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Pleasant touch: Behavioural and hemodynamic responses to a protocol for systematic assessment of tactile stimulation
Luigi Trojano
Luigi Trojano

Abstract

Pleasant touch is a form of tactile stimulation mediated by tactile C afferent fibres. It involves the encoding of the emotional value associated with tactile stimulation and subserves important social functions. Although pleasant touch has gathered increased interest in recent years, no protocol has been proposed to assess it with a robust and reliable method. In the present study we adopted a rigorous protocol for evaluating the pleasantness or unpleasantness of 9 tactile (pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral) stimuli delivered on eight body areas in healthy individuals. We recorded participants' ratings on pleasantness and intensity of the stimulus, as well as their activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). A questionnaire evaluated participants' subjective experience of touch in everyday life. The behavioural results confirmed the effectiveness of the protocol as the stimuli selected to evoke pleasantness were perceived as significantly more pleasant than unpleasant and neutral ones, whereas unpleasant stimuli were perceived as more intense than all other stimuli. The participants reported the palm of the hand, particularly the left one, as the most sensitive area to tactile stimulation. Judgements of pleasantness were positively correlated with subjective experience of touch in everyday life. fNIRS data showed increased activity in the prefrontal cortex particularly during stimulation with pleasant and unpleasant stimuli, consistent with behavioural findings. Overall, this study contributes to understand the processing of pleasant touch and its neural correlates, while introducing a rigorous protocol for investigating tactile stimulation. This protocol holds promise for future utilisation in both healthy and clinical populations.
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Postural Abnormalities on the Sagittal Plane in Parkinson’s Disease and Therapeutic Role of the K1 Posture Keeper Shirt Evaluated by 3D Motion Analysis
Marina Melone
Marina Melone

Abstract

Postural abnormalities in the sagittal plane are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and increase the risk of falls. Previous studies have reported short-term benefit of corrective corsets in PD patients assessed by clinical and instrumental methods, while long-term effects on sagittal posture in upright standing and during walking remain unexplored. Fifteen PD patients with postural abnormalities on the sagittal plane, evaluated via the NeuroPostureApp, and ten healthy subjects matched for age and BMI were assessed by 3D motion analysis in upright posture. Then, the PD patients were evaluated with and without the K1 Posture Keeper during standing and walking at baseline (T0) and after three months of use (T1). The results showed an anteriorization of the head–cervical region with respect to the trunk and a whole-body misalignment in PD patients compared to healthy controls. The use of the K1 Posture Keeper induced a back shift of the nasion with a better alignment of the head with respect to the trunk, pelvis, and feet in upright standing and during walking, underlining an improvement in the sagittal alignment of the entire body in PD. These findings showed the therapeutical role of K1 Posture Keeper on sagittal posture in static and dynamic conditions, potentially due to proprioceptive reorganization.
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Psychophysiological indices of late-life depression: A systematic review
Luigi Trojano
Luigi Trojano

Abstract

Background

Major depression in the older population has a profound impact on patients’ quality of life and is associated with an increased risk of developing several medical illnesses. Psychophysiological methods, such as electroencephalography (EEG), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and eye-tracking, have provided evidence of physiological changes associated with depression in adult life. However, these aspects have not been thoroughly investigated during late-life (over 60 years of age).

Methods

A systematic review of the scientific literature covering the studies published between 1990 and 2022 was performed to describe the current evidence on easily attainable psychophysiological factors (detected by EEG, fNIRS and eye-tracking) associated with depression in late-life.

Results

Twelve studies were included in the systematic review. The included studies showed some consistent physiological patterns associated with late-life depression, such as brain hypoactivation in frontal and temporal areas and attentional biases toward emotional stimuli. No reliable patterns in EEG asymmetry and power spectrum were found, in contrast to studies on early-life depression.

Limitations

The small number of available studies, together with the heterogeneity in the techniques and methods used, highlight the need for further research to reliably identify the psychophysiological aspects of depression in late-life.

Conclusions

Physiological indices of late-life depression, as assessed by EEG, fNIRS and eye-tracking, may differ from those of early-life. The study of these indices could better clarify the physiological mechanisms underlying late-life depression with possible clinical and research implications. Recommendations for future research are also discussed.
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Goat Milk Supplementation Modulates the Mitochondrial Metabolic Flexibility and Orexin-A Levels Influencing the Inflammatory Pattern in Rats
Marianna Crispino
Marianna Crispino

Abstract

Milk and its derivatives are included in a balanced diet of humans as excellent sources of proteins, vitamins, and essential minerals that are functional nutrients. Knowledge about the nutritional benefits or harms due to milk consumption has been expanding in recent years. We previously explored, in rodent models, the metabolic effects of isoenergetic intake of milk derived from cows, donkeys, or humans, while the impact of goat’s milk intake has remained unexplored. The aim of this work was to investigate, in an animal model, the effects of dietary supplementation with goat’s milk on energy homeostasis and inflammatory state, focusing on the modulation of mitochondrial functions in most metabolically active organs, such as skeletal muscle and the liver. In addition, we highlighted a link between nutrient intake, substrate metabolism, and the orexinergic system. Our results indicate that goat milk improves mitochondrial oxidative capacity and reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in both organs. Notably, goat milk lowers the circulating levels of Orexin-A, a neuropeptide that plays a crucial role in regulating peripheral energy balance and central nervous system mechanisms. These data provide the first evidence that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of goat milk are mediated by the modulation of mitochondrial functions and orexinergic signaling.
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Expanding the Neurological Phenotype of Anderson–Fabry Disease: Proof of Concept for an Extrapyramidal Neurodegenerative Pattern and Comparison with Monogenic Vascular Parkinsonism
Luigi Trojano
Luigi Trojano

Abstract

Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD) is a genetic sphingolipidosis involving virtually the entire body. Among its manifestation, the involvement of the central and peripheral nervous system is frequent. In recent decades, it has become evident that, besides cerebrovascular damage, a pure neuronal phenotype of AFD exists in the central nervous system, which is supported by clinical, pathological, and neuroimaging data. This neurodegenerative phenotype is often clinically characterized by an extrapyramidal component similar to the one seen in prodromal Parkinson’s disease (PD). We analyzed the biological, clinical pathological, and neuroimaging data supporting this phenotype recently proposed in the literature. Moreover, we compared the neurodegenerative PD phenotype of AFD with a classical monogenic vascular disease responsible for vascular parkinsonism and cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). A substantial difference in the clinical and neuroimaging features of neurodegenerative and vascular parkinsonism phenotypes emerged, with AFD being potentially responsible for both forms of the extrapyramidal involvement, and CADASIL mainly associated with the vascular subtype. The available studies share some limitations regarding both patients’ information and neurological and genetic investigations. Further studies are needed to clarify the potential association between AFD and extrapyramidal manifestations.
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Long‐term clinical evolution of patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness due to severe anoxic brain injury: A meta‐analytic study
Luigi Trojano
Luigi Trojano

Abstract

Background and purpose

The prognosis of prolonged (28 days to 3 months post-onset) disorders of consciousness (pDoC) due to anoxic brain injury is uncertain. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term outcome of post-anoxic pDoC and identify the possible predictive value of demographic and clinical information.

Method

This is a systematic review and meta-analysis. The rates of mortality, any improvement in clinical diagnosis, and recovery of full consciousness at least 6 months after severe anoxic brain injury were evaluated. A cross-sectional approach searched for differences in baseline demographic and clinical characteristics between survivors and non-survivors, patients improved versus not improved, and patients who recovered full consciousness versus not recovered.

Results

Twenty-seven studies were identified. The pooled rates of mortality, any clinical improvement and recovery of full consciousness were 26%, 26% and 17%, respectively. Younger age, baseline diagnosis of minimally conscious state versus vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome, higher Coma Recovery Scale Revised total score, and earlier admission to intensive rehabilitation units were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of survival and clinical improvement. These same variables, except time of admission to rehabilitation, were also associated with recovery of full consciousness.

Conclusions

Patients with anoxic pDoC might improve over time up to full recovery of consciousness and some clinical characteristics can help predict clinical improvement. These new insights could support clinicians and caregivers in the decision-making on patient management.
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Exploring Circulating Long Non-Coding RNAs in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients' Blood
Cinzia Coppola
Cinzia Coppola
Simona Bonavita
Simona Bonavita
Elisabetta Signoriello
Elisabetta Signoriello

Abstract

: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional clinical stage prior to dementia. Patients with amnestic MCI have a high risk of progression toward Alzheimer’s disease. Both amnestic mild cognitive impairment and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease are multifactorial disorders consequential from a multifaceted cross-talk among molecular and biological processes. Non-coding RNAs play an important role in the regulation of gene expression, mainly long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), that regulate other RNA transcripts through binding microRNAs. Cross-talk between RNAs, including coding RNAs and non-coding RNAs, produces a significant regulatory network all through the transcriptome. The relationship of genes and non-coding RNAs could improve the knowledge of the genetic factors contributing to the predisposition and pathophysiology of MCI. The objective of this study was to identify the expression patterns and relevant lncRNA-associated miRNA regulatory axes in the blood of MCI patients, which includes lncRNA-SNHG16, lncRNA-H19, and lncRNA-NEAT1. Microarray investigations have demonstrated modifications in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) in the blood of patients with MCI compared with control samples. This is the first study to explore lncRNA profiles in mild cognitive impairment blood. Our study proposes RNAs targets involved in molecular pathways connected to the pathogenesis of MCI.
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Human blood lipid profiles after dietary supplementation of different omega 3 ethyl esters formulations.
Marina Melone
Marina Melone

Abstract

The validity of omega 3 fatty acids (ω3 FAs), mainly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), as dietary supplements has been widely proved. It’s well known in fact, that they protect against cardiovascular diseases, reduce the levels of triacylglycerides (TAGs) and cholesteryl esters (CEs) in blood, and have anti-inflammatory activity. For these reasons, in the last few years the production of dietary supplement containing ω3 has increased significantly. In this context, the possibility to obtain ω3 and other high value molecules from alternative sources as fish waste, in accordance with the principles of circular economy, becomes an enormous attractive. In addition, the opportunity of creating new products, with greater health benefits, represents an interesting challenge. The current study was focused on the extraction of ω3 fatty acids and peptides from tuna waste industry, to realize a new dietary supplement. To this purpose, a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method was developed to separate, isolate, and enrich the different fractions subsequently used to produce an innovative formulate. The obtained supplement was characterized in terms of fatty acids esterified ester (FAEE) composition by gas chromatography (GC) coupled to both flame ionization detection (FID) and mass spectrometry (MS), and content of heavy metals by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).The effects of ω3 supplementation on metabolism and circulating lipid profiles was tested on 12 volunteers and assessed by GC-FID analysis of whole blood collected on paper support (Dried Blood Spot, DBS) at the beginning of the study and after thirty days. The results of plasma fatty acids levels after 30 days showed a significant decrease in the ω6/ω3 ratio, as well as the saturated/polyunsaturated fatty acids (SFA/PUFA) ratio, compared to subjects who took the ω3 ethyl esters unformulated. The novel formulated supplements proved to be extremely interesting and promising products, due to a significant increase in bioavailability, that makes it highly competitive in the current panorama of the nutraceutical industry.
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Spontaneous eye blinking during an auditory, an interoceptive and a visual task: The role of the sensory modality and the attentional focus
Luigi Trojano
Luigi Trojano

Abstract

Previous evidence suggested that spontaneous eye blinking changes as a function of the attentional focus. In particular, eye blink rate (EBR) tends to increase when attention is directed to internal versus environmental processing. Most studies on this issue compared eye blinking during visual and mental imagery tasks, and interpreted the increase in EBR as a mechanism to focus cognitive resources on internal processing by disengaging attention from interfering information. However, since eye blinking also depends on the sensory modality of the task, the findings might be influenced by a modality-specific effect.In the present Registered Report we aim at investigating whether the environmental versus internal attentional focus can affect spontaneous blinking behaviour in non-visual tasks as well, in conditions where visual stimuli are not relevant. In a within-subject design, healthy participants performed an interoceptive task (i.e., heartbeat counting) and an auditory task in which pre-recorded heartbeats were presented aurally; during both tasks irrelevant visual stimuli were also presented. In a further control condition with the same auditory and visual stimuli, the participants were required to focus their attention on visual stimuli. Participants' EBR was recorded during each task by means of an eye-tracking system.We found that, although the interoceptive task was more difficult than the auditory and visual tasks, participants' EBR decreased by a comparable level in all tasks with respect to a rest condition, with no differences between internal versus environmental conditions. The present findings do not support the idea that EBR is modulated by an internal versus external focus of attention, at least in presence of controlled visual stimulation.
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Exploring Circulating Long Non-Coding RNAs in Mild Cognitive Impairment Patients’ Blood
Elisabetta Signoriello
Elisabetta Signoriello
Cinzia Coppola
Cinzia Coppola
AbstractmiRNA regulatory axes in blood of MCI patients, which includes lncRNA-SNHG16, lncRNA-H19 and lncRNA-NEAT1. Microarray investigations have demonstrated modifications in the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) in blood of patients with MCI compared with control samples. This is the first study to explore lncRNA profiles in Mild Cognitive Impairment blood. Our study proposes RNAs targets involved in molecular pathways connected to the pathogenesis of MCI.
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