Publications by authors named "Zeni S"

Unlabelled: For decades, conventional histomorphometry has been the gold standard for analyzing trabecular bone microarchitecture. In recent years, micro-computed tomography (μCT) devices have been validated and are now considered the gold standard for quantifying bone microstructure.

Aim: The aim of this preliminary report is to evaluate the usefulness of CBCT to assess trabecular mandible microstructural properties in normal ewes and to compare the quantitative changes associated with ovariectomy and antiresorptive treatment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Based on human motor cortex, the effective spatial resolution of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is often described as 5-20 mm, because small changes in TMS coil position can have large effects on motor-evoked potentials (MEPs). MEPs are often studied at rest, with muscles relaxed. During muscle contraction and movement, corticospinal excitability is higher, thresholds for effective stimulation are lower, and MEPs can be evoked from larger regions of scalp, so the effective spatial resolution of TMS is larger.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Higher calcium (Ca) absorption would partially compensate for Ca intake below requirements for bone health. Previously, we found that GOS/FOS prebiotic mixture (PM) increases Ca absorption in the colon and retention in bone. Ca absorption and retention are regulated by vitamin D (VD).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Bisphosphonate (BP)-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ) and dental implant failure are two negative side effects of chronic aminoBP treatment.

Methods: Eleven ovariectomized (OVX) ewes and four ewes subjected to sham surgery (SHAM) were treated as follows: OVX (n = 5): OVX plus saline solution; zoledronic acid-treated group (ZOL) (n = 6): OVX plus ZOL; SHAM (n = 4): SHAM plus saline solution. Extraction of the first upper molar was performed at 1 year, dental implant placement at 2 years, and sacrifice at 28 months.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The study of selective attention in people with profound deafness has repeatedly documented enhanced attention to the peripheral regions of the visual field compared to hearing controls. This finding emerged from covert attention studies (i.e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over human primary somatosensory cortex (S1) does not produce immediate outputs. Researchers must therefore rely on indirect methods for TMS coil positioning. The "gold standard" is to use individual functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, but the majority of studies don't do this.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Menopause is associated with bone loss. Prebiotics increase Ca, inorganic phosphorus (Pi), and Mg absorption, improving bone health. These increases would supply an extra amount of minerals, decreasing bone resorption and possibly reversing ovariectomy-induced bone loss.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the auditory domain, the perceived duration of time intervals is influenced by background sounds - the auditory context in which the intervals are embedded - even when the background may be ignored. Previous research has shown that a regular context made of evenly spaced sounds improves participants' discrimination of intervals close in duration to the context intervals. These results have been explained in terms of attention and anticipation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Each time we make an eye movement, positions of objects on the retina change. In order to keep track of relevant objects their positions have to be updated. The situation becomes even more complex if the object is no longer present in the world and has to be held in memory.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: During growth, protein deprivation impairs epiphyseal growth plate (EGP) height, bone volume (BV) and endochondral ossification. During catch-up growth, Ca availability becomes essential to ensure the extra amount needed to achieve optimal peak bone mass and strength. GOS and FOS improve mineral absorption in the colon.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The Italian version of the UCLA Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium GIT 2.0 was tested for acceptability, feasibility, reliability, and validity in measuring gastrointestinal symptoms in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.
  • The study involved 62 patients, showing high acceptance with only 2% missing data and acceptable internal consistency across all domains (Cronbach's alpha ≥0.70).
  • The tool effectively differentiated between patients with and without gastroesophageal reflux disease and correlated well with other health measures, supporting its use in clinical settings for Italian-speaking SSc patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) measured through echocardiography in a large European cohort of scleroderma patients.
  • A total of 1476 patients were analyzed, with findings showing that higher sPAP levels were linked to an increased risk of death, particularly for sPAP values above 36 mmHg, indicating its importance as an independent risk factor for mortality.
  • The results suggest that an estimated sPAP greater than 36 mmHg at the initial examination correlates with poorer survival outcomes, regardless of pulmonary hypertension diagnosis confirmed through more invasive methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Oral health plays an important role in an individual's eating choices, which in turn ensure good nutrition throughout life. The deterioration in diet quality may partially explain the association between tooth loss and several systemic diseases, including osteoporosis. The study evaluated the association between oral health and calcium (Ca) and vitamin D nutritional status.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: Increasing calcium intake is the most effective strategy for avoiding Ca deficit. However, if intake remains inadequate, improving Ca absorption becomes an important tool to optimize Ca homeostasis and bone health.

Purpose: The effect of a mixture of GOS/FOS(®) 9:1 added to a normal- or low-Ca diets on Ca absorption and bone mineralization, density and structure was investigated, in a model of growing rats.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: A low calcium intake (LCaI) may predispose to obesity, and excessive fat mass may be detrimental to bone. The impact of Ca inadequacy would be greater in subjects predisposed to obesity. LCaI effect on obesity development during the rapid growth period was compared in two strains of rats: spontaneously obese IIMb/β (O) and Wistar (W).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Protein-induced changes in bone and calcium homeostasis could potentially be greater in the elderly and in women at risk for osteoporosis. We hypothesize that a low protein intake would magnify the negative changes in bone metabolism seen in vitamin D (vitD) insufficiency and/or estrogen deficiency. The present study was undertaken to better understand how a low protein diet along with vitD insufficiency could affect bone metabolism using a rodent ovariectomized (OVX) model.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Levels of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) have been found to be increased in synovial fluid from individuals with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study was undertaken to investigate whether IL-17A-producing cells are present in affected SSc skin, and whether IL-17A exerts a role in the transdifferentiation of myofibroblasts.

Methods: Skin biopsy samples were obtained from the involved skin of 8 SSc patients and from 8 healthy control donors undergoing plastic surgery.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of polydextrose (PDX) on Ca bioavailability and prevention of loss of bone mass. Methods.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by tissue fibrosis affecting the skin and internal organs, fibroproliferative vasculopathy, and autoimmune activation. SSc still heralds a poor prognosis with significant morbidity and mortality. Early detection of organ involvement is critical as currently available treatments are most effective when started early.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Obese β rats may be a suitable model to evaluate the association between calcium intake (CaI) and obesity during growth.

Objective: The present study comparatively evaluated Ca absorption and retention, and changes in body composition in spontaneously genetically obese (β) male rats fed three different dietary Ca levels: high 0.9% (HCa); normal: 0.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction And Objective: Despite recent findings reported on the nutritional factors that induce epigenetic changes, little information is available at early ages. This study analyzed in an experimental model, over two generations, potential changes in body composition and potential expression of epigenetic changes as the result of the intake of isoenergetic diets with different fat levels.

Materials And Methods: At weaning, Wistar female rats were divided into two groups that were fed either a control diet (fat=7% w/w) or a high-fat diet (15% w/w).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To assess fetal and maternal outcomes in women with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: Prospectively collected data on 99 women with SSc from 25 Italian centers were analyzed retrospectively. Women with SSc were observed during 109 pregnancies (from 2000 to 2011), and outcomes were compared to those in the general obstetric population (total of 3,939 deliveries).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF