Mario Cocchioni

Diaphragmatic Breathing Reduces Exercise-Induced Oxidative Stress

Diaphragmatic breathing is relaxing and therapeutic, reduces stress, and is a fundamental procedure of Pranayama Yoga, Zen, transcendental meditation and other meditation practices. Analysis of oxidative stress levels in people who meditate indicated that meditation correlates with lower oxidative stress levels, lower cortisol levels and higher melatonin levels. It is known that cortisol inhibits enzymes responsible for the antioxidant activity of cells and that melatonin is a strong antioxidant; therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of diaphragmatic breathing on exercise-induced oxidative stress and the putative role of cortisol and melatonin hormones in this stress pathway. We monitored 16 athletes during an exhaustive training session. After the exercise, athletes were divided in two equivalent groups of eight subjects. Subjects of the studied group spent 1 h relaxing performing diaphragmatic breathing and concentrating on their breath in a quiet place. The other eight subjects, representing the control group, spent the same time sitting in an equivalent quite place. Results demonstrate that relaxation induced by diaphragmatic breathing increases the antioxidant defense status in athletes after exhaustive exercise. These effects correlate with the concomitant decrease in cortisol and the increase in melatonin. The consequence is a lower level of oxidative stress, which suggests that an appropriate diaphragmatic breathing could protect athletes from long-term adverse effects of free radicals.

Novel Composite Plastics Containing Silver(I) Acylpyrazolonato Additives Display Potent Antimicrobial Activity by Contact

New silver(I) acylpyrazolonato derivatives displaying a mononuclear, polynuclear, or ionic nature, as a function of the ancillary azole ligands used in the synthesis, have been fully characterized by thermal analysis, solution NMR spectroscopy, solid-state IR and NMR spectroscopies, and X-ray diffraction techniques. These derivatives have been embedded in polyethylene (PE) matrix, and the antimicrobial activity of the composite materials has been tested against three bacterial strains (E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus): Most of the composites show antimicrobial action comparable to PE embedded with AgNO3 . Tests by contact and release tests for specific migration of silver from PE composites clearly indicate that, at least in the case of the PE, for composites containing polynuclear silver(I) additives, the antimicrobial action is exerted by contact, without release of silver ions. Moreover, PE composites can be re-used several times, displaying the same antimicrobial activity. Membrane permeabilization studies and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation tests confirm the disorganization of bacterial cell membranes. The cytotoxic effect, evaluated in CD34(+) cells by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) and CFU (colony forming units) assays, indicates that the PE composites do not induce cytotoxicity in human cells. Studies of ecotoxicity, based on the test of Daphnia magna, confirm tolerability of the PE composites by higher organisms and exclude the release of Ag(+) ions in sufficient amounts to affect water environment.

Linkage Isomerism in Silver Acylpyrazolonato Complexes and Correlation with Their Antibacterial Activity

Novel silver(I) acylpyrazolonato coordination polymers of formula [Ag(Q(R))]n (1-3) have been synthesized by interaction of silver nitrate with HQ(R) in methanol in the presence of an equivalent quantity of KOH (in general HQ(R) = 1-phenyl-3-methyl-4-RC(═O)-5-pyrazolone, in detail HQ(fb), R = -CF2CF2CF3; HQ(cy), R = -cyclo-C6H11; HQ(be), R = -C(H)═C(CH3)2). [Ag(Q(R))]n react with 2-ethylimidazole (2EtimH), 1-methylimidazole (Meim), and triphenylphosphine (PPh3), affording the mononuclear Ag(Q(fb))(EtimH) (4), Ag(Q(cy))(Meim)2 (5), Ag(Q(be))(Meim) (6), and Ag(Q(R))(PPh3)2 (7-9). All complexes have been analytically and spectroscopically characterized, and for some of them the X-ray crystal structure has been resolved. In particular, the single crystal molecular structure determination of Ag(Q(fb))(EtimH) and Ag(Q(be))(PPh3)2 has confirmed the different coordination modes of the HQ(fb) and HQ(be) acylpyrazolone ligands, the former being bound to the silver(I) ion in a monodentate fashion while the latter in the O2-chelating mode. Density functional theory computations suggest new insights about metal-ligand interactions and the observed linkage isomerism. While phosphine-containing complexes Ag(Q(R))(PPh3)2 (7-9) seem not to be able to efficiently inhibit the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, the polynuclear complexes [Ag(Q(R))]n (1-3) and the mononuclear Ag(Q(fb))(EtimH) (4), Ag(Q(cy))(Meim)2 (5), and Ag(Q(be))(Meim) (6) show a high and almost steady in time antibacterial activity, comparable to that of AgNO3. This activity is likely related to the degree of saturation of the silver center and to the presence of different ancillary ligands in the diverse typologies of complexes.

Diaphragmatic breathing reduces postprandial oxidative stress.

OBJECTIVES A number of studies suggest that postprandial hyperglycemia produces oxidative stress, leading to complications associated with diabetes. However, hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress may affect groups of people other than diabetics, such as smokers and athletes with specific diet plans. Based on previous reports that seated breathing meditation reduces hyperglycemia, the present study was designed to determine the effects of diaphragmatic breathing on postprandial plasma glycemia, insulin, oxidative stress, and antioxidant levels in athletes with normal glucose metabolism. DESIGN Data collected before and after consumption of a 900-calorie breakfast composed of 80% carbohydrates, 10% proteins, and 10% lipids were analyzed. Ten (10) minutes after the meal, 8 subjects spent 40 minutes performing diaphragmatic breathing in a quiet place. The other 8 subjects, representing the control group, spent the same time sitting in an equivalent quiet place reading a magazine. SUBJECTS Data from 16 amateur male cyclists age 30.12±4.9 years (±SD) were analyzed. Their mean height and weight were 177.81±5.3 cm and 71.40±5.2 kg, respectively. All subjects underwent a physical examination and were determined to be in good health. OUTCOME MEASURES Blood samples were collected immediately before the meal as well as 1 hour and 2 hours after the meal, and plasma levels of glucose, insulin, reactive oxygen metabolites, and biologic antioxidant potential were determined. Heart rate was also recorded. RESULTS Results show that in normal subjects, acute hyperglycemia induces free-radical production while reducing the antioxidant levels (p<0.05). Diaphragmatic breathing reduces heart rates (p<0.01), increases insulin (p<0.05), reduces glycemia (p<0.01), and reduces free-radical production as indicated by the higher antioxidants levels (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Diaphragmatic breathing, likely through the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system, increases insulin, reduces glycemia, and reduces reactive oxygen species production.

Immunological pattern alteration in shoe, hide, and leather industry workers exposed to hexavalent chromium

Objective. The aim of this work was to assess the effects of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] on shoe, leather, and hide industry workers, based on the assumption that Cr(VI) can behave as an environmental immunological “stressor.” Methods. The immunological patterns of 84 male subjects were studied in relation to Cr(VI) hematic and urinary levels. Cr(VI) was measured through atomic absorption. Lymphocyte subsets, mitogen‐mediated lymphocyte‐proliferation, cytokine levels, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity were also assayed. Results. The urinary levels of the total amount of Cr(VI) were significantly higher in a subgroup of exposed subjects (group B) than in the control or in the lower exposed (group A). In group B, Cr(VI) caused a decrease in the density of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and a increase of IL‐6. Cr(VI) did not modify NK‐mediated cytotoxicity, the plasmatic levels of inflammatory cytokines and related soluble receptors, and prostaglandin levels, while it tended to increase lymphocyte sensitivity to mitogens and the production of immunomodulant cytokines (IFN‐γ, IL‐4, and IL‐2). The experimental addition of Cr(VI) to the in vitro lymphocyte culture determined a significant inhibition of phagocytosis percentage, index, and killing percentage. These effects were neutralized by exogenous IFN‐γ. Conclusion. Cr(VI) could represent an environmental immunological stressor whose effects can be evaluated through laboratory surveys. The lymphocyte mitogen‐induced proliferation, GR receptor on PBMC, and IL‐6 plasma levels may represent a discriminating element between Cr(VI)‐induced stress and other kinds of stress.

Neuropeptide expression and T-lymphocyte recruitment in facial nucleus after facial nerve axotomy.

Abstract Axonal injury in the peripheral nervous system can have a strong impact on the neurons and the surrounding non-neuronals cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemistry signals of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP), and CD3+ T cells and the messenger RNA levels of neuropeptides in the facial nucleus (FN) at 7, 14, and 21 days after peripheral facial nerve axotomy. Moreover, the authors assayed the peripheral blood levels of interleukin (IL-1&bgr;), tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, and IL-6 serum levels at 24 and 48 hours after the surgical procedures. Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that VIP and SP expression is strongly induced in FN after peripheral facial nerve axotomy at 7 days, the CD3+ pan-T cells peak at 14 days. Polymerase chain reaction analysis for VIP and SP messenger RNA levels confirms the immunohistochemical data, but VIP level remains significantly high for 14 days. The serum level of IL-6 48 hours after axotomy was significantly higher than after 24 hours; there were no significant changes for IL-1&bgr; and tumor necrosis factor-&agr; serum levels between 24 and 48 hours. Our data reveal that FN neurons are under neuropeptidergic influence and show that modulation/modification of VIP and SP expression in FN injury models facilitates the crossing of the blood-brain barrier. On the contrary, our results emphasize the role of the T cells in preventing initial neurodegeneration or neuronal death. The high serum levels of IL-6 at 1 to 2 days suggest that this cytokine could play a central role in the initiation of immunosurveillance and provide advance information on the recruitment of CD3+ T lymphocytes in the FN.

Hydrobiological study of a reservoir in the central Apennines (Italy)

Chemical, chemical-physical and biological procedures were employed to carry out a hydrobiological study of a reservoir in the central Apennines (Italy), designed for the supply of drinking and irrigation water, and tourist recreation facilities. Potentiometric, volumetric, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic techniques were used for the chemical-physical analyses, while the OECD method was adopted to assess the trophic level. The phosphorus and chlorophyll values evidenced the oligomesotrophic condition of the reservoir, with a dominance of the oligotrophic level. The analysis of the net-phytoplankton community showed the prevalence of the oligotrophic level, with a smaller tendency to the mesotrophic one. The dominant species were Dinobryon divergens Imhof and D. sertularia Ehrenb. among the Chrysophyceae, and Ceratium hirundinella (O.F. Mull.) Dujardin and Peridinium cinctum Ehrenb. among the Dinophyceae. However, some potentially dangerous inocula (Planktothrix agardhii (Gom.) Anagnostidis et Komarek and Microcystis aeruginosa (Kutz.) Kutzing were present, suggesting that the reservoir should be kept under accurate observation.