Director: Giorgio Fanò
Telephone: +39 0871 541 423
E-Mail: fano@unich.it

Description of unit
The aim of the Human Physiology Unit is the study of age-related skeletal muscle modifications in healthy subjects or in patients suffering of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS).
Ageing is a complex process that in muscle is usually associated with a decrease in mass, strength, and velocity of contraction. One of the most striking effects of ageing on muscle is known as sarcopenia, a process that is the result of many cellular changes, such as a reduction in the number of motor units coupled with an increase in motor unit size, progressive denervation, decreased synthesis of myofibrillar components, atrophy due to disuse, accumulation of connective tissue, etc. Many critical questions remain regarding the relationship of aging and physical capacity as we enter a new millennium. For example, how does aging alter exercise-induced intracellular and intercellular mechanisms that generate free radicals? Can acute and chronic exercise modulate the declined gene expression of metabolic and antioxidant enzymes seen at old age? Does exercise prevent age-dependent muscle loss? What kinds of antioxidant supplementation, if any, do aged people who are physically active need?
Answers to these questions require highly specific research in both animals and humans.

Available services:
- Service of aerobic valuations
- Service of anaerobic valuations
- Nutritional laboratory
- Muscle biopsy surgery

Ongoing clinical studies:
1. Physical activity against Sarcopenia: an integrated experimental approach on voluntary subjects
2. FES: Functional electrostimulation as new approach to counteract sarcopenia
3. Physiological adaptations to high quote and high pression

Completed clinical studies:
1. Chronic fatigue Syndrome: determination of genetic profile and mechanical capacity in VL of CFS patients

Staff:
The Human Physiology Unit is composed of an integrate team of specialised physicians, psychologists, biologists and pharmacists with different professional background:
- Prof. Giorgio Fanò PhD, PO Head of the Unit
- Prof. Camillo Di Giulio MD, PO physiologist of adaptation,
- Prof. Marisa Cacchio PhD, PA nutritionist of exercise
- Prof. Guglielmo Di Tano MD, PA physiologist of exercise
- Dr. Tiziana Pietrangelo PhD, AP myologist and physiologist of exercise
- Dr. Salvatore Bosco PhD, MD, physiologist of exercise
- Dr. Cristina Puglielli PhD, myologist
- Dr. Christian Doria PhD student physiologist of exercise
- Dr. Vittore Verratti MD, PhD student physiologist of adaptation
- Dr. Giacommo Petruccelli PhD student physiologist of adaptation