age OR aging OR ageing

Endometriosis, a common disorder affecting women of reproductive age is characterized by ectopic growth of the endometrial tissues, altered steroid hormone response and inflammation. Previous studies revealed that statins, selective inhibitors of the key step of mevalonate pathway, inhibit growth of endometrial stromal cells in vitro and reduce endometriotic lesions in murine models of endometriosis. This study evaluated the effects of simvastatin on the development of endometriosis in a baboon model of this disease...

Phytosterols (PS) are plant origin sterols naturally found in many foods and added as food additives. Since 1950, PS have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to lower serum cholesterol and inhibit cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, recent studies have found that PS act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals in laboratory animals. Therefore, this study was aimed at finding the mechanism(s) for PS effects on the sexual behaviors and reproductive functions in male Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica)...

Background and Objectives: Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) adults are more likely to live alone and less likely to have children compared with their heterosexual counterparts. The lack of immediate family system can render older LGBT adults particularly vulnerable to social isolation and its consequences. The current study utilizes social exclusion theory, which asserts that not only material resources but also engagement with and inclusion into the society are necessary for marginalized people to be integrated into the mainstream...

Solid tumors are increasingly recognized as a systemic disease that is manifested by changes in DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites in the blood. Whereas many studies have reported gene mutation events in the circulation, few studies have focused on epigenetic DNA methylation markers. To identify DNA methylation biomarkers in peripheral blood for ovarian cancer, we performed a two-stage epigenome-wide association study. In the discovery stage, we measured genome wide DNA methylation for 485,000 CpG sites in peripheral blood in 24 epithelial ovarian cancer cases and 24 age-matched healthy controls...

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine trajectories of Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD) over a 6 year period and compare the bio-psycho-social correlates between these trajectories. Methods: Community-based cohort of 1899 adult men were interviewed in 2006-2008 and 2012-2014. AUD were assessed using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test, and potential correlates including psycho-social problems, morbidity and physiological parameters were measured at follow-up...

Aims: Although cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is characterized by significant left atrial (LA) dilatation, the characteristics of LA function remain to be fully investigated. Methods and results: We assessed LA function by speckle-tracking echocardiography in 124 patients with CA and sinus rhythm: 68 with light chain (AL), 29 with mutant (ATTRm), 27 with wild-type (ATTRwt) transthyretin amyloidosis. Conventional and strain-derived parameters, including LA peak longitudinal strain (LS) and strain rate (peak LSR: reservoir function; early LSR: conduit function; late LSR: active function), were assessed compared between CA patients and 20 healthy controls of similar age and gender...

BACKGROUND: Few studies have focused on the management of patients with nondisplaced cervical facet fractures. OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of successful nonoperative management and risk factors for instability in patients with acute traumatic, unilateral, nondisplaced cervical facet fractures. METHODS: We reviewed patients with single or multilevel unilateral nondisplaced or minimally displaced subaxial cervical facet fractures between 2008 and 2014...

Mycoplasma synoviae can cause worldwide respiratory diseases, synovitis, or subclinical symptoms in poultry. M. synoviae infection occurs throughout the yr and causes significant economic losses, including increased mortality, condemnations, medication, and live production cost. In the present study, the seroprevalence of M. synoviae among 44,395 non-vaccinated chickens from 21 provinces in China from 2010 to 2015 was estimated using ELISA. The overall seroprevalence was 41.19%. Seropositive rates in different yr ranged between 24...

The aim of this study was to explore perspectives of transition and transition readiness of young adult patients (YAs) with sickle cell disease (SCD) who have transitioned to adult health care. In all, 19 YAs with SCD (ages 18-30 years) participated in one of three focus groups and completed a brief questionnaire about transition topics. Transcripts were coded and emergent themes were examined using the social-ecological model of adolescent and young adult readiness for transition (SMART). Themes were consistent with most SMART components...

Purpose of Study: To assess trends in family caregiving between 1999 and 2015. Design and Methods: We construct nationally representative profiles of community-dwelling older adults receiving help with self-care or indoor mobility and their "primary" family or unpaid caregiver using the 1999 and 2004 National Long Term Care Survey, 2011 and 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study, and linked caregiver surveys. Trends are examined. Results: Older adults receiving help were incrementally younger, more racially diverse, and better educated in 2015...

Phylostratigraphy, originally designed for gene age estimation by BLAST-based protein homology searches of sequenced genomes, has been widely used for studying patterns and inferring mechanisms of gene origination and evolution. We previously showed by computer simulation that phylostratigraphy underestimates gene age for a non-negligible fraction of genes and that the underestimation is severer for genes with certain properties such as fast evolution and short protein sequences. Consequently, many previously reported age distributions of gene properties may have been methodological artifacts rather than biological realities...

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSI) cause considerable morbidity and mortality, and primary prevention should be a priority. Lifestyle factors are of particular interest since they represent a modifiable target. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study among participants in the population-based Norwegian HUNT2 Survey, where 64 027 participants were followed from 1995-97 through 2011 by linkage to prospectively recorded information on BSI at local and regional hospitals...

Reproductive tract infections have long been hypothesized to increase fibroid risk. Few studies have been conducted, even for the common infection, genital Chlamydia trachomatis (gCT), and only with self-reported gCT data. Our investigation used micro-immunofluorescence serology for gCT to characterize past exposure. We used cross-sectional enrollment data from a prospective fibroid study in the Detroit, Michigan area; ultrasound examinations systematically screened for fibroids. Participants were African-American women ages 23-34 (recruited 2010-2012)...

Aims: To obtain the normal ranges for 2D echocardiographic (2DE) measurements of left ventricular (LV) strain from a large group of healthy volunteers accounting for age and gender. Methods and results: A total of 549 (mean age: 45.6 ± 13.3 years) healthy subjects were enrolled at 22 collaborating institutions of the Normal Reference Ranges for Echocardiography (NORRE) study. 2DE data sets have been analysed with a vendor-independent software package allowing homogeneous measurements irrespective of the echocardiographic equipment used to acquire the data sets...

Comparing risk factor associations between invasive breast cancers and possible precursors may further understanding of factors related to initiation versus progression. Accordingly, among 190,325 postmenopausal participants in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study (1995-2011), we compared risk factor associations between incident ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS: n = 1,453) and invasive ductal carcinomas (n = 7,525) and lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS: n = 186) and invasive lobular carcinomas (n = 1,191)...

Background: Health status has been reported to change before, during and after disability pension receipt. These associations might be subject to temporal changes according to changes in policy, incidence of disability pensions and other contextual factors. We compared the perceived health around time of disability retirement among persons receiving disability pension in the 1990 s and 2000 s in Norway. Methods: We linked data from two consecutive cross-sectional population based Norwegian health surveys, HUNT2 (1995-97) and HUNT3 (2006-08), to national registries, identifying those who received disability pension within 5 years before or after participation in the survey (HUNT2: n = 5362, HUNT3: n = 4649)...

Objectives: We examined differences in depressive symptoms among people 65 and older who live alone, exploring whether these differences are associated with both health and environmental contexts. Method: Data are from the 2006 wave of Health Retirement Study (N = 2,956, age range: 65-104). We used a two-step cluster analytical approach to identify subgroups of health-limitation profiles and environmental profiles. Logistic regression models determined associations between subgroups and depressive symptoms...

Combining anti-catabolic agents with parathyroid hormone (PTH) to enhance bone mass has yielded mixed results in osteoporosis patients. Towards the goal of enhancing the efficacy of these regimens, we tested their utility in combination with loss of the transcription factor Nmp4 since disabling this gene amplifies PTH-induced increases in trabecular bone in mice by boosting osteoblast secretory activity. We addressed whether combining a sustained anabolic response with an anti-catabolic results in superior bone acquisition compared to PTH mono-therapy...

Objective: The rapid population aging is now a global issue. The increase in the elderly population will impact the health care industry and health enterprises; various senior needs will promote the growth of the senior health industry. Most senior health studies are focused on the demand side and scarcely on supply. Our study selected quality enterprises focused on aging health and analyzed different strategies to provide excellent quality services to senior health enterprises. Design: We selected 33 quality senior health enterprises in Taiwan and investigated their excellent quality services strategies by face-to-face semi-structured in-depth interviews with CEO and managers of each enterprise in 2013...

The aim of this trial was to compare 2 feeding systems based on whole corn, a loose-mix and a free-choice feeding system, during the finishing stage on the performance of ducks. Five hundred sixteen day-old male mule ducks (Muscovy drake × Pekin duck) were divided into 3 groups that differed in the presentation of the diet they received between 58 and 88 d of age: a complete pelleted diet (Control (CON) group; AMEn 12.1 MJ/kg, CP 15.0%) containing 500 g of corn per kg; or whole corn (AMEn 13.9 MJ/kg, CP 7...