Federica Boschi

Vitamin D, thyroid hormones and muscle mass influence natural killer (NK) innate immunity in healthy nonagenarians and centenarians

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that the immune system closely interacts with other physiological systems, whose communications are mediated by circulating cytokines and hormones. The aim of our study was to test whether the number and cytolytic activity of NK cells in a group of relatively healthy Italian nonagenarians and centenarians were affected by the modifications of endocrine, metabolic and functional parameters that occur during ageing. Because of the extreme age of the study population, a cross‐sectional analysis was performed. This study revealed that the group of oldest subjects with the highest number of NK cells and the best preserved cytolytic function also presented a preserved metabolism of thyroid hormones and vitamin D and integrity of muscle mass. In fact, the NK cell number and/or cytolytic activity of healthy subjects > 90 years old was positively associated with serum levels of vitamin D, while T3, FT4, i‐PTH hormones and lean body mass were associated only with NK cell number. In conclusion, our results stress the paramount importance of nutritional evaluation in the clinical assessment of elderly people.

Determinants of functional status in healthy Italian nonagenarians and centenarians: A comprehensive functional assessment by the instruments of geriatric practice

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the physical ability and psychocognitive status of a population more than 90 years of age with regard to sociodemographic, behavioral, and biomedical variables known to affect functional status in old age.

Natural immunity and bone and muscle remodelling hormones in the elderly

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that the immune system is closely integrated with two other physiological systems: endocrine and nervous. They communicate through circulating humoral factors such as cytokines, hormones and neurotransmitters. We undertook a cross-sectional analysis in a group of elderly subjects over 90 years to demonstrate that a functional relationship exists among the number and cytolytic activities of NK cells, bone and muscle remodelling hormones, anthropometric parameters and physical ability. Peripheral blood samples collected from 62, 90-106 years-old subjects underwent biochemical (bone and muscle remodelling hormone levels) and immunological determinations (Natural Killer cell distribution and activity), anthropometric and functional assessment. Significant associations were found among NK cell number and cytolytic activity and serum concentrations of vitamin D, anthropometric parameters, while functional independence in daily activity was only associated with NK cell number. In general a high level of physical ability was correlated with preserved body stores and vitamin D levels. In conclusion, our results stress the importance of nutritional evaluation in the clinical assessment of elderly people. The magnitude of the NK immune response, which constitutes the first line of defence against infected and neoplastic cells, is best preserved in oldest-old people with the best hormonal parameters and nutritional measures.

Anthropometric characteristics of healthy Italian nonagenarians and centenarians

Available anthropometric reference values for elderly people do not include specific norms for over-90-year-old subjects despite their increasing number. In the present study, weight, height and a number of anthropometric variables related to body muscle and fat mass were collected from fifty-seven nonagenarian and forty-one centenarian healthy, non-institutionalized subjects living in an Italian area. Recumbent anthropometry was used to avoid errors associated with impaired mobility. Nonagenarians and centenarian men were taller and heavier than women of corresponding age and had a greater amount of muscle and trunk fat, whereas women showed a marked peripheral adipose distribution. Anthropometric values of both age-groups were generally lower than published norms for 70-89-year-old American and European elderly people. However, differences were less marked when comparing Italian nonagenarians and centenarians with French and British people aged 85 years and over than when comparing Italian subjects with American octogenarians and younger European elderly people. Taken together these findings suggest a dramatic loss of muscle and fat mass in over-90-year-old subjects with respect to younger elderly people. However, changes between successive generations and geographical influences cannot be excluded. The need for local and age-specific norms in nutritional assessment of over-90-year-old people is emphasized. It is also suggested that current anthropometric indices may not be reliable when evaluating the oldest elderly subjects.

Splenic function in old age

Hyposplenism has been reported in elderly people. However, from previous studies, it was not clear whether the observed alterations in splenic function were a physiologic effect of advanced age itself or a consequence of age-related diseases. As hyposplenism is believed to predispose to infections, autoimmune phenomena and thrombosis, this question is of great clinical concern. In the present study splenic function was assessed by counting the pitted red cells in 65 healthy subjects aged 50–108 years. At variance from previous studies, our study population consisted of free-living individuals carefully selected in order to exclude any underlying disease. The percentage of pitted red cells in 37 subjects over 70 years was significantly higher than in 28 younger subjects, although only 1 subject had a pitted red cell count indicating splenic hypofunction. A positive, but weak, correlation between the percentage of pitted red cells and age was also found when considering the whole population (rs = 0.273, p = 0.029). In conclusion, although slightly reduced with advancing age, splenic function seems basically to be maintained in elderly people.

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate and dementia

Summary Animal and human studies suggest that the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) may be related to cognitive function. Aim of this study was to explore the relationships between circulating serum levels of DHEAS and cognitive function in a sample of over 90-year-olds. Thirty-four subjects (7 males, 27 females) aged 91–104 years were recruited in long-stay elderly facilities or at home in Bologna. Each subject received a semi-structured interview assessing medical history in order to exclude as much as possible the influence of medical conditions, pharmacological treatments and nutritional status on DHEAS levels. The diagnosis of dementia was made for 18 subjects according to the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association. No differences were found between DHEAS concentrations of demented and non-demented subjects (sex and age-adjusted ANOVA F = 2.003, p = 0.168). No significant correlations were found between DHEAS and a number or cognitive testing scores, when adjusting for sex and age. In conclusion, our data do not suggest a causal role of DHEAS in senile dementia. The low DHEAS levels observed by some authors in patients with organic brain syndromes could be an artifact deriving from infectious or debilitating conditions.

Coenzyme Q10 plasma levels and body composition in elderly males

Male aging is associated with alterations in plasma levels of antioxidants such as Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) , and with a decrease of the fat-free body mass (FFM). In order to reveal, whether these changes can affect CoQ(10) metabolism, 73 non-obese, healthy males were studied, in age range 22-100 years, divided in 4 age groups: 20-55 (n = 23); 56-70 (n = 20); 71-90 (n = 8) and 91-100 (n =22). Serum CoQ(10) was measured by HPLC technique. Body composition was assessed by multifrequency bioimpedance analysis. Subjects aged 91-100 years displayed lower serum CoQ(10) levels and FFM than the other age-groups (p <0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed significant correlations between FFM and age (r = -0.82, p < 0.00001), serum CoQ(10) and age (r = -0.35, p <0.01). and serum CoQ(10) and FFM (r = -0.49, p < 0.001). Multiple regression analysis confirmed the correlation between serum CoQ(10) and FFM (p < 0.01), but did not for serum CoQ(10) and age. The proportion of FFM decreases with age. CoQ10 levels are also lower in older people, but they seem to be linked to FFM and not to aging itself. Since muscle tissue is the major component of FFM, and a reduction of the metabolic rate is another feature of aging, serum CoQ(10) may be an indirect index of metabolic activity in the elderly.

Antioxidant vitamins and dementia

Summary The relationship between plasma antioxidants like vitamin A and E, and cognitive function was studied in thirty subjects (6 of them were males), aged 91–104 years, carefully selected in order to exclude as much as possible the influence of medical conditions, pharmacological treatments and malnutrition on vitamin levels and cognitive function. The diagnosis of dementia was made for 16 subjects (2 males) according to the guidelines of the American Psychiatric Association. Mini mental state examination (MMSE), index of activities of daily living (ADL), Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale (MADRS), information-memory-concentration test (IMCT) and Blessed dementia scale (BDS) were also performed in all subjects. Vitamin A and E were measured in plasma by HPLC method and expressed as lipid-adjusted concentrations. None of the patients had vitamin levels below the normal standards for healthy elderly subjects. No differences in antioxidant vitamin status were found between demented (vitamin A: 2.52 1.62 and vitamin E: 23.07 8.65 μmole/l) and non-demented subjects (vitamin A: 2.73 1.22 and vitamin E: 22.35 6.09 μmole/l). None of the psychometric tests correlated to vitamin A or E levels. Our results seems to suggest that in a normal and otherwise physically healthy elderly population, dementia is not related to a poor vitamin A and E status.

Review of: Paul Johnson and Martin Millett. 2013. “Archaeological Survey and the City”, Oxford and Oakville

Groma is an open access peer-reviewed e-journal of the Department of History and Cultures (DISCI) of the University of Bologna focusing on the different methodologies applied to archaeology.Groma is an open access peer-reviewed e-journal of the Department of History and Cultures (DISCI) of the University of Bologna focusing on the different methodologies applied to archaeology.Groma is an open access peer-reviewed e-journal of the Department of History and Cultures (DISCI) of the University of Bologna focusing on the different methodologies applied to archaeology.Groma is an open access peer-reviewed e-journal of the Department of History and Cultures (DISCI) of the University of Bologna focusing on the different methodologies applied to archaeology.Groma is an open access peer-reviewed e-journal of the Department of History and Cultures (DISCI) of the University of Bologna focusing on the different methodologies applied to archaeology.Groma is an open access peer-reviewed e-journal of the Department of History and Cultures (DISCI) of the University of Bologna focusing on the different methodologies applied to archaeology.

Tharros - Capo San Marco in the Phoenician and Punic Age. Geophysical investigations and virtual rebuilding

The project described in this paper was started in 2012 and concerns the study of the relationship between the urban and suburban districts of the Phoenician and Punic city of Tharros (Cabras, Oristano). The structures of Phoenician and Punic Tharros have been largely cancelled by the Roman occupation. For this reason it is very difficult to determine the original function of many of the neighbourhoods during the Carthaginian period. The archaeological excavation primarily involved the southern necropolis of Capo San Marco. The cemetery must still be fully explored and understood under several aspects, mainly because of the devastation of the site caused by the repeated plundering of the ancient tombs which occurred during the 19th century. In addition to the new dig activities, a 3D topographical survey aimed at the complete documentation of the site and at the virtual rebuilding of the Phoenician and Punic funerary landscape was completed. Another goal of the project is the insertion of this sector of the promontory into the usual tourist route, in order to foster the public fruition of Capo San Marco, while continuing to adopt proper scientific methods and modern techniques. In this direction, geophysical prospecting surveys were carried out in the southern sector of the Capo San Marco, near the so-called ‘Rustic Temple’, in order to assess human presence in the farthest point of the Sinis peninsula (characterised by the presence of the Late Punic ruins of a probable light-house with sacred functions), and across the whole isthmus Sa Codriola towards the hill of San Giovanni, with the aim of analysing the northern boundary of the cemetery and its relationship to the city. The Punic-Roman settlement is now enclosed in the archaeological park, which is a fraction of what was supposed to be the administrative capital of Carthage in Sardinia. 3D modelling and virtual reconstructions were focused also on the residential Punic and Roman area inside the park. The integrated application of the most advanced topographical and geophysical techniques to the site greatly contributed to the recording and understanding of the ancient landscape.