BACKGROUND. The inhalation of fibrous amphiboles can result in pulmonary fibrosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Although these fibres have the same disease-causing potential, their different morphologies and chemical composition can determine different biological activities. An unusual cluster of mesothelioma was evidenced in Biancavilla (Sicily) where no inhabitant had been significantly exposed to asbestos. OBJECTIVE. We herein discuss the mechanism of action of amphiboles, focusing on the fibres identified in the study area. RESULTS. Human lung carcinoma cells have been exposed to two different materials: prismatic fluoro-edenite and fibres with fluoro-edenitic composition. Only in the second case, they exhibit features typical of transformed cells, such as multinucleation, prosurvival activity and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Accordingly, in vivo studies demonstrated that the fibrous sample only could induce a mesotheliomatogenic effect. Conclusions. Fibres with fluoro-edenitic composition behave similarly to the asbestos crocidolite, whose connection with inflammation and lung cancer is well established.

Worldly data show the increasing incidence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and particularly of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). In developing countries, TB control programmes are overwhelmed by the complexity of treating MDR-TB infected people, as current tools and therapies are inadequate. MDR-TB could become the main form of TB. Risk factors that make South Africa into one of the main epicentres are analysed. A review of the studies carried out about antitubercular properties of Allium sativum both in vitro and in vivo is provided. The researches about the garlic extracts effectiveness against clinical isolates of MDR-TB are of scientific importance. Allium sativum offers a hope for developing alternative drugs. The involvement of traditional healers (TH) in the TB health management could facilitate the administration of garlic extracts to the infected patients.

I dati a livello mondiale mostrano la crescente incidenza del Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) e in particolare della TB farmaco-resistente (MDR-TB). I programmi di controllo della TB nei paesi in via di sviluppo sono sopraffatti dalla complessità del trattamento per le persone colpite dalla MDR-TB, considerata l'inadeguatezza degli attuali strumenti e terapie. La MDR-TB può divenire la forma principale di TB. Sono analizzati i fattori di rischio che rendono il Sud Africa uno dei maggiori epicentri. Viene fornita una rassegna degli studi condotti sull'attività antitubercolare dell'Allium sativum sia in vitro che in vivo. Le ricerche sull'efficacia degli estratti d'aglio su campioni clinici di MDR-TB sono di interesse scientifico. L'Allium sativum offre una speranza per lo sviluppo di farmaci alternativi. Il coinvolgimento dei guaritori tradizionali nei programmi sanitari per la TB può facilitare la somministrazione di estratti d'aglio alle persone contagiate.