Memory performances and personality traits in mothers of children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Background: Chronic diseases in pediatric age have been identified as stressful risk factors for parents. Studies on caregivers have documented the impact of chronic parenting stress on emotion and cognition. Aim: To investigate the differences between a group of mothers of children affected by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) for at least 4 years and a group of mothers of typically developing children (TDC) in relation to parental stress, self-esteem, locus of control, and memory performances. Methods: A group of 86 mothers (mean age 35.6±4.9, ranged between 32 and 41 years) of children with OSAS diagnosis, and a group of 52 mothers of TDC (mean age 35.9±4.2, ranged between 32 and 41 years) participated in the study. All participants were administered stress level, global self-esteem, internal/external locus of control scales, and memory assessment. Results: Mothers of OSAS children, compared to mothers of TDC, had a significantly higher level of stress, lower self-esteem, more external locus of control and poorer memory performance. Conclusions: The child respiratory disease, with its sudden and unpredictable features, appeared as a significant source of stress for the mother. Such stress condition may have an impact on mothers’ personality traits (self-esteem, locus of control) and on their memory performances. The data have suggested a need for psychological support programs for mothers to better manage stress associated with children’s respiratory disease

TPLATE recruitment reveals endocytic dynamics at sites of symbiotic interface assembly in arbuscular mycorrhizal interactions

Introduction: Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis between soil fungi and the majority of plants is based on a mutualistic exchange of organic and inorganic nutrients. This takes place inside root cortical cells that harbor an arbuscule: a highly branched intracellular fungal hypha enveloped by an extension of the host cell membrane—the perifungal membrane—which outlines a specialized symbiotic interface compartment. The perifungal membrane develops around each intracellular hypha as the symbiotic fungus proceeds across the root tissues; its biogenesis is the result of an extensive exocytic process and shows a few similarities with cell plate insertion which occurs at the end of somatic cytokinesis. Materials and Methods: We here analyzed the subcellular localization of a GFP fusion with TPLATE, a subunit of the endocytic TPLATE complex (TPC), a central actor in plant clathrin-mediated endocytosis with a role in cell plate anchoring with the parental plasma membrane. Results: Our observations demonstrate that Daucus carota and Medicago truncatula root organ cultures expressing a 35S::AtTPLATE-GFP construct accumulate strong fluorescent green signal at sites of symbiotic interface construction, along recently formed perifungal membranes and at sites of cell-to-cell hyphal passage between adjacent cortical cells, where the perifungal membrane fuses with the plasmalemma. Discussion: Our results strongly suggest that TPC-mediated endocytic processes are active during perifungal membrane interface biogenesis—alongside exocytic transport. This novel conclusion, which might be correlated to the accumulation of late endosomes in the vicinity of the developing interface, hints at the involvement of TPC-dependent membrane remodeling during the intracellular accommodation of AM fungi

Toxicity Effects of Functionalized Quantum Dots, Gold and Polystyrene Nanoparticles on Target Aquatic Biological Models: A Review

Nano-based products are widespread in several sectors, including textiles,medical-products, cosmetics, paints and plastics. Nanosafety and safe-by-design are driving nanoparticle (NP) production and applications through NP functionalization (@NPs). Indeed, @NPs frequently present biological effects that differ fromthe parentmaterial. This paper reviews the impact of quantumdots (QDs), gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and polystyrene-coredNPs (PSNPs), evidencing the role ofNP functionalization in toxicity definition. Key biological models were taken into consideration for NP evaluation: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, fresh- (F) and saltwater (S)microalgae (Raphidocelis subcapitata (F), Scenedesmus obliquus (F) and Chlorella spp. (F), and Phaeodactylum tricornutum (S)), Daphnia magna, and Xenopus laevis. QDs are quite widespread in technological devices, and they are known to induce genotoxicity and oxidative stress that can drastically change according to the coating employed. For example, AuNPs are frequently functionalized with antimicrobial peptides, which is shown to both increase their activity and decrease the relative environmental toxicity. P-NPs are frequently coated with NH2 for cationic and COOH for anionic surfaces, but when positively charged toxicity effects can be observed. Careful assessment of functionalized and non-functionalized NPs is compulsory to also understand their potential direct and indirect effects when the coating is removed or degraded

Pediatric Chronic Migraine Severity and Maternal Stress.

Primary headache is an increasing phenomenon in pediatric age, and very often, it causes disabling limitations in children’s daily activities, negatively affecting family well-being. There are conflicting data in the literature on the impact of children’s migraines on parental experienced stress. This study aimed to evaluate maternal stress in a sample of school-aged children with a migraine without aura (MwoA) and its correlation with migraine intensity and frequency. A total of 474 mothers aged between 31 and 55 participated in the study: 237 were mothers of children with MwoA, and 237 were mothers of typical developing children. All participants were administered the Parent Stress Index-Short Form (PSI-SF) for the assessment of parental stress; the Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMIDAS) was administered to children with MwoA to assess the presence of a related disability migraine. The results showed a significantly higher rate of stress in mothers of MwoA children (p < 0.001) in all the domains explored by the PSI-SF and a statistically significant correlation between the maternal stress total score and the intensity and frequency of migraine attacks (p < 0.0001). This study highlights the need for the holistic contribution of the family to be considered in the clinical management of pediatric migraines

Use and Abuse of Digital Devices: Influencing Factors of Child and Adolescent Neuropsychology

The impact of technology on human life is significant, touching various aspects such as communication, economy, education, medicine, industry, and even ecosystems [...]

Epilepsy and Sleep

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, characterized by spontaneous and recurring unprovoked seizures, affecting approximately at least 2% of the global population. Epileptogenesis involves complex and dynamic changes at the molecular, cellular, and network levels within the brain. A critical aspect of this process is the reorganization of neuronal networks, which plays an essential role in the development and perpetuation of epileptic activity. This reorganization includes alterations in synaptic connectivity, neurogenesis, and the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission. The relationship between sleep and epilepsy is complex and bidirectional. Sleep can influence seizure occurrence and interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs), and conversely, epilepsy and seizures can impact sleep architecture and quality. Insomnia in children with epilepsy is a complex and multifactorial condition involving intricate interactions between neurophysiological, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors. Understanding the pathophysiol- ogy of insomnia in this population requires a comprehensive approach considering the diverse mechanisms contributing to sleep disruption

When Care Becomes Abuse: A Forensic–Medical Perspective on Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP) is recognized as a form of child abuse in which a caregiver induces or fabricates illnesses in their child to gain medical and social attention. MSBP represents one of the most complex and insidious forms of child abuse, characterized by an ambiguous clinical presentation that poses significant challenges for physicians, psychiatrists, and social workers. However, this condition raises critical questions regarding its diagnosis, management, and forensic implications. Traditionally, MSBP has been framed as an individual pathological manifestation of the mother, overlooking the role of the healthcare and legal systems in its identification and management. In this article, we propose a critical reflection on MSBP, emphasizing how the issue is not merely a “parental failure” but rather a systemic failure of healthcare, social, and judicial institutions in recognizing, preventing, and effectively managing such cases

Barcellona e Madrid

La Catalogna mediterranea \ue8 una lunga striscia fertile di quasi 700 chilometri che, nella parte centrale, ha alle spalle la Castiglia (oggi Castilla - La Mancha) che era e per molti versi resta un deserto sia geologico sia demografico. Basta prendere un brevissimo volo da Valencia a Madrid in una giornata di sole (sono infinite) per cogliere il brusco cambiare dal verde vivo valenciano alla terra riarsa di Cuenca e Albacete. Ma la Pancatalogna va oltre lo stato spagnolo. Vi sono infatti il Rossiglione e la Cerdagna, territori pirenaici ceduti dalla Spagna alla Francia nel 1659. I pancatalanisti chiamano quella regione Catalogna del Nord. Inoltre vi \ue8 il principato di Andorra e la citt\ue0 sarda di Alghero, la storia linguistica della quale molto racconta della propensione mediterranea dei catalani. Ma quante Catalogne esistono? Quali sono i limiti della Catalogna in senso spaziale, geografico