Rumination moderates the longitudinal associations of awareness of age-related change with depressive and anxiety symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Lower awareness of age-related gains (AARC-gains) and higher awareness of age-related losses (AARC-losses) may be risk factors for depressive and anxiety symptoms. We explored whether: (1) Baseline AARC-gains and AARC-losses predict depressive and anxiety symptoms at one-year follow-up; (2) age and rumination moderate these associations; (3) levels of AARC-gains and AARC-losses differ among individuals with different combinations of current and past depression and/or with different combinations of current and past anxiety. METHODS: In this one-year longitudinal cohort study participants (N = 3386; mean age = 66.0; SD = 6.93) completed measures of AARC-gains, AARC-losses, rumination, depression, anxiety, and lifetime diagnosis of depression and anxiety in 2019 and 2020. Regression models with tests of interaction were used. RESULTS: Higher AARC-losses, but not lower AARC-gains, predicted more depressive and anxiety symptoms. Age did not moderate these associations. Associations of lower AARC-gains and higher AARC-losses with more depressive symptoms and of higher AARC-losses with more anxiety symptoms were stronger in those with higher rumination. Individuals with both current and past depression reported highest AARC-losses and lowest AARC-gains. Those with current, but not past anxiety, reported highest AARC-losses. CONCLUSION: Perceiving many age-related losses may place individuals at risk of depressive and anxiety symptoms, especially those who frequently ruminate.

In situ experiment to evaluate biochemical responses in the freshwater mussel Diplodon chilensis under anthropogenic eutrophication conditions.

An in-situ experiment was performed to study metabolic responses of the freshwater mussel Diplodon chilensis to water contaminated by leachates from an open dump and cattle activity, in order to analyze both the effects of those contaminants on aquatic environments and the potential use of a native bivalve to evaluate the effects of anthropic influence and eutrophication. Bivalves from a reference site were cage-transplanted to a control site (site A) and to a temporal water pond (site B) over 30 and 60 periods. Water quality analyses revealed that the site B was affected by anthropogenic influence. Mussel's hemocytes from site B showed 50% lower reactive oxygen species production and 130% higher lysosomal membrane stability in the site B mussels. In addition, no oxidative stress was evident in gills, despite the elevated copper and iron concentrations recorded in the site B water samples (CuB = 0.3350 ± 0.0636 mg. L-1vs. CuA = 0.0045 ± 0.0007 mg. L-1; FeB = 3.8650 ± 0.4031 mg. L-1vs. FeA = 0.0365 ± 0.0049 mg. L-1). In contrast, the adductor muscle accumulated more Fe (~10-20-fold) than the gills and showed signs of oxidative stress, e.g. superoxide dismutase activity and TBARS levels were increased by 10% were 34%, respectively, in the site B compared with the site A after 60 days of exposure. Additionally, the adductor muscle showed signs of anaerobic metabolism activation. Cu is accumulated in gills from both sites' individuals, at 60 days, in concordance with the increase in the activity of the cu-containing enzyme cytochrome-c-oxidase. There was a reduction in the overall condition and digestive gland index in bivalves exposed at site B, associated with diminished levels of lipid and protein contents. Metal-pollution and eutrophication affects D. chilensis metabolism and is associated to tissue-specific exposure, anaerobic metabolism and general energetic condition depletion.

Trace metals and oxidative status in soft tissues of caged mussels (Aulacomya atra) on the North Patagonian coastline.

This study investigated metal accumulation and oxidative effects in mantle, gill and digestive gland of the ribbed mussel Aulacomya atra from the Argentinean North Patagonian coastline. Mussels were transplanted over an 18-month period from a site with low anthropogenic impact to a harbor site with higher seawater concentration of aluminum, chromium, copper, manganese, nickel and zinc. Total trace metal concentration in seawater did not change throughout the 18-month transplant in either site. A. atra bioaccumulated metals in digestive gland, gills and mantle at different levels. Digestive gland had the highest concentration of metals, especially towards the end of the transplant experiment in the harbor area. Mussels transplanted to the harbor site experienced an upregulation in their antioxidant system, which likely explains the lack of oxidative damage to lipids despite higher metal accumulation. These results demonstrate that A. atra selectively accumulates metals from the water column and their prooxidant effects depend on the tissue antioxidant defenses and the exposure time.

Oral probiotics in the management of gingivitis in diabetic patients: a double blinded randomized controlled study.

Diabetic patients are more prone to develop infections such as periodontal diseases. Bacteriotherapy with the concept of using good bacterial strains to replace the pathogenic ones emerged as a fascinating field due to the increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate if a particular combination of probiotics (Lactobacillus Reuteri DSM 17938 and Lactobaciullus Reuteri ATCC PTA 5289) is useful in treating gingivitis in diabetic patients. Eighty adult patients with diagnosis of controlled diabetes type II and gingivitis were enrolled for this study and randomized in two groups. Only oral hygiene instructions were given. Bacteriotherapy (Lactobacillus Reuteri) was administered to test group. Outcome measures were presence of Plaque (P.I.) and Bleeding on Probing (B.O.P.). Data were collected at baseline and after 30 days. At 30 days, both groups showed a statistically significant clinical indexes reduction from baseline. More reduction was present in the test group for P.I. (14%±6) and for B.O.P. (18%±4) and was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Within the limitations of this study, bacteriotherapy can be considered effective in reducing plaque and BOP in patients with controlled diabetes type II and gingivitis.

Extreme particle acceleration in the microquasar Cygnus X-3.

Super-massive black holes in active galaxies can accelerate particles to relativistic energies, producing jets with associated gamma-ray emission. Galactic 'microquasars', which are binary systems consisting of a neutron star or stellar-mass black hole accreting gas from a companion star, also produce relativistic jets, generally together with radio flares. Apart from an isolated event detected in Cygnus X-1, there has hitherto been no systematic evidence for the acceleration of particles to gigaelectronvolt or higher energies in a microquasar, with the consequence that we are as yet unsure about the mechanism of jet energization. Here we report four gamma-ray flares with energies above 100 MeV from the microquasar Cygnus X-3 (an exceptional X-ray binary that sporadically produces radio jets). There is a clear pattern of temporal correlations between the gamma-ray flares and transitional spectral states of the radio-frequency and X-ray emission. Particle acceleration occurred a few days before radio-jet ejections for two of the four flares, meaning that the process of jet formation implies the production of very energetic particles. In Cygnus X-3, particle energies during the flares can be thousands of times higher than during quiescent states.

Assessing the impact of imidacloprid, glyphosate, and their mixtures on multiple biomarkers in Corbicula largillierti.

Pesticide mixtures are frequently utilized in agriculture, yet their cumulative effects on aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. Aquatic animals can be effective bioindicators and invasive bivalves, owing to their widespread distribution, provide an opportunity to assess these impacts. Glyphosate and imidacloprid, among the most prevalent pesticides globally, are frequently detected in freshwater systems in South America. This study aims to understand the cumulative effects of pesticide mixtures on aquatic organisms, using invasive Corbicula largillierti clams from a natural stream in northwestern Argentina. We conducted 48-hour exposure experiments using two concentrations of imidacloprid (20 and 200 µg L-1 a.i), two concentrations of glyphosate (0.3 and 3 mg L-1 a.i), and two combinations of these pesticides (both at low and high concentrations, respectively), simulating the direct contamination of both pesticides based on their agronomic recipe and observed values in Argentine aquatic environments. Clam metabolism was assessed through the examination of multiple oxidative stress parameters and measuring oxygen consumption rate as a proxy for standard metabolic rate (SMR). Our findings revealed that imidacloprid has a more pronounced effect compared to glyphosate. Imidacloprid significantly decreased clam SMR and cellular levels of reduced glutathione (GSH). However, when both pesticides were present, also cellular glycogen and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) were affected. Proteins and glutathione S-Transferase (GST) activity were unaffected by either pesticide or their mixture at the assayed concentrations, highlighting the need to test several stress parameters to detect toxicological impacts. Our results indicated additive effects of imidacloprid and glyphosate across all measured parameters. The combination of multiple physiological and cytological biomarkers in invasive bivalves offers significant potential to enhance biomonitoring sensitivity and obtain insights into the origins and cellular mechanisms of chemical impacts. These studies can improve pollution regulatory policies and pesticide management.

Management of biofilm control in an elderly patient suffering from rheumatoid arthritis: a case report.

The increase in the average age of the population forces dentists and dental hygienists to deal with clinical scenarios typical of the elderly. In old people deep changes present both in systemic and oral health. These changes affect the anatomical and functional integrity of many tissues, such as the mouth. Impairment of patients' oral hygiene becomes manifested by local infections and promotes the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases. There is also a significant increase in autoimmune diseases, which are defined as disorders of the immune system that result in abnormal immune responses. Among the autoimmune diseases of medical interest we report a case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) strictly related to periodontal disease.

Is the risk of primary hyperparathyroidism increased in patients with untreated breast cancer?

BACKGROUND: An increased frequency of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) has been reported in patients with treated breast cancer (BC). PHP has been found in about 7% of BC patients after surgery and radio-, chemio- or hormonal therapy. AIM: To evaluate the frequency of PHP in untreated BC patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We evaluated 186 women with BC and 233 women with thyroid cancer (TC, no.=122) or benign thyroid diseases (BTD, no.=111). In all patients, serum calcium, albumin, PTH, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH vitD) were measured before any treatment. RESULTS: Serum calcium concentrations were significantly higher in BC than in TC and BTD groups (median values 9.5 mg/dl, 9.3 mg/dl and 9.3 mg/dl, respectively) but, according to a logistic regression model, calcium was not significantly different between the 3 groups when age was taken into account. In all patients, serum calcium was in the normal range, indicating that no case of overt PHP was present. Five patients (1 in BC, 2 in TC, and 2 in BDT groups) had serum calcium close to the upper limit of normal range, high PTH and low 25-OH vitD, indicating a possible PHP with hypercalcemia masked by concomitant 25-OH vitD deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: In untreated BC group, no patient had overt PHP and 1/186 (0.5%) presented a possible PHP masked by 25-OH vitD deficiency, a PHP frequency much lower than that observed in treated BC patients. These data suggest that the treatments of BC may be responsible for the increased frequency of PHP reported in previous studies.

Audio drawing and working memory in blindness: design, development and validation of a multi-sensory system.

Working memory (WM) plays a crucial role in helping individuals perform everyday activities and interact with the external environment. However, despite valuable insights into visual memory mechanisms, the multi-sensory aspects of WM have not been thoroughly investigated, especially in congenitally blind individuals, primarily due to a lack of proper technologies. This work presents an audio-haptic system to study the generation and recall of multi-sensory spatial representations in visually impaired and sighted individuals. Precisely, we developed an audio-tactile tablet composed of a set of spatialized speakers covered by tactile sensors and tri-modal stimulations units providing acoustic, visual, and haptic feedback. Furthermore, we integrated these two systems among each other. Interestingly, visually impaired and sighted adults could easily interact with these devices. Technologies like the ones we developed might be suitable in experimental and clinical settings to study the influence of the different sensory modalities on high-level cognitive skills and the impact of early visual deprivation on such abilities for rehabilitative intervention since the first period of life.

Skeletal muscle differentiation: role of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfonated form dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) are the main circulating steroid hormones and many epidemiological studies show an inverse relationship between DHEA/DHEAS levels and muscle loss for which the primary cause is the accelerated protein breakdown. The aim of this work was to determine whether DHEA/DHEAS supplementation in differentiating C2C12 skeletal muscle cells might influence the expression of the atrophy-related ubiquitin ligase, MuRF-1, and thereby impact key molecules of the differentiation program. DHEA is the prohormone crucial for sex steroid synthesis, and DHEAS is thought to be its reservoir. However, our preliminary experiments showed that DHEAS, but not DHEA, is able to influence MuRF-1 expression. Therefore, we treated differentiating C2C12 cells with various concentrations of DHEAS and analyzed the expression of MuRF-1, Hsp70, myosin heavy chain (MHC), myogenin, and the activity of creatine kinase. We observed that DHEAS at physiological concentrations downregulates MuRF-1 expression and affects muscle differentiation, as shown by the increased levels of MHC, which is a sarcomeric protein that undergoes MuRF-1-dependent degradation, and also by an increase in creatine kinase activity and myogenin expression, which are two other well-known markers of differentiation. Moreover, we found that DHEAS might have a protective effect on differentiating cells as suggested by the augmented levels of Hsp70, a member of heat shock proteins family that, besides its cytoprotective action, seems to have a regulatory role on key atrophy genes such as MuRF-1. In conclusion, our data shed light on the role of DHEAS at physiologic concentrations in maintaining muscle mass.

Gamma-ray localization of terrestrial gamma-ray flashes.

Terrestrial gamma-ray flashes (TGFs) are very short bursts of high-energy photons and electrons originating in Earth's atmosphere. We present here a localization study of TGFs carried out at gamma-ray energies above 20 MeV based on an innovative event selection method. We use the AGILE satellite Silicon Tracker data that for the first time have been correlated with TGFs detected by the AGILE Mini-Calorimeter. We detect 8 TGFs with gamma-ray photons of energies above 20 MeV localized by the AGILE gamma-ray imager with an accuracy of ∼5-10° at 50 MeV. Remarkably, all TGF-associated gamma rays are compatible with a terrestrial production site closer to the subsatellite point than 400 km. Considering that our gamma rays reach the AGILE satellite at 540 km altitude with limited scattering or attenuation, our measurements provide the first precise direct localization of TGFs from space.

The SHOX region and its mutations.

The short stature homeobox-containing (SHOX) gene lies in the pseudoautosomal region 1 (PAR1) that comprises 2.6 Mb of the short-arm tips of both the X and Y chromosomes. It is known that its heterozygous mutations cause Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis (LWD) (OMIM #127300), while its homozygous mutations cause a severe form of dwarfism known as Langer mesomelic dysplasia (LMD) (OMIM #249700). The analysis of 238 LWD patients between 1998 and 2007 by multiple authors shows a prevalence of deletions (46.4%) compared to point mutations (21.2%). On the whole, deletions and point mutations account for about 67% of LWD patients. SHOX is located within a 1000 kb desert region without genes. The comparative genomic analysis of this region between genomes of different vertebrates has led to the identification of evolutionarily conserved non-coding DNA elements (CNE). Further functional studies have shown that one of these CNE downstream of the SHOX gene is necessary for the expression of SHOX; this is considered to be typical "enhancer" activity. Including the enhancer, the overall mutation of the SHOX region in LWD patients does not hold in 100% of cases. Various authors have demonstrated the existence of other CNE both downstream and upstream of SHOX regions. The resulting conclusion is that it is necessary to reanalyze all LWD/LMD patients without SHOX mutations for the presence of mutations in the 5'- and 3'-flanking SHOX regions.

Effects of chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation on sport performance and antioxidant capacity in trained male: preliminary results.

AIM: Rhodiola Rosea, is an adaptogen plant which has been reported to promote fatty acids utilisation, to ameliorate antioxidant function, and to improve body resistance to physical strenuous efforts. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects on physical performance as well as on the redox status of a chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation in a group of competitive athletes during endurance exercise. METHODS: Following a chronic supplementation with Rhodiola Rosea for 4 weeks, 14 trained male athletes underwent a cardio-pulmonary exhaustion test and blood samples to evaluate their antioxidant status and other biochemical parameters. These data were compared with those coming from the same athletes after an intake of placebo. RESULTS: The evaluation of physical performance parameters showed that HR Max, Borg Scale level, VO(2) max and duration of the test were essentially unaffected by Rhodiola Rosea assumption. On the contrary, Rhodiola Rosea intake reduced, in a statistically significative manner, plasma free fatty acids levels. No effect on blood glucose was found. Blood antioxidant status and inflammatory parameters resulted unaffected by Rhodiola Rosea supplementation. Blood lactate and plasma creatine kinase levels were found significantly lower (P<0.05) in Rhodiola Rosea treated subjects when compared to the placebo treated group. CONCLUSION: Chronic Rhodiola Rosea supplementation is able to reduce both lactate levels and parameters of skeletal muscle damage after an exhaustive exercise session. Moreover this supplementation seems to ameliorate fatty acid consumption. Taken together those observation confirm that Rhodiola Rosea may increase the adaptogen ability to physical exercise.

Regulation of collecting tubule adenosine triphosphatases by aldosterone and potassium.

To examine the precise role of potassium and aldosterone on acid-base composition and on collecting tubule ATPases, glucocorticoid-replete adrenalectomized rats were replaced with zero, physiological, or pharmacological doses of aldosterone and were fed varying potassium diets to produce hypokalemia, normokalemia, or hyperkalemia. Radiochemical measurement of ATPase activities showed that collecting tubule H/K-ATPase changed inversely with potassium and not with aldosterone whereas H-ATPase changed directly with aldosterone but not with potassium. When both enzymes changed in the same direction, alterations in acid-base composition were profound; however, when these two acidifying enzymes changed in opposite directions or when only one enzyme changed, the effect on acid-base balance was modest. Serum bicarbonate was approximately 45 meq/liter when aldosterone was high and potassium was low; it was only 29 meq/liter when aldosterone was high but potassium was normal or when aldosterone was normal and potassium was low. Our observations may help explain the metabolic alkalosis of primary aldosteronism in which aldosterone excess and hypokalemia are combined and the metabolic acidosis of aldosterone deficiency in which hypoaldosteronism and hyperkalemia are paired. The present study also demonstrated that aldosterone plays the major role in controlling Na/K-ATPase activity in cortical collecting tubule. Hypokalemia stimulates Na/K-ATPase activity in the medullary collecting tubule; this stimulatory effect of hypokalemia supports the hypothesis that the enzyme is present on the apical membrane at this site.

Effects of the application of high-pressure oxygen on the treatment of periodontal disease in diabetic patients.

PURPOSE: In this study we wanted to observe the improvement in the healing of periodontal tissues in a group of diabetic patients treated with traditional methods compared to another group treated with the addition of oxygen.The potential of oxygen has long been known in the field of plastic surgery, where it is used to treat burns and skin lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study consists in a split mouth study which involved 30 patients. We carefully treated them with periodontal therapy using manual and mechanical instrumentation. Then, we applied oxygen in half mouth according to randomization list. Finally we checked up patients after some weeks. RESULTS: Our results highlight that all areas treated with oxygen application healed more rapidly and better than no treated areas. CONCLUSIONS: All in all, we have demonstrated that oxygen can improve the outcome of non-surgical periodontal treatment in diabetic subjects.

Nitric oxide inhibits apoptosis via AP-1-dependent CD95L transactivation.

Several inducers of cytotoxic stress promote apoptotic cell death, which, at least in some cases, involves the CD95/CD95 ligand (CD95L) pathway. The induction of the CD95/CD95L pathway can be activated by the activator protein-1 (AP-1)-mediated up-regulation of the CD95L promoter, which is responsible for the induction of apoptosis elicited by stimuli such as etoposide. We show that nitric oxide (NO) represents a regulatory element able to block apoptosis by interfering with this loop. Etoposide- and C6-ceramide-induced apoptosis in Jurkat T cells with different kinetics. Cell death was accompanied by an increase in DNA-binding activity of the transcription factor AP-1, transactivation of the AP-1 site-containing CD95L promoter, and caspase 3-like protease activation. Using different NO-releasing compounds, we found that apoptosis was prevented in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, in both models of apoptosis, NO-releasing compounds dose-dependently reduced: (a) the number of the titratable thiol groups (cysteine residues) of c-Jun; (b) induction of AP-1 DNA-binding activity; (c) AP-1-driven transactivation of the CD95L promoter; and (d) caspase activation. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that NO can modulate cell death at an upstream level, by interfering with the ability of AP-1 to induce CD95L expression.

Effectiveness of two different desensitizing varnishes in reducing tooth sensitivity: a randomized double-blind clinical trial.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two different desensitizing varnishes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ninety healthy adults suffering from tooth sensitivity were divided into three groups. Two different varnishes were used for the study: Fluor Protector S, containing 7700 ppm fluoride (group I), and Cervitec F, containing 1400 ppm fluoride and 0.3% chlorhexidine (group II). A placebo containing water and ethanol was applied for the third group. Tooth sensitivity was collected according the Schiff' scale at baseline and after 30 and 90 days. RESULTS: Group I and group II improved with statistically significant results. Group III did not show any improvements. CONCLUSIONS: Desensitizing varnishes are a valid treatment for tooth hypersensitivity.

Production of antibodies against the coenzyme pyrrolequinoline quinone.

Polyclonal antibodies against pyrrolequinoline quinone have been elicited in rabbits. These antibodies react with free and protein-bound pyrrolequinoline quinone. In particular they react with native and denatured lentil seedling amine oxidase as detected by dot-blot and ELISA assays. The presence of 1 mol pyrrolequinoline quinone per mol of enzyme was determined by the last method.

Altered sodium pump alpha and gamma subunit gene expression in nephron segments from hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the qualitative and quantitative expression of alpha and gamma sodium pump subunits in whole kidney and nephron segment RNA from Sprague Dawley rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. DESIGN: A novel reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction technique was devised which provides accurate and precise measurement of the number of molecules of specific transcript abundance, a measurement of gene expression. This allows the quantitative comparison of multiple samples across multiple subjects and, since the estimates are accurate rather than relative, can also be used to make quantitative comparisons across expressed genes, such as isoforms and subunits of the heterotrimeric renal sodium pump. METHODS: We examined which catalytic isoforms were expressed and then quantified transcript abundance in whole kidney and convoluted and straight segments of the proximal tubule. RESULTS: Alpha 1 and gamma transcripts, but not alpha 2, alpha 3 or alpha 4 isoforms, were consistently observed in nephron segments. Levels of alpha 1 were lower in kidney RNA from 15-16-week-old SHR than in WKY rats of the same age (P = 0.001), but were not different between SHR and WKY in 4-5-week-old animals. No significant difference was observed in gamma subunit abundance in kidney RNA from 4-5-week-old animals; however, at 15-16 weeks, the expression in SHR was one-third that in WKY rats (P = 0.003). In proximal convoluted tubules from 4-5-week-old animals, the level of alpha 1 RNA expression was lower (P = 0.03) in SHR than in WKY rats. In addition, levels of alpha 1 in proximal straight tubule from the 4-5-week-old SHR were also lower than in WKY rats (P = 0.02). This difference was even greater in 15-16-week-old animals: in SHR, alpha 1 expression was less than 20% of the level of expression in WKY rats (P = 0.0003). Expression of the gamma subunit exhibited a similar pattern of downregulation in SHR. In RNA from proximal convoluted tubules and proximal straight tubules from both 4-5- and 15-16-week-old animals, expression of the gamma subunit was demonstrated to be significantly lower in SHR than in WKY rats. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a coordinate reduction in the abundance of sodium pump alpha and gamma subunits in the proximal tubules of SHR, which occurs early during the development of hypertension.