Relaxation Response in Stressed Volunteers: Psychometric Tests and Neurotrophin Changes in Biological Fluids

TFOS Lifestyle: Impact of lifestyle challenges on the ocular surface

Many factors in the domains of mental, physical, and social health have been associated with various ocular surface diseases, with most of the focus centered on aspects of dry eye disease (DED). Regarding mental health factors, several cross-sectional studies have noted associations between depression and anxiety, and medications used to treat these disorders, and DED symptoms. Sleep disorders (both involving quality and quantity of sleep) have also been associated with DED symptoms. Under the domain of physical health, several factors have been linked to meibomian gland abnormalities, including obesity and face mask wear. Cross-sectional studies have also linked chronic pain conditions, specifically migraine, chronic pain syndrome and fibromyalgia, to DED, principally focusing on DED symptoms. A systematic review and meta-analysis reviewed available data and concluded that various chronic pain conditions increased the risk of DED (variably defined), with odds ratios ranging from 1.60 to 2.16. However, heterogeneity was noted, highlighting the need for additional studies examining the impact of chronic pain on DED signs and subtype (evaporative versus aqueous deficient). With respect to societal factors, tobacco use has been most closely linked to tear instability, cocaine to decreased corneal sensitivity, and alcohol to tear film disturbances and DED symptoms.

On the road to resilience: Epigenetic effects of meditation

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.

Circulating and Salivary NGF and BDNF Levels in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Potential Predictor Biomarkers of COVID-19 Disease-Preliminary Data

COVID-19 continues to afflict the global population, causing several pathological diseases and exacerbating co-morbidities due to SARS-CoV-2's high mutation. Recent interest has been devoted to some neuronal manifestations and to increased levels of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) and Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in the bloodstream during SARS-CoV-2 infection, neurotrophins that are well-known for their multifactorial actions on neuro-immune-endocrine and visual functions. Nineteen (19) patients were enrolled in this monocentric prospective study and subjected to anamnesis and biosamples collection (saliva and blood) at hospitalization (acute phase) and 6 months later (remission phase). NGF and BDNF were quantified by ELISA, and biochemical data were related to biostrumental measurements. Increased NGF and BDNF levels were quantified in saliva and serum during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection (hospitalized patients), and reduced levels were observed in the next 6 months (remission phase), never matching the baseline values. Salivary and circulating data would suggest the possibility of considering sera and saliva as useful matrices for quickly screening neurotrophins, in addition to SARS-CoV2 antigens and RNA. Overall, the findings described herein highlight the importance of NGF and BDNF as dynamic biomarkers for monitoring disease and reinforces the possibility of using saliva and sera for quick, non-invasive COVID-19 screening.

Pathophysiology of Depression: Stingless Bee Honey Promising as an Antidepressant

Depression is a debilitating psychiatric disorder impacting an individual’s quality of life. It is the most prevalent mental illness across all age categories, incurring huge socio-economic impacts. Most depression treatments currently focus on the elevation of neurotransmitters according to the monoamine hypothesis. Conventional treatments include tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), norepinephrine–dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Despite numerous pharmacological strategies utilising conventional drugs, the discovery of alternative medicines from natural products is a must for safer and beneficial brain supplement. About 30% of patients have been reported to show resistance to drug treatments coupled with functional impairment, poor quality of life, and suicidal ideation with a high relapse rate. Hence, there is an urgency for novel discoveries of safer and highly effective depression treatments. Stingless bee honey (SBH) has been proven to contain a high level of antioxidants compared to other types of honey. This is a comprehensive review of the potential use of SBH as a new candidate for antidepressants from the perspective of the monoamine, inflammatory and neurotrophin hypotheses.