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

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

Novel mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of Quercetin on human striatal neuroblasts

Human striatal precursor (HSP) primary cell cultures were isolated from ganglionic eminence of 9-12 week old human fetuses and extensively characterized in vitro (1). Our studies demonstrated that these cultures consists of a mixed population of neural stem cells, neuronal-restricted progenitors and striatal neurons that express and are responsive to many trophic factors, as BDNF and FGF2, and possess an adaptive response to stress conditions as nutrient deprivation and hypoxia through mechanisms involving different factors and neurotrophins (1,2). In the last decades, several in vitro and in vivo studies have provided evidence for neuroprotective effects by Quercetin, a polyphenol widely present in nature, passively absorbed in the small intestine and able to traverse the blood brain barrier (3). However, the mechanisms through which Quercetin exerts its neuroprotective effects are not fully delucidated. Our study was aimed at investigating the effects of Quercetin on HSP cells and its contribution to cell survival in nutrient deprivation condition, obtained replacing culture medium with Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS). Quercetin treatment significantly promoted cell survival and strongly decreased apoptosis induced by nutrient deprivation condition, as evaluated by MTT assay, Trypan Blue staining and western blot analysis of cell death and proliferation markers. Moreover, since the adhesive capacities of cells are essential for cell survival, we next analysed the expression of some adhesion molecules such as Pancadherin and Focal Adhesion Kinase; our results interestingly showed that PBS exposure determined a strong decrease in all the analysed adhesion molecules, while in presence of Quercetin the expression was significantly increased. Our results add new mechanicistic insights into the comprehension of neuroprotective action of Quercetin treatment, thus suggesting possible implications in sustaining striatal neuron survival during neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington Disease

Role of physical activity program in the tertiary prevention of female breast cancer: a pilot study

Physical activity is recognised internationally as a key factor in breast cancer prevention that is worldwide the major cause of cancer incidence and mortality in women. It is likely that physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer risk via multiple interrelated biologic pathway that may involve adiposity, sex hormones, insulin resistence, adipokines and chronic inflammation (Recent Results Cancer Res, 2011). Although women diagnosed with breast cancer are living longer for treatment improvements, concerns about functional limitations, recurrence and survival remain paramount. Recent researches support the beneficial role that physical activity plays in reducing the risk for developing breast cancer and preventing or attenuating disease and treatment-related impairments (Methods Mol Biol, 2009). Post-diagnosis physical activity has been associated with improved quality of life and survivors should be encouraged to initiate and maintain a program of physical activity (Cancer Prev Res, 2011). However, actually it is not yet clear which duration, frequency and intensity of physical activities provide the benefits in primary or tertiary prevention; studies are also limited by incomplete reporting and methodological limitations (Cancer Treat Rev, 2010). We provided a physical activity program in breast cancer survivors (60 women; mean age 59,5 ± 9,8) recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center in Florence to investigate the role of physical activity on psychophysical wellness. The subjects were evaluated at the baseline and after the 8-week study period. The anthropometric parameters were measured and the subjects underwent a battery of fitness tests to assess shoulder-arm mobility and range of motion, and back flexibility. All partecipants filled out numerical rating scale and Short-Form 12 questionnaires to quantify the pain intensity to back and the shoulder of the operated arm, and to assess the quality of life, respectively. Our results demonstrated that an organized specific program of adapted physical activity may be an effective countermeasure to reduce the adverse effects after surgery and oncological therapy

Efficacy of a specific program of adapted physical activity in breast cancer survivors: a 5-year single center experience in Florence

Physical activity has been proposed as a nonpharmacological intervention to improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women worldwide. Recently, earlier detection and advances in therapies have substantially improved the survival rate of breast cancer patients, many of which will have a normal life expectancy. However, cancer treatments can produce negative short- and/or long-term physical and psychological effects (i.e. shoulder and arm decresed mobility, pain, mood disturbance), which heavily contribute to the reduction of life quality. In previous study, we carefully described the exercise methodology of a planned and personalized program of adapted physical activity (APA) demonstrating its efficacy in reducing the shoulderarm complications and improving the quality of life in breast cancer survivors (1). In the present study, we evaluted a higher numbers of breast cancer survivors and a long-time follow up to verify the effectiveness of our protocol. For this pourpose, 140 breast cancer survivors (mean age 56.8±10.2) were recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center in Florence between February 2009 and November 2014. The women were evaluated at the baseline and after the 8-week physical activity. The anthropometric parameters were measured and the subjects underwent a battery of fitness tests to assess shoulder-arm mobility and range of motion (ROM), and back flexibility (sit and reach test). All partecipants filled out numerical rating scale and Short-Form 12 questionnaires to quantify the pain intensity to back and the shoulder of the operated arm, and to assess the quality of life, respectively. The evaluation of shoulderarm mobility and self-reported questionnaire data revealed a statistically significant improvement after completion of our specific exercise program. After one year from APA, participants were subjected again to this evaluation protocol. Moreover, to evaluate the APA long-term effects (i.e. physically active lifestyle and shoulder-arm disability), a structured questionnaire was administered to all participants

Assessment of internal diameters of abdominal and femoral blood vessels in 250 living subjects using Color Doppler ultrasonography

Acquiring data about venous or arterial vessel size is important for several reasons, given the increasing incidence of thomboembolic phenomena and arterial aneurysms and the emerging new vascular techniques. We studied 250 healthy subjects (125 men and 125 women; age range: 50 to 91 years) with no known vascular pathology, nor hypertension, nor diabetes. We assessed the caliber of abdominal aorta, inferior vena cava, iliac and femoral arteries and viens by color doppler ultrasonography, and analyzed the results with regard to sex, height, weight and body surface of each subject. The mean caliber measure of the large abdominal vessels appeared lower than the value obtained from cadavers. There was a direct proportion between the left and right vessels of the same subject. The difference in vessel caliber between male and female subjects was statistically significant. There was no correlation between vessel caliber and age, height or body surface area