Mechanisms and Target Parameters in Relation to Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Physical Exercise: Focus on the Master Triad of Hormonal Changes, Oxidative Stress, and Inflammation.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder among females of reproductive age with heterogeneous prevalence. It is well known that female reproductive competence depends on the dynamic regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis; therefore, disruption of this highly regulated system leads to fertility problems. Among disruptors, both oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to an increased LH-FSH ratio and a consequent hyperandrogenism. Shifts in this bidirectional interplay between the neuroendocrine system and oxidative/inflammatory homeostasis result in the accumulation of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species and inflammatory markers as well as alterations in antioxidant defense mechanisms. Evidence shows that lifestyle changes, including regular physical exercise, are recognized as the most effective first-line management to reduce the severity of PCOS symptoms. The aim of our narrative review is to provide insights into the mechanisms and target factors of PCOS-related hormonal changes, oxidative/antioxidant homeostasis, and inflammation, and to discuss the effects of exercise, which takes into account various factors, in relation to PCOS. A better understanding of the PCOS-associated hormonal changes, oxidative and inflammatory circuits, as well as exercise-induced mechanisms of action on those targets may improve the quality of life of women with PCOS.

A Comprehensive Overview on Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity: Insights into the Underlying Inflammatory and Oxidative Mechanisms.

While oncotherapy has made rapid progress in recent years, side effects of anti-cancer drugs and treatments have also come to the fore. These side effects include cardiotoxicity, which can cause irreversible cardiac damages with long-term morbidity and mortality. Despite the continuous in-depth research on anti-cancer drugs, an improved knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of cardiotoxicity are necessary for early detection and management of cardiac risk. Although most reviews focus on the cardiotoxic effect of a specific individual chemotherapeutic agent, the aim of our review is to provide comprehensive insight into various agents that induced cardiotoxicity and their underlying mechanisms. Characterization of these mechanisms are underpinned by research on animal models and clinical studies. In order to gain insight into these complex mechanisms, we emphasize the role of inflammatory processes and oxidative stress on chemotherapy-induced cardiac changes. A better understanding and identification of the interplay between chemotherapy and inflammatory/oxidative processes hold some promise to prevent or at least mitigate cardiotoxicity-associated morbidity and mortality among cancer survivors.

Sharing and Receiving Eye-Contact Predicts Mate Choice After a 5-Minute Conversation: Evidence from a Speed-Dating Study.

In popular narratives, the first date with a potential mate often centers on their gaze as embodiment of interest and attraction. However, evidence is still lacking on the role of eye-contact as a potent signal in human social interaction in the context of dating. In addition, behavioral mechanisms of mate selection are not well understood. In the present study, we therefore examined mutual eye-contact and its influence on mate choice by applying dual mobile eye-tracking during naturalistic speed-dates. A total of 30 male and 30 female subjects attended four speed-dates each (N = 240). Subjects were more likely to choose those dating partners with whom they shared more eye-contact with. In addition, perceived attractiveness played an important role for mate choice. Interestingly, receiving but not giving eye-contact also predicted individual mate choice. Eye-contact thus acts as an important signal of romantic attraction when encountering a dating partner.

Swift attenuation of irrelevant features through feature consistency: Evidence from a capture-probe version of the contingent-capture protocol.

In the present two experiments, we explore the possibility of swift attenuation of capture by irrelevant features in the contingent-capture protocol. Some prior research suggests that feature attenuation might be most efficient for fixed, anticipated irrelevant features and that varying irrelevant features from trial to trial can undermine their successful attenuation. Here, we exploited this dependence of attenuation on feature certainty to test if attenuation contributed to contingent-capture effects in a capture-probe version of the contingent-capture protocol. In line with the swift attenuation of irrelevant features, salient but target-dissimilar singleton cues that were consistently coloured diminished recall of probes at their locations. This was in comparison to inconsistently coloured target-dissimilar singleton cues. Nonetheless, probe-recall was still better at target-dissimilar cue locations than at non-singleton locations in the cueing display, indicating attenuation of task-irrelevant features rather than their complete suppression.

Emotion Recognition in Multiple System Atrophy: An Exploratory Eye-Tracking Study.

OBJECTIVE: Emotional processing is a core feature of social interactions and has been well studied in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD), albeit with contradictory. RESULTS: . However, these studies excluded patients with atypical parkinsonism, such as multiple system atrophy (MSA). The objective of this exploratory study was to provide better insights into emotion processing in patients with MSA using eye tracking data. METHODS: We included 21 MSA patients, 15 PD patients and 19 matched controls in this study. Participants performed a dynamic and a static emotion recognition task, and gaze fixations were analyzed in different areas of interest. Participants underwent neuropsychological testing and assessment of depression and alexithymia. RESULTS: MSA patients were less accurate in recognizing anger than controls (p = 0.02) and had overall fewer fixations than controls (p = 0.001). In the static task, MSA patients had fewer fixations (p < 0.001) and a longer time to first fixation (p = 0.026) on the eye region. Furthermore, MSA patients had a longer fixation duration overall than PD patients (p = 0.004) and longer fixations on the nose than controls (p = 0.005). Alexithymia scores were higher in MSA patients compared to controls (p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated impaired recognition of anger in MSA patients compared to HCs. Fewer and later fixations on the eyes along with a center bias suggest avoidance of eye contact, which may be a characteristic gaze behavior in MSA patients.

The Interplay of Lifestyle and Adipokines in the Non-Obese Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Although the morphological features and functions of adipose tissue are well-described in obesity-prone animal models, less information is available on animals such as the stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) strain with cardiovascular abnormalities, which is not characterized by excessive adiposity. Our aim was to focus on lifestyle-induced (type of diet and physical exercise) effects on adipokine profile and lipid peroxidation in SHRSP rats. In our study, male Wistar-kyoto (control) and SHRSP rats were used. SHRSP rats were fed either standard chow or a high-fat diet with 40% fat content (HFD). One group of the animals was placed into cages fitted with a running-wheel; thus, the dietary and training period started at the same time and lasted for 12 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, adiponectin, leptin, omentin, and chemerin concentrations were determined from adipose tissue and serum. Besides adipokines, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were also measured. Twelve weeks of HFD significantly decreased adiponectin and omentin concentrations of both adipose tissue and serum, which were ameliorated by physical exercise. Serum leptin, chemerin, and MDA values were elevated in HFD groups; however, physical exercise was able to mitigate these adverse changes. Our results underpin the crosstalk between lifestyle changes and dysfunctional adipose tissue in SHRSP rats.

Systematic review of time lag between antibiotic use and rise of resistant pathogens among hospitalized adults in Europe.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) causes substantial health and economic burden to individuals, healthcare systems and societies globally. Understanding the temporal relationship between antibiotic consumption and antibiotic resistance in hospitalized patients can better inform antibiotic stewardship activities and the time frame for their evaluation. Objectives: This systematic review examined the temporal relationship between antibiotic use and development of antibiotic resistance for 42 pre-defined antibiotic and pathogen combinations in hospitalized adults in Europe. Methods: Searches in MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library and NIHR Centre for Reviews and Dissemination were undertaken from 2000 to August 2021. Pathogens of interest were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, CoNS, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii complex. Results: Twenty-eight ecological studies and one individual-level study were included. Ecological studies were predominantly retrospective in design (19 studies) and of reasonable (20 studies) to high (8 studies) methodological quality. Of the eight pathogens of interest, no relevant data were identified for S. pneumoniae and CoNS. Across all pathogens, the time-lag data from the 28 ecological studies showed a similar pattern, with the majority of studies reporting lags ranging from 0 to 6 months. Conclusions: Development of antibiotic resistance for the investigated antibiotic/pathogen combinations tends to occur over 0 to 6 months following exposure within European hospitals. This information could inform planning of antibiotic stewardship activities in hospital settings.

Cardiovascular reactivity during sadness induction predicts inhibitory control performance.

Higher negative affectivity has an association with decreased executive function and cognitive control. Heart rate variability (HRV) serves as an index of cardiac vagal regulation differences in the autonomic nervous system for both cognition and emotion. The current study investigates this association using a classic as well as emotional antisaccade paradigm to study inhibitory control performance. Ninety participants completed affective questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory-II, and Mood Scale), a 6-minute baseline electrocardiogram, and two different antisaccade tasks. After the baseline, subjects were presented with a video sequence with either neutral, sad, or emotionally arousing content. By subtracting the baseline from the video sequence, we computed HRV reactivity and tested whether the reactivity score could predict inhibitory control performance. We hypothesized that this would be the case in both the sadness and arousal group, but not in the neutral one. Furthermore, we awaited significant performance differences between experimental groups. Contrary to our assumption, inhibitory control performance did not differ between experimental groups. Moreover, there was no significant relation between affective measures and task performance. Nevertheless, cardiovascular reactivity in terms of HRV was predictive of error rates in both antisaccade tasks in the sadness group. We could find this effect neither in the neutral nor in the arousal group. In addition, BDI scores moderated the effect in the emotional task. Results indicate that emotional reactivity to a sad video stimulus as indexed by HRV as well as the interaction with current emotional state predict inhibitory control performance.

Early lifetime experience of urban living predicts social attention in real world crowds.

More than half of the world's population is currently living in cities, with more and more people moving to densely populated areas. The experience of growing up and living in crowded environments might influence the way we explore our social environment, mainly how we attend to others. Yet, we know little about how urbanicity affects this vital function of our social life. In two studies, we use mobile eye-tracking to measure participants' social attention, while walking through a shopping mall. Results show that social density of participants' native place impacts how frequently they look at passing strangers. People who experienced more city living from birth to early adolescence, attend more to strangers' faces than their rural counterparts. Our findings demonstrate that the early experience of urban upbringing configures social attention in adulthood. The urbanicity-related bias towards social gazing might reflect a more efficient processing of social information in urban natives.

Variation in antisaccadic response latencies investigated with the hierarchical LATER process model.

The antisaccade paradigm is frequently applied to measure inhibitory control. Typically, simple, perceptually neutral stimuli are used as cues. Recently, emotional versions of this paradigm have also been employed. In our study, we used both versions of the paradigm. In addition, scrambled faces served to control for stimulus size and emotional valence. We applied a hierarchical extension to the Linear Approach to Threshold Ergodic Rate (LATER) process model, which allows the estimation of two latent cognitive parameters: speed of information accumulation (accretion rate) and the amount of information needed before a saccadic movement (caution threshold). We hypothesized a faster accretion rate and lower caution threshold for circular and scrambled compared to emotional face stimuli as well as meaningful differences between individual emotions. Our results showed a faster accretion rate and lower caution threshold for emotional compared to circular stimuli, though. In contrast, scrambled faces had a lower accretion rate and lower caution threshold. Furthermore, the LATER model uncovered subtle differences between different emotions. Happy faces tend to receive a faster accretion rate and higher caution threshold than neutral ones, while for fearful faces it was the other way around. Our results contradict earlier research on emotional stimuli interfering inhibitory control.

Potential Implications of Rimonabant on Age-Related Oxidative Stress and Inflammation.

Over the last decades, growing interest has turned to preventive and therapeutic approaches for achieving successful aging. Oxidative stress and inflammation are fundamental features of cardiovascular diseases; therefore, potential targets of them can improve cardiac outcomes. Our study aimed to examine the involvement of the endocannabinoid system, especially the CB1 receptor blockade, on inflammatory and oxidant/antioxidant processes. Twenty-month-old female and male Wistar rats were divided into rimonabant-treated and aging control (untreated) groups. Rimonabant, a selective CB1 receptor antagonist, was administered at the dose of 1 mg/kg/day intraperitoneally for 2 weeks. Cardiac amounts of ROS, the antioxidant glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the activity and concentration of the heme oxygenase (HO) enzyme were detected. Among inflammatory parameters, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity were measured. Two weeks of low dose rimonabant treatment significantly reduced the cardiac ROS via boosting of the antioxidant defense mechanisms as regards the HO system, and the SOD and glutathione content. Consistently, the age-related inflammatory response was alleviated. Rimonabant-treated animals showed significantly decreased NF-κB, TNF-α, and MPO levels. Our findings prove the beneficial involvement of CB1 receptor blocker rimonabant on inflammatory and oxidative damages to the aging heart.

Sensory processing sensitivity predicts performance in an emotional antisaccade paradigm.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a common, heritable, and evolutionarily conserved trait, describing inter-individual differences in responsiveness and a more cautious approach to novel stimuli. It is associated with increased activation of brain regions involved in awareness, integration of sensory information, and empathy during processing of emotional faces. Furthermore, SPS is related to better performance in a visual detection task. Even though SPS is conceptualized to be closely related to traits characterized by pausing before acting, no study to date has assessed the relation between SPS and inhibitory control in a behavioral inhibition task. The present study fills this gap by investigating how SPS influences individual performance on two different antisaccade paradigms including emotional face stimuli. In addition, we assessed self-reported mood, anxiety, and depressiveness. Results showed that SPS was related to faster processing speed on the emotional, but not the classic antisaccade paradigm. Moreover, SPS predicted inhibitory control speed above mood and depressiveness. Our results provide evidence that higher SPS participants show superior inhibitory abilities, especially during the processing of emotional stimuli. This is in line with earlier findings showing better performance in a visual detection task as well as increased brain activation during emotional face processing.

Multiple Applications of Different Exercise Modalities with Rodents.

A large proportion of chronic diseases can be derived from a sedentary lifestyle. Raising physical activity awareness is indispensable, as lack of exercise is the fourth most common cause of death worldwide. Animal models in different research fields serve as important tools in the study of acute or chronic noncommunicable disorders. With the help of animal-based exercise research, exercise-mediated complex antioxidant and inflammatory pathways can be explored, which knowledge can be transferred to human studies. Whereas sustained physical activity has an enormous number of beneficial effects on many organ systems, these animal models are easily applicable in several research areas. This review is aimed at providing an overall picture of scientific research studies using animal models with a focus on different training modalities. Without wishing to be exhaustive, the most commonly used forms of exercise are presented.

Lifestyle-Induced Redox-Sensitive Alterations: Cross-Talk among the RAAS, Antioxidant/Inflammatory Status, and Hypertension.

The development and progression of hypertension are closely linked to an unhealthy lifestyle; however, its underlying mechanisms are not fully elucidated. Our aim was to assess the effects of diet and exercise on the elements of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), redox-sensitive parameters, and the expression of the vascular tone regulator endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Male control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) rats were randomized based on the type of diet (standard chow, high-fat diet: HT, and fructose-enriched diet: HF) and exercise (voluntary wheel-running exercise or lack of exercise). After 12 weeks of experimental period, the concentrations of the RAAS elements, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) concentrations, levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH), and expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated ERK1/2 as well as eNOS were measured in the cardiac tissue of WKY and SHRSP rats. We found that the RAAS elements were overactivated under hypertension and were further elevated by HT or HF diet, while HT and HF diet enhanced MPO and TNF-α parameters as well as the expression of pERK1/2; SOD, GSH, and eNOS levels were decreased. These changes occurred in WKKY rats and reached the statistically significant level in SHRSP animals. 12 weeks of exercise compensated the adverse effects of HT and HF via alleviating the concentrations of the RAAS elements and inflammatory markers as well as increasing of antioxidants. Our findings prove that SHRSP rats are more vulnerable to lifestyle changes. Both the type of diet and exercise, as a nonpharmacological therapeutic tool, can have a significant impact on the progression of hypertension.

Do emotional stimuli interfere with response inhibition? evidence from the antisaccade paradigm.

When it comes to measuring cognitive control and inhibition, the antisaccade paradigm is a popular task to apply. Usually, simple, perceptually and affectively neutral stimuli, e.g. white circles, are used. Recently, researchers also employed a version of the paradigm displaying emotional faces. Differences in cognitive processing due to stimulus size and emotional valence have not been investigated yet. Thus, in the present study, we applied both versions of the antisaccade paradigm in a healthy sample. In addition, we used scrambled faces to control for stimulus size and emotional valence. We hypothesised slower reaction times and higher error rates for emotional face stimuli compared to circular and scrambled ones as well as significant differences between individual emotions. In contrast to our hypotheses, results showed faster reaction times fewer errors for emotional faces compared to circular and scrambled stimuli. Furthermore, ANOVA models showed no meaningful differences between different emotions. Our study shows specific patterns in inhibitory control due to stimulus size and valence in an antisaccade eye-tracking task.

Bugs That Can Resist Antibiotics but Not Men: Gender-Specific Differences in Notified Infections and Colonisations in Germany, 2010-2019.

Data from surveillance networks show that men have a higher incidence rate of infections with anti-microbial-resistant (AMR) pathogens than women. We systematically analysed data of infections and colonisations with AMR pathogens under mandatory surveillance in Germany to quantify gender-specific differences. We calculated incidence-rates (IR) per 100,000 person-years for invasive infections with Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and for infections or colonisations with carbapenem-non-susceptible Acinetobacter spp. (CRA), and Enterobacterales (CRE), using the entire German population as a denominator. We limited the study periods to years with complete notification data (MRSA: 2010-2019, CRA/CRE: 2017-2019). We used Poisson regression to adjust for gender, age group, federal state, and year of notification. In the study periods, IR for all notifications were 4.2 for MRSA, 0.90 for CRA, and 4.8 for CRE per 100,000 person--years. The adjusted IR ratio for infections of men compared to women was 2.3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.2-2.3) for MRSA, 2.2 (95%CI: 1.9-2.7) for CRA, and 1.7 (95%CI: 1.6-1.8) for CRE. Men in Germany show about double the risk for infection with AMR pathogens than women. This was also true for colonisations, where data were available. Screening procedures and associated hygiene measures may profit from a gender-stratified approach.

[Recording of SARS-CoV-2 laboratory tests in Germany]. / Erfassung der Labortestungen auf SARS-CoV-2 in Deutschland.

The collection of data on SARS-CoV­2 tests is central to the assessment of the infection rate in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), data collected from various laboratory data recording systems are consolidated. First, this article aims to exemplify significant aspects regarding test procedures. Subsequently the different systems for recording laboratory tests are described and test numbers from the RKI test laboratory query and the laboratory-based SARS-CoV­2 surveillance as well as accounting data from the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians for SARS-CoV­2 laboratory tests are shown.Early in the pandemic, the RKI test laboratory query and the laboratory-based SARS-CoV­2 surveillance became available and able to evaluate data on performed tests and test capacities. By recording the positive and negative test results, statements about the total number of tests and the proportion of positive test rates can be made. While the aggregate test numbers are largely representative nationwide, they are not always representative at the state and district level. The billing data of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians can complement the laboratory data afterwards. In addition, it can provide a retrospective assessment of the total number of SARS-CoV­2 numbers in Germany, because the services provided by statutory health insurers (around 85% of the population in Germany) are included. The various laboratory data recording systems complement one another and the evaluations flow into the recommended measures for the pandemic response.

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Aging: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Age-Related Oxidative Stress and Cardiac Remodeling.

Advanced age is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, which might be further exacerbated by estrogen deficiency. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) decreases cardiovascular risks and events in postmenopausal women; however, its effects are not fully elucidated in older individuals. Thus, the aim of our study is to examine the impact of HRT on oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis and cardiac remodeling. In our experiment, control (fertile) and aging (~20-month-old) female Wistar rats were used. Aging rats were further divided into estrogen- (E2, 0.1 mg/kg/day per os) or raloxifene- (RAL, 1.0 mg/kg/day per os) treated subgroups. After 2 weeks of treatment, cardiac heme oxygenase (HO) activity, total glutathione (GSH) content, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) activity, and the concentrations of collagen type I and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-2), as well as the infarct size, were determined. The aging process significantly decreased the antioxidant HO activity and GSH content, altered the MMP-2/TIMP-2 signaling, and resulted in an excessive collagen accumulation, which culminated in cardiovascular injury. However, 2 weeks of either E2 or RAL treatment enhanced the antioxidant defense mechanisms and attenuated cardiac remodeling related to aging. Our findings clearly show that 2-week-long HRT is a potential intervention to bias successful cardiovascular aging via reducing oxidative damage and cardiovascular dysfunction.

Short-term cerebral blood flow variability in major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: Previous research has documented reduced heart rate and blood pressure variability in major depressive disorder (MDD), suggesting a limited capacity for cardiovascular regulation and diminished homeostatic resources in the disorder. This study aimed to complement this knowledge by investigating short-term cerebral blood flow (CBF) variability in MDD. METHODS: Using transcranial Doppler sonography, blood flow velocities in the middle cerebral arteries of both hemispheres were recorded in 35 MDD patients and 35 healthy controls, at rest and during serial subtraction task-induced mental stress. CBF variability was represented by the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) in the beat-to-beat mean, systolic and diastolic flow velocity. RESULTS: Patients, as compared to controls, exhibited smaller mean and diastolic blood flow variability in MCA both at rest and during mental stress. Mean, systolic and diastolic blood flow variability were greater during the task than at rest. CBF variability did not differ between patient subgroups composed according to medication use. LIMITATIONS: Potential effects of blood pressure and respiration on CBF variability could not be investigated. CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed evidence of reduced short-term CBF variability in MDD. The task-induced CBF variability increase may be ascribed to neural activity associated with arithmetic processing. Lower blood pressure variability and deficient autonomic cardiovascular control may contribute to the reduction of short-term CBF variability seen in MDD. Short-term CBF variability reflects preserved interplay of regulatory mechanisms ensuring optimal blood and energy supply to the brain. Therefore, the results suggest impaired cerebroprotective mechanisms, associated with suboptimal cerebral performance.