Ocular delivery of Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) as a neuroprotectant for Geographic Atrophy.

Geographic atrophy (GA) is an advanced form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), that starts with atrophic lesions in the outer retina that expand to cover the macula and fovea, leading to severe vision loss over time. Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor (PEDF) has a diverse-range of properties, including its ability to promote cell survival, reduce inflammation, inhibit angiogenesis, combat oxidative stress, regulate autophagy, and stimulate anti-apoptotic pathways, making it a promising therapeutic candidate for GA. However, the relatively short half-life of PEDF protein has precluded its potential as a clinical therapy for GA since it would require frequent injections.

Polyethylene dissociation from humeral stem status after reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) is an important treatment option for 4-part proximal humerus fractures in the elderly and arthrosis of the glenohumeral joint with incompetence of the rotator cuff. Unique complications do occur with use of this type of prosthesis.

Methods: We present 4 cases of polyethylene dissociation after RSA.

The effect of 1 year of Alagebrium and moderate-intensity exercise training on left ventricular function during exercise in seniors: a randomized controlled trial.

Sedentary aging leads to left ventricular (LV) and vascular stiffening due in part to advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cross-linking of extracellular matrix proteins. Vigorous lifelong exercise ameliorates age-related cardiovascular (CV) stiffening and enhances exercise LV function, although this effect is limited when exercise is initiated later in life. We hypothesized that exercise training might be more effective at improving the impact of age-related CV stiffening during exercise when combined with an AGE cross-link breaker (Alagebrium).

Heart rate recovery after maximal exercise is blunted in hypertensive seniors.

Abnormal heart rate recovery (HRR) after maximal exercise may indicate autonomic dysfunction and is a predictor for cardiovascular mortality. HRR is attenuated with aging and in middle-age hypertensive patients, but it is unknown whether HRR is attenuated in older-age adults with hypertension. This study compared HRR among 16 unmedicated stage 1 hypertensive (HTN) participants [nine men/seven women; 68 ± 5 (SD) yr; awake ambulatory blood pressure (BP) 149 ± 10/87 ± 7 mmHg] and 16 normotensive [control (CON)] participants (nine men/seven women; 67 ± 5 yr; 122 ± 4/72 ± 5 mmHg).

Impact of lifelong exercise "dose" on left ventricular compliance and distensibility.

Background: Sedentary aging has deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, including decreased left ventricular compliance and distensibility (LVCD). Conversely, Masters level athletes, who train intensively throughout adulthood, retain youthful LVCD.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that preservation of LVCD may be possible with moderate lifelong exercise training.

The effect of lifelong exercise dose on cardiovascular function during exercise.

An increased "dose" of endurance exercise training is associated with a greater maximal oxygen uptake (Vo2max), a larger left ventricular (LV) mass, and improved heart rate and blood pressure control. However, the effect of lifelong exercise dose on metabolic and hemodynamic response during exercise has not been previously examined. We performed a cross-sectional study on 101 (69 men) seniors (60 yr and older) focusing on lifelong exercise frequency as an index of exercise dose.

Cardiovascular effects of 1 year of alagebrium and endurance exercise training in healthy older individuals.

Background: Lifelong exercise training maintains a youthful compliance of the left ventricle (LV), whereas a year of exercise training started later in life fails to reverse LV stiffening, possibly because of accumulation of irreversible advanced glycation end products. Alagebrium breaks advanced glycation end product crosslinks and improves LV stiffness in aged animals. However, it is unclear whether a strategy of exercise combined with alagebrium would improve LV stiffness in sedentary older humans.

Effects of age and aerobic fitness on myocardial lipid content.

Background: Aging and sedentary lifestyles lead to cardiac atrophy, ventricular stiffening, and impaired diastolic function. Both conditions are marked by increased adiposity, which can lead to ectopic fat deposition in nonadipocyte tissues including the myocardium. The effect of excess intramyocardial fat on cardiac function in nonobese individuals is unknown.

Day/night variability in blood pressure: influence of posture and physical activity.

Background: Blood pressure (BP) is highest during the day and lowest at night. Absence of this rhythm is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Contributions of changes in posture and physical activity to the 24-hour day/night rhythm in BP are not well understood.

The effect of age-related differences in body size and composition on cardiovascular determinants of VO2max.

Background: A reduction in maximal stroke volume (SVmax) and total blood volume (TBV) has been hypothesized to contribute to the decline in maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) with healthy aging. However, these variables have rarely been collected simultaneously in a board age range to support or refute this hypothesis. It is also unclear to what extent scaling size-related cardiovascular determinants of VO2max affects the interpretation of age-related differences.

Effect of healthy aging on left ventricular relaxation and diastolic suction.

Doppler ultrasound measures of left ventricular (LV) active relaxation and diastolic suction are slowed with healthy aging. It is unclear to what extent these changes are related to alterations in intrinsic LV properties and/or cardiovascular loading conditions. Seventy carefully screened individuals (38 female, 32 male) aged 21-77 were recruited into four age groups (young: <35; early middle age: 35-49; late middle age: 50-64 and seniors: ≥65 yr).