Missed Insights for Earlier Management of Parkinson's Disease and the Value of Dopamine Transporter (DAT) Scans.

This retrospective study focused on the role of Dopamine Transporter (DAT) scans in diagnosing Parkinson's Disease (PD) in older adults with cognitive impairment (CI). We retrospectively analyzed brain imaging of 6483 individuals aged 60 and above with CI. Among these, 297 underwent a DAT scan, with 189 testing positive and 89 starting dopamine therapy.

Neutrophil Biomarkers Can Predict Cardiotoxicity of Anthracyclines in Breast Cancer.

Doxorubicin (DOX), a commonly used anticancer agent, causes cardiotoxicity that begins with the first dose and may progress to heart failure years after treatment. An inflammatory response associated with neutrophil recruitment has been recognized as a mechanism of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. This study aimed to validate mRNA expression of the previously identified biomarkers of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, PGLYRP1, CAMP, MMP9, and CEACAM8, and to assay their protein expression in the peripheral blood of breast cancer patients.

The Role of Sirtuin-1 Isoforms in Regulating Mitochondrial Function.

The sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) gene contains multiple exons that usually undergo alternative splicing. The exclusion of one or more exons causes domain loss in the alternatively spliced isoforms and may change their functions. However, it is not completely established to what extent the loss of a non-catalytic domain could affect its regulatory function.

RNA sequencing of formalin fixed paraffin-embedded heart tissue provides transcriptomic information about chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.

Gene expression of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue may serve for molecular studies on cardiovascular diseases. Chemotherapeutics, such as doxorubicin (DOX) may cause heart injury, but the mechanisms of these side effects of DOX are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate whether DOX-induced gene expression in archival FFPE heart tissue in experimental rats would correlate with the gene expression in fresh-frozen heart tissue by applying RNA sequencing technology.

Deletion of Interleukin-1β Converting Enzyme Alters Mouse Cardiac Structure and Function.

Interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE, caspase-1) is a thiol protease that cleaves the pro-inflammatory cytokine precursors of IL-1β and IL-18 into active forms. Given the association between caspase-1 and cardiovascular pathology, we analyzed the hearts of ICE knockout (ICE KO) mice to test the hypothesis that caspase-1 plays a significant role in cardiac morphology and function. We characterized the histological and functional changes in the hearts of ICE KO mice compared to the Wild type.

Proteomic analysis of P. gingivalis-Lipopolysaccharide induced neuroinflammation in SH-SY5Y and HMC3 cells.

Chronic periodontitis and its keystone pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, have increasingly been linked with Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, P.gingivalis-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) mediated release of neuroinflammatory proteins contributes to AD remains underexplored.

Inhibitors of Rho/MRTF/SRF Transcription Pathway Regulate Mitochondrial Function.

RhoA-regulated gene transcription by serum response factor (SRF) and its transcriptional cofactor myocardin-related transcription factors (MRTFs) signaling pathway has emerged as a promising therapeutic target for pharmacological intervention in multiple diseases. Altered mitochondrial metabolism is one of the major hallmarks of cancer, therefore, this upregulation is a vulnerability that can be targeted with Rho/MRTF/SRF inhibitors. Recent advances identified a novel series of oxadiazole-thioether compounds that disrupt the SRF transcription, however, the direct molecular target of these compounds is unclear.

Short-Term Ingestion of Essential Amino Acid Based Nutritional Supplements or Whey Protein Improves the Physical Function of Older Adults Independently of Gut Microbiome.

Scope: Dietary proteins and essential amino acids (EAAs) are the major nutritional supplements that support the growth and activity of gut microbes contributing to the wellbeing of their host. This study hypothesizes that daily supplementation of the diet with either EAAs or whey protein for 12 weeks would improve the gut microbiome of older adults.

Methods And Results: The stool samples are processed and subjected to Illumina-based 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene amplicon sequencing.

Valine improves mitochondrial function and protects against oxidative stress.

Among the branched-chain amino acids, leucine and isoleucine have been well studied for their roles in improving mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress. However, role of valine in mitochondrial function regulation and oxidative stress management remains elusive. This study investigated valine effect on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress in vitro.

The Importance of Dopamine Deficiency Evaluation in Non-Alzheimer Disease Dementias.

BACKGROUND Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is a common cause of dementia. Given the similarities between the symptoms of DLB and non-DLB Alzheimer disease (AD) and related dementias, patients can sometimes be misdiagnosed with AD. To increase the sensitivity of current DLB guidelines, the DLB Consortium published its fourth revised report in 2017 with increased diagnostic weight given to dopamine transporter (DAT) uptake in the basal ganglia, demonstrated by single-photon emission computed tomography or positron emission tomography imaging.

-LPS Induces Mitochondrial Dysfunction Mediated by Neuroinflammation through Oxidative Stress.

a key pathogen in periodontitis, is associated with neuroinflammation. Periodontal disease increases with age; 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal problems.

Quality Improvement in Delirium Health Literacy in Older Adult Patients and Their Caregivers Attending a Geriatric Clinic.

Background: Delirium is a common medical condition that is highly prevalent in older adults who are at increased risk for its development with any illness, post-surgery or during hospitalization. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the health literacy of older adult patients and their caregivers about delirium, offer a brief educational intervention, and reevaluate their knowledge post intervention.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a quality improvement project, focused on delirium health literacy in older adult patients ≥60 years and their caregivers.

Disparity and Multimorbidity in Heart Failure Patients Over the Age of 80.

Healthcare is currently struggling to provide access and coverage for an increasingly diverse aging population who frequently have multiple co-morbid conditions complicating their care and medical management. This retrospective study analyzed the prevalence and distribution of common co-morbid conditions (hypertension, dyslipidemia, dementia, and diabetes mellitus) in 316 elderly heart failure patients (age range 80-103; mean 87 ±4.9).

Older Adults' Perceptions and Recommendations Regarding a Falls Prevention Self-Management Plan Template Based on the Health Belief Model: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults. Self-management plans have been used in different contexts to promote healthy behaviors, but older adults' perceptions of a falls prevention self-management plan template have not been investigated. Using mixed methods, we investigated older adults' perceptions and recommendations of a falls prevention self-management plan template aligned with the Health Belief Model.

A qualitative study of older adults' facilitators, barriers, and cues to action to engage in falls prevention using health belief model constructs.

Background And Objectives: Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults. Decreasing falls is highly dependent on engagement in fall prevention activities. The Health Belief Model (HBM) theoretical framework was used to explore older adults' perceptions about falls prevention.

Genome-Wide DNA Methylation Signatures Predict the Early Asymptomatic Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer.

Chemotherapy with doxorubicin (DOX) may cause unpredictable cardiotoxicity. This study aimed to determine whether the methylation signature of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) prior to and after the first cycle of DOX-based chemotherapy could predict the risk of cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients. Cardiotoxicity was defined as a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by >10%.

Subclinical doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity update: role of neutrophils and endothelium.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a highly effective chemotherapy agent that often causes cardiotoxicity. Despite a number of extensive studies, the risk for DOX cardiotoxicity remains unpredictable. The majority of the studies on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity have been focused on the effects on cardiomyocytes that lead to contractile dysfunction.

Does Superior Bone Health Promote a Longer Lifespan?

Introduction: Public health achievements throughout the last century have resulted in a steady increase in life expectancy. An emergent subset has distinguished themselves, living well beyond the ninth decade by avoiding or delaying the onset of most age-related diseases, including bone diseases and fractures. In this study, we evaluated the bone health of the oldest community-dwelling individuals living in rural Arkansas.

Cardiovascular Health in Individuals with Exceptional Longevity Residing in Arkansas.

Cardiovascular disease is a common comorbidity associated with an aging population. However, there is a unique group of individuals whose age-defying qualities are still being investigated. This retrospective chart review analyzed various cardiac and metabolic health parameters to characterize the prevalence of heart failure and metabolic derangements in individuals aged 90 years old or older in central Arkansas.

Older Adults' Perceptions Regarding the Role of Physical Therapists in Fall Prevention: A Qualitative Investigation.

Background And Purpose: Falls are a leading cause of injury, morbidity, and mortality among older adults. Physical therapists are underutilized for fall prevention despite strong evidence and recommendations regarding their effectiveness. The purpose of this study was to explore older adults' awareness of and perceptions regarding the role of physical therapists for fall prevention.

Daily Consumption of a Specially Formulated Essential Amino Acid-Based Dietary Supplement Improves Physical Performance in Older Adults With Low Physical Functioning.

We have investigated the hypothesis that nutritional supplementation of the diet in low-physical-functioning older individuals with a specially formulated composition based on essential amino acids (EAAs) would improve physical function as compared to supplementation with the same amount of whey protein. A third group of comparable volunteers were given nutrition education but no supplementation of the diet. After 6 weeks of whey protein supplementation (n = 32), there was no effect on the distance walked in 6 minutes, but the distance walked improved significantly from the pre-value after 12 weeks of whey supplementation.