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Nocturia, cardio-vascular diseases and diabetes are frequent in patients with sleep related breathing disorders. In this study, we had analyzed the influence of the intermittent hypoxia on nocturia prevalence and found that cardio-vascular diseases, obesity, age and apnea hypopnea indexpredict 27.1% of nocturia�s variance (Nagelkerke R square-=.271, c2= 68.35).In AHI [28, the chance of nocturia is 50% and the difference dependents on the presence or absence of the cardio-vascular diseases. For values of AHI ]28, the risk of nocturia becomes independent of the presence of the cardio-vascular disease.

Adiponectin is an adipokine associated with the healthy obese phenotype. Adiponectin increases insulin sensitivity and has cardio and vascular protection actions. Studies related to adiponectin, a modulator of the innate and acquired immunity response, have suggested a role of this molecule in asthma. Studies based on various asthma animal models and on the key cells involved in the allergic response have provided important insights about this relation. Some of them indicated protection and others reversed the balance towards negative effects. Many of them described the cellular pathways activated by adiponectin, which are potentially beneficial for asthma prevention or for reduction in the risk of exacerbations. However, conclusive proofs about their efficiency still need to be provided. In this article, we will, briefly, present the general actions of adiponectin and the epidemiological studies supporting the relation with asthma. The main focus of the current review is on the mechanisms of adiponectin and the impact on the pathobiology of asthma. From this perspective, we will provide arguments for and against the positive influence of this molecule in asthma, also indicating the controversies and sketching out the potential directions of research to complete the picture.

The EFSA Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) was requested to consider in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 205 (FGE.205), the additional data on genotoxicity submitted by the Industry on two representative substances, oct‐1‐en‐3‐one [FL‐no: 07.081] and pent‐1‐en‐3‐one [FL‐no: 07.102], from subgroup 1.2.2 of FGE.19. The Panel concluded that both substances were weakly genotoxic in bacteria with pent‐1‐en‐3‐one being the most potent (previously available data). In these assays, the representative substances were highly cytotoxic with a steep toxicity curve and with a very narrow concentration range resulting in mutagenicity. Both substances were also tested in mammalian cells for gene mutations at the hprt locus and for structural and numerical chromosomal aberrations in the micronucleus assay. Also in mammalian cells, the test substances were highly cytotoxic. The Panel considered that the positive effects in the bacterial mutagenicity assays of the two representative substances cannot be overruled by the one negative and one equivocal gene mutation test in mammalian cells. Therefore, the Panel recommended to test the most potent of the representative substances, pent‐1‐en‐3‐one, in an in vivo Comet assay on the first site of contact (e.g. the stomach or duodenum) and on the liver. The Industry has now submitted new data, a combined micronucleus and Comet assay for pent‐1‐en‐3‐one, with scoring in the liver and duodenum, and an Ames test and a Comet assay with scoring in the liver for oct‐1‐en‐3‐one. Based on these new data, the Panel concluded that the concern for a genotoxic potential could be ruled out for the two representative substances and accordingly for the remaining 11 substances in FGE.205Rev1. The 13 substances in FGE.205Rev1 can therefore be evaluated via the Procedure.

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF) of EFSA was requested to deliver a scientific opinion on the implications for human health of the flavouring substance 3‐(1‐((3,5‐dimethylisoxazol‐4‐yl)methyl)‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐1‐(3‐hydroxybenzyl)imidazolidine‐2,4‐dione [FL‐no: 16.127], in the Flavouring Group Evaluation 400 (FGE.400), according to Regulation (EC) No 1331/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The substance has not been reported to occur in natural source materials of botanical or animal origin. It is intended to be used as a flavour modifier in specific categories of food. There is no safety concern with respect to genotoxicity. A 90‐day dietary administration study in rats showed no adverse effects for doses up to 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day, providing an adequate margin of safety. Developmental toxicity was not observed in a study with rats at dose levels up to 1,000 mg/kg bw per day. The Panel concluded that [FL‐no: 16.127] is not expected to be of safety concern at the estimated levels of intake. This conclusion applies only to the use of the substance as a flavour modifier and when used at levels up to those specified for various foods in different food categories.

The Panel on Food Contact Materials, Enzymes, Flavourings and Processing Aids (CEF Panel) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) was requested to evaluate the genotoxic potential of 26 flavouring substances from subgroup 2.7 of FGE.19 in Flavouring Group Evaluation (FGE) 213. In the first version of FGE.213 the Panel concluded, based on available genotoxicity data, that a concern regarding genotoxicity could be ruled out for 11 substances [FL‐nos: 07.047, 07.056, 07.057, 07.075, 07.076, 07.080, 07.117, 07.118, 07.119, 07.120 and 07.168], but for the remaining 15 substances in subgroup 2.7 further genotoxicity data were required. Based on new submitted genotoxicity data, the Panel concluded in FGE.213Rev1 that the concern regarding genotoxicity could be ruled out for 13 substances in subgroup 2.7 [FL‐nos: 02.106, 07.008, 07.010, 07.041, 07.083, 07.089, 07.108, 07.109, 07.127, 07.136, 07.200, 07.224 and 09.305] but not for maltol [FL‐no: 07.014] and maltyl isobutyrate [FL‐no: 09.525]. In FGE.213Rev2, new data on maltol were considered and the Panel concluded that for maltol [FL‐no: 07.014] and maltyl isobutyrate [FL‐no: 09.525] in food the concern for genotoxicity could be ruled out. Moreover, the Panel reconsidered the available data on p‐mentha‐1,4(8)‐dien‐3‐one [FL‐no: 07.127], based on new data on the structurally related substance pulegone, and concluded that additional genotoxicity data are needed to rule out the concern for genotoxicity of p‐mentha‐1,4(8)‐dien‐3‐one [FL‐no: 07.127].

Regarding the widely distribution of respiratory exposure hazards in occupational settings, workers have an increased risk for chronic lung diseases. For assessing the quality of life and lung function in workers exposed to chemicals and dust, St George�s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and spirometry were performed among 40 patients, admitted in Occupational Clinic Department of Colentina Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, during February, 2017. SGRQ showed different predictors for patients according to their occupational exposure and total symptoms score correlated better with decreased spirometric parameters in defining lung function deterioration. Quality of life is earlier affected than lung function deterioration and emphasises the need of more sensitive methods for an earlier identification and better evaluation of respiratory hazards in different workplaces.