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Rusinova A, Volodina M, Ossadtchi A. Short-term meditation training alters brain activity and sympathetic responses at rest, but not during meditation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11138. [PMID: 38750127 PMCID: PMC11096169 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60932-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Although more people are engaging in meditation practices that require specialized training, few studies address the issues associated with nervous activity pattern changes brought about by such training. For beginners, it remains unclear how much practice is needed before objective physiological changes can be detected, whether or not they are similar across the novices and what are the optimal strategies to track these changes. To clarify these questions we recruited individuals with no prior meditation experience. The experimental group underwent an eight-week Taoist meditation course administered by a professional, while the control group listened to audiobooks. Both groups participated in audio-guided, 34-min long meditation sessions before and after the 8-week long intervention. Their EEG, photoplethysmogram, respiration, and skin conductance were recorded during the mediation and resting state periods. Compared to the control group, the experimental group exhibited band-specific topically organized changes of the resting state brain activity and heart rate variability associated with sympathetic system activation. Importantly, no significant changes were found during the meditation process prior and post the 8-week training in either of the groups. The absence of notable changes in CNS and ANS activity indicators during meditation sessions, for both the experimental and control groups, casts doubt on the effectiveness of wearable biofeedback devices in meditation practice. This finding redirects focus to the importance of monitoring resting state activity to evaluate progress in beginner meditators. Also, 16 h of training is not enough for forming individual objectively different strategies manifested during the meditation sessions. Our results contributed to the development of tools to objectively monitor the progress in novice meditators and the choice of the relevant monitoring strategies. According to our findings, in order to track early changes brought about by the meditation practice it is preferable to monitor brain activity outside the actual meditation sessions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Rusinova
- Center for Bioelectric Interfaces, HSE University, Moscow, Russia, 101000
| | - Maria Volodina
- Center for Bioelectric Interfaces, HSE University, Moscow, Russia, 101000.
- Laboratory of Medical Neurointerfaces and Artificial Intellect, Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies of the Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia, 117513.
| | - Alexei Ossadtchi
- Center for Bioelectric Interfaces, HSE University, Moscow, Russia, 101000
- Artificial Intelligence Research Institute, AIRI, Moscow, Russia
- LLC "Life Improvement by Future Technologies Center", Moscow, Russia
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2
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Campisi M, Cannella L, Celik D, Gabelli C, Gollin D, Simoni M, Ruaro C, Fantinato E, Pavanello S. Mitigating cellular aging and enhancing cognitive functionality: visual arts-mediated Cognitive Activation Therapy in neurocognitive disorders. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1354025. [PMID: 38524114 PMCID: PMC10957554 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1354025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The growing phenomenon of population aging is redefining demographic dynamics, intensifying age-related conditions, especially dementia, projected to triple by 2050 with an enormous global economic burden. This study investigates visual arts-mediated Cognitive Activation Therapy (CAT) as a non-pharmacological CAT intervention targets both biological aging [leukocyte telomere length (LTL), DNA methylation age (DNAmAge)] and cognitive functionality. Aligning with a broader trend of integrating non-pharmacological approaches into dementia care. The longitudinal study involved 20 patients with mild to moderate neurocognitive disorders. Cognitive and functional assessments, and biological aging markers -i.e., LTL and DNAmAge- were analyzed before and after CAT intervention. Change in LTL was positively correlated with days of treatment (p =0.0518). LTL significantly elongated after intervention (p =0.0269), especially in men (p =0.0142), correlating with younger age (p =0.0357), and higher education (p =0.0008). DNAmAge remained instead stable post-treatment. Cognitive and functional improvements were observed for Copy of complex geometric figure, Progressive Silhouettes, Position Discrimination, Communication Activities of Daily Living-Second edition, Direct Functional Status (p < 0.0001) and Object decision (p =0.0594), but no correlations were found between LTL and cognitive gains. Visual arts-mediated CAT effectively mitigates cellular aging, especially in men, by elongating LTL. These findings underscore the potential of non-pharmacological interventions in enhancing cognitive and functional status and general well-being in dementia care. Further research with larger and longer-term studies is essential for validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Campisi
- Occupational Medicine, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Luana Cannella
- Occupational Medicine, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Dilek Celik
- Occupational Medicine, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Carlo Gabelli
- Regional Centre for the Aging Brain (CRIC), University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Donata Gollin
- Regional Centre for the Aging Brain (CRIC), University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Marco Simoni
- Regional Centre for the Aging Brain (CRIC), University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Cristina Ruaro
- Regional Centre for the Aging Brain (CRIC), University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Fantinato
- Regional Centre for the Aging Brain (CRIC), University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Sofia Pavanello
- Occupational Medicine, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
- University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
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Verdone L, Caserta M, Ben-Soussan TD, Venditti S. On the road to resilience: Epigenetic effects of meditation. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2023; 122:339-376. [PMID: 36863800 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2022.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Many environmental and lifestyle related factors may influence the physiology of the brain and body by acting on fundamental molecular pathways, such as the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and the immune system. For example, stressful conditions created by adverse early-life events, unhealthy habits and low socio-economic status may favor the onset of diseases linked to neuroendocrine dysregulation, inflammation and neuroinflammation. Beside pharmacological treatments used in clinical settings, much attention has been given to complementary treatments such as mind-body techniques involving meditation that rely on the activation of inner resources to regain health. At the molecular level, the effects of both stress and meditation are elicited epigenetically through a set of mechanisms that regulate gene expression as well as the circulating neuroendocrine and immune effectors. Epigenetic mechanisms constantly reshape genome activities in response to external stimuli, representing a molecular interface between organism and environment. In the present work, we aimed to review the current knowledge on the correlation between epigenetics, gene expression, stress and its possible antidote, meditation. After introducing the relationship between brain, physiology, and epigenetics, we will proceed to describe three basic epigenetic mechanisms: chromatin covalent modifications, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs. Subsequently, we will give an overview of the physiological and molecular aspects related to stress. Finally, we will address the epigenetic effects of meditation on gene expression. The results of the studies reported in this review demonstrate that mindful practices modulate the epigenetic landscape, leading to increased resilience. Therefore, these practices can be considered valuable tools that complement pharmacological treatments when coping with pathologies related to stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loredana Verdone
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy.
| | - Micaela Caserta
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council (CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Tal Dotan Ben-Soussan
- Cognitive Neurophysiology Laboratory, Research Institute for Neuroscience, Education and Didactics, Patrizio Paoletti Foundation for Development and Communication, Assisi, Italy
| | - Sabrina Venditti
- Dept. of Biology and biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
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Rapid changes of miRNAs-20, -30, -410, -515, -134, and -183 and telomerase with psychological activity: A one year study on the relaxation response and epistemological considerations. J Tradit Complement Med 2021; 11:409-418. [PMID: 34522635 PMCID: PMC8427477 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Mental stress represents a pivotal factor in cardiovascular diseases. The mechanism by which stress produces its deleterious effects is still under study, but one of the most explored pathways is inflammation-aging and cell senescence. In this scenario, circulating microRNAs appear to be regulatory elements of the telomerase activity and alternative splicing within the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer (NF-κB) network. Anti-stress techniques appeared to be able to slow down the inflammatory and aging processes. As we recently verified, the practice of the relaxation response (RR) counteracted psychological stress and determined favorable changes of the NF-κB, p53, and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) gene expression and in neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines, and inflammatory circulating microRNAs. We aimed to verify a possible change in the serum levels of six other micro-RNAs of cardiovascular interest, involved in cell senescence and in the NF-κB network (miRNAs -20, -30, -410, -515, -134, and -183), and tested the activity of telomerase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Experimental procedure We measured the aforementioned molecules in the serum of patients with ischemic heart disease (and healthy controls) immediately before and after a relaxation response session, three times (after the baseline), in one year of follow-up. Results According to our data, the miRNA-20 and -30 levels and PBMCs-telomerase activity increased during the RR while the -410 and -515 levels decreased. During the RR sessions, both miRNA-134 and -183 decreased. Conclusion The mediators considered in this exploratory work appeared to vary rapidly with the psychological activity (in particular when focused on relaxation techniques) showing that psychological activity should be part of the future research on epigenetics. Epistemological perspectives are also discussed.
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Effects of music on the cardiovascular system. Trends Cardiovasc Med 2021; 32:390-398. [PMID: 34237410 PMCID: PMC8727633 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcm.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Although music is predominantly utilized for religious, enjoyment or entertainment purposes, it is gradually emerging as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for improving health outcomes in both healthy and diseased populations, especially in those with cardiovascular diseases. As such, music of various genres and types has been postulated to possess features that stimulate or inhibit the autonomic nervous system, which leads to variable effects on cardiovascular function. However, music intervention has not been adequately explored as a cardiovascular therapeutic modality due to the lack of extensive studies with quality methodology. Thus, the aim of this systematic review is to explore the available literature on the effect of music on the cardiovascular system, discuss the limitations of current research, and suggest future directions in this field.
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Dal Lin C, Acquasaliente L, Iliceto S, De Filippis V, Vitiello G, Tona F. Von Willebrand Factor Multimers and the Relaxation Response: A One-Year Study. ENTROPY (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 23:447. [PMID: 33920144 PMCID: PMC8069424 DOI: 10.3390/e23040447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Mental stress represents a pivotal factor in cardiovascular diseases. The mechanism by which stress produces its deleterious ischemic effects is still under study but some of the most explored pathways are inflammation, endothelial function and balancing of the thrombotic state. In this scenario, von Willebrand factor (vWF) is a plasma glycoprotein best known for its crucial hemostatic role, also acting as key regulatory element of inflammation, being released by the activated vascular endothelium. Antistress techniques seem to be able to slow down inflammation. As we have recently verified how the practice of the Relaxation Response (RR), which counteracts psychological stress, causes favorable changes in some inflammatory genes' expressions, neurotransmitters, hormones, cytokines and inflammatory circulating microRNAs with coronary endothelial function improvement, we aimed to verify a possible change even in serum levels of vWF. Experimental procedure: We measured vWF multimers and the total protein carbonyl contents in the sera of 90 patients with ischemic heart disease (and 30 healthy controls) immediately before and after an RR session, three times (baseline, 6 months, 12 months), during a one-year follow-up study. RESULTS According to our data, large vWF multimers decrease during the RR, as does the plasma total carbonyl content. CONCLUSION vWF levels seem to vary rapidly between anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic behaviors dependent on psychological activity, leading to relaxation and also possibly changes in its quaternary structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Dal Lin
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University School of Medicine, Via Giustiniani 5, 35131 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
| | - Laura Acquasaliente
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Padua University School of Medicine, Via Marzolo 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (L.A.); (V.D.F.)
| | - Sabino Iliceto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University School of Medicine, Via Giustiniani 5, 35131 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
| | - Vincenzo De Filippis
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Padua University School of Medicine, Via Marzolo 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (L.A.); (V.D.F.)
| | - Giuseppe Vitiello
- Department of Physics “E.R. Caianiello”, Salerno University, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano, Italy;
| | - Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University School of Medicine, Via Giustiniani 5, 35131 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
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March-Luján VA, Prado-Gascó V, Huguet JM, Cortés X, Arquiola JMP, Capilla-Igual M, Josefa-Rodríguez-Morales M, Monzó-Gallego A, Armero JLP, Ortí JEDLR. Impact of BMGIM Music Therapy on Emotional State in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Clin Med 2021; 10:1591. [PMID: 33918724 PMCID: PMC8069074 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10081591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have a high prevalence of emotional disturbances which worsen the symptoms of the disease. As a therapeutic alternative that is part of a comprehensive care alongside medication, the Bonny Method of Guided Imagery and Music (BMGIM) music-assisted therapy has achieved promising emotional improvements in patients with chronic diseases. The objective of the study was to determine the impact of a treatment based on a BMGIM group adaptation on patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and their emotional state, therefore analyzing state of mind, quality of life, anxiety, depression, immunocompetence as a marker of well-being, and levels of acute and chronic stress. METHODS Longitudinal, prospective, quantitative, and experimental study including 43 patients with IBD divided into an intervention group (22 patients), who received eight sessions over eight weeks, and a control group (21 patients). A saliva sample was taken from each patient before and after each session in order to determine cortisol and IgA levels. Similarly, a hair sample was taken before the first and after the last session to determine the cumulative cortisol level. All molecules were quantified using the ELISA immunoassay technique. In addition, patients completed several emotional state questionnaires: HADS, MOOD, and CCVEII. RESULTS An improvement was observed in the following states of mind: sadness, fear, anger, and depression. No significant effect was observed in state of mind in terms of happiness or anxiety, in the levels of cortisol in hair, and in patients' perceived quality of life. A reduction in cortisol was observed in saliva, although this did not significantly affect the IgA titer. CONCLUSIONS BMGIM seems to improve the emotional state of patients with IBD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Alejandro March-Luján
- Department of Teaching and Learning of Physical, Plastic and Musical Education, Catholic University San Vicente Martir, 46110 Valencia, Spain
| | - Vicente Prado-Gascó
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - José María Huguet
- Digestive Disease Department, General University Hospital of Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (J.M.H.); (A.M.-G.)
| | - Xavier Cortés
- Digestive Disease Department, Hospital of Sagunto, 46520 Valencia, Spain; (X.C.); (M.J.-R.-M.)
- Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, 46113 Valencia, Spain
| | | | - María Capilla-Igual
- Research Foundation of the General Hospital of Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain;
| | | | - Ana Monzó-Gallego
- Digestive Disease Department, General University Hospital of Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain; (J.M.H.); (A.M.-G.)
| | - José Luis Platero Armero
- Department of Nursing, Catholic University San Vicente Martir, 46001 Valencia, Spain; (J.L.P.A.); (J.E.d.l.R.O.)
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Dal Lin C, Radu CM, Vitiello G, Romano P, Polcari A, Iliceto S, Simioni P, Tona F. Sounds Stimulation on In Vitro HL1 Cells: A Pilot Study and a Theoretical Physical Model. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:ijms22010156. [PMID: 33375749 PMCID: PMC7796405 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Mechanical vibrations seem to affect the behaviour of different cell types and the functions of different organs. Pressure waves, including acoustic waves (sounds), could affect cytoskeletal molecules via coherent changes in their spatial organization and mechano-transduction signalling. We analyzed the sounds spectra and their fractal features. Cardiac muscle HL1 cells were exposed to different sounds, were stained for cytoskeletal markers (phalloidin, beta-actin, alpha-tubulin, alpha-actinin-1), and studied with multifractal analysis (using FracLac for ImageJ). A single cell was live-imaged and its dynamic contractility changes in response to each different sound were analysed (using Musclemotion for ImageJ). Different sound stimuli seem to influence the contractility and the spatial organization of HL1 cells, resulting in a different localization and fluorescence emission of cytoskeletal proteins. Since the cellular behaviour seems to correlate with the fractal structure of the sound used, we speculate that it can influence the cells by virtue of the different sound waves’ geometric properties that we have photographed and filmed. A theoretical physical model is proposed to explain our results, based on the coherent molecular dynamics. We stress the role of the systemic view in the understanding of the biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Dal Lin
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-049-8218642; Fax: +39-049-8211802
| | - Claudia Maria Radu
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy;
- Department of Medicine, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Veneto Region Haemophilia and Thrombophilia Centre, University of Padua Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Vitiello
- Department of Physics “E.R. Caianiello”, Salerno University, Fisciano, 84084 Salerno, Italy;
| | - Paola Romano
- Department of Sciences and Technologies, Sannio University, 82100 Benevento, Italy;
- CNR-SPIN Salerno, Baronissi, 84084 Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Sabino Iliceto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
| | - Paolo Simioni
- Department of Medicine, Thrombotic and Haemorrhagic Diseases Unit, Veneto Region Haemophilia and Thrombophilia Centre, University of Padua Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy;
| | - Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
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Dal Lin C, Brugnolo L, Marinova M, Plebani M, Iliceto S, Tona F, Vitiello G. Toward a Unified View of Cognitive and Biochemical Activity: Meditation and Linguistic Self-Reconstructing May Lead to Inflammation and Oxidative Stress Improvement. ENTROPY 2020; 22:e22080818. [PMID: 33286589 PMCID: PMC7517388 DOI: 10.3390/e22080818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Stress appears to be the basis of many diseases, especially myocardial infarction. Events are not objectively “stressful” but what is central is how the individual structures the experience he is facing: the thoughts he produces about an event put him under stress. This cognitive process could be revealed by language (words and structure). We followed 90 patients with ischemic heart disease and 30 healthy volunteers, after having taught them the Relaxation Response (RR) as part of a 4-day Rational–Emotional–Education intervention. We analyzed with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software the words that the subjects used across the study following the progression of blood galectin-3 (inflammation marker) and malondialdehyde (oxidative stress marker). During the follow-up, we confirmed an acute and chronic decrease in the markers of inflammation and oxidative stress already highlighted in our previous studies together with a significant change in the use of language by the subjects of the RR groups. Our results and the precise design of our study would seem to suggest the existence of an intimate relationship and regulatory action by cognitive processes (recognizable by the type of language used) on some molecular processes in the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Dal Lin
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
- Correspondence: (C.D.L.); (G.V.); Tel.: +39-049-8218642 (C.D.L.)
| | - Laura Brugnolo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Padua University Medical School, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (L.B.); (M.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Mariela Marinova
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Padua University Medical School, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (L.B.); (M.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Mario Plebani
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Padua University Medical School, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (L.B.); (M.M.); (M.P.)
| | - Sabino Iliceto
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
| | - Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University Medical School, Via Giustiniani 2, 35100 Padua, Italy; (S.I.); (F.T.)
| | - Giuseppe Vitiello
- Department of Physics “E.R. Caianiello”, Salerno University, Via Giovanni Paolo II, 132, 84084 Fisciano (Salerno), Italy
- Correspondence: (C.D.L.); (G.V.); Tel.: +39-049-8218642 (C.D.L.)
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Schnaubelt S, Hammer A, Koller L, Niederdoeckl J, Kazem N, Spiel A, Niessner A, Sulzgruber P. Expert Opinion: Meditation and Cardiovascular Health: What is the Link? Eur Cardiol 2020; 14:161-164. [PMID: 31933684 PMCID: PMC6950207 DOI: 10.15420/ecr.2019.21.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Meditation as a form of body–mind interaction for primary and secondary prevention in cardiovascular disease has been discussed critically in the past. However, data that aimed to link this intervention to a reduction of various aspects of cardiovascular disease, rendering it a potential part of a cost-effective treatment approach in patients at risk, remain scarce and inconclusive. This article aims to provide an overview of currently available evidence in the literature and the potential impact of meditation on cardiovascular health. However, the data highlighted in this article cannot render with certainty directly reproducible effects of meditation on patients’ cardiovascular disease profiles. Meditation may be suggested only as an additional link in the chain of primary and secondary prevention until future research provides sufficient data on this topic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas Hammer
- Department of Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Lorenz Koller
- Department of Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Jan Niederdoeckl
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Niema Kazem
- Department of Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Alexander Spiel
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Alexander Niessner
- Department of Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna Austria
| | - Patrick Sulzgruber
- Department of Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Medical University of Vienna Austria
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Exploring Epigenetic Age in Response to Intensive Relaxing Training: A Pilot Study to Slow Down Biological Age. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16173074. [PMID: 31450859 PMCID: PMC6747190 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16173074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) is an emerging estimator of biological aging, i.e., the often-defined "epigenetic clock", with a unique accuracy for chronological age estimation (DNAmAge). In this pilot longitudinal study, we examine the hypothesis that intensive relaxing training of 60 days in patients after myocardial infarction and in healthy subjects may influence leucocyte DNAmAge by turning back the epigenetic clock. Moreover, we compare DNAmAge with another mechanism of biological age, leucocyte telomere length (LTL) and telomerase. DNAmAge is reduced after training in healthy subjects (p = 0.053), but not in patients. LTL is preserved after intervention in healthy subjects, while it continues to decrease in patients (p = 0.051). The conventional negative correlation between LTL and chronological age becomes positive after training in both patients (p < 0.01) and healthy subjects (p < 0.05). In our subjects, DNAmAge is not associated with LTL. Our findings would suggest that intensive relaxing practices influence different aging molecular mechanisms, i.e., DNAmAge and LTL, with a rejuvenating effect. Our study reveals that DNAmAge may represent an accurate tool to measure the effectiveness of lifestyle-based interventions in the prevention of age-related diseases.
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Dal Lin C, Tona F, Osto E. The crosstalk between the cardiovascular and the immune system. VASCULAR BIOLOGY 2019; 1:H83-H88. [PMID: 32923958 PMCID: PMC7439936 DOI: 10.1530/vb-19-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The heart and the immune system are highly integrated systems cross-talking through cytokines, hormones and neurotransmitters. Their balance can be altered by numerous physical or psychological stressors leading to the onset of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and tissue damage. Here, we review the main players and mechanisms involved in the field. A new research paradigm, which considers also novel contributors, like endothelial cells, is needed to better understand the pathophysiology of immune-mediated cardiovascular disorders and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Dal Lin
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University-Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, Padua University-Hospital, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Osto
- University and University Hospital Zurich, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, Zurich, Switzerland.,University Hospital Zurich, Heart Center, Zurich, Switzerland.,Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology, Zurich, Switzerland
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Dal Lin C, Gola E, Brocca A, Rubino G, Marinova M, Brugnolo L, Plebani M, Iliceto S, Tona F. miRNAs may change rapidly with thoughts: The Relaxation Response after myocardial infarction. Eur J Integr Med 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eujim.2018.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Dal Lin C, Tona F, Osto E. The Heart as a Psychoneuroendocrine and Immunoregulatory Organ. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1065:225-239. [PMID: 30051388 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-77932-4_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The heart can be viewed not just as muscle pump but also as an important checkpoint for a complex network of nervous, endocrine, and immune signals. The heart is able to process neurological signals independently from the brain and to crosstalk with the endocrine and immune systems. The heart communicates with the psyche through the neuro-endocrine-immune system in a highly integrated way, in order to maintain the homeostasis of the whole body with peculiarities specific to males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Dal Lin
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesco Tona
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Elena Osto
- Laboratory of Translational Nutrition Biology, Federal Institute of Technology Zurich ETHZ, Zurich, Switzerland. .,Center for Molecular Cardiology, University of Zurich and University Heart Center, Cardiology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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