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Objectives: Severe acute respiratory syndrome - coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a single-stranded positive ribonucleic acid virus of the coronaviridae family. The disease caused by this virus has been named by the World Health Organization coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), whose main manifestation is interstitial pneumonia. Aim of this study is to describe the radiological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection in its original form, to correlate the high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) patterns with clinical findings, prognosis and mortality, and to establish the need for treatment and admission to the intensive care unit. Material and Methods: From March 2020 to May 2020, 193 patients (72 F and 121 M) who were swab positive for SARS-CoV-2 were retrospectively selected for our study. These patients underwent HRCT in the clinical suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 interstitial pneumonia. Results: Our results confirm the role of radiology and, in particular, of chest HRCT as a technique with high sensitivity in the recognition of the most peculiar features of COVID-19 pneumonia, in the evaluation of severity of the disease, in the correct interpretation of temporal changes of the radiological picture during the follow-up until the resolution, and in obtaining prognostic information, also to direct the treatment. Conclusion: Chest computed tomography cannot be considered as a substitute for real-time - polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of COVID-19, but rather supplementary to it in the diagnostic process as it can detect parenchymal changes at an early stage and even before the positive swab, at least for patients who have been symptomatic for more than 3 days.

La dispersione scolastica costituisce un fenomeno estremamente complesso. Alla sua origine vi sono molteplici cause riconducibili ad aspetti culturali, sociali, economici i quali chiamano in causa variabili di contesto, come la qualità dell’esperienza familiare e scolastica, poste in relazione con le dimensioni soggettive dell’esperienza, quali le caratteristiche psico-emozionali e comportamentali degli individui. L’attenzione su tale fenomeno rappresenta certamente una responsabilità centrale dell’educazione, poiché sono le stesse agenzie educative a concorrere in misura prevalente a determinarne gli esiti, tramite la qualità delle interpretazioni e delle azioni che esprimono circa la capacità di coinvolgere, dialogare, mediare, comprendere, sostanzialmente includere. Il binomio esclusione sociale-dispersione scolastica è, difatti, l’espressione di una circolarità che descrive la sostanziale influenza esistente tra i due fenomeni: l’esclusione genera dispersione e, allo stesso modo, la dispersione delinea destini individuali che tendono all’esclusione. In ragione di tale binomio, dunque, una via efficace per il contrasto del fenomeno dell’abbandono scolastico trova fondamento nella configurazione di strategie educative di natura intrinsecamente inclusiva, in grado, cioè, di accogliere, sostenere e guidare l’insieme e la pluralità dei soggetti all’interno di una esperienza di formazione che accolga la diversità e la singolarità di ognuno. Il centro di questo importante scopo dell’educazione coinvolge, quindi, in prima istanza, la professionalità educativa ed è, dunque, sulla formazione degli educatori per l’inclusione che si gioca una sfida centrale dei sistemi educativi contemporanei, inseriti sullo sfondo della complessità e della pluralità che caratterizzano gli scenari socio-culturali contemporanei. Alla luce di queste essenziali linee dichiarative, il contributo intende, dunque, riflettere sul fenomeno della dispersione scolastica, inquadrandolo come causa ed esito di processi di esclusione, allo scopo di generare una chiave di lettura delle dinamiche in oggetto che possa fungere da strumentazione interpretativa per chi opera concretamente nei contesti educativi. In particolare, il contributo si soffermerà sulla categoria della diversità allo scopo di delineare una sintesi di contenuti utili a guidare la maturazione di competenze relazionali adeguate nell’ambito di una formazione degli insegnanti per l’inclusione.

Velocity-Based Training (VBT) is a training method that allows us evaluating the velocity of the concentric phase of a movement, managing to analyze and program training intensity and load. The method concerns the measurement of the speed of the ratio between the barbell/dumbbell and a limb, through the use of an accelerometer or tools suitable for this assessment, which are more and more accurate and marketed today. In consideration of the need in sports training to establish an optimal workload, this innovative methodology measures the speed of execution and proposes a hypothetical ideal training load, through a sensor that can be connected to the wrist or the bar in order to perform the exercises in the best way. The methodology used employs the latest-generation technological elements.

The aim of this research paper is to highlight the importance of a pedagogical and special education approach in the school context. In this regard we analyze the main methodologies of special pedagogy and education which might be adopted at school level to promote the processes of inclusion and integration. Only starting from the school system we can arrive to a concrete social development.

Among the areas of pedagogical reflection that in recent decades have taken a considerable space in contemporary debates, those concerning body, movement and sport represent a very important field as specific educational dis- positive, of which needs to be highlighted the educability conditions in order that sport can represent a life context declined towards subjects’ emancipation. Nowadays sport often conveys ideas and values that stray from best edu- cational practices, emphasizing narcissistic forms of sport performance that underlines the construction of a certain bodily identity in the social imagery. The aim of the paper is to reflect about these components, in order to propose possible educational tools in sport contexts that are harbingers of individual and social wellbeing for all involved subjects.

Multiple sclerosis, also called multiple sclerosis, is a chronic demyelinating disease that affects the central nervous system. It is shown, in the subjects with multiple sclerosis that in addition to the codified rehabilitation programs, it is possible to combine various sports activities, obviously adapted to the patient’s disability. In addition, alongside physical activity and sport, the motor image can be associated to improve the disability and quality of life of these patients. In sports research, the use of images by the athlete was evaluated with interest during rehabilitation after an accident or during and after a period of training. Scientific studies have reported positive effects of the images regarding the cognitive, motivational and healing intentions of the athletes. On the basis of these premises we have evaluated the effects of the application of the motor image to subjects with multiple sclerosis affected by motor disorders, who practiced or did not practice sports. The data reported in this study suggest that there is potential for the application of motor image in physical therapy, especially for the im- provement of balance in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Identity transitions out of sport represent a widely research theme in psychology, which recognizes a processual dimension that does not concern only the moment of transition but the entire sports path. The processuality of this phenomenon directly calls into the question the pedagogy, urging it to reflect on which educational intentionality putting at the basis of such phenomenon and which tools to use to support an effective reshaping identity process. The chosen educational instrument is represented by educational guidance, interpreting it both as the main educa- tionally referring theoretical background and as the operational tool to prevent and accompany the possible forms of discomfort associated with this period of transition and of reorganization of Self.

Con il D.M. 742/17 vengono emanati i modelli nazionali di certificazione delle competenze. Il presente contributo vuole fornire una traccia di riflessione sull’interconnessione tra costrutto di competenze, didattica per competenze e certificazione delle competenze. È fondamentale comprendere che senza una reale e consolidata didattica per competenze, che consideri il rovesciamento della prospettiva del processo di insegnamento/apprendimento, la cer- tificazione delle competenze diventa mera pratica burocratica, fine a se stessa. Partendo dalla Raccomandazione del Parlamento europeo e del Consiglio (Lisbona, 2006), che delinea le otto competenze chiave, di cui tutti hanno biso- gno per la crescita personale, la cittadinanza attiva, l’inclusione e l’occupazione, si giungerà a considerare le Indica- zioni Nazionali per il curricolo della scuola dell’infanzia e del primo ciclo di istruzione, che affermano i traguardi da raggiungere per lo sviluppo delle competenze. Con l’introduzione del costrutto di competenza nella pratica didattica, viene a modificarsi tutta l’attività di progettazione e valutazione, che necessiterà di strumenti e prove calibrate per la certificazione dei livelli di competenze raggiunti.

Questo Articolo è il risultato di una ricerca relativa agli effetti nel breve e nel lungo periodo delle attività motorie svolte periodicamente da un campione di popolazione affetto da disabilità cognitiva e psichica. La ricerca compren- de la raccolta e l’analisi dei dati.

The purpose of the paper is to promote a methodological approach able to foster greater education on the diversity in the school context. It is assumed that the educational and management strategy proposal can stimulate the accept- ance and appreciation of “different” subjects, perceived as such for racial, physical, religious, ethnic reasons, even in the school system. If this were to happen, thanks to a work carried out at the origins of this social criticality, a cultural change aimed at integrating the diversity of considerable dimensions could be developed, with a consequent social and educational benefit.

The paper has the aim to assess the role that the figure of the professional educator is able to perform in a system that handles disability in performant and educational way. This implies the need to insert the educator in a management model capable of developing a new cultural approach aimed to the inclusion and exploitation of disabled people in society. The study leads to the conclusion that recognize themselves in the professional educator, thanks to his baggage multidisciplinary training, the skills appropriate to pursue the education and socio-economic benefit sought through the model of disability management.

Musictherapy is a therapy that uses music, rhythm, sound and melody in certain circumstances of disease or disa- bility, in order to facilitate and improve social, communicative and relational aspects. This kind of technique is part of the broad group of expressive therapies that use emotions, feelings and perceptions for therapeutic purposes as a form of communication and relationships with others. Through the therapeutic use of music it is possible to work on physical, psychological and sensory dimensions, facilitate social experiences and develop a greater awareness of one’s own abilities. Musictherapy is characterized as a preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative intervention, its purpose is to support the development and evolution of aspects related to motor skills, emotions, language and socia- bility. Communication through a sound and/or musical channel acts on obstacles and difficulties in communication, society, relationship and expression. Musictherapy has taken a central role not only in purely health-rehabilitative sectors, but especially in the field of education and school; music can be a powerful social mediator by setting up a dialogue with oneself and with others.

The neoplasms of the salivary glands account for 2% of head and neck tumors and the most common form is the Pleomorphic adenoma (PA). Parotid gland is affected from 80% to 90% of cases. In elderly these tumors occur mostly in females. These benign tumors are composed of epithelial and myoepithelial cells that are arranged with various morphological patterns and subtypes. The classification of these tumors is also based on the amount and nature of the stroma. In literature there is an almost complete consensus that, in the major salivary glands, PAs are enclosed by a layer of fibrous tissue often called “capsule” but there is disagreement about the form, extension and thickness of this layer. The treatment is surgical and there are two main different surgical approaches: an enucleation (local dissection) or so-called subtotal superficial parotidectomy and lateral or superficial total parotidectomy. Histopathological characteristics of PAs especially of capsular alterations such as thin capsule areas, capsule-free regions, capsule penetration, satellite nodules and pseudopodia in the different subtypes are important for the choice of surgical treatment and the first explanation for tumor recurrence. In our study we describe a morphological features of 84 cases of pleomorphic adenoma of parotid gland from elderly patients treated by a surgical “enucleation like” method called nucleoresection.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation, since its introduction in 1985, has brought important innovations to the study of cortical excitability as it is a non-invasive method and, therefore, can be used both in healthy and sick subjects. Since the introduction of this cortical stimulation technique, it has been possible to deepen the neurophysiological aspects of motor activation and control. In this narrative review, we want to provide a brief overview regarding TMS as a tool to investigate changes in cortex excitability in athletes and highlight how this tool can be used to investigate the acute and chronic responses of the motor cortex in sport science. The parameters that could be used for the evaluation of cortical excitability and the relative relationship with motor coordination and muscle fatigue, will be also analyzed. Repetitive physical training is generally considered as a principal strategy for acquiring a motor skill, and this process can elicit cortical motor representational changes referred to as use-dependent plasticity. In training settings, physical practice combined with the observation of target movements can enhance cortical excitability and facilitate the process of learning. The data to date suggest that TMS is a valid technique to investigate the changes in motor cortex excitability in trained and untrained subjects. Recently, interest in the possible ergogenic effect of non-invasive brain stimulation in sport is growing and therefore in the future it could be useful to conduct new experiments to evaluate the impact on learning and motor performance of these techniques.

Recent studies have demonstrated that obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of several malignancies such as cancer. Colorectal cancer is among the most common cancers worldwide and is strong linked to obesity. A healthy lifestyle, characterized by hypocaloric diet and physical activity, is important to reduce a chronic inflammation, oxidative stress and metabolic disorders typical of obesity (Messina et al, 2018; Messina et al, 2017; Messina et al, 2015). It is well known that the chronic inflammation state and oxidative stress are responsible for the aging and development of many diseases, such as cancer. Dysregulation of cytokine's secretion probably participates in the establishment of cancer in obese patients. The aim of this study is to analyse the effects of sera from obese patients subjected to a physical activity program before and after weight loss on cell viability, apoptosis and oxidative stress in HCT116 carcinoma cell line treated for 24, 48 and 72 hours through MTT test. We analysed the expression of cytokines in HCT116 cells. We found that sera from obese after physical activity intervention compared to treatment with sera from obese patients before physical activity intervention reduce the survival rate of HCT116 cells through induction of apoptosis and oxidative stress. Finally, we found a reduction of mRNA levels corresponding to the pro-inflammatory IL-6 and IL-8 cytokines together with an increase of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine. We can conclude that the physical activity has numerous beneficial effects also in colorectal cancer cell, indeed the physical activity and weight loss in obese subjects have an inhibitory and anti-inflammatory effects in a short period on carcinoma cell line.

Accident prevention is certainly the topic of greatest interest in the football medical field. Data literature reported that the risk of injuries is approximately 1000 times greater in professional football than in other occupations; for these reasons, it is very important the prevention. The costs of an accident, both in economic terms and in terms of time away from the playing fields, have pushed researchers from more fields (sports doctors, orthopedists, physiotherapists, sports scientists and physiologists) to find causes regarding muscle and joint injuries and to prevent them. Many researchers have tried the cause of the damage in the anatomic setting: in the single muscle, in the muscular bundle and from the fasciculus to the single myofibril, losing the general system, studying the single function and muscular structure, and not the real physiology movement and the complex connectivity of the anatomical network. For these reasons, we think that the anatomical network and the relationships between the various structures of the body in motion represent the substrate on which we must research. For many years the anatomists have divided the body, while in recent decades it is understood the importance of the elements that unite the body, and in particular to the mechanical connection element: the fascia.

Hoverboards are always more popular among children. Hoverboards are to them like a game or a mean of transport, but they could be used as a valid and useful instrument in children’s training programs to improve their performance. In this study, we compared the athletic performance of two groups of 12 children. A total of 24 children aged between 8 and 11 years followed a similar training program for five months, but the first group used a hoverboard (Hb+ group: Age: Standard Deviation (SD) = 1.15 Mean = 9.66; Weight: SD = 5.90 Mean = 32; Height: SD = 7.64 Mean = 135.08) for some of the training time, differently from the second group (Hb- group: Age: SD = 1.15 Mean = 9.66; Weight: SD = 5.82 Mean = 31.16; Height: SD = 7.66 Mean = 136.16), which never used it. All of the children were asked to complete three tests (one leg test, stork test and balance beam walking test) before starting their own training program and after five months, to evaluate how their performances changed in terms of time. Comparing the recorded time difference between T0 and T1 of the Hb+ group with the same difference measured in Hb- group, it was found that there was a statistically significant difference (p value < 0.05) between these data for all three tests. Children who used the hoverboard in their training program achieved better result than children who did not use it. In the future, the hoverboard could help athletes to improve their performances, possibly applying it not only in football training, but even in other sports.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in European country ranges in elderly patients from 4.5 to 12% of population and has a significant effect on quality of life. In these patients, rhinosinusitis is linked to immune functions changes with age and to mucosal paraphysiological alterations such as crusting formations with atrophic epithelium, variations of nasal airflow and modifications of the mucociliary clearance. Failure of medical treatments leads to surgery in patients with persistent symptoms and radiographic signs of CRS. The choice of appropriate post-surgical topic treatments is important for healing time and for preventing mucosal complications such as synechiae, crusting formation and atrophy with secondary bacterial and fungal infections. Aims: Defining the effects of topic alpha-tocopherol acetate administration on nasal mucosa healing after endoscopic sinus surgery in CRS of elderly patients. Methods: In this study were included 32 patients, mean age 68.6, who underwent FESS because affected by CRS not responsive to medical treatments. After surgical treatment, we distinguish two groups basing on local nasal therapy. Results: We investigated, in the postoperative time, the role of alpha-tocopherol acetate compared to gomenol oil. Follow-up was performed at 7–15 days and 1–3 months after surgery. We evaluated mucosal restoration using Rhinoscopy Sum Score and quality of life using Nasal Six Items Symptom Questionnaire. We observed a faster healing time and less recurrence of complications in patients who underwent topic treatment with alpha-tocopherol acetate. Discussion: In our research, we observed that alpha-tocopherol acetate has no contraindications and side effects. Conclusions: Our study showed the effectiveness of alpha-tocopherol acetate topic treatment in elderly patients affected by CRS after FESS, in improving and speeding up the process of restoring the sinonasal mucosa, compared to another topic medication.

Emanuela Viggiano,1,2 Vincenzo Monda,1 Antonietta Messina,1 Fiorenzo Moscatelli,3 Anna Valenzano,3 Domenico Tafuri,4 Giuseppe Cibelli,3 Bruno De Luca,1 Giovanni Messina,1,3 Marcellino Monda1 1Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Unit of Dietetics and Sports Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, 2Department of Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, 3Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, 4Department of Motor Sciences and Wellness, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy Abstract: Depression of electrocorticogram propagating over the cortex surface results in cortical spreading depression (CSD), which is probably related to the pathophysiology of stroke, epilepsy, and migraine. However, preconditioning with CSD produces neuroprotection to subsequent ischemic episodes. Such effects require the expression or activation of several genes, including neuroprotective ones. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the expression of the uncoupling proteins (UCPs) 2 and 5 is amplified during brain ischemia and their expression exerts a long-term effect upon neuron protection. To evaluate the neuroprotective consequence of CSD, the expression of UCP-5 in the brain cortex was measured following CSD induction. CSD was evoked in four samples of rats, which were sacrificed after 2hours, 4hours, 6hours, and 24hours. Western blot analyses were carried out to measure UCP-5 concentrations in the prefrontal cortices of both hemispheres, and immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the localization of UCP-5 in the brain cortex. The results showed a significant elevation in UCP-5 expression at 24hours in all cortical strata. Moreover, UCP-5 was triggered by CSD, indicating that UCP-5 production can have a neuroprotective effect. Keywords: cortical spreading depression, neuroprotective effect, uncoupling protein-5

Background According to the National Trauma Data Bank, the liver, after the spleen, is the first most injured organ in closed abdominal trauma. Methods From June 2010 to December 2015 we observed in our department of Hepato-biliary Surgery and Liver Transplant Unit of the A.O.R.N. A. Cardarelli of Naples 40 patients affected by hepatic trauma. In our retrospective study, we review our experience and propose portal vein ligation (PVL) as a first – line strategy for damage control surgery (DCS) in liver trauma. Results 26/40 patients (65%) which received gauze-packing represented our study group. In 10 cases out of 26 patients (38,4%) the abdominal packing was enough to control the damage. In 7 cases (18,4%) we performed a liver resection. In 7 cases, after de-packing, we adopted PVL to achieve DCS. Trans Arterial Embolization was chosen in 6 patients. 2 of them were discharged 14 days later without performing any other procedure. In 3 cases we had to perform a right epatectomy in second instance. Two hepatectomies were due to hemoperitoneum, and the other for coleperitoneum. Two patients were treated in first instance by only doing hemostasis on the bleeding site. We observed 6 patients in first instance. Five of them underwent surgery with hepatic resection and surgical hemostasis of the bleeding site. The other one underwent to conservative management. In summary we performed 15 hepatic resections, 8 of them were right hepatectomies, 1 left hepatectomy, 2 trisegmentectomies V-VI-VII. So in second instance we operated on 10 patients out of 34 (30%). Conclusions The improved knowledge of clinical physio-pathology and the improvement of diagnostic and instrumental techniques had a great impact on the prognosis of liver trauma. We think that a rigid diagnostic protocol should be applied as this allows timely pathological finding, and consists of three successive but perfectly integrated steps: 1) patient reception, in close collaboration with the resuscitator; 2) accurate but quick diagnostic framing 3) therapeutic decisional making. Selective portal vein ligation is a well-tolerated and safe manoeuvre, which could be effective, even if not definitive, in treating these subjects. That is why we believe that it can be a choice to keep in mind especially in post-depacking bleeding.

Background: Previous studies suggested that movement velocity influence space perception. Aim and Objectives: We examined whether healthy participants used velocity information when they were asked to reproduce a previously performed movement. Two experiments were carried out. Methods: In Experiment 1, blindfolded participants actively performed an arm movement (criterion movement, CM) at a natural velocity, or quickly, or slowly. After a brief delay, participants were asked to reproduce (reproduction movement, RM) CM-amplitude. No velocity constraints were imposed in making RM. In Experiment 2, CM was performed quickly or slowly. After a brief delay, the participants were asked to reproduce not only CM-amplitude but also CM-velocity. Results: Experiment 1: in Natural condition, RM-velocity did not differ from CM-velocity and the participants accurately reproduced CM-amplitude. Conversely, in Fast and Slow condition, RM-velocities differed from CM-velocities and in Slow condition RM-amplitude was greater than CM-amplitude. Experiment 2: both RM-amplitude and -velocity did not differ from CM-amplitude and -velocity. Conclusion: The present study confirms the view that movement velocity influences selectively space perception and suggests that this influence is stronger for slow than fast movements. Furthermore, although velocity information is crucial in accurately reproducing CM-amplitude, it was not used spontaneously when movements were performed at unnatural velocities.

The orexin-A/hypocretin-1 and orexin-B/hypocretin-2 are neuropeptides synthesized by a cluster of neurons in the lateral hypothalamus and perifornical area. Orexin neurons receive a variety of signals related to environmental, physiological and emotional stimuli, and project broadly to the entire CNS. Orexin neurons are “multi-tasking” neurons regulating a set of vital body functions, including sleep/wake states, feeding behavior, energy homeostasis, reward systems, cognition and mood. Furthermore, a dysfunction of orexinergic system may underlie different pathological conditions. A selective loss orexin neurons was found in narcolepsia, supporting the crucial role of orexins in maintaining wakefulness. In animal models, orexin deficiency lead to obesity even if the consume of calories is lower than wildtype counterpart. Reduced physical activity appears the main cause of weight gain in these models resulting in energy imbalance. Orexin signaling promotes obesity resistance via enhanced spontaneous physical activity and energy expenditure regulation and the deficiency/dysfunction in orexins system lead to obesity in animal models despite of lower calories intake than wildtype associated with reduced physical activity. Interestingly, orexinergic neurons show connections to regions involved in cognition and mood regulation, including hippocampus. Orexins enhance hippocampal neurogenesis and improve spatial learning and memory abilities, and mood. Conversely, orexin deficiency results in learning and memory deficits, and depression.

The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) is involved in regulating energy homeostasis; mutations in this gene have been associated with 1-5% of early-onset human obesity. The aim of this study was to functionally characterize MC4R mutations identified in morbidly obese subjects living in Southern Italy. We studied their ligand binding, signaling pathway and subcellular localization. As expected, mutants Q43X and S19fsX51, which produce truncated forms of receptor, were devoid of activity. The activity of mutants W174C and A175T were very different even though the mutations are adjacent and are in the same transmembrane helix (TMH). In fact, the production and expression of mutant A175T on the plasma-membrane (PM) was similar to that of the wild-type (wt) receptor and the mutant retained 70% of wt receptor activity; on the contrary, the production of W174C mutant in the cytoplasm was similar to that of the wt receptor and mutant A175T but was only barely detectable on the PM and was devoid of activity. Confocal microscopy showed that W174C remained entrapped in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of the cells. Structural analysis showed that substitution of Trp174, located in the middle of TMH4 and 100% conserved in all known MC4Rs, with Cys could impair the relative orientation of TMH2 and TMH4 thereby affecting the overall protein architecture. Furthermore, co-expression studies showed that mutant A175T but not W174C had a dominant negative effect on the wt receptor activity. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Intensity training, talent, and an adequate diet represent the crucial factors for the success of athletes. Unfortunately, athletes prefer intaking substances to quicker and easier increase their performance compared to traditional training. For this reason there has been a significant spread of enhancing substances drugs and dietary supplements (DS), although, as already broadly evidenced, the abuse of those substances could seriously damage athletes’ health. Indeed, DS could contain substances that are not declared on the label, which are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). This exploratory study aims to investigate DS phenomenon, specifically, we want to describe this phenomenon among boxers, analyzing typologies of DS intaken, knowledge about DS, main reasons for justifying DS abuse, and places where boxers buy them and potential consultants about suggesting their consumption. Data were collected through a total of 214 anonymous self-report questionnaires administered to boxers in Campania (Italy), 169 questionnaires were considered valid. The study collects data exclusively for male athletes. Indeed, the results demonstrate that boxers, mainly men (88.4% of the sample), practice sport mostly for fun and they intake DS for balancing out nutritional deficiencies and having more energy. Mineral salts (N=88) and vitamins (N=85) are broadly intaken compared to other substances. The consumption of DSis recommended by coach in the competitive athletes (N=33), against non-competitive boxer whom consultant is the doctor (N=25). Boxers mostly buy the supplements in the drugstore. In summary, the results demonstrate that boxers widely intake DS for improving their performance. Also, implications for research and practice are discussed.

Menopause is a significant period characterized by physiological change. Hormonal changes are largely related to estrogen depletion and subsequent cessation of ovarian function. This study analyzed vegetative modulation, expressed as heart rate variability (HRV) power spectral analysis, resting energy expenditure, and body composition in women in post-menopause with and without hormone-replacement therapy (HRT). 87 Sedentary women were enrolled, 41 (age: 53-54) women with BMI of 21.6 ± 2.6 kg/m2 were on HRT and 46 (age: 52-63) with BMI of 22.4 ± 1.8 kg/m2 were not. This experiment marks aspects regarding the relationship between the autonomic nervous system and body weight in HRT and menopause.

Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Human Physiology and Clinical Dietetic Service, Second University of Naples, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Naples, Italy. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy. Faculty of Medicine, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy. Faculty of Motor Sciences, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy. Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, Rome, Italy.

Obesity is a public health disease and its incidence is steadily increasing both in adults and in children especially in the Western World. It is important to understand the underlying mechanisms of obesity and possible treatments as the orexin system with its receptors, which are involved in different physiological processes. In fact, the aim of this mini-review is to consider the importance of the orexin system and the role that orexin plays in the regulation of obesity and physical activity. Furthermore to demonstrate how the orexin and its receptors fit within a network distributed in multiple brain areas, each with specific actions, whose activation and interconnection has been seen to lead to a lower propensity for increase of fat mass, it could thus constitute an important future target for prevention and treatment of obesity.