Indigenous enzymes and leukocyte in sheep milk are markers of health status and physiology of the mammary gland

Plasmin, plasminogen and plasminogen activator in ewe bulk milk were not significantly affected by stage of lactation probably as a consequence of the good health of the ewe udders throughout lactation as indicated by SCC which never exceeded 600,000 cells/mL. Elastase content increased significantly during lactation whereas cathepsin showed the highest content in mid lactation. Changes in macrophages and neutrophyls levels in ewe bulk milk during lactation were also investigated. Macrophages minimally contributed to leukocyte cell count in milk and had the highest levels at the beginning of lactation. An opposite trend was recorded for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) that increased throughout lactation showing the highest value in late lactation. The increase of PMNL percentage and elastase content in milk, in spite of relatively low SCC, suggests that PMNL and elastase underwent a physiological increase associated to the remodelling of mammary gland in late lactation

How do elite female athletes cope with symptoms of their premenstrual period? A study on Rugby Union and Football players’ perceived physical ability and well-being

Women’s participation in sports has recently grown worldwide, including in sports typically associated with men (e.g., rugby and football). Similarly, literature on female athletes has increased, but how they cope with premenstrual (PM) physical and affective symptoms remains a poorly studied topic. Our study aimed to explain which coping strategies elite female rugby and football players use during their PM period to maintain perceived physical ability (PPA) and well-being. A mediation model analysis considering coping strategies (i.e., avoiding harm, awareness and acceptance, adjusting energy, self-care, and communicating) as independent variables, PPA and well-being as dependent variables, and PM physical and affective symptoms and PM cognitive resources as mediators was run on the data collected via an anonymous online survey. A dysfunctional impact of avoiding harm (indirect) and adjusting energy (both direct and indirect) and a functional indirect influence of awareness and acceptance, self-care, and communicating as coping strategies were found on PPA and well-being during the PM period. As predicted, PM physical and affective symptoms as mediators reduced PPA and well-being, while PM cognitive resources enhanced them. These results may inform practitioners on how to support elite female athletes’ PPA and well-being by knowing and reinforcing the most functional PM coping strategies for them

Velocity time integral for right upper pulmonary vein in VLBW infants with patent ductus arteriosus

OBJECTIVE: Early diagnosis of significant patent ductus arteriosus reduces the risk of clinical worsening in very low birth weight infants. Echocardiographic patent ductus arteriosus shunt flow pattern can be used to predict significant patent ductus arteriosus. Pulmonary venous flow, expressed as vein velocity time integral, is correlated to ductus arteriosus closure. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between significant reductions in vein velocity time integral and non-significant patent ductus arteriosus in the first week of life. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective, observational study was conducted to evaluate very low birth weight infants

Buoni stili di vita a scuola. Progetti territoriali da Pi\uf9 Sport @ Scuola a DEDIPAC

Questo volume illustra l\u2019esperienza del progetto della Regione Veneto \u201cPi\uf9 Sport @ Scuola\u201d (PS@S), raccontandone gli scopi, il background culturale, la struttura organizzativa, le azioni intraprese ed alcuni dei risultati ottenuti attraverso l\u2019osservatorio del programma europeo DEDIPAC. Il progetto PS@S, promosso a partire dall\u2019anno scolastico 2004/2005 e durato fino al 2014/2015, ha cercato di costruire un ponte tra scuola e territorio, per offrire ai giovani significative opportunit\ue0 di attivit\ue0 motoria e sportiva che contrastassero l\u2019epidemia di sedentariet\ue0 e di disaffezione allo sport della nostra societ\ue0

Non-Aβ-dependent factors associated with global cognitive and physical function in alzheimer's disease: a pilot multivariate analysis

Recent literature highlights the importance of identifying factors associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Actual validated biomarkers include neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid assessments; however, we investigated non-Aβ-dependent factors associated with dementia in 12 MCI and 30 AD patients. Patients were assessed for global cognitive function (Mini-Mental state examination-MMSE), physical function (Physical Performance Test-PPT), exercise capacity (6-min walking test-6MWT), maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max), brain volume, vascular function (flow-mediated dilation-FMD), inflammatory status (tumor necrosis factor-α ,TNF- α, interleukin-6, -10 and -15) and neurotrophin receptors (p75NTR and Tropomyosin receptor kinase A -TrkA). Baseline multifactorial information was submitted to two separate backward stepwise regression analyses to identify the variables associated with cognitive and physical decline in demented patients. A multivariate regression was then applied to verify the stepwise regression. The results indicated that the combination of 6MWT and VO₂max was associated with both global cognitive and physical function (MMSE = 11.384 + (0.00599 × 6MWT) - (0.235 × VO₂max)); (PPT = 1.848 + (0.0264 × 6MWT) + (19.693 × VO₂max)). These results may offer important information that might help to identify specific targets for therapeutic strategies (NIH Clinical trial identification number NCT03034746)

631 rankl knock out mesenchymal stromal cells have an unexpected osteogenic differentiation defect which is improved by a rankl expressing lentiviral vector

Osteoclast-poor RANKL-dependent Autosomal Recessive Osteopetrosis (ARO) is a rare bone disease characterized by an increase in bone density due to the failure of bone resorption by impaired osteoclast formation. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is not an effective therapy for this ARO form, since in bone RANKL is produced mainly by cells of mesenchymal origin. Therefore Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) transplantation together with a gene-therapy strategy to correct RANKL defect in MSC could represent a possible effective therapy. Of note, whether also MSC, besides the osteoclasts, are affected by RANKL deficiency is unknown. To verify this, we established and characterized bone marrow derived MSC (BM-MSC) lines from the Rankl−/− (KO) mouse model, which recapitulates the human disease, and from wild type (WT) mice. No differences were found between KO and WT MSC in terms of morphology, immunophenotype and proliferation capacity. However, KO MSC displayed a reduced clonogenic potential with a decrease in stemness genes expression. KO MSC were able to normally differentiate towards the adipogenic and chondrogenic lineages, while showed a significantly impaired osteogenic differentiation capacity compared to WT MSC, as demonstrated by reduced Alizarin Red staining (ARS) and expression of osteogenic genes. To confirm that this alteration was due to the lack of functional RANKL, we developed a third generation lentiviral vector expressing human soluble RANKL (hsRL) for the genetic correction of KO MSC. We first investigated lentiviral transduction in 293T cells to optimize transduction efficiency at different multiplicity of infection (MOI) ranging from 1 to 100. hsRL production increased proportionally to the MOI and was stable over time. However, the higher the MOI the higher the cytotoxicity observed. Based on these data, we performed a lentiviral hsRL transduction in KO MSC at 20 and 50 MOI, to define the optimal transduction conditions. After transduction 99.5% of MSC were GFP+. While in Rankl−/− control cells the cytokine was not detected, in corrected cells hsRL production and secretion was measurable and comparable to sRL levels in WT mouse. KO MSC stably expressing hsRL showed an improved osteogenic differentiation capacity compared to untransduced KO MSC, as demonstrated by increased ARS and expression of osteogenic genes. Moreover, the expression of RANK receptor in both MSC suggested an autocrine role of sRL as possible mechanism. Our data suggest that restoration of RANKL production in lentiviral-transduced KO MSC might not only allow osteoclast differentiation in Rankl−/− mice upon transplantation, but also improve the osteogenic differentiation defect of KO MSC

Survival, efficacy and safety of tralokinumab after 32 and 52 weeks of treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults: A multicentre real-world study

, efficacy and safety of tralokinumab after 32 and 52weeks of treatment for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults: A multicentre real-world stud

"If you can't control the wind, adjust your sail": tips for post-pandemic benefit finding from young adults living with multiple sclerosis. A qualitative study

The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted the wellbeing of people worldwide, potentially increasing maladaptive psychological responses of vulnerable populations. Although young adults with multiple sclerosis (yawMS) might be at greater risk of developing psychological distress linked to the pandemic, they might also be able to adapt to stress and find meaning in adverse life events. The aim of the present study was to explore benefit finding in response to the pandemic in a sample of yawMS. As part of a larger project, data were collected using a cross-sectional, web-based survey. Benefit finding was analysed using a qualitative thematic approach; descriptive and inferential statistics were performed to describe the sample and compare sub-groups. Out of 247 respondents with mostly relapsing-remitting MS, 199 (31.9 \ub1 6.97 years) reported at least one benefit. Qualitative analysis showed that during the pandemic yawMS found benefits related to three themes: personal growth, relational growth, and existential growth. No differences in benefit finding were found between age sub-groups (18-30 vs. 31-45). Participants reported a wide range of benefits, some of which seem to be specific to MS or the pandemic. Results have been transformed into tips to be introduced in clinical practice to promote resilience in yawMS through meaning making

Enhancing fitness, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy in primary school children: a DEDIPAC naturalistic study

Background Physical activity (PA) (e.g., sport, physical education) promotes the psychophysical development of children, enhances health and wellbeing, offers opportunities for enjoyable experiences, and increases self-efficacy. Methods In the DEDIPAC framework, we conducted a naturalistic, cross-sectional study to evaluate the effects of a school-based, long-term intervention on fitness (i.e., cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, speed, and finger dexterity), body mass index (BMI), PA levels, sedentary levels, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy in primary school children. A group of Italian children (41 boys and 39 girls, aged 10–11 years) involved in the project—named “Più Sport @ Scuola” (PS@S)—was compared with a group of children (41 boys and 39 girls) of the same age not involved in the project. Results After a four-year long attendance to the PS@S project, participants reported higher scores of cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy compared to children not involved in the project. Correlation analysis results showed that muscular strength scores correlated positively with BMI, PA levels, and enjoyment. Flexibility of the upper body was positively related to physical self-efficacy, and negatively related to speed and BMI. Conclusions Findings suggest that the PS@S project enhanced fitness level, enjoyment, and physical self-efficacy of children

Brain structural and functional alterations in multiple sclerosis-related fatigue: a systematic review

Fatigue is one of the most disabling symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS); it influences patients' quality of life. The etiology of fatigue is complex, and its pathogenesis is still unclear and debated. The objective of this review was to describe potential brain structural and functional dysfunctions underlying fatigue symptoms in patients with MS. To reach this purpose, a systematic review was conducted of published studies comparing functional brain activation and structural brain in MS patients with and without fatigue. Electronic databases were searched until 24 February 2021. The structural and functional outcomes were extracted from eligible studies and tabulated. Fifty studies were included: 32 reported structural brain differences between patients with and without fatigue; 14 studies described functional alterations in patients with fatigue compared to patients without it; and four studies showed structural and functional brain alterations in patients. The results revealed structural and functional abnormalities that could correlate to the symptom of fatigue in patients with MS. Several studies reported the differences between patients with fatigue and patients without fatigue in terms of conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcomes and brain atrophy, specifically in the thalamus. Functional studies showed abnormal activation in the thalamus and in some regions of the sensorimotor network in patients with fatigue compared to patients without it. Patients with fatigue present more structural and functional alterations compared to patients without fatigue. Specifically, abnormal activation and atrophy of the thalamus and some regions of the sensorimotor network seem linked to fatigue