文章基本信息

标题：Sezione I/Section I Preface
本地全文：下载
作者：Luciana Gramiccioni ; Alessandro Alimonti
期刊名称：Annali dell'Istituto Superiore di Sanita
印刷版ISSN：0021-2571
出版年度：2005
卷号：41
期号：02
页码：141-141
出版社：Editrice Kurtis Srl
摘要：A characterizing feature in neurodegenerative pathologies is their multi-factorial etiogenesis associated with aging, biological susceptibility and environmental factors. Recently, it has been suggested that some chemical elements play a role in the arising of neurodegenerative phenomena. In normal physiological situations homeostatic mechanisms, the brain blood barrier and the energy required for metal transport can interplay as efficient defence systems. In neurodegenerative disorders alterations of the brain blood barrier together with energy compromises could allow an abnormal movement of metals in the brain compartments. Cytotoxic effects can arise from disturbances in metal homeostasis, most likely as result of their involvement in oxidative damage processes. In this context, a better and a full comprehension of the role of chemical elements in neurodegenerative disorders is increasingly required. In this monograph of Annali a noteworthy and updated overview by L. M. Sayre and colleagues reports on the involvement of metals and oxidative stress in neurodegenerations such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and in the demyelinating disease multiple sclerosis. Follows, a series of papers dealing with the results of researches focused on the metal monitoring in biological fluids of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis patients. These contributions show how a multi-disciplinary approach, from analytical chemistry, to the biomonitoring, neurology, epidemiology and toxicology fields, can be useful, if not mandatory, to highlight aspects about interaction between biological and environmental factors in the neuropathogenesis. In the paper by B. Bocca et al. the development of analytical methodologies is reported, whilst in that one by S. Costantini et al. a proficiency test carried out to optimize the performances of the Italian chemical laboratories network is described. A. Alimonti et al. present the reference values of the chemical elements under study, obtained from a healthy urban population utilized as control group vs patients. The contribution of G. Forte et al. examines the level of metals and of oxidative stress in the peripheral fluids of Parkinson’s patients. Analogously, the two next papers, by B. Bocca et al. and by G. Bomboi et al., discuss the metal body concentrations and clinical aspects in subjects affected by Alzheimer’s disease. G. Forte et al. and A. Visconti present a detailed examination on the blood elements imbalances and data relating to a six-month follow-up study on groups of multiple sclerosis’ patients. Finally, the last contribution of A. Pino et al. shows the capability of statistical multivariate tests to elucidate the possible sets of variables able to discriminate between pathological and healthy subjects.