Virtual reality and cognitive rehabilitation for older adults with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review.

Virtual Reality (VR) has been gaining increasing attention as a potential ecological and effective intervention system for treating Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). However, it remains unclear the efficacy and effectiveness of VR-based cognitive rehabilitation therapy (VR-CRT) in comparison with cognitive rehabilitation therapy (CRT). Consequently, a systematic review on Pubmed, Scopus, PsycInfo, and Web Of Science was conducted to assess the state of the art of the literature published between 2003 and April 2023. Only articles that adopted CRT as control group and that included some measure of at least one domain among overall cognitive function, executive function and functional status were included. Participants needed to be older adults aged 65 or over with a diagnosis of MCI. The risk of bias and the quality of evidence were assessed using the Version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trials. Initially, 6503 records were considered and screened after removing duplicates (n = 1321). Subsequently, 81 full texts were assessed for eligibility. Four articles met the inclusion criteria but 2 of them were merged as they were describing different outcomes of the same research project. Consequently, 3 overall studies with a total of 130 participants were included in the final analysis. Due to the high heterogeneity in the methodology and outcome measures employed, it was not possible to conduct a meta-analysis. Included studies used semi-immersive (k = 2) and full-immersive (k = 1) VR systems in their research. Two articles evaluated overall cognitive function through the MoCA together with specific tests for executive functions (n = 69), while one study adopted a comprehensive neuropsychological battery to evaluate both cognitive function and executive function (n = 61). Finally, one study evaluated functional status through instrumental activities of daily living (n = 34). A However, the limited number of studies, the small sample size, and the potential issues with the quality and methodology of these studies that emerged from the risk of bias assessment may raise doubts about the reliability of their results. Nevertheless, although scarce, results of the present review suggest that VR-CRT may be paramount in treating MCI for its additional ecological and adaptive advantages, as all of the studies highlighted that it was at least as effective as conventional CRT for all the outcome measures. Therefore, more rigorous research that compares VR-CRT and CRT is needed to understand the degree to which VR-CRT is effective with older adults with MCI and the potential role of immersion to influence its efficacy. Indeed, these preliminary findings highlight the need for the development of standardized VR protocols, as the integration of such technology into clinical practice may help improve the quality of life and cognitive outcomes for this growing demographic.

The sexuality of couples formed during the pandemic: An exploratory study.

Covid-19 has been affecting people's lives on a social, economic, emotional, and sexual level. This study aims to investigate any change in how couples formed during the pandemic got to know the partner and experienced sexuality, including factors that could have influenced those changes in comparison with a pre-pandemic period. Particularly, focus groups (N = 26 women) were conducted and an online questionnaire (N = 120; 41 men and 79 women) was administered. Given the exploratory qualitative nature of the present research, no specific hypothesis was tested. Most of the sample reported an increase in sexual desire, sexual frequency, and quality of intercourse, perceiving an early development of intimacy. The results highlight the lack of stress and fear of contagion. The intense state of euphoria, typical of the initial phase of the relationship, has perhaps allowed the couples to overcome the obstacles due to the restrictions. This study underlines the role of being in love in the survival of the species, as it allows for the creation of steady relationships even in moments of danger.

Using Mobile Devices in Teaching Large University Classes: How Does It Affect Exam Success?

The aim of this study was to examine the role of mobile-based student response systems in teaching to improve university students' academic outcomes. Mobile devices can be useful tools for conveying content to large classes, with a potential impact on academic outcomes. This study involved a total of 294 undergraduates taking a psychology course. The course involved lessons in the classroom, which included answering quizzes (quiz activities) and activities such as preparing reports and laboratory experiences (out-of-class activities). Quizzes were administered using a mobile technology system. Data were collected on the motivational beliefs (theory of intelligence) and self-regulated learning strategies of students who voluntarily completed the online questionnaires. The results of the linear models showed that using the quizzes positively affected the performance in the final exams (involving closed and open questions). The same was true for the out-of-class activities. The motivation and strategy scores correlated moderately with out-of-class activities, but not with quiz activities. These results offer insight on the use of technology during lessons and other course-related activities to promote academic achievement.

Sexual Fantasies and Stereotypical Gender Roles: The Influence of Sexual Orientation, Gender and Social Pressure in a Sample of Italian Young-Adults.

Differences in gender and sexual orientation are suggested to be linked to differences in the way individuals think and behave. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effect of gender and sexual orientation on sexual fantasies and gender roles in heterosexual and gay and lesbian people. The sample was composed of 547 participants, 246 men (M age = 28.85; SD = 9,27) and 301 women (M age = 25,97; SD = 7,141). Within this sample, 61.8% of men and 79.4% of women were heterosexual, whereas 38.2% of men and 20.6% of women were gay and lesbian. Participants completed an online battery of questionnaires to assess their sexual orientation, sexual fantasies, and gender roles on three different dimensions. It was hypothesized that the heterosexual group would report more normative sexual fantasies (H1) and that women in general would report androgynous characteristics, which would be linked to a low degree of reported feminine ideal roles and high social pressure to conform to feminine social expectations (H2). The results showed that lesbian women scored slightly higher than heterosexual women on transgressive sexual fantasies and lower on emotional-romantic ones. Moreover, heterosexual women, but not lesbian women, showed a pattern of high social pressure to conform to feminine expectations together with lower scores in the IRQ. We found the same results on gay men but not for heterosexual men. The overall results suggest that sexual fantasies and gender roles are relatively independent concepts and are influenced by different mechanisms.

Beta-tricalcium phosphate 3D scaffold promote alone osteogenic differentiation of human adipose stem cells: in vitro study.

Human adipose tissues surgically resected from the subcutaneous abdominal region were enzymatically processed to obtain Human Adipose Stem cells (fibroblast-like adipose tissue-derived stromal cells-ADSC-FL) that were immunophenotypically characterized using a panel of mesenchymal markers by flow cytometry. The formation of new hydroxyapatite crystals in culture dishes, by differentiating cells, further demonstrate the osteogenic potential of purified cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation potential of ADSC-FL seeded onto a porous beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) matrix. ADSC-FL was cultured on the beta-TCP matrix in medium with or without osteogenic differentiation additives. Time-dependent cell differentiation was monitored using osteogenic markers such as alkaline phosphatase (activity assay), osteocalcin and ostopontin (ELISA method) expression. Our results reveal that beta-TCP triggers the differentiation of ADSC-FL toward an osteoblastic phenotype irrespective of whether the cells are grown in a proliferative or a differentiative medium. Hence, a beta-TCP matrix is sufficient to promote osteoblastic differentiation of ADSC-FL. However, in proliferative medium, alkaline phosphatase activity was detected at lower level respect to differentiative medium and osteocalcin and osteopontin showed an expression delay in cells cultured in proliferative medium respect to differentiative one. Moreover, we observed an increase in FAK phosphorylation at level of tyrosine residue in position 397 (Western-blot) that indicates a good cell adhesion to beta-TCP scaffold. In conclusion, our paper demonstrates that a three-dimensional beta-TCP scaffold in vitro triggers on its own the differentiation of ADSC-FL toward an osteoblastic phenotype without the need to use differentiative media.

Galactosyl derivative of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine: study of antiproliferative activity on human thyroid follicular carcinoma cells.

The methyl ester prodrug of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME) has been reported to exert anticancer effects against several human tumors, including thyroid carcinoma, by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (NOS). However, chronic administration of L-NAME has often led to adverse events causing cardiovascular alterations due to its potential toxic effect. Here we report for the first time the synthesis of the galactosyl ester prodrug of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine, NAGAL, a prodrug capable of inhibiting NOS more efficiently and with fewer adverse events than its parent drug. For this purpose RO82-W-1, a thyroid cell line derived from human follicular carcinoma, was used. MTT test results showed that NAGAL affected cell viability to a significantly greater extent than did L-NAME. Moreover, fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) analyses revealed that NAGAL, compared to L-NAME, was able to reduce nitric oxide (NO) production as well as increase the percentage of apoptotic thyreocytes. Western blot further confirmed the reduction in NOS-II expression by NAGAL. Finally, by using the LC-MS technique, we found that NAGAL elicited a higher increase in N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (NA) concentration than did L-NAME. Thus, this study suggests that NAGAL could be considered a potential therapeutic tool for those pathologies involving an overproduction of NO, including thyroid carcinoma.