Plasticity in central neural drive with short-term disuse and recovery - effects on muscle strength and influence of aging.

While short-term disuse negatively affects mechanical muscle function (e.g. isometric muscle strength) little is known of the relative contribution of adaptions in central neural drive and peripheral muscle contractility.

Associations between vitamin D status and atherosclerosis among Inuit in Greenland.

Background And Aims: Low levels of vitamin D are suspected to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis among Inuit in Greenland, and to evaluate the association with vitamin D status. We hypothesized that low vitamin D status could be associated with higher carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as a marker of atherosclerosis.

Initial brain aging: heterogeneity of mitochondrial size is associated with decline in complex I-linked respiration in cortex and hippocampus.

Brain aging is accompanied by declining mitochondrial respiration. We hypothesized that mitochondrial morphology and dynamics would reflect this decline. Using hippocampus and frontal cortex of a segmental progeroid mouse model lacking Cockayne syndrome protein B (CSB) and C57Bl/6 (WT) controls and comparing young (2-5 months) to middle-aged mice (13-14 months), we found that complex I-linked state 3 respiration (CI) was reduced at middle age in CSB hippocampus, but not in CSB cortex or WT brain.

Existence of life-time stable proteins in mature rats-Dating of proteins' age by repeated short-term exposure to labeled amino acids throughout age.

In vivo turnover rates of proteins covering the processes of protein synthesis and breakdown rates have been measured in many tissues and protein pools using various techniques. Connective tissue and collagen protein turnover is of specific interest since existing results are rather diverging. The aim of this study is to investigate whether we can verify the presence of protein pools within the same tissue with very distinct turnover rates over the life-span of rats with special focus on connective tissue.

Macrophage Area Content and Phenotype in Hepatic and Adipose Tissue in Patients with Obesity Undergoing Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass.

Objective: To investigate hepatic and adipose tissue macrophage content in subjects with obesity and the role of adipose tissue macrophages in weight loss-induced improved insulin sensitivity (IS).

Methods: A cross-sectional and a longitudinal study were combined to investigate the role of macrophages in subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue and the liver in obesity-induced impaired IS and improvements with weight loss. Macrophage markers (CD68, CD163, and CD206) in SAT, VAT, and the liver from patients with obesity were investigated.

Relationship between volition, physical activity and weight loss maintenance: Study rationale, design, methods and baseline characteristics.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between volition, physical activity and weight loss maintenance.

Methods: We recruited 84 sedentary (maximal oxygen uptake: 25 ± 5 ml/min), overweight and obese (Body mass index (BMI) 38 ± 7 m/h, fat 44 ± 7 %) women ( n = 55) and men ( n = 29) for an interdisciplinary prospective study with follow-up. The change in lifestyle and weight loss is promoted via a 3-month intensive lifestyle intervention at a private health school.

Repeated lifestyle interventions lead to progressive weight loss: A retrospective review chart study.

Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether repeated lifestyle interventions lead to progressive weight loss or to weight cycling.

Methods: A retrospective review chart study with follow-up on 2120 participants (mean±SD age 36±15 years; body weight 116±28 kg; fat 43±6%). All had participated in one to four 11-12 week lifestyle interventions (residential weight loss programme, mixed activities).

RAB7L1 promoter polymorphism and risk of Parkinson's disease; a case-control study.

Introduction: Recent genome-wide association studies have explored some new loci in association with Parkinson's disease (PD). RAB7L1 is an important gene involved in one of the important neurological pathways, located in PARK16 locus. We performed a case-control study to examine the association between rs823144 SNP located in the promoter region of the RAB7L1 gene and PD risk in Iranian population.

Familial Longevity Is Not Associated with Major Differences in the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal Axis in Healthy Middle-Aged Men.

Context: A trade-off between fertility and longevity possibly exists. The association of the male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis with familial longevity has not yet been investigated.

Objective: To study 24-h hormone concentration profiles of the HPG axis in men enriched for familial longevity and controls.

Myosin content of single muscle fibers following short-term disuse and active recovery in young and old healthy men.

Short-term disuse and subsequent recovery affect whole muscle and single myofiber contractile function in young and old. While the loss and recovery of single myofiber specific force (SF) following disuse and rehabilitation has been shown to correlate with alterations in myosin concentrations in young, it is unknown whether similar relationships exist in old. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of 14days lower limb disuse followed by 28days of active recovery on single muscle fiber myosin content in old (68yrs) and young (24yrs) recreationally physically active healthy men.

Growth hormone secretion is diminished and tightly controlled in humans enriched for familial longevity.

Reduced growth hormone (GH) signaling has been consistently associated with increased health and lifespan in various mouse models. Here, we assessed GH secretion and its control in relation with human familial longevity. We frequently sampled blood over 24 h in 19 middle-aged offspring of long-living families from the Leiden Longevity Study together with 18 of their partners as controls.

Glia-Neuron Interactions in the Retina Can Be Studied in Cocultures of Müller Cells and Retinal Ganglion Cells.

Glia-neuron partnership is important for inner retinal homeostasis and any disturbances may result in retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death. Müller cells support RGCs with essential functions such as removing excess glutamate and providing energy sources. The aim was to explore the impact of Müller cells on RGC survival.

Thyroid Status and Mortality Risk in Older Adults With Normal Thyrotropin: Sex Differences in the Milan Geriatrics 75+ Cohort Study.

Background: Thresholds of optimal thyroid status in old age are controversial. We investigated the longitudinal association between thyroid parameters and 10-year all-cause mortality risk in older outpatients with normal thyrotropin (TSH) and modification by sex and age.

Methods: Baseline TSH, free thyroxine (fT4), and free triiodothyronine (fT3) were assessed in the Milan Geriatrics 75+ Cohort Study.

Genetic variants determining survival and fertility in an adverse African environment: a population-based large-scale candidate gene association study.

Human survival probability and fertility decline strongly with age. These life history traits have been shaped by evolution. However, research has failed to uncover a consistent genetic determination of variation in survival and fertility.

Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and future functional decline in old age.

Objective: Higher blood pressure variability (BPV), independent of mean blood pressure (BP), has been associated with adverse health outcomes. We investigated the association between visit-to-visit BPV and functional decline in older adults at high cardiovascular risk.

Methods: In PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk, 4745 participants with mean age of 75.

Oxidative Stress-Induced Dysfunction of Müller Cells During Starvation.

Purpose: Müller cells support retinal neurons with essential functions. Here, we aim to examine the impact of starvation and oxidative stress on glutamate uptake and mitochondrial function in Müller cells.

Methods: Cultured human retinal Müller cells (MIO-M1) were exposed to H2O2 and additional starvation for 24 hours.

Positive effects of 1-year football and strength training on mechanical muscle function and functional capacity in elderly men.

Purpose: A decline in physical capacity takes place with increasing age that negatively affects overall physical function including work ability and the ability to perform typical activities of daily living (ADL). The overall aim of the present study was to determine the neuromuscular adaptations to long-term (1 year) football and strength training in older untrained adults, and to assess the concurrent effect on functional ADL capacity.

Methods: Twenty-seven healthy elderly males (68.

Assessment of health status by molecular measures in adults ranging from middle-aged to old: Ready for clinical use?

In addition to measures already used in clinical practice, molecular measures have been proposed to assess health status, but these have not yet been introduced into clinical practice. We aimed to test the association of functional capacity measures used in current practice and molecular measures with age and health status. The cohort consisted of 178 middle-aged to old participants of the Leiden Longevity Study (range 42-82years).

An Emerging Epidemic of Noncommunicable Diseases in Developing Populations Due to a Triple Evolutionary Mismatch.

With their transition from adverse to affluent environments, developing populations experience a rapid increase in the number of individuals with noncommunicable diseases. Here, we emphasize that developing populations are more susceptible than western populations to acquire these chronic diseases, because their genetic, cultural, and epigenetic characteristics do not match with the eagerly awaited affluent environments. In regard to this, there is an urgent need for public health organizations to reorganize current environments in developing populations so as to fit their inherited characteristics.

Disentangling rectangularization and life span extension with the moving rectangle method.

Purpose: The moving rectangle method is used to disentangle the contributions of rectangularization and life span extension to the increase in life expectancy. It requires the choice of an endpoint of the survival curve that approaches the maximum age at death. We examined the effect of choosing different end points on the outcomes of this method.

Inability to match energy intake with energy expenditure at sustained near-maximal rates of energy expenditure in older men during a 14-d cycling expedition.

Background: The upper rates of energy expenditure (EE) and the corresponding regulation of energy intake (EI), as described in younger trained subjects, are not well elucidated in older subjects.

Objectives: The aim was to investigate EE in older men during prolonged cycling and determine whether it is sufficiently matched by EI to maintain energy balance. In addition, we investigated appetite ratings and concentrations of appetite-regulating hormones.

Present and New Treatment Strategies in the Management of Glaucoma.

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by retinal ganglion cell (RGC) death and axonal loss. It remains a major cause of blindness worldwide. All current modalities of treatment are focused on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP), and it is evident that increased IOP is an important risk factor for progression of the disease.

Time course for the recovery of physical performance, blood hemoglobin, and ferritin content after blood donation.

Background: It is widely accepted that blood donation negatively affects endurance performance, but data on physical recovery after a standard blood donation are scarce. This study aimed to elucidate the temporary impact of blood donation on endurance performance, measured as peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak ) and time trial (TT) performance.

Study Design And Methods: VO2peak , TT performance, blood, iron, and anthropometric variables were determined before (baseline) and 3, 7, 14, and 28 days after blood donation in 19 healthy men.

Acute exercise improves motor memory: exploring potential biomarkers.

We have recently shown that a single bout of acute cardiovascular exercise improves motor skill learning through an optimization of long-term motor memory. Here we expand this previous finding, to explore potential exercise-related biomarkers and their association with measures of motor memory and skill acquisition. Thirty-two healthy young male subjects were randomly allocated into either an exercise or control group.

Aging impairs the recovery in mechanical muscle function following 4 days of disuse.

As aged individuals are frequently exposed to short-term disuse caused by disease or musculoskeletal injury, it is important to understand how short-term disuse and subsequent retraining affect lower limb mechanical muscle function. The purpose of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the effect of 4 days of lower limb disuse followed by 7 days of active recovery on mechanical muscle function of the knee extensors in young (24.3±0.