Multimorbidity and Regional Volumes of the Default Mode Network in Brain Aging.

INTRODUCTION: The default mode network (DMN) is selectively vulnerable in brain aging. Little is known about the effect of multimorbidity as a whole onto the brain structural integrity. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association between multimorbidity and the structural integrity of DMN. METHODS: We enrolled senior volunteers aged between 60 and 80 years in Hualien County during 2014-2018 and conducted in-person interview to collect information on chronic diseases. Fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were tested. We assessed multimorbidity burden by the cumulative illness rating scale-geriatric (CIRS-G). MRI brain scans were standardized to measure the regional volume within the DMN. In a cross-sectional design, we employed stepwise regression models to evaluate the effects of age, sex, hyperglycemia, and multimorbidity on the DMN. RESULTS: A total of 170 volunteers were enrolled with a mean age of 66.9 years, female preponderance (71%), an average mini-mental state examination score of 27.6, a mean HbA1c of 6.0, and a mean CIRS-G total score (TS) of 7.2. We found that older age was associated with reduced volumes in the hippocampus, left rostral anterior cingulate cortex, right posterior cingulate, right isthmus, precuneus, and right supramarginal. Higher levels of HbA1c and fasting glucose were associated with a reduced volume in the hippocampus only. A higher CIRS-G-TS was associated with reduced volumes in the left posterior cingulate cortex and right supramarginal gyrus; while a higher CIRS-G severity index was associated with a smaller right precuneus and right supramarginal. CONCLUSIONS: In the DMN, hippocampal volume shows vulnerability to aging and hyperglycemia, whereas the posterior cingulate, supramarginal, and precuneus cortices may be the key sites to reflect the total effects of multimorbidity.

Effects of Lu-Do-Huang Extract (LDHE) on Apoptosis Induction in Human Hep3B Cells.

Lu-Do-Huang (Pracparatum mungo) is a fermented mung bean [corrected] (Vigna radiata) and has long been used as a traditional and functional food in Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially for treating a variety of liver disorders. The present study aimed to evaluate the apoptotic effects of Lu-Do-Huang ethanol extract (LDHE) on Hep3B cells, a human hepatoma cell line. A variety of cellular assays, flow cytometry and immunoblotting were used. Our results showed that LDHE significantly inhibited Hep3B cells growth. Additionally, the cell cycle assay showed that LDHE prevented Hep3B cell entry into S phase and led to an arrest of Hep3B cells in the G0/G1 phase. LDHE induced Hep3B cells to undergo apoptosis as determined through Hep3B cell morphology changes, increase of apoptotic bodies, apoptotic cells, DNA fragmentations and caspase activity. We further examined the protein expression of TRADD, FADD, and Bax to verify the possible apoptotic pathways. The results indicated that LDHE-induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells might be mediated [corrected] by an extrinsic signaling pathway leading to an induction of apoptosis in Hep3B cells. In conclusion, LDHE induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in Hep3B cells. Our data provide the evidences regarding the anti-hepatoma potential of LDHE in Hep3B cells.

Molecular basis for the targeted binding of RGD-containing peptide to integrin αVß3.

Integrin αVß3-targeting peptides with an exposed arginine-glycine-aspartate (RGD) sequence play a crucial role in targeted anticancer drug delivery. The effects of RGD-containing peptide structure and quantity on mechanism of targeted binding of RGD-containing peptide to integrin αVß3 were studied intensively at the molecular level via molecular dynamic simulations. Targeted recognization was mainly driven by the electrostatic interactions between the residues in RGD and the metal ions in integrin αVß3, and cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartate-phenylalanine-valine (RGDFV) peptide appeared to be a better vector than the linear RGD-containing peptides. In addition, the optimal molar concentration ratio of RGD peptides to integrin αVß3 appeared to be 2:1. These results will help improve the current understanding on the mechanism of interactions between RGD and integrin αVß3, and promote the application prospects of RGD-based vectors in tumor imaging, diagnosis, and cancer therapy.

Two distinct distributions of F-actin are present in the hyphal apex of the oomycete Achlya bisexualis.

We show that two distinct distributions of F-actin are present in the hyphal apex of the oomycete Achlya bisexualis, that have been chemically fixed with a combination of methylglyoxal and formaldehyde and stained with Alexa phalloidin. In approximately one half of the hyphae examined, an F-actin depleted zone within the apical F-actin cap was observed. The remaining hyphae had a continuous apical cap. In live, growing hyphae two types of cytoplasmic organization were observed at the tips, one in which a clear zone was present which may correlate with the F-actin depleted zone, and one where no such clear zone existed which may represent the continuous cap. We suggest that the F-actin depleted zone may be a structural component of the actin network in a subpopulation of oomycete hyphae and may be comparable to similar F-actin depleted zones at the apices of other tip growing cells such as pollen tubes and root hairs. This observation has implications with regard to models of hyphal extension. Hyphae fixed with formaldehyde alone showed continuous apical F-actin caps. Our ability to resolve the F-actin depleted zone likely reflects the cross-linking capabilities of methylglyoxal. The methylglyoxal-formaldehyde combination fixative gave more stained hyphae, brighter staining and more complete staining of F-actin compared to formaldehyde alone.

The effectiveness of health promotion education programs for community elderly.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of health promotion education programs for a group of elderly residents in a community. A one group pre- and post-test design was used in this study. Nurses, dietitians, and physical education teachers worked collaboratively to provide a series of comprehensive, integrated education programs. Course content included healthy life style and health promotion, disease prevention, nutrition, exercise, and medication education. A total of 140 elderly participated in this study. Ninety- seven subjects attended all of the education programs. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Information about demographics, health status, health promotion knowledge and behaviors was included. The health promotion behavior data were collected twice. The initial data set was collected prior to the first course and the second after the fifth course. Health promotion knowledge was assessed pre- and post-test in the second, third, and fourth courses. The research findings revealed that the education programs were effective in improving elderly health promotion knowledge and behaviors. The scores for health promotion knowledge and positive health behaviors were high among subjects who were aged 65-69 years, were married, lived with family members and had higher education levels. The results could be used as a reference in future health promotion education in the community.