The Increased Abundance of Commensal Microbes Decreases Lifespan through an Age-Related Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction.

Background: Commensal microbiota live in their host with a symbiotic relationship that affects the host's health and physiology. Many studies showed that microbial load and composition were changed by aging and observed that increasing the abundance and changing the composition of commensal microbes had detrimental effects on host lifespan. We hypothesized that dysbiosis of the intestinal microbiota leads to systemic effects in aging flies as a result of the increased intestinal permeability.

Bone morphogenic protein 9 is a novel thermogenic hepatokine secreted in response to cold exposure.

Objective: Maintaining a constant core body temperature is essential to homeothermic vertebrate survival. Adaptive thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue and skeletal muscle is the primary mechanism of adjustment to an external stimulus such as cold exposure. Recently, several reports have revealed that the liver can play a role as a metabolic hub during adaptive thermogenesis.

Insulin Resistance: From Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies.

Insulin resistance is the pivotal pathogenic component of many metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, and is defined as a state of reduced responsiveness of insulin-targeting tissues to physiological levels of insulin. Although the underlying mechanism of insulin resistance is not fully understood, several credible theories have been proposed. In this review, we summarize the functions of insulin in glucose metabolism in typical metabolic tissues and describe the mechanisms proposed to underlie insulin resistance, that is, ectopic lipid accumulation in liver and skeletal muscle, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and inflammation.

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album var. coloratum) extends the lifespan via FOXO activation induced by dSir2 in Drosophila melanogaster.

Aim: We examined the underlying mechanisms associated with the longevity effects of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) in Drosophila melanogaster.

Methods: We measured the lifespan of sirtuin, chico and foxo mutant flies fed KME, the expression of the forkhead box O (FOXO) target genes and insulin-like peptide genes, and the localization of FOXO in flies fed the KME.

Results: The longevity effect of KME was abolished in sirtuin, chico and foxo null mutant flies.

Role of Commensal Microbes in the γ-Ray Irradiation-Induced Physiological Changes in .

Ionizing radiation induces biological/physiological changes and affects commensal microbes, but few studies have examined the relationship between the physiological changes induced by irradiation and commensal microbes. This study investigated the role of commensal microbes in the γ-ray irradiation-induced physiological changes in . The bacterial load was increased in 5 Gy irradiated flies, but irradiation decreased the number of operational taxonomic units.

Airway mechanics after withdrawal of a leukotriene receptor antagonist in children with mild persistent asthma: Double-blind, randomized, cross-over study.

Background: To determine the response of airway mechanics and the changes in asthma symptoms to stepping down of leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) therapy.

Methods: Thirty children (mean age: 7.1 years) with mild, well-controlled, and persistent asthma who took LTRA as maintenance treatment were randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study.

Small Molecule from Natural Phytochemical Mimics Dietary Restriction by Modulating FoxO3a and Metabolic Reprogramming.

Many studies utilizing animal models have revealed the genetic and pharmacogenetic modulators of the rate of organismal aging. However, finding routes for healthy aging during extended life remains one of the largest questions. With regards to an antiaging reagent, it has been shown that natural phytochemical syringaresinol (SYR) delays cellular senescence by activating sirtuin1 (SIRT1).

Short-term effects of multiple outdoor environmental factors on risk of asthma exacerbations: Age-stratified time-series analysis.

Background: Although the different age groups had differences in sensitivity of asthma exacerbations (AEs) to environmental factors, no comprehensive study has examined the age-stratified effects of environmental factors on AEs.

Objective: We sought to examine the short-term effects in age-stratified groups (infants, preschool children, school-aged children, adults, and the elderly) of outdoor environmental factors (air pollutants, weather conditions, aeroallergens, and respiratory viral epidemics) on AEs.

Methods: We performed an age-stratified analysis of the short-term effects of 4 groups of outdoor environmental factors on AEs in Seoul Metropolitan City (Korea) from 2008 and 2012.

The role of commensal microbes in the lifespan of .

Commensal microbes have mutualistic relationships with their host and mainly live in the host intestine. There are many studies on the relationships between commensal microbes and host physiology. However, there are inconsistent results on the effects of commensal microbes on host lifespan.

Association of Sensitization to Different Aeroallergens With Airway Function and Nasal Patency in Urban Children.

Purpose: Children with sensitization to aeroallergens have decreased lung function and nasal patency. Our purpose was to determine the association of sensitization to different aeroallergens with airway function and nasal patency.

Methods: Four hundred and eighty-six randomly selected 11 year-old children who lived in Seongnam City were examined.

Sirtuin signaling in cellular senescence and aging.

Sirtuin is an essential factor that delays cellular senescence and extends the organismal lifespan through the regulation of diverse cellular processes. Suppression of cellular senescence by Sirtuin is mainly mediated through delaying the age-related telomere attrition, sustaining genome integrity and promotion of DNA damage repair. In addition, Sirtuin modulates the organismal lifespan by interacting with several lifespan regulating signaling pathways including insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway, AMP-activated protein kinase, and forkhead box O.

Erratum: Seasonal Cycle and Relationship of Seasonal Rhino- and Influenza Virus Epidemics With Episodes of Asthma Exacerbation in Different Age Groups.

This corrects the article on p. 517 in vol. 9, PMID: 28913991.

Impulse oscillometry and spirometry exhibit different features of lung function in bronchodilation.

Objective: Bronchodilator responses (BDRs) from impulse oscillometry (IOS) are not interchangeable with those from spirometry. We aimed to identify the characteristics of children with small airway hyperresponsiveness and to determine whether BDR from IOS provides an important supplement to BDR from spirometry.

Methods: The records of 592 children with asthma or suspected asthma who underwent spirometric and oscillometric BDRs were retrospectively reviewed.

Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Local Allergic Rhinitis in Children Sensitized to House Dust Mites.

Objective: The prevalence of local allergic rhinitis (LAR) in nonatopic children remains unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and severity of LAR in children in comparison to classical allergic rhinitis (AR) and nonallergic rhinitis (NAR).

Study Design: A total of 145 children (aged 1-18 years) were enrolled and classified into 3 groups (AR, NAR, and LAR) based on a skin prick test (SPT) and a nasal provocation test (NPT) with house dust mite, i.

Home Remodeling and Food Allergy Interact Synergistically to Increase the Risk of Atopic Dermatitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of home remodeling and food allergy (FA) on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children.

Methods: The Modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire was used to survey 4,111 children recruited from 3 kindergartens and 6 elementary schools from Seongnam, Korea. Participants' parents agreed for them to participate in physical examinations, skin prick tests, and blood tests.

Seasonal Cycle and Relationship of Seasonal Rhino- and Influenza Virus Epidemics With Episodes of Asthma Exacerbation in Different Age Groups.

Purpose: Seasonal variations in asthma exacerbation (AE) are associated with respiratory virus outbreaks and the return of children to school after vacation. This study aims to elucidate the period, phase, and amplitude of seasonal cycles of AE in 5 different age groups with regard to rhino- and influenza virus epidemics in Korea.

Methods: The number of daily emergency department (ED) visits for AE in all age groups of Korea and the nationwide weekly incidence of rhino- and influenza virus, were obtained for 2008-2012.

Effects of Essential Oil from Hinoki Cypress, Chamaecyparis obtusa, on Physiology and Behavior of Flies.

Phytoncides, which are volatile substances emitted from plants for protection against plant pathogens and insects, are known to have insecticidal, antimicrobial, and antifungal activities. In contrast to their negative effects on microorganisms and insects, phytoncides have been shown to have beneficial effects on human health. Essential oil from Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) is mostly used in commercial products such as air purifiers.

Effects of carbon nanofiber on physiology of Drosophila.

As nanomaterials are now widely utilized in a wide range of fields for both medical and industrial applications, concerns over their potential toxicity to human health and the environment have increased. To evaluate the toxicity of long-term exposure to carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in an in vivo system, we selected Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. Oral administration of CNFs at a concentration of 1,000 μg/mL had adverse effects on fly physiology.

Functional modification of Drosophila intestinal stem cells by ionizing radiation.

Although the diverse effects of ionizing radiation on biological and pathological processes at various levels ranging from molecular to whole body are well studied, the effects on adult stem cells by ionizing radiation remain largely unknown. In this study, we characterized the functional modifications of adult Drosophila midgut intestinal stem cells after ionizing radiation treatment. A dose of 10 Gy of radiation decreased the proliferative capacity of intestinal stem cells.

Korean mistletoe (Viscum album coloratum) extract extends the lifespan of nematodes and fruit flies.

Viscum album coloratum (Korean mistletoe) is a semi-parasitic plant that grows on various trees and has a variety of biological functions such as immunomodulation, apoptosis, and anti-tumor activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of Korean mistletoe extract (KME) on lifespan in experimental models using Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. Supplementation of KME at 50 μg/ml extended the mean survival time by 9.

Mechanism of metformin: inhibition of DNA damage and proliferative activity in Drosophila midgut stem cell.

Age-related changes in stem cells could have a profound impact on tissue aging and the development of age-related diseases such as cancer. However, the effects of metformin, a recently recognized anti-cancer drug, on stem cell aging remain largely unknown. In the present study, an experiment was set up to investigate the underlying mechanism of metformin's beneficial effects on age-related changes in intestinal stem cells (ISCs) derived from Drosophila midgut.

Caloric restriction and its mimetics.

Caloric restriction is the most reliable intervention to prevent age-related disorders and extend lifespan. The reduction of calories by 10-30% compared to an ad libitum diet is known to extend the longevity of various species from yeast to rodents. The underlying mechanisms by which the benefits of caloric restriction occur have not yet been clearly defined.

Overexpression of fatty-acid-β-oxidation-related genes extends the lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster.

A better understanding of the aging process is necessary to ensure that the healthcare needs of an aging population are met. With the trend toward increased human life expectancies, identification of candidate genes affecting the regulation of lifespan and its relationship to environmental factors is essential. Through misexpression screening of EP mutant lines, we previously isolated several genes extending lifespan when ubiquitously overexpressed, including the two genes encoding the fatty-acid-binding protein and dodecenoyl-CoA delta-isomerase involved in fatty-acid β-oxidation, which is the main energy resource pathway in eukaryotic cells.

Age- and oxidative stress-induced DNA damage in Drosophila intestinal stem cells as marked by Gamma-H2AX.

A decline in stem cell function is considered as a major cause of tissue atrophy, organ-system failure, cancer development and aging process. For a better understanding of the mechanism underlying age-related decline of stem cell function, characterization of aged stem cells is required. DNA damage induces epigenetic modifications that are associated with cell dysfunction.