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Psicosom��tica y Psiquiatr��a, N��m. 5 (2018): abril-mayo-junio

Pregnancy is a physiological state during which the woman's body undergoes profound modifications. During this time, every woman must be nourished in such a way as to maintain herself in good health and at the same time allow the fetal tissues to form and develop in the best way. Proper nutrition is one of the fundamental prerequisites for the normal evolution of both pregnancy and fetal growth: the quantity and quality of food and drinks must be scrupulously controlled. Contrariwise, it is important to avoid the excess calories and macronutrients. In fact, during pregnancy, it may be just as harmful as their shortage, especially in overweight and obese women, for which the risk of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, fetal growth disorders and preeclampsia increases. The pasta constitutes the foundation of the Mediterranean diet food. The dough can be seen, therefore, so it represents an excellent ally of the diet from a nutritional point of view. The nutritional values of the pasta change depending on the type, based on the fact that the dough is traditional or integral semolina. It also contains Vitamin B and has an abundance of minerals, among which potassium. The pasta is an easily digestible food, ensuring energy ready to use (such as all carbohydrates); moreover, it possesses a great satiating power. In case of overweight, however, it is possible to reduce the number of carbohydrates in the diet, taking care not to make them ever miss. In conclusion, the consumption of pasta is very important during pregnancy: a diet without carbohydrates can be dangerous for all physiological pathways.

Introduction: An endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) is defined as "an exogenous chemical or a mixture of chemicals that interfere with any aspect of the hormonal action". Endocrine systems are a physiological interface with the environment and genetic-environmental interactions are disrupted by EDCs. Today, there are almost 1000 chemicals reported to have endocrine effects: the prevalence of EDC in our environment and in our bodies represents a major global health challenge. This review gathers the studies that have investigated the correlations between exposure to EDC and pathologies of the female reproductive system and fetal development. Methods: A PubMed research was conducted using the keywords, their variants, and their combinations (BPA, DES, MXC, pesticides, phthalates, plasticizers, PCBs, dioxins, ovaries, oocytes, ovaries, fallopian tubes, follicles, vagina, uterus, fibroids, fertility, infertility, puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome, premature ovarian failure, birth, preterm birth, birth outcome, steroid, hormone, female, girl and menopause). Results: The endocrine system plays a central role in all vertebrates and regulates critical biological functions such as metabolism, development, reproduction, and behavior. Epidemiological studies link EDCs with reproductive effects, neuro-behavioral and neurodevelopment alterations, metabolic syndrome, bone disorders, immune disorders, and cancers in humans. Human investigations confirm the results of the studies carried out on animal showing associations with many additional effects on health, including asthma, learning and behavior problems, premature puberty, infertility, breast and prostate cancer, Parkinson's disease, obesity and other diseases. Conclusions: It is important to undertake research with follow-up methodologies and/or longitudinal studies to detect the extent of exposure of pregnant women to EDCs and halogenated substances and the effects of such exposure on brain development. A future research hypothesis may consider the effect that these substances have on neuro-development and, more specifically, how EDCs are involved in pathogenic disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In addition, a scientific study could be performed on the correlations between this type of substance and the inconveniences found in the field of executive frontal functions.

Orexin system regulates sleep/wake states and its deficiency result in narcolepsy thus indicating the crucial role of orexins in maintaining wakefulness. There are two types of orexin peptides: the orexin-A (OXA or hypocretin 1) and orexin-B (OXB or hypocre- tin 2). The Majority of the central nervous system orexin peptides are synthesized in neurons located in the lateral and back hypotha- lamus and send projections throughout the brain regions Orexin neurons are “multi-tasking” hence regulating also energy homeosta- sis, reward systems and feeding behaviour through connection with hypothalamic nuclei and through responsiveness to leptine and glucose. It has recently been found a connection with lymbic system suggesting a further possible role of orexins in regulating emo- tions. All the studies conducted confirm that orexin system regulates vigilance states, energy homeostasis, reward system, and emo- tions. These crucial role might be the target to develope treatments of narcolepsy, obesity, emotional stress, and drug addiction.

The consciousness is the expression of an enormous and complex variety of neurobiological events, phenomenological and psychological that, from the early stages of development, prepare the emergence soil of the Self. It is a complex of tangible and intan- gible characters distinct from one another - neural infrastructure, awareness, temporality, qualitative subjectivity, intentionality - to such an extent as to seem welded faces of the same prism. Consciousness is not a simple function of the mind, but its organization. In this paper we intend to show how its order is not strictly hierarchical, but sustained by multiple horizontal levels, each of which in a structural and functional continuum with several emerging phenomena. The same distinction between quantitative aspects (surveil- lance) and qualitative (content of consciousness) of consciousness is founded on the premise that the supervision is regulated by widespread in projection systems of the brain stem, hypothalamus and thalamus; while the content of consciousness depends on the cortical activity, and particularly from the associative areas of the cortex connected between them. The so-called disturbances of consciousness (vegetative state, the minimally conscious state, a coma, the Locked in syndrome) suggests the existence of an altera- tion of a common underlying system. Although the current heterogeneity of the data makes it impossible to attribute with certainty whether positive or negative about the alleged absence of consciousness in the individual patient, the search is deriving significant benefits from the accumulation of neuroimaging evidence in paintings like coma, general anesthesia , sleep, epilepsy and somnambu- lism. In this sense, it seems increasingly urgent a deeper understanding of the neural correlates during sleep or general anesthesia, as well as the relationships between neural processes and altered states of consciousness generated by pharmacological manipulations.

The Mediterranean diet has been recognized historical and cultural heritage of great importance, nutritional and culinary excellence to scratch. In the Mediterranean diet 50-60% of kilocalories should come from carbohydrates, 25-30% from lipids and the remaining 10-15% from protein, the dough thus represents the main source of complex carbohydrates, ideal energy source is essential for the daily activities ensuring the good health state. The beneficial properties and the nutritional values of pasta are numerous Pasta is a ally of the diet: satiating has great power and is an excellent solution for stress. It also contains vitamins of the B group essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system, the starch paste is free glucose, which promotes the synthesis of serotonin, which gives well-being. Some studies have shown that, among the carbohydrates, the pasta has the lowest glycemic index not therefore increases the levels of C-reactive protein, which proved to be correlated with cardiovascular risk does not increase the risk of hypertension because it contains very little sodium and fiber, the latter fundamental in the prevention of cancer.

Glucose uptake in skeletal muscle is dependent on the translocation of GLUT4 glucose transporters to the plasma membrane. The most important stimulators of glucose transport in skeletal muscle are insulin and exercise. Glucose uptake in skeletal muscle during exercise induces acceleration of many processes compared to the resting state. The scientific literature does not underline the role played by muscle contraction to increase glucose uptake with insulin-independent mechanisms. Search on Pub Med (May 05, 2015) using the key words "contraction and glucose uptake and muscle" gives 717 reports, while a search using the key words "insulin and glucose uptake and muscle" cites 5676 publications. The present paper describes the role of exercise in the muscle glucose uptake. Contraction of muscle induces GLUT4 translocation in the absence of insulin. There are different intracellular "pools" of GLUT4, one stimulated by insulin and another one stimulated by exercise. The roles exerted by AMPK, AICAR, calcium, NO, glycogen and hypoxia in the glucose uptake during exercise are emphasized. The effects of these phenomena on human wellness are reported.

Hereditary protein S (PS) deficiency is a rare autosomal disorder of the coagulation pathway associated with familial thrombophilia.We investigated a young propositus with recurrent deep vein thrombosis, a positive family history for thrombotic episodes, and low plasma concentrations of free, but not total PS antigen (12% and 70%, respectively).Sequence analysis of the PS gene showed a heterozygous G-to-A mutation at the first nucleotide of intron N. The patient's father, who had suffered from deep vein thrombosis and had reduced total and free PS antigen (59% and 28%, respectively) was a heterozygote. The G-to-A change predicts the disappearance of a donor splice site. After transfection with a construct, containing either the wild-type or the mutated sequence, cells with the mutant construct showed an aberrant mRNA, consistent with exclusion of exon 14, but not the expected mRNA. Sequencing of the abnormal mRNA showed the complete absence of exon 14. Exclusion of exon 14 predicts the deletion of the amino acid sequence from residue 508 to residue 582, and the shift of the reading frame of the following 8 amino acids with a premature stop codon within exon 15 at position 591. Thus, the truncated PS gene product would not contain the terminal portion of the sex hormone binding globulin-like domain.We have identified a mutation in a highly conserved intronic region of PS gene. The mutation affects in vitro mRNA processing and efficiency of normal splicing.

Anxiety can be considered a normal experience of the human being and as such also of the child. It manifests itself in different ways according to the level of development: in the smaller the child, the more anxiety is expressed with manifestations that involve the whole organism, becoming evident either with motor excitement or with physical discomfort. As the psychic apparatus is structured, anxiety is experienced as an inner phenomenon and is experienced as an unpleasant state. Fortunately, we are all a bit anxious, even if there are some people who are more, others less.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate the stress-related changes of a TeamGym competition considering both physiological (i.e. salivary cortisol [sC] and alpha-amylase [sAA]) and psychological (i.e. state anxiety) responses in relation to exercise intensity and competition outcomes. METHODS: Eleven (5 males and 6 females) elite TeamGym athletes (age: 21-28 yrs) were administered the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory before an official international TeamGym competition. sAA and sC samples were collected 15 minutes prior to competition, after each apparatus, 10-min and 30-min after competition. Exercise intensity was estimated by heart rate (HR) recording and performance was evaluated by three international judges. All these parameters were correlated with competition outcomes. RESULTS: TeamGym competition posed a low exercise load (most of exercise was performed below 85% of the individual HRmax). Significant increases (P

Adipose tissue is a biological caloric reservoir that expands in response to over-nutrition and releases lipids in response to energy deficit. It comprises white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT). WAT primarily stores energy as triglycerides, whereas BAT dissipates chemical energy as heat. BAT is a key site of heat production in mammals that has for many decades been considered an attractive target to promote weight loss. The regulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) tone provides a complex homeostatic mechanism able to specifically coordinate the function and crosstalk of the organs involved in energy balance. Whereas the adaptive thermogenic response to cold and high-fat diet increases the SNS outflow to BAT; the different lipolytic requirements of these two conditions are appropriately met by the increase or decrease of the sympathetic outflow to selected WAT depots. Furthermore adipose tissue acts as an endocrine organ by producing various signalling cytokines, and interacting with some neuropeptides as orexins. This review reports our evidences showing that the autonomic nervous system controls body weight and fat mass (FM) by influencing food intake and energy consumption.