Microglia are the first line of defense at the level of the central nervous system (CNS). Phenotypic change in microglia can be regulated by various factors, including the orexin system. ...Neuroinflammation is an inflammatory process mediated by cytokines, by the lack of interaction between neurotransmitters and their specific receptors, caused by systemic tissue damage or, more often, associated with direct damage to the CNS. Chronic activation of microglia could lead to long-term neurodegenerative diseases. This review aims to explore how tocopherol (vitamin E) and the orexin system may play a role in the prevention and treatment of microglia inflammation and, consequently, in neurodegenerative diseases thanks to its antioxidant properties. The results of animal and in vitro studies provide evidence to support the use of tocopherol for a reduction in microglia inflammation as well as a greater activation of the orexinergic system. Although there is much in vivo and in vitro evidence of vitamin E antioxidant and protective abilities, there are still conflicting results for its use as a treatment for neurodegenerative diseases that speculate that vitamin E, under certain conditions or genetic predispositions, can be pro-oxidant and harmful.
1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the active metabolite of vitamin D (Vit D), increases intestinal absorption of calcium and phosphate, maintaining a correct balance of bone remodeling. Vit D ...has an anabolic effect on the skeletal system and is key in promoting osteoblastic differentiation of human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) from bone marrow. MSCs can be also isolated from the immature form of the tooth, the dental bud: Dental Bud Stem Cells (DBSCs) are adult stem cells that can effectively undergo osteoblastic differentiation. In this work we investigated the effect of Vit D on DBSCs differentiation into osteoblasts. Our data demonstrate that DBSCs, cultured in an opportune osteogenic medium, differentiate into osteoblast-like cells; Vit D treatment stimulates their osteoblastic features, increasing the expression of typical markers of osteoblastogenesis like RUNX2 and Collagen I (Coll I) and, in a more important way, determining a higher production of mineralized matrix nodules.
Several studies suggest that different combinations of nutraceutical supplements may improve the lipid profile, representing a viable alternative to statins. However, their effects on individuals ...with myopathy need to be investigated. The aim of our study was to explore the mid- and long-term physiological effects of monacolin k (5 mg) and astaxanthin (0.1 mg) supplements in association with a low-energy/fat diet in a group of subjects with mild myopathy. Eighty subjects (44 women) took part in this observational study. Participants were assigned to the experimental group (EG, n = 40, 24 women) treated with a low-energy/fat diet (1200–1500 Kcal/day and 15–20% lipids) in combination with monacolin k (5 mg) and astaxanthin (0.1 mg) supplementation, and to the control group (CG, n = 40, 20 women) treated only with a low-energy/fat diet (1200–1500 Kcal/day and 15–20% lipids). BMI and biochemical parameters (blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, C-reactive protein (CRP) and creatine phosphokinase-CPK) were collected at baseline (T0), after 12 (T1) and 24 (T2) weeks. A mixed factorial ANOVA was performed to determine if there were significant main effects and/or interactions between time and treatment. Treatment (EG vs. CG) was entered as the between-subjects factor and time (T0 vs. T1 vs. T2) as the within-subject factor. We found a significant improvement in total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, PCR and CPK parameters in EG compared with CG. Our results highlight the efficacy and safety of combined use of monacolin k (5 mg) and astaxanthin (0.1 mg) in combination with a low-energy/fat diet in the treatment of dyslipidemia.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a significant transformation in the field of telehealth and telemedicine, as systems have been improved to meet the increased demand for remote healthcare ...services. Many ordinary technologies have been equipped to facilitate the normal relationship between patients and specialists. These technologies were put into action in a short period of time, creating a gap between the limits of common technologies and the special needs of telemedicine patients. Furthermore, focusing the lens on the special needs of sports in terms of nutrition, we see that research demonstrates the possibility of improving athletic performance by introducing technological diet support. This review aims to provide an overview of the technologies successfully implemented in telemedicine systems, a look at new modeling approaches, and a study on the roles of new enabling technologies in the process. It aims to highlight the results of the employment of telemedicine in sports dietary support and present open research challenges and recommendations for future research on a new application of technologies in telemedicine, for both the industrial and academic sectors. Literature was identified through intensive research work, reviewing articles related to the topics of new technologies in telemedicine and sports dietary support systems. The review concludes that it is possible to envisage the design of future models in the eHealth sector related to nutrition and sports, confirming the important role of telemedicine in a healthy lifestyle.
Study purpose. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of three sessions of aerobic training, for a period of 12 weeks, on VO2max and on the distance covered during the test.
Materials and ...Methods. Fifteen sedentary males were recruited in this study. VO2max was investigated using Cooper test. Aerobic intervention lasted for 12 weeks. The exercise the subjects were performing for the first 6 weeks was supervised aerobic training, 3 times per week at 60–75% of heart rate max (HRmax) (The first two weeks at 60–65 % HRmax, third and fourth week at 65–70% HRmax, fifth and sixth week at 70–75% HRmax). Afterwards, the subjects continued supervised aerobic training for 6 weeks until the twelfth week at 70–75% HRmax.
Results. After 8 weeks of aerobic training, a significant increase in distance covered during the Cooper test (p<0.001) and a significant increase in VO2max (p < 0.001) were observed.
Conclusions. In this study, it was found that 12 weeks of aerobic training have a positive impact on VO2max improvement and, therefore, completing 3 sessions of this type of training per week has a positive impact on aerobic parameters.
Lung cancer is the most lethal cancer: it has a significant incidence and low survival rates. Lifestyle has an important influence on cancer onset and its progression, indeed environmental factors ...and smoke are involved in cancer establishment, and in lung cancer. Physical activity is a determinant in inhibiting or slowing lung cancer. Certainly, the inflammation is a major factor responsible for lung cancer establishment. In this scenario, regular physical activity can induce anti-inflammatory effects, reducing ROS production and stimulating immune cell system activity. On lung function, physical activity improves lung muscle strength, FEV1 and forced vital capacity. In lung cancer patients, it reduces dyspnea, fatigue and pain. Data in the literature has shown the effects of physical activity both in in vivo and in vitro studies, reporting that its anti-inflammatory action is determinant in the onset of human diseases such as lung cancer. It has a beneficial effect not only in the prevention of lung cancer, but also on treatment and prognosis. For these reasons, it is retained as an adjuvant in lung cancer treatment both for the administration and prognosis of this type of cancer. The purpose of this review is to analyze the role of physical activity in lung cancer and to recommend regular physical activity and lifestyle changes to prevent or treat this pathology.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation, since its introduction in 1985, has brought important innovations to the study of cortical excitability as it is a non-invasive method and, therefore, can be used ...both in healthy and sick subjects. Since the introduction of this cortical stimulation technique, it has been possible to deepen the neurophysiological aspects of motor activation and control. In this narrative review, we want to provide a brief overview regarding TMS as a tool to investigate changes in cortex excitability in athletes and highlight how this tool can be used to investigate the acute and chronic responses of the motor cortex in sport science. The parameters that could be used for the evaluation of cortical excitability and the relative relationship with motor coordination and muscle fatigue, will be also analyzed. Repetitive physical training is generally considered as a principal strategy for acquiring a motor skill, and this process can elicit cortical motor representational changes referred to as use-dependent plasticity. In training settings, physical practice combined with the observation of target movements can enhance cortical excitability and facilitate the process of learning. The data to date suggest that TMS is a valid technique to investigate the changes in motor cortex excitability in trained and untrained subjects. Recently, interest in the possible ergogenic effect of non-invasive brain stimulation in sport is growing and therefore in the future it could be useful to conduct new experiments to evaluate the impact on learning and motor performance of these techniques.
Osteopoikilosis is a rare inherited benign bone dysplasia incidentally found on radiological exams. It is characterized by a specific radiological pattern: diffuse, round or oval, symmetrically ...shaped sclerotic bone areas distributed throughout the skeleton. It is essential to do a correct diagnosis because these lesions could be easily confused with bone metastasis.
We reported a case of an osteopoikilosis patient presenting to our clinic with transient loss of consciousness and without any numbness, tingling and weakness in the legs or other parts of the body. The computed tomography scan showed multiple small sclerotic foci bone islands, scattered throughout the thoracic and lumbar spine, ribs, pelvic bone, sacrum and bilateral proximal femur. No significant increase in the activity was detected in technetium-99m whole-body bone scintigraphy. The patient was diagnosed with characteristic radiological findings of osteopoikilosis and was followed up.
Microparticles (MPs) are membrane vesicles released during cell activation and apoptosis. MPs have different biological effects depending on the cell from they originate. Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung ...disease is characterized by massive neutrophil granulocyte influx in the airways, their activation and eventually apoptosis. We investigated on the presence and phenotype of MPs in the sputum, a rich non-invasive source of inflammation biomarkers, of acute and stable CF adult patients.
Spontaneous sputum, obtained from 21 CF patients (10 acute and 11 stable) and 7 patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), was liquefied with Sputasol. MPs were counted, visualized by electron microscopy, and identified in the supernatants of treated sputum by cytofluorimetry and immunolabelling for leukocyte (CD11a), granulocyte (CD66b), and monocyte-macrophage (CD11b) antigens.
Electron microscopy revealed that sputum MPs were in the 100-500 nm range and did not contain bacteria, confirming microbiological tests. CF sputa contained higher number of MPs in comparison with PCD sputa. Levels of CD11a+-and CD66b+-, but not CD11b+-MPs were significantly higher in CF than in PCD, without differences between acute and stable patients.
In summary, MPs are detectable in sputa obtained from CF patients and are predominantly of granulocyte origin. This novel isolation method for MPs from sputum opens a new opportunity for the study of lung pathology in CF.
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