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In the last few years, our understanding of disease molecular mechanisms underpinning ALS has advanced greatly, allowing the first steps in translating into clinical practice novel research findings, including gene therapy approaches. Similarly, the recent advent of assistive technologies has greatly improved the possibility of a more personalized approach to supportive and symptomatic care, in the context of an increasingly complex multidisciplinary line of actions, which remains the cornerstone of ALS management. Against this rapidly growing background, here we provide an comprehensive update on the most recent studies that have contributed towards our understanding of ALS pathogenesis, the latest results from clinical trials as well as the future directions for improving the clinical management of ALS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis associated with mutations in SOD1 (SOD1-ALS) might be susceptible to specific treatment. The aim of the study is to outline the clinical features of SOD1-ALS patients by comparing them to patients without ALS major gene variants and patients with variants in other major ALS genes. Defining SOD1-ALS phenotype may assist clinicians in identifying patients who should be prioritized for genetic testing. Methods: We performed an extensive literature research including original studies which reported the clinical features of SOD1-ALS and at least one of the following patient groups: C9ORF72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion (C9-ALS), TARDBP (TARDBP-ALS), FUS (FUS-ALS) or patients without a positive test for a major-ALS gene (N-ALS). A random effects meta-analytic model was applied to clinical data extracted encompassing sex, site and age of onset. To reconstruct individual patient survival data, the published Kaplan–Meier curves were digitized. Data were measured as odds ratio (OR) or standardized mean difference (SMD) as appropriate. Median survival was compared between groups. Results: Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. We identified 721 SOD1-ALS, 470 C9-ALS, 183 TARDBP-ALS, 113 FUS-ALS and 2824 N-ALS. SOD1-ALS showed a higher rate of spinal onset compared with N-ALS and C9-ALS (OR = 4.85, 95% CI = 3.04–7.76; OR = 10.47, 95% CI = 4.32–27.87) and an earlier onset compared with N-ALS (SMD = − 0.45, 95% CI = − 0.72 to − 0.18). SOD1-ALS had a similar survival compared with N-ALS (p = 0.14), a longer survival compared with C9-ALS (p < 0.01) and FUS-ALS (p = 0.019) and a shorter survival compared with TARDBP-ALS (p < 0.01). Discussion: This study indicates the presence of a specific SOD1-ALS phenotype. Insights in SOD1-ALS clinical features are important in genetic counseling, disease prognosis and support patients' stratification in clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: For end-stage renal disease, kidney transplantation is the best therapy. Early graft function is critical for kidney transplant success. The purpose of this study was to see how mean arterial pressure (MAP) affected early graft function and biochemical outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective study of transplanted patients from live-related donors at the Transplant Center Hospital, Tirana, Albania, between January 2007 and December 2022.The patients divided based on their mean MAP. One group had MAP above 100 mmHg (68 patients). The second group had MAP between 85-100 mmHg (74 patients) and the other group MAP less than 85 mmHg (52 patients). Serum creatinine decrease was observed during the first three post-operative days and the sixth day. For statistical computation, correlation analysis, analysis of variance test (ANO-VA), and multivariate analysis technique were used in this study. Results: On the first, second, and third postoperative days, the first and second groups’ mean serum creatinine values were comparable to the third group’s mean values. The mean MAP at the time of declamping was 108.64 mmHg for the first group, 95.28 mmHg for the second group, and 80.18 mmHg for the third group. The mean MAP ranged from 78 to 118 mmHg. There was no significant difference between the first two groups on the first, second, third, and sixth postoperative days, but there were significant differences between the first and second groups compared to the third group on the first, second, and third postoperative days. Conclusion: Early graft function requires a mean MAP greater than 85 mmHg and adequate fluid hydration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of Syzygium aromaticum extracts on the growth, germ tube production, biofilm formation and adhesion of Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells (BEC) were investigated. We found larger zones of inhibition of growth of C. albicans with the essential oil (EO) and methanolic extract (ME) than amphotericin B. Similarly, the MIC values for the EO and ME were lower than that of amphotericin B. The EO and ME caused greater reductions in biofilm formation than amphotericin-B. Pre-treatment of C. albicans and BEC with the EO caused greater reductions in adhesion to BEC than amphotericin B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: The nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ)–nociceptin opioid‐like peptide (NOP) receptor system is widely distributed in the brain and pharmacological activation of this system revealed therapeutic potential in animal models of substance use disorder. Studies also showed that genetic deletion or pharmacological blockade of NOP receptors confer resistance to the development of alcohol abuse. Here, we have used a genetic and pharmacological approach to evaluate the therapeutic potential of NOP antagonism in smoking cessation. Experimental Approach Constitutive NOP receptor knockout rats (NOP−/−) and their wild‐type counterparts (NOP+/+) were tested over a range of behaviours to characterize their motivation for nicotine. We next explored the effects of systemic administration of the NOP receptor antagonist LY2817412 (1.0 & 3.0 mg·kg−1) on nicotine self‐administration. NOP receptor blockade was further evaluated at the brain circuitry level, by microinjecting LY2817412 (3.0 & 6.0 μg·μl−1) into the ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (NAc) and central amygdala (CeA). Key Results: Genetic NOP receptor deletion resulted in decreased nicotine intake, decreased motivation to self‐administer and attenuation of cue‐induced nicotine reinstatement. LY2817412 reduced nicotine intake in NOP+/+ but not in NOP−/− rats, confirming that its effect is mediated by inhibition of NOP transmission. Finally, injection of LY2817412 into the VTA but not into the NAc or CeA decreased nicotine self‐administration. Conclusions and Implications: These findings indicate that inhibition of NOP transmission attenuates the motivation for nicotine through mechanisms involving the VTA and suggest that NOP receptor antagonism may represent a potential treatment for smoking cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time-delay cosmography can be used to infer the Hubble parameter H 0 by measuring the relative time delays between multiple images of gravitationally lensed quasars. A few of such systems have already been used to measure H 0: Their time delays were determined from the light curves of the multiple images obtained by regular, years long, monitoring campaigns. Such campaigns can hardly be performed by any telescope: many facilities are often oversubscribed with a large amount of observational requests to fulfill. While the ideal systems for time-delay measurements are lensed quasars whose images are well resolved by the instruments, several lensed quasars have a small angular separation between the multiple images, and would appear as a single, unresolved, image to a large number of telescopes featuring poor angular resolutions or located in not privileged geographical sites. Methods allowing to infer the time delay also from unresolved light curves would boost the potential of such telescopes and greatly increase the available statistics for H 0 measurements. This work presents a study of unresolved lensed quasar systems to estimate the time delay using a deep learning-based approach that exploits the capabilities of one-dimensional convolutional neural networks. Experiments on state-of-the-art simulations of unresolved light curves show the potential of the proposed method and pave the way for future applications in time-delay cosmography. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: This study was undertaken to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of a panel of serum biomarkers and to correlate their concentrations with several clinical parameters in a large cohort of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods: One hundred forty‐three consecutive patients with ALS and a control cohort consisting of 70 patients with other neurodegenerative disorders (DEG), 70 patients with ALS mimic disorders (ALSmd), and 45 healthy controls (HC) were included. Serum neurofilament light chain (NfL), ubiquitin carboxyl‐terminal hydrolase isozyme L1 (UCHL1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and total tau protein levels were measured using ultrasensitive single molecule array. Results: NfL correlated with disease progression rate (p < 0.001) and with the measures of upper motor neuron burden (p < 0.001). NfL was higher in the ALS patients with classic and pyramidal phenotype. GFAP was raised in ALS with cognitive–behavioral impairment compared with ALS with normal cognition. NfL displayed the best diagnostic performance in discriminating ALS from HC (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.990), DEG (AUC = 0.946), and ALSmd (AUC = 0.850). UCHL1 performed well in distinguishing ALS from HC (AUC = 0.761), whereas it was not helpful in differentiating ALS from DEG and ALSmd. In multivariate analysis, NfL (p < 0.001) and UCHL1 (p = 0.038) were independent prognostic factors. Survival analysis combining NfL and UCHL1 effectively stratified patients with lower NfL levels (p < 0.001). Conclusions: NfL is a useful biomarker for the diagnosis of ALS and the strongest predictor of survival. UCHL1 is an independent prognostic factor helpful in stratifying survival in patients with low NfL levels, likely to have slowly progressive disease. GFAP reflects extramotor involvement, namely cognitive impairment or frontotemporal dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol addiction is a chronic relapsing brain disease characterized by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse consequences. A main challenge of addiction treatment is to prevent relapse, which occurs in more than >50% of newly abstinent patients with alcohol disorder within 3 months. In people suffering from alcohol addiction, stressful events, drug‐associated cues and contexts, or re‐exposure to a small amount of alcohol trigger a chain of behaviors that frequently culminates in relapse. In this review, we first present the preclinical models that were developed for the study of alcohol seeking behavior, namely the reinstatement model of alcohol relapse and compulsive alcohol seeking under a chained schedule of reinforcement. We then provide an overview of the neurobiological findings obtained using these animal models, focusing on the role of opioids systems, corticotropin‐release hormone and neurokinins, followed by dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and GABAergic neurotransmissions in alcohol seeking behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since COVID-19 has affected global public health, there has been an urgency to find a solution to limit both the number of infections, and the aggressiveness of the disease once infected. The main characteristic of this infection is represented by a strong alteration of the immune system which, day by day, increases the risk of mortality, and can lead to a multiorgan dysfunction. Because nutritional profile can influence patient's immunity, we focus our interest on resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound known for its immunomodulating and anti-inflammatory properties. We reviewed all the information concerning the different roles of resveratrol in COVID-19 pathophysiology using PubMed and Scopus as the main databases. Interestingly, we find out that resveratrol may exert its role through different mechanisms. In fact, it has antiviral activity inhibiting virus entrance in cells and viral replication. Resveratrol also improves autophagy and decreases pro-inflammatory agents expression acting as an anti-inflammatory agent. It regulates immune cell response and pro-inflammatory cytokines and prevents the onset of thrombotic events that usually occur in COVID-19 patients. Since resveratrol acts through different mechanisms, the effect could be enhanced, making a totally natural agent particularly effective as an adjuvant in anti COVID-19 therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) are one of the most critical illnesses requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. This study assessed patterns of antimicrobial use and resistance in ICU patients with BSIs. Methods: Inpatients admitted to the ICU and who received at least one antimicrobial agent between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019, were included in the study. Electronic patients' medical records were used to collect patients' demographic, clinical, and microbiological data. Results: A total of 1051 patients were enrolled in the study, where 650 patients (61.84%) were treated with three or more antimicrobial agents. The most frequently used antimicrobials were piperacillin/tazobactam followed by teicoplanin, meropenem, and levofloxacin. The most predominant multidrug-resistant pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii, followed by Escherichia coli, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Conclusions: The administration of the antimicrobials among ICU patients was highly based on a combination of three or more broad-spectrum agents. MDR pathogens were found to be highly prevalent among ICU patients with BSI. Therefore, we suggest recommending that hospital policies should apply the antimicrobial stewardship protocols, infection control, and implement antimicrobial de-escalation protocol to reduce the harm pressure of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Despite a general decline in tobacco use in the last decades, the prevalence of tobacco smoking in individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) remains substantial (45–50%). Importantly, the co-use of both substances potentiates the adverse effects, making it a significant public health problem. Substantial evidence suggests that AUD and Tobacco use disorder (TUD) may share common mechanisms. Targeting these mechanisms may therefore provide more effective therapy. Numerous studies describe a potential role of the endogenous opioid system in both AUD and TUD. Reviewing this literature, we aim to evaluate the efficacy of molecules that target the opioid system as promising therapeutic interventions for treating alcohol and tobacco co-use disorders. Methods We provide a synthesis of the current epidemiological knowledge of alcohol and tobacco co-use disorders. We evaluate clinical and preclinical research that focuses on the regulation of the endogenous opioid system in alcohol, nicotine, and their interactions. Results The epidemiological data confirm that smoking stimulates heavy drinking and facilitates alcohol craving. Pharmacological findings suggest that treatments that are efficacious in the dual addiction provide a beneficial treatment outcome in comorbid AUD and TUD. In this regard, MOP, DOP and NOP-receptor antagonists show promising results, while the findings prompt caution when considering KOP-receptor antagonists as a treatment option in alcohol and tobacco co-use disorders. Conclusions Existing literature suggests a role of the opioid system in sustaining the high comorbidity rates of AUD and TUD. Molecules targeting opioid receptors may therefore represent promising therapeutic interventions in 'heavy drinking smokers.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Peroxisome Proliferator Activator receptors (PPARs) are intracellular receptors that function as transcription factors, which regulate specific metabolic and inflammatory processes. PPARs are broadly distributed in the body and are also expressed in the central nervous system, especially in areas involved in addiction-related behavioral responses. Recent studies support a role of PPARs in alcoholism and pioglitazone: a PPARγ agonist used for treatment of type 2 diabetes showed efficacy in reducing alcohol drinking, stress-induced relapse, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome in rats. Objectives and Methods: In the current work, we tested the pharmacological effects of pioglitazone on binge-like alcohol consumption using an intermittent two-bottle choice paradigm in Wistar rats and on the "drinking in the dark" (DID) model in mice with selective deletion of PPARγ in neurons. Results: Our data show that repeated administration of pioglitazone (10, 30 mg/kg) reduces high voluntary alcohol consumption in Wistar rats. Pre-treatment with the selective PPARγ antagonist GW9662 (5 mg/kg) completely prevented the effect of pioglitazone, demonstrating that its action is specifically mediated by activation of PPARγ. In line with this result, repeated administration of pioglitazone (30 mg/kg) attenuated binge alcohol consumption in PPARγ(+/+) mice. Whereas in PPARγ(−/−) mice, which exhibit reduced alcohol consumption, pioglitazone had no effect. Of note, PPARγ(−/−) mice exhibited lower patterns of alcohol drinking without showing difference in sucrose (control) intake. Interestingly, PPARγ(−/−) mice displayed a higher sensitivity to the sedative and ataxic effect of alcohol compared with their wild-type counterpart. Conclusions: Collectively, these data suggest that PPARγ agonists, and specifically pioglitazone, could be potential therapeutics for the treatment of binge alcohol drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Alcohol and nicotine use disorders are commonly comorbid. Both alcohol and nicotine can activate opioid systems in reward-related brain regions, leading to adaptive changes in opioid signalling upon chronic exposure. The potential role of these adaptations for comorbidity is presently unknown. Here, we examined the contribution of μ and κ-opioid receptors to nicotine-induced escalation of alcohol self-administration in rats.Experimental Approach: Chronic nicotine was tested on alcohol self-administration and motivation to obtain alcohol. We then tested the effect of the κ antagonist CERC-501 and the preferential μ receptor antagonist naltrexone on basal and nicotine-escalated alcohol self-administration. To probe μ or κ receptor adaptations, receptor binding and G-protein coupling assays were performed in reward-related brain regions. Finally, dopaminergic activity in response to alcohol was examined, using phosphorylation of DARPP-32 in nucleus accumbens as a biomarker.Key Results: Nicotine robustly induced escalation of alcohol self-administration and motivation to obtain alcohol. This was blocked by naltrexone but not by CERC-501. Escalation of alcohol self-administration was associated with decreased DAMGO-stimulated μ receptor signalling in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and decreased pDARPP-32 in the nucleus accumbens shell in response to alcohol.Conclusions and Implications: Collectively, these results suggest that nicotine contributes to escalate alcohol self-administration through a dysregulation of μ receptor activity in the VTA. These data imply that targeting μ rather than κ receptors may be the preferred pharmacotherapeutic approach for the treatment of alcohol use disorder when nicotine use contributes to alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An isoform of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), PPARγ, is the receptor for the thiazolidinedione class of antidiabetic medications including pioglitazone. Neuroanatomical data indicate PPARγ localization in brain areas involved in drug addiction. Preclinical and clinical data have shown that pioglitazone reduces alcohol and opioid self-administration, relapse to drug seeking, and plays a role in emotional responses. Here, we investigated the behavioral effect of PPARγ manipulation on nicotine withdrawal in male Wistar rats and in male mice with neuron-specific PPARγ deletion (PPARγ(-/-)) and their littermate wild-type (PPARγ(+/+)) controls. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR and RNAscope in situ hybridization assays were used for assessing the levels of expression and cell-type localization of PPARγ during nicotine withdrawal. Brain site-specific microinjections of the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone were performed to explore the role of this system on nicotine withdrawal at a neurocircuitry level. Results showed that activation of PPARy by pioglitazone abolished the expression of somatic and affective nicotine withdrawal signs in rats and in (PPARγ(+/+) mice. This effect was blocked by the PPARγ antagonist GW9662. During early withdrawal and protracted abstinence, the expression of PPARy increased in GABAergic and glutamatergic cells of the amygdala and hippocampus, respectively. Hippocampal microinjections of pioglitazone reduced the expression of the physical signs of withdrawal, whereas excessive anxiety associated with protracted abstinence was prevented by pioglitazone microinjection into the amygdala. Our results demonstrate the implication of the neuronal PPARγ in nicotine withdrawal and indicates that activation of PPARγ may offer an interesting strategy for smoking cessation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give several refined and generalized numerical radius inequalities for 2 × 2 operator matrices. These inequalities improve and generalize earlier related inequalities. An application of some of our results is also given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable betalain pigments extracted from beetroots were used as eco-friendly film coating over aluminium surface. The film coating was examined and verified by corrosive 1.0 M HCl solution. Characterization of chemical structure of the betalain pigments was done using spectroscopic attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and UV–Vis technique. Scanning electron microscope technique was used to demonstrate the eco-friendly film coating before and after been examined via corrosive 1.0 M HCl solution. Various operating conditions were studied to meet highest inhibition efficiency values such as betalain concentration, operating temperature and turbulent flow, and maximum inhibition efficiency = 98.4% was displayed. Multiple adsorption isotherms like Langmuir, Temkin, and Freundlich were used effectively to determine equilibrium constants and adsorption parameters. Dynamic investigations revealed a decline of rate of corrosion (RC) and rise of activation energy values (Ea) at higher betalain concentrations. Thermodynamic investigations revealed physisorption process, exothermic enthalpy, and low entropic values of betalain on aluminium surface. The noticeable specifications of low cost, abundance and sustainability, environmentally friendly, and high technical feasibility of betalain pigments adapt them to be the futuristic outstanding sustainable film coating for metal surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The effectiveness of the BNT162b2 vaccine on preventing the spread of COVID‐19 and deaths in nursing homes (NH) is unknown. Design: We used zero‐inflated negative binomial mixed effects regressions to model the associations of time since the vaccine clinic ending the week of December 27, 2020 (cohort 1), January 3, 2021 (cohort 2), or January 10, 2021 (cohort 3) controlling for county rate of COVID‐19, bed size, urban location, racial and ethnic census, and level of registered nurses with resident cases and deaths of COVID‐19 and staff cases of COVID‐19. Setting and Participants: All 2501 NHs who held a vaccine clinic from the first 17 states to initiate clinics as part of the Pharmacy Partnership for Long‐Term Care Program. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): Adjusted Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) for time in 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks after the first vaccine clinic for resident cases and deaths of COVID‐19 and staff cases of COVID‐19. Results: Resident and staff cases trended downward in all three cohorts following the vaccine clinics. Time following the first clinic at 5 and 6 weeks was consistently associated with fewer resident cases (IRR: 0.68 [95% CI: 0.54–0.84], IRR: 0.64 [95% CI: 0.48–0.86], respectively); resident deaths (IRR: 0.59 [95% CI: 0.45–0.77], IRR: 0.45 [95% CI: 0.31–0.65], respectively); and staff cases (IRR: 0.64 [95% CI: 0.56–0.73], IRR: 0.51 [95% CI: 0.42–0.62], respectively). Other factors associated with fewer resident and staff cases included facilities with less than 50 certified beds and high nurse staffing per resident day (>0.987). Contrary to prior research, higher Hispanic non‐white resident census was associated with fewer resident cases (IRR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.31–0.56) and deaths (IRR: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.12–0.27). Conclusions: The BNT162b2 vaccine is associated with decreased spread of SARS‐CoV‐2 in both residents and staff as well as decreased deaths among residents. See related editorial by Ouslander et al and related articles by Mor et al, Moore et al, and Rudolph et al. in this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of lecanemab for early-stage Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents an exciting new chapter in the management of neurodegenerative disease, but likewise presents numerous clinical, technical, and financial logistical challenges for both academic and non-academic medical institutions hoping to administer this drug. Minimal resources exist that provide guidance for establishing and maintaining a lecanemab treatment program at the institutional level. The current report aims to provide healthcare institutions a framework for the planning, onboarding, and longitudinal treatment of AD with anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatments. We present an implementation study involving three stages: (1) feasibility assessment, (2) operations and going live, and (3) monitoring assessment. We found that implementation of lecanemab in clinical practice was feasible due to the assignment of an enterprise-wide project manager to facilitate the planning phase, a cost analysis showing that lecanemab was financially sustainable, and the development of electronic medical record tools to support operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We give several norm and numerical radius inequalities for Hilbert space operators. These inequalities improve on some earlier related inequalities. As an application of one of our results, we give a necessary condition for the equality case in the triangle inequality for the usual operator norm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical properties and the toxicological potential of commercially available MoS2 nanoparticles with different lateral size and degradation stage were studied in the present research work. To achieve this, the structure and stoichiometry of fresh and old aqueous suspensions of micro-MoS2 and nano-MoS2 was analyzed by Raman, while x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy allowed to identify more quantitatively the nature of the formed oxidized species. A, the toxicological impact of the nanomaterials under analysis was studied using adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549 cells) and the unicellular fungus S. cerevisiae as biological models. Cell viability assays and reactive oxygen species (ROS) determinations demonstrated different toxicity levels depending on the cellular model used and in function of the degradation state of the selected commercial nanoproducts. Both MoS2 nanoparticle types induced sublethal damage on the A549 cells though the increase of intracellular ROS levels, while comparable concentrations reduced the viability of yeast cells. In addition, the old MoS2 nanoparticles suspensions exhibited a higher toxicity for both human and yeast cells than the fresh ones. Our findings demonstrate that the fate assessment of nanomaterials is a critical aspect to increase the understanding on their characteristics and on their potential impact on biological systems along their life cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the prognostic role and the major determinants of serum phosphorylated neurofilament heavy -chain (pNfH) concentration across a large cohort of motor neuron disease (MND) phenotypes. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum pNfH concentration in 219 MND patients consecutively enrolled in our tertiary MND clinic. A multifactorial analysis was carried out to investigate the major clinical determinants of serum pNfH. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox regression analysis were performed to explore the prognostic value of serum pNfH. Serum pNfH levels were not homogenous among MND phenotypes; higher concentrations in pyramidal, bulbar, and classic phenotypes were observed. C9orf72-MND exhibited higher pNfH concentrations compared to non-C9orf72 MND. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed mean MEP/cMAP and disease progression rate as the two major predictors of serum pNfH levels (R2 = 0.188; p ≤ 0.001). Kaplan–Meier curves showed a significant difference of survival among MND subgroups when divided into quartiles based on pNfH concentrations, log-rank X2 = 53.0, p ≤ 0.0001. Our study evidenced that higher serum pNfH concentration is a negative independent prognostic factor for survival. In Cox multivariate model, pNfH concentration showed the highest hazard ratio compared to the other factors influencing survival included in the analysis. pNfH differs among the MND phenotypes and is an independent prognostic factor for survival. This study provides supporting evidence of the role of pNfH as useful prognostic biomarker for MND patients. Neurofilament measurements should be considered in the future prognostic models and in clinical trials for biomarker-based stratification, and to evaluate treatment response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To evaluate the presence of Wallerian degeneration and its relationship with sensorimotor deficits following childhood-onset arterial ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods: Children surviving unilateral AIS older than one month of age were assessed for severity of sensorimotor neurological deficit with the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure at least one year post stroke (mean follow-up = 2.9 years, S.D. = ±1.6). The area (mm3) of each cerebral peduncle was measured on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images to calculate an Asymmetry Index (AI). The AI between patients with childhood stroke (cases) and controls (children with normal MRI) was compared. In the stroke group, the AI between patients with good and poor motor outcome, and the correlation between the AI and motor outcome was calculated.Results: Asymmetry was compared in 52 children with stroke (cases) and 20 controls (normal brain MRIs). The AI was greater in patients with stroke (mean = 6.8%, S.D. = ±5.9) compared with controls (mean = 3.4%, S.D. = ±3.5, P < 0.02). Patients with poor outcome had an AI of 10% or greater compared with patients with good outcome (mean 10.4 versus 4, P < 0.001), and the AI was moderately correlated with motor deficit severity (r = 0.582, P = 0.001).Conclusions: Asymmetry of the cerebral peduncle is a feasible method of assessing Wallerian degeneration in children with unilateral AIS. The degree of asymmetry in the cerebral peduncles was moderately correlated with neurological outcome severity and reflects the degree of motor deficit in children following stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • New anode materials are required for Na-ion battery of electric vehicle. • We discovered a new promising anode material, rutile-type TiNbO 4. • Na-storage property could be clearly improved by increasing Nb amount. • Higher amount of Nb expand Na+ diffusion path size in TiNbO 4. As a novel anode material for Na-ion battery, we evaluated rutile-type TiNbO 4 synthesized by a sol−gel method. It was revealed for the first time that TiNbO 4 showed reversible reactions of Na+-insertion and Na+-extraction in the potential ranges of 0.005–1.0 and 0.6–1.6 V vs. Na+/Na, respectively. TiNbO 4 maintained its rutile structure even after charge−discharge cycling. The size of Na+ diffusion path along its c -axis was broadened with increasing Nb amount in TiNbO 4 , leading to the improvement in the reversible capacity. The TiNbO 4 electrode with Nb 48 at.% exhibited a high capacity of 360 mA h g−1. The long-term cyclability and rate capability were also improved by increasing Nb amount. We consider that the wider space in the diffusion path increases the degree of freedom of Na+ occupancy position, which weakens the electrostatic repulsion between Na+ and Na+ to increase Na storage capacity. These results clearly demonstrate that TiNbO 4 can be applied as a promising anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas in gallstones represents a rare but well described radiological finding. Other causes of gas in gallbladder include biliary‐enteric fistula, sphincterotomy, gas forming organisms cholangitis. However, gas in gallbladder raises suspicion of emphysematous cholecystitis which necessitates prompt diagnosis and management due to its rapid clinical course and high mortality rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections during the intensive care treatment present a great continuous challenge to the physicians and to the patients. These infections can significantly increase the morbidity and mortality. One of the major issues to be addressed is the prophylactic use of antibiotics in intensive care units. The importance of infection prevention in critically ill patients is therefore based on its potential to reduce both morbidity and mortality. The relationship between this reduction and the prevention of the development of resistance remains unclear. The infections can also affect treatment costs, hospital stay, and patients' prognosis. This review tends to summarize all the topics regarding the prophylactic use of antibiotics, prevention of infections in intensive care units, and minimizing the resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the applicability of an ionic liquid electrolyte to a phosphorus‐doped Si (P‐doped Si) electrode to improve the performance and safety of the lithium‐ion battery. The electrode exhibited excellent cycling performance with a discharge capacity of 1000 mA h g−1 over 1400 cycles in the ionic liquid electrolyte, whereas the capacity decayed at the 170th cycle in the organic electrolyte. The lithiation/delithiation reaction of P‐doped Si occurred a localized region in the organic electrolyte, which generated a high stress and large strain. The strain accumulated under repeated charge‐discharge cycling, leading to severe electrode disintegration. In contrast, the reaction of P‐doped Si proceeded uniformly in the ionic liquid electrolyte, which suppressed the electrode disintegration. The P‐doped Si electrode also showed good rate performance in the ionic liquid electrolyte; a discharge capacity of 1000 mA h g−1 was retained at 10 C. A P‐doped Si electrode exhibited excellent cycling performance with a discharge capacity of 1000 mA h g−1 over 1400 cycles in an ionic liquid electrolyte, whereas the capacity decayed at approximately the 170th cycle in an organic electrolyte. It is concluded that the ionic liquid electrolytes could be successfully applied to a P‐doped Si electrode and that they represent one type of promising electrolyte for next‐generation LIBs with this electrode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Charge−discharge performances of Sn4P3 anodes for Na‐ion battery were evaluated in an ionic liquid electrolyte using N‐methyl‐N‐propylpyrrolidinium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide at intermediate temperatures of 60 and 90 oC. At these temperatures, the anode showed extra capacities based on the full sodiation of Sn in a potential range below 0.2 V vs. Na+/Na because its slow kinetics was improved by elevating operation temperature. Under the current density of 0.1 A g−1 (0.08 C), the Sn4P3 anode at 60 oC exhibited a large capacity of 750 mA h g−1 at the 120th cycle and high Coulombic efficiencies above 99% after the 5th cycle. On the other hand, the efficiency degraded at 90 oC by the electrolyte decomposition. At 60 oC, the anode attained an excellent rate performance with capacity of 250 mA h g−1 even at 3 A g−1 (2.65 C). These results demonstrated the promising operation at intermediate temperature at around 60 oC for Sn4P3 anode in ionic liquid electrolyte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within Albanian's agricultural sector, chestnut production is showing more and more a potential for contribution in regional development, and mostly in the northeast. Indeed, Albania is part of the world market on the chestnut production. In order to label an agricultural product as a GI, we have to consider these three components. First, it is significant to identify the product and its specific quality, history, reputation etc. Second, is necessary to make evident the relationship between the product with the local territory in terms of local natural resources, soil, climate, breed, varieties and know-how. Third, a significant component are people in terms of their awareness, motivation, traditions, engagement on collective actions, creation and preservation of the process. For the producers, labeling chestnut and chestnut honey products with quality sign it is expected to add a significant value on the products and specifically a premium price. For instance, referring to AND International (2012), products bearing a GI compared to non-GI products had a premium value. The value premium rate of GI products was estimated at 2.23, which means that GI products were sold 2.23 times as high as the same quantity of non-GI products. Addition advantages through GI quality sign for the producer are protection against misuse of the name and unfair competition, good tool for accessing the market with products different from industrial products (avoid standardization of goods on the market), good tool for increasing the producer income and a way to transfer traditional know-how/practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the treatment of patients with low back pain is to achieve the disappearance of pain, and if it cannot be, trying to maintain daily activity avoiding psychological alterations. Acute back pain is a very characteristic chart, with pain that increases with the effort and is relieved at rest. There is no radiculitis and there may be muscle contracture. The neurological examination is normal, and it is not necessary to request any diagnostic test, except for a simple radiological study. The treatment is based on resting, wearing a corset and adequate medication. Chronic low back pain is one that lasts for more than six months after the failure of different pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments. The patient should be scanned again and imaging tests (computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) and electromyography must be requested. The treatment should consist of wearing a flexible thoracolumbar corset when performing effort and pharmacological treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and analgesics, and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors antidepressants may be added, due to their effect on mood and analgesic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical history and the physical and neurological examination are the fundamental tools for the diagnosis of low back pain. While the laboratory does not provide information about specific alterations, diagnostic image tests do, from simple radiography in its different projections to the most advanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Currently, we consider MRI as the technique of choice in the diagnosis of compressive discopathy, with an advantage over CT and myelography, which has been practically relegated. Among the available electrophysiological tests, electromyography (EMG) has the greatest diagnostic value in nerve compression frames. The evoked somatosensory potentials measure the sensory component of the root, where there may be disintegration and/or lack of response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of the Study: Tetraena simplex is an independently evolved C4 species in the Zygophylloideae (Zygophyllaceae) and a characteristic forb of saline flats in hot and sandy desert habitats. During early ontogeny, the species had a morphological shift from planar cotyledons (dorsiventral symmetry) to terete, succulent leaves (radial symmetry). We tested whether this shift had a corresponding change in internal Kranz anatomy and tissue patterning. Methods: For a comprehensive characterization of C4 photosynthesis across early ontogeny in T. simplex, structural and ultrastructural anatomical properties and localization patterns, activities, and immunoblotting of key C4 photosynthetic enzymes were compared in mesophyll and bundle sheath tissues in cotyledons and leaves. Key Results: Cotyledons and leaves possessed different types of Kranz anatomy (atriplicoid type and a “Tetraena” variant of the kochioid type, respectively), reflecting the change in leaf morphology. In bundle sheath cells, key differences in ultrastructural features included increased organelle numbers and chloroplast thylakoid stacking. C4 enzymes had strict tissue‐specific localization patterns within bundle sheath and mesophyll cells in both cotyledons and leaves. The decarboxylase NAD‐ME maintained the highest activity, increasing from cotyledons to leaves. This classified T. simplex as fully C4 across ontogeny and a strictly NAD‐ME biochemical subtype. Conclusions: Tetraena simplex cotyledons and leaves showed differences in Kranz type, with associated progression in ultrastructural features, and differing activities/expression levels of C4 enzymes. Furthermore, leaves characterized a new “Tetraena” variation of the kochioid Kranz anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: The C3 complement component (C3) is increasingly recognized as a cardiometabolic risk factor. We aimed to examine the role of C3 in insulin resistance (IR) and its association with adiposity.Methods and Study Design: Sixty-seven obese (18-35 years) participants were matched with normal weight participants from the University of Jordan. BMI, waist-hip ratio (WHpR), and waist-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Body percent fat mass (%FM) was determined using the bioelectrical impedance analysis. C3, insulin, and glucose serum concentrations were measured. IR was assessed by the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR).Results: Serum concentrations of C3 and IR were significantly higher in the obese group than that in the normal body weight, regardless of gender (women: 1.2±0.08 and men: 1.2±0.08 vs women: 0.88±0.07 and men: 0.94±0.05, p<0.01; women: 3.6±0.34 and men: 3.9±0.43 vs women: 1.7±0.12 and men: 2.0±0.24, respectively; p<0.001). After adjustment for the potential confounders, BMI, waist circumference, WHtR and %FM were correlated positively with C3 (r=0.44; 0.42; 0.47; 0.43, respectively; p<0.001), and with IR (r=0.67; 0.61; 0.59; 0.59, respectively; p<0.001). C3 was correlated with IR (r=0.35, p<0.001). In linear regression analysis, C3 was not associated with IR independent of BMI (p>0.05).Conclusions: C3 may be a marker of chronic inflammatory process independently underlying IR obese individuals regardless of gender, which may have a role in the progression of IR during obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report the construction, antigenicity and initial immunogenicity testing of DNA and modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vaccines expressing virus-like particles (VLPs) displaying sequential clade C Envelopes (Envs) that co-evolved with the elicitation of broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) to the CD4 binding site (CD4bs) in HIV-infected individual CH0505. The VLP-displayed Envs showed reactivity for conformational epitopes displayed on the receptor-binding form of Env. Two inoculations of the DNA-T/F vaccine, followed by 3 inoculations of the MVA-T/F vaccine and a final inoculation of the MVA-T/F plus a gp120-T/F protein vaccine elicited nAb to the T/F virus in 2 of 4 rhesus macaques (ID50 of ~175 and ~30). Neutralizing Ab plateaued at 100% neutralization and mapped to the CD4bs like the bnAbs elicited in CH0505. The nAb did not have breadth for other tier 2 viruses. Immunizations with T/F followed by directed-lineage vaccines, both with and without co-delivery of directed-lineage gp120 boosts, failed to elicit tier 2 neutralizing Ab for the CD4bs. Thus, pulsed exposures to DNA and MVA-expressed VLPs plus gp120 protein of a T/F Env can induce autologous tier 2 nAbs to the CD4bs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a novel Na-ion battery anode, we studied electrochemical reactions of a LaSn 3 electrode, and evaluated its cycling performance by comparison with that of a SmSn 3 electrode. The LaSn 3 electrode showed a reversible capacity of 580 mA h cm −3 at the first cycle, and a gradual increase in the capacity with cycling number. The LaSn 3 electrode exhibited a high capacity of 1470 mA h cm −3 even at the 400th cycle, which is three times higher than that of a hard carbon electrode. The electrode reactions of elemental Sn were observed in a cyclic voltammetry profile of the LaSn 3 electrode, indicating that a phase separation of LaSn 3 gradually occurs to form Sn. We suggested that the phase separation provides a Na-inactive La 3 Sn 5 matrix, which can suppress the aggregation of Sn particles and can improve the cyclability. On the other hand, the SmSn 3 electrode showed a higher initial capacity of 970 mA h cm −3 and an earlier capacity decay by the 200th cycle. It is suggested that the phase separation of SmSn 3 progresses more rapidly while that of LaSn 3 slowly occurs because of a higher thermodynamic stability for LaSn 3 than SmSn 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Binge alcohol drinking has emerged as a typical phenomenon in young people. This pattern of drinking, repeatedly leading to extremely high blood and brain alcohol levels and intoxication is associated with severe risks of neurodegeneration and cognitive damage. Mechanisms involved in excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation are pivotal elements in alcohol-induced neurotoxicity. Evidence has demonstrated that PPARγ receptor activation shows anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Here we examine whether treatment with the PPARγ agonist pioglitazone is beneficial in counteracting neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation and cognitive damage produced by binge alcohol intoxication. Adult Wistar rats were subjected to a 4-day binge intoxication procedure, which is commonly used to model excessive alcohol consumption in humans. Across the 4-day period, pioglitazone (0, 30, 60 mg/kg) was administered orally twice daily at 12-h intervals. Degenerative cells were detected by fluoro-jade B (FJ-B) immunostaining in brain regions where expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was also determined. The effects of pioglitazone on cognitive function were assessed in an operant reversal learning task and the Morris water maze task. Binge alcohol exposure produced selective neuronal degeneration in the hippocampal dentate gyrus and the adjacent entorhinal cortex. Pioglitazone reduced FJ-B positive cells in both regions and prevented alcohol-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pioglitazone also rescued alcohol-impaired reversal learning in the operant task and spatial learning deficits in the Morris water maze. These findings demonstrate that activation of PPARγ protects against neuronal and cognitive degeneration elicited by binge alcohol exposure. The protective effect of PPARγ agonist appears to be linked to inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute postoperative pain is a great concern to the patients and the surgical team. Pain can contribute to increased morbidity and mortality, health care costs, chronic pain and patient's life quality. Many adverse effects are related to inadequately treated postoperative pain as cardio-respiratory complications, deep venous thrombosis, water and salt retention, hyperglycemia, proinflammatory and procoagulation states, and finally chronic pain. Aggressive treatment includes patient's evaluation, multimodal regimen, and pain killers in the discharged period. Regional analgesia and especially peripheral nerve block are gaining popularity in pain treatment. This editorial view is focused on the comparison of continuous vs. single shot technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article was written to provide clinicians and researchers with an overview of a number of advanced neuroimaging techniques in an effort to promote increased utility and the design of future studies using advanced neuroimaging in childhood stroke. The current capabilities of advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques provide the opportunity to build on our knowledge of the consequences of stroke on the developing brain. These capabilities include providing information about the physiology, metabolism, structure, and function of the brain that are not routinely evaluated in the clinical setting.Methods: During the Proceedings of the Stroke Imaging Laboratory for Children Workshop in Toronto in June 2015, a subgroup of clinicians and imaging researchers discussed how the application of advanced neuroimaging techniques could further our understanding of the mechanisms of stroke injury and repair in the pediatric population. This subgroup was established based on their interest and commitment to design collaborative, advanced neuroimaging studies in the pediatric stroke population.Results: In working toward this goal, we first sought to describe here the magnetic resonance imaging techniques that are currently available for use, and how they have been applied in other stroke populations (e.g., adult and perinatal stroke).Conclusions: With the continued improvement in advanced neuroimaging techniques, including shorter acquisition times, there is an opportunity to apply these techniques to their full potential in the research setting and learn more about the effects of stroke in the developing brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a ceria (CeO 2 ) coating on the electrochemical performance of a Si negative electrode for use in lithium–ion batteries was investigated. The results of X–ray diffraction analysis, field–emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy–dispersive X–ray spectroscopy showed that CeO 2 uniformly coated the entire surface of Si particles. The CeO 2 –coated Si electrode showed better cyclability than a Si electrode, and the cycle performance of CeO 2 –coated Si electrode improved with an increase in the coating amount of CeO 2 . The CeO 2 /Si (15:85 wt%) electrode maintained a greater discharge capacity at around the 400th cycle, whereas the capacity of the Si electrode began to decay under capacity limitation. While Si–alone and CeO 2 –coated electrodes had almost the same surface roughness before cycling, the surface roughness of the Si electrode was about 1.6 times greater than that of the CeO 2 /Si (15:85 wt%) electrode after the 30th cycle; disintegration of the Si–alone electrode was suppressed by CeO 2 –coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the influence of the anions in ionic liquid electrolytes on the electrochemical performance of a silicon (Si) negative electrode for a lithium-ion battery. While the electrode exhibited poor cycle stability in tetrafluoroborate-based and propylene carbonate-based electrolytes, better cycle performance was achieved in bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide (FSA – )- and bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (TFSA – )-based electrolytes, in which the discharge capacity of a Si electrode was more than 1000 mA h g −1 at the 100th cycle. It is considered that a surface film derived from FSA – - and TFSA – -based electrolytes effectively suppressed continuous decomposition of the electrolyte. In a capacity limitation test, a discharge capacity of 1000 mA h g −1 was maintained even after about the 1600th cycle in the FSA – -based electrolyte, which corresponds to a cycle life almost twice as long as that in TFSA – -based electrolyte. This result should be explained by the high structural stability of FSA – -derived surface film. In addition, better rate capability with a discharge capacity of 700 mA h g −1 was obtained at a high current rate of 6 C (21 A g −1 ) in FSA – -based electrolyte, which was 7-fold higher than that in TFSA – -based electrolyte. These results clarified that FSA – -based ionic liquid electrolyte is the most promising candidate for Si-based negative electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PPARγ is one of the three isoforms of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPARs). PPARγ is activated by thiazolidinediones such as pioglitazone and is targeted to treat insulin resistance. PPARγ is densely expressed in brain areas involved in regulation of motivational and emotional processes. Here, we investigated the role of PPARγ in the brain and explored its role in anxiety and stress responses in mice. The results show that stimulation of PPARγ by pioglitazone did not affect basal anxiety, but fully prevented the anxiogenic effect of acute stress. Using mice with genetic ablation of neuronal PPARγ (PPARγNestinCre), we demonstrated that a lack of receptors, specifically in neurons, exacerbated basal anxiety and enhanced stress sensitivity. The administration of GW9662, a selective PPARγ antagonist, elicited a marked anxiogenic response in PPARγ wild-type (WT), but not in PPARγNestinCre knock-out (KO) mice. Using c-Fos immunohistochemistry, we observed that acute stress exposure resulted in a different pattern of neuronal activation in the amygdala (AMY) and the hippocampus (HIPP) of PPARγNestinCre KO mice compared with WT mice. No differences were found between WT and KO mice in hypothalamic regions responsible for hormonal response to stress or in blood corticosterone levels. Microinjection of pioglitazone into the AMY, but not into the HIPP, abolished the anxiogenic response elicited by acute stress. Results also showed that, in both regions, PPARγ colocalizes with GABAergic cells. These findings demonstrate that neuronal PPARγ is involved the regulation of the stress response and that the AMY is a key substrate for the anxiolytic effect of PPARγ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anode properties of Nb-doped rutile TiO 2 electrodes were investigated in an ionic liquid electrolyte comprised of N -methyl- N -propylpyrrolidinium cation and bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide anion for use in a safe Na-ion battery. Although the electrolyte's conductivity was lower than that of a conventional organic electrolyte at 30 °C, it showed high conductivity comparable to that of the organic electrolyte at 60 °C. The Nb-doped TiO 2 electrode showed excellent cyclability in the ionic liquid electrolyte at 60 °C: a high capacity retention of 97% was observed even at the 350th cycle, which is comparable to value in the organic electrolyte (91%). In a non-flammability test in a closed system, no ignition was observed with the ionic liquid electrolyte even at 300 °C. These results indicate that combination of a Nb-doped TiO 2 anode and ionic liquid electrolyte gives not only an excellent cyclability but also high safety for a Na-ion battery operating at a temperature below the sodium's melting point of 98 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objectives of this study were to determine the circulatory levels of proinflammatory biomarkers including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-), and high sensitivity-C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in a group of overweight (OWT) and normal body weight (NWT) students, and to examine their association with adiposity assessed by using classical anthropometric measurements and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). A case-control study was conducted among 90 (45 OWT and 45 NWT) students (1825 years) recruited from all faculties of the University of Jordan, Jordan. Height, weight, Waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were measured using standard procedures, whereas percent fat mass (%FM) and percent fat free mass (%FFM) were determined using BIA. Serum levels of the examined proinflammatory biomarkers were also determined. Results showed that mean concentration of hs-CRP (0.79 ±0.85) and IL-6 (7.72 ±2.31) in OWT were significantly higher than that in NWT counterparts (0.45 ±0.52, 6.38 ±1.37; respectively, P<0.05); whereas no significant differences were observed in the mean concentration of IL-1β and TNF- between the two groups. CRP was significantly associated with BMI (r=0.538, P<0.01), weight (r=0.445, P<0.01), waist circumference (r=0.440, P<0.01), waist-to-hip ratio (r=0.229, P<0.05), and %FM (r=0.266, P<0.05). Whereas, IL-6 was positively correlated with %FM in males (r=0.306, P<0.05) and negatively correlated with %FFM in females (r=-0.297, P<0.05). No significant association was observed between any of the body composition measurements and IL-1β and TNF-α. In conclusion, progressive increase in body fat is responsible for the activation of the immune system even before reaching the obesity stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]