CROM
Dr. Giavanni Pagano, researcher at the Center for Research of Oncology in Mercogliano, Italy.
On Wednesday, May 18, 2011, we visited the Center for Research of Mercogliano, located a few miles outside of Avellino, Italy. Dr. Giovanni Pagano's lecture topic was "Mediterranean Diet: From Myth to Daily Life." He spoke of the characteristics of the Mediterranean Diet and cited studies that revealed some advantages of the Mediterranean Diet. He outlined the features of the Mediterranean Diet: high olive oil consumption, low butter consumption, high consumption of beans and vegetables, unrefined cereals, seafood, low consumption of red meat, and red wine at lunch and dinner in moderate amounts. He mentioned that "drunk is a rejected social habit" in the Mediterranean. Dr. Pagano discussed how antioxidants reduce cholesterol. He spoke of "oxidative stress",where active oxygen molecules cause accelerated aging, malignancies and osteoporosis. In one study, olive leaf extract was found to attenuate cardiac, hepatic and metabolic changes. Another study, revealed that the Mediterranean Diet reduced the inflammatory response in mycardial infarctions. In Esposito, et.al., 2011, biomarkers of aging and oxidative stress in overweight men were analyzed. By following the Mediterranean Diet, increasing physical activity and calorie restriction, the men had a better cardiovascular risk as evidenced by their reduced oxidative stress and reduced insulin use.
Ne quid nimis -- Nothing in excess
Dr. Stephania Scala, researcher at the Center for Research of Oncology in Mercogliano, Italy.
Dr. Stephania Scala, who has studied at the National Cancer Institute in Washington, D.C., has focused her work on developing anti-cancer drugs. She feels that "anti-inflammatory" is key because inflammation causes the cancer in endothelial cells and stromal cells activate the immune response. Dr. Scala cited the study by Anja Muller, et.al., that indicates the involvement of chemokine receptors in breast cancer metastasis, cell receptors and antagonists, and chemokine inhibitors. Fascinating stuff! Her goal is to develop a drug "from bench to bedside." But, she laments, there aren't many businesses in Italy to invest in science research.