Regular physical exercise prevents nitrosative stress caused by ageing in elderly athletes

Ageing is associated with an increased susceptibility to free radical-induced tissue damage. One of the most important classes of free radicals generated in living systems is represented by reactive nitrogen species (RNS), responsible for the so-called nitrosative stress. It has been shown that physical activity is able to induce up-regulation of antioxidant systems contributing to prevent oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to assess whether regular physical activity is able to counteract age-induced nitrosative stress. Thirty male endurance athletes (average age 70.8 ± 6.1 years, VO2max 59.07 ± 8.5 ml/kg/min) and thirty age-sex-matched sedentary controls ( average age 71.5 ± 4.3 years, VO2max 25.6 ± 8.2 ml/kg/min) were studied. Plasma free radicals antioxidant capacity against peroxynitrite, one of the most important RNS, was evaluated as Total Oxyradical Scavenging Capacity (TOSC) units. Results. Plasma TOSC values against peroxynitrite were higher in athletes than in sedentary controls (22.94 ± 1.85 vs 15.41 ± 1.24 units/ml, p < 0.001). In the athletes group, TOSC values were related to VO2max (r = 0.44, p < 0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that regular physical activity is associated with increased antioxidant defences in elderly athletes. In athletes, a direct correlation between the scavenger scavenger of the plasma and the VO2max (r = 0.44, p <0.05) was also observed. These results confirm that regular physical activity practised for many years can determine the best response to nitrosative stress induced by peroxynitrite

How skill expertise shapes the brain functional architecture: an fMRI study of visuo-spatial and motor processing in professional racing-car and naïve drivers

The present study was designed to investigate the brain functional architecture that subserves visuo-spatial and motor processing in highly skilled individuals. By using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we measured brain activity while eleven Formula racing-car drivers and eleven ‘naïve’ volunteers performed a motor reaction and a visuo-spatial task. Tasks were set at a relatively low level of difficulty such to ensure a similar performance in the two groups and thus avoid any potential confounding effects on brain activity due to discrepancies in task execution. The brain functional organization was analyzed in terms of regional brain response, inter-regional interactions and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) signal variability. While performance levels were equal in the two groups, as compared to naïve drivers, professional drivers showed a smaller volume recruitment of task-related regions, stronger connections among task-related areas, and an increased information integration as reflected by a higher signal temporal variability. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that, as compared to naïve subjects, the brain functional architecture sustaining visuo-motor processing in professional racing-car drivers, trained to perform at the highest levels under extremely demanding conditions, undergoes both ‘quantitative’ and ‘qualitative’ modifications that are evident even when the brain is engaged in relatively simple, non-demanding tasks. These results provide novel evidence in favor of an increased ‘neural efficiency’ in the brain of highly skilled individuals

It’s not all in your car: functional and structural correlates of exceptional driving skills in professional racers

Driving is a complex behavior that requires the integration of multiple cognitive functions. While many studies have investigated brain activity related to driving simulation under distinct conditions, little is known about the brain morphological and functional architecture in professional competitive driving, which requires exceptional motor and navigational skills. Here, 11 professional racing-car drivers and 11 “naïve” volunteers underwent both structural and functional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Subjects were presented with short movies depicting a Formula One car racing in four different official circuits. Brain activity was assessed in terms of regional response, using an Inter-Subject Correlation (ISC) approach, and regional interactions by mean of functional connectivity. In addition, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to identify specific structural differences between the two groups and potential interactions with functional differences detected by the ISC analysis. Relative to non-experienced drivers, professional drivers showed a more consistent recruitment of motor control and spatial navigation devoted areas, including premotor/motor cortex, striatum, anterior, and posterior cingulate cortex and retrosplenial cortex, precuneus, middle temporal cortex, and parahippocampus. Moreover, some of these brain regions, including the retrosplenial cortex, also had an increased gray matter density in professional car drivers. Furthermore, the retrosplenial cortex, which has been previously associated with the storage of observer-independent spatial maps, revealed a specific correlation with the individual driver's success in official competitions. These findings indicate that the brain functional and structural organization in highly trained racing-car drivers differs from that of subjects with an ordinary driving experience, suggesting that specific anatomo-functional changes may subtend the attainment of exceptional driving performance

It's not all in your car: functional and structural correlates of exceptional driving skills in professional racers.

Driving is a complex behavior that requires the integration of multiple cognitive functions. While many studies have investigated brain activity related to driving simulation under distinct conditions, little is known about the brain morphological and functional architecture in professional competitive driving, which requires exceptional motor and navigational skills. Here, 11 professional racing-car drivers and 11 "naïve" volunteers underwent both structural and functional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Subjects were presented with short movies depicting a Formula One car racing in four different official circuits. Brain activity was assessed in terms of regional response, using an Inter-Subject Correlation (ISC) approach, and regional interactions by mean of functional connectivity. In addition, voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was used to identify specific structural differences between the two groups and potential interactions with functional differences detected by the ISC analysis. Relative to non-experienced drivers, professional drivers showed a more consistent recruitment of motor control and spatial navigation devoted areas, including premotor/motor cortex, striatum, anterior, and posterior cingulate cortex and retrosplenial cortex, precuneus, middle temporal cortex, and parahippocampus. Moreover, some of these brain regions, including the retrosplenial cortex, also had an increased gray matter density in professional car drivers. Furthermore, the retrosplenial cortex, which has been previously associated with the storage of observer-independent spatial maps, revealed a specific correlation with the individual driver's success in official competitions. These findings indicate that the brain functional and structural organization in highly trained racing-car drivers differs from that of subjects with an ordinary driving experience, suggesting that specific anatomo-functional changes may subtend the attainment of exceptional driving performance

α-Synuclein Aggregates with β-Amyloid or Tau in Human Red Blood Cells: Correlation with Antioxidant Capability and Physical Exercise in Human Healthy Subjects

Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are characterized by abnormal accumulation/misfolding of specific proteins, primarily α-synuclein (α-syn), β-amyloid1–42 (Aβ), and tau, in both brain and peripheral tissue. In addition to homo-oligomers, the role of α-syn interactions with Aβ or tau has gradually emerged. The altered protein accumulation has been related to both oxidative stress and physical activity; nevertheless, no correlation among the presence of peripheral α-syn hetero-aggregates, antioxidant capacity, and physical exercise has been discovered as of yet. Herein, the content of α-syn, Aβ, tau, and of their heterocomplexes was determined in red blood cells (RBCs) of healthy subjects (sedentary and athletes). Such parameters were related to the extent of the antioxidant capability (AOC), a key marker of oxidative stress in aging-related pathologies, and to physical exercise, which is known to play an important preventive role in NDs and to modulate oxidative stress. Tau content and plasma AOC toward hydroxyl radicals were both reduced in older or sedentary subjects; in contrast, α-syn and Aβ accumulated in elderly subjects and showed an inverse correlation with both hydroxyl AOC and the level of physical activity. For the first time, α-syn heterocomplexes with Aβ or tau were quantified and demonstrated to be inversely related to hydroxyl AOC. Furthermore, α-syn/Aβ aggregates were significantly reduced in athletes and inversely correlated with physical activity level, independent of age. The positive correlation between antioxidant capability/physical activity and reduced protein accumulation was confirmed by these data and suggested that peripheral α-syn heterocomplexes may represent new indicators of ND-related protein misfolding

Photodisintegration of 4^4He into p+t

The two-body photodisintegration of $^4$He into a proton and a triton has been studied using the CEBAF Large-Acceptance Spectrometer (CLAS) at Jefferson Laboratory. Real photons produced with the Hall-B bremsstrahlung-tagging system in the energy range from 0.35 to 1.55 GeV were incident on a liquid $^4$He target. This is the first measurement of the photodisintegration of $^4$He above 0.4 GeV. The differential cross sections for the $\gamma$$^4$He$\to pt$ reaction have been measured as a function of photon-beam energy and proton-scattering angle, and are compared with the latest model calculations by J.-M. Laget. At 0.6-1.2 GeV, our data are in good agreement only with the calculations that include three-body mechanisms, thus confirming their importance. These results reinforce the conclusion of our previous study of the three-body breakup of $^3$He that demonstrated the great importance of three-body mechanisms in the energy region 0.5-0.8 GeV .Comment: 13 pages submitted in one tgz file containing 2 tex file and 22 postscrip figure

Exclusive Photoproduction of the Cascade (Xi) Hyperons

We report on the first measurement of exclusive Xi-(1321) hyperon photoproduction in gamma p --> K+ K+ Xi- for 3.2 < E(gamma) < 3.9 GeV. The final state is identified by the missing mass in p(gamma,K+ K+)X measured with the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory. We have detected a significant number of the ground-state Xi-(1321)1/2+, and have estimated the total cross section for its production. We have also observed the first excited state Xi-(1530)3/2+. Photoproduction provides a copious source of Xi's. We discuss the possibilities of a search for the recently proposed Xi5-- and Xi5+ pentaquarks.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.

Civiltà della Campania. Anno II, n. 2 (febbraio-marzo 1975)

A. II, n. 2 (febbraio-marzo 1975): M. Parrilli, All’Unesco Ravello e Castellabate, P. 3 ; L’anno santo in Campania, P. 7; B. Gatta, Videre Petrum, P. 8; B. Lucrezi, Gli itinerari sacri, P. 12 ; Il Duomo di Salerno: novecento anni di fede e storia », P. 24 ; R. Causa, Santuari nel Nocerino, P. 26 ; G. Giordano, Pacem in maribus, P. 32 ; R. Virtuoso, L’ambiente e il ruolo del turismo, P. 40 ; S. Pavia, I centri storici, P. 32 ; R. Di Stefano, Villa Campolieto, P. 48 ; R. De Simone, Feste popolari, P. 56 ; E. Corsi, II riassetto di Ischia, P. 60 ; C. Nazzaro, Rosmarino col pomodoro, P. 65 ; G. Doria, Il napoletano che cammina, P. 66 ; M. Stefanile, Raffaele Viviani, P. 68 ; A. Fratta, Amedeo Maiuri: una vita per l’archeologia, P. 80 ; E. Fiore, Gli Incontri del Cinema, P. 86 ; G. Blasi, Petrosino l’antipadrino, P. 90 ; I. Santoro, Il mistero di Velia di, P. 93 ; R. Senatore, La rinascita del Borgo Scacciaventi di, P. 97 ; P. Andria, Salerno: S. Pietro a Corte, P. 100 ; U. Abundo, Amalfi sempre di, P. 102 ; V. Gramignazzi Serrone, S. Agata dei Goti, P. 106 ; Attività congressuali in Campania, P. 108 ; Notiziario, P. 10