Emerging research suggests a potential association of progression of Alzheimer's disease(AD)with alterations in synaptic currents and mitochondrial dynamics.However,the specific associations between these patholog...Emerging research suggests a potential association of progression of Alzheimer's disease(AD)with alterations in synaptic currents and mitochondrial dynamics.However,the specific associations between these pathological changes remain unclear.In this study,we utilized Aβ42-induced AD rats and primary neural cells as in vivo and in vitro models.The investigations included behavioural tests,brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)analysis,Nissl staining,thioflavin-S staining,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,Golgi-Cox staining,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),immunofluorescence staining,proteomics,adenosine triphosphate(ATP)detection,mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)and reactive oxygen species(ROS)assessment,mitochondrial morphology analysis,electrophysiological studies,Western blotting,and molecular docking.The results revealed changes in synaptic currents,mitophagy,and mitochondrial dynamics in the AD models.Remarkably,intervention with Dengzhan Shengmai(DZSM)capsules emerged as a pivotal element in this investigation.Aβ42-induced synaptic dysfunction was significantly mitigated by DZSM intervention,which notably amplified the frequency and amplitude of synaptic transmission.The cognitive impairment observed in AD rats was ameliorated and accompanied by robust protection against structural damage in key brain regions,including the hippocampal CA3,primary cingular cortex,prelimbic system,and dysgranular insular cortex.DZSM intervention led to increased IDE levels,augmented long-term potential(LTP)amplitude,and enhanced dendritic spine density and length.Moreover,DZSM intervention led to favourable changes in mitochondrial parameters,including ROS expression,MMP and ATP contents,and mitochondrial morphology.In conclusion,our findings delved into the realm of altered synaptic currents,mitophagy,and mitochondrial dynamics in AD,concurrently highlighting the therapeutic potential of DZSM intervention.展开更多
AIM:To compare the presentation and impact on qual-ity of life of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)in old and young age groups.METHODS:Data from adult patients with GERD di-agnosed by endoscopic and symptomic char...AIM:To compare the presentation and impact on qual-ity of life of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)in old and young age groups.METHODS:Data from adult patients with GERD di-agnosed by endoscopic and symptomic characteristics were collected between January and November 2009.Exclusion criteria included combined peptic ulcers,ma-lignancy,prior surgery,antacid medication for more than 2 mo,and pregnancy.Enrolled patients were assigned to the elderly group if they were 65 years or older,or the younger group if they were under 65 years.They had completed the GERD impact scale,the Chinese GERD questionnaire,and the SF-36 question-naire.Data from other cases without endoscopic f ind-ings or symptoms were collected and these subjects comprised the control group in our study.RESULTS:There were 111 patients with GERD and 44 normal cases:78(70.3%)and 33 patients(29.7%)were in the younger and elderly groups,respectively.There were more female patients(60.3%)in the younger group,and more males(72.7%)in the elderly group.The younger cases had more severe and fre-quent typical symptoms than the elderly patients.Sig-nif icantly more impairment of daily activities was noted in the younger patients compared with the elderly group,except for physical functioning.CONCLUSION:Elderly patients with GERD were pre-dominantly male with rare presentation of typical symp-toms,and had less impaired quality of life compared with younger patients in a Chinese population.展开更多
To describe the relationships between non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD) patient’s disease consequences and treatment perceptions, self-efficacy, and healthy lifestyle maintenance.METHODSA cross-sectional stud...To describe the relationships between non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD) patient’s disease consequences and treatment perceptions, self-efficacy, and healthy lifestyle maintenance.METHODSA cross-sectional study among 146 ultrasound diagnosed NAFLD patients who visited the fatty liver clinic at the Tel-Aviv Medical Center. Eighty-seven of these individuals, participated in a clinical trial of physical activity and underwent fasting blood tests, analyzed at the same lab. Exclusion criteria included positivity for serum HBsAg or anti-HCV antibodies; fatty liver suspected to be secondary to hepatotoxic drugs; excessive alcohol consumption (≥ 30 g/d in men or ≥ 20 g/d in women) and positive markers of genetic or immune-mediated liver diseases. Patients were asked to complete a self-report structured questionnaire, assembled by the Israeli Center for Disease Control. Nutrition habits were measured using six yes/no questions (0 = no, 1 = yes) adopted from the national survey questionnaire. Participants in the clinical trial completed a detailed semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) reporting their habitual nutritional intake during the past year. Self-efficacy was assessed by the Self-Efficacy Scale questionnaire, emotional representation, degree of illness understanding, timeline perception, treatment perception and symptoms were measured by the Brief Illness Perception questionnaire. Illness consequences were measured by the Personal Models of Diabetes Interview questionnaire. A path analysis was performed to describe the interrelationships between the patients’ illness perceptions, and assess the extent to which the data fit a prediction of nutritional habits.RESULTSThe study sample included 54.1% men, with a mean age of 47.76 ± 11.68 years (range: 20-60) and mean body mass index of 31.56 ± 4.6. The average perceived nutrition habits score was 4.73 ± 1.45 on a scale between 0-6, where 6 represents the healthiest eating habits. Most of the study participants (57.2%) did not feel they fully understood what NAFLD is. Better nutritional habits were positively predicted by the degree of illness understanding (β = 0.26; P = 0.002) and self-efficacy (β = 0.25; P = 0.003). Perceptions of more severe illness consequences were related with higher emotional representation (β = 0.55; P < 0.001), which was related with lower self-efficacy (β = -0.17; P = 0.034). The perception of treatment effectiveness was positively related with self-efficacy (β = 0.32; P < 0.001). In accordance with the correlation between self-efficacy and the perceived nutrition habits score, self-efficacy was also correlated with nutrient intake evaluated by the FFQ; negatively with saturated fat (percent of saturated fat calories from total calories) (r = -0.28, P = 0.010) and positively with fiber (r = 0.22, P = 0.047) and vitamin C intake (r = 0.34, P = 0.002). In a sub analysis of the clinical trial participants, objectively measured compliance to physical activity regimen was positively correlated with the self-efficacy level (r = 0.34, P = 0.046).CONCLUSIONSelf-efficacy and illness understanding are major determinants of lifestyle-modification among NAFLD patients. This information can assist clinicians in improving compliance with lifestyle changes among these patients.展开更多
The active ingredient of ginseng,ginsenosides Rg1,has been shown to scavenge free radicals and improve antioxidant capacity.This study hypothesized that ginsenosides Rg1 has a protective role in human neuroblastoma ce...The active ingredient of ginseng,ginsenosides Rg1,has been shown to scavenge free radicals and improve antioxidant capacity.This study hypothesized that ginsenosides Rg1 has a protective role in human neuroblastoma cells injured by H2O2.Ginsenosides Rg1 at different concentrations（50 and 100 μM） was used to treat H2O2（150 μM）-injured SH-SY5 Y cells.Results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 elevated the survival rate of SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H2O2,diminished the amount of leaked lactate dehydrogenase,and increased superoxide dismutase activity.Ginsenoside Rg1 effectively suppressed caspase-3 immunoreactivity,and contributed to heat shock protein 70 gene expression,in a dose-dependent manner.These results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 has protective effects on SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H2O2 and that its mechanism of action is associated with anti-oxidation and the inhibition of apoptosis.展开更多
AIM To determine whether the presence of columnar-lined esophagus(CLE) is associated with the presence of esophageal varices(EVs) in male Japanese alcoholics. METHODS The subjects were 1614 Japanese alcohol-dependent ...AIM To determine whether the presence of columnar-lined esophagus(CLE) is associated with the presence of esophageal varices(EVs) in male Japanese alcoholics. METHODS The subjects were 1614 Japanese alcohol-dependent men(≥ 40 years of age) who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopic screening. Digitalized records of high-quality endoscopic images that included the squamocolumnar junction and esophagogastric junction were retrospectively jointly reviewed by four expert endoscopists for the purpose of diagnosing CLE. The authors investigated whether and to what extent there were associations between the presence of CLE and the presence of EVs, especially in the group with liver cirrhosis(LC).RESULTS CLE ≥ 5 mm in length was found in 355 subjects(≥ 30 mm in 6 of them), LC without EVs in 152 subjects, LC with EVs in 174 subjects, and EVs without LC in 6 subjects. Advanced EVs, i.e., nodular, large or coiled forms, red color sign, or post-treatment, were found in 88 subjects. The incidence of CLE ≥ 5 mm decreased in the following order(P < 0.0001): 23.3% in the group without EVs, 17.4% in the group with small and straight EVs, and 5.7% in the group with advanced EVs. The multivariate ORs(95%CI) for EVs and advanced EVs in the group with LC were lower when CLE ≥ 5 mm was present [0.46(0.23-0.93) and 0.24(0.08-0.74), respectively, vs 0-4 mm CLE]. CONCLUSION The presence of CLE in male Japanese alcoholics was negatively associated with the presence of EVs.展开更多
Objective:Finding an effective therapy against Alzheimer’s disease(AD)has been associate increasingly pressing issue and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is widespread in the prevention and treatment of AD in China.T...Objective:Finding an effective therapy against Alzheimer’s disease(AD)has been associate increasingly pressing issue and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is widespread in the prevention and treatment of AD in China.The aim of this study was to judge the efficaciousness and safety of TCM kidney-nourishing(the changes of pathological state of kidney deficiency by means of TCM treatment and so on)formula(TKNF)for AD in comparison with donepezil.Methods:The retrieval period of seven databases was from the establishment of each database to April 2019.Two authors independently identified randomized controlled trials(RCTs),fetched data and assessed bias risk.Comprehensive analysis process was conducted with review manager for eligible and appropriate RCTs.Results:A complete of 981 AD patients from 13 studies were enclosed.Meta-analysis of RCTs showed that there was no significant difference in the improvement of Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale score between 2 groups in short term,but the effect of long-term treatment may exceed donepezil;there was a significant difference in the improvement of activities of daily living score between 2 groups;there was a significant difference in TCM curative efficacy between 2 groups with long-term treatment.There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between 2 groups.The quality of the evidence was high or moderate.Conclusion:Compared with donepezil,TKNF was an effective drug for AD patients and the clinical application of TKNF was safe.TKNF's long-term benefits need more evidence to verify.展开更多
Background Abdominal aortic aneurysm （AAA） is a multifactorial disease with strong genetic components. Various genetic loci have been associated with clinical AAA, but few studies have investigated pathological AAA,...Background Abdominal aortic aneurysm （AAA） is a multifactorial disease with strong genetic components. Various genetic loci have been associated with clinical AAA, but few studies have investigated pathological AAA, an intermediate phenotype of the disease. Methods We examined 2263 consecutive autopsies of older Japanese subjects from a study on geriatric diseases in Japanese individuals （The JG-SNP study）. The presence of AAA was determined with a pathological diagnosis during autopsy. Single nucleotide variants （SNVs） associated with AAA were determined with an Illumina HumanExome Beadchip array. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine ge- netic associations. Age, gender, and other risk factors of AAA were analyzed as covariates. Results 118 subjects with AAA and 2145 sub- jects without AAA were analyzed in a case-control setting. No variants reached significance after applying the Bonferroni correction （P 〈 2.05×10^-6）. The strongest associations were found with rs3750092 （p.E321G, OR： 0.36, 95% CI： 0.24-0.56, P = 6.09 ×10^-6）, a variant in the WAS/WASL interacting protein family 3 （WIPF3）, and with rs1051338 （p.T16P, OR： 2.50, 95% CI： 1.70-3.66, P = 2.79 ×10^-6） and rs2246942 （intronic, OR： 2.32, 95% CI： 1.58-3.41, P = 1.61 ×10^-5）, variants in the lysosomal acid lipase A （LIPA）. LIPA is essential for macrophage cholesterol metabolism. Immunohistological analyses of WIPF3 protein in AAA samples from three subjects revealed that WIPF3 was expressed in macrophages ofatheromatous plaques. Conclusions This study suggests that WIPF3 and LIPA, both of which are expressed in the macrophages are involved in pathological AAA. These results should be regarded as hypothesis-generating; thus, replication study is warranted.展开更多
With the acceleration of Chinese aging of population,the issue of Long-Term Care became the hot spots in society.The studies of our country are based on disabled elderly,but they are rarely related to Alzheimer's ...With the acceleration of Chinese aging of population,the issue of Long-Term Care became the hot spots in society.The studies of our country are based on disabled elderly,but they are rarely related to Alzheimer's disease patients who need care similarly.According to function of the elderly,care demand assessment is based on analysis of the elderly with disability and Alzheimer's disease.To discuss Long-Term Care demand and change tendency of the elderly in China aims to offer references for policy making in the future.展开更多
Purpose: The concept of security is related to the experience of health but has ever so often been argued from a risk perspective rather than from a promotional perspective. The experience of older persons’ sense of ...Purpose: The concept of security is related to the experience of health but has ever so often been argued from a risk perspective rather than from a promotional perspective. The experience of older persons’ sense of security in private homes and in nursing homes seems to be missing when it comes to promote aging well throughout the life span. This study aimed to describe and analyze factors related to the sense of security of older persons receiving care in nursing homes in Sweden. Design and Methods: The study was based on a questionnaire from a total of 495 persons aged ≥ 65 in private homes (n = 350) or nursing homes (n = 145) in Sweden. Results: Secure relationships, sense of control, and perceived health were significantly related to the subjects’ sense of security. No significant relationships were found between sense of security and having a personal emergency response alarm. Implications: Experience of sense of security from the older person perspective differs depending on the context. To promote the sense of security within the care of older persons, methods on how to establish secure relations as well as the sense of control and knowledge need to be further tested, developed and analyzed together with older persons.展开更多
Objective To evaluate the sensitivity of arterial ketone body ratio as an indicator for multiple organ failure.Materials and methods The experimental model of multiple organ failure was made in adult and old rats by h...Objective To evaluate the sensitivity of arterial ketone body ratio as an indicator for multiple organ failure.Materials and methods The experimental model of multiple organ failure was made in adult and old rats by hypoperfusion-induced hemorrhagic shock. After blood sampling, the arterial acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, total ketone body, ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine at 2, 4, 8 hr in hypoperfusion were examined to compare the differences of ketone body ratio and organ failure between adult and old rats. Hepatic and mitochondrial metabolism were assessed by comparing ketone body ratios (AcAc/β-OHB) and free NAD+/NADH ratios. Results Ketone body ratio in old rats at 2, 4, 8 hr after the induction of hemorrhagic shock decreased from 0.68 to 0.31, 0.27 and 0.22, respectively. In adult rats, it decreased from 1.12 to 0.17, 0.12 and 0.09, respectively. Changes of ketone body ratio in the adult group were larger than in the elderly group ( P ＜ 0.001). The development of multiple organ failure is associated with the time of hemorrhagic shock development. Conclusions There was a different ketone body ratio between multiple organ failure in the elderly (MOFE) and multiple organ failure (MOF) in general adults. Ketone body ratio is a better indicator than ALT and AST in reflecting hepatic function in the early status of MOF. (J Geriatr Cardiol 2004;1(2) :125-128. )展开更多
The therapeutic effects of peptic ulcer treated with cimetidine and Wei Yang An (胃疡安) werecompared clinically and experimentally by the double blind method.Results showed that the ef-fects of the two are similar,bu...The therapeutic effects of peptic ulcer treated with cimetidine and Wei Yang An (胃疡安) werecompared clinically and experimentally by the double blind method.Results showed that the ef-fects of the two are similar,but the long-term effect of Wei Yang An was better.Wei Yang Anwas also good for most cimetidine resistant ulcers,with few side effect.Animal experiment show-ed that Wei Yang An inhibited the ulcers.展开更多
In the cancer research field, the preferred method for evaluating the proliferative activity of cancer cells in vivo is to measure DNA synthesis rates. The cellular proliferation rate is one of the most important canc...In the cancer research field, the preferred method for evaluating the proliferative activity of cancer cells in vivo is to measure DNA synthesis rates. The cellular proliferation rate is one of the most important cancer characteristics, and represents the gold standard of pathological diagnosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) has been used to evaluate in vivo DNA synthetic activity through visualization of enhanced nucleoside metabolism. However, methods for the quantitative measurement of DNA synthesis rates have not been fully clarified. Several groups have been engaged in research on 4′-[methyl-<sup>11</sup>C]-thiothymidine (<sup>11</sup>C-4DST) in an effort to develop a PET tracer that allows quantitative measurement of in vivo DNA synthesis rates. This mini-review summarizes the results of recent studies of the in vivo measurement of cancer DNA synthesis rates using <sup>11</sup>C-4DST.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the effects of hydrogen(H2) on Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase(SOD1) activation in a rat model of corneal alkali burn. METHODS: In each rat, one cornea was subjected to alkali exposure. Physiological s...AIM: To investigate the effects of hydrogen(H2) on Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase(SOD1) activation in a rat model of corneal alkali burn. METHODS: In each rat, one cornea was subjected to alkali exposure. Physiological saline(saline group) or H2-dissolved saline(H2 group) was instilled continuously on the cornea for 5 min before and after alkali exposure. Inflammatory cells, neovascularization, and cytoplasmic SOD1 levels were evaluated immunohistochemically in enucleated eyes from both groups. Three-dimensional ultrastructural tissue changes in the eyes were analyzed using low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy.RESULTS: The numbers of both inflammatory and vascular endothelial cells were significantly reduced in the corneas of the H2 group(P<0.01). Furthermore, H2 treatment increased both cytoplasmic SOD1 levels(P<0.01) and activity in corneal epithelial cells(P<0.01). Notably, the SOD1 activity level in the H2 group was approximately 2.5-fold greater than that in the saline group.CONCLUSION: H2 treatment suppresses inflammation and neovascularization in the injured cornea and indirectly suppresses oxidative insult to the cornea by upregulating the SOD1 enzyme protein level and activity.展开更多
Objective: To observe the effect of Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on the spatial memory, brain mitochondrial energy metabolism of oxidation injured Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats, and to explore the mechanism of TXR in trea...Objective: To observe the effect of Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on the spatial memory, brain mitochondrial energy metabolism of oxidation injured Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats, and to explore the mechanism of TXR in treating AD. Methods: Eighty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (normal group, operative group, "AD" model group,TXR group and Aricept group). An oxygen free radical generation system (dihydroxy fumaric acid-trichloroferric-adenosine diphosphate, DHF-FeCl3-ADP) was used to create oxidation injured rat models mimic to AD; spatial learning and memory impairment (Morris water maze method), the activity of Succinate-oxidase, NADH-oxidase, CytC-oxidase (Clark oxygen electrode method) and the expression of cytochrome oxidase (CO) II mRNA (in situ hybridization method) were observed. Results: Compared with the normal group, the spatial memory, activity of CytC-oxidase and COII mRNA expression of oxidation injured "AD" rats were obviously decreased; TXR, however, could improve these functions in "AD" rat models obviously. Conclusion: The mechanism of the action of TXR in treating AD was partly related to its effect on anti-oxidation which could improve brain mitochondrial energy metabolism.展开更多
In the process of population ageing in China,rural population has an increasingly higher proportion of elderly than the cities;it has been widely cited as one of the characteristics of population ageing in China.This ...In the process of population ageing in China,rural population has an increasingly higher proportion of elderly than the cities;it has been widely cited as one of the characteristics of population ageing in China.This paper compared China with other countries and reveals that the phenomenon of higher elderly proportion in rural population than the urban is universal in the world.The research finding shows that the urban-rural inversion of population ageing will not last for a long time. With the socioeconomic development,large-scale rural-urban migration and urbanization will approach to the end;the proportion of the urban elderly will eventually exceed that in the rural.During this process,the transition of urban-rural difference of population ageing will experience four phases. In the first phase,the rural population ageing is higher than the urban; the difference between urban-rural population ageing will be enlarged increasingly.The second phase is that the rural population ageing is higher than urban,but the gap will be narrowed. The third phase is that the urban population ageing will exceed the rural area;the proportion of the urban elderly will be higher than the rural.At the last phase, the difference will be narrowed and diminished in the end.The transition model of the urban- rural difference of the population ageing implies that the challenges of urban population ageing will excess rural ageing implies that the challenges of urban population ageing will exceed rural aging in the near future.Nevertheless, China should give more priority to issues of rural ageing in the first half of the century.展开更多
This study aimed to determine the effects of black tea polyphenols on gene expression in hepatocellular cancer cells.The total RNA from HepG_(2) hepatocellular cancer cells treated with black tea polyphenols was subje...This study aimed to determine the effects of black tea polyphenols on gene expression in hepatocellular cancer cells.The total RNA from HepG_(2) hepatocellular cancer cells treated with black tea polyphenols was subjected to Human 14K cDNA microarray analysis.Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to verify microarray data.Black tea polyphenols treatment at the dose of 20 mg/L,40 mg/L or 80 mg/L for one to three days inhibited the growth of HepG_(2) cells in a dose and time dependent manner.A total of 48 genes showed more than two-fold change after black tea polyphenols treatment,including 17 upregulated genes and 31 downregulated genes,and they were involved in the regulation of cell growth,cell cycle,apoptosis,signaling,angiogenesis,tumor invasion and metastasis.Real-time PCR analysis of the selected genes showed that their mRNA expression changes were consistent with the microarray data.In addition,Western blot analysis of the selected genes showed that their protein expression changes were consistent with mRNA expression.In conclusion,gene expression profiles provide comprehensive molecular mechanisms by which black tea polyphenols exerts growth inhibition effects on cancer cells.The novel molecular targets identified in this study may be further exploited as therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular cancer.展开更多
To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients using WHO, NCEP ATP III, IDF and the new Harmonized definitions, and the concordance between these definitions. This study...To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients using WHO, NCEP ATP III, IDF and the new Harmonized definitions, and the concordance between these definitions. This study involved 313 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at two Malaysian tertiary hospitals. Socio-demographic data were assessed using a pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were carried out according to standard protocols. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were examined. Kappa (k) statistics were used for the agreement between the four MetS definitions. The overall prevalence rates of MetS (95% CI) were 95.8% (93.6-98.1), 96.1% (94.0-98.3), 84.8% (80.8-88.9) and 97.7% (96.1-99.4) according to the WHO, NCEP ATP III, IDF and the Harmonized definitions, respectively. The Kappa statistics demonstrated a slight to substantial agreement between the definitions (k = 0.179-0.875, p k = 0.875, p hest specificity (100%) in identifying MetS. In conclusion, the new Harmonized criteria established the highest prevalence of MetS among the four definitions applied. There was a very good concordance between the WHO and NCEP ATP III criteria. The extremely high prevalence of MetS observed in type 2 diabetic patients indicates an impending pandemic of CVD risk in Malaysia. Aggressive treatment of MetS components is required to reduce cardiovascular risk in T2DM.展开更多
Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are shorten with aging or various causes. Shortened telomere plays an important role for chromosomal instability in carcinogenesi...Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are shorten with aging or various causes. Shortened telomere plays an important role for chromosomal instability in carcinogenesis, or a number of diseases in relation to aging. FISH using peptide-nucleic acid (PNA) probe is suitable for analyzing telomeres, because telomere is a part of DNA molecule and localized in chromosomal end in loop shape structure (T-loop). We introduce our telomere analysis for tissue sections and cultured cells in this paper. On the tissue sections, we analyze telomere length with telomere intensity to centromere intensity ratio (TCR), centromere as an inner control. In the cultured cells, we analyze telomere lengths on each chromosome with karyotyping. Those Q-FISH methods by PNA probe are an accurate and reliable tool for research on telomere lengths in various conditions in biology.展开更多
Elder abuse is an emerging issue of serious concern with life-threatening consequences. This study aimed to develop and assess the validity and reliability of a new scale to assess elder abuse. A cross-sectional multi...Elder abuse is an emerging issue of serious concern with life-threatening consequences. This study aimed to develop and assess the validity and reliability of a new scale to assess elder abuse. A cross-sectional multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of older Malaysians. The iterative development process resulted in a 16-item, four-dimension scale. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 10-item scale with three factors. The value of Cronbach’s alpha for total scale and its subscales indicated sufficient internal consistency. Multitrait scaling analysis also showed good convergent and discriminant validity. Furthermore, predictive validity of the proposed scale was established by demonstrating a statistically significant association between elder abuse and depression through multiple logistic regression analysis. The findings from this study demonstrate an acceptable level of validity and reliability for new scale. This scale can be used by health and social care workers to identify elder abuse cases.展开更多
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported as potentially being useful biomarkers for various diseases including cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, neurological disease and age-related diseases. In the present study...MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported as potentially being useful biomarkers for various diseases including cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, neurological disease and age-related diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether the expression levels of circulating miRNAs in serum were changed with aging or sex. Serum samples from seven elderly males (69.86 ± 1.77 years old) and females (72.43 ± 1.49 years old), and six young males (26.17 ± 0.83 years old) and females (23.17 ± 1.52 years old) were obtained from the subject’s forearm at rest. The expression levels of circulating miR-146a and miR-20a in serum were determined by real-time TaqMan PCR. There were no differences in the expression levels of miR-146a between all groups. There was a significant interaction in this main effect where miR-20a levels were significantly lower in elderly male subjects when compared to young male subjects with no difference observed in young or elderly female subjects (p = 0.004 and p = 0.971, respectively). These results suggest that not all the miRNAs in the circulation are influenced by the effect of aging, but only some miRNAs may be selectively changed by the effect of aging.展开更多
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:82374317)State Key Program of National Natural Science of China(Grant Nos.:82130119 and 82130118)+4 种基金Postdoctoral Research Foundation of China(Grant No.:2021M690450)Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Project of Health Commission of Hubei Province(Grant No.:ZY2021M017)Hubei University of Chinese Medicine Funds for Distinguished Young Scholars(Grant No.:2022ZZXJ004)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.:82174210)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Public Welfare Research Institutes(Grant No.:ZZ14-FL-005).
文摘Emerging research suggests a potential association of progression of Alzheimer's disease(AD)with alterations in synaptic currents and mitochondrial dynamics.However,the specific associations between these pathological changes remain unclear.In this study,we utilized Aβ42-induced AD rats and primary neural cells as in vivo and in vitro models.The investigations included behavioural tests,brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI),liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS)analysis,Nissl staining,thioflavin-S staining,enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,Golgi-Cox staining,transmission electron microscopy(TEM),immunofluorescence staining,proteomics,adenosine triphosphate(ATP)detection,mitochondrial membrane potential(MMP)and reactive oxygen species(ROS)assessment,mitochondrial morphology analysis,electrophysiological studies,Western blotting,and molecular docking.The results revealed changes in synaptic currents,mitophagy,and mitochondrial dynamics in the AD models.Remarkably,intervention with Dengzhan Shengmai(DZSM)capsules emerged as a pivotal element in this investigation.Aβ42-induced synaptic dysfunction was significantly mitigated by DZSM intervention,which notably amplified the frequency and amplitude of synaptic transmission.The cognitive impairment observed in AD rats was ameliorated and accompanied by robust protection against structural damage in key brain regions,including the hippocampal CA3,primary cingular cortex,prelimbic system,and dysgranular insular cortex.DZSM intervention led to increased IDE levels,augmented long-term potential(LTP)amplitude,and enhanced dendritic spine density and length.Moreover,DZSM intervention led to favourable changes in mitochondrial parameters,including ROS expression,MMP and ATP contents,and mitochondrial morphology.In conclusion,our findings delved into the realm of altered synaptic currents,mitophagy,and mitochondrial dynamics in AD,concurrently highlighting the therapeutic potential of DZSM intervention.
文摘AIM:To compare the presentation and impact on qual-ity of life of gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)in old and young age groups.METHODS:Data from adult patients with GERD di-agnosed by endoscopic and symptomic characteristics were collected between January and November 2009.Exclusion criteria included combined peptic ulcers,ma-lignancy,prior surgery,antacid medication for more than 2 mo,and pregnancy.Enrolled patients were assigned to the elderly group if they were 65 years or older,or the younger group if they were under 65 years.They had completed the GERD impact scale,the Chinese GERD questionnaire,and the SF-36 question-naire.Data from other cases without endoscopic f ind-ings or symptoms were collected and these subjects comprised the control group in our study.RESULTS:There were 111 patients with GERD and 44 normal cases:78(70.3%)and 33 patients(29.7%)were in the younger and elderly groups,respectively.There were more female patients(60.3%)in the younger group,and more males(72.7%)in the elderly group.The younger cases had more severe and fre-quent typical symptoms than the elderly patients.Sig-nif icantly more impairment of daily activities was noted in the younger patients compared with the elderly group,except for physical functioning.CONCLUSION:Elderly patients with GERD were pre-dominantly male with rare presentation of typical symp-toms,and had less impaired quality of life compared with younger patients in a Chinese population.
文摘To describe the relationships between non-alcoholic fatty-liver disease (NAFLD) patient’s disease consequences and treatment perceptions, self-efficacy, and healthy lifestyle maintenance.METHODSA cross-sectional study among 146 ultrasound diagnosed NAFLD patients who visited the fatty liver clinic at the Tel-Aviv Medical Center. Eighty-seven of these individuals, participated in a clinical trial of physical activity and underwent fasting blood tests, analyzed at the same lab. Exclusion criteria included positivity for serum HBsAg or anti-HCV antibodies; fatty liver suspected to be secondary to hepatotoxic drugs; excessive alcohol consumption (≥ 30 g/d in men or ≥ 20 g/d in women) and positive markers of genetic or immune-mediated liver diseases. Patients were asked to complete a self-report structured questionnaire, assembled by the Israeli Center for Disease Control. Nutrition habits were measured using six yes/no questions (0 = no, 1 = yes) adopted from the national survey questionnaire. Participants in the clinical trial completed a detailed semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) reporting their habitual nutritional intake during the past year. Self-efficacy was assessed by the Self-Efficacy Scale questionnaire, emotional representation, degree of illness understanding, timeline perception, treatment perception and symptoms were measured by the Brief Illness Perception questionnaire. Illness consequences were measured by the Personal Models of Diabetes Interview questionnaire. A path analysis was performed to describe the interrelationships between the patients’ illness perceptions, and assess the extent to which the data fit a prediction of nutritional habits.RESULTSThe study sample included 54.1% men, with a mean age of 47.76 ± 11.68 years (range: 20-60) and mean body mass index of 31.56 ± 4.6. The average perceived nutrition habits score was 4.73 ± 1.45 on a scale between 0-6, where 6 represents the healthiest eating habits. Most of the study participants (57.2%) did not feel they fully understood what NAFLD is. Better nutritional habits were positively predicted by the degree of illness understanding (β = 0.26; P = 0.002) and self-efficacy (β = 0.25; P = 0.003). Perceptions of more severe illness consequences were related with higher emotional representation (β = 0.55; P < 0.001), which was related with lower self-efficacy (β = -0.17; P = 0.034). The perception of treatment effectiveness was positively related with self-efficacy (β = 0.32; P < 0.001). In accordance with the correlation between self-efficacy and the perceived nutrition habits score, self-efficacy was also correlated with nutrient intake evaluated by the FFQ; negatively with saturated fat (percent of saturated fat calories from total calories) (r = -0.28, P = 0.010) and positively with fiber (r = 0.22, P = 0.047) and vitamin C intake (r = 0.34, P = 0.002). In a sub analysis of the clinical trial participants, objectively measured compliance to physical activity regimen was positively correlated with the self-efficacy level (r = 0.34, P = 0.046).CONCLUSIONSelf-efficacy and illness understanding are major determinants of lifestyle-modification among NAFLD patients. This information can assist clinicians in improving compliance with lifestyle changes among these patients.
基金supported by the Research and Development Project Fund of Science and Technology Plan Program of Science and Technology Bureau of Beijing of China,No.Z111107067311022
文摘The active ingredient of ginseng,ginsenosides Rg1,has been shown to scavenge free radicals and improve antioxidant capacity.This study hypothesized that ginsenosides Rg1 has a protective role in human neuroblastoma cells injured by H2O2.Ginsenosides Rg1 at different concentrations（50 and 100 μM） was used to treat H2O2（150 μM）-injured SH-SY5 Y cells.Results demonstrated that ginsenoside Rg1 elevated the survival rate of SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H2O2,diminished the amount of leaked lactate dehydrogenase,and increased superoxide dismutase activity.Ginsenoside Rg1 effectively suppressed caspase-3 immunoreactivity,and contributed to heat shock protein 70 gene expression,in a dose-dependent manner.These results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 has protective effects on SH-SY5 Y cells injured by H2O2 and that its mechanism of action is associated with anti-oxidation and the inhibition of apoptosis.
文摘AIM To determine whether the presence of columnar-lined esophagus(CLE) is associated with the presence of esophageal varices(EVs) in male Japanese alcoholics. METHODS The subjects were 1614 Japanese alcohol-dependent men(≥ 40 years of age) who had undergone upper gastrointestinal endoscopic screening. Digitalized records of high-quality endoscopic images that included the squamocolumnar junction and esophagogastric junction were retrospectively jointly reviewed by four expert endoscopists for the purpose of diagnosing CLE. The authors investigated whether and to what extent there were associations between the presence of CLE and the presence of EVs, especially in the group with liver cirrhosis(LC).RESULTS CLE ≥ 5 mm in length was found in 355 subjects(≥ 30 mm in 6 of them), LC without EVs in 152 subjects, LC with EVs in 174 subjects, and EVs without LC in 6 subjects. Advanced EVs, i.e., nodular, large or coiled forms, red color sign, or post-treatment, were found in 88 subjects. The incidence of CLE ≥ 5 mm decreased in the following order(P < 0.0001): 23.3% in the group without EVs, 17.4% in the group with small and straight EVs, and 5.7% in the group with advanced EVs. The multivariate ORs(95%CI) for EVs and advanced EVs in the group with LC were lower when CLE ≥ 5 mm was present [0.46(0.23-0.93) and 0.24(0.08-0.74), respectively, vs 0-4 mm CLE]. CONCLUSION The presence of CLE in male Japanese alcoholics was negatively associated with the presence of EVs.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81573865).
文摘Objective:Finding an effective therapy against Alzheimer’s disease(AD)has been associate increasingly pressing issue and traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)is widespread in the prevention and treatment of AD in China.The aim of this study was to judge the efficaciousness and safety of TCM kidney-nourishing(the changes of pathological state of kidney deficiency by means of TCM treatment and so on)formula(TKNF)for AD in comparison with donepezil.Methods:The retrieval period of seven databases was from the establishment of each database to April 2019.Two authors independently identified randomized controlled trials(RCTs),fetched data and assessed bias risk.Comprehensive analysis process was conducted with review manager for eligible and appropriate RCTs.Results:A complete of 981 AD patients from 13 studies were enclosed.Meta-analysis of RCTs showed that there was no significant difference in the improvement of Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale score between 2 groups in short term,but the effect of long-term treatment may exceed donepezil;there was a significant difference in the improvement of activities of daily living score between 2 groups;there was a significant difference in TCM curative efficacy between 2 groups with long-term treatment.There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse events between 2 groups.The quality of the evidence was high or moderate.Conclusion:Compared with donepezil,TKNF was an effective drug for AD patients and the clinical application of TKNF was safe.TKNF's long-term benefits need more evidence to verify.
文摘Background Abdominal aortic aneurysm （AAA） is a multifactorial disease with strong genetic components. Various genetic loci have been associated with clinical AAA, but few studies have investigated pathological AAA, an intermediate phenotype of the disease. Methods We examined 2263 consecutive autopsies of older Japanese subjects from a study on geriatric diseases in Japanese individuals （The JG-SNP study）. The presence of AAA was determined with a pathological diagnosis during autopsy. Single nucleotide variants （SNVs） associated with AAA were determined with an Illumina HumanExome Beadchip array. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine ge- netic associations. Age, gender, and other risk factors of AAA were analyzed as covariates. Results 118 subjects with AAA and 2145 sub- jects without AAA were analyzed in a case-control setting. No variants reached significance after applying the Bonferroni correction （P 〈 2.05×10^-6）. The strongest associations were found with rs3750092 （p.E321G, OR： 0.36, 95% CI： 0.24-0.56, P = 6.09 ×10^-6）, a variant in the WAS/WASL interacting protein family 3 （WIPF3）, and with rs1051338 （p.T16P, OR： 2.50, 95% CI： 1.70-3.66, P = 2.79 ×10^-6） and rs2246942 （intronic, OR： 2.32, 95% CI： 1.58-3.41, P = 1.61 ×10^-5）, variants in the lysosomal acid lipase A （LIPA）. LIPA is essential for macrophage cholesterol metabolism. Immunohistological analyses of WIPF3 protein in AAA samples from three subjects revealed that WIPF3 was expressed in macrophages ofatheromatous plaques. Conclusions This study suggests that WIPF3 and LIPA, both of which are expressed in the macrophages are involved in pathological AAA. These results should be regarded as hypothesis-generating; thus, replication study is warranted.
文摘With the acceleration of Chinese aging of population,the issue of Long-Term Care became the hot spots in society.The studies of our country are based on disabled elderly,but they are rarely related to Alzheimer's disease patients who need care similarly.According to function of the elderly,care demand assessment is based on analysis of the elderly with disability and Alzheimer's disease.To discuss Long-Term Care demand and change tendency of the elderly in China aims to offer references for policy making in the future.
文摘Purpose: The concept of security is related to the experience of health but has ever so often been argued from a risk perspective rather than from a promotional perspective. The experience of older persons’ sense of security in private homes and in nursing homes seems to be missing when it comes to promote aging well throughout the life span. This study aimed to describe and analyze factors related to the sense of security of older persons receiving care in nursing homes in Sweden. Design and Methods: The study was based on a questionnaire from a total of 495 persons aged ≥ 65 in private homes (n = 350) or nursing homes (n = 145) in Sweden. Results: Secure relationships, sense of control, and perceived health were significantly related to the subjects’ sense of security. No significant relationships were found between sense of security and having a personal emergency response alarm. Implications: Experience of sense of security from the older person perspective differs depending on the context. To promote the sense of security within the care of older persons, methods on how to establish secure relations as well as the sense of control and knowledge need to be further tested, developed and analyzed together with older persons.
文摘Objective To evaluate the sensitivity of arterial ketone body ratio as an indicator for multiple organ failure.Materials and methods The experimental model of multiple organ failure was made in adult and old rats by hypoperfusion-induced hemorrhagic shock. After blood sampling, the arterial acetoacetate, β-hydroxybutyrate, total ketone body, ALT, AST, BUN, creatinine at 2, 4, 8 hr in hypoperfusion were examined to compare the differences of ketone body ratio and organ failure between adult and old rats. Hepatic and mitochondrial metabolism were assessed by comparing ketone body ratios (AcAc/β-OHB) and free NAD+/NADH ratios. Results Ketone body ratio in old rats at 2, 4, 8 hr after the induction of hemorrhagic shock decreased from 0.68 to 0.31, 0.27 and 0.22, respectively. In adult rats, it decreased from 1.12 to 0.17, 0.12 and 0.09, respectively. Changes of ketone body ratio in the adult group were larger than in the elderly group ( P ＜ 0.001). The development of multiple organ failure is associated with the time of hemorrhagic shock development. Conclusions There was a different ketone body ratio between multiple organ failure in the elderly (MOFE) and multiple organ failure (MOF) in general adults. Ketone body ratio is a better indicator than ALT and AST in reflecting hepatic function in the early status of MOF. (J Geriatr Cardiol 2004;1(2) :125-128. )
文摘The therapeutic effects of peptic ulcer treated with cimetidine and Wei Yang An (胃疡安) werecompared clinically and experimentally by the double blind method.Results showed that the ef-fects of the two are similar,but the long-term effect of Wei Yang An was better.Wei Yang Anwas also good for most cimetidine resistant ulcers,with few side effect.Animal experiment show-ed that Wei Yang An inhibited the ulcers.
基金Supported by A Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science,No.(B)25293271
文摘In the cancer research field, the preferred method for evaluating the proliferative activity of cancer cells in vivo is to measure DNA synthesis rates. The cellular proliferation rate is one of the most important cancer characteristics, and represents the gold standard of pathological diagnosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) has been used to evaluate in vivo DNA synthetic activity through visualization of enhanced nucleoside metabolism. However, methods for the quantitative measurement of DNA synthesis rates have not been fully clarified. Several groups have been engaged in research on 4′-[methyl-<sup>11</sup>C]-thiothymidine (<sup>11</sup>C-4DST) in an effort to develop a PET tracer that allows quantitative measurement of in vivo DNA synthesis rates. This mini-review summarizes the results of recent studies of the in vivo measurement of cancer DNA synthesis rates using <sup>11</sup>C-4DST.
文摘AIM: To investigate the effects of hydrogen(H2) on Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase(SOD1) activation in a rat model of corneal alkali burn. METHODS: In each rat, one cornea was subjected to alkali exposure. Physiological saline(saline group) or H2-dissolved saline(H2 group) was instilled continuously on the cornea for 5 min before and after alkali exposure. Inflammatory cells, neovascularization, and cytoplasmic SOD1 levels were evaluated immunohistochemically in enucleated eyes from both groups. Three-dimensional ultrastructural tissue changes in the eyes were analyzed using low-vacuum scanning electron microscopy.RESULTS: The numbers of both inflammatory and vascular endothelial cells were significantly reduced in the corneas of the H2 group(P<0.01). Furthermore, H2 treatment increased both cytoplasmic SOD1 levels(P<0.01) and activity in corneal epithelial cells(P<0.01). Notably, the SOD1 activity level in the H2 group was approximately 2.5-fold greater than that in the saline group.CONCLUSION: H2 treatment suppresses inflammation and neovascularization in the injured cornea and indirectly suppresses oxidative insult to the cornea by upregulating the SOD1 enzyme protein level and activity.
基金This program was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 39830450)
文摘Objective: To observe the effect of Tiaoxin Recipe (TXR) on the spatial memory, brain mitochondrial energy metabolism of oxidation injured Alzheimer's disease (AD) rats, and to explore the mechanism of TXR in treating AD. Methods: Eighty-eight SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (normal group, operative group, "AD" model group,TXR group and Aricept group). An oxygen free radical generation system (dihydroxy fumaric acid-trichloroferric-adenosine diphosphate, DHF-FeCl3-ADP) was used to create oxidation injured rat models mimic to AD; spatial learning and memory impairment (Morris water maze method), the activity of Succinate-oxidase, NADH-oxidase, CytC-oxidase (Clark oxygen electrode method) and the expression of cytochrome oxidase (CO) II mRNA (in situ hybridization method) were observed. Results: Compared with the normal group, the spatial memory, activity of CytC-oxidase and COII mRNA expression of oxidation injured "AD" rats were obviously decreased; TXR, however, could improve these functions in "AD" rat models obviously. Conclusion: The mechanism of the action of TXR in treating AD was partly related to its effect on anti-oxidation which could improve brain mitochondrial energy metabolism.
文摘In the process of population ageing in China,rural population has an increasingly higher proportion of elderly than the cities;it has been widely cited as one of the characteristics of population ageing in China.This paper compared China with other countries and reveals that the phenomenon of higher elderly proportion in rural population than the urban is universal in the world.The research finding shows that the urban-rural inversion of population ageing will not last for a long time. With the socioeconomic development,large-scale rural-urban migration and urbanization will approach to the end;the proportion of the urban elderly will eventually exceed that in the rural.During this process,the transition of urban-rural difference of population ageing will experience four phases. In the first phase,the rural population ageing is higher than the urban; the difference between urban-rural population ageing will be enlarged increasingly.The second phase is that the rural population ageing is higher than urban,but the gap will be narrowed. The third phase is that the urban population ageing will exceed the rural area;the proportion of the urban elderly will be higher than the rural.At the last phase, the difference will be narrowed and diminished in the end.The transition model of the urban- rural difference of the population ageing implies that the challenges of urban population ageing will excess rural ageing implies that the challenges of urban population ageing will exceed rural aging in the near future.Nevertheless, China should give more priority to issues of rural ageing in the first half of the century.
基金supported by grants from the Science and Technology Foundation of Health and Family Planning Commission of Hunan Province(No.C2019048)Science and Technology Bureau of Changsha(No.ZD1702024).
文摘This study aimed to determine the effects of black tea polyphenols on gene expression in hepatocellular cancer cells.The total RNA from HepG_(2) hepatocellular cancer cells treated with black tea polyphenols was subjected to Human 14K cDNA microarray analysis.Real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to verify microarray data.Black tea polyphenols treatment at the dose of 20 mg/L,40 mg/L or 80 mg/L for one to three days inhibited the growth of HepG_(2) cells in a dose and time dependent manner.A total of 48 genes showed more than two-fold change after black tea polyphenols treatment,including 17 upregulated genes and 31 downregulated genes,and they were involved in the regulation of cell growth,cell cycle,apoptosis,signaling,angiogenesis,tumor invasion and metastasis.Real-time PCR analysis of the selected genes showed that their mRNA expression changes were consistent with the microarray data.In addition,Western blot analysis of the selected genes showed that their protein expression changes were consistent with mRNA expression.In conclusion,gene expression profiles provide comprehensive molecular mechanisms by which black tea polyphenols exerts growth inhibition effects on cancer cells.The novel molecular targets identified in this study may be further exploited as therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular cancer.
文摘To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Malaysian type 2 diabetic patients using WHO, NCEP ATP III, IDF and the new Harmonized definitions, and the concordance between these definitions. This study involved 313 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at two Malaysian tertiary hospitals. Socio-demographic data were assessed using a pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were carried out according to standard protocols. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were examined. Kappa (k) statistics were used for the agreement between the four MetS definitions. The overall prevalence rates of MetS (95% CI) were 95.8% (93.6-98.1), 96.1% (94.0-98.3), 84.8% (80.8-88.9) and 97.7% (96.1-99.4) according to the WHO, NCEP ATP III, IDF and the Harmonized definitions, respectively. The Kappa statistics demonstrated a slight to substantial agreement between the definitions (k = 0.179-0.875, p k = 0.875, p hest specificity (100%) in identifying MetS. In conclusion, the new Harmonized criteria established the highest prevalence of MetS among the four definitions applied. There was a very good concordance between the WHO and NCEP ATP III criteria. The extremely high prevalence of MetS observed in type 2 diabetic patients indicates an impending pandemic of CVD risk in Malaysia. Aggressive treatment of MetS components is required to reduce cardiovascular risk in T2DM.
文摘Telomeres are nucleoprotein complexes located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are shorten with aging or various causes. Shortened telomere plays an important role for chromosomal instability in carcinogenesis, or a number of diseases in relation to aging. FISH using peptide-nucleic acid (PNA) probe is suitable for analyzing telomeres, because telomere is a part of DNA molecule and localized in chromosomal end in loop shape structure (T-loop). We introduce our telomere analysis for tissue sections and cultured cells in this paper. On the tissue sections, we analyze telomere length with telomere intensity to centromere intensity ratio (TCR), centromere as an inner control. In the cultured cells, we analyze telomere lengths on each chromosome with karyotyping. Those Q-FISH methods by PNA probe are an accurate and reliable tool for research on telomere lengths in various conditions in biology.
文摘Elder abuse is an emerging issue of serious concern with life-threatening consequences. This study aimed to develop and assess the validity and reliability of a new scale to assess elder abuse. A cross-sectional multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a nationally representative sample of older Malaysians. The iterative development process resulted in a 16-item, four-dimension scale. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 10-item scale with three factors. The value of Cronbach’s alpha for total scale and its subscales indicated sufficient internal consistency. Multitrait scaling analysis also showed good convergent and discriminant validity. Furthermore, predictive validity of the proposed scale was established by demonstrating a statistically significant association between elder abuse and depression through multiple logistic regression analysis. The findings from this study demonstrate an acceptable level of validity and reliability for new scale. This scale can be used by health and social care workers to identify elder abuse cases.
文摘MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported as potentially being useful biomarkers for various diseases including cancer, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, neurological disease and age-related diseases. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether the expression levels of circulating miRNAs in serum were changed with aging or sex. Serum samples from seven elderly males (69.86 ± 1.77 years old) and females (72.43 ± 1.49 years old), and six young males (26.17 ± 0.83 years old) and females (23.17 ± 1.52 years old) were obtained from the subject’s forearm at rest. The expression levels of circulating miR-146a and miR-20a in serum were determined by real-time TaqMan PCR. There were no differences in the expression levels of miR-146a between all groups. There was a significant interaction in this main effect where miR-20a levels were significantly lower in elderly male subjects when compared to young male subjects with no difference observed in young or elderly female subjects (p = 0.004 and p = 0.971, respectively). These results suggest that not all the miRNAs in the circulation are influenced by the effect of aging, but only some miRNAs may be selectively changed by the effect of aging.
