Groups Of Subjects Research Articles

Changes in autonomic regulation in workers under conditions of long-term fluoride intoxication

Introduction. Long-term intake and accumulation of fluoride compounds in the body, in addition to pathological changes in the bronchopulmonary system, bone tissue, liver, leads to changes in the regulatory systems, primarily the autonomic ones, in the conditions of chronic fluoride intoxication. The aim of the study was to assess the nature and severity of the changes in autonomic regulation in workers of the main occupations in aluminum production under exposure to chronic fluoride intoxication. Material and methods. We examined fifty two male workers of aluminum production over the age range from 40 to 56 years; work experience was more than 15 years. Autonomic regulation was assessed using spectral analysis of the heart rate variability, highlighting oscillations in the ranges of very low frequency (0.004–0.08 Hz), low (0.09–0.16 Hz), and high frequencies (0.17–0.5 Hz). Results. Analysis of the heart rate variability made it possible to identify 4 groups of subjects: 16 individuals had a moderate decrease in variability and a predominance of low-frequency oscillations, 12 subjects examined cases had a pronounced decline in variability in all frequency ranges; a decrease in the capabilities of autonomic regulation was manifested during a test with hyperventilation by an increase in very low frequency oscillations frequency indicating the need for activation of suprasegmental autonomic centers. In 24 subjects, the stable predominance of low-frequency oscillations indicates an enhancement in sympathetic influence. In response to the hyperventilation test, most of them (18 subjects were included in the group 3) showed an increase in low and very low frequency oscillations as a sign of a violation of baroreceptor regulation. Limitations. The study was limited by the number of workers with long-term work experience in aluminum production who underwent an in-depth medical examination. Conclusion. Changes in autonomic regulation are observed in the majority of aluminum production workers with long-term work experience, which gives grounds to recommend a study of neurovegetative status using heart rate variability analysis during preventive examinations to identify individuals at high risk of developing comorbid diseases.

ETHICAL HORIZONS: A COMPREHENSIVE EXPLORATION OF CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS ETHICS PRACTICES

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of business ethics practices from 2014 to 2023 against the backdrop of a rapidly changing socio-economic landscape. Recognizing the escalating global challenges, the study employs the PRISMA framework to scrutinize 60 selected articles out of 1023 database entries. Examining business ethics through various lenses, the paper categorizes articles by year, country, continent, and subject groups. Initial emphasis on business ethics and Human Resource Management underscores the global impact of leadership, governance, and ethical interventions in maintaining standards. Noteworthy findings highlight NGOs' role in promoting ethical considerations in HRM practices. Leadership, codes of ethics and transparency emerge as pivotal factors in fostering sound business ethics. The study further explores the intersection of business ethics and marketing, emphasizing ethical practices' role in influencing consumer confidence, organizational performance, and brand image. The interconnectedness of business ethics and sustainability challenges the perception of associated costs, advocating for ethical rule integration in Small and Medium Enterprises. Additionally, the paper delves into the incorporation of Islamic principles into business ethics, showcasing their potential to transform businesses into socially responsible entities.

Muscle synergies and muscle networks in multiple frequency components in post-stroke patients

As a neural control strategy employed by the central nervous system to control movements, the extraction of muscle synergies from a broad range of electromyographic signals has been the focus. Nevertheless, recent coherence analysis demonstrates distinct roles played in low-frequency components in motor control. This suggests that muscle synergies extracted from the low-frequency components can capture movement characteristics as done in the full-band. To investigate this issue, muscle synergies were extracted from three distinct frequency components (20–450 Hz, 20–30 Hz, 30–450 Hz) during spatial reaching movements in a group of healthy and stroke subjects. Synergy similarities were computed both within frequencies and between groups, and complex network analysis was conducted based on the group-averaged synergies. Results showed that the number and structure of muscle synergies, as well as network metrics, identified from the full-band (20–450 Hz) and low-frequency (20–30 Hz) exhibited high similarity between groups. These patterns diverged from those observed in high-frequency (30–450 Hz). The stroke did not induce significant alterations in muscle synergies. However, higher network metrics were identified in the full-band for one synergy. This study demonstrated the capacity of low-frequency components to perform muscle synergy analysis. These findings can help better understand the neural drive and motor control, potentially advancing the assessment of motor function and rehabilitation strategies.

Erythrocyte Phospholipid Fatty Acid Profile in High-Level Endurance Runners

Fatty acids (FAs) are the major structural component of erythrocyte membranes. Diet and physical exercise directly influence their incorporation and function. Endurance runners engage in high volumes of weekly aerobic training, alternating between low-intensity and high-intensity sessions. The aim of the study was to assess and compare the erythrocyte FA profile in a group of high-level male endurance runners (EG) with a control group of non-athlete subjects (CG). This observational study was conducted on 85 subjects, 63 high-level male endurance runners (23 ± 3 years; height: 1.76 ± 0.05) and 22 subjects who did not engage in regular physical exercise (21 ± 0.5 years; height: 1.68 ± 0.39). Runners had at least five years of training experience, and all of them were participants in national and international tournaments. FAs determination was performed using gas chromatography. Higher percentages of Palmitic Acid (PA), Stearic Acid (SA), Oleic Acid (OA), Calendic Acid (CA), Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosapentaenoic Acid (DPA), and lower percentages of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) were found in the EG compared to the CG. High-level endurance runners exhibit altered erythrocyte FA profiles with low percentages of omega-3 index (ω-3 index) and DHA, which may affect erythrocyte membrane function as well as their performance.

Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Muscular Temporomandibular Joint Disorders: A Prospective Case-Control Study.

Muscular temporomandibular joint disorders (M-TMDs) encompass a wide range of painful muscular conditions, which can provoke functional limitation and severely affect quality of life. The aim of the present study was to assess the treatment outcomes in patients affected by M-TMDs in terms of pain scores assessed with pressure pain threshold (PPT). The levels of depression, anxiety, and the Oral Health Impact Profile were also assessed and compared to healthy controls. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of M-TMDs and a control group of healthy subjects were enrolled. At baseline, OHIP-14, PHQ-9, and GAD-7 were administered. PPT was registered at the level of masseter and temporalis muscles. The patients affected by M-TMDs were then treated with oral splints and physio-kinesiotherapy following a standardized treatment protocol. At the 6-month follow-up of M-TMD-affected patients, PPT was registered, and the questionnaires were re-administered to evaluate treatment outcomes. In total, sixty patients and sixty controls were enrolled. The treatment of M-TMDs produced a significant improvement in PPT at the level of the masseter muscle. OHIP-14 at baseline in the M-TMD group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At the 6-month follow-up, a significant reduction in OHIP-14 scores was registered, although with higher scores compared to the control group (p < 0.05). PHQ-9 was significantly higher at baseline in the M-TMD group (p < 0.05) and decreased to values comparable to the control group after treatment. GAD-7 presented statistically significant differences between the control group and M-TMD patients at baseline (p < 0.05) and between pre- and post-treatment in the M-TMD group. Following treatment, the GAD-7 scores were comparable to the control group. The symptom burden associated with M-TMDs negatively affects quality of life, with higher oral health impairment and a tendency towards depression and anxiety compared to healthy subjects. Following treatment, an improvement in both PPT and quality of life was observed.

Analysis of cognitive dysfunction in Parkinson's disease using voxel based morphometry and radiomics.

Cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with changes in the brain anatomical structures. The objective of this study, is to identify the atrophy patterns based on the severity of cognitive decline and evaluate the disease progression. In this study, gray matter alterations are analysed in 135 PD subjects under 3 cognitive domains (91 Cognitively normal PD (NC-PD), 25 PD with Mild Cognitive Impairment (PD-MCI) and 19 PD with Dementia (PD-D)) by comparing them with 58 Healthy Control (HC) subjects. Voxel Based Morphometry (VBM) is used to segment the gray matter regions in magnetic resonance images and analyse the atrophy patterns statistically. Significant patterns of gray matter variations observed in the middle temporal and medial frontal region differentiate between HC and PD subject groups based on the severity of cognitive decline. Abnormalities in gray matter is substantiated through radiomic features extracted from the significant gray matter clusters. Significant radiomic features of the clusters are able to differentiate between the HC and PD-D subjects with an accuracy of 81.82%. Higher atrophy levels identified in PD-D subjects compared to NC-PD and PD-MCI group enables early diagnosis and treatment procedures. The combined and comprehensive analysis of gray matter alterations through VBM and radiomic features gives better assessment of cognitive impairment in PD.

Clinical study on improving the function of female bladder in controlling urine by acupuncture Zhibian (BL54) under ultrasound guidance

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of acupuncture Zhibian (BL54) on the function of the bladder in controlling urine in women under ultrasound.Method74 healthy subjects were randomly divided into deep acupuncture group of 37 cases and shallow acupuncture group of 37 cases. Under the guidance of ultrasound, the two groups of subjects were acupunctured at bilateral BL54. The deep acupuncture group was acupunctured to the pudendal nerve, and the shallow acupuncture group was acupunctured to the superficial fascia. Ultrasound was used to observe the peak systolic velocity (PSV), time average maximum velocity (TAMX), end diastolic velocity (EDV), pulsation index (PI), resistance index (RI) of the pudendal arteries, and bladder volume of two groups of subjects before and after acupuncture. The anatomical hierarchical structure of bilateral BL54 and score of Chinese version of the Massachusetts General Hospital Acupuncture Sensation Scale (C-MASS) of all subjects was measured.ResultAfter acupuncture, the PSV, TMAX of the pudendal artery, bladder volume, and the Score of C-MASS Scale in the deep acupuncture group were higher than in the shallow acupuncture group (P < 0.05). The RI of the pudendal arteries in the shallow acupuncture group decreased compared to before acupuncture (P < 0.05).ConclusionAcupuncture at the BL54 can increase the blood flow velocity of the pudendal artery, improve the function of the bladder in controlling urine in women, and different depths of acupuncture will have different therapeutic effects.

Relation between body appreciation, eating disorder risk, emotional distress, and BMI among a group of Egyptian subjects

BackgroundBody image appreciation is an important psychological aspect for all individuals of all ages which affects their psychological, personal, and social well-being. ObjectivesExamining the relationship between disordered eating tendencies, body appreciation, body mass index (BMI), and emotional distress among individuals who follow and seek psychological services from the non-profit entitative Egyptian eating disorders initiative EEDI and an online therapy platform. MethodsA cross-sectional study including 301 healthy participants with no past medical or psychiatric history was conducted. Participants completed an online survey including demographic data, BMI, and three measures: The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Body Appreciation Scale (BAS), and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) questionnaires. ResultsParticipants with disordered eating tendencies — according to EAT-26 — had lower BAS scores (p < 0.001) and higher DASS depression, anxiety, and stress scores (p < 0.001). EAT-26 was negatively correlated with age (p = 0.003) and BAS (p < 0.001). Meanwhile, it was positively correlated with the three DASS scales (p < 0.001). BAS was negatively correlated with body mass index and the three DASS scales (p < 0.001). ConclusionBody appreciation decreases with increased disordered eating tendencies and BMI. Depression, anxiety, and stress are associated with a decrease in body appreciation.

Touch–based potentiometric sensors for simultaneous detection of urea and ammonium from fingertip sweat

Urea is a biomarker for diagnosis and management of multiple disorders. The measurement of urea could help in the diagnosis of patients with kidney dysfunction. Despite their attractive analytical performances, the existing urea measurement methods are still limited to sophisticated and time–consuming or require invasive blood sampling. Herein, a reliable noninvasive, simple, and disposable touch–based potentiometric sensor is fabricated for rapid monitoring of fingertip sweat urea. Novel touch–based urea detection relies on immobilized urease recognition and a solid–contact ammonium–ion–selective electrode, along with a screen–printed carbon working electrode modified carboxylated carbon nanotubes for enhancing sensor’s sensitivity. The fingertip sweat under sedentary rest conditions can be instantaneously collected on customized porous polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel transporting sweat to working electrode surface where the hydrolysis of urea is catalyzed, generating bicarbonate and ammonium. The resulting ammonium can be detected with ion–selective transducer, enabling indirect monitoring of sweat urea. Potential interference from co–existing ammonium in human sweat is addressed by developing a dual disposable potentiometric sensor, consisting of urea and ammonium sensors on a single strip platform allowing for simultaneous touch–based detection of sweat urea and ammonium. The resulting dual disposable sensing system offers rapid urea and ammonium monitoring within a group of healthy human subjects, along with a good correlation with R2 = 0.974 between the sweat urea and capillary blood urea levels. Additional confirmation among a broad sample of individuals along with the validation of sensor data through centralized laboratory tests will establish the practicality of simultaneously monitoring urea and ammonium levels.

Subjects with carotid webs demonstrate pro-thrombotic hemodynamics compared to subjects with carotid atherosclerosis

Carotid artery webs (CaW) are non-atherosclerotic projections into the vascular lumen and have been linked to up to one-third of cryptogenic strokes in younger patients. Determining how CaW affects local hemodynamics is essential for understanding clot formation and stroke risk. Computational fluid dynamics simulations were used to investigate patient-specific hemodynamics in carotid artery bifurcations with CaW, bifurcations with atherosclerotic lesions having a similar degree of lumen narrowing, and with healthy carotid bifurcations. Simulations were conducted using segmented computed tomography angiography geometries with inlet boundary conditions extracted from 2D phase contrast MRI scans. The study included carotid bifurcations with CaW (n = 13), mild atherosclerosis (n = 7), and healthy bifurcation geometries (n = 6). Hemodynamic parameters associated with vascular dysfunction and clot formation, including shear rate, oscillatory shear index (OSI), low velocity, and flow stasis were calculated and compared between the subject groups. Patients with CaW had significantly larger regions containing low shear rate, high OSI, low velocity, and flow stasis in comparison to subjects with mild atherosclerosis or normal bifurcations. These abnormal hemodynamic metrics in patients with CaW are associated with clot formation and vascular dysfunction and suggest that hemodynamic assessment may be a tool to assess stroke risk in these patients.

An enhancement of the Genium™ microprocessor-controlled knee improves safety and different aspects of the perceived prosthetic experience for unilateral and bilateral users.

Bilateral microprocessor-controlled prosthetic knee (MPK) users have unique needs in traversing environmental barriers compared to unilateral users. An enhancement to the Genium™/Genium X3™ MPK which included an updated ruleset, hydraulics, and new bilateral parameter presets was made to improve safety while stumbling and the smoothness of gait for all users while also improving the experience of bilateral users. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the enhancements in a sample with unilateral and bilateral amputation. A convenience sample of MPK users was recruited from two sites in the USA in two phases. Assessments included the L-Test of Functional Mobility, Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale, Prosthetic Limb User Survey of Mobility, a study-specific questionnaire, and the Comparative Activities of Daily Living (ADL) Questionnaire. Statistical significance of extracted data was tested with the Wilcoxon Rank-Sum Test for independent data and Wilcoxon Signed-Rank for paired data with an a priori significance level of p < 0.05. Unilateral subjects were age-matched to the group of bilateral subjects for between-groups and within-groups analyses. Twenty-six subjects (n = 26) were enrolled. Stumble frequency reduced 85% from 16.0 ± 39.7 to 2.4 ± 2.3 (p = 0.008) between baseline and final assessment overall. The bilateral group reported 50% (p = 0.009) and 57% (p = 0.009) greater relative improvement in patient-reported ease and safety, respectively, of completing ADLs compared to the unilateral group. The unilateral group reported residual limb pain and low back pain reduced from 2.3 to 1.4 (p = 0.020) and 3.8 to 1.8 (p = 0.027), respectively, whereas the bilateral group did not. Substantial reductions in stumbles, residual limb pain, and back pain were shown overall. These reductions were driven by the unilateral group who also showed improvements in comfort, exertion, and concentration while walking. The enhancements to the knee likely reduced some gait asymmetry for unilateral users. Improvements in patient-reported ease and safety of completing ADLs were shown overall and were driven by the bilateral group. This study shows further improvement in patient experience is achievable through innovation in MPK technology even for patients who appear to be functioning well.

Albumin Oxidation and Albumin Glycation Discordance During Type 2 Diabetes Therapy: Biological and Clinical Implications.

Aims: Cys34 albumin redox modifications (reversible "cysteinylation" and irreversible "di/trioxidation"), besides being just oxidative stress biomarkers, may have primary pathogenetic roles to initiate and/or aggravate cell, tissue, and vascular damage in diabetes. In an exploratory "proof-of-concept" pilot study, we examined longitudinal changes in albumin oxidation during diabetes therapy. Methods: Mass spectrometric analysis was utilized to monitor changes in human serum albumin (HSA) post-translational modifications {glycation [glycated albumin (GA)], cysteinylation [cysteinylated albumin (CA) or human non-mercaptalbumin-1; reversible], di/trioxidation (di/trioxidized albumin or human non-mercaptalbumin-2; irreversible), and truncation (truncated albumin)} during ongoing therapy. Four informative groups of subjects were evaluated [type 1 diabetes (T1DM), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), prediabetes-obesity, and healthy controls] at baseline, and subjects with diabetes were followed for a period up to 280 days. Results: At baseline, T2DM was associated with relatively enhanced albumin cysteinylation (CA% total) compared with T1DM (P = 0.004), despite comparable mean hyperglycemia (P values: hemoglobin A1c = 0.09; GA = 0.09). T2DM, compared with T1DM, exhibited selectively and significantly higher elevations of all the "individual" glycated cum cysteinylated ("multimodified") albumin isoforms (P values: CysHSA+1G = 0.003; CysHSA+2G = 0.007; and CysHSA+3G = 0.001). Improvements in glycemic control and decreases in albumin glycation during diabetes therapy in T2DM were not always associated with concurrent reductions of albumin cysteinylation, and in some therapeutic situations, albumin cysteinylation worsened (glycation-cysteinylation discordance). Important differences were observed between the effects of sulfonylureas and metformin on albumin molecular modifications. Conclusions: T2DM was associated with higher oxidative (cysteinylation) and combined (cysteinylation plus glycation) albumin molecular modifications, which are not ameliorated by improved glucose control alone. Further studies are required to establish the clinical significance and optimal therapeutic strategies to address oxidative protein damage and resulting consequences in diabetes.

LIPOPROTEIN ASSOCIATED PHOSPHOLIPASE A2 ACTIVITY IS NEGATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH DECREASED BAROREFLEX SENSITIVITY IN HIGH NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE

Objective: The relationship between baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and inflammatory vascular biomarker Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in subjects with high normal blood pressure (HNBP, prehypertensives) with a positive family history of hypertension (FHH+) to hypertension history free control subjects (FHH-) was evaluated. Design and method: A total of 24 HNBP participants (age 39.5 ± 2.5 years, 18 male/ 6 female) were studied. 14 HNBP subjects FHH+ were compared to 10 HNBP participants FHH-, being of similar age and body mass index. BRS (ms/mmHg) and BRSf (Hz/mmHg) were determined by the sequence and spectral methods (five-minute non-invasive beat-to-beat recording of blood pressure and inter-beat interval, controlled breathing at a frequency of 0.1 Hz). Venous blood was analysed for Lp-PLA2 biomarker of vascular inflammation and atherothrombotic activity. Results: A significant negative correlation between spontaneous BRS obtained by both methods and blood pressure (BP) was present (BRS spect r = –0.54, p&lt;0.001, BRS seq r = –0.59, p&lt;0.001). BRS obtained by sequence and spectral methods were reduced in HNBP FHH+ compared to group of HNBP without history of hypertension (P= 0.0317 BRS seq, P = 0.0395 BRS spect). There was no difference between both groups of HNBP subjects in BRSf values. Lp-PLA2 was significantly higher in HNBP FHH+ compared to FHH- controls (P = 0.025). Lp-PLA2 was negatively correlated with BRS obtained by sequence method (r = - 0.6758, P = 0.00028) and BRS obtained by spectral method (r = - 0.5935, P = 0.00031). Conclusions: Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 is negatively associated with decreased baroreflex sensitivity in subjects with high normal blood pressure and positive family history of hypertension. These findings demonstrate that reduced baroreflex sensitivity as marker of autonomic dysfunction is linked with vascular inflammation predominantly in otherwise healthy participants with positive history of hypertension that could predispose to increased risk of hypertension. Further research is needed.

The Analysis and Inheritance of Chinese Grand Canal Culture from the View of Positive Psychology

The deep psychological connotation conveyed by the Chinese Grand Canal culture contains people’s explicit or potential positive qualities. Because of this inheritance, human beings not only maintain a kind of self-esteem in the fierce struggle for existence, but also play a dominant role in the social system composed of other life forms. It also enables human society to develop in a way that all things coexist in most cases. The connotation of Chinese Grand Canal culture at the psychological level coincides with people’s positive psychological pursuit. This paper explores the deep psychological causes and changes of Chinese Grand Canal culture from the subjective level, individual level and group level of positive psychology. By analyzing the positive psychological pursuit of Chinese Grand Canal culture and combining with the mainstream culture, the paper explores the inheritance and application of positive psychological perspective of Chinese Grand Canal culture.

The difference of affect improvement effect of music intervention in aerobic exercise at different time periods.

Objectives: A randomized controlled experimental design that combines exercise and music intervention was adopted in this study to verify whether this approach could help improve human affect. The differences in the effect of music listening on affective improvement were compared in four different periods: before, during, and after aerobic power cycling exercise and the whole exercise course. Method: A total of 140 subjects aged 19-30 years (average age: 23.6 years) were recruited and randomly divided into four music intervention groups, namely, the pre-exercise, during-exercise, post-exercise, and the whole-course groups. The subjects' demographic and sociological variables and daily physical activities were collected using questionnaires. Individual factors, such as the subjects' noise sensitivity, personality traits, and degree of learning burnout, were collected via scale scoring. A laboratory in Zhejiang Normal University was selected as the experimental site. The testing procedure can be summarized as follows. In a quiet environment, the subjects were asked to sit quietly for 5min after completing a preparation work, and then they were informed to take a pre-test. The four subject groups wore headphones and completed 20min of aerobic cycling (i.e., 7min of moderate-intensity cycling [50%*HRR + RHR] + 6min of low-intensity interval cycling [30%*HRR + RHR] + 7min of moderate-intensity cycling [50%*HRR + RHR] after returning to a calm state (no less than 20min) for post-testing. The affect improvement indicators (dependent variables) collected in the field included blood pressure (BP), positive/negative affect, and heart rate variability indicators (RMSSD, SDNN, and LF/HF). Results: 1) Significant differences were found in the participants' systolic BP (SBP) indices and the effect of improvement of the positive affect during the exercise-music intervention among the four groups at different durations for the same exercise intensity (F = 2.379, p = 0.030, ɳp 2 = 0.058; F = 2.451, p = 0.043, ɳp 2 = 0.091). 2) Music intervention for individuals during exercise contribute more to the reduction of SBP than the other three time periods (F = 3.170, p = 0.047, ɳp 2 = 0.068). Improvement in the participants' negativity affective score was also better during exercise, and it was significantly different than the other three time periods (F = 5.516, p = 0.006, ɳp 2 = 0.113). No significant differences were found in the improvement effects of the other effective indicators for the four periods. Conclusion: Exercise combined with music intervention has a facilitative effect on human affect improvement, and listening to music during exercise has a better impact on affective improvement than music interventions at the other periods. When people perform physical activities, listening to music during exercise positively affects the progress effect among them.

Neuropsychological Symptoms and Quality of Life during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Children: A Survey in a Pediatric Population in the Abruzzo Region, Italy.

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has significantly affected the pediatric population. Long-term sequelae (Long COVID-19) may particularly involve the central nervous system, with possible effects on psychological well-being and quality of life (QoL), aspects that were already influenced by the restrictive measures and general social impact of the pandemic. We conducted a cross-sectional survey that aims at investigating the neuropsychological effects and the QoL impairment of SARS-CoV-2 on a cohort of children and adolescents in the Abruzzo region (Italy). A questionnaire was submitted to caregivers with the help of the PEDIATOTEM platform. A control group of healthy subjects was also included to distinguish between the effects of infection from the general influence of the pandemic. A total of 569 subjects responded: 396 COVID-19 patients (99 of whom had Long COVID-19) and 111 controls. After the pandemic, when compared with the COVID-19 group, the controls reported significantly increased appetite, sleeping habits, and time spent remotely with friends and a reduction in physical activity and time spent in person with friends. A significant higher rate of controls asked for psychological/medical support for emotional problems. On the other hand, the Long COVID-19 group showed more fatigue and emotional instability with respect to non-Long-COVID-19 subjects. No differences in QoL results (EuroQOL) were found between the COVID-19 patients and controls, while the Long-COVID-19 subgroup showed significantly higher rates of pain/discomfort and mood instability, as confirmed by the analysis of variation of responses from the pre-COVID-19 to the post-COVID-19 period. Among COVID-19 patients, neuropsychological and QoL impairment was more evident in the Long COVID-19 subgroup, although emotional and relational issues were also reported by uninfected patients, with a growing request for specialist support as a possible consequence of social restriction.

Sustained immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Three years of observation

The COVID-19 pandemic has ended, but SARS-CoV-2 continues to actively circulate and mutate in the human population. In this regard, it is important to understand for how long post-infectious and post-vaccination immunity may last and how effectively established immunity could act against new mutant SARS-CoV-2 strains. The aim was to study humoral and cellular immunity in a group of COVID-19 convalescent subjects within 3 years after the primary infection. The longitudinal study included 38 adults aged 23–72 years with PCR-confirmed mild or moderate COVID-19 in the second half of 2020. Within three-year follow-up after the onset, the subjects were examined every 6 months for the level of humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 antigens. The parameters of humoral immunity were assessed by enzyme immunoassay using “SARS-CoV-2-IgG quantitative-ELISA-BEST” kits (Vector-Best JSC, Novosibirsk, Russian Federation) for S-protein and “N-CoV-2-IgG PS” (Saint-Petersburg Pasteur Institute, St. Petersburg, Russian Federation) specific to the N-protein. Cellular anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity was analyzed by evaluating surface CD107a expression on CD8high lymphocytes stimulated with the SARS-CoV-2 S- or N-antigens. It was shown that the dynamics of antibody levels against SARS-COV-2 antigens depends on antigen (S- or N-protein) type, antibody class (IgG or IgA) as well as individual contact history with new SARS-CoV-2 strains. The dynamics of cytotoxic CD8highCD107a+ lymphocyte percentage is moderately positively correlated with that of the corresponding anti-S or N antibody levels. At the same time, change in the levels of both humoral and T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 S- or N-protein antigens are weakly negatively correlated with each other. A strong positive correlation was found between changes in the anti-S IgG antibody level and avidity. Avoiding the anti-S IgG neutralization due to frequent mutations of new SARS-CoV-2 strains leads to induced new primary immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 antigens along with the activation of existing responses formed to previous coronavirus strains. The study of immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 antigens allows to predict the persistence of high SARS-CoV-2 anti-S antibody and T-cell response levels.

Blood plasma and urinary biomarkers of oxidative stress in cats with urethral obstruction

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate variations of the oxidative status in cats affected by urethral obstruction (UO) under Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC) and Bacterial Cystitis (BC), in comparison with a group of healthy subjects. In both groups, the levels of several markers (either direct or indirect) indicative of the oxidative attack and of the antioxidant response were analyzed on plasma and urine samples. In particular, the plasma samples were evaluated for nitric oxide (NO), hydroperoxides derived by reactive oxygen activity (d-ROMs test), superoxide anion (O2−), glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), superoxide dismutase activity (SOD), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP test); while on urine the levels of NO, d-ROMs, FRAP, SOD, malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured. Urine of UO patients was also subjected to urine-culture test.ResultsThe analytical data on plasma showed that UO, independently of the FIC or BC etiology, induced the insurgence of oxidative stress conditions at the systemic level. In the urine of the UO patients, except for SOD that increased, the markers of redox status were markedly decreased due probably their compromised filtration, thus suggesting involvement of renal function (assessed also by the high levels of plasma creatinine and proteinuria) with no oxidative damage of the lower urinary tract. Moreover, the adoption of a novel oxidative stress index’ (OSI) allowed to establish, by means of a numerical value, the different degrees of oxidative stress conditions for single UO patients, both in terms of oxidative attack and antioxidant response.ConclusionsFeline urethral obstruction, induced by Idiopathic Cystitis and Bacterial Cystitis, causes oxidative stress conditions at the systemic level that do not interest the lower urinary tract. Despite to the high variability of the profiles of oxidative stress indexes both in healthy and UO patients, the determination of OSI made possible the evaluation of their single degrees of oxidative stress. Possibly the results of this investigation can be compared with those of correspondent pathologies both in humans and in other animal species.

Tone-burst elicited auditory brainstem responses in full-term and pre-term infants

Objective To investigate the reliability of tone-burst auditory brainstem response (TB-ABR) latencies and thresholds in pre-term and full-term infants. Design TB-ABRs to 500 Hz and 4000 Hz tone-burst stimuli were recorded at two-week intervals over the first six weeks of life in a group of full-term infants (40–46 weeks gestational age [GA]) and over ten weeks (36–46 weeks gestation) in a group of preterm infants. Linear mixed model analyses evaluated within-subject changes and the effects of the subject group, age at assessment, and stimulus frequency on ABR latency and threshold. Study sample Twenty-four infants participated. Nine were full-term (GA: 39–41 weeks) and fifteen were healthy pre-term (GA: 28–34 weeks) at birth. Results TB-ABR wave V latencies at 70 dBnHL decreased throughout the study (p < 0.001) in pre-term babies for both test frequencies by approximately 0.5 ms. There were, however, no group or GA (at birth) effects indicating that response latency normalized in these children by the due date. Similarly, TB-ABR threshold levels in the premature group were elevated (p = 0.001) by approximately 5 dB in pre-term evaluation but were equivalent to those of full-term participants in the post-term assessment period. Conclusions In healthy, pre-term infants, tone-burst ABR testing is reliable from 36 weeks gestation.

How PBPK Can Help to Understand Old Drugs and Inform their Dosing in Elderly: Amantadine Case Study.

Amantadine, despite being on the market for 55 years, has several unknown aspects of its pharmacokinetics especially related to the influence of covariates such as age, disease, or interactions linked to amantadine's renal elimination. As amantadine is used in Parkinson's disease and is considered a potential candidate in COVIDtreatment and other diseases, there is an unmet need for thorough understanding of its pharmacokinetic in special populations, such as the elderly. We aimed to mechanistically describe amantadine pharmacokinetics in healthy subjects and shed some light on the differences in drug behavior between healthy volunteers (18-65 years) and an elderly/geriatric population (65-98 years) using PBPK modeling and simulation. The middle-out PBPK model includes mechanistic description of drug renal elimination, specifically an organic cation transporter (OCT)2-mediated electrogenic bidirectional transport (basolateral) and multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE)1-mediated efflux (apical). The model performance was verified against plasma and urine data reported after single and multiple dose administration in healthy volunteers and elderly patients from 18 independent studies. The ratios of predicted vs. observed maximal plasma concentration and area under the concentration-time curve values were within 1.25-fold. The model illustrates that renal transporter activity is expected to decrease in healthy elderly compared to healthy volunteers, which is in line with literature proteomic data for OCT2. The model was applied to assess the potential of reaching toxicity-related plasma concentrations in different age groups of geriatric subjects.