, the A2 variant is not involved in pathogenetic mechanisms; thus, its presence in milk is a desirable feature. The difference between the A1 and A2 variants is a mutation at position 67 of the β-casein gene (CSN2), which causes an amino acid to change from histidine (in the A1, B, and C variants) to proline (in the A2 variant). To select dairy cows on the basis of the presence of the β-casein variant A2, allele frequencies of CSN2 variants were evaluated in Italian dairy cows reared in central Italy. The results of this study may help with the selection of animals with the β-casein gene variant A2 to produce a more digestible milk that only contains the β-casein variant A2.The majority of proteins in cow’s milk are caseins, which occur in four groups (α-s1, α-s2, β, and k) encoded by different genes (CSN1S1, CSN1S2, CSN2, and CSN3, respectively). In this study, we focused on the β-casein allele variants A1 and A2 due to their influence on milk’s technological characteristics and human health. Digestion of the β-casein variant A1 leads to the formation of β-casomorphin 7 (BCM-7), a bioactive peptide that has been suggested to be a possible cause of various human diseases and associated with low milk digestibility. The potential negative role of the β-casein variant A1 in human health has stimulated the planning of cattle breeding programs based on genetic selection to increase the frequency of the A2 variant, which is associated with increased milk digestibility. The aim of this work was to evaluate the frequencies of the different β-casein variants in Italian Holstein Friesian dairy cows from cattle farms located in central Italy to select a population of A2 homozygous animals. β-casein genotypes were identified by evaluating the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the CSN2 gene using PCR and sequencing analysis. The frequency of the desirable β-casein variant A2 in the studied bovine population was 0.61. The frequency of the undesirable A1 variant in the studied bovine population was 0.30. The frequency of the A2 allele was higher than expected for the breed; therefore, genetic selection for the A2 variant in these animals could be achieved in a fairly short time using A2 homozygous bulls.

Dermatologic TherapyVolume 32, Issue 4 e12986 Letter to the Editor Generalized verrucosis: A therapeutic challenge: Efficacy of topical sinecatechins (Veregen) 10% Francesca Satolli MD, Francesca Satolli MD orcid.org/0000-0003-1610-9249 Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMarco Gandolfi MD, Corresponding Author Marco Gandolfi MD marco.gandolfi5@gmail.com orcid.org/0000-0002-5694-3054 Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy Correspondence Marco Gandolfi, Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma, Italy. Email: marco.gandolfi5@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorMiriam Rovesti MD, Miriam Rovesti MD orcid.org/0000-0002-7373-7535 Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorAlfredo Zucchi MD, Alfredo Zucchi MD Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMassimo Milani MD, Massimo Milani MD orcid.org/0000-0001-7559-1202 Medical Department, Difa Cooper, Caronno, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorClaudio Feliciani MD, PhD, Claudio Feliciani MD, PhD Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this author Francesca Satolli MD, Francesca Satolli MD orcid.org/0000-0003-1610-9249 Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMarco Gandolfi MD, Corresponding Author Marco Gandolfi MD marco.gandolfi5@gmail.com orcid.org/0000-0002-5694-3054 Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy Correspondence Marco Gandolfi, Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, Parma, Italy. Email: marco.gandolfi5@gmail.comSearch for more papers by this authorMiriam Rovesti MD, Miriam Rovesti MD orcid.org/0000-0002-7373-7535 Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorAlfredo Zucchi MD, Alfredo Zucchi MD Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorMassimo Milani MD, Massimo Milani MD orcid.org/0000-0001-7559-1202 Medical Department, Difa Cooper, Caronno, ItalySearch for more papers by this authorClaudio Feliciani MD, PhD, Claudio Feliciani MD, PhD Section of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, ItalySearch for more papers by this author First published: 06 June 2019 https://doi.org/10.1111/dth.12986Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume32, Issue4July/August 2019e12986 RelatedInformation

ABSTRACTIn this study, the effects of experimental variables such as type of solvent, sample/solvent ratio, and time of extraction have been evaluated to individuate the best results in phenolic recovery by Olive Pomaces (OP) belonging to Carolea and Ottobratica cultivars. Folin–Ciocaulteu procedure and DPPH and ABTS assays were used, respectively, for total phenol quantification and total antioxidant activity of pomace extracts. The ethanol/water mixture was resulted the most efficient extraction solvent for both olive cultivars. The highest amount of phenolic compounds (171 ± 4 mg of gallic acid 100 g−1 of dry pomace) was obtained after extraction at 120 min with 2:1 solvent/OP (v/w) of Ottobratica Olive Pomace. The recovery of phenol compounds from olive wastes increases the sustainability of sector, allowing obtaining an extract that could be a suitable alternative in the food industry to the use of synthetic antioxidants in order to improve the quality of foods.