AMP -activated protein kinase (AMPK) plays a role in metabolic regulation under stress conditions, and inadequate AMPK signaling may be also involved in aging process. The aim was to find out whether AMPK α 2-subunit deletion affects heart function and ische mic tolerance of adult and aged mice. AMPK α 2 -/- (KO) and wild type (WT) female mice were compared at the age of 6 and 18 months. KO mice exhibited subtle myocardial AMPK α 2-subunit protein level, but no difference in AMPK α 1-subunit was detected between the strains. Both α 1- and α 2-subunits of AMPK and their phosphorylation decreased with advanced age. Left ventricular fractional shortening was lower in KO than in WT mice of both age groups and this difference was maintained after high-fat feeding. Infarct size induced by global ischemia/reperfusion of isolated hearts was similar in both strains at 6 months of age. Aged WT but not KO mice exhibited improved ischemic tolerance compared with the younger group. High-fat feeding for 6 months during aging abolished the infarct size-reduction in WT without affecting KO animals; nevertheless, the extent of injury remained larger in KO mice. The results demonstrate that adverse effects of AMPK α 2-subunit deletion and high-fat feeding on heart function and myocardia l ischemic tolerance in aged female mice are not additive., K. Slámová, F. Papoušek, P. Janovská, J. Kopecký, F. Kolář., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Ageing is accompanied by deterioration in physical condition and a number of physiological processes and thus a higher risk of a range of diseases and disorders. In particular, we focused on the changes associated with aging, especially the role of small molecules, their role in physiological and pathophysiological processes and potential treatment options. Our previously published results and data from other authors lead to the conclusion that these unwanted changes are mainly linked to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can be slowed down, stopped, or in some cases even reversed by an appropriate treatment, but especially by a life-management adjustment., Martin Hill, Zdeněk Třískala, Pavla Honců, Milada Krejčí, Jiří Kajzar, Marie Bičíková, Leona Ondřejíková, Dobroslava Jandová, Ivan Sterzl., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Considerable evidence demonstrates that phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is influenced by aging and hypertension. During phenotypic switching, VSMCs undergo a switch to a proliferative and migratory phenotype, with this switch being a common pathology in cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the joint influence of age and hypertension on thoracic aortic smooth muscle phenotypic switching and the balance of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling during this switch. Different ages of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) were used to establish hypertension and aging models. The phenotypic state was determined by detecting the marker proteins α-SM-actin, calponin, and osteopontin (OPN) via immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. Signaling proteins associated with the Akt and MAPK pathways were detected in rat thoracic aorta using Western blot. Both aging and hypertension caused a decrease in contractile (differentiated) phenotype markers (α-SM-actin and calponin), while the synthetic (proliferative or de-differentiated) phenotype maker was elevated (OPN). When combining hypertension and aging, this effect was enhanced, with Akt signaling decreased, while MAPK signaling was increased. These results suggested that VSMCs phenotype switching is modulated by a balance between Akt and MAPK signaling in the process of aging and hypertension., Lin Zhang, Zhaoxia Xu, Ying Wu, Jingwen Liao, Fanxing Zeng, Lijun Shi., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aim of this study was to compare the central and peripheral components of cardiorespiratory fitness during incremental to maximal exercise between older men who were either recreational athletes (RA) or leisurely active (LA) men, i.e., those who fall between trained and untrained. This was a crosssectional study in which all subjects completed an exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and ventilatory threshold (VT) were assessed using gas analysis, and central components of VO2max were assessed using a non-invasive thoracic bio-impedance device. VO2max (RA: 45.1±4.8 ml/kg/min; LA: 32.2±4.6 ml/kg/min, p≤0.001) and SV at maximal exercise (RA: 133.5±24.96 ml/beat; LA: 107.9±17.6 ml/beat, p=0.005) were higher in the RA group compared to the LA group. A plateau in SV occurred between 30-45 % of maximal exercise capacity in the RA group. No differences in SV were observed across workloads in the LA group. No differences in the calculated arterio-venous oxygen difference ((a-v)O2diff) were observed between groups. In conclusions, training volume appears to influence central components of cardiorespiratory fitness among a matched sample of older men who are neither trained nor untrained. This builds a case for increasing the volume of training to preserve cardiorespiratory fitness among older men., C. D. O'neill, D. S. Kimmerly, S. Dogra., and Obsahuje bibliografii
a1_Reduced tolerance to ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury has been shown in elder human and animal hearts, however, the onset of this unfavorable phenotype and cellular mechanisms behind remain unknown. Moreover, aging may interfere with the mechanisms of innate cardioprotection (preconditioning, PC) and cause defects in protective cell signaling. We studied the changes in myocardial function and response to ischemia, as well as selected proteins involved in “pro-survival” pathways in the hearts from juvenile (1.5 months), younger adult (3 months) and mature adult (6 months) male Wistar rats. In Langendorffperfused hearts exposed to 30-min ischemia/2-h reperfusion with or without prior PC (one cycle of 5-min ischemia/5-min reperfusion), we measured occurrence of reperfusion-induced arrhythmias, recovery of contractile function (left ventricular developed pressure, LVDP, in % of pre-ischemic values), and size of infarction (IS, in % of area at risk size, TTC staining and computerized planimetry). In parallel groups, LV tissue was sampled for the detection of protein levels (WB) of Akt kinase (an effector of PI3-kinase), phosphorylated (activated) Akt (p-Akt), its target endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and protein kinase Cε (PKCε) as components of “pro-survival” cascades. Maturation did not affect heart function, however, it impaired cardiac response to lethal IR injury (increased IS) and promoted arrhythmogenesis. PC reduced the occurrence of malignant arrhythmias, IS and improved LVDP recovery in the younger animals, while its efficacy was attenuated in the mature adults. Loss of PC protection was associated with age-dependent reduced Akt phosphorylation and levels of eNOS and PKCε in the hearts of mature animals compared with the younger ones, as well as with a failure of PC to upregulate these proteins., a2_Agingrelated alterations in myocardial response to ischemia may be caused by dysfunction of proteins involved in protective cell signaling that may occur already during the process of maturation., L. Griecsová, V. Farkašová, I. Gáblovský, V. K. M. Khandelwal, I. Bernátová, Z. Tatarková, P. Kaplan, T. Ravingerová., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Spinal deformities such as scoliosis and kyphosis are incurable, and can lead to decreased physical function, pain, and reduced quality of life. Despite much effort, no clear therapies for the treatment of these conditions have been found. Therefore, the development of an animal model for spinal deformity would be extremely valuable to our understanding of vertebral diseases. In this study, we demonstrate that mice deficient in the mitochondrial enzyme isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) develop spinal deformities with aging. We use morphological analysis as well as radiographic and micro-CT imaging of IDH2-deficient mice to characterize these deformities. Histological analysis showed increased abnormalities in IDH2-deficient mice compared to wild type mice. Taken together, the results suggest that IDH2 plays a critical role in maintaining the spinal structure by affecting the homeostatic balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts. This indicates that IDH2 might be a potent target for the development of therapies for spinal deformities. Our findings also provide a novel animal model for vertebral disease research., U. Chae, N.-R. Park, E. S. Kim, J.-Y. Choi, M. Yim, H.-S. Lee, S.-R. Lee, S. Lee, J.-W. Park, D.-S. Lee., and Obsahuje bibliografii
The aging process is associated with a decline in mitochondrial functions. Mitochondria dysfunction is involved in initiation and progression of many health problems including neuromuscular, metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. It is well known that endurance exercise improves mitochondrial function, especially in the elderly. However, recent studies have demonstrated that resistan ce training lead also to substantial increases in mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle. A comprehensive understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved in the skeletal muscle mitochondrial adaptations to exercise training in healthy elderly subjects, can help practitioners to design and prescribe more effective exercise trainings., M. M. Ziaaldini, S. R. A. Hosseini, M. Fathi., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Záměr. Studie shrnuje poznatky o použití české verze Dotazníku proaktivního zvládání (Proactive Coping Inventory, PCI) u seniorské populace. V práci je srovnáván vztah mezi jednotlivými škálami dotazníku PCI, paměťovým výkonem a koncentrací.
Soubor a procedura. Soubor tvořilo 257 samostatně žijících dospělých ve věku 55 až 92 let z Prahy a okolí. Při výzkumu byl využit Dotazník proaktivního zvládání. Paměťový výkon byl měřen pomocí Paměťového testu učení (AVLT) a subtestu Logická paměť z WMS-III. Kromě kognitivních testů byly administrovány dotazníky Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ), Schwartz Outcomes Scale (SOS-10) a doplňkové škály Implicitního asociačního testu zaměřeného na sebehodnocení (IAT).
Statistická analýza. Nejprve byla provedena psychometrická analýza škál dotazníku PCI, kde autoři zjišťovali vnitřní konsistenci škál a korelace jednotlivých položek v rámci škály. V druhém kroku byly zjišťovány vztahy mezi vzděláním, věkem a jednotlivými škálami PCI pomocí korelací (Spearmanův koeficient korelace). Pomocí korelační analýzy byl srovnáván vztah jednotlivých škál PCI s výsledky ostatních nástrojů.
Výsledky. Srovnání ukázalo, že paradoxně horší paměťový výkon souvisí s vyšší preferencí řešení situací, které zahrnují reflexi a plánování (škály reflektivní řešení a strategické řešení situací). Tento jev je interpretován jako kompenzace. Psychometrická analýza potvrdila, že česká verze dotazníku má při použití u starších osob srovnatelné vlastnosti s původním nástrojem. U seniorů byly nalezeny nižší hodnoty Proaktivního zvládání.
Omezení studie. Sledovaný soubor není reprezentativní, převažují v něm ženy, a úroveň vzdělání je nadprůměrná. and Proactive coping and cognitive performance in elderly
Objectives. The study reports the results of Czech version of Proactive Coping Inventory (PCI) in the elderly. The results of PCI subscales were compared to the cognitive performance in memory and attention domains.
Subjects and setting. The sample included 257 community-dwelling senior citizens from Prague region. The Czech version of Proactive Coping Inventory was administered. The memory performance was assessed using AVLT and Logical Memory subtest from WMS-III. Besides the cognitive tests Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ), Schwartz Outcomes Scale (SOS-10) and explicit measures from self-esteem Implicit Association Test were administered. Statistical analysis. The psychometric properties of PCI subscales were calculated (Cronbach alpha, item-scale correlations). The relationship of PCI subscales to demographic factors (age, education), cognitive performance and other measures was investigated in correlation analysis.
Results. Contrary to prior expectations worse cognitive performance is related to higher scores in Reflective Coping and Strategic Planning subscales, which refer to the use of reflection and planning. This effect is interpreted as a compensation mechanism. The psychometric analysis confirmed similar psychometric properties of the questionnaire in elderly compared to the original study. Lower Proactive Coping scores were found in this study.
Study limitations. The sample is not representative, with majority of women and above-average education level.
a1_Cíle. Propoziční hustota (PH), psycholingvistické měřítko, koreluje s kognitivní kapacitou ve starším věku. Tato studie zjišťuje rozdíly v propoziční hustotě v orálních výpovědích na téma z nedávné minulosti u osob zdravých a s mírnou kognitivní poruchou (MKP). MKP je v současnosti přijímána jako prodromální stádium Alzheimerovy nemoci (AN). Soubor. Soubor zahrnoval 33 osob s MKP a 32 zdravých kontrol (průměrný věk 73 let). Obě skupiny byly vyrovnané, a to co do věku a úrovně dosaženého vzdělání. Dle očekávání se lišily v skóru MMSE, který je považován za zjednodušené vyjádření úrovně kognitivního stavu. Hypotézy. Nižší PH byla očekávána u osob s MKP, neboť úkol zatěžoval vybavení z novopaměti. Přičemž obtíž se zapamatováním nových informací, a tedy i vybavením z novopaměti, je jedním z jádrových symptomů AN., a2_Analýza a výsledky. Průměrná propoziční hustota u pacientů s MKP činila 48,74 % (sm. odch. 5,78), u kontrolního vzorku seniorů bez kognitivních poruch to bylo 53,06 % (sm. odch. 4,56). Studentův t-test prokázal statisticky významný rozdíl mezi skupinami (p < 0,001). Cohenovo d 0,83 reprezentuje velký efekt příslušnosti ke skupině. Omezení. Nejpodstatnějším omezením této studie je heterogenita diagnostické jednotky MKP. Dalším omezením byla neznalost premorbidní kognitivní úrovně zdravých kontrol, proto je možné, že v kontrolní skupině byly osoby s již počínající kognitivní poruchou, jež byla při jednorázovém vyšetření nezachytitelná., b1_Objectives. It has been shown that propositional density (PD), which roughly corresponds to the number of ideas expressed in a text of given length, is related to cognitive performance in the older age. The present study investigated differences in propositional density in oral language production between healthy seniors and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MCI is generally accepted as a prodromal stage of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Sample and setting. The sample included 33 MCI persons and 32 healthy controls (mean age 73 years). The groups were equivalent as for the age and education. As expected, there was a significant difference between Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores between the groups, with MMSE being a simplified measure of their cognitive status. Hypotheses. Lower PD was expected in MCI persons, as the task required recent past recall which is considered one of the early deficiencies in early AD and MCI due to AD., b2_Statistical analysis. Mean PD across groups was compared using the independent samples t-test. Results. Mean propositional density in MCI persons was 48,74% (SD 5,78), and in healthy controls 53,06% (SD 4,56). The difference was statistically significant (p<0,001). Cohen’s d 0,83 represents a large effect size for the group difference. Study limitations. The main limitation is the heterogeneity of the MCI group. Also, the detailed cognitive status of the healthy controls is unknown. Thus the group could include persons with some cognitive impairment which has not been detected yet., Hana Štěpánková, Filip Smolík, Martin Vyhnálek, Tomáš Nikolai, Karolína Horáková, Markéta Niederlová., and Obsahuje seznam literatury
Stať přináší přehled nových poznatků souvisejících s problematikou stárnutí a stáří. Popisuje negativní stereotypy spojené se stárnutím a upozorňuje na nejnovější poznatky diferenciální gerontologie. Zabývá se tzv. úspěšným stárnutím a jeho sebehodnocením. Popisuje očekávání spojená se stárnutím i to, jak se v procesu stárnutí a ve stáří mění některé funkce a procesy. and Psychosocial aspects of aging
The paper offers an overview of new findings related to aging and old age. The author describes negative stereotypes about aging and old age and draws attention to the latest findings of differential gerontology. The author focuses on so-called successful aging and its self-assessment. She describes the expectations related to aging as well as the changes in some functions and processes during aging and old age.