A post COVID lockdown pilot study on the effect of physical activity intensity on cognitive functions of children aged 6-8 years old

Physical activity practice is very important for individual\u2019s wealth status. Moreover, it is possible to consider physical activity one of the teachers\u2019 tool to improve the academic achievement and the cognitive functions in children. However, according to some evidences it seems that the physical activity at high intensity increase the cognitive functions compared to the low intensity physical activity. In this project, we investigate how the intensity of physical activity affects a series of cognitive functions such as Attention and Working Memory. Eleven participants of a summer camp participated at the study. Three experimental weeks with different physical intensities were involved (Standard Intensity, High intensity and Low Intensity). Participants performed the cognitive tasks at the beginning and at the end of each experimental week. Our results indicated an effect of the physical activity intensity in some kind of attention. Working Memory instead, was not affected. Thus, our results suggested that intensity could be an important factor to increase some cognitive functions, but not all of them

A post COVID lockdown pilot study on the effect of physical activity intensity on cognitive functions of children aged 6-8 years old

Physical activity practice is very important for individual’s wealth status. Moreover, it is possible to consider physical activity one of the teachers’ tool to improve the academic achievement and the cognitive functions in children. However, according to some evidences it seems that the physical activity at high intensity increase the cognitive functions compared to the low intensity physical activity. In this project, we investigate how the intensity of physical activity affects a series of cognitive functions such as Attention and Working Memory. Eleven participants of a summer camp participated at the study. Three experimental weeks with different physical intensities were involved (Standard Intensity, High intensity and Low Intensity). Participants performed the cognitive tasks at the beginning and at the end of each experimental week. Our results indicated an effect of the physical activity intensity in some kind of attention. Working Memory instead, was not affected. Thus, our results suggested that intensity could be an important factor to increase some cognitive functions, but not all of them

Oncogenic osteomalacia: report of two cases

La osteomalacia oncogénica es una enfermedad rara. Existen descriptos alrededor de 337 casos. Es ocasionada por un tumor productor del factor de crecimiento fibroblástico 23 (FGF-23), hormona que disminuye la reabsorción tubular de fosfatos y altera la hidroxilación renal de la vitamina D, con hipofosfatemia, hiperfosfaturia y niveles bajos de calcitriol. Se presentan dos pacientes de 44 y 70 años, que consultaron por dolores óseos generalizados de aproximadamente un año de evolución en los que se hallaron alteraciones bioquímicas compatibles con osteomalacia hipofosfatémica. En el primer caso se realizó la resección de una tumoración en tejido celular subcutáneo del pie derecho, un año después del diagnóstico clínico. Luego de la exéresis, se disminuyó el aporte de fosfatos que recibía el paciente, pero reaparecieron los dolores al intentar suspenderlos. Ocho años más tarde, hubo recidiva local de la tumoración por lo que se efectuó resección completa. Después de la misma, se logró suspender el aporte de fosfatos. En el segundo caso, el paciente se estudió con tomografía por emisión de positrones con 18F-fluorodesoxiglucosa, hallando formación nodular hipermetabólica en partes blandas de antepie derecho, de 2.26 cm de diámetro. Luego de su escisión se pudo suspender el aporte de fosfatos. Ambos pacientes se encuentran asintomáticos con indicadores de metabolismo fosfocálcico normales. El diagnóstico anatomopatológico en ambos fue un tumor mesenquimático fosfatúrico, variante mixta del tejido conectivo, la entidad más frecuentemente asociada a la osteomalacia oncogénica.Oncogenic osteomalacia is a rare disease. It is caused by a tumor that produces fibroblast growth factor 23, a hormone that decreases the tubular phosphate reabsorption and impairs renal hydroxylation of vitamin D. This leads to hyperphosphaturia with hypophosphatemia and low calcitriol levels. About 337 cases have been reported and we studied two cases; 44 and 70 year-old men who sought medical attention complaining of suffering diffuse bone pain over a period of approximately one year. In both cases, a laboratory test showed biochemical alterations compatible with a hypophosphatemic osteomalacia. In the first case, a soft tissue tumor of the right foot was removed, one year after the diagnosis. The patient was allowed to diminish the phosphate intake, but symptoms reappeared at this time. Eight years later, a local recurrence of the tumor was noted. A complete excision was now performed. The patient was able to finally interrupt the phosphate intake. In the second case, an F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, with computed tomography revealed a 2.26 cm diameter hypermetabolic nodule in the soft tissue of the right forefoot. After its removal, the patient discontinued the phosphate intake. Both patients are asymptomatic and show a regular phosphocalcic laboratory evaluation. The histopathological diagnosis was, in both cases, a phosphaturic mesenchymal tumor, a mixed connective tissue variant. This is the prototypical variant of these tumors.Fil: Jercovich, Fernando. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Moncet, Daniel. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Babini, Silvia. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Zoppi, Jorge. Fundación Medica de Mar del Plata. Hospital Privado de Comunidad; ArgentinaFil: Graciolli, Fabiana. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Oliveri, Maria Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentin

Toll like receptor signaling in "inflammaging": microRNA as new players.

none7nopubblicazione scientificaopenOlivieri F; Rippo MR; Prattichizzo F; Babini L; Graciotti L; Recchioni R; Procopio ADOlivieri, Fabiola; Rippo, Maria Rita; Prattichizzo, Francesco; Babini, Lucia; Graciotti, Laura; Recchioni, R; Procopio, Antonio Domenic

Hormone replacement therapy enhances IGF-1 signaling in skeletal muscle by diminishing miR-182 and miR-223 expressions : a study on postmenopausal monozygotic twin pairs

MiRNAs are fine-tuning modifiers of skeletal muscle regulation, but knowledge of their hormonal control is lacking. We used a co-twin case-control study design, that is, monozygotic postmenopausal twin pairs discordant for estrogen-based hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to explore estrogen-dependent skeletal muscle regulation via miRNAs. MiRNA profiles were determined from vastus lateralis muscle of nine healthy 54-62-years-old monozygotic female twin pairs discordant for HRT (median 7 years). MCF-7 cells, human myoblast cultures and mouse muscle experiments were used to confirm estrogen's causal role on the expression of specific miRNAs, their target mRNAs and proteins and finally the activation of related signaling pathway. Of the 230 miRNAs expressed at detectable levels in muscle samples, qPCR confirmed significantly lower miR-182, miR-223 and miR-142-3p expressions in HRT using than in their nonusing co-twins. Insulin/IGF-1 signaling emerged one common pathway targeted by these miRNAs. IGF-1R and FOXO3A mRNA and protein were more abundantly expressed in muscle samples of HRT users than nonusers. In vitro assays confirmed effective targeting of miR-182 and miR-223 on IGF-1R and FOXO3A mRNA as well as a dose-dependent miR-182 and miR-223 down-regulations concomitantly with up-regulation of FOXO3A and IGF-1R expression. Novel finding is the postmenopausal HRT-reduced miRs-182, miR-223 and miR-142-3p expression in female skeletal muscle. The observed miRNA-mediated enhancement of the target genes' IGF-1R and FOXO3A expression as well as the activation of insulin/IGF-1 pathway signaling via phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR is an important mechanism for positive estrogen impact on skeletal muscle of postmenopausal women.Peer reviewe

Targeted quantitative metabolic profiling of brain-derived cell cultures by semi-automated MEPS and LC-MS/MS

The accurate characterisation of metabolic profiles is an important prerequisite to determine the rate and the efficiency of the metabolic pathways taking place in the cells. Changes in the balance of metabolites involved in vital processes such as glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), as well as in the biochemical pathways related to amino acids, lipids, nucleotides, and their precursors reflect the physiological condition of the cells and may contribute to the development of various human diseases. The feasible and reliable measurement of a wide array of metabolites and biomarkers possesses great potential to elucidate physiological and pathological mechanisms, aid preclinical drug development and highlight potential therapeutic targets. An effective, straightforward, sensitive, and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach was developed for the simultaneous quali-quantitative analysis of 41 compounds in both cell pellet and cell growth medium obtained from brain-derived cell cultures. Sample pretreatment miniaturisation was achieved thanks to the development and optimisation of an original extraction/purification approach based on digitally programmed microextraction by packed sorbent (eVol®-MEPS). MEPS allows satisfactory and reproducible clean-up and preconcentration of both low-volume homogenate cell pellet lysate and cell growth medium with advantages including, but not limited to, minimal sample handling and method sustainability in terms of sample, solvents, and energy consumption. The MEPS-LC-MS/MS method showed good sensitivity, selectivity, linearity, and precision. As a proof of concept, the developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of both cell pellet and cell growth medium obtained from a line of mouse immortalised oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs; Oli-neu cell line), leading to the unambiguous determination of all the considered target analytes. This method is thus expected to be suitable for targeted, quantitative metabolic profiling in most brain cell models, thus allowing accurate investigations on the biochemical pathways that can be altered in central nervous system (CNS) neuropathologies, including e.g., mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis, or use of specific nutrients for growth and proliferation, or lipid, amino acid and nucleotide metabolism

Avaliação de fadiga e qualidade de vida em portadores de esclerose múltipla / Evaluation of quality and quality of life in multiple sclerosis patients

Introdução: A Esclerose Múltipla (EM) é uma doença crônica, inflamatória, degenerativa e desmielinizante do Sistema Nervoso Central, que resulta em lentificação da velocidade de transmissão nervosa. Clinicamente, é caracterizada pela tríade de Charcot: nistagmo, tremor intencional e fala escandida, cursando também com fadiga, déficit sensorial, fraqueza muscular e incoordenação motora, interferindo na qualidade de vida do indivíduo. Objetivos: Avaliar a presença de fadiga e a percepção da qualidade de vida em portadores de EM, comparar a presença de fadiga em indivíduos com e sem EM, e correlacionar as variáveis fadiga e qualidade de vida em portadores de EM. Método: Estudo observacional, transversal, prospectivo e comparativo, cuja amostra foi composta por 40 indivíduos, na faixa etária entre 25 e 45 anos, sendo 20 com diagnóstico de EM, e 20 voluntários saudáveis, para fins comparativos. A pesquisa foi conduzida na Associação Pernambucana de Esclerose Múltipla, localizada em Recife-PE, após aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa de Seres Humanos do Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, sob o Parecer de nº 561.284. Foram coletados dados sócio-demográficos e clínicos e em seguida, aplicada a Escala Modificada de Impacto da Fadiga Brasileira (MFIS-BR) com todos os participantes da pesquisa. A Escala de Determinação Funcional da Qualidade de Vida na Esclerose Múltipla (DEFU) foi aplicada com os portadores de EM. O teste t de Student foi utilizado para analisar as diferenças entre os escores da MFIS-BR intergrupos. O Índice de Correlação de Sperman foi utilizado para analisar a correlação entre as variáveis. Para nível de significância estatística, foi considerado um p ? 0,05. Os dados foram analisados no programa BioEstat 5.0. Resultados: Observou-se escore médio total da MFIS-BR menor no grupo de portadores de EM (41,40 ± 10,04) quando comparado ao grupo de indivíduos saudáveis (67,85 ± 9,38), com diferença de média de 26,45 [IC95%: 20,23 - 32,67], e diferença estatística significativa (p=0,0001). Foi encontrado um risco 9,00 [IC95%: 1,63 - 49,44] vezes maior de presença de fadiga em indivíduos com EM quando comparados àqueles sem a patologia. Houve correlação significativa entre a presença de fadiga e a redução na percepção da qualidade de vida em portadores de EM (p=0,0001; R=0,978). Conclusão: A esclerose múltipla aumenta o risco de presença de fadiga e está associada à redução da percepção da qualidade de vida nesta população, fatores que devem ser levados em consideração pelo profissional Fisioterapeuta no planejamento da intervenção terapêutica

Datos abiertos en un mundo de grandes datos. Un acuerdo internacional ICSU-IAP-ISSC-TWAS

The four organizations representing international science (International Council for Science - ICSU, The InterAcademy Partnership – IAP, The World Academy of Sciences – TWAS y el International Social Science Council – ISSC) present this Agreement proposing fundamental principles that must be adopted by scientists, research institutions, academic publishers, research funding agencies, science associations and digital repositories, to respond to the opportunities and challenges of the data revolution as today´s predominant issue for global science policy. This Accord adds the distinctive voice of the scientific community to those of governments and inter-governmental bodies that have made the case for open data as a fundamental pre-requisite in maintaining the rigour of scientific inquiry and maximising public benefit from the data revolution in both developed and developing countries