COMORBIDITY FROM A NEUROPSYCHIATRIC PERSPECTIVE

Comorbidity in neurology and psychiatry involves the onset of a mental illness with the simultaneous presence of a neurological disorder or other illness. The degree of comorbidity of mental and neurological disorders is unexpectedly high. In addition to the direct connection and simultaneous occurrence of mental and neurological illness, the indirect impact of mental illness on the occurrence of neurological problems is even more significant. This link is realized through the influence of mental illness on risk factors for the development of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases. Their incidence is higher in the psychiatric population than in the general population. Numerous studies have confirmed that risk factors for cerebrovascular disease (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, etc.) are more common among patients with mental disorders than in the general population. Also, research shows that patients with mental disorders are less frequently controlled, have less control over risk factors, and that numerous comorbidities are detected later or remain undetected. Given that cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases represent one of the most important public health and socioeconomic problems of today, both in the world and in Croatia, this problem should not remain in the shadow

Role of physical activity on human brain functions

Mens sana in corpore sano. This famous sentence has been around for almost 2000 years. Back in the first and second century a.d., Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis, a Roman poet spoke of health, mental and physical, and their dependence on one another. But, it was not until the 1990.s, when science allowed us to find proof for this idea, and until the discovery of neurotrophic factors which changed around the way physical activity and brain plasticity is viewed. In 1986 Rita Levi Montalcini and Stanly Cohen received a Nobel Prize in medicine for the discovery of neurotrophins. Neurotrophins are proteins, belonging to a group of growth factors with special effect on neurons. They signal nerve cells to grow, survive, and differentiate. It is one neurotrophic factor in particular, the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which is important for long term memory, affects neurons in central and peripheral nervous system, helps survival of existing neurons, growth and differentiation of new neurons and synapses, and its secretion is encouraged by physical activity

NUTRITION AS AN IMPORTANT LIFESTYLE FACTOR OF BRAIN HEALTH

Studies have demonstrated the beneficial and preventive role of Mediterranean diet in the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, chronic neurodegenerative diseases and neoplasms, obesity and diabetes. The importance of nutrition has been proven by randomized intervention trials. Research has shown that Mediterranean diet improved endothelial function and significantly reduced waist circumference, plasma glucose, serum insulin and homeostasis model assessment score in metabolic syndrome. Several studies support favorable effects of Mediterranean diet on plasma lipid profile: reduction of total and plasma LDL cholesterol levels, plasma triglyceride levels, and apo-B and VLDL concentrations, and an increase in plasma HDL cholesterol levels. This effect is associated with increased plasma antioxidant capacity, improved endothelial function, reduced insulin resistance, and reduced incidence of the metabolic syndrome. The beneficial impact of fish consumption on the risk of cardiovascular diseases is the result of synergistic effects of nutrients in fish. Fish is considered an excellent source of protein with low saturated fat, nutritious trace elements, long-chain w-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFAs), and vitamins D and B. Fish consumption may be inversely associated with ischemic stroke but not with hemorrhagic stroke because of the potential antiplatelet aggregation property of LCn3PUFAs. Total stroke risk reduction was statistically significant for fish intake once per week, while the risk of stroke was lowered by 31% in individuals who ate fish 5 times or more per week. In the elderly, moderate consumption of tuna/other fish, but not fried fish, was associated with lower prevalence of subclinical infarcts and white matter abnormalities on MRI examination. Dietary intake of w-3 fatty acids in a moderate-to-high range does not appear to be associated with reduced plaque, but is negatively associated with carotid artery intima-media thickness. Greater adherence to Mediterranean diet is associated with significant reduction in overall mortality, mortality from cardiovascular diseases and stroke, incidence of or mortality from cancer, and incidence of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment

Deciphering the suppressive soil microbiota from an avocado crop

Comunicación en pósterDifferent strategies based on ecological principles have been approached in sustainable agriculture causing positive effects, including the induction of soil suppressiveness against a wide range of soilborne pathogens. Suppressiveness against the phytopathogenic fungus Rosellinia necatrix was observed after the application of composted almond shells in avocado crops. Previous works have analyzed the use of this traditional strategy and applied new microbial community analysis techniques in order to help in the identification of targeted sustainable agricultural strategies. These studies have focused on the microbial profile from an induced-suppressive soil where the soil microbiome had a proven essential role. Microbial profiles based on the 16S rRNA gene and ITS regions sequencing were analysed and an increase in Gammaproteobacteria and Dothideomycetes groups, as well as a reduction in Xylariales (where R. necatrix is allocated) were observed. These results led to the bacterial isolation of different groups of Gammaproteobacteria from this suppressive soil in order to identify new strains with biological control properties. Different characterization tests were performed, and a final selection of representative strains belonging to the genus Pseudomonas and related groups showed, all of them, plant disease protection abilities. Moreover, using previously described biological control agents against R. necatrix, a bacterial synthetic community have been design in order to improve the knowledge of the multitrophic interactions that occur during biological control process.This work was supported by Plan Nacional I+D+I (MINECO, Spain) (AGL2014-52518-C2-IR) and co-financed by FEDER funds (EU). C.Vida was supported by a PhD fellowship from the FPI program of MINECO. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Isolation, characterization and selection of Pseudomonas spp. as biological control agents from a suppressive soil

Bacterial profile from a suppressive soil against Rosellinia necatrix, fungal pathogen of avocado roots, were obtained by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The results revealed a significant increase in the bacterial class of Gammaproteobacteria, especially in some antagonistic representatives of Pseudomonas spp. For this reason, a collection of 246 bacterial isolates was obtained from this suppressive soil in order to identify new strains with antifungal activity against this fungal phytopathogen. First, we performed an isolation on a selective medium for Pseudomonas-like microorganisms. Then, we used different characterization tests in order to analyse the bacterial collection, including the identification of the general metabolic profile of glucose, the profiling of antifungals produced, both the putative production of antifungal compounds and lytic exoenzymes, as well as the evaluation of traits related with beneficial effects on plants. A final selection of representative strains resulted in antifungal isolates belonging to the genus Pseudomonas and related groups. These selected strains were tested for plant protection by an in vivo experiment using avocado and wheat plants challenged by the pathogen R. necatrix, showing all of them an antifungal ability and plant disease protection.This work was supported by Plan Nacional I+D+I from MINECO (Spain) (AGL2014-52518-C2-IR) and co-financed by FEDER funds (EU). C.Vida was supported by a PhD fellowship from the FPI program of MINECO.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Aging and carotid remodeling

As we age, remodeling takes place in our body, and while some changes can be attributed to the mere aging process, others can be attributed to an early pathological process of subclinical changes typical in atherosclerosis. Aging is an imminent part of life and is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and cerebro- vascular disorders in both sexes. Once established, cerebrovascular diseases are strong contributors in worldwide morbidity and mortality scales, and stroke is the worldwide leading cause of mortality and disability in adults. Cerebrovascular disorders in Croatia are the second leading cause of mortality and the first in adult disability. In this article, we attempt to present all the changes of aging in the com- mon carotid artery thus distinguishing them from a pathological processes

Morfološke i hemodinamske karakteristike vertebralnih arterija kod muškaraca i žena

Introduction: Men and women differ in diameters and MBFVs in VAs. Aim: to compare morphology and hemodynamics of VAs between sexes. Patients and methods: We examined 155 subjects using a linear 7.5 MHz probe (Aloka Prosound SSD-5500). Measurements were obtained at the V2 segment of VAs. Criteria: VA diameter of 2-4mm, systolic MBFVs of 0.35-0.70m/s, normal resistance pattern. Investigated parameters: diameters of VAs, MBFVs in VAs, sum of VA diameters, sum of MBFVs in VAs, diameter of the narrower and wider VA, and age. Results: 68 men and 87 women; 88 with a dominant left VA (56% of men and 58% of woman), 11 (7%) showed no dominance. Group differences: men had both VAs wider, and a larger diameter of the “wider” VA. There were no differences in MBFVs between men and women. Conclusion: Left VA is dominant in both sexes. There was no difference in MBFVs among sexes. Men have a wider VA than women.Uvod: Muškarci i žene se razlikuju u promjerima i srednjim brzinama strujanja krvi (SBSK) u vertebralnim arterijama (VA). Cilj: usporediti morfologiju i hemodinamiku VA među spolovima. Ispitanici i metode: Pregledali smo 155 osoba upotrebom linearne sonde 7,5 mHz (Aloka Prosound SSD-5500). Mjerenja su vršena u V2 segmentu VA. Kriteriji: VA dijametar 2-4mm, sistoličke SBSK 0,35-0,70m/s, normalan otpor. Mjereni parametri: promjeri VA, SBSK u VA, ukupni promjeri VA, ukupne SBSK u VAs, promjeri “uže” i šire VA, i dob. Rezultati: 68 muškaraca i 87 žena; 88 dominantnih lijevih VA (56% muškaraca i 58% žena), 11 (7%) bez dominacije. Razlike među grupama: muškarci imaju šire obje VA i promjer “šire” VA. Nije bilo razlika u sbsk među spolovima. Zaključak: Lijeva VA je dominantna u oba spola, nema razlika u SBSK među spolovima. Muškarci imaju šire VA od žena

Isolation, characterization and selection of bacterial isolates from a suppressive soil with beneficial traits to plants

Backgrounds This study focused on the characterization and selection of bacterial strains obtained from a suppressive soil displaying antifungal activity against the soilborne phytopathogenic fungi Rosellinia necatrix. Bacterial profile from this suppressive soil were first obtained by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, revealing a significant increase in the bacterial class Gammaproteobacteria, especially in some antagonistic representatives of Pseudomonas spp. Objectives To obtain and characterize a collection of 246 bacterial isolates obtained from this suppressive soil, in order to identify new strains with antifungal activity against fungal phytopathogens. Methods To obtain the bacterial collection, we performed an isolation on a selective medium for Pseudomonas-like microorganisms. Further characterization tests were used in order to analyse the bacterial collection, including identification of the general metabolic profile of glucose, the profiling of antifungals produced, including both the putative production of antifungal compounds and lytic exoenzymes, and the evaluation of traits related with beneficial effects on plants. Conclusions A final selection of representative strains resulted in antifungal isolates belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, but also some representatives of the genera Serratia and Stenotrophomonas. These selected strains were tested for plant protection by an in vivo experiment using avocado and wheat plants challenged by the pathogen R. necatrix, showing all of them an antifungal ability and plant disease protection. Pseudomonas-like strains isolated from suppressive soils constitute an excellent source for novel microbial biocontrol agents against soilborne fungal pathogens. This work was supported by grant AGL2014-52518-C2-1-R. Carmen Vida and Sandra Tienda are supported by a PhD fellowship from the FPI program of the Spanish Government.This work was supported by grant AGL2014-52518-C2-1-R. Carmen Vida and Sandra Tienda are supported by a PhD fellowship from the FPI program of the Spanish Government; Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech