Sialic acids expression in human skeletal muscle tissue during aging

Sarcopenia is the physiological age related decline in muscle mass and strength. It has been associated with disability and morbidity in the elderly population. The aetiology of sarcopenia involves still unclear multiple factors, but the adverse effects are well documented. Among the numerous involved factors, sialic acids could be included. Some studies performed on animal models demonstrated an important role of sialic acids in skeletal muscle during embryonic and post-natal development and aging. In human only investigations regarding the role of sialic acid in a particular pathology, hereditary inclusion body myopathy, leading muscular weakness and atrophy, have been carried out. The aim of this study was to widely characterize monomeric and polymeric sialic acids and evaluate their expression and role in human skeletal muscle tissue in different ages of adult life. Specimens of inferior limb muscles from men aged 18-25 years (group 1) and from men aged 72-93 (group 2) were obtained at autopsy. Some sample sections were stained with haematoxylin-eosin for morphological analysis. The study of sialic acids expression was carried out using lectin histochemistry (MAA, SNA and PNA) in addition to the use of enzymatic and chemical treatments to characterize the different glycosidic linkages of the monomeric sialic acids to saccharidic chain and to obtain information on structure of the monomeric and polymeric sialic acids. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to evaluate the expression of polysialic acid (anti-PolySia). The morphological remarks showed decrease in thickness and in number of the muscular fibres in group 2 compared to group 1. Lectin histochemistry and immunohistochemistry evidenced that in both the study groups various types of sialic acid were present in the sarcolemma and the surrounding connective of the muscular fibres, but in different amount. Monomeric sialic acids, linked α-2,3 (MAA) and α-2,6 (SNA) to galactose and/or galactosamine, decreased in group 2 with respect to group 1, whereas polysialic acid showed an increase (PNA with treatments and anti-PolySia). Sialic acid acetylation was present in group 1, whereas was lacking in group 2 (PNA with treatments). These findings demonstrated changes in expression of sialic acids in skeletal muscle fibres correlated to morphological modifications in different ages. This can contribute to highlight the role of these carbohydrates in normal structure and functionality of this tissue and in its age-related changes

Morphological evidence of telocytes in human synovium

Abstract A new cell type named telocyte (i.e. cell with distinctive prolongations called telopodes) has recently been identified in the stroma of various organs in humans. However, no study has yet reported the existence of telocytes in the synovial membrane of diarthrodial joints. This work was therefore undertaken to search for telocytes in the normal human synovium using transmission electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Ultrastructural analyses demonstrated the presence of numerous spindle-shaped telocytes in the whole synovial sublining layer. Synovial telocytes exhibited very long and thin moniliform telopodes and were particularly concentrated at the boundary between the lining and sublining layers and around blood vessels. Light microscopy confirmed the presence of CD34-positive telocytes in the aforementioned locations. Moreover, synovial telocytes coexpressed CD34 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor α. Double immunostaining further allowed to unequivocally differentiate synovial telocytes (CD34-positive/CD31-negative) from vascular endothelial cells (CD34-positive/CD31-positive). The in vitro examination of fibroblast-like synoviocyte primary cultures revealed the coexistence of different cell types, including CD34-positive telocytes projecting typical moniliform telopodes. In conclusion, our work provides the first evidence that telocytes do exist in the human synovium and lays the groundwork for future studies on synovial telocytes in a variety of degenerative and destructive joint diseases

Telocytes constitute a widespread interstitial meshwork in the lamina propria and underlying striated muscle of human tongue

Abstract Telocytes have recently emerged as unique interstitial cells defined by their extremely long, thin and moniliform prolongations termed telopodes. Despite growing evidence that these cells consistently reside in the stromal compartment of various organs from human beings, studies dealing with telocytes in structures of the oral cavity are scarce. Hence, the present morphologic study was undertaken to explore for the first time the presence and specific localization of telocytes within tissues of the normal human tongue, a complex muscular organ whose main functions include taste, speech, and food manipulation in the oral cavity. Telocytes were initially identified by CD34 immunostaining and confirmed by CD34/PDGFRα double immunofluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. CD34+/PDGFRα+ telocytes were organized in interstitial meshworks either in the tongue lamina propria or in the underlying striated muscle. Lingual telocytes were immunonegative for CD31, c-kit and α-SMA. Telopodes were finely distributed throughout the stromal space and concentrated beneath the lingual epithelium and around CD31+ vessels, skeletal muscle bundles/fibers, and intramuscular nerves and ganglia. They also enveloped salivary gland units outside the α-SMA+ myoepithelial cells and delimited lymphoid aggregates. These findings establish telocytes as a previously overlooked interstitial cell population worth investigating further in the setting of human tongue pathophysiology

Psychological well-being and quality of life in visually impaired baseball players: An Italian national survey

Italian baseball played by visually impaired and blind athletes is an adapted team sport which maintains the peculiar fast-moving features of this popular sport. It is also a mixed team game played together with sighted subjects. Here, we performed a national survey aimed at assessing the differences in psychological well-being (PWB) and quality of life (QoL) between visually impaired baseball players from Italian teams and non-players using a structured online questionnaire. Forty-three visually impaired baseball players and thirty-four visually impaired sedentary individuals completed a structured self-report survey including the validated 18-item Italian versions of the PWB (PWB-18) scale and the Short Form-12 (SF-12) questionnaire to assess the QoL. PWB-18 and SF-12 reference data from the Italian normally sighted population were also employed for comparison with the visually impaired baseball player group. Visually impaired baseball players reported better scores in all dimensions of the PWB-18 scale and significant higher scores in both physical and mental QoL evaluated by SF-12 than the non-player group. In addition, PWB-18 scale findings revealed significant differences between visually impaired baseball players and the reference normally sighted population consisting in lower scores for autonomy, environmental mastery, positive relations with others and purpose in life dimensions. Conversely, the mean scores for PWB-18 personal growth and self-acceptance dimensions were not significantly different between the two groups. The SF-12 questionnaire results demonstrated a significantly higher physical score in visually impaired players compared with the reference population. Instead, the SF-12 mental score of visually impaired athletes tended to be lower, though this difference was not statistically significant. Collectively, our findings suggest that the practice of Italian baseball may have a positive impact on PWB and QoL of visually impaired individuals

Dance to enhance the cognitive and physical abilities in elderly individuals

for measures preserving the independence and maintaining the quality of life in elderly individuals. Numerous researches have shown that regular and structured physical activity is associated with successful aging (Vogel et al., 2009). Physical activity appropriated for older adults should include a multicomponent exercise program of moderate aerobic activities, strength training, balance and flexibility exercises. In particular, the physical activity should be personalized and adapted to the specific needs of each subject. Structured specific program of Adapted Physical Activity can prevent and/or reduce the functional decline correlated with aging. Among the various physical activities, recent studies suggest that dancing is a type of physical activity that may allow elderly adults to improve their physical function, health and well-being, and to maintain cognitive function (Hui et al., 2009; Kattenstroth et al., 2010). We investigated the potential cognitive and physical benefits deriving from practice of Dance respect to Adapted Physical Activity participation and not practice of physical activity in leisure time, in 150 healthy elderly subjects (80 women and 70 men; mean age 68,4 ± 0,25). All participants were assessed with a battery of cognitive tests using Attention and Concentration Software by Erickson and underwent fitness tests as Tinetti test and sit and reach. Moreover, subjects filled out the SF-12 questionnaire to assess their quality of life and structured questionnaire to evaluate the participation in leisure cognitive activities (reading books or newspapers, doing crossword puzzles, etc.). Our results demonstrated that subjects practicing Dance or Adapted Physical Activity are statistically better in all proposed tests than the sedentary individuals. In particular, subjects who practice dance, show results significantly better in cognitive tests compared with Adapted Physical Activity. Dance, given its peculiar characteristics, results an effective physical activity in maintaining the cognitive and physical functions and an alternatively training feasible in elderly subjects. Increased self-esteem, social contact and psychophysical wellness significantly ameliorate the quality of life during aging