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Clinical studies suggest that regular and moderate physical activity has a positive influence on the general health of individuals, including neuro-psychological well-being. In particular, physical exercise can improve memory storage and learning ability, thus reducing the risk of developing serious neurodegenerative diseases and some forms of dementia. The same should happen for brain aging, where cognitive decline has been mainly related to dysregulation of synaptic function, in turn associated with changes in multiple intracellular processes, including protein turnover and activity that appear to be crucial in brain aging. Since the influence of physical exercise on this aspect is not yet clear, the aim of our investigation was to evaluate, through proteomic analysis, whether physical exercise can modulate the expression of proteins potentially implicated in cognitive functions. We used adult female CD-1 mice, a healthy control strain, and divided animals in sedentary and trained groups. After different periods (2,4 and 6 months) of treadmill training, the mouse hippocampal proteome was analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Exercise influenced the expression of 18 proteins, whose expression was confirmed by LIFT technology and Western Blot analysis. These proteins are involved in several processes such as enhancing antioxidant defence, maintaining the efficiency of mitochondrial energy metabolism and cellular plasticity. Our data would indicate that the exercise-modified activity of these molecules could be relevant to support the brain’s capacity for learning and memory storage and, therefore, to preserve the cognitive performance against age-related decline.

In Joiner’s Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, those who are planning to die by suicide have to overcome their fear of death in addition to acquiring the capacity for self-harm. The present study sought to examine this proposal in a sample of 1,145 university students in China. Those who had planned to dye by suicide in the past had less death anxiety than non-suicidal students and those who had suicidal ideation or made attempts at suicide in the past. The implications of this result were discussed.

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is the second most frequently observed slowly progressive neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. Although dopamine replacement remains an essential component of treatment, the point at which dyskinetic movements and motor fluctuations begin may demand a number of different approaches, both medical and surgical, delivered within a multidisciplinary framework. Significant new approaches to dopamine replacement are emerging. One of the most challenging aspects of treating the disease is the management of various non-motor symptoms, including anxiety, depression, constipation, bladder dysfunction, and sleep disorders. Innovative strategies are urgently required to combat these symptoms, which have a significant negative impact on quality of life. This review presents the latest therapeutic approaches that support the optimal treatment of both the non-motor and motor symptoms of PD.

It is important to understand the interplay of epigenetic changes, exercise and nutrition associated with the development of obesity and type-2 diabetes because it offers insights into how environment and lifestyle factors can influence gene expression without altering the genetic code. This knowledge can lead to the development of optimal interventions and preventive strategies that could potentially decrease the rising rates of obesity and type-2 diabetes. The purpose of this review is to examine the interplay of epigenetic, exercise and nutrition on inflammation and metabolic diseases including obesity and type-2 diabetes, and to acquaint the clinicians and researchers with the current advancing and evolving field of exercise and epigenetics. The proposed mechanisms involved pertain to the development of insulin resistance in peripheral tissues and type-2 diabetes including inflammation. The benefits with regular exercise include improvement in metabolic health occurring through adaptative mechanisms in the adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and liver as well as improvement in insulin resistance. Physical activity is defined by providing physiological characteristics of physical fitness that includes aerobic or cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular strength and muscular endurance via regular aerobic exercise or resistance training. Exercise training encompasses training modality, exercise frequency and duration. We discuss the interplay of epigenetic mechanisms in inflammation that may contribute to the current worldwide obesity and type-2 diabetes. Specifically, epigenetic induces a change in phenotype without changes in genotype and thus the epigenome can modify the genome outcome through several processes that include DNA methylation, post-translational histone modification and gene regulation mediated by non-coding RNA (ncRNA) mechanisms that have been correlated with various metabolic and inflammatory diseases.

The morphological diversity of New World monkeys (Platyrrhini) across Brazilian biomes represents a remarkable example of adaptive radiation in Neotropical primates. This review synthesizes current knowledge about morphological adaptations and distribution patterns of platyrrhine primates across Brazil's major biomes, focusing on the relationship between form and function in different ecological contexts. Through analysis of recent geometric morphometric studies, ecological surveys, and comparative anatomical research, we identify several key patterns of morphological variation, including: a continuous gradient of postcranial adaptations rather than discrete locomotor categories, unexpected variations in temporal bone architecture across forest strata, and rapid morphological responses to local dietary conditions as evidenced by dental morphology. Our synthesis reveals that morphological adaptation in Brazilian platyrrhines involves complex trade-offs between competing functional demands, with different anatomical systems evolving at varying rates. The relationship between morphological specialization and ecological resilience emerges as particularly significant, with implications for conservation strategies in the face of habitat modification and climate change. We demonstrate that traditional views of morphological adaptation as a gradual process require revision, as populations show capacity for relatively rapid morphological responses to environmental changes. These findings have important implications for both evolutionary theory and conservation practice, suggesting the need for approaches that preserve not just species, but the full spectrum of morphological diversity and the ecological contexts that generate and maintain it.

Lichens are a rich source of diverse secondary metabolites, with depsides playing a crucial role in their biological properties. Atranorin, a prominent depside, has been widely studied due to its significant pharmacological effects. This review explores the biosynthesis of atranorin, elucidates its molecular structure, and presents insights from docking studies that reveal its interactions with key biological targets. Furthermore, the diverse biological effects of atranorin including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and antifungal activities are discussed. These findings highlight atranorin's broad therapeutic potential, making it a promising candidate for drug development.

The microbiome, a complex microbial community found in ecosystems like animals, plants, and humans, plays a crucial role in maintaining health and preventing diseases. These communities promote healthy growth, protect against infectious diseases, and support complex behavioural traits in animals like learning and memory. Human microbiota, also known as "the hidden organ," plays a pivotal role in maintaining physiological functions, such as nutrient extraction, biosynthesis, immune, endocrine, and nervous system interactions, and resistance to pathogen colonization. Research in microbiome therapies is advancing rapidly, leading to a new era of precision medicine where the gut microbiome becomes an integral part of the clinical landscape. Microbiome therapies play a vital role in impacting gut health by modulating the gut microbiota to achieve beneficial effects for the host. This research is paving the way for a new era of precision medicine, where the gut microbiome becomes an integral part of the clinical landscape.