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1.
An Integrated Approach to Skeletal Muscle Health in Aging.
Agostini, D, Gervasi, M, Ferrini, F, Bartolacci, A, Stranieri, A, Piccoli, G, Barbieri, E, Sestili, P, Patti, A, Stocchi, V, et al
Nutrients. 2023;(8)
Abstract
A decline in muscle mass and function represents one of the most problematic changes associated with aging, and has dramatic effects on autonomy and quality of life. Several factors contribute to the inexorable process of sarcopenia, such as mitochondrial and autophagy dysfunction, and the lack of regeneration capacity of satellite cells. The physiologic decline in muscle mass and in motoneuron functionality associated with aging is exacerbated by the sedentary lifestyle that accompanies elderly people. Regular physical activity is beneficial to most people, but the elderly need well-designed and carefully administered training programs that improve muscle mass and, consequently, both functional ability and quality of life. Aging also causes alteration in the gut microbiota composition associated with sarcopenia, and some advances in research have elucidated that interventions via the gut microbiota-muscle axis have the potential to ameliorate the sarcopenic phenotype. Several mechanisms are involved in vitamin D muscle atrophy protection, as demonstrated by the decreased muscular function related to vitamin D deficiency. Malnutrition, chronic inflammation, vitamin deficiencies, and an imbalance in the muscle-gut axis are just a few of the factors that can lead to sarcopenia. Supplementing the diet with antioxidants, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, probiotics, prebiotics, proteins, kefir, and short-chain fatty acids could be potential nutritional therapies against sarcopenia. Finally, a personalized integrated strategy to counteract sarcopenia and maintain the health of skeletal muscles is suggested in this review.
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2.
The Anti- and Pro-Tumorigenic Role of Microbiota and Its Role in Anticancer Therapeutic Strategies.
Greco, G, Zeppa, SD, Agostini, D, Attisani, G, Stefanelli, C, Ferrini, F, Sestili, P, Fimognari, C
Cancers. 2022;(1)
Abstract
Human gut microbiota physiologically and actively participates as a symbiont to a wide number of fundamental biological processes, such as absorption and metabolism of nutrients, regulation of immune response and inflammation; gut microbiota plays also an antitumor role. However, dysbiosis, resulting from a number of different situations-dysmicrobism, infections, drug intake, age, diet-as well as from their multiple combinations, may lead to tumorigenesis and is associated with approximately 20% of all cancers. In a diagnostic, prognostic, therapeutic, and epidemiological perspective, it is clear that the bifaceted role of microbiota needs to be thoroughly studied and better understood. Here, we discuss the anti- and pro-tumorigenic potential of gut and other microbiota districts along with the causes that may change commensal bacteria from friend to foes.
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3.
Nutraceuticals and Physical Activity as Antidepressants: The Central Role of the Gut Microbiota.
Donati Zeppa, S, Ferrini, F, Agostini, D, Amatori, S, Barbieri, E, Piccoli, G, Sestili, P, Stocchi, V
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). 2022;(2)
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiota play an essential role in regulating brain functions and the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric diseases, including MDD. There are numerous mechanisms through which the gut microbiota and brain can exchange information in a continuous, bidirectional communication. Current research emphasizes the interexchange of signals influenced by the gut microbiota that are detected and transduced in information from the gut to the nervous system involving neural, endocrine, and inflammatory mechanisms, suggesting a relationship between oxidative stress and the pathophysiology of MDD via the hyperactivation of inflammatory responses. Potential sources of inflammation in the plasma and hippocampus of depressed individuals could stem from increases in intestinal permeability. Some nutraceuticals, such as specific probiotics, namely psychobiotics, polyphenols, carotenoids, butyrate, and prebiotics, have been demonstrated to exert an antidepressant activity, but most of them need to be metabolized and activated by gut microorganisms. By inducing changes in the gut microbiota composition, physical exercise might also exert a role in alleviating depression-like symptoms. The mutual relationships among nutraceuticals, exercise, and depression will be discussed, and the potential role of the gut microbiota as a therapeutic target to treat depression will be explored.
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4.
Interventions on Gut Microbiota for Healthy Aging.
Donati Zeppa, S, Agostini, D, Ferrini, F, Gervasi, M, Barbieri, E, Bartolacci, A, Piccoli, G, Saltarelli, R, Sestili, P, Stocchi, V
Cells. 2022;(1)
Abstract
In recent years, the improvement in health and social conditions has led to an increase in the average lifespan. Since aging is the most important risk factor for the majority of chronic human diseases, the development of therapies and intervention to stop, lessen or even reverse various age-related morbidities is an important target to ameliorate the quality of life of the elderly. The gut microbiota, that is, the complex ecosystem of microorganisms living in the gastrointestinal tract, plays an important role, not yet fully understood, in maintaining the host's health and homeostasis, influencing metabolic, oxidative and cognitive status; for this reason, it is also named "the forgotten endocrine organ" or "the second brain". On the other hand, the gut microbiota diversity and richness are affected by unmodifiable factors, such as aging and sex, and modifiable ones, such as diet, pharmacological therapies and lifestyle. In this review, we discuss the changes, mostly disadvantageous, for human health, induced by aging, in microbiota composition and the effects of dietary intervention, of supplementation with probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, psychobiotics and antioxidants and of physical exercise. The development of an integrated strategy to implement microbiota health will help in the goal of healthy aging.
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5.
Mutual Interactions among Exercise, Sport Supplements and Microbiota.
Donati Zeppa, S, Agostini, D, Gervasi, M, Annibalini, G, Amatori, S, Ferrini, F, Sisti, D, Piccoli, G, Barbieri, E, Sestili, P, et al
Nutrients. 2019;12(1)
Abstract
The adult gut microbiota contains trillions of microorganisms of thousands of different species. Only one third of gut microbiota are common to most people; the rest are specific and contribute to enhancing genetic variation. Gut microorganisms significantly affect host nutrition, metabolic function, immune system, and redox levels, and may be modulated by several environmental conditions, including physical activity and exercise. Microbiota also act like an endocrine organ and is sensitive to the homeostatic and physiological changes associated with training; in turn, exercise has been demonstrated to increase microbiota diversity, consequently improving the metabolic profile and immunological responses. On the other side, adaptation to exercise might be influenced by the individual gut microbiota that regulates the energetic balance and participates to the control of inflammatory, redox, and hydration status. Intense endurance exercise causes physiological and biochemical demands, and requires adequate measures to counteract oxidative stress, intestinal permeability, electrolyte imbalance, glycogen depletion, frequent upper respiratory tract infections, systemic inflammation and immune responses. Microbiota could be an important tool to improve overall general health, performance, and energy availability while controlling inflammation and redox levels in endurance athletes. The relationship among gut microbiota, general health, training adaptation and performance, along with a focus on sport supplements which are known to exert some influence on the microbiota, will be discussed.
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6.
Conventional Versus Digital Impressions for "All-on-Four" Restorations.
Gherlone, E, Capparé, P, Vinci, R, Ferrini, F, Gastaldi, G, Crespi, R
The International journal of oral & maxillofacial implants. 2016;(2):324-30
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to evaluate the most accurate impression technique for "All on Four" restoration, comparing conventional (CIG) and digital impressions (DIG). MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients randomly selected for this study were required to be edentulous in at least one arch, presenting with severe posterior mandibular or maxillary atrophy. All patients underwent full-arch immediate-load rehabilitations, which were fixed to a total of four implants (two axial and two tilted). Following implant placement, patients were stratified into two groups. Conventional pick-up was carried out in the control group, and digital impressions were performed in the test group. Following prosthetic rehabilitation, patients underwent intraoral digital radiographs to check for the presence of voids at the bar-implant connection and to evaluate accuracy. Three-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up examinations were performed. RESULTS A total of 25 patients received immediately loaded "All-on-Four" prostheses (17 maxillary, 13 mandibular) supported by four implants (total 120 implants), of which five received both maxillary and mandibular prosthetic rehabilitation (three patients in CIG, two patients in DIG). No implant dropouts occurred, showing a survival rate of 100%. The digital impression procedure required significantly less time than the conventional procedure (P < .001). CONCLUSION Results demonstrate that it is possible to develop computer-aided design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) cobalt-chromium full-arch rehabilitations with satisfactory accuracy using digital impression techniques.