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Background/Objectives: Adaptive hyperactivity characterized by increased activity levels and novelty-seeking traits without mood disorders is prevalent among older adults in Sardinia's "blue zone," an area with high longevity. This study aims to evaluate the adaptive nature of hyperactivity concerning quality of life, social rhythms, and mood symptoms in individuals from this region, particularly among elderly adults over 80. Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included adults and older adults over 80 from Sardinia's blue zone. This study included a sample of patients followed at the Center for Consultation Psychiatry and Psychosomatics for Bipolar Disorder of the University Hospital of Cagliari and a homogeneous comparison sample of patients without psychiatric pathologies, referred to the Dermatology Clinic of the same hospital, for a period of 6 months, from February to August 2024. The general sample, divided into two parts—cases, represented by patients with psychiatric pathology, and controls, patients without psychiatric pathology—was divided in turn into three sub-groups: "adults" (18–64 years), young elders (65–79), and old elders (over 80 years). The participants underwent psychiatric interviews and completed the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), SF-12, and Brief Social Rhythm Scale (BSRS). Data were compared with national and regional normative data. Results: Older adults in the blue zone demonstrated higher MDQ positivity (22.58%) compared to the national averages (0.87%), without corresponding increases in dysregulated rhythms, depressive symptoms, or reduced quality of life. Younger old persons (65–79 years) showed increased rhythm dysregulation (BSRS score: 20.64 ± 7.02) compared to adults (17.40 ± 6.09, p = 0.040), but this trend was not observed in the oldest group (80+ years). No significant differences were found in the CH3SH and (CH3)2S levels between groups. Conclusions: The hyperactivity observed in older adults from Sardinia's blue zone appears adaptive and not linked to social rhythm dysregulation, depressive symptoms, or a diminished quality of life, suggesting resilience factors which may contribute to longevity. These findings support the potential classification of such hyperactivity as beneficial rather than pathological, warranting further research into biomarkers and psychoeducational interventions to prevent the onset of bipolar disorders in predisposed individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Periodontitis has been associated with an increased risk of CRC, as well as a worse prognosis due to increased inflammation mediators and carcinogenic factors. Moreover, direct and indirect virulence factors from periodontal pathogens, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, could play a pivotal role in malignant transformation and progression. This cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the presence and the stage of periodontitis in a cohort of patients with CRC. The secondary aim is to assess the presence of F. nucleatum and its relationship with patients' general characteristics, concomitant pathologies, tumor characteristics, and drug therapy. Materials and Methods: Patients affected by CRC underwent dental examination and periodontal charting with the "North Carolina" probe to assess the presence and stage of periodontitis, according to the new classification of periodontal diseases of the World Workshop of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) and the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) 2017. F. nucleatum presence was assessed by a dorsal tongue swab and related to the patient's general characteristics, concomitant pathologies, tumor characteristics, and drug therapy. Results: Periodontal disease was found in 94.3% of I/II CRC stage patients and 100% of III/IV CRC stage patients. Severe periodontitis was found in 76% of the advanced CRC stage and 87.9% of patients with initial CRC, while initial periodontitis was found in 12.1% of initial CRC and 24% of late CRC stages, respectively, without significant differences. F. nucleatum presence showed no correlation between the patient's and tumor's characteristics, comorbidities, and drug assumed. Conclusions: Periodontal disease showed a high prevalence among CRC patients. Moreover, severe periodontitis has a higher prevalence in CRC patients compared to initial periodontitis. F. nucleatum presence was unrelated to CRC stage, site, other comorbidities, and drug therapies. With these data, it is not possible to admit a direct relationship between CRC and periodontal disease, but further case–control studies must be carried out to further prove this aspect. Preventive and operative targeted strategies to maintain a healthy oral status are suggested in CRC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 2 diabetes (T2D), characterized by insulin resistance and β-cell dysfunction, requires continuous advancements in management strategies, particularly in controlling postprandial hyperglycemia to prevent complications. Current antidiabetics, which have α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities, have side effects, prompting the search for better alternatives. In addition, diabetes patients are particularly vulnerable to yeast infections because an unusual sugar concentration promotes the growth of Candida spp. in areas like the mouth and genitalia. Asphodelus microcarpus contains bioactive flavonoids with potential enzyme inhibitory properties. This study investigates α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities and antioxidant and antimycotic capacity of ethanolic extracts from different parts of A. microcarpus. Results show that extracts significantly inhibit α-glucosidase, with the IC50 value being up to 25 times higher than for acarbose, while exerting low α-amylase activity. The extracts also demonstrated strong antioxidant properties and low cytotoxicity. The presence of phenolic compounds is likely responsible for the observed biological activities. Molecular docking analysis of 11 selected compounds identified emodin and luteolin as significant inhibitors of α-glucosidase. Additionally, the extracts demonstrated significant antibiofilm action against an MDR strain of Candida albicans. These findings suggest that A. microcarpus is a promising source of natural compounds for T2D management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Nile Virus, an arthropod-borne RNA virus, may result in severe neurological disease. West Nile neuroinvasive disease is characterized by meningitis, encephalitis, and possible acute flaccid paralysis. Here, we report a case of neuroinvasive WNV in a 65-year-old woman hospitalized for hyperpyrexia, chills, intense asthenia, and continuous vomiting. Within days, her clinical condition worsened with the onset of severe neurological symptoms, leading to her death within 10 days despite supportive therapies being administered. The diagnosis of West Nile disease was made through nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT) on blood and cerebrospinal fluid. However, in the final stages of the illness, cerebrospinal fluid collection was not possible due to the patient's critical condition, and a nasopharyngeal swab was used instead. The nasopharyngeal swab facilitated the collection of a sample, which was subsequently analyzed for the presence of the virus and allowed for sequencing, showing that it was a strain that had been circulating in Sardinia for some time and had demonstrated its pathogenicity by causing the death of a hawk in 2021. This case report highlights the rapid progression and severity of WNV infection, particularly in vulnerable individuals, and suggests the potential utility of nasopharyngeal swabs as a less invasive option for sample collection. It also underscores the potential for the zoonotic transmission of the virus from birds to humans through vectors, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and controlling WNV outbreaks, especially in regions where such circulation is observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The tongue harbors about two-thirds of the microorganisms present in the mouth; the stable bacterial population consists mainly of aerobic and facultative anaerobic streptococci. These bacterial colonies, found more frequently on the tongue than on the outside of the hard part of the dental enamel in children younger than 18 months, suggest that the tongue is a potential bacterial reservoir. The aim of this review is to examine the scientific literature to clarify whether the mechanical removal of bacterial biofilm on the tongue can have a positive effect on caries prevention, with the reduction in colony-forming unit (CFU) of salivary streptococcus and the whole-mouth plaque index (FMPS). Methods: An open literature search was conducted by using PubMed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. The most studied age range was 9 to 12 years, with groups of children with no caries and groups with a minimum number of two teeth that were reconstructed, decayed and/or missing (DMFS/dmfs > 2) who experienced different tongue hygiene methods for the first time. Results: Four randomized trials met the search criteria and were included in this review. Conclusions: The results obtained suggest that specific tongue hygiene protocols, combined with a healthy diet and lifestyle, could be considered the gold standard to enable more effective primary prevention and improve the health of pediatric patients. This review improves the understanding of the impact of tongue hygiene in controlling the bacteria responsible for the onset of carious disease and its systemic correlates; however, further research with more data is needed to further confirm the findings of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The COVID-19 lockdown periods have given rise to the "Dysregulation of Mood, Energy, and Social Rhythms Syndrome" (DYMERS). This syndrome is characterized by a poor regulation of biological, social, and behavioral rhythms, including sleep, nutrition, and social contacts. The purpose of this cohort study was to examine whether older adults with pre-existing DYMERS had a more negative perception of their health-related quality of life (H-QoL) during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, regardless of the presence of concurrent mood disorders. Method: The entire study population (N = 93; age > 65 year) was categorized based on whether they exhibited dysregulated rhythms at the outset of the study. A comparison was made between DYMERS-positive individuals and DYMERS-negative individuals, and we assessed their H-QoL at the conclusion of the study. We also compared the H-QoL of individuals in the cohort who did not have a positive depression score to understand the impact of the rhythm dysregulation alone. Results: The frequency of individuals with a critical health-related quality of life score (SF12 < 25) was higher in the cohort with pre-existing DYMERS during lockdown (33.33% vs. 6.17%). This difference remained significant even when only individuals without depressive symptomatology were considered (27.27% vs. 2.60%). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that DYMERS can exert a substantial influence on health-related quality of life (H-QoL), even when mood disturbances are not present. Additional research is required to investigate the relationship between DYMERS and other psychiatric conditions as well as its nature as a standalone disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]