Search Results (9,707)

Background/Objectives: Egg consumption in adults has been linked with a modestly increased risk of all-cause and CVD mortality. However, evidence on adults aged 65 y+ is limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between egg intake and mortality in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 8756 adults aged 70+ years, participants in the ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly (ASPREE) Longitudinal Study of Older Persons, self-reported the frequency of their total egg intake: never/infrequently (rarely/never, 1–2 times/month), weekly (1–6 times/week), and daily (daily/several times per day). All-cause and cause-specific (cardiovascular disease [CVD] and cancer) mortality was established from at least two sources: medical records, death notices, next of kin, or death registry linkage. The association between egg intake and mortality was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, adjusted for socio-demographic, health-related, and clinical factors and overall dietary quality. Results: Over the median 5.9-year follow-up period, a total of 1034 all-cause deaths (11.8%) were documented. A 29% lower risk of CVD mortality (HR (95% CI): 0.71 [0.54–0.92]) and a 17% (HR (95% CI): 0.83 [0.71–0.96]) lower risk of all-cause mortality were observed among those who consumed eggs weekly, compared to those who consumed eggs never/infrequently; no statistically significant association was observed for weekly consumption and cancer mortality. In contrast, compared to those that never or infrequently consumed eggs, daily consumption had slightly higher odds of mortality, though these results did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The consumption of eggs 1–6 times per week was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in community-dwelling adults aged 70 years and over. These findings may be important to inform the development of evidence-based guidelines for egg consumption. Full article

Background and aim: Telomere length (TL) is a key biomarker of cellular aging, with shorter telomeres associated with age-related diseases. Lifestyle interventions mitigating telomere shortening are essential for preventing such conditions. This study aimed to examine the effects of two weight loss dietary strategies, based on a moderately high-protein (MHP) diet and a low-fat (LF) diet on TL in individuals with overweight or obesity. Methods and Results: A total of 164 participants, aged 18–65 years from the OBEKIT trial received the MHP (n = 83) or the LF diet (n = 81) for 4 months and had TL data for analyses. TL was measured at baseline and after 4 months of the intervention using monochrome multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction (MMqPCR). Both groups experienced significant improvements in anthropometric and biochemical parameters after the dietary intervention (p < 0.001). The MHP group showed an increase in TL (+0.16 ± 0.13) compared to the LF group (−0.05 ± 0.13) in multiple-adjusted models (p = 0.016). An interaction was observed between the sex and dietary group, where women in the MHP group had increased TL (+0.23 ± 0.16) after 4 months compared to women in the LF group (−0.13 ± 0.15; p = 0.001); no differences between dietary groups were found in men. This increase in TL for women was associated with an increase in protein intake (p = 0.006), measured through dietary questionnaires. Conclusion: This study shows that a MHP diet may have a protective effect on TL during weight loss, particularly in women, potentially contributing to healthier aging. These results highlight the importance of considering macronutrient composition in dietary interventions aimed at preserving TL. Full article

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) measures the rate at which erythrocytes aggregate and sediment in a fixed time in an anticoagulated blood tube and is expressed as a speed (mm/h). The ESR is still widely used in human medicine mainly as a modified or alternate method to the original Westergren. In veterinary medicine, it was employed in the 1940s–1960s after which it was gradually abandoned or rarely employed. More papers using the Westergren method have been published in dogs rather than in cats. In recent years, the test has regained importance. This narrative review describes the principle of ESR, which is related to the increase in a few acute response proteins such as fibrinogen, immunoglobulin M, and α2-macroglobulin which act to aggregate RBCs. Reference intervals were established for dogs and cats for the original and modified Westergren method. The ESR is mainly used to detect inflammatory conditions derived from infection, urinary or orthopedic disorders, and also miscellaneous diseases. The application of the modified ESR is supported by appropriate reference intervals; however, further studies are needed to assess the influence of age, sex, and breed both for dogs and cats. Full article

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including phthalates, have been implicated in the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatic fibrosis. This study investigates the age-dependent effects of butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) exposure on lipid metabolism in the livers of young and aged mice. Young (2-month-old) and aged (20-month-old) male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to BBP through drinking water at a dose of 169 μg/kg/day for 6 and 4 months, respectively. Young mice exposed to BBP showed fatty liver, with downregulation of key fatty acid oxidation genes (CPT1A, CPT1B, CPT2, and Acox1) and elevated pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). In contrast, aged mice exhibited hepatic fibrosis, with increased collagen deposition and upregulation of genes related to fibrosis (Acta2, MMP2, TGF-ß1, and Col1a2), cirrhosis (CXCR4, SOX9, DCN, and MFAP4), and cancer (Bcl2, CDKN2a, c-Myc, and Fn1). Overall, these findings emphasize the importance of age when evaluating the risks of EDC exposure, such as BBP. Future research should focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms behind these age-related differences and explore Grem1 and SOCS3 as potential therapeutic targets for treating EDC-induced and age-related liver diseases. Full article

Background/Objectives: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a global cause of vision loss, with limited therapeutic options highlighting the need for effective biomarkers. This study aimed to characterize plasma DNA methyltransferase expression (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) in AMD patients and explore divergent expression patterns across different stages of AMD. Methods: Thirty-eight AMD patients were prospectively enrolled and stratified by disease severity: eAMD, iAMD, nAMD, and aAMD. Comprehensive ophthalmological assessments were performed, including best-corrected visual acuity, digital color fundus photographs, and Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography. Peripheral blood samples were collected for RNA extraction and qRT-PCR to access epigenetic effectors’ transcriptional expression, namely DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B genes. The collected data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 29. Results: DNMT1 expression was significantly downregulated in late AMD (−0.186 ± 0.341) compared to early/intermediate AMD (0.026 ± 0.246). Within late AMD, aAMD exhibited a marked downregulation of DNMT1 (−0.375 ± 0.047) compared to nAMD (0.129 ± 0.392). DNMT3A and DNMT3B showed similar divergent expression patterns, correlating with disease stage. Conclusions: This study identified stage-specific transcriptional differences in DNMT expression, emphasizing its potential as a biomarker for AMD progression and a target for future research into personalized therapeutic strategies. Full article

During vegetative growth, plants undergo various morphological and physiological changes in the transition from the juvenile phase to the adult phase. In terms of stress resistance, it has been suggested that plants gain or reinforce disease resistance during the process of maturation, which is recognized as adult plant resistance or age-related resistance. While much knowledge has been obtained about changes in disease resistance as growth stages progress, knowledge about changes in plant responses to pathogens with progressing age in plants is limited. In this study, we experimentally compared rice blast resistance in rice leaves sampled from plants at different growth phases. The results indicate differential infection progression and fungal status depending on growth stage. Transcriptome analysis following blast fungus infection revealed that several genes involved in the defense response were upregulated in both the juvenile and intermediate stage, but the expression changes of many genes were growth phase-specific. These findings highlight differences in rice leaf stress responses to blast infection at different growth stages. Full article

Background/Objectives: The global population is undergoing a significant demographic shift characterised by an increasing proportion of older individuals. Healthy aging has become a priority for personal well-being and sustainable healthcare systems, with nutrition playing a pivotal role. However, the rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), malnutrition, and a shift in eating behaviour underscore the need for tailored, effective nutrition communication strategies. This research is intended to provide the basic data needed to support the development of tailored nutritional communication strategies and practices. Methods: To investigate these aspects, a cross-national survey about nutrition and nutrition communication was conducted within the framework of the Innovative Training Network SmartAge, focusing on older adults aged 60 years and above in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, and France (each 25%; N = 1000 persons). This paper specifically focuses on the development, methodology, and discussion of the survey and aims to investigate the characteristics of the sample in relation to their dietary patterns and food choices within the European context. Results: The analysis identified significant associations between various plant- and animal-based food items and the variables gender, age group, and country. Spanish participants showed a dietary pattern towards the Mediterranean Diet, while German participants showed tendencies towards the Western Diet. Furthermore, the findings revealed that protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, nuts and seeds, legumes, and (whole) grains were infrequently consumed, particularly among German and Swiss participants. Conclusions: This study highlights the need to promote adequate protein intake among older adults, emphasising diverse sources like legumes, nuts and seeds, (whole) grains, and lean meats to support healthy aging. For the development of future nutrition communication strategies, the influence of the specific social, cultural, and traditional factors needs to be considered. Full article

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders among reproductive-aged women. It is characterized by hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and polycystic ovaries. Lifestyle changes are suggested as first-line interventions in managing PCOS. This systematic review aims to assess the scientific evidence regarding the role of lifestyle modifications (dietary changes, physical activity, and behavioral changes) in improving reproductive, anthropometric, metabolic, and psychological outcomes in women with PCOS. Dietary interventions such as foods with low glycemic index scores; caloric restrictions; high-fiber, omega three fatty acid-rich diets; ketogenic diets; Mediterranean diets; antioxidant-rich food; and anti-inflammatory diets improve insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance in women with PCOS. Physical activity, like aerobic and resistance exercise, enhances insulin sensitivity, helps weight loss, and improves metabolic and reproductive outcomes in women with PCOS. Further, behavioral and education modules can also be used to improve awareness, adherence, and the effectiveness of conventional treatment and to manage mental health issues related to PCOS. Collectively, lifestyle modifications not only improve the biochemical, hormonal, and anthropometric parameters in PCOS patients but also reduce the long-term risks of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Full article

Cellular senescence is a state of permanent cell cycle arrest accompanied by metabolic activity and characteristic phenotypic changes. This process is crucial for developing age-related diseases, where excessive calorie intake accelerates metabolic dysfunction and aging. Overnutrition disturbs key metabolic pathways, including insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS), the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and AMP-activated protein kinase. The dysregulation of these pathways contributes to insulin resistance, impaired autophagy, exacerbated oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, further enhancing cellular senescence and systemic metabolic derangements. On the other hand, dysfunctional endothelial cells and adipocytes contribute to systemic inflammation, reduced nitric oxide production, and altered lipid metabolism. Numerous factors, including extracellular vesicles, mediate pathological communication between the vascular system and adipose tissue, amplifying metabolic imbalances. Meanwhile, caloric restriction (CR) emerges as a potent intervention to counteract overnutrition effects, improve mitochondrial function, reduce oxidative stress, and restore metabolic balance. CR modulates pathways such as IIS, mTOR, and sirtuins, enhancing glucose and lipid metabolism, reducing inflammation, and promoting autophagy. CR can extend the health span and mitigate age-related diseases by delaying cellular senescence and improving healthy endothelial–adipocyte interactions. This review highlights the crosstalk between endothelial cells and adipocytes, emphasizing CR potential in counteracting overnutrition-induced senescence and restoring vascular homeostasis. Full article

Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children, typically arising during infancy and childhood. Despite multimodal therapies achieving a response rate of 70% in children older than 3 years, treatment remains challenging. Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death, can be induced in medulloblastoma cells in vitro using erastin or RSL3. Using two independent medulloblastoma RNA-sequencing cohorts (MB-PBTA and MTAB-10767), we investigated the expression of ferroptosis-related molecules through multiple approaches, including Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA), molecular subtype stratification, protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks, and univariable and multivariable overall survival analyses. A prognostic expression score was computed based on a cross-validated ferroptosis signature. In training and validation cohorts, the regulation of the ferroptosis transcriptional program distinguished the four molecular subtypes of medulloblastoma. WGCNA identified nine gene modules in the MB tumor transcriptome; five correlated with molecular subtypes, implicating pathways related to oxidative stress, hypoxia, and trans-synaptic signaling. One module, associated with disease recurrence, included epigenetic regulators and nucleosome organizers. Univariable survival analyses identified a 45-gene ferroptosis prognostic signature associated with nutrient sensing, cysteine and methionine metabolism, and trans-sulfuration within a one-carbon metabolism. The top ten unfavorable ferroptosis genes included CCT3, SNX5, SQOR, G3BP1, CARS1, SLC39A14, FAM98A, FXR1, TFAP2C, and ATF4. Patients with a high ferroptosis score showed a worse prognosis, particularly in the G3 and SHH subtypes. The PPI network highlighted IL6 and CBS as unfavorable hub genes. In a multivariable overall survival model, which included gender, age, and the molecular subtype classification, the ferroptosis expression score was validated as an independent adverse prognostic marker (hazard ratio: 5.8; p-value = 1.04 × 10⁻⁹). This study demonstrates that the regulation of the ferroptosis transcriptional program is linked to medulloblastoma molecular subtypes and patient prognosis. A cross-validated ferroptosis signature was identified in two independent RNA-sequencing cohorts, and the ferroptosis score was confirmed as an independent and adverse prognostic factor in medulloblastoma. Full article

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by the degradation of dopaminergic pathways in the brain. As the population in the United States continues to age, it is essential to understand the trends in mortality related to PD. This analysis of PD’s mortality characterizes temporal shifts, examines demographic and regional differences, and provides machine-learning predictions. Methods: PD-related deaths in the United States were gathered from CDC WONDER. Age-adjusted mortality rates (AAMR) were collected, and trends were analyzed based on gender, race, region, age, and place of death. Annual percent change and average annual percent change were calculated using Joinpoint Regression program. Forecasts were obtained using the optimal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model. Results: Overall mortality rate due to Parkinson’s increased from 1999 to 2022. Male gender, White race, Southern region, and older ages were associated with higher mortality compared to other groups. Deaths at home decreased and hospice deaths increased during the study period. Conclusions: This study highlights the increasing rate of PD AAMR and how it may become even more prevalent with time, emphasizing the value of increasing knowledge surrounding the disease and its trends to better prepare health systems and individual families for the burden of PD. Full article

Background: The impact of Celiac Disease (CD) is not only limited to the intestinal system, but extraintestinal manifestations may also be seen. In this context, cardiac manifestations have recently been the focus of attention. This study aimed to evaluate myocardial repolarization properties in CD patients by assessing the frontal QRS-T Angle (fQRS-T) on electrocardiography (ECG). Methods: A total of 302 patients, including 150 CD patients and 152 control group patients, were included in the study. ECG parameters, including fQRS-T, QRS interval, and QTc interval, were calculated for each patient and compared between the groups. In addition, the relationship of these ECG parameters with disease duration was also analyzed. Results: The median disease duration was 38.5 (16 to 96) months in the CD group. Significantly wider QRS interval (92 (86 to 96) vs. 83 (76.3 to 93), p < 0.001) and fQRS-T (23 (13 to 37) vs. 18 (6.3 to 27), p < 0.001) values were observed in the CD group. Among CD patients, those with longer disease duration (>38.5 months) exhibited significantly wider QRS intervals (94 (88 to 98) vs. 88 (84 to 94), p < 0.001) and frontal QRS-T angles (29 (14 to 47) vs. 16 (10 to 25), p < 0.001) compared to those with shorter disease duration. A positive correlation between the disease duration and fQRS-T was also demonstrated (r = 0.478, p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression identified QRS interval (OR: 1.060, 95% CI: 1.032–1.088, p < 0.001) and frontal QRS-T angle (OR: 1.028, 95% CI: 1.013–1.043, p < 0.001) as independent predictors of CD. Additionally, the QRS interval (OR: 1.066, 95% CI: 1.012–1.124, p = 0.016) and frontal QRS-T angle (OR: 1.021, 95% CI: 1.003–1.038, p = 0.021) were significant predictors of longer disease duration. A linear regression analysis confirmed that disease duration was a stronger predictor of frontal QRS-T angle widening (B: 0.389, 95% CI: 0.102–0.677, p < 0.001) compared to age (B: 0.184, 95% CI: 0.123–0.245, p = 0.008). Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrated that chronic inflammation secondary to CD may have negative effects on cardiac repolarization and that this effect is closely related to disease duration. Full article

Background/Objectives: As cells divide, telomeres shorten through a phenomenon known as telomere attrition, which leads to unavoidable senescence of cells. Unprotected DNA exponentially increases the odds of mutations, which can evolve into premature aging disorders and tumorigenesis. There has been growing academic and clinical interest in exploring this duality and developing optimal therapeutic strategies to combat telomere attrition in aging and cellular immortality in cancer. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated overview of telomere biology and therapeutic tactics to address aging and cancer. Methods: We used the Rayyan platform to review the PubMed database and examined the ClinicalTrial.gov registry to gain insight into clinical trials and their results. Results: Cancer cells activate telomerase or utilize alternative lengthening of telomeres to escape telomere shortening, leading to near immortality. Contrarily, normal cells experience telomeric erosion, contributing to premature aging disorders, such as Werner syndrome and Hutchinson–Gilford Progeria, and (2) aging-related diseases, such as neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions: The literature presents several promising therapeutic approaches to potentially balance telomere maintenance in aging and shortening in cancer. This review highlights gaps in knowledge and points to the potential of these optimal interventions in preclinical and clinical studies to inform future research in cancer and aging. Full article

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated profound health, societal, and economic consequences, which have been further compounded by long-term sequelae commonly referred to as post-COVID-19 or long-COVID syndrome. Understanding the real-world impact of post-COVID-19 mortality is therefore critical for effective healthcare planning and resource allocation. Methods: A descriptive epidemiological study was conducted using data from the US National Center for Health Statistics 2018–2024 to identify deaths attributed to the post-COVID-19 condition, as classified by the ICD-10 code U09.9, from October 2021 to December 2024. Demographic factors such as gender, age, and place of death were also extracted. Results: By December 2024, 2653 US deaths were classified under the ICD-10 code U09.9, corresponding to an age-adjusted mortality rate of 0.089 × 100,000. Mortality was significantly higher in males compared to females (0.098 vs. 0.081 × 100,000; p < 0.001). A clear age-related mortality gradient was observed, with rates increasing almost linearly with advancing age. The largest fraction of post-COVID-19 deaths occurred at home (33.0%), followed by nursing homes (26.3%) and medical facilities (24.1%). Conclusions: These findings highlight the substantial yet complex impact of the post-COVID-19 condition on mortality, with higher rates observed in males, older adults, and individuals at home, highlighting the need for targeted healthcare interventions and resource allocation, particularly for these higher-risk groups. Full article

Endometriosis is a common gynecological disease that affects approximately 10–15% of reproductive-aged women worldwide. This debilitating disease has a negative impact on the quality of life of those affected. Despite this condition being very common, the pathogenesis is not well understood. Metabolomics is the study of the array of low-weight metabolites in a given sample. This emerging field of omics-based science has proved to be effective at furthering the understanding of endometriosis. In this systematic review, we seek to provide an overview of the application of metabolomics in endometriosis. We highlight the use of metabolomics in locating biomarkers for identification, understanding treatment mechanisms and symptoms, and relating external factors to endometriosis. The literature search took place in the Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar based on the keywords “metabolomics” AND “endometriosis” or “metabolome” AND “endometriosis”. We found 58 articles from 2012 to 2024 that met our search criteria. Significant alterations of lipids, amino acids, as well as other compounds were present in human and animal models. Discrepancies among studies of significantly altered metabolites make it difficult to make general conclusions on the metabolic signature of endometriosis. However, several individual metabolites were elevated in multiple studies of women with endometriosis; these include 3-hydroxybutyrate, lactate, phosphatidic acids, succinate, pyruvate, tetradecenoylcarnitine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine. Accordingly, L-isoleucine and citrate were reduced in multiple studies of women with endometriosis. Including larger cohorts, standardizing testing methods, and studying the individual phenotypes of endometriosis may lead to more separable results. Full article