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The finding of molecules associated with aging is important for the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases and for longevity strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators involved in many biological processes and miR-146b-5p has been shown to be involved in different degenerative diseases. However, miR-146b-5p modulation has not been evaluated in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) commitment or during aging. Therefore, the modulation of miR-146b-5p in the commitment and differentiation of mesenchymal cells as well as during maturation and aging in zebrafish model were analyzed. In addition, circulating miR-146b-5p was evaluated in human subjects at different age ranges. Thus, the role of physical activity in the modulation of miR-146b-5p was also investigated. To achieve these aims, RT (real-time)-PCR, Western blot, cell transfections, and three-dimensional (3D) culture techniques were applied. Our findings show that miR-146b-5p expression drives MSCs to adipogenic differentiation and increases during zebrafish maturation and aging. In addition, miR-146b-5p expression is higher in females compared to males and it is associated with the aging in humans. Interestingly, we also observed that the physical activity of walking downregulates circulating miR-146b-5p levels in human females and increases the number of chondroprogenitors. In conclusion, miR-146b-5p can be considered an age-related marker and can represent a useful marker for identifying strategies, such as physical activity, aimed at counteracting the degenerative processes of aging.

Background: There is increasing evidence of the influence of the oropharyngeal stimulations on the autonomic nervous system and an easy approach to evaluate the balance between parasympathetic and sympathetic system is the measurement of the pupil diameter. The aim of this analytic observational study is to define the effects of clenching and swallowing on pupil diameter, and how an oral appliance can affect the outcome of these tasks, to establish their influence on the sympathetic-parasympathetic balance., Methods: We measured the pupil diameter in 30 healthy subjects during clenching and swallowing, both with and without oral appliance. We compared the results with the mandibular rest position. The respective positions with and without oral appliance were also compared., Results: Pupillometry showed a mydriatic effect of swallowing (rest 6.94 mm, swallowing 7.26 mm, P=0.04) and oral appliance, more relevant in scotopic conditions. On the contrary, clenching seemed to enhance miosis, especially in intense brightness condition (rest 3.95 mm, clenching 3.83 mm, P=0.02)., Conclusions: Swallowing and oral appliance facilitate the sympathetic system, while clenching activates the parasympathetic branch. We argue that probably the locus coeruleus is the main hub. These results could have practical implications in bruxism physiology, because it could be an attempt to counteract the activation of the sympathetic system.

Objectives: A standing posture including various ankle positions might effectively facilitate pelvic floor muscle activity (PFMa) in incontinent women, and an ankle dorsiflexion (DS) at 15 degrees was identified as the best position able to increase PFMa. Nevertheless, this ankle inclination is very uncomfortable. We carried out this study aiming at identifying smaller ankle inclinations able to significantly affect PFMa in incontinent women reducing patient discomfort., Methods: Twenty women, not yet entered menopause and with mild-moderate uncomnplicated stress urinary incontinence, were enrolled. An electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback instrument using surface electrodes was employed to measure changes in PFMa while each patient assumed the following different ankle inclinations in upright position: horizontal standing (HS); DS at degrees (5DS), 10 degrees (10DS) and 15 degrees (15DS); and ankle plantar flexion (PS) at 5 degrees (5PS), 10 degrees (10PS) and 15 degrees (15PS)., Results: No EMG differences were found between HS and PS. PFM tension in DS, at whatever angle, was significantly greater than in both HS (P < 0.020) and PS (P < 0.040). No differences were found between IODS and 15DS in terms of resting PFMa. Concerning maximal PFMa, it was higher in 10DS than in 15DS (P = 0.010), and in 5PS than in both 5DS (P = 0.006) and 15DS (P = 0.010); no EMG differences were found between 5PS and 10DS., Conclusions: These preliminary results showed that 10DS in upright standing had comparable effects on resting PFMa than 15DS with same effectiveness and less patient's discomfort, facilitating a better maximal contraction. Moreover a slight PS might effectively facilitate maximal PFMa.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the short and long-term effects of repetitive magnetic stimulation on the sacral roots in a homogeneous group of patients affected by stress incontinence., Methods: Twenty women with urinary stress incontinence were randomly assigned to an active or a sham stimulation group. Fifteen-Hz repetitive magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots (S2-S4) was applied for 15 min. Patients were treated with magnetic stimulation for 3 days a week for 2 weeks (6 times in all). The clinical outcome was assessed before (T1) and 1 week (T2) and 1 month (T3) after stimulation. Main outcome measures were: the King's Health Questionnaire, the SEAPI-QMM scale and the amount of urinary loss in a 1-h pad test and stress test., Results: At T2 patients in the active stimulation group showed improvement in health perception (P<0.001), social limitation (P<0.01), sleep/energy performance (P<0.05) and severity measure score (P<0.05) not observed in the sham stimulation group; a significant decrease in SEAPI-QMM score was noted only in the active group at T2 (P<0.05). These results were no longer observed at T3. We also observed a decrease in the amount of urine loss quantified with the pad test and stress test in the active stimulation group., Conclusion: Repetitive magnetic stimulation of the sacral roots has a short-term effect on some aspects of the quality of life of the patients, but it did not prove effective using quantified measurement.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of manipulation followed by arthroscopic release of the glenohumeral joint in conjunction with an immediate and intensive rehabilitation program., Design: Retrospective, descriptive study., Setting: A free-standing, university-affiliated orthopedics and rehabilitation hospital., Participants: Forty patients with a clinical diagnosis of adhesive capsulitis resistant to pharmacologic and physical therapy (PT)., Interventions: Patients underwent manipulation and arthroscopic release of the capsular joint and were given an intensive PT program on the first postoperative day., Main Outcome Measures: All patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively at follow-up at an average of 42 months by using the Simple Shoulder Test (SST), the Constant-Murley system score, and passive (PROM) and active (AROM) range of motion., Results: The SST, which showed a mean preoperative score of 2.2+/-0.7, was 10.8+/-0.7 (P<.001) after surgery. Preoperatively, the mean Constant-Murley score was 33.2%+/-1.9%; postoperatively, the mean score was 91.7%+/-2.9% (P<.001). PROM increased from 90 degrees to 165 degrees for anterior elevation, from 85 degrees to 160 degrees for abduction, from 20 degrees to 60 degrees for external rotation, and from 10 degrees to 40 degrees for internal rotation. AROM improved for anterior elevation from 82 degrees to 155 degrees; for abduction from 77 degrees to 143 degrees, and for external rotation, with the arm along the patient's side, from 5 degrees to 50 degrees., Conclusions: Results support the efficacy of manipulation follow by arthroscopic release and rehabilitative treatment for patients with resistant adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on exercise tolerance and quality of life of an outpatient rehabilitation program implemented at home without a physiotherapist's direct supervision in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease., Design: Patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were studied. The rehabilitation program included lower limb exercise on a stationary bicycle and upper limb exercise and stretching, together with education, and it lasted for 12 wks. Every 2 wks, a physiotherapist contacted patients by phone to evaluate their compliance with the rehabilitation program and any adverse effects. The main measures of outcome were the Health Status Index, cycle ergometer test, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec, and forced vital capacity. Patients were evaluated at the baseline and at 12 wks., Results: A total of 32 patients were recruited and 28 (mean age, 70.4 yrs) completed the trial. After pulmonary rehabilitation, a significant improvement was found in seven of the nine Health Status Index quality-of-life subscales. Exercise tolerance also improved significantly, whereas no variation was observed in pulmonary function tests. There was no correlation between the improvement in quality of life and the improvement in exercise tolerance. The improvements in the Health Status Index physical function and general health subscales correlated negatively with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (percentage of predicted value) and positively with residual volume/total lung capacity ratio. The improvement in exercise tolerance (expressed in watts or as maximum oxygen uptake), but not in quality-of-life indexes, was associated negatively with age and positively with weight, cognitive function, and forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/forced vital capacity ratio., Conclusions: We conclude that an inexpensive home rehabilitation program can improve quality of life and exercise tolerance in patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Furthermore, our results indicate that exercise tolerance evaluated by cycloergometry and quality of life evaluated by the mean of the Health Status Index questionnaire are independent outcome measures of pulmonary rehabilitation.