Numerous studies have shown that physical exercise has positive effects on cognition in healthy adults. Less is known about the effectiveness of exercise interventions in older individuals already suffering from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. The aim of this study was to systematically review the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the effects of physical exercise on cognition in older subjects with MCI or dementia. PubMed, Cochrane and DARE databases were systematically searched for RCTs using terms related to cognition and physical exercise. Altogether, 22 trials were found. The studies on older subjects with MCI reported some positive effects of physical exercise on cognition, mainly on global cognition, executive function, attention and delayed recall. However, most studies performed on older subjects with dementia showed no effect of exercise on cognition. The studies had methodological problems in defining dementia/MCI diagnosis, blinding, inadequate sample sizes and not reporting dropouts, compliance or complications. More studies of good quality on older adults with dementia are needed.

We report secondary findings from a randomized controlled trial on the effects of exercise on memory in older adults with probable MCI. We randomized 86 women aged 70–80 years with subjective memory complaints into one of three groups: resistance training, aerobic training, or balance and tone (control). All participants exercised twice per week for six months. We measured verbal memory and learning using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) and spatial memory using a computerized test, before and after trial completion. We found that the aerobic training group remembered significantly more items in the loss after interference condition of the RAVLT compared with the control group after six months of training. In addition, both experimental groups showed improved spatial memory performance in the most difficult condition where they were required to memorize the spatial location of three items, compared with the control group. Lastly, we found a significant correlation between spatial memory performance and overall physical capacity after intervention in the aerobic training group. Taken together, our results provide support for the prevailing notion that exercise can positively impact cognitive functioning and may represent an effective strategy to improve memory in those who have begun to experience cognitive decline.

One of the most widely conserved hallmarks of aging is a decline in functional capabilities. Mobility loss is particularly burdensome due to its association with negative health outcomes, loss of independence and disability, and the heavy impact on quality of life. Recently, a new condition, physical frailty and sarcopenia, has been proposed to define a critical stage in the disabling cascade. Physical frailty and sarcopenia are characterized by weakness, slowness, and reduced muscle mass, yet with preserved ability to move independently. One of the strategies that have shown some benefits in combatting mobility loss and its consequences for older adults is physical activity. Here, we describe the opportunities and challenges for the development of physical activity interventions in people with physical frailty and sarcopenia. The aim of this article is to review age-related physio(patho)logical changes that impact mobility in old age and to provide recommendations and procedures in accordance with the available literature.

Despite some positive findings, the inaccurate definitions of CT, inadequate sample sizes, unclear randomization methods, incomplete datasets at follow-up and multiple testing may have inflated the results in many trials. Future high quality RCTs with appropriate classification and specification of cognitive interventions are necessary to confirm CT as an effective treatment option in Alzheimer's disease.

Chronic inflammation induced by Chlamydia trachomatis can lead to tubal factor infertility (TFI). To investigate the genetic basis of chlamydial TFI and various manifestations of tubal damage, we studied functional polymorphisms in selected cytokine genes (IL-10 -1082 A/G, -819 T/C, and -592 A/C; IFN-gamma +874 T/A; TNF-alpha -308 G/A; TGF-beta1 codons 10 T/C and 25 G/C; and IL-6 -174 G/C) in 114 women with laparoscopically verified TFI (hereafter known as "cases") and in 176 controls. Evidence of past infection with C. trachomatis was demonstrated in 96 cases by use of a combined test for humoral and cell-mediated immune responses to chlamydial elementary bodies (EBs) and chlamydial heat-shock protein 60 antigens. We found that the IL-10 -1082 AA genotype and the TNF-alpha -308 A allele increased the risk of severe tubal damage in women with infertility associated with C. trachomatis (odds ratio [OR], 7.3 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.3-42] and 4.0 [95% CI, 1.0-16], respectively), suggesting that differences in these genes contribute to the wide spectrum of disease manifestations.

Chlamydia trachomatis infection induces an inflammatory response that is crucial in resolving acute infection but may also play a key role in the pathogenesis of C trachomatis associated infertility. The immune response is linked to cytokine secretion pattern which is influenced by the host genetic background. To study a relationship between interleukin-10 (IL-10) promoter À1082 polymorphism and cell-mediated immune response during C trachomatis infection in vitro, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine (IL-10, IFN-g, TNF-a, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5) secretion were analysed in subjects with different IL-10 genotypes. Enhanced IL-10 secretion and reduced antigen-specific lymphocyte proliferative and IFN-g responses were found in subjects with IL-10 À1082 GG genotype when compared to those with À1082 AA genotype. CD14 þ monocytes were main source of IL-10 indicating that these cells are important regulators of the antigen-specific cell-mediated responses during active C trachomatis infection. We conclude that impaired cell-mediated response to C trachomatis is associated with IL-10 genotype in subjects with high IL-10 producing capacity. A comparison of immune markers between subjects with a history of noncomplicated and complicated infection is needed to further understand the confounding factors associated with the development of C trachomatis associated sequelae.

The naturally occurring cryptic plasmid pJDl of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is 4,207 base pairs long and is found in about 96% of gonococcal strains. The total probable coding capacity of pJDl was determined from the complete nucleotide sequence by using computational probes to identify open reading frames with similar codon usage and by screening for the presence of ribosomal binding sites before the start codons. Candidates for promoters and terminators were also found in the sequence. Based on these findings, we propose a model for the genetic organization of the plasmid. The model predicts two transcriptional units, each composed of five compactly spaced genes. A promoter of one of the transcripts was shown to function in Escherichia coli, and the products of three of the five genes in this operon were identified in minicell expression experiments. Of these, the cppA gene encoded a 9-kilodalton protein, and the cppB and cppC genes both coded for 24-kilodalton proteins. No expression of the other transcriptional unit was detected, but two genes in this operon were expressed in minicells when transcribed from an E. coli promoter. The experimental data were consistent with the model.

Our findings confirm the association between previous exposure to C. trachomatis and ectopic pregnancy. We found no association between C. trachomatis seropositivity and miscarriage or preterm birth.