Coping with cancer: A prospective psycho-social analysis of cancer patients and their non-medical caregivers (cg) – A goim study

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Testosterone insulin-like effects: an in vitro study on the short-term metabolic effects of testosterone in human skeletal muscle cells

Testosterone by promoting different metabolic pathways contributes to short-term homeostasis of skeletal muscle, the largest insulin-sensitive tissue and the primary site for insulin-stimulated glucose utilization. Despite evidences indicate a close relationship between testosterone and glucose metabolism, the molecular mechanisms responsible for a possible testosterone-mediated insulin-like effects on skeletal muscle are still unknown

Episodic ataxia type 1

Clinical characteristics: Episodic ataxia type 1 (EA1) is a potassium channelopathy characterized by constant myokymia and dramatic episodes of spastic contractions of the skeletal muscles of the head, arms, and legs with loss of both motor coordination and balance. During attacks individuals may experience a number of variable symptoms including vertigo, blurred vision, diplopia, nausea, headache, diaphoresis, clumsiness, stiffening of the body, dysarthric speech, and difficulty in breathing, among others. EA1 may be associated with epilepsy. Other findings can include delayed motor development, cognitive disability, choreoathetosis, and carpal spasm. Usually, onset is in childhood or early adolescence. Diagnosis/testing: Diagnosis is based on clinical findings, an electrophysiologic test of axonal superexcitability and threshold electrotonus, and/or molecular genetic testing of KCNA1, the only gene in which pathogenic variants are known to cause EA1. Management: Treatment of manifestations: Acetazolamide (ACTZ), a carbonic-anhydrase (CA) inhibitor, may reduce the frequency and severity of the attacks in some but not all affected individuals. Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) may significantly reduce the frequency of the attacks in some individuals.peer-reviewe

Giardia duodenalis assemblages and Entamoeba species infecting non-human primates in an Italian zoological garden: zoonotic potential and management traits

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Giardia duodenalis </it>and <it>Entamoeba </it>spp. are among the most common intestinal human protozoan parasites worldwide and they are frequently reported in captive non-human primates (NHP). From a public health point of view, infected animals in zoos constitute a risk for animal caretakers and visitors. In this study we carried out the molecular identification of <it>G. duodenalis </it>and <it>Entamoeba </it>spp. from nine species of primates housed in the zoological garden of Rome, to better ascertain their occurrence and zoonotic potential.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>G. duodenalis </it>was found only in <it>Lemur catta </it>(47.0%). <it>Entamoeba </it>spp. were detected in all species studied, with the exception of <it>Eulemur macaco </it>and <it>Varecia rubra</it>. The number of positive pools ranged from 5.9% in <it>L. catta </it>to 81.2% in <it>Mandrillus sphinx; </it>in <it>Pan troglodytes </it>the observed prevalence was 53.6%. A mixed <it>Entamoeba</it>-<it>Giardia </it>infection was recorded only in one sample of <it>L. catta</it>. All <it>G. duodenalis </it>isolates belonged to the zoonotic assemblage B, sub assemblage BIV. Three <it>Entamoeba </it>species were identified: <it>E. hartmanni</it>, <it>E. coli </it>and <it>E. dispar</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results highlight the importance of regularly testing animals kept in zoos for the diagnosis of zoonotic parasites, in order to evaluate their pathogenic role in the housed animals and the zoonotic risk linked to their presence. A quick detection of the arrival of pathogens into the enclosures could also be a prerequisite to limit their spread into the structure via the introduction of specific control strategies. The need for molecular identification of some parasite species/genotype in order to better define the zoonotic risk is also highlighted.</p

La importancia de mantenerse activo en la vejez

Activities engagement is one of the three pillars of successful aging, along with health and high cognitive and physical functioning. The importance of participation lies in its influence on other variables such as wellbeing, physical and mental health. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of participation on psychological wellbeing, depression and health and to determine if there are differences according to the type of activity performed. A sample of 139 people aged 55 to 94 from Granada (49 men and 90 women) was used. Participants were asked about their participation in a list of 16 activities classified as formative, physical or craft, they were asked to rate their subjective health and they were applied the Psychological Wellbeing Scales and the abbreviated version of the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). The results indicate gender differences in participation but not in the other variables analyzed. The total participation in activities was related and was predictor of psychological wellbeing, subjective health and depression but differences were observed according to the type of activity performed. Formative activities relate to personal growth, manual activities with environmental mastery and health, and physical activities with positive relations with others, health and depression. These results highlight the importance of achieving an integral participation in different activities if we are to promote the successful aging of the elderly.La participación es uno de los tres pilares del envejecimiento con éxito, junto con la salud y el alto funcionamiento cognitivo y físico. La importancia de la participación radica en su influencia sobre otras variables como el bienestar, la salud física y mental. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el impacto de la participación sobre el bienestar, depresión y salud y determinar si existen diferencias según el tipo de actividad realizada. Para ello se utilizó una muestra de 139 personas de entre 55 y 94 años de la provincia de Granada (49 hombres y 90 mujeres). A los participantes se les preguntó sobre su participación en una lista de 16 actividades clasificadas como formativas, físicas o de manualidades, se les pidió que valoraran su salud subjetiva y se les aplicaron las Escalas de Bienestar Psicológico y la versión abreviada de la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica (GDS). Los resultados indican diferencias de género en la participación pero no en las otras variables analizadas. La participación total en actividades se relacionaba y fue predictor del bienestar psicológico, la salud subjetiva y la depresión pero se observaron diferencias según el tipo de actividad realizada. Las actividades formativas se relacionan con el crecimiento personal, las actividades manuales con el dominio del entorno y la salud y las actividades físicas con las relaciones personales, salud y depresión. Estos resultados resaltan la importancia de lograr una participación integral en diferentes actividades si queremos potenciar el envejecimiento exitoso de las personas mayores

Paramagnetic defects in polycrystalline zirconia: An EPR and DFT study

The paramagnetic defects present in pristine zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) and those formed upon reductive treatments (either annealing or UV irradiation in H-2) are described and rationalized by the joint use of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and DFT supercell calculations. Three types of Zr3+ reduced sites have been examined both in the bulk of the solid (one center) and at the surface (two centers). Trapping electron centers different from reduced Zr ions are also present, whose concentration increases upon annealing. A fraction of these sites are paramagnetic showing a symmetric signal at g = 2.0023, but the majority of them are EPR silent and are revealed by analysis of electron transfer from the reduced solid to oxygen. The presence of classic F-type centers (electrons in bulk oxygen vacancies) is disregarded on the basis of the g-tensor symmetry. This is expected, on the basis of theoretical calculations, to be anisotropic and thus incompatible with the observed signal. In general terms, ZrO2 has Some properties similar to typical reducible oxides, such as TiO2 and CeO2 (excess electrons stabilized at cationic sites), but it is much more resistant to reduction than this class of materials. While point defects in doped (Y3+, Ca2+) ZrO2 materials have been widely investigated for their role as ionic conductors, the defectivity of pristine ZrO2 is much less known; this paper presents a thorough analysis of this phenomenon