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Background The fact that kinesio tape may be capable to enhance muscle power would qualify it as practical tool to be considered during passive warm-up (WU) or coupled with active WU processes prior to power-based performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the single and combined effect of kinesio tape (KT) and WU on sprint cycling performance. Methods In a repeated measure design, fifteen participants underwent six sessions to assess sprint cycling performance involving a combination of three taping conditions (without KT: NoKT; with KT positioned vertically over the thigh muscles KT; with KT positioned horizontally over the thigh muscles: Sham) with two pre-exercise routines (with WU: WU; without WU: NoWU) in a randomized order. Allometric scaling of peak power (PP) and average power (AP) values were considered for each sprint. Results KT-WU demonstrated the highest PP and AP with respect to the other conditions (p p > 0.05). Moreover, NoKT-NoWU showed the lowest PP and AP with respect to the other conditions (p Conclusions Overall, our findings suggest that kinesio tape might be a possible tool to be combined with an active WU routine, inducing benefit on sprint performance. Moreover, KT may be considered a potential strategy to include within a passive WU, perhaps where an active WU is not feasible. However, as the influence of KT on muscle function is still unclear, our results should not be overinterpreted.

Background: Recent evidence has suggested that chronic physical activities including balance exercises have positive effects on cognition, but their acute effects are still unknown. In the present study, the authors tested the hypothesis that an acute bout of balance exercise would enhance cognitive performance compared with aerobic activity. Methods: A total of 20 healthy middle-aged adults completed 2 acute 30-minute balance and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise sessions on 2 counterbalanced separate occasions. To assess cognitive functions, performance tasks in executive control, perceptual speed, and simple reaction time were tested before and immediately after each exercise session. Results: Although there were no significant interactions (time × exercise condition, P > .05), the main effects of time were significant in executive control (P P P Conclusions: These findings highlight that both types of exercise (aerobic, more metabolic and less cognitively demanding; balance, more cognitively and less metabolically demanding) were able to positively affect simple reaction time performance, perceptual speed, and executive control independently of physiological adjustments occurring during aerobic or balance exercise.

The current study aimed at increasing our understanding of the psychological impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on undergraduate students, particularly with respect to the association between personality traits; defense mechanisms (DMs); depression, anxiety, and stress symptoms (DASSs); and compliance with the government recommended health measures. A sample of 1,427 Italian undergraduate students were administered the Personality Inventory for the DSM-5—Brief Form; the Defense Style Questionnaire-40; and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Compliance with the COVID-19 behavioral recommendations was measured through a 10-item survey measure. Results showed that immature DMs and internalizing personality traits (i.e., detachment, negative affect, psychoticism) were risk factors of DASSs. Furthermore, subjects with higher levels of DASSs appeared less compliant with the health measures recommended by the Italian government. Experts may use these results to identify and subsequently support (via the Internet) young subjects at greater risk of mental health problems as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This study aimed to compare the effects of non-sport-specific and sport-specific training methods on physical performance and perceptual response in young football players. Seventy-nine under 11 participants were selected and assigned to non-sport-specific (NSSG), sport-specific (SSG), and control (CNTG) groups. The NSSG training protocol consisted of combined stimuli based on balance, agility, and jump rope drills. The SSG training protocol included technical exercises, defensive and offensive game-based drills, and a small-sided game. The CNTG included the participants not taking part in any sport training. All participants were tested for general motor coordination (Harre test), dynamic balance (Lower Quarter Y-balance test), and dribbling before and after 10 weeks of training (NSSG and SSG) or habitual activity (CNTG). At post-intervention, perceived enjoyment was requested by the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES). A two-way repeated measure analysis of covariance was used to detect interactions and main effects of time and groups controlling for baseline values. Whereas, a one-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate PACES-related differences between groups. NSSG gained greater improvements (p &lt, 0.05) compared with SSG in the Harre and Lower Quarter Y-balance tests, while dribbling skills improved similarly in both groups. Regarding PACES, NSSG and SSG presented a comparable perceived enjoyment. These findings suggest that a 10-week non-sport-specific training is an enjoyable practice capable to promote greater improvements in general motor coordination and dynamic balance compared with sport-specific training in youth football players. This can occur without impairment of football-specific skills.

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of using real-time visual feedback (VF) during a one-week balance training intervention on postural sway parameters in young karatekas. Twenty-six young male karatekas (age = 14.0 ± 2.3 years) were randomly divided into two groups: real-time VF training (VFT, n = 14) and control (CTRL, n = 12). Their center of pressure (COP) displacement (path length, COPpl, distance from origin, COPod) was assessed pre- and post-training on a Wii Balance Board platform in two positions (Flex: knee of the supporting leg slightly bent, maximum hip and leg flexion of the other leg, Kick: knee of the supporting leg slightly bent, mawashi-geri posture for the kicking leg). Both groups trained twice a day for seven days, performing a one-legged stance on the non-dominant limb in the Kick position. During the training, VFT received real-time VF of COP displacement, while CTRL looked at a fixed point. No interaction effect was found (p &gt, 0.05). VFT exhibited greater changes pre- and post-training in Flex COPpl (−25.2%, g = 1.5), Kick COPpl (−24.1%, g = 1.3), and Kick COPod (−44.1%, g = 1.0) compared to CTRL (−0.9–−13.0%, g-range: 0.1–0.7). It is possible that superimposing real-time VF to a week-long balance training intervention could induce a greater sport-specific balance-training effect in young karatekas.

BACKGROUND Respiratory muscle training has been shown to provide positive effects for both health and performance purposes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a six-week period of nasal breathing on pulmonary function and cardio-respiratory fitness in young basketball players. METHODS Thirty-four, male, basketball players were enrolled and assigned either to experimental group (EG) or to control group (CG). All participants were tested for Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), Shuttle Sprint Test (SST), Forced Vitality Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). EG group followed reduced breathing frequency training program focused on intermittent running exercises while performing nasal breathing. RESULTS The main findings were significant interactions in Yo-Yo IR1 test, FVC, FEV1 and PEF (p

The purpose of this study was to monitor the changes in breathing pattern, trunk muscle stabilization, and upper-body muscular power in Paralympic swimmers throughout a competitive season over three time points: October (T1), March (T2), and August (T3). Six top-level Paralympic swimmers voluntarily participated in this study. The Friedman test, the Bonferroni–Dunn multiple comparison post hoc analysis, and Kendall’s W concordance coefficient for the measure of effect were used. A significant difference was found in the breathing pattern, trunk stability, and upper-body power variables from the T1 to T3 season (p

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 12-week balance and slackline training programs on physical performance and perceived enjoyment scale in young soccer players. Forty-one preadolescent soccer players were assigned to two experimental groups performing traditional balance (BLT) or slackline training (SLT), and a control group. Pre-post assessment encompassed Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), Star Excursion Balance test (SEBT), sprint with 90° turns (S90), and countermovement jump (CMJ). The rate of perceived enjoyment scale (PACES) was applied at the end of the experimental period. SLT and BLT improved similarly in BESS, SEBT and S90. No changes were detected in the CMJ. Regarding PACES score, SLT presented significantly higher values than BLT. Young athletes may benefit from a motivating training approach, thus, a designed program based on slackline drills should be preferable to improve physical performance in terms of balance and change of direction ability in preadolescent soccer players.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two different home-based training interventions on functional parameters and body composition in obese patients. Sixty-four obese patients were recruited at the IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano and randomly assigned into a movement quality group (MQ) and a conventional training group (CT). In the MQ, the training protocol combined various stimuli based on whole-body movement patterns, mobility, motor control and diaphragmatic breathing. The CT included traditional bodyweight resistance-training exercises. All patients were tested for movement efficiency (Functional Movement Screen, FMS), postural control (Modified Balance Error Scoring System, M-BESS), breathing pattern (Total Faulty Breathing Scale, TFBS), muscular strength (Handgrip Strength Test, HST and Five Repetition Sit to Stand, FRSTS) and body composition (Waist Circumference, WC, Body Mass Index, BMI, Body fat mass percentage, Fat Mass) before and after a 6-week period of training. Significant interactions and main effects of time (p &lt, 0.0001) were found in MQ compared to CT in the FMS, M-BESS and TFBS parameters, while muscular strength (HST, FRSTS) and body composition parameters improved similarly in both groups with a main effect of time (p &lt, 0.05). These findings suggest that a 6-week movement quality training is effective in ameliorating postural control and movement efficiency with similar improvements in muscular strength and body composition compared with a mere traditional home-based training. Fitness coaches and practitioners might consider the MQ intervention as a valuable alternative to conventional training when treating obesity.

Facial asymmetry is considered a marker of psychological, emotional and physiological distress, while anxiety is a behavioural, psychological and physiological response to a threat to well-being. Since individuals respond to anxiety with specific patterns (e.g., muscular tension), it is reasonable to hypothesize that anxiety could contribute to facial tension and therefore facial asymmetry. Instead, since facial asymmetry is perceived as "unpleasant" from peers, its presence may be a hindrance to social adaptation contributing to generate anxiety. In this study, we investigated whether resting facial asymmetry and anxiety are associated in young population. Full frontal facial photographs of 56 Caucasian males were taken in resting state to obtain indices of asymmetry in six facial landmarks. Anxiety status was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-Y). Analysis of the face showed that asymmetry and laterality of specific facial landmarks were associated with anxiety. State anxiety was associated with eyebrow and lateral angle of the eye, while trait anxiety was associated with eyebrow and lateral angle of the mouth. Moreover, as compared with contralateral landmarks, the left landmarks were lifted/expanded in subjects with elevated trait/state anxiety, whereas the right landmarks were lifted/expanded in subjects with low-trait/state anxiety.

Obese individuals generally have a reduced muscle strength and mass, which result in an increased risk of disability. In this perspective, strength training represents a good strategy for enhancing function and reducing the obesity-related disability. This chapter aims to provide a general overview on the potential effects of strength training in obese patients. We include a brief description of the strength-related variables that may be useful for practitioners for understanding, planning and structuring resistance training programs appropriate for obese individuals. Given the importance of reducing mechanical stress, leading to increased systolic blood pressure and risk of orthopaedic injuries, recommendations for practitioners in the field are needed. In this chapter we focus on low-intensity, low-velocity resistance training programs which appear to be particularly suited for the obese population.

The aim of this retrospective case study is the longitudinal description of the physical and functional parameters of a top-level Paralympic swimmer class S9-SB8-SM9 during four swimming seasons of training, from the Paralympic games in London 2012 to the Paralympic games in Rio 2016. A 22-year-old male swimmer underwent a specific preventive dry-land training based on diaphragmatic breathing, postural alignment, and slow-velocity resistance training aimed to improve his muscle strength. He was tested by using the Functional Movement Screen™, photographic postural assessment and vertical jump. The swimmer improved his functional, postural and strength parameters indicating a better functional movement and muscular power. These results show that a four-year specific dry-land intervention could be capable of enhancing the functional and physical requirements of a top-level Paralympic swimmer. This approach might be a suitable novel alternative for coaches and athletic trainers to integrate their training protocols for athletes with similar impairments.

[Purpose] This study determined the effects a new modality of core stabilization exercises based on diaphragmatic breathing on pulmonary function, abdominal fitness, and movement efficiency. [Subjects] Thirty-two physically active, healthy males were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 16) and a control group (n = 16). [Methods] The experimental group combined diaphragmatic breathing exercises with global stretching postures, and the control group performed common abdominal exercises (e.g., crunch, plank, sit-up), both for 15 minutes twice weekly for 6 weeks. Pulmonary function (measured by forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and peak expiratory flow) and abdominal fitness (measured with the American College of Sports Medicine curl-up [cadence] test and the Functional Movement Screen(TM)) were evaluated before and after the intervention. [Results] Significant changes in curl-up (cadence) test scores, Functional Movement Screen scores, and all pulmonary parameters were recorded in the experimental group at the posttraining assessment, whereas in the control group, no significant differences over baseline were observed in any parameters. [Conclusion] Compared with traditional abdominal exercises, core stabilization exercises based on breathing and global stretching postures are more effective in improving pulmonary function and abdominal fitness.

SUMMARYTHERE IS AN INCREASING INTEREST IN DEVELOPING LOW-INTENSITY RESISTANCE TRAINING METHODS TO REDUCE BOTH THE MECHANICAL STRESS ON JOINTS IN INDIVIDUALS FROM DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS AND THE RISK OF INJURIES IN ATHLETES. BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION RESISTANCE TRAINING (BFRRT) HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE AN EFFE

Psychopathological symptoms and reduced health related quality of life (HRQoL) are frequent in cirrhotics, but no data on their association with cirrhosis prognosis assessed by the MELDNa score are available. Prospective data on the long-term effect of deceased donor liver transplantation (LT) on psychopathological symptoms are needed. Before entering the LT waiting list, 44 consecutive LT cirrhotic candidates without a major psychiatric disorder underwent a psychopathological assessment, including Symptom Checklist-90-revised (SCL-90-R) and Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ). HRQoL was measured by Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Abnormal performance at each questionnaire was defined by using 44 age, gender, BMI and education-matched healthy subjects. Separate binary logistic regression models were used to test the association of the Child-Pugh, MELD and MELDNa scores with abnormal performance at each questionnaire. Fourteen patients repeated the battery tests 3 years after LT. Before LT, increasing MELDNa was the only prognostic score independently associated with an abnormal SCL-90-R global psychopathological score index (OR: 1.207; 95% CI: 1.026–1.420; P = 0.02) and the best independent predictor of reduced HRQoL. After LT, compared to status prior to LT, performance at SF-36 general health perception scale ameliorated (P = 0.02), performance at SCL-90-R somatization scale (P = 0.001) and global psychopathological score index (P

Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) is associated with specific neurobehavioral features and personality traits. The aim of our study was to investigate fluid intelligence, personality traits and personality disorders (PD) and possible correlations with testosterone in a cohort of adult KS patients. We analyzed 58 adult KS patients with the classic 47, XXY karyotype. The Structured Clinical Interview for axis II disorders was used to assess DSM IV personality disorders. Personality traits were assessed using MMPI-2. Fluid intelligence was tested by using Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices (SPM) Test. Testosterone blood concentration was measured by CMIA. PD prevalence was 31%. Four altered MMPI scales (Social Responsibility, Dominance, Ego Strength and Repression) were found in more than 40% of patients. Overcontrolled hostility and MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale-Revised scales were altered in the PD− group only. Biz-Odd Thinking and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder scale were associated with the presence of personality disorder. The raw SPM score was 44 ± 10.8 without any significant correlation with testosterone. No significant difference in mean age, SPM raw score and MMPI score was observed between eugonadal, hypogonadal and treated patients. Most KS patients had average fluid intelligence. PD prevalence was higher than in the general population. Testosterone was not correlated with fluid intelligence, personality traits or PD, but a reduction in marital distress was observed in treated patients. This could suggest that testosterone therapy can improve physical symptoms and this effect could also improve relationship abilities and wellness awareness.

Soccer is a team sport that requires prolonged, high-intensity, intermittent exercise and evidence from previous studies has shown that players experience fatigue toward the end of a match. Some preliminary observations indicate that goal scoring increases over time during the game; however, these preliminary results were obtained analysing minor soccer leagues and/or using a limited amount of matches. The aim of this study was to examine the goal scoring patterns in four major European leagues (English Premier League, French Football Ligue 1, Italian Serie A and Spanish Football Liga) across three consecutive seasons (2008–09, 2009–10 and 2010–11). Chi square analysis revealed a significantly (p < 0.001) higher goal scoring frequency in the second half (55.1 %) compared to the first half (44.9 %). The 15-min interval analysis highlighted a significant (p < 0.001) upward trend in the number of goals scored as time progressed (13.7, 15.1, 16.2, 17.7, 17.2 and 20.2 %, for 0–15, 15–30, 30–45, 45–60, 60–75 and 75–90 intervals respectively). The main finding of the present study is that in the four major European soccer leagues investigated the amount of goals scored is greater in the second half, with the scoring rate being highest in the last 15-min of a match. Fatigue occurring during the game may play a role; however, fatigue alone cannot explain the differences. The state of the games result and the reduced time available for scoring are other potential contributing factors to the increased goal scoring patterns observed in the latter stages of the game.

The aim of this study was to assess the exercise intensity during a ski marathon race by monitoring the heart rate (HR) of a well-trained male amateur skier taking part in La Sgambeda 2012 (42 km long). The race consisted of a preliminary short lap of 3.5 km and two almost identical laps of 19 and 19.5 km, respectively. The subject’s resting and maximal heart rates (HRrest and HRmax) were 60 and 180 beats/min, respectively. During the race, HR and altitude were recorded every 1 s using a HR monitor with GPS system. To describe the exercise intensity profile, three reference HRs were selected. The reference HRs were calculated from the “Karvonen formula” by multiplying the HR reserve (HRR; HRR = HRmax−HRrest) by the factors 0.5, 0.7, 0.9 and adding these values to HRrest. The HR profile was classified into four levels of exercise intensity. The skier performed the race in 1 h 55 min 40 s, with an HRmean of 160 beats/min (89 % of HRmax and 83 % of HRR). Nearly the entire race (96.6 %) was performed at an intensity between 70 and 90 % of HRR. The HRmean during the 2nd lap was slightly lower as compared to the HRmean during the 1st lap (from 162 ± 4 to 160 ± 4 beats/min, p

The presence and distribution of immunoreactivity for nitric oxide synthase type I and a panel of regulatory neuropeptides was investigated in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of mouse embryos. Results show that nitric oxide synthase type I is first expressed in putative extrinsic nerve fibers reaching areas of vascular development at embryonic day 16 and in the vomeronasal nerve at embryonic day 15. Immunoreactivity for vasoactive intestinal peptide appears around developing vessels of the VNO during embryonic day 18. No immunoreactivity for atrial natriuretic peptide, substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide is present in the VNO. It is concluded that, in the mouse, nitric oxide synthesis is a precocious event in the development of peripheral and central neural vomeronasal structures, representing a very early step in the neurochemical maturation of the VNO.

Brain resistance to intracerebral superinfections develops after a peripheral inoculation of neurovirulent viruses. Superinfection resistance combines specificity, toward the virus used for the peripheral inoculum, and short-term duration after the inoculum. In order to study this unusual combination, neurovirulent superinfections were made on albino Swiss mice previously infected with a nasal inoculum. A herpesvirus strain SC16, or a homologue recombinant virus carrying the reporter lac Z gene or a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) (a virus taxonomically unrelated to Herpesviridae) were used. The mice underwent a neurological examination and their survival rate was recorded. The brains superinfected with the reporter virus were stained for the beta-galactosidase reaction to trace the virus spread and the inflammatory infiltrates were characterized immunocytochemically. The results confirm and extend previous observations about virus specificity and short-term duration of superinfection resistance. They show, moreover, an enhanced brain inflammation with T-cells and macrophages infiltrating the tissue around microvessels, at a time when both neurovirulence and the spread of herpesvirus in the brain are reduced. The results suggest that the immune response to superinfection in the nervous tissue is enhanced by blood-brain barrier mechanisms that promote the timely extravasation of immune cells.

Stimulation of estrus in adult female mice was obtained with major urinary proteins (MUPs) with the natural volatile ligands bound. The MUP threshold concentration for this effect was about 1.8 mg/ml. MUPs without the ligands bound, as purified by organic extraction of hydrophobic compounds, stimulated estrus in mice only when dissolved in carrier urine of juvenile or castrated adult male mouse or ovariectomized female mouse. They did not stimulate estrus when dissolved in water. Mice that had the vomeronasal organ removed were insensitive to MUPs. It is concluded that MUPs are an integral part of the mouse male pheromones that stimulate hormonal activity in females and that the vomeronasal system is involved in the estrus-stimulating effect of the major urinary proteins.

An asymptomatic and transitory brain infection takes place in adult Swiss CD-1 mice after intranasal inoculation of HSV-1 strain SC16. Time course and distribution of the infection in the brain are demonstrated, (i) by titration of the nasal tissue and olfactory bulbs for 16 days post-infection (p.i.), showing a maximum production yield on day 7 p.i. and no replicating virus on day 16 p. i.; (ii) expression in the brain of the lac Z reporter gene of HSV-1 strain SC16-DeltaUS5-lac Z consistent with a central spread of the virus through the central olfactory pathways and the trigeminal system as described in acute HSV-1 encephalitis models; (iii) PCR amplifications of a segment of the thymidine kinase gene (HSV-tk) showing the persistence of viral genome in the nasal tissue and olfactory bulbs after clearance of infectious virus. The asymptomatic character of the infection is demonstrated over 2 months p.i. (i) by normal body weight; (ii) a neurological survey which excludes motor, sensory, balance and postural signs; (iii) two behavioral tests, the open-field test for exploratory activity and the cookie-finding test for olfactory search. On the other hand, intracerebral inocula cause encephalitis and death in a few days (LD50 ca. 14 p.f.u.). Intracranial, surgical transection of one olfactory nerve does not prevent infection of the corresponding bulb nor does it modify virus distribution, suggesting multiple entry routes from the nasal cavity to the brain. In conclusion, HSV-1 strain SC16 reaches the brain of CD-1 mice from the nasal cavity and replicates without neurological or behavioral signs.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether the serotonin transporter gene (5-HTT), a key component in the control of the serotonergic system, is associated with endometriosis in an Italian population. Findings: A case–control study, comprising 137 Italian patients with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 120 healthy controls, was carried out. 5-HTT genotypes (LL, SL and SS) were obtained by polymerase chain reaction and gel electrophoresis analysis. We found no overall difference in genotypic and allelic distributions of the 5-HTT gene between cases and controls. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the 5-HTT L/S promoter polymorphism is not associated with susceptibility to endometriosis in the studied Italian patients.

Social interactions in mice involve olfactory signals, which convey information about the emitter. In turn, the mouse social and physiological status may modify the release of chemical cues. In this study, the influences of age and social isolation on the endocrine response and the release of chemical signals were investigated in male CD1 mice, allocated into four groups: Young Isolated (from weaning till 60days; N=6), Adult Isolated (till 180days; N=6), Young Grouped (6 mice/cage; till 60days; N=18), Adult Grouped (6 mice/cage; till 180days; N=18). Mice were transferred in a clean cage to observe the micturition pattern and then sacrificed. Body and organs weights, serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, corticosterone and the ratio Major Urinary Protein/creatinine were measured. Urinary volatile molecules potentially involved in pheromonal communication were identified. Androgen secretion was greater in isolated mice (P

Objective.The aim of this preliminary study was to determine whether psychiatric disorders, psychopathological symptoms, and alexithymia are associated with endometriosis in an Italian population.Study Design.A preliminary study comprising 37 Italian patients with surgically confirmed endometriosis and 43 controls, without clinical and ultrasound signs of endometriosis, was carried out. Both patients and controls were evaluated for the presence/absence of psychiatric disorders, psychopathological symptoms, alexithymia, and pain symptoms (nonmenstrual pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia).Results.Statistically significant differences were found between cases and controls for prevalence of mood and anxiety disorders, malfunctioning on obsessive-compulsive subscale (P<0.01) and depression subscale (P<0.05) of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revisited (SCL-90-R), and higher alexithymia levels (P<0.01). Patients with endometriosis-associated pain showed greater prevalence of psychiatric disorders compared to pain-free patients but that difference was not significant. Significant correlation was found between malfunctioning in some SCL-90-R dimensions and pelvic pain, dysmenorrhea, and dyspareunia scores at the visual analog score (VAS).Conclusion.Some psychopathological aspects, such as psychoemotional distress and alexithymia, are more frequent in women with endometriosis and might amplify pain symptoms in these patients.

The expression of alpha-gustducin, a G protein alpha subunit involved in bitter and sweet taste transduction, was investigated in chemosensory tissues of adult mice. By immunohistochemistry, alpha gustducin was absent in the olfactory neuroepithelium. Instead, alpha gustducin was expressed in a subset of bipolar cells in the proliferative zone of the vomeronasal neuroepithelium as well as in taste buds. Northern blot analysis confirmed the presence of alpha gustducin in isolated vomeronasal organs. Moreover, immunohisto- chemistry revealed the expression of alpha gustducin in scattered cells of the nasal respiratory epithelium. These results show for the first time that alpha gustducin is expressed in chemosensory tissue outside the alimentary tract, suggesting that common transduction mechanisms could be shared by apparently unrelated chemosensory tissues.

Differential diagnosis of brain tumor types is mainly based on cell morphology and could benefit from additional markers. The cAMP second-messenger system is involved in regulating cell proliferation and differentiation and is conceivably modulated during cancer transformation. The cAMP second-messenger system mainly activates protein kinases, which are in part docked to cytoskeleton, membranes, or organelles by anchoring proteins, forming protein aggregates that are detergent insoluble and not freely diffusible and that are characteristic for each cell type. The intracellular distribution of the detergent-insoluble regulatory subunits (R) of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase has been examined in mouse and rat glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo by immunohistochemistry. In normal rodent brains, the RIIalpha regulatory subunit is detergent insoluble only in ependymal cells, while in the rest of the brain it is present in soluble form. Immunohistochemistry shows that in both mouse and rat glioma cell lines, RIIalpha is mainly detergent insoluble. RIIalpha is localized close to the nucleus, associated with smooth vesicles in the trans-Golgi network area. Both paclitaxel and vinblastine cause a redistribution of RIIalpha within the cell. Under conditions that increased intracellular cAMP, apoptosis of glioma cells was observed, and it was accompanied by RIIalpha redistribution. Also in vivo, detergent-insoluble RIIalpha can be observed in mouse and rat gliomas, where it delineates the border between normal brain tissue and glioma. Therefore, intracellular distribution of detergent-insoluble RIIalpha can assist in detecting tumor cells within the brain, thus making the histologic diagnosis of brain tumors more accurate, and may represent an additional target for therapy.

Male rat chemosignals attract females and influence their reproductive status. Through the accessory olfactory bulb and its projection target, the posteromedial cortical nucleus of the amygdala (PMCo), species-specific chemosignals detected by the vomeronasal organ (VNO) may reach the hypothalamus. To test this hypothesis in vivo, behavioural activation and neurotransmitter release in the PMCo were simultaneously monitored in freely moving female oestrus rats exposed to either rat or mouse urinary stimuli, or to odorants. Plasma levels of the luteinizing hormone were subsequently monitored. All stimuli induced an immediate behavioural activation, but only species-specific chemosignals led to a delayed behavioural activation. This biphasic behavioural activation was accompanied by a VNO-mediated release of the excitatory amino acids, aspartate and glutamate, in the PMCo. The late behavioural and neurochemical activation was followed by an increase in the levels of circulating luteinizing hormone. In conclusion, these data show that only species-specific chemosignals induce a delayed behavioural activation and excitatory activation of the PMCo, which is dependent on an intact VNO.

A recombinant bovine herpesvirus 4 (BoHV-4EGFPDeltaTK), obtained by the insertion of an EGFP gene into the TK locus of DN 599 BoHV-4 strain, was injected into the lateral ventricle of the brain of mice and a clinical score was evaluated for 90 days. Although BoHV-4 was not neuro-pathogenic, BoHV-4EGFPDeltaTK transduction capability was analyzed. EGFP expression was localized in close proximity to the border of the ventricles and EGFP-positive cells were found to co-localize with ependymal cells. Although most of the cells had a polarized morphology, they were not neurons. EGFP-positive cells were seen to spread in tangentially oriented rows within the rostral migratory stream (RMS). Co-localization of EGFP signal with anti-GFAP antibody showed that they were glial cells. EGFP-positive cells were observed until 31 days post-injection and then disappeared completely. Virus isolation was possible at an early post-injection time (3 days), but then virus titer was below the detection limits at later times. Viral DNA, however, could be detected until 21 days post-injection. Thus, in this report we showed that (i) BoHV-4EGFPDeltaTK did not replicate in the mouse brain, (ii) is not pathogenic and (iii) gene transfer can be obtained in long-lived cells belonging to the RMS after BoHV-4EGFPDeltaTK injection within the lateral ventricle.

We tested the therapeutic relevance of auto aggregation in lactobacilli by comparing the effect on DSS induced colitis of viable Lactobacillus crispatus M247, isolated from healthy humans, to L. crispatus MU5, an isogenic spontaneous mutants of M247, the latter lacking the auto aggregation phenotype which allows the adhesion to human mucus. Aggregating L. crispatus M247, but not the non-aggregating MU5, was retrievable from mice feces and adherent to the colonic mucosa. Daily administration of L. crispatus M247, but not heat killed L. crispatus M247 or aggregation deficient L. crispatus MU5, dose-dependently reduced the severity of DSS colitis. Indeed, L. crispatus MU5 administered in a 30% sucrose solution, known to restore the aggregation phenotype, had a protective effect comparable to mice receiving L. crispatus M247. These results indicate that a surface-mediated property such as aggregation may play a pivotal role in the protective effects obtained by dietary supplementation with L. crispatus M247 during colitis.

Chemical signals modulate aggressive behavior in mice. For example, male urinary cues enhance aggression against other adults: a resident mouse attacks a male but not a castrated intruder, unless it is anointed with male urine. Our purpose was to understand whether molecules excreted with urine also act as aggression triggers in a different context. Therefore, the effect of urine, or molecules purified from urine, voided by different animals (males or females), was tested on the aggression of male mice against pups. Latency to the first attack, percentage of pups receiving the first attack, and percentage of attacked pups after 5 and 15 min were recorded. At variance with intermale aggression, male urinary chemosignals sprayed on pups reduced infanticide, while female urine did not. Male urine also delayed infanticide when compared to female urine. Pups anointed with low molecular weight dialyzed urine and with the high molecular weight protein fraction were attacked later than controls. Pups anointed with Major Urinary Proteins (MUPs) also were attacked later. The volatiles retained by MUPs act in the same way as adult male urine. MUPs and their ligands did not modify biting of food items. The results show that mice do not perceive male chemosignals as compulsory aggression triggers but rather can consistently and differentially shape their behavior in response to the same molecules according to different contextual events.

The influence of rearing conditions on pheromone-induced puberty acceleration was tested on Swiss mice. Litters were reared in one of three conditions: with either both parents, or with two females, or finally with two females in the presence of urinary pheromonal cues from adult males, which are known to induce puberty acceleration. Nine days after weaning the females were exposed to either prepubertal or adult male urine. In the groups reared with either both parents or with two females and the pheromonal cues from stranger males, females treated with adult male urine presented heavier uteri and more cornified vaginal smears than females reared in the same conditions but subsequently treated with prepubertal males urine. In the group reared simply with two females, the differences in both uterus weight and vaginal smears did not reach statistical significance. The data support the notion that early experience of pheromonal cues may influence the response to pheromones in a later period, even if the preweaning exposure to males had no direct influence on early signs of puberty onset.

The authors offer three interpretations of onychophagia, a widespread but largely unstudied phenomenon. The first is phenomenological, and characterises onychophagia as a non-pathological behavioural symptom present in many pathologies and a distinct syndrome that is sometimes quite severe. The second is clinical, and indicates the convergent and divergent connections between onychophagia and the most frequent eating disorders. The third is psychodynamic, and suggests an interpretative hypothesis of onychophagia itself and the frequent sensation of trouble and refusal that it often provokes even in doctors and psychotherapists.

Pheromones transmit information on sex, age, social rank and hormonal status among mice (Halpern, 1987), are responsible for attraction and mate recognition, and modulate intraspecific interactions as well as reproductive physiology (Keverne, 1983). Most male pheromones are mainly androgen-dependent molecules that are excreted in urine of adult males (Reynolds, 1971). They modulate both behavioral and neuroendocrine outcomes through the activation of chemosensory receptors of the main olfactory epithelium and vomeronasal organ (Brennan and Keverne, 1997; Tirindelli et al., 1998).

The principal protein excreted in male rat urine, urinary alpha 2-globulin and the homologous mouse protein, major urinary protein, have been well characterized, although their functions remain unclear. Male rat urine affects the behaviour and sexual response of female rats, leading to the proposal that rodent urinary proteins are responsible for binding pheromones and their subsequent release from drying urine. Urinary alpha 2-globulin is also involved in hyaline droplet nephropathy, an important toxicological syndrome in male rats resulting from exposure to a number of industrial chemicals and characterized by the accumulation of liganded urinary alpha 2-globulin in lysosomes in the kidney, followed by the induction of renal cancer. We now report the three-dimensional structures of mouse major urinary protein (at 2.4 A resolution) and rat urinary alpha 2-globulin (at 2.8 A resolution). The results corroborate the role of these proteins in pheromone transport and elaborate the structural basis of ligand binding.

To compare the predictive value of thallium-201 single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scintigraphy (Sci) and low-dose dobutamine echocardiography (Dob) in predicting late recovery of dysfunctioning myocardium in patients with recent, uncomplicated myocardial infarction (MI).19 patients (18 male, aged 58+/-8 years) with recent MI and ejection fraction50% (35.5+/-8.3%) underwent 5-15 microg/kg per min Dob, rest-redistribution Sci and coronary angiography, respectively, 14+/-6, 16+/-7 and 17+/-5 days after MI. On an eleven-segment ventricular model devised to compare Dob and Sci segment by segment, each dysfunctioning ventricular segment was considered viable if it showed recovery of mechanical function at the echocardiographic follow-up, performed 6.3+/-1.5 months after revascularization (five PTCA, five GABG) or medical therapy. Among the 104 dysfunctioning segments, of which 26 (25%) showed recovery at follow-up, Dob and Sci gave a concordant response in 50 (48%, k = 0.13), correctly predicting the recovery (or not) of function in 42. Forty-two of 54 discordant responses were due to segments judged viable only by Sci and which had no recovery at follow-up (of these 37 were akinetic or severely hypokinetic at baseline). At the segment-by-segment analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy in predicting recovery of function at follow-up were, respectively, 69, 88 and 84% for Dob as against 88, 36 and 49% for Sci (P0.001 for both specificity and accuracy, P=NS for sensitivity).In patients with recent MI, the specificity of Dob in the detection of myocardium capable of late mechanical recovery is significantly higher with respect to Sci, whereas sensitivity is slightly, not significantly higher for the latter. It is conceivable that Sci detects viable myocardium even if it is transmurally limited to epicardial layers in segments with severely impaired mechanical function in which viability will not affect late recovery of function.

The Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is usually interpreted in organicistic and physiological terms. This paper looks at it dynamically in terms of the psychic dimension of the patient through an examination of the contrasting tensions (emptiness and fullness; saving and destroying the object, etc.) that are the unconscious cause of his NES. A relationship is suggested between nocturnal reawakenings as a form of eating behaviour and the undreamt or avoided dreams used by the patient as a defence against "perception" of the unconscious.

The major urinary proteins (MUPs) are proteins secreted by the liver and filtered by the kidneys into the urine of adult male mice and rats, the MUPs of rats being also referred to as alpha(2U)-globulins. The MUP family also comprises closely related proteins excreted by exocrine glands of rodents, independently of their sex. The MUP family is an expression of a multi-gene family. There is complex hormonal and tissue-specific regulation of MUP gene expression. The multi-gene family and its outflow are characterized by a polymorphism which extends over species, strains, sexes, and individuals. There is evidence of evolutionary conservation of the genes and their outflow within the species and evidence of change between species. MUPs share the eight-stranded beta-barrel structure lining a hydrophobic pocket, common to lipocalins. There is also a high degree of structural conservation between mouse and rat MUPs. MUPs bind small natural odorant molecules in the hydrophobic pocket with medium affinity in the 10(4)-10(5) M(-1) range, and are excreted in the field, with bound odorants. The odorants are then released slowly in air giving a long lasting olfactory trace to the spot. MUPs seem to play complex roles in chemosensory signalling among rodents, functioning as odorant carriers as well as proteins that prime endocrine reactions in female conspecifics. Aphrodisin is a lipocalin, found in hamster vaginal discharge, which stimulates male copulatory behaviour. Aphrodisin does not seem to bind odorants and no polymorphism has been shown. Both MUPs and aphrodisin stimulate the vomeronasal organ of conspecifics.

The expression of nitric oxide synthase type I (NOS-I), the key enzyme for the synthesis of the gaseous neurotransmitter nitric oxide, was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry in the vomeronasal organ (VNO) of mice from postnatal day 1 for 2 months. The results show that NOS is expressed in extrinsic nerve supplying the developing erectile tissue of VNO (the so-called VNO pump) as well as blood vessels in the connective tissue laying under the receptor epithelium at postnatal day 1. At 8, 15 and 21 postnatal days, and at 2 months the density of NOS-1-immunoreactive nerves goes along with the development of the erectile tissue. From postnatal day 8 onwards, NOS-1-immunoreactive fibers are found also in the vicinity of the VNO glands. These data suggest that nitric oxide (NO) modulates VNO activity early after birth in the mouse.

Retrovirus-mediated gene therapy is a particularly attractive approach for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), given the poor prognosis of this tumour and its localized proliferation in post-mitotic tissue. In this study we assessed, for the first time in humans, the therapeutic potential of a newly designed bicistronic Moloney vector (pLIL-2-TK), combining the expression of a suicide gene (thymidine kinase, tk) with an immunomodulatory gene (human interleukin 2, IL-2). Evidence of transgene activity in the treated tumours is presented.

Four patients affected by glioblastoma recurrence were treated with a gene therapy-immunotherapy protocol consisting of intratumoral injections of culture cells producing a retroviral vector which expresses human interleukin-2 and the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase genes. Seven to 14 days after implantation, the patients were treated with ganciclovir at standard doses. Anatomopathological and immunohistochemical data confirm the efficacy of transduction. From the clinical point of view, gene therapy combined with immunotherapy demonstrated safety and a short-range but clearcut oncolytic effect.

The vomeronasal (VN) organ of Jacobson is the receptor organ of the accessory olfactory system (AOS). The VN organ consists mainly of an olfactory epithelium (OE) and a vascular pump. The OE is characterised by the presence of primary receptor neurons whose axons form the VN nerve and contact the secondary neurons in the AO bulb (AOB). Hence the neural outflow goes to brain structures controlling the pituitary-gonadal axis and the reproductive behaviour. The adequate stimuli for the VN organ are volatile as well as non-volatile substances. They are driven toward the primary VN neurons through a blind ended canal, the VN canal, by the vascular pump. The VN system is important in chemical communication within the species and the majority of the effects driven by the activity of this system in mammals gather under the umbrella of reproduction. The evidence from molecular biology, biochemistry, histology, physiology and behaviour studies singles out the VN system as a distinct system when compared to the main olfactory system.