Salivary alpha-amylase, salivary cortisol, and anxiety during a youth taekwondo championship: An observational study.

The aim of this study was to assess the stress-related responses and the coach's capability to match perceived efforts of youth athletes during a taekwondo championship.Using a cross-sectional study design, salivary cortisol (sC) and alpha-amylase (sAA) were measured in 6 males and 3 females young (11.0 ±â€Š0.9 years) athletes at awakening, 5 minutes before, and 1 minute and 30 minutes after official combats. State anxiety was recorded 60 minutes before the first competition, whereas coach's and athletes' ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were obtained at the end of the combats. Time-matched (awakening and pre-competition) salivary samples and trait anxiety were collected 7-day postcompetition during a resting day.No effect for match outcome emerged. No difference emerged between athletes and coach RPEs. Higher (P = .03) state anxiety (41.6 ±â€Š10.9 points) was shown than trait anxiety (34.8 ±â€Š7.1 points). Time-matched sAA were similar. Peak sAA observed at the end of the combat (114.2 ±â€Š108.1 U/mL) was higher (P < .01) than the other samples (range: 20.6-48.1 U/mL), whereas sC increased (P < .05) from awakening (8.0 ±â€Š1.5 nmol/L), with peak levels observed at 30 minutes into the recovery phase (19.3 ±â€Š4.3 nmol/L). Furthermore, pre-competition sC (16.5 ±â€Š4.5 nmol/L) values were higher (P < .01) with respect to time-matched samples during the resting day (4.6 ±â€Š1.0 nmol/L). The 3 athletes engaged in consecutive matches showed a tendency toward increasing sAA and sC.Taekwondo combats pose a high stress on young athletes, eliciting a fast reactivity of the sympathetic-adreno-medullary system relative to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system. Understanding the athlete's efforts during combats, coaches are recommended to apply effective recovery strategies between matches.

Subjects' hypnotizability level affects somatosensory evoked potentials to non-painful and painful stimuli.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the working hypothesis that the EEG activity associated to non-painful and painful stimuli in condition of waking state (no hypnotic procedure) was related to the hypnotizability level. METHODS: Hypnotizability level was measured in 16 healthy subjects through the Italian version of the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale (SHSS, score: 0-12). EEG data (56 electrodes) were recorded during non-painful and painful electrical stimuli applied to the left index finger. Cortical activity (vertex N1-P2 complex) was compared in subjects with low hypnotizability level (N=8, SHSS:0-6) vs. subjects with high hypnotizability level (N=8, SHSS:7-12). RESULTS: The amplitude of the N1-P2 complex was lower in the High-hypnotizability compared to the Low-hypnotizability group over primary sensorimotor cortex (C3 and C4 electrodes) and centro-parietal midline areas (Cz and Pz electrodes) for non-painful and painful stimuli. The SHSS showed a statistically significant negative correlation with the vertex N1-P2 complex at C3 and Cz (r=-0.5, p<0.05) electrodes for non-painful stimuli. CONCLUSION: Compared to the Low-hypnotizability subjects, High-hypnotizability subjects showed a reduced cortical activity related to non-painful and painful stimuli. SIGNIFICANCE: The results suggest a relationship between hypnotizability and cortical activity related to non-painful and painful stimuli in the condition of waking state (no hypnotic effect).

Molecular determinants for nuclear receptors selectivity: chemometric analysis, dockings and site-directed mutagenesis of dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors α/γ agonists.

A series of previously synthesized chiral derivatives of clofibric and phenylacetic acids, acting as dual agonists towards the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) α and γ, was taken into account, and the efficacy of these compounds was analyzed by means of 2D-, 3D-QSAR and docking studies with the goal to gain deeper insights into the three-dimensional determinants governing ligands selectivity for PPARs. By multiregressional analysis a correlation between the lipophilicity and PPARα activity was found, whereas for PPARγ the correlation was achieved once efficacy was related to the presence of polar groups on agonists scaffold. Docking of these compounds further corroborated this hypothesis, and then provided a valid support for subsequent chemometric analysis and pharmacophore models development for both receptors subtypes. Computational results suggested site directed mutagenesis experiments which confirmed the importance of amino acid residues in PPAR activity, allowing the identification of critical hotspots most likely taking over PPARs selectivity.

Poor desynchronisation of resting-state eyes-open cortical alpha rhythms in obese subjects without eating disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Obese subjects without eating disorders were characterised by poor electroencephalographic (EEG) alpha rhythms during resting-state eye-closed condition (Babiloni et al., 2011b). Is this true also for the desynchronisation of alpha rhythms during resting-state eyes opening? METHODS: EEG data were recorded in 15 underweight, 20 normal-weight, and 18 overweight/obese subjects during resting-state eyes-closed and -open conditions. EEG sources were estimated by LORETA for alpha 1 (8-10.5 Hz) and alpha 2 (10.5-13 Hz). The alpha desynchronisation was calculated as the difference eyes-open minus -closed condition. RESULTS: The occipital alpha 1 desynchronisation was lower in overweight/obese and underweight subjects compared with normal-weight subjects (p < 0.000005). The same was true for parietal, occipital and temporal alpha 2 (10.5-13 Hz) desynchronisation (p < 0.000002). The parietal and temporal alpha 1 desynchronisation was lower in overweight/obese than in normal-weight subjects (p < 0.00001). These effects spatially matched those observed in the resting-state eyes-closed condition. CONCLUSION: Subjects with abnormal weight and normal eating behaviour are characterised by poor alpha desynchronisation during resting-state eyes opening. SIGNIFICANCE: Obese subjects without eating disorders show abnormal mechanisms of cortical neural synchronisation and desynchronisation of alpha rhythms in the resting state condition.

Frontal-parietal responses to "oddball" stimuli depicting "fattened" faces are increased in successful dieters: an electroencephalographic study.

Here we tested the hypothesis that compared with normal weight non dieting (control) subjects, normal weight successful dieters submitted to a rigorous and continuous monitoring of body weight (i.e. karate athletes) are characterized by an increase of cortical responses to oddball visual stimuli depicting the enlargement of faces or foods, as neural underpinning of attention processes related to the control of weight and eating. Electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded in 18 successful dieters (5 females) and 24 non dieting subjects (9 females). The subjects were given frequent (70%) and rare (30%) stimuli depicting faces (FACE), food (FOOD), and landscapes (CONTROL). The task was to click the mouse after the rare stimuli. The rare stimuli depicted the frequent stimuli graphically dilated by 25% along the horizontal axis. Cortical responses accompanying attention processes were probed by the difference between positive event-related potentials peaking around 400-500ms post-stimulus for the rare minus frequent stimuli (P300). The popular freeware LORETA estimated P300 cortical sources. The results showed that in the FACE condition, the amplitude of left frontal (BA 6) and medial parietal (BA 5) P300 sources was higher in the successful dieters (karate athletes) than non dieting subjects. These results disclose that frontal-parietal responses to "oddball" stimuli depicting enlarged faces (i.e. representing face fattening) are enhanced in successful dieters (karate athletes). Future studies should evaluate this effect in other populations of successful dieters (i.e. boxers, top models etc.).

Frontal attentional responses to food size are abnormal in obese subjects: an electroencephalographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Are obese subjects characterized by a reduction of attentional cortical responses to the enlargement of food or body images? METHODS: Electroencephalographic data were recorded in 19 obese and 15 normal-weight adults during an "oddball" paradigm. The subjects were given frequent (70%) and rare (30%) stimuli depicting faces (FACE), food (FOOD), and landscapes (CONTROL), and clicked the mouse after the rare stimuli. These stimuli depicted the same frequent stimuli graphically dilated by 25% along the horizontal axis. Bioelectrical impedance indexed subjects' body fat percentage. Cortical attentional responses were probed by the difference between positive event-related potentials peaking around 400-500ms post-stimulus for the rare minus frequent stimuli (P300). Low resolution electromagnetic source tomography (LORETA) estimated P300 sources. RESULTS: In the FOOD condition, the amplitude of medial prefrontal P300 sources (Brodmann area 9) was lower in the obese than normal-weight subjects, and there was a negative correlation between the body fat percentage and the amplitude of these sources in all subjects as a single group. CONCLUSIONS: These results disclose that prefrontal attentional processes to food size are abnormal in obese subjects. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study motivates future research evaluating the effects of cognitive rehabilitation in obese subjects.

Attentional cortical responses to enlarged faces are related to body fat in normal weight subjects: an electroencephalographic study.

OBJECTIVE: Here we tested the hypothesis that in normal weight subjects, attentional cortical responses to the enlargement of faces are related to features of body weight, as a basis for future studies on the role of neurocognitive mechanisms in eating and weight disorders. METHODS: Electroencephalographic data were recorded in 15 normal weight adults during a visual "oddball" paradigm. The subjects were given frequent (70%) and rare (30%) stimuli depicting faces (FACE), food (FOOD), and landscapes (CONTROL). The task was to click the mouse after the rare stimuli. These stimuli depicted the same frequent stimuli graphically dilated by 25% along the horizontal axis. Analysis of bioelectrical impedance indexed subjects' body fat percentage. Cortical attentional responses were probed by the difference between positive event-related potentials peaking around 200-600 ms post-stimulus for the frequent minus rare stimuli (P300). LORETA estimated P300 cortical sources. RESULTS: Main results showed that in the FACE condition, there was a negative correlation between the body fat percentage and the reaction time to the rare stimuli, and a positive correlation between the body fat percentage and the amplitude of prefrontal P300 sources (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results disclose a relationship between body fat and prefrontal attentional processes to body image in normal weight adults. SIGNIFICANCE: The present study motivates future research testing the hypothesis that this relationship might be altered in patients with eating and weight disorders.

Ibuprofen treatment modifies cortical sources of EEG rhythms in mild Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVE: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen have a protective role on risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we evaluated the hypothesis that long-term ibuprofen treatment affects cortical sources of resting electroencephalographic (EEG) rhythms in mild AD patients. METHODS: Twenty-three AD patients (13 treated AD IBUPROFEN; 10 untreated AD PLACEBO) were enrolled. Resting EEG data were recorded before and 1 year after the ibuprofen/placebo treatment. EEG rhythms were delta (2-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha 1 (8-10.5 Hz), alpha 2 (10.5-13 Hz), beta 1 (13-20 Hz), and beta 2 (20-30 Hz). LORETA was used for EEG source analysis. RESULTS: In the AD PLACEBO group, amplitude of delta sources was globally greater at follow-up than baseline. Instead, amplitude of delta sources remained stable or decreased in the majority of the AD IBUPROFEN patients. Clinical (CDR) but not global cognitive status (MMSE) reflected EEG results. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in mild AD patients, a long-term ibuprofen treatment slightly slows down the progressive increment of delta rhythms as a sign of contrast against the neurodegenerative processes. SIGNIFICANCE: They motivate future investigations with larger population and extended neuropsychological testing, to study the relationships among ibuprofen treatment, delta cortical sources, and higher order functions.