Longitudinal trajectories of the neural encoding mechanisms of speech-sound features during the first year of life.

Infants quickly recognize the sounds of their mother language, perceiving the spectrotemporal acoustic features of speech. However, the underlying neural machinery remains unclear. We used an auditory evoked potential termed frequency-following response (FFR) to unravel the neural encoding maturation for two speech sound characteristics: voice pitch and temporal fine structure.

Exposure to bilingual or monolingual maternal speech during pregnancy affects the neurophysiological encoding of speech sounds in neonates differently.

Introduction: Exposure to maternal speech during the prenatal period shapes speech perception and linguistic preferences, allowing neonates to recognize stories heard frequently and demonstrating an enhanced preference for their mother's voice and native language. Yet, with a high prevalence of bilingualism worldwide, it remains an open question whether monolingual or bilingual maternal speech during pregnancy influence differently the fetus' neural mechanisms underlying speech sound encoding.

Methods: In the present study, the frequency-following response (FFR), an auditory evoked potential that reflects the complex spectrotemporal dynamics of speech sounds, was recorded to a two-vowel /oa/ stimulus in a sample of 129 healthy term neonates within 1 to 3 days after birth.

Heart rate variability covaries with amygdala functional connectivity during voluntary emotion regulation.

The Neurovisceral Integration Model posits that shared neural networks support the effective regulation of emotions and heart rate, with heart rate variability (HRV) serving as an objective, peripheral index of prefrontal inhibitory control. Prior neuroimaging studies have predominantly examined both HRV and associated neural functional connectivity at rest, as opposed to contexts that require active emotion regulation. The present study sought to extend upon previous resting-state functional connectivity findings, examining task-related HRV and corresponding amygdala functional connectivity during a cognitive reappraisal task.

Corpus callosum-fastigium and tectal lengths in late-onset small fetuses.

Objective: To investigate measurements on neurosonography of midbrain morphology, including corpus callosum-fastigium length and tectal length, in late-onset small fetuses subclassified as small-for-gestational-age (SGA) or growth-restricted (FGR).

Methods: This was a case-control study of consecutive singleton pregnancies delivered at term at a single center between January 2019 and July 2021, including those with late-onset smallness (estimated fetal weight (EFW) < 10 centile) and appropriate-for-gestational-age controls matched by age at neurosonography. Small fetuses were further subdivided into SGA (EFW between 3 and 9 centile and normal fetoplacental Doppler) and FGR (EFW < 3 centile or EFW < 10 centile with abnormal cerebroplacental ratio and/or uterine artery Doppler).

Neonatal Frequency-Following Responses: A Methodological Framework for Clinical Applications.

The frequency-following response (FFR) to periodic complex sounds is a noninvasive scalp-recorded auditory evoked potential that reflects synchronous phase-locked neural activity to the spectrotemporal components of the acoustic signal along the ascending auditory hierarchy. The FFR has gained recent interest in the fields of audiology and auditory cognitive neuroscience, as it has great potential to answer both basic and applied questions about processes involved in sound encoding, language development, and communication. Specifically, it has become a promising tool in neonates, as its study may allow both early identification of future language disorders and the opportunity to leverage brain plasticity during the first 2 years of life, as well as enable early interventions to prevent and/or ameliorate sound and language encoding disorders.

The Pinocchio effect and the Cold Stress Test: Lies and thermography.

We applied the use of thermography to cognitive neuropsychology, particularly as an objective marker of subjective experiences, in the context of lying. We conducted three experiments: (a) An important lie was invented by the participants in 3 min, and it was recounted by phone to a significant person while they were recorded by the thermographic camera, obtaining a face and hands map of the lie. (b) A similar methodology was carried out, but adding the Cold Stress Test (CST) of the dominant hand during the phone call, obtaining a second physiologic marker (the percentage of thermal recovery) to detect the lie.

Culture supernatants from lactobacillus plantarum induce necrosis on a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line.

Aims: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are known to have antitumoral properties, although the intrinsic mechanisms responsible for the execution of this activity are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the ability of concentrated supernatants from Lactobacillus plantarum to promote cell death in a human promyelocytic cell line.

Methods And Results: We aim to test the hypothesis that concentrated supernatants from Lact.

Dietary antioxidants: immunity and host defense.

Natural antioxidants may be defined as molecules that prevent cell damage against free radicals and are critical for maintaining optimum health in both animals and humans. In all living systems, cells require adequate levels of antioxidant defenses in order to avoid the harmful effect of an excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and to prevent damage to the immune cells. During the inflammatory processes, the activation of phagocytes and/or the action of bacterial products with specific receptors are capable of promoting the assembly of the multicomponent flavoprotein NADPH oxidase, which catalyzes the production of high amounts of the superoxide anion radical (O(2)(-)).

Acquired resistance to Listeria monocytogenes during a secondary infection in a murine model fed dietary lipids.

Objective: The ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can suppress immune system functions. This property may cause adverse effects by impairing host resistance to infection. The present study focused on estimating the impact of different dietary lipids on the immune system of mice after a secondary infection with Listeria monocytogenes.

The antimicrobial peptide cecropin A induces caspase-independent cell death in human promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Most antimicrobial peptides have been shown to have antitumoral activity. Cecropin A, a linear 37-residue antimicrobial polypeptide produced by the cecropia moth, has exhibited cytotoxicity in various human cancer cell lines and inhibitory effects on tumor growth. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis induced by cecropin A in the promyelocytic cell line HL-60.

[Olive oil, immune system and infection].

Polyunsaturated fatty acids contribute to the suppression of immune system functions. For this reason, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have been applied in the resolution of inflammatory disorders. Although the inhibition of several immune functions promotes beneficial effects on the human health, this state may lead to a significant reduction of immune protection against infectious microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites).

Comparison of the ActiGraph accelerometer and Bouchard diary to estimate energy expenditure in Spanish adolescents.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the agreement between the ActiGraph accelerometer and the Bouchard diary to estimate energy expenditure (EE) in a Spanish adolescent population.

Methods: Sixty-one Spanish adolescents, aged 12-16 years, were recruited for this study. The Bouchard diary and the ActiGraph were administered for 3 consecutive days.

Associations of physical activity with muscular fitness in adolescents.

The aim of this study was to examine the associations between objectively assessed physical activity (PA) and muscular fitness (MF) in adolescents, and to determine whether only resistance training exercise is associated with the increase of MF. A sample of 211 Spanish adolescents (105 girls) wore the ActiGraph monitor for 7 days. Participants also completed a fitness evaluation including three MF tests (handgrip strength, a 60-s abdominal test and a standing broad jump), a cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and anthropometric measures.

Design and evaluation of a treatment programme for Spanish adolescents with overweight and obesity. The EVASYON Study.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW/OB) among adolescents worldwide has increased since the 60 s. Spain has reached one of the highest OW/OB prevalence rates among adolescents from European countries. The aim of this methodological paper is to describe the design and evaluation in the EVASYON study (Development, implementation and evaluation of the efficacy of a therapeutic programme for adolescents with OW/OB: integral education on nutrition and physical activity).

Effects of concentrated supernatants recovered from Lactobacillus plantarum on Escherichia coli growth and on the viability of a human promyelocytic cell line.

Aims: The ability of concentrated supernatants from Lactobacillus plantarum to produce a disruption of plasma membrane in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells has been examined.

Methods And Results: A strain of Lact. plantarum (tolerant to acid and bile salts and resistant to several antibiotics) was used.

Analysis of caspase activities in rat mammary tumours induced by N-methyl-nitrosourea.

Normal breast development is controlled by a balance between cell proliferation and apoptosis. The balance between the two parameters is crucial for determining the growth or regression of breast tumours in response to therapies and treatments. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the role of apoptosis in tumour progression.

Significance of olive oil in the host immune resistance to infection.

The effects exerted by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on immune system functions have been investigated in recent years. These studies have reported the important role that n-3 PUFA play in the diminution of incidence and severity of inflammatory disorders. Nevertheless, less attention has been paid to the action of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) upon the immune system.

Orally administered Lactobacillus plantarum reduces pro-inflammatory interleukin secretion in sera from Listeria monocytogenes infected mice.

Lactic acid bacteria have traditionally been thought to have immunomodulating effects. To verify this property, Lactobacillus plantarum was orally administered to mice (5 x 107 colony forming units (c.f.

Examination of host immune resistance against Listeria monocytogenes infection in cyclophosphamide-treated mice after dietary lipid administration.

Background & Aims: Despite the beneficial effects in the resolution of inflammatory disorders due to their immunosuppressive properties, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are associated with a reduction of immune resistance to some microorganisms. Here, we examine the influence of different dietary lipids on host immune resistance against Listeria monocytogenes in mice treated with cyclophosphamide (CPA).

Methods: Balb/c mice were fed one of four diets, which contained either olive oil (OO), fish oil (FO), hydrogenated coconut oil (HCO) or low fat (LF) for 4 weeks.

Oestrogenicity of paper and cardboard extracts used as food containers.

Bisphenol-A (BPA), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), which are common chemical residues in food-packaging materials, were investigated in paper and cardboard containers used for take-away food. The oestrogenicity of aqueous extracts was tested in E-Screen bioassay and analysis carried out by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Oestrogenicity was demonstrated in 90% of extracts (geometric mean [GM] = 11.

In vitro biological activities of magainin alone or in combination with nisin.

Antimicrobial peptides have received increasing attention not only as potential candidates to their administration as antimicrobial agents, but also as potential drugs applied in cancer therapy. Here, we have examined the action of both nisin and magainin on human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Cells were cultured in presence of either nisin or magainin 1 as well as in combination with both nisin and magainin 1.

Assessment of interleukin-12, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha secretion in sera from mice fed with dietary lipids during different stages of Listeria monocytogenes infection.

Recent experimental observations have determined that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids suppress immune functions and are involved in the reduction of infectious disease resistance. BALB/c mice were fed for 4 weeks with one of four diets containing either olive oil (OO), fish oil (FO), hydrogenated coconut oil, or a low fat level. Interleukin-12p70 (IL-12p70), gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) production in the sera of mice fed these diets and challenged with Listeria monocytogenes were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

[Analysis of the immune resistance in an experimental murine model fed dietary lipids and infected with Listeria monocytogenes].

Several dietary lipids are capable of exerting an immunosupressor effect. This action may have undiserable effects on the host immune resistance to infectious diseases. The purpose of the present study was to determinate the immune status of mice fed dietary lipids and experimentally infected with a virulent strain of Listeria monocytogenes.