COAS - Centro Optometrico di Alta Specialità del Dott. Antonio Pistarà

30/08/2025

Il cellulare squilla. Lei, che è in vacanza in montagna, non poteva essere altrove: su un sentiero in salita, direzione rifugio. Col respiro incredibilmente regolare avvisa: «Sentiamoci più tardi». Emma Mazzenga, padovana di 92 anni, è campionessa di atletica e detiene 11 titoli mondiali (ma anche 31 europei e 115 italiani). Corre praticamente da sempre. O meglio, l’ha fatto quando era giovane e poi si è fermata per riprendere a livello agonistico quando di anni ne aveva già 53. Oggi ha un fisico a tal punto invidiabile da essere diventato oggetto di studio di diverse università (la Marquette University di Milwaukee e l’Università di Pavia). «Mi hanno detto che ho i muscoli di una settantenne e l’ossigenazione cellulare di una ventenne — scherza lei — mi sembra incredibile. Una cosa è certa: io ferma non ci sono stata mai».

Ci racconta la sua giornata tipo?
«Ho sempre dormito poco. Quando andavo a scuola (ha insegnato scienze al liceo scientifico, ndr) preparavo le lezioni dalle 5 alle 7 di mattina. E anche oggi, alle cinque, mi faccio il caffè, poi torno a letto a leggere. Faccio colazione alle otto, con un panino al prosciutto. Poi esco».

Dove va?
«A fare la spesa al mercato oppure faccio un po’ di pulizie. Dopo pranzo mi riposo un paio d’ore leggendo e poi esco nuovamente per andare al cinema, al gruppo lettura, per incontrarmi con le amiche o per allenarmi. La sera guardo la televisione, vado a letto verso le 23».

Cosa si mangia per restare così in forma fino a 92 anni?
«Un po’ di tutto. Adesso che sono anziana limito le porzioni. A pranzo mi preparo 30 o 40 grammi di pasta o riso, cui aggiungo un secondo e la verdura cotta. Alterno carne e pesce. La sera invece mi basta un po’ di verdura e un pezzetto di formaggio. Ah, ogni giorno bevo mezzo bicchiere di vino rosso a pranzo e mezzo a cena. E ogni tanto mi faccio qualche ricetta veneta». 👉 L'intervista di Alice D'Este prosegue sul sito del Corriere

30/08/2025

A recent study found that oxytocin stimulates stem cells in the heart’s outer layer (epicardium), prompting them to migrate and develop into cardiomyocytes—the muscle cells responsible for heart contractions.

In zebrafish, researchers observed that after a cryoinjury (a freezing-induced heart injury), oxytocin levels surged in the brain. The hormone then traveled to the epicardium, where it bound to specific receptors and triggered a cascade of molecular events. This process stimulated local cells to proliferate and transform into epicardium-derived progenitor cells (EpiPCs).

These progenitor cells can regenerate not only cardiomyocytes but also other essential heart cells. However, in humans, natural production of EpiPCs is inefficient, making this discovery especially significant.

The researchers further demonstrated that oxytocin effectively stimulated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) to become EpiPCs—at rates up to twice the baseline. Notably, this effect was unique to oxytocin, as other tested neurohormones failed to produce similar results.

The connection between oxytocin and EpiPC stimulation is linked to the TGF-β signaling pathway, which regulates cell growth, differentiation, and migration.

These findings suggest that oxytocin could be repurposed as a therapeutic agent for patients recovering from heart injuries. However, because oxytocin has a short half-life in the bloodstream, developing longer-lasting formulations may enhance its clinical potential.

Reference
Aaron H. Wasserman et al. (2022). Oxytocin promotes epicardial cell activation and heart regeneration after cardiac injury. Front. Cell Dev. Biol.

29/08/2025

Neuroscience research suggests that all human brains may be interconnected by extremely low-frequency electromagnetic activity. These subtle patterns, hidden beneath the limits of our awareness, may function as a global “neural network.”

Each time we think, the brain produces tiny sparks of electrical energy. Together, these sparks create fields of electromagnetic waves that can travel beyond the body, potentially bridging vast distances.

Scientists note that these waves share characteristics with Earth’s resonant frequencies, including the Schumann resonance. This has led to speculation that our minds could be in ongoing conversation not just with one another, but with the rhythms of the planet.

29/08/2025

🦵 Your Calves – The “Second Heart”

Did you know your calves work like a second heart? Every time you walk or move, your calf muscles squeeze the veins in your legs, pushing blood back up to your heart.

This pump helps blood fight gravity and keeps your circulation strong. Without it, your heart would struggle to move blood from your feet to your chest.

That’s why regular movement is so important. Walking, stretching, or even standing up helps your calves keep blood flowing.

If you sit too long, this hidden heart weakens, raising risks like swelling, tired legs, or blood clots. Keep moving—it keeps your body healthy.

29/08/2025

Scientists at the University of Florida have created a new mRNA cancer vaccine that showed amazing results in early human trials.

It was tested on four adults with glioblastoma, one of the deadliest brain cancers. In just 48 hours, the vaccine taught their immune systems to see and attack the tumor. This turned the cancer from “invisible” to “visible” for immune cells.

The vaccine is made using each patient’s own tumor cells and delivered in tiny lipid particles, giving a powerful immune response. It worked earlier in mice and even pet dogs with brain tumors. Now, it’s being tested in younger patients.

The most extraordinary part—this treatment worked without chemo, radiation, or surgery, bringing real hope for the future. 🌟

29/08/2025

Octopuses are among the most fascinating creatures in the ocean, and one of their strangest traits is having three hearts. Two of these hearts are branchial hearts, which pump blood through the gills where it picks up oxygen. The third is the systemic heart, which pushes the oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. Their blood itself is copper-based, which gives it a blue color and allows them to survive in deep, low-oxygen waters.

What makes them even more unusual is that the systemic heart actually stops beating when the octopus swims. This temporary pause reduces blood pressure in their delicate gills, preventing damage from the increased flow caused by swimming. Once the octopus stops and rests, the heart starts beating again, restoring circulation. This is why octopuses prefer crawling along the seafloor instead of continuous swimming—it’s less tiring for their unique circulatory system and helps conserve their energy.

28/08/2025

scientists have successfully reversed diabetes in lab studies by reprogramming the immune system to stop attacking insulin-producing cells.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys pancreatic beta cells, leading to lifelong insulin dependence. The new therapy uses engineered molecules to “teach” the immune system tolerance, allowing natural insulin production to resume.
If successful in human trials, this could represent a functional cure for diabetes, impacting millions worldwide who currently depend on daily treatments.

28/08/2025

Japan has unveiled a game-changing power source—a matchbox-sized hydro generator that pulls electricity straight from the air’s moisture. Developed by Kyoto University engineers, it works 24/7 without rivers, sunlight, or moving parts, using a layered nanofilm to convert water v***r into a steady current. Field-tested in Southeast Asia’s rice paddies, it powered sensors and transmitters with zero maintenance, proving it can deliver energy in places where solar panels and batteries fail. In the future, walls, tents, and clothes could quietly generate their own power from the humidity around them.

28/08/2025

🎯 Your subconscious might know direction before you do. In controlled tests, brain activity changes when magnetic fields shift.

27/08/2025

Researchers at Kyoto University have discovered that human cells can directly sense and respond to sound waves. In lab tests, cultured cells exposed to 94 decibels, lawnmower-level sound, showed genetic changes triggered by mechanosensitive proteins. Different cells reacted uniquely, revealing a hidden layer of acoustic biology. The finding could inspire sound-based therapies and reshape understanding of noise’s impact on health.

27/08/2025

😞

"Quello che sta accadendo è drammatico. Lo smartphone si può avere solo dai 16 anni. Punto. I giovani, ma anche tanti adulti, ormai vivono nell’universo parallelo creato da internet, non sono più qui tra noi, nella vita vera"

Paolo Bonolis