Kaledo improved nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior over 6 months and had a sustained effect on the BMI z-score. Therefore, it may be used as an effective tool in childhood and adolescence obesity prevention programs.

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Caffeine induces modifications of activity of the autonomic nervous system. This study analyzed the effect of a cup of espresso coffee on the heart rate variability (HRV) power spectral analysis, which is a method providing evaluation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic discharge. In young, healthy sedentary subjects (10 male, 10 female; aged 25-30 years), the HRV-power spectrum was evaluated over a period of 150 min after the administration of espresso coffee (caffeine, 75 mg) or decaffeinated coffee (caffeine, < 18 mg) in supine and seated position. Absolute values of the spectrum were summed in low (LF) and high frequencies (HF). The LF and HF spectra were used to estimate the sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, respectively. In the supine position, coffee increases HF, while decaffeinated coffee causes little modifications of HF. In the seated position, HF is not modified by coffee or decaffeinated coffee. Coffee and decaffeinated coffee do not induce any modification of LF in both positions. This experiment indicates that espresso coffee influences parasympathetic activity in the supine position.

This study analyzed vegetative modulation, expressed as heart rate variability (HRV) power spectral analysis, in lean and obese women at pre-menopausal or post-menopausal age to reveal possible differences in menopause-related autonomic activity in lean and obese subjects. Sedentary women (n = 40) were divided in four groups: pre-menopausal lean and obese women, post-menopausal lean and obese subjects. The HRV-power spectrum was evaluated on a 5-min long ECG recording. The absolute values of the spectrum were summed in the following frequencies: a low-frequency (0.04-0.15 Hz; LF) and high-frequency (0.15-0.40; HF) range. LF and HF were values used to estimate the sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. LF and HF values of pre-menopausal obese women are lower than values of lean women. The menopause induced a same decrease in LF and HF values in lean and obese subjects, so that no difference was found in post-menopausal groups. This experiment indicates that modifications of autonomic modulation can be included among factors related to obesity in pre-menopausal, but not post-menopausal women.

The present results confirm the efficacy of Kaledo in younger students in primary schools, and it can be used as a useful nutritional tool for obesity prevention programs in children. What is Known: • Kaledo is a new educational board game to improve nutrition knowledge and to promote a healthy lifestyle. • In two cluster randomized trials conducted in Campania region (Italy), we showed that Kaledo could improve nutrition knowledge and dietary behavior and have a positive effect on the BMI z-score in children with age ranging from 9 to 14 years old attending school. • Kaledo may be used as an effective tool for obesity prevention programs in middle and high school students. What is New: • Investigating the effects of Kaledo on younger primary school children (7-11 year olds), Kaledo could be an effective tool in obesity prevention programs for children as young as 7 years old.

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MyoD is a myogenic regulatory factor with a critical role in skeletal muscle development and regeneration. As muscle regeneration comes with an inflammatory process, it has been proposed that the inflammatory cells can play an important role in the induction of muscle fibres regeneration. The aim of the present work was to verify if a cyclooxygenase inhibitory drug (ketoprofen) would alter the normal expression of MyoD in a regenerating rat soleus muscle after an over-load lesion. Using immunohistochemical techniques, the numbers of m-cadherin-positive cells, a selective marker of satellite cells, and MyoD-positive cells were evaluated in functionally overloaded rat soleus muscles 4 days after a gastrocnemius tendon cut. The same study was conducted either with four rats injected with ketoprofen (100 mg/kg b.w./day) or with four rats injected with saline solution. The data obtained showed a very large decrease in the number of MyoD positive/m-cadherin positive cells in the ketoprofen injected group compared to the control group. Although further studies are needed to elucidate the sequence of biochemical events that induce a reduction of MyoD expression due to ketoprofen, the results demonstrate that prostaglandin synthesis is required for the induction of MyoD expression and that ketoprofen can affect this expression, with possible adverse effects on muscle regeneration.

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