ASPECTS REGARDING THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE 10 – 11-YEAR-OLD CHILDREN'S ACTIVE MOTOR, DIETARY, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR

Child obesity has become a phenomenon that is increasingly difficult to counteract because of their lifestyle and diet. The extra weight leads to, besides physical disorders, such as high cholesterol and diabetes, a series of psychological disorders represented by the lack of self-confidence and depression. Physical activity was strongly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic because of the imposed restrictions. The children had to study online classes a large portion of their time, which has contributed to a significant increase in the hours they have spent in front of a computer. The objective of this study was to emphasize the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on the relation between the active motor behavior, the dietary behavior, and the psychological behavior in 10-11-year-old children of Bacau, Romania. This research is an observational study conducted by identifying, assessing, and establishing certain correlations between the aforementioned factors, based on questionnaires filled by the children's mothers. Of the main statistical markers, the following were used: the Cronbach's alpha fidelity index, and the correlation coefficients, in order to establish the validity of the questionnaires, and the significance level of the correlations between the studied aspects

INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE AND NUTRITION ON THEPHYSICAL TRAINING OF NATIONAL LEVEL LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS - CASE STUDY

International audienc

INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE AND NUTRITION ON THEPHYSICAL TRAINING OF NATIONAL LEVEL LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS - CASE STUDY

International audienc

Oxytocin Differentiated Effects According to the Administration Route in a Prenatal Valproic Acid-Induced Rat Model of Autism

Background and objectives: The hormone oxytocin (OXT) has already been reported in both human and animal studies for its promising therapeutic potential in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the comparative effectiveness of various administration routes, whether central or peripheral has been insufficiently studied. In the present study, we examined the effects of intranasal (IN) vs. intraperitoneal (IP) oxytocin in a valproic-acid (VPA) autistic rat model, focusing on cognitive and mood behavioral disturbances, gastrointestinal transit and central oxidative stress status. Materials and Methods: VPA prenatally-exposed rats (500 mg/kg; age 90 days) in small groups of 5 (n = 20 total) were given OXT by IP injection (10 mg/kg) for 8 days consecutively or by an adapted IN pipetting protocol (12 IU/kg, 20 μL/day) for 4 consecutive days. Behavioral tests were performed during the last three days of OXT treatment, and OXT was administrated 20 minutes before each behavioral testing for each rat. Biochemical determination of oxidative stress markers in the temporal area included superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and malondialdehyde (MDA). A brief quantitative assessment of fecal discharge over a period of 24 hours was performed at the end of the OXT treatment to determine differences in intestinal transit. Results: OXT improved behavioral and oxidative stress status in both routes of administration, but IN treatment had significantly better outcome in improving short-term memory, alleviating depressive manifestations and mitigating lipid peroxidation in the temporal lobes. Significant correlations were also found between behavioral parameters and oxidative stress status in rats after OXT administration. The quantitative evaluation of the gastrointestinal (GI) transit indicated lower fecal pellet counts in the VPA group and homogenous average values for the control and both OXT treated groups. Conclusions: The data from the present study suggest OXT IN administration to be more efficient than IP injections in alleviating autistic cognitive and mood dysfunctions in a VPA-induced rat model. OXT effects on the cognitive and mood behavior of autistic rats may be associated with its effects on oxidative stress. Additionally, present results provide preliminary evidence that OXT may have a balancing effect on gastrointestinal motility

Link between Diabetes and Alzheimer’s Disease Due to the Shared Amyloid Aggregation and Deposition Involving Both Neurodegenerative Changes and Neurovascular Damages

Diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease are two highly prevalent diseases among the aging population and have become major public health concerns in the 21st century, with a significant risk to each other. Both of these diseases are increasingly recognized to be multifactorial conditions. The terms “diabetes type 3” or “brain diabetes” have been proposed in recent years to provide a complete view of the potential common pathogenic mechanisms between these diseases. While insulin resistance or deficiency remains the salient hallmarks of diabetes, cognitive decline and non-cognitive abnormalities such as impairments in visuospatial function, attention, cognitive flexibility, and psychomotor speed are also present. Furthermore, amyloid aggregation and deposition may also be drivers for diabetes pathology. Here, we offer a brief appraisal of social impact and economic burden of these chronic diseases and provide insight into amyloidogenesis through considering recent advances of amyloid-β aggregates on diabetes pathology and islet amyloid polypeptide on Alzheimer’s disease. Exploring the detailed knowledge of molecular interaction between these two amyloidogenic proteins opens new opportunities for therapies and biomarker development