The epigenetic alterations of endogenous retroelements in aging.

Endogenous retroelements, transposons that mobilize through RNA intermediates, include some of the most abundant repetitive sequences of the human genome, such as Alu and LINE-1 sequences, and human endogenous retroviruses. Recent discoveries demonstrate that these mobile genetic elements not only act as intragenomic parasites, but also exert regulatory roles in living cells. The risk of genomic instability represented by endogenous retroelements is normally counteracted by a series of epigenetic control mechanisms which include, among the most important, CpG DNA methylation.

Mitochondrial (Dys) Function in Inflammaging: Do MitomiRs Influence the Energetic, Oxidative, and Inflammatory Status of Senescent Cells?

A relevant feature of aging is chronic low-grade inflammation, termed inflammaging, a key process promoting the development of all major age-related diseases. Senescent cells can acquire the senescence-associated (SA) secretory phenotype (SASP), characterized by the secretion of proinflammatory factors fuelling inflammaging. Cellular senescence is also accompanied by a deep reshaping of microRNA expression and by the modulation of mitochondria activity, both master regulators of the SASP.

Anticholinergic burden and 1-year mortality among older patients discharged from acute care hospital.

Aim: The association between anticholinergic burden and mortality is controversial. We aimed to investigate whether the anticholinergic cognitive burden (ACB) score predicts 1-year mortality in older patients discharged from acute care hospitals.

Methods: Our series consisted of 807 hospitalized patients aged ≥65 years.

Adverse Events of Proton Pump Inhibitors: Potential Mechanisms.

Objective: We aimed at summarizing current evidence about mechanisms for potentially harmful effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs).

Methods: A Pubmed search was performed, and 207 studies concerning the relationship between use of PPIs and cardiovascular diseases, kidney impairment, nutritional disorders, fractures, infections, functional decline, and mortality were selected and reviewed.

Results: PPIs may cause potentially harmful effects by several mechanisms, including endothelial dysfunction, hypomagnesemia, drug interactions, reduced absorption of selected nutrients, increased gastric microbiota and small intestine bacterial overgrowth, reduced immune response, tubular-interstitial inflammation, increased bone turnover, accumulation of amyloid in the brain.

Impact of potentially inappropriate medications and polypharmacy on 3-month readmission among older patients discharged from acute care hospital: a prospective study.

Background: Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are known to affect several negative outcomes in older patients. However, studies comparatively assessing polypharmacy and PIMs in relation to readmission are distinctively lacking.

Aims: To compare the impact of polypharmacy and PIMs on 3-month readmission among older patients discharged from acute care hospital.

Preadmission Functional Decline Predicts Functional Improvement Among Older Patients Admitted to Acute Care Hospital.

Background: Functional decline from preadmission to admission may represent an important predictor of functional trajectories during hospitalization among older patients. Therefore, we aimed at describing the impact of preadmission decline on functional trajectories among older hospitalized patients.

Methods: Our series consisted of 2,011 patients aged 65 years or more consecutively admitted to four acute care wards of Geriatric Medicine participating to a multicenter observational study.

Epigenetic effects of physical activity in elderly patients with cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an important public health problem affecting especially the elderly. Over the past 20years, an increasing number of studies have examined its underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and new therapies are continually being discovered. However, despite considerable progress in CVD management, mortality and morbidity remain a major healthcare concern, and frequent hospital admissions compromise the daily life and social activities of these patients.

Coronary flow response to remote ischemic preconditioning is preserved in old cardiac patients.

Background: The effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) on coronary flow in elderly cardiac patients has not been investigated yet. Thus, we aimed to study the change of coronary flow subsequent to RIPC in old patients with heart diseases and to identify its main correlates.

Methods: Ninety-five elderly patients (aged ≥ 65 years) accessing cardiac rehabilitation ward underwent transthoracic ultrasound evaluation of peak diastolic flow velocity of left anterior descending artery.

Anticholinergic burden and health outcomes among older adults discharged from hospital: results from the CRIME study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is an association between anticholinergic burden and mortality or rehospitalization in older adults discharged from hospital.

Methods: Prospective multicenter cohort study carried out with patients aged 65 and older discharged from seven acute care hospitals. The primary outcomes of the study were rehospitalization and mortality within 1 year after discharge.

Methylation of the ribosomal RNA gene promoter is associated with aging and age-related decline.

The transcription of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) is subject to epigenetic regulation, as it is abrogated by the methylation of CpG dinucleotides within their promoter region. Here, we investigated, through Sequenom platform, the age-related methylation status of the CpG island falling into the rDNA promoter in 472 blood samples from 20- to 105-year-old humans and in different tissues (blood, heart, liver, kidney, and testis) of 15 rats 3-96 weeks old. In humans, we did not find a consistently significant correlation between CpG site methylation and chronological age.

Bone marrow adipocytes support hematopoietic stem cell survival.

In bone marrow (BM), hematopoietic elements are mingled with adipocytes (BM-A), which are the most abundant stromal component in the niche. BM-A progressively increase with aging, eventually occupying up to 50% of BM cavities. In this work, the role played by BM-A was explored by studying primary human BM-A isolated from hip surgery patients at the molecular level, through microarray analysis, and at the functional level, by assessing their relationship with primary human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) by the long-term culture initiating cell (LTC-IC) assay.

Chronic kidney disease: A likely underestimated component of multimorbidity in older patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The coexistence of chronic kidney disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, two age-related conditions, has important clinical and prognostic implications. Respiratory failure is associated with important changes in glomerular and tubulointerstitial function. In contrast, renal failure can affect lung function, mainly by adding a restrictive component or causing complications, such as uremic pulmonary edema and pleural effusion.

Biocomplexity and Fractality in the Search of Biomarkers of Aging and Pathology: Focus on Mitochondrial DNA and Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents one major health concern for our growing elderly population. It accounts for increasing impairment of cognitive capacity followed by loss of executive function in late stage. AD pathogenesis is multifaceted and difficult to pinpoint, and understanding AD etiology will be critical to effectively diagnose and treat the disease.

Different transcriptional profiling between senescent and non-senescent human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) by Omeprazole and Lansoprazole treatment.

Recent evidence suggests that high dose and/or long term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in older patients, but mechanisms underlying these detrimental effects are not known. Taking into account that the senescent endothelial cells have been implicated in the genesis or promotion of age-related cardiovascular disease, we hypothesized an active role of PPIs in senescent cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the changes in gene expression occurring in senescent and non-senescent human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) following Omeprazole (OPZ) or Lansoprazole (LPZ) treatment.

Agreement between Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiological Collaboration and Berlin Initiative Study equations for estimating glomerular filtration rate in older people: The Invecchiare in Chianti (Aging in Chianti Region) study.

Aim: The aim was to investigate to what extent chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be staged interchangeably by Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiological Collaboration (CKD-EPI) and by Berlin Initiative Study (BIS) equations, and to verify whether cystatin C can improve concordance between formulas.

Methods: Our series consisted of 828 community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years or older enrolled in the Invecchiare in Chianti Study ("Aging in the Chianti Region"). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the creatinine-based CKD-EPI, creatinine/cystatin C-based CKD-EPI, creatinine-based BIS and creatinine/cystatin C-based BIS equations.

Predictors of rehospitalization among older adults: Results of the CRIME Study.

Aim: To assess the predictors of readmission among older adults hospitalized in acute care wards.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was carried out among 921 hospitalized older adults participating in the CRiteria to Assess Appropriate Medication Use among Elderly Complex Patients (CRIME) project. The primary outcome of the study was rehospitalization within 1 year after discharge from acute care hospitals.

Does being assisted by care workers affect antipsychotics prescription among older people discharged from hospital?

Aim: Several factors can affect antipsychotic prescriptions, among which, caregivers. However, whether being assisted by a care worker might increase the rate of antipsychotic prescriptions at discharge from acute care hospital has not been previously investigated. We aimed to investigate whether being assisted by a care worker is associated with increased use of antipsychotics among older patients discharged from acute care hospitals.

Physical activity and progenitor cell-mediated endothelial repair in chronic heart failure: Is there a role for epigenetics?

Chronic heart failure (CHF) is the most common cardiac disease among the elderly and a leading cause of mortality in elderly patients. Endothelial dysfunction is held to have a major role in the development and progression of CHF, which results in progressively impaired functional capacity. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) are the main players involved in the endogenous repair mechanisms that can counteract endothelial dysfunction.

Analytical Performances of an Enzymatic Assay for the Measurement of Glycated Albumin.

Background: Short to intermediate integrated glycemic control is best determined by glycated albumin (GA). This assay is appropriate when interpretation of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is critical because of hemoglobinopathies, severe anemias, or other factors that affect red blood lifespan as hemodialysis. We evaluated a new assay based on the enzymatic quantification of GA by ketoamine oxidase and an albumin-specific protease.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetic patients.

Background And Aims: Literature data suggest an association between Helicobacter pylori infection and glucose homeostasis. However, a causative link between them has not been demonstrated yet. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of H.

"Inflammaging" as a Druggable Target: A Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype-Centered View of Type 2 Diabetes.

Aging is a complex phenomenon driven by a variety of molecular alterations. A relevant feature of aging is chronic low-grade inflammation, termed "inflammaging." In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), many elements of aging appear earlier or are overrepresented, including consistent inflammaging.

Diagnostic value of microRNAs in asbestos exposure and malignant mesothelioma: systematic review and qualitative meta-analysis.

Background: Asbestos is a harmful and exceptionally persistent natural material. Malignant mesothelioma (MM), an asbestos-related disease, is an insidious, lethal cancer that is poorly responsive to current treatments. Minimally invasive, specific, and sensitive biomarkers providing early and effective diagnosis in high-risk patients are urgently needed.

Inappropriate prescription of low molecular weight heparins for thromboprophylaxis among older hospitalized patients.

Aim: To investigate the prevalence and clinical correlates of overprescribing and underprescribing of low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs) for thromboprophylaxis among older medical inpatients.

Methods: Eight hundred seventy six patients (mean age 81.5 ± 7.

Insulin/glucose induces natriuretic peptide clearance receptor in human adipocytes: a metabolic link with the cardiac natriuretic pathway.

Cardiac natriuretic peptides (NP) are involved in cardiorenal regulation and in lipolysis. The NP activity is largely dependent on the ratio between the signaling receptor NPRA and the clearance receptor NPRC. Lipolysis increases when NPRC is reduced by starving or very-low-calorie diet.