Visual and kinesthetic motor imagery in adults with different degrees of self-reported motor coordination difficulties.

Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) involves difficulties in performing coordinated movements with fine and/or gross motor skills deficits. Several studies showed that DCD is characterized by motor imagery deficits as well. Here we investigated in neurotypical adults (N = 334) the relationships between the ease of imaging two main motor imagery components, that is the visual and the kinesthetic one, self-reported motor coordination difficulties and handwriting speed.

Research and characterization of fibrous microplastics and natural microfibers in pelagic and benthic fish species of commercial interest.

The ingestion of synthetic microfibers, the most prevalent type of microplastics in marine environments, and natural fibers was assessed in and , two commercially important fish species in the Mediterranean Sea. Microfibers were isolated from the fish gastrointestinal tract using a 10% potassium hydroxide solution. For the microfiber characterization, the evaluation of specific morphological features using a light microscope, coupled with the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis of a subsample of isolated particles, was applied.

The Relationships between Self-Reported Motor Functioning and Autistic Traits: The Italian Version of the Adult Developmental Coordination Disorders/Dyspraxia Checklist (ADC).

Background: We developed the Italian version of the adult developmental co-ordination disorders/dyspraxia checklist (ADC), providing reliability and concurrent validity data for the scale (Aim 1). In addition, we investigated the relationships between motor coordination difficulties and different autistic traits (Aim 2).

Methods: 498 participants (341 females; age range = 18-34) underwent the Italian version of the ADC, as well as a handwriting speed test, the autism spectrum quotient, the empathy quotient, and the systemizing quotient.

A versatile approach to evaluate the occurrence of microfibers in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Microplastics of fibrous shape are esteemed to be the most abundant micro-debris form present in the environment. Despite the occurrence of microfibers in fish may pose a risk to human health, the literature is scarce regarding studies on the contamination in commercial marine fish mostly due to methodological issues. In this study, a versatile approach, able to discriminate among natural and synthetic microfibers according to the evaluation of specific morphological features, is proposed in farmed mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

Cutaneous Ulcer Caused by Apixaban Treatment Is Resolved after Replacement with Dabigatran.

Nowadays, novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have shown improved safety profile and efficacy compared to vitamin K antagonists in the prevention of thromboembolic events occurring during different pathological conditions. However, there are concerns and safety issues, mostly related to adverse events following interactions with other drugs, in real-world practice. We report the case of an 83-year-old woman who developed a non-bleeding leg ulcer not caused by trauma or other evident pathological conditions after 10 days of treatment with apixaban 5 mg/q.

Empathy through the Pandemic: Changes of Different Emphatic Dimensions during the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Growing evidence suggests that empathy is a relevant psychological trait to face the challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but at the present very little is known on whether this multi-dimensional construct has been affected by the pandemic outbreak differently in its separate components. Here, we aimed at filling this gap by capitalizing on the opportunity of having collected data from different self-report measures and cognitive tasks assessing the main dimensions of empathy immediately before the beginning of the global pandemic and about one year later. The results showed a detrimental impact of the pandemic outbreak on empathic social skills but not on both cognitive (perspective-taking) and emotional empathy that instead significantly improved.

Kv7.4 channels regulate potassium permeability in neuronal mitochondria.

Mitochondrial K permeability regulates neuronal apoptosis, energy metabolism, autophagy, and protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury. Kv7.4 channels have been recently shown to regulate K permeability in cardiac mitochondria and exert cardioprotective effects.

Specific Global-Local Visual Processing Abilities Mediate the Influence of Non-social Autistic-like Traits on Mental Rotation.

Inconsistent data are available on mental rotation performance in neurotypicals with high autistic-like traits. Here, we tested whether global-local visual processing abilities mediate the influence of specific autistic-like trait domains (social skill, attention switching, attention-to-detail, communication, and imagination) on mental rotation. Neurotypical participants (N = 128) underwent an assessment of autistic-like traits, a flanker task with hierarchical stimuli, and a mental rotation task.

Anxiety Sensitivity Domains are Differently Affected by Social and Non-social Autistic Traits.

Anxiety sensitivity (AS) is implicated in the development and maintenance of several psychopathological conditions. Non-clinical individuals with high autistic traits may develop anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms. Here, we investigated the relationships of autistic traits with AS dimensions and depression, considering sex.

Extraction and identification of microplastics from mussels: Method development and preliminary results.

Microplastics (MPs) are an emerging threat to marine ecosystems. One of the primary environmental risks is their bioavailability for aquatic organisms. Some fish and bivalves are of particular interest because their feeding strategies expose them to particles present in the water column.

Switching between the Forest and the Trees: The Contribution of Global to Local Switching to Spatial Constructional Abilities in Typically Developing Children.

Background: Spatial analysis encompasses the ability to perceive the visual world by arranging the local elements ("the trees") into a coherent global configuration ("the forest"). During childhood, this ability gradually switches from a local to a global precedence, which contributes to changes in children's spatial construction abilities, such as drawing or building blocks. At present, it is not clear whether enhanced global or local processing or, alternatively, whether switching between these two levels best accounts for children's spatial constructional abilities.

Sex differences in implicit motor imagery: Evidence from the hand laterality task.

Behavioural evidence suggest that males outperform females in mentally transforming objects, whereas whether sex differences exist in mentally transforming body part images (implicit motor imagery) is an open issue. The aim of the present study was to fill this gap testing performance of 360 healthy participants on a classical behavioural measure of implicit motor imagery: the hand laterality task. Participants had to judge handedness of hand images portrayed from back and palm and presented in different spatial orientations.

Proteases Upregulation in Sporadic Alzheimer's Disease Brain.

Certain proteases are involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and their erroneous control may contribute to the pathology onset and progression. In this study we evaluated the cerebral expression of eight proteases, involved in both AβPP processing and extracellular matrix remodeling. Among these proteases, ADAM10, ADAMTS1, Cathepsin D, and Meprin β show a significantly higher mRNAs expression in sporadic AD subjects versus controls, while ADAMTS1, Cathepsin D, and Meprin β show an increment also at the protein level.

Complexity and Selectivity of γ-Secretase Cleavage on Multiple Substrates: Consequences in Alzheimer's Disease and Cancer.

The processing of the amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP) by β- and γ-secretases is a pivotal event in the genesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Besides familial mutations on the AβPP gene, or upon its overexpression, familial forms of AD are often caused by mutations or deletions in presenilin 1 (PSEN1) and 2 (PSEN2) genes: the catalytic components of the proteolytic enzyme γ-secretase (GS). The "amyloid hypothesis", modified over time, states that the aberrant processing of AβPP by GS induces the formation of specific neurotoxic soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides which, in turn, cause neurodegeneration.

Structure-activity relationships of fraxamoside as an unusual xanthine oxidase inhibitor.

Fraxamoside, a macrocyclic secoiridoid glucoside featuring a hydroxytyrosol group, was recently identified as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor (XOI) comparable in potency in vitro to the standard antigout drug allopurinol. However, this activity and its considerably higher value than its derivatives oleuropein, oleoside 11-methyl ester, and hydroxytyrosol are not explained by structure-activity relationships (SARs) of known XOIs. To exclude allosteric mechanisms, we first determined the inhibition kinetic of fraxamoside.

Nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to study the dissociation of the p53·MDM2/X complex by potentially anticancer compounds.

A new analytical method to study the dissociation of the complexes between the oncosuppressor p53 and its negative modulators murine double-minute protein 2 (MDM2) or MDMX, is proposed. This technique is reliable to determine the dissociative power exerted by small molecules on the complex taking advantage of the appearance of migrating MDM2 or MDMX in a native polyacrylamide gel, when inhibitors are added to the complex mixture. Therefore, we propose this new approach to easily screen library of compounds, with potential pharmacological anticancer activity.

Native PAGE to study the interaction between the oncosuppressor p53 and its protein ligands.

In the present study, we investigated a new approach for studying the interaction between p53 and MDM2/X (where MDM is murine double minute protein). The method is based on the different mobility between the interacting domains of the oncosuppressor p53 and its protein ligands MDM2/X on polyacrylamide gels under native conditions. While the two proteins MDM2/X alone were able to enter the gel, the formation of a binary complex between p53 and MDM2/X prevented the gel entry.

Antioxidant activity and chemical components as potential anticancer agents in the olive leaf (Olea europaea L. cv Leccino.) decoction.

Epidemiological studies have shown that a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases is correlated with a regular consumption of fruits and vegetable, many of which are rich in polyphenols. The additive and synergistic effect of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables may reduce chronic diseases related to oxidative stress in human body. Olea europaea L.

The cold-adapted γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase from the psychrophile Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis.

A recombinant γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase from the psychrophile Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis (rPhGshA II) was produced and characterised. This enzyme catalyses the first step of glutathione biosynthesis by forming γ-glutamyl-cysteine from glutamate and cysteine in an ATP-dependent reaction. The other ATP-dependent enzyme, glutathione synthetase (rPhGshB), involved in the second step of the biosynthesis, was already characterised.

Properties of the endogenous components of the thioredoxin system in the psychrophilic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC 125.

The endogenous components of the thioredoxin system in the Antarctic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis have been purified and characterised. The temperature dependence of the activities sustained by thioredoxin (PhTrx) and thioredoxin reductase (PhTrxR) pointed to their adaptation in the cold growth environment. PhTrxR was purified as a flavoenzyme and its activity was significantly enhanced in the presence of molar concentration of monovalent cations.

Molecular and functional characterization of polynucleotide phosphorylase from the antarctic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis.

Polyribonucleotide phosphorilase from the psychrophilic Antarctic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis (PhPNPase) has been purified. This enzyme catalyzes both the RNA polymerisation and degradation reaction, showing the highest activity at temperatures below 40 degrees C. PhPNPase is quite sensitive to heat treatment and it is endowed with remarkable halotolerance.

Differential cold-adaptation among protein components of the thioredoxin system in the psychrophilic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis TAC 125.

Thioredoxin and thioredoxin reductase from the psychrophilic eubacterium Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis were obtained as recombinant His-tagged proteins (rPhTrx and rPhTrxR, respectively). rPhTrxR is organised as a homodimeric flavoenzyme, whereas rPhTrx is a small monomeric protein, both containing a functional disulfide bridge. However, three additional cysteines are present as free thiols in purified rPhTrxR.

Stability against temperature of Sulfolobus solfataricus elongation factor 1 alpha, a multi-domain protein.

The elongation factors (EF-Tu/EF-1 alpha) are universal proteins, involved in protein biosynthesis. A detailed characterization of the stability against temperature of SsEF-1 alpha, a three-domain protein isolated from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus solfataricus is presented. Thermal denaturation of both the GDP-bound (SsEF-1 alpha*.