Porphyromonas gingivalis virulence factors induce toxic effects in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells: GRK5 modulation as a protective strategy.

Periodontitis (PDS) is a chronic inflammatory disease initiated by a dysbiosis of oral pathogenic bacterial species, such as Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg). These bacteria can penetrate the bloodstream, releasing various endo and exotoxins that fuel the infection, and stimulate toxic inflammation in different compartments, including the brain. However, the specific mechanisms by which PDS/Pg contribute to brain disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), remain unclear.

Frailty and Parkinson's disease: the role of diabetes mellitus.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease associated with a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, clinically characterized by motor and non-motor signs. Frailty is a clinical condition of increased vulnerability and negative health outcomes due to the loss of multiple physiological reserves. Chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance, which characterize diabetes mellitus (DM), have been reported to alter dopaminergic activity, increase the risk of PD, and influence the development of frailty.

Impact of serum leptin and adiponectin levels on brain infarcts in patients with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal analysis.

Introduction: The adipokines leptin and adiponectin have been associated with atherosclerosis and the risk of cerebral infarcts. Pre-clinical studies, however, suggest a protective role against ischemic brain damage. In this study we analyzed the relationship between serum leptin and adiponectin levels and the onset or progression of brain infarcts in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Atrial Fibrillation and Dementia: Focus on Shared Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia are highly prevalent chronic and debilitating conditions, especially affecting the older population. This review focuses on possible common pathophysiological mechanisms that could explain the association between the 2 conditions.

Design: Narrative review.

Ventilatory efficiency in post-COVID-19 athletes.

Limitation in exercise capacity has not been described in athletes affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, patients who have recovered from COVID-19 without cardiopulmonary impairment show exaggerated ventilatory response during exercise. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the ventilatory efficiency (VEf) in competitive athletes recovered from COVID-19 and to characterize the ventilation versus carbon dioxide relationship (VE/VCO ) slope in this population.

Biomarkers of aging in frailty and age-associated disorders: State of the art and future perspective.

According to the Geroscience concept that organismal aging and age-associated diseases share the same basic molecular mechanisms, the identification of biomarkers of age that can efficiently classify people as biologically older (or younger) than their chronological (i.e. calendar) age is becoming of paramount importance.

β3AR-Dependent Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Generation Limits Chronic Postischemic Heart Failure.

Background: Loss of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/TrkB (tropomyosin kinase receptor B) signaling accounts for brain and cardiac disorders. In neurons, β-adrenergic receptor stimulation enhances local BDNF expression. It is unclear if this occurs in a pathophysiological relevant manner in the heart, especially in the β-adrenergic receptor-desensitized postischemic myocardium.

Disease Progression in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Related to MPZ Mutations: A Longitudinal Study.

Objective: The paucity of longitudinal natural history studies in MPZ neuropathy remains a barrier to clinical trials. We have completed a longitudinal natural history study in patients with MPZ neuropathies across 13 sites of the Inherited Neuropathies Consortium.

Methods: Change in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Examination Score (CMTES) and Rasch modified CMTES (CMTES-R) were evaluated using longitudinal regression over a 5-year period in subjects with MPZ neuropathy.

Testosterone deficiency independently predicts mortality in women with HFrEF: insights from the T.O.S.CA. registry.

Aims: Testosterone deficiency (TD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, data in women are scanty. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of TD on women with HFrEF.

Role of frailty on cardiac rehabilitation in hospitalized older patients.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality, morbidity, and disability in the world, especially in the older adults. A relevant proportion of patients admitted to Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) may suffer from frailty, a complex geriatric syndrome with multifactorial aetiology.

Aims: The hypothesis underlying the study is that frailty complicates the management of older patients undergoing CR.

Progressive right ventricular dysfunction and exercise impairment in patients with heart failure and diabetes mellitus: insights from the T.O.S.CA. Registry.

Background: Findings from the T.O.S.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as predictor of cardiovascular mortality in heart failure patients: data from the T.O.S.CA. registry.

Introduction: Data from the "Trattamento Ormonale nello Scompenso CArdiaco" (T.O.S.

Diabetes Mellitus and Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses.

Background: A link between diabetes mellitus (DM) and Parkinson's disease (PD) have been proposed but evidence are sparse and inconsistent.

Objective: Perform a systematic review of all evidence that link DM and PD characterising the prevalence of DM in PD patients, the risk of developing PD in DM patients and the influence of DM on PD severity and progression.

Methods: MEDLINE, Scopus, and Cochrane Library from inception to June 30, 2021 were searched.

Multiple hormonal and metabolic deficiency syndrome predicts outcome in heart failure: the T.O.S.CA. Registry.

Aims: Recent evidence supports the occurrence of multiple hormonal and metabolic deficiency syndrome (MHDS) in chronic heart failure (CHF). However, no large observational study has unequivocally demonstrated its impact on CHF progression and outcome. The T.

Targeting GRK5 for Treating Chronic Degenerative Diseases.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell-surface receptors and they are responsible for the transduction of extracellular signals, regulating almost all aspects of mammalian physiology. These receptors are specifically regulated by a family of serine/threonine kinases, called GPCR kinases (GRKs). Given the biological role of GPCRs, it is not surprising that GRKs are also involved in several pathophysiological processes.

Myocardial expression of somatotropic axis, adrenergic signalling, and calcium handling genes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Aims: Limited data are available regarding cardiac expression of molecules involved in heart failure (HF) pathophysiology. The majority of the studies have focused on end-stage HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) without comparison with healthy subjects, while no data are available with regard to HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF is a condition whose multiple pathophysiological mechanisms are still not fully defined, with many proposed hypotheses remaining speculative due to limited access to human heart tissue.

'Less is more': validation with Rasch analysis of five short-forms for the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust Personality Questionnaires (BIRT-PQs).

Background: Previous analyses demonstrated a lack of unidimensionality, item redundancy, and substantial administrative burden for the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust Personality Questionnaires (BIRT-PQs).

Objective: To use Rasch Analysis to calibrate five short-forms of the BIRT-PQs, satisfying the Rasch model requirements.

Methods: BIRT-PQs data from 154 patients with severe Acquired Brain Injury (s-ABI) and their caregivers (total sample = 308) underwent Rasch analysis to examine their internal construct validity and reliability according to the Rasch model.

Motor and Sensory Features of Cervical Dystonia Subtypes: Data From the Italian Dystonia Registry.

Cervical dystonia (CD) is one of the most common forms of adult-onset isolated dystonia. Recently, CD has been classified according to the site of onset and spread, in different clinical subgroups, that may represent different clinical entities or pathophysiologic subtypes. In order to support this hypothesis, in this study we have evaluated whether different subgroups of CD, that clinically differ for site of onset and spread, also imply different sensorimotor features.

The Italian validation of the Communicative Effectiveness Index Questionnaire: a multicentric study.

Introduction: Common assessment tools for aphasia evaluate single language impairments but not their functional impact on patient's communication skills in daily life. The lack of tools focused on ecological aspects might affect the choice of rehabilitative trainings. The Communicative Effectiveness Index (CETI) represents an attempt to assess the communicative abilities in "ecologic" context.

Biomechanical and neuroautonomic adaptation to acute blood volume displacement in ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy: the predictive value of the CD25 test.

We aimed to examine biomechanical and neuroautonomic adaptation to blood volume displacement induced by tilt test in patients with previous inferoapical/inferolateral (IA-IL) or basal/apical septal (BS-AS) myocardial infarction (MI). Twenty-four patients with heart failure (HF) and previous IA-IL MI and 30 patients with HF and previous BS-AS MI were enrolled. All patients underwent head-up tilt test, radionuclide ventricular function monitoring (VEST), sympathovagal balance evaluation, and chronotropic 25-dose isoproterenol infusion test (CD).

Increased peptidergic fibers as a potential cutaneous marker of pain in diabetic small fiber neuropathy.

Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes and is often associated with neuropathic pain. The mechanisms underlying development and maintenance of painful DPN are largely unknown, and quantification of intraepidermal nerve fiber density from skin biopsy, one of the neuropathological gold standard when diagnosing DPN, does not differentiate between patients with and without pain. Identification of possible pain pathophysiological biomarkers in patients with painful DPN may increase our knowledge of mechanisms behind neuropathic pain.

Subject Preferences and Psychological Implications of Portable Oxygen Concentrator Versus Compressed Oxygen Cylinder in Chronic Lung Disease.

Background: Oxygen therapy represents the elective therapy to improve the quality of life for patients with chronic respiratory diseases like COPD and interstitial lung disease. Lightweight portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) are a valid alternative to traditional systems such as portable compressed oxygen cylinders. However, patient preference and the possible psychological implications related to the use of both devices have been poorly assessed.