The Association of Intestinal Leak with Sarcopenia and Physical Disability in Patients with Various Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease.

Sarcopenia is related to disease severity in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients; however, its pathophysiology remains poorly known. We investigated the associations of biomarkers of intestinal leak with sarcopenia in various stages of CKD. We recruited 61-76-year-old male controls and patients with various stages of CKD (n = 36-57/group) for measuring plasma lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) and zonulin (markers of intestinal leak), handgrip strength (HGS), skeletal mass index (SMI), and gait speed (markers of sarcopenia), and short physical performance battery (SPPB; marker of physical capacity). CKD stages 4 and 5 were associated with lower HGS, SMI, gait speed, and cumulative SPPB scores and a higher sarcopenia prevalence than controls and patients with CKD stages 1 and 2 (all p < 0.05). CKD patients (stages 1 and 2) had elevated plasma zonulin and LBP when compared with CKD stages 4 and 5. Plasma zonulin and LBP exhibited significant correlations with renal function, HGS, gait speed, SPPB scores, and oxidative stress markers in CKD stages 4 and 5 (all p < 0.05). However, similar relations were not found in early CKD. Collectively, intestinal leak may be contributing to sarcopenia and physical disability in the advanced stages of CKD.

Natural compound screening predicts novel GSK-3 isoform-specific inhibitors.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) plays important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological disorders and cancer. Isoform-specific loss of either GSK-3α or GSK-3ß often provides cytoprotective effects under such clinical conditions. However, available synthetic small molecule inhibitors are relatively non-specific, and their chronic use may lead to adverse effects. Therefore, screening for natural compound inhibitors to identify the isoform-specific inhibitors may provide improved clinical utility. Here, we screened 70 natural compounds to identify novel natural GSK-3 inhibitors employing comprehensive in silico and biochemical approaches. Molecular docking and pharmacokinetics analysis identified two natural compounds Psoralidin and Rosmarinic acid as potential GSK-3 inhibitors. Specifically, Psoralidin and Rosmarinic acid exhibited the highest binding affinities for GSK-3α and GSK-3ß, respectively. Consistent with in silico findings, the kinase assay-driven IC50 revealed superior inhibitory effects of Psoralidin against GSK-3α (IC50 = 2.26 µM) vs. GSK-3ß (IC50 = 4.23 µM) while Rosmarinic acid was found to be more potent against GSK-3ß (IC50 = 2.24 µM) than GSK-3α (IC50 = 5.14 µM). Taken together, these studies show that the identified natural compounds may serve as GSK-3 inhibitors with Psoralidin serving as a better inhibitor for GSK-3α and Rosmarinic for GSK-3ß isoform, respectively. Further characterization employing in vitro and preclinical models will be required to test the utility of these compounds as GSK-3 inhibitors for cardiometabolic and neurological disorders and cancers.

GSK-3α-BNIP3 axis promotes mitophagy in human cardiomyocytes under hypoxia.

Dysregulated autophagy/mitophagy is one of the major causes of cardiac injury in ischemic conditions. Glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha (GSK-3α) has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of cardiac diseases. However, the precise role of GSK-3α in cardiac mitophagy remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the role of GSK-3α in cardiac mitophagy by employing AC16 human cardiomyocytes under the condition of acute hypoxia. We observed that the gain-of-GSK-3α function profoundly induced mitophagy in the AC16 cardiomyocytes post-hypoxia. Moreover, GSK-3α overexpression led to increased ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes, accompanied by enhanced mitophagy displayed by increased mt-mKeima intensity under hypoxia. Mechanistically, we identified that GSK-3α promotes mitophagy through upregulation of BNIP3, caused by GSK-3α-mediated increase in expression of HIF-1α and FOXO3a in cardiomyocytes post-hypoxia. Moreover, GSK-3α displayed a physical interaction with BNIP3 and, inhibited PINK1 and Parkin recruitment to mitochondria was observed specifically under hypoxia. Taken together, we identified a novel mechanism of mitophagy in human cardiomyocytes. GSK-3α promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and regulates FOXO3a -mediated BNIP3 overexpression in cardiomyocytes to facilitate mitophagy following hypoxia. An interaction between GSK-3α and BNIP3 suggests a role of GSK-3α in BNIP3 recruitment to the mitochondrial membrane where it enhances mitophagy in stressed cardiomyocytes independent of the PINK1/Parkin.

Plasma levels of Neurofilament light chain correlate with handgrip strength and sarcopenia in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

BACKGROUND: Age-associated muscle decline, termed sarcopenia, is a common systemic effect of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Circulating Neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels reflect neuronal degradation and may be relevant to sarcopenia phenotype. However, such an association in COPD patients remains elusive. METHODS: We investigated male, 60-76 years old controls (n = 50) and COPD patients (n = 139) for plasma NfL levels in relation to sarcopenia and physical capacity markers. We measured handgrip strength (HGS), body composition, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) to evaluate sarcopenia and physical capacity. RESULTS: COPD patients had higher plasma NfL and lower HGS and SPPB performance than controls. Plasma NfL levels demonstrated negative associations with HGS and gait speed in COPD patients (all p < 0.05). Further, NfL levels were negatively associated with total SPPB scores in controls and patients with advanced COPD (p < 0.05). Plasma NfL also demonstrated an acceptable accuracy in diagnosing sarcopenia in controls (AUC = 0.757, p < 0.05) and COPD (AUC = 0.806, p < 0.05) patients. CONCLUSION: Collectively, plasma NfL may be helpful in evaluating sarcopenia phenotype and physical capacity in geriatric patients with COPD.

Metformin Improves Sarcopenia-Related Quality of Life in Geriatric Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVES: Metformin protects against age-related muscle decline, termed sarcopenia. However, the effects on sarcopenia quality-of-life (SarQoL) are unknown. We investigated the effects of metformin on SarQoL and associated mechanisms in older adults. METHOD: This double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled trial included geriatric adult men, divided into non-sarcopenic controls (age = 72.2 ± 4.3 years, n = 52) and two groups of patients with sarcopenia randomized into placebo (age at baseline = 74.4 ± 5.7 years, n = 54) and metformin (age at baseline = 71.2 ± 3.9 years, n = 47) groups. Patients in the metformin group received 1.7 grams twice daily for four months. We evaluated SarQoL, handgrip strength (HGS), plasma zonulin, c-reactive protein (CRP), and 8-isoprostanes. RESULTS: Patients with sarcopenia had lower HGS and SarQoL than controls (both p <0.05). Metformin improved the HGS and the SarQoL domains related to physical and mental health, locomotion, and leisure activities, as well as cumulative SarQoL scores (all p <0.05). Metformin also prevented the decline in the SarQoL domains for functionality and fear. Among plasma biomarkers, metformin reduced the levels of zonulin, CRP, 8-isoprostanes, and creatine kinase. We also found a significant correlation of plasma zonulin with cumulative SarQoL in patients with sarcopenia taking metformin, suggesting a role for intestinal repair in improving SarQoL. Finally, metformin did not affect body composition and gait speed. CONCLUSION: Overall, metformin improved HGS and SarQoL by repairing intestinal leakage. Our data have clinical relevance for improving the quality of life in older adults with sarcopenia.

Lipid-Lowering Medications are Associated with Reduced Sarcopenia-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Hyperlipidemia.

PURPOSE: Statins medications negatively affect age-associated loss of muscle mass and strength, termed sarcopenia, and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity. However, their association with the sarcopenia-related-quality-of-life (SarQoL) is unknown. METHODS: In this cross-sectional, case control study, we recruited male nonusers (n = 75 and age 75.2 ± 5.9 years) and users (n = 77 and age 77.1 ± 6.2 years) of statins to evaluate SarQoL and handgrip strength (HGS). We also measured plasma C-terminal agrin fragment-22 (CAF22) as a marker of NMJ degradation. RESULTS: Statin users had higher CAF22, and lower HGS, and cumulative SarQoL scores than non-users (all p < 0.05). Plasma CAF22 exhibited negative correlations with SarQoL scores for physical and mental health, locomotion, functionality, activities-of-daily-living, and cumulative SarQoL in statins users and non-users (all p < 0.05). Lastly, the cumulative SarQoL scores exhibited positive associations with HGS and gait speed in the study participants (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, statin usage was associated with NMJ degradation and reduced SarQoL. Statins should be cautiously prescribed in patients with sarcopenia with reduced QoL.

Probiotics Supplements Improve the Sarcopenia-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults with Age-Related Muscle Decline.

A pathological increase in intestinal leak is implicated in age-associated muscle loss, termed sarcopenia, and reduced sarcopenia-related quality-of-life (SarQoL). However, the potential therapies remain elusive. We investigated the effects of probiotic supplementation on sarcopenia and SarQoL in geriatric older adults. We randomized sarcopenic men into placebo (age = 71.4 ± 3.9 years, n = 63) and probiotic (age = 73 ± 4.1 years, n = 60) groups for 16 weeks. The probiotic used was one capsule daily of Vivomix 112 billion for 16 weeks. We measured sarcopenia parameters of handgrip strength (HGS) and skeletal mass index (SMI), plasma zonulin (marker of the intestinal leak), and SarQoL using a targeted questionnaire. Probiotics improved the SarQoL scores for locomotion, functionality, and activities of daily living and prevented a decline in cumulative SarQoL observed in the placebo group (all p < 0.05). Probiotic supplementation also reduced plasma zonulin and marker of systemic bacterial load. These changes were accompanied by an increase in HGS and maintenance of gait speed in the probiotic group compared to the placebo group. Correlation analysis revealed significant associations of cumulative SarQoL scores with plasma zonulin and HGS in the probiotic group. Collectively, probiotics improved SarQoL and HGS by repairing pathological intestinal leak. Future studies may further dissect the relation between intestinal leak and SarQoL in older adults taking probiotics.

Association between handgrip strength and metabolic syndrome in relation to gender and adiposity among middle aged and older Saudi populations.

AIM: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and handgrip strength (HGS) with respect to sex and adiposity in Saudi men (n = 287) and women (n = 268). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Anthropometry, body composition, HGS, and blood biochemistry were measured. The average age of the study population was 57.65 ± 9.3 years (men = 55.1 ± 9.3 years, women = 60.4 ± 9.3 years). We report that HGS/body mass index (BMI), HGS/weight, and HGS/fat (%) were significantly higher in controls than in patients with MetS in men but not in women. According to the ROC analysis, relative HGS (RHGS) was higher than HGS alone in the association with MetS, which was significant for men (p < 0.01). At lower quartiles of HGS, the probability of MetS was higher in women, and the same was found in men in the lower quartiles of HGS/%Fat. Multinomial regression revealed significant associations between age and adiposity and MetS in men and HGS in women. Additionally, the linear regression of age, HGS, and weight exhibited significant associations between HGS with WC in both sexes. CONCLUSION: A higher risk of MetS in the lower quartiles of HGS was found in women, and adiposity moderated the relationship between HGS and MetS in men.

Biomarkers of Physical and Mental Health for Prediction of Parkinson's Disease: A Population-Based Study from 15 European Countries.

OBJECTIVES: Early diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (PD) is critical for optimal treatment. However, the predictive potential of physical and mental health in PD is poorly characterized. METHODS: We evaluated the potential of multiple demographic, physical, and mental factors in predicting the future onset of PD in older adults aged 50 years or older from 15 European countries. Individual study participants were followed over four waves of the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) from 2013-2020. RESULTS: Of 57,980 study participants, 442 developed PD during the study period. We identified male sex and advancing age from the sixth decade of life onward as significant predictors of future PD. Among physical factors, a low handgrip strength (HGS; men <27 kg, women <16 kg), being bothered by frailty, and recent falls were significantly associated with future PD. Among mental factors, a higher depression (Euro-D depression score >6) emerged as an independent predictor of future PD. Finally, the presence of hypertension or Alzheimer's disease (AD) increases the risk of future PD. CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, male sex, advancing age, low HGS, frailty, depression, hypertension, and AD were identified as critical risk factors for future PD. Our results may be useful in the early identification and treatment of populations at risk for PD.

Pharmacological inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum stress mitigates osteoporosis in a mouse model of hindlimb suspension.

Hindlimb suspension (HLS) mice exhibit osteoporosis of the hindlimb bones and may be an excellent model to test pharmacological interventions. We investigated the effects of inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress with 4-phenyl butyrate (4-PBA) on the morphology, physicochemical properties, and bone turnover markers of hindlimbs in HLS mice. We randomly divided 21 male C57BL/6J mice into three groups, ground-based controls, untreated HLS group and 4-PBA treated group (HLS+4PBA) (100mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal) for 21 days. We investigated histopathology, micro-CT imaging, Raman spectroscopic analysis, and gene expression. Untreated HLS mice exhibited reduced osteocyte density, multinucleated osteoclast-like cells, adipocyte infiltration, and reduced trabecular striations on micro-CT than the control group. Raman spectroscopy revealed higher levels of ER stress, hydroxyproline, non-collagenous proteins, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and CH2Wag as well as a reduction in proteoglycans and adenine. Furthermore, bone alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin were downregulated, while Cathepsin K, TRAP, and sclerostin were upregulated. Treatment with 4-PBA partially restored normal bone histology, increased collagen crosslinking, and mineralization, promoted anti-inflammatory markers, and downregulated bone resorption markers. Our findings suggest that mitigating ER stress with 4-PBA could be a therapeutic intervention to offset osteoporosis in conditions mimicking hindlimb suspension.

Serum multi-omics analysis in hindlimb unloading mice model: Insights into systemic molecular changes and potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.

Microgravity, in space travel and prolonged bed rest conditions, induces cardiovascular deconditioning along with skeletal muscle mass loss and weakness. The findings of microgravity research may also aid in the understanding and treatment of human health conditions on Earth such as muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular diseases. Due to the paucity of biomarkers and the unknown underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular and skeletal muscle deconditioning in these environments, there are insufficient diagnostic and preventative measures. In this study, we employed hindlimb unloading (HU) mouse model, which mimics astronauts in space and bedridden patients, to first evaluate cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function, followed by proteomics and metabolomics LC-MS/MS-based analysis using serum samples. Three weeks of unloading caused changes in the function of the cardiovascular system in c57/Bl6 mice, as seen by a decrease in mean arterial pressure and heart weight. Unloading for three weeks also changed skeletal muscle function, causing a loss in grip strength in HU mice and atrophy of skeletal muscle indicated by a reduction in muscle mass. These modifications were partially reversed by a two-week recovery period of reloading condition, emphasizing the significance of the recovery process. Proteomics analysis revealed 12 dysregulated proteins among the groups, such as phospholipid transfer protein, Carbonic anhydrase 3, Parvalbumin alpha, Major urinary protein 20 (Mup20), Thrombospondin-1, and Apolipoprotein C-IV. On the other hand, metabolomics analysis showed altered metabolites among the groups such as inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthosine, sphinganine, l-valine, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol, and l-Glutamic acid. The joint data analysis revealed that HU conditions mainly impacted pathways such as ABC transporters, complement and coagulation cascades, nitrogen metabolism, and purine metabolism. Overall, our results indicate that microgravity environment induces significant alterations in the function, proteins, and metabolites of these mice. These observations suggest the potential utilization of these proteins and metabolites as novel biomarkers for assessing and mitigating cardiovascular and skeletal muscle deconditioning associated with such conditions.

Enhancing microbial diversity as well as multi-organ health in hind-limb unloaded mice.

During space travel, the gut microbiota is changed which can lead to health-related issues. Previously, we utilized the hind-limb unloaded (HU) mouse, which is an established ground-based in-vivo model of microgravity and observed altered gut microbiota. In this study, we evaluated the beneficial effects of novel bacterial conditioned media in HU mice to understand if they can offset the effects of unloading in the HU mouse model. We aimed to explore the influence of bacterial conditioned media on diversity and quantity of intestinal microbes in HU mice, and investigated the microarchitecture of mice retinas and kidneys to evaluate the potential systemic effects of bacterial conditioned media in HU mice. Four-month-old, male C57/Bl6 mice were separated into groups: including the ground-based control group, the HU group mice fed with vehicle as placebo (HU-placebo mice), and the HU group fed with bacterial conditioned media (HU-CP mice) and kept under controlled environmental conditions for three weeks. Next, mice were sacrificed; gut dissections were conducted, and metagenomic analysis of bacterial species was performed via DNA extraction and 16S rRNA analysis. The results revealed an HU-induced reduction in intestinal microbial diversity, and an increase in pathogenic bacteria dominated by Firmicutes (45%). In contrast, supplementation with bacterial conditioned media for three weeks led to a significant increase in gut microbial diversity with noticeable changes in the OTUs abundance in the HU mice. Additionally, HU-induced muscle weakness and structural abnormalities in the retina and kidney were partially prevented with bacterial conditioned media. Moreover, a greater diversity of several bacteria in the HU-CP was observed including, Bacteriodota, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Actionobacteriota, Verrucomicorbiota, Cyanobacteria, Gemmatimonadota, Acidobacteriota, Chloroflexi, Myxococcota, and others. Prospective research involving molecular mechanistic studies are needed to comprehend the systemic effects of bacterial metabolites conditioned media on experimental animal models under chronic stress.

Cardiovascular changes under the microgravity environment and the gut microbiome.

In view of the critical role the gut microbiome plays in human health, it has become clear that astronauts' gut microbiota composition changes after spending time in space. Astronauts are exposed to several risks in space, including a protracted period of microgravity, radiation, and mechanical unloading of the body. Several deleterious effects of such an environment are reported, including orthostatic intolerance, cardiovascular endothelial dysfunction, cellular and molecular changes, and changes in the composition of the gut microbiome. Herein, the correlation between the gut microbiome and cardiovascular disease in a microgravity environment is evaluated. Additionally, the relationship between orthostatic hypotension, cardiac shrinkage and arrhythmias during spaceflight, and cellular alterations during spaceflight is reviewed. Given its impact on human health in general, modifying the gut microbiota may significantly promote astronaut health and performance. This is merited, given the prospect of augmented human activities in future space missions.

Towards Understanding the Development of Breast Cancer: The Role of RhoJ in the Obesity Microenvironment.

Obesity is a growing pandemic with an increasing risk of inducing different cancer types, including breast cancer. Adipose tissue is proposed to be a major player in the initiation and progression of breast cancer in obese people. However, the mechanistic link between adipogenicity and tumorigenicity in breast tissues is poorly understood. We used in vitro and in vivo approaches to investigate the mechanistic relationship between obesity and the onset and progression of breast cancer. In obesity, adipose tissue expansion and remodeling are associated with increased inflammatory mediator's release and anti-inflammatory mediators' reduction.. In order to mimic the obesity micro-environment, we cultured cells in an enriched pro-inflammatory cytokine medium to which we added a low concentration of beneficial adipokines. Epithelial cells exposed to the obesity micro-environment were phenotypically transformed into mesenchymal-like cells, characterized by an increase in different mesenchymal markers and the acquisition of the major hallmarks of cancerous cells; these include sustained DNA damage, the activation of the ATR-Chk2 pathway, an increase in proliferation rate, cell invasion, and resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that several genes, including RhoJ, CCL7, and MMP9, acted as potential major players in the observed phenomenon. The transcriptomics findings were confirmed in vitro using qRT-PCR and in vivo using high-fat-diet-fed mice. Our data suggests RhoJ as a potential novel molecular driver of tumor development in breast tissues and a mediator of cell resistance to conventional chemotherapy through PAK1 activation. These data propose that RhoJ is a potential target for therapeutic interventions in obese breast cancer patients.

A leaky gut contributes to reduced sarcopenia-related quality of life (SarQoL) in geriatric older adults.

PURPOSE: The sarcopenia quality-of-life (SarQoL) questionnaire is designed to evaluate the quality of life of sarcopenic patients. A pathological increase in intestinal permeability leads to several systemic diseases, but its contribution to SarQoL is unknown. METHODS: We recruited controls (n = 84, age = 74.6 ± 4.9 years) and sarcopenic (n = 55, age = 76.1 ± 4.2 years) men for validating and adapting a Pashto version of SarQoL. We measured the scores for seven domains of SarQoL, body composition, and handgrip strength (HGS). We also measured plasma zonulin as a marker of increased intestinal permeability. RESULTS: The Pashto SarQoL exhibited adequate discriminative ability, construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, without exhibiting the floor and ceiling effect. Sarcopenic patients had higher plasma zonulin and lower scores on SarQoL domains for physical and mental health, locomotion, body composition, functionality, activities of daily living, leisure, and fear, and cumulative SarQoL scores than controls. Plasma zonulin exhibited significant coefficients of determination with Pashto SarQoL domains for locomotion (r2 = 0.217), functionality (r2 = 0.101), activities of daily living (r2 = 0.302), and cumulative SarQoL scores (r2 = 0.168). We also found high efficacies of zonulin in diagnosing low scores for functionality (AUC = 0.785, 95% C.I = 0.708-0.863), activities of daily living (AUC = 0.785, 95% C.I = 0.708-0.863), and cumulative SarQoL scores (AUC = 0.821, 95% C.I = 0.751-0.891). CONCLUSION: Altogether, SarQoL appears reliable in measuring the quality of life in sarcopenic patients. A leaky gut has a potential contribution to reduced SarQoL in sarcopenia.

Butyrate supplementation reduces sarcopenia by repairing neuromuscular junction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an intestinal leak and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) degradation, which contributes to physical compromise and accelerated age-related muscle loss, called sarcopenia. However, the relevant interventions partly remain ineffective. We investigated the effects of exogenous butyrate on sarcopenia and physical capacity with relevance to intestinal permeability and NMJ integrity in COPD patients. METHODS: COPD patients were randomized into placebo (n = 67) and butyrate (n = 64) groups in a double-blind manner. The patients in the butyrate group received one 300 mg capsule a day for 12 weeks. We measured circulating markers of intestinal leak (zonulin), systemic bacterial load (LBP), and NMJ loss (CAF22), along with handgrip strength (HGS), and short physical performance battery (SPPB) at baseline and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Butyrate supplementation improved HGS and gait speed in COPD patients. Among SPPB indices, butyrate improved the ability to maintain postural balance and walking and prevented a decline in the ability to rise from a chair. Butyrate also reduced the plasma levels of zonulin, LBP, and CAF22 levels in COPD patients (all p < 0.05). Regression analysis revealed significant associations of plasma zonulin and CAF22 with HGS, gait speed, and cumulative SPPB scores in butyrate group. These changes were associated with reduced markers of inflammation and muscle damage. CONCLUSION: Butyrate may provide a therapeutic approach to sarcopenia and physical dependency in COPD by repairing intestinal leak and NMJ loss.

Time-related changes in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS among followers of various religions in India.

Background: The public knowledge levels about Human Immunodeficiency-Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) have been assessed in previous studies; however, time-related trends in association with socio-demographic standards among the followers of major religions in India are not known. Objectives: We assessed the 2005-06, 2015-16, and 2019-21 demographic and health survey (DHS) data from India to investigate trends in the levels of knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Hindus, Muslims, and Christians in relation to standard socio-demographic variables over a period of 16 years. Methods: The age range of the population was 15-54 years (n=611,821). The HIV/AIDS-related knowledge was assessed by developing a composite index based on ten questions about several aspects of HIV/AIDS, such as the mode of spread. We applied Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests to investigate whether people had heard about HIV/AIDS and their overall HIV knowledge in relation to several socio-demographic standards. Results: Generally, a higher increase in knowledge level was found between the first and second DHS surveys (2006-2016) as compared to between the second and third DHS surveys (2016-2021). We found the highest increase in the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge among Christian women followed by Hindus, whereas Muslims had the least increase over 16 years. Being a female, uneducated, poor, previously married, or having rural residence were associated with the highest increase in the knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Conclusion: Christian women had the highest increase in HIV/AIDS-related knowledge then came Christian men and followers of other religions. We also found the highest increase in HIV/AIDS-related knowledge among the poorest, uneducated, and rural residents. Our findings may help formulate public health strategies targeting various less knowledgeable groups to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS.

Targeting neuromuscular junction to treat neuromuscular disorders.

The integrity and preservation of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the interface between the motor neuron and skeletal muscle, is critical for maintaining a healthy skeletal muscle. The structural and/or functional defects in the three cellular components of NMJ, namely the pre-synaptic terminal, synaptic cleft, and post-synaptic region, negatively affect skeletal muscle mass and/or strength. Therefore, NMJ repair appears to be an appropriate therapy for muscle disorders. Mouse models provide a detailed molecular characterization of various cellular components of NMJ with relevance to human diseases. This review discusses different molecular targets on the three cellular components of NMJ for treating muscle diseases. The potential effects of these therapies on NMJ morphology and motor performance, their therapeutic efficacy, and clinical relevance are discussed. Collectively, the available data supports targeting NMJ alone or as an adjunct therapy in treating muscle disorders. However, the potential impact of such interventions on human patients with muscle disorders requires further investigation.

Circulating H-FABP as a biomarker of frailty in patients with chronic heart failure.

Increased vulnerability to physiologic stressors, termed frailty, is a common occurrence in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the definite biomarkers to assess frailty in CHF patients are not known. Here, we assessed the frailty phenotype and its potential association with heart failure (HF) markers in CHF patients. We categorized controls (n = 59) and CHF patients (n = 80), the participants, into robust, pre-frail, and frail based on the cardiovascular health study (CHS) frailty index. The plasma levels of HF markers, including tumorigenicity 2 (s-ST2), galectin-3, and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), were measured and correlated with frailty phenotype and cardiac function. The levels of plasma s-ST2, galectin-3, and H-FABP were profoundly elevated in CHF patients. Conversely, the frailty index scores were significantly lower in ischemic and non-ischemic CHF patients versus controls. Of the assessed HF markers, only H-FABP was positively correlated (r2 = 0.07, P = 0.02) with the frailty score in CHF patients. Collectively, these observations suggest that circulating H-FABP may serve as a biomarker of frailty in CHF patients.

The quality of life in Alzheimer's disease is not associated with handgrip strength but with activities of daily living-a composite study from 28 European countries.

OBJECTIVES: The relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and quality of life is inconsistent. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential association between HGS and quality of life in the settings of ageing and Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: We investigated the HGS, CASP-12 (control, autonomy, self-realization, and pleasure) measure of quality of life, and physical capacity in European adults above 50, including controls (n = 38,628) and AD subjects (n = 460) using the survey of health, ageing, and retirement in Europe (SHARE; 2022). RESULTS: AD subjects exhibited lower HGS and CASP-12 scores than controls (both p < 0.05). Participants with higher CASP-12 quartiles had higher HGS in controls but not in AD subjects. A linear positive relation was found between HGS and CASP-12 in controls (0.0842, p < 0.05) but not in AD subjects (0.0636, p = 0.091). There was no effect of gender on this finding. Lastly, we found significant negative associations of difficulties walking, rising from chair, climbing stairs, and fatigue with CASP-12 scores in controls and AD subjects (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Altogether, HGS was not associated with quality of life in individuals with AD. Conversely, difficulties in activities of daily living seem to be negatively associated with quality of life; thus, strategies are recommended to improve physical capacity.