Young Controls Research Articles

Effect of aging on the cerebral metabolic mechanism of electroacupuncture treatment in rats with traumatic brain injury.

Aging has great influence on the clinical treatment effect of cerebrovascular diseases, and evidence suggests that the effect may be associated with age-related brain plasticity. Electroacupuncture is an effective alternative treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI). In the present study, we aimed to explore the effect of aging on the cerebral metabolic mechanism of electroacupuncture to provide new evidence for developing age-specific rehabilitation strategies. Both aged (18 months) and young (8 weeks) rats with TBI were analyzed. Thirty-two aged rats were randomly divided into four groups: aged model, aged electroacupuncture, aged sham electroacupuncture, and aged control group. Similarly, 32 young rats were also divided into four groups: young model, young electroacupuncture, young sham electroacupuncture, and young control group. Electroacupuncture was applied to "Bai hui" (GV20) and "Qu chi" (LI11) for 8 weeks. CatWalk gait analysis was then performed at 3 days pre- and post-TBI, and at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after intervention to observe motor function recovery. Positron emission computed tomography (PET/CT) was performed at 3 days pre- and post-TBI, and at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after intervention to detect cerebral metabolism. Gait analysis showed that electroacupuncture improved the forepaw mean intensity in aged rats after 8 weeks of intervention, but after 4 weeks of intervention in young rats. PET/CT revealed increased metabolism in the left (the injured ipsilateral hemisphere) sensorimotor brain areas of aged rats during the electroacupuncture intervention, and increased metabolism in the right (contralateral to injury hemisphere) sensorimotor brain areas of young rats. This study demonstrated that aged rats required a longer electroacupuncture intervention duration to improve motor function than that of young rats. The influence of aging on the cerebral metabolism of electroacupuncture treatment was mainly focused on a particular hemisphere.

Abstract 356: Targeting differential metabolism in an aged model of cancer cachexia

Abstract Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial syndrome entailing muscle and fat wasting, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction. Pancreatic cancer has the highest incidence of cachexia at around 80%. However, there are no FDA approved therapy for cachexia in the clinic yet. This is mostly because of the failure of preclinical therapies to demonstrate success in the clinic. Most preclinical studies utilize 6-8 week old mice which roughly corresponds to a human age of ~ 20 years. However, the median age of diagnosis of pancreatic cancer is ~70 years. Given widespread physiology, microenvironment, and metabolism differences in young and aged skeletal muscle, we sought to study cancer cachexia in mice aged to >78 weeks, which corresponds to a human age of greater than 60 years. Our previously published study reported little difference in tumor growth or survival between the two cohorts, yet significant alterations in the muscle transcriptome. Building on this work, we show significant differences in the muscle metabolome of young/aged control and tumor bearing mice. Notably, histamine was higher in aged versus young control mice and even higher in the aged tumor-bearing cohort. We show higher activity of histamine decarboxylase (HDC), the enzyme that converts histidine to histamine in the muscles of aged tumor-bearing mice. Addition of cancer conditioned-media (CM) to C2C12 myotubes was able to induce histamine production and HDC activity in vitro, which demonstrates the ability of muscle cells to induce histamine independent of mast cells. We further show that addition of histamine to myotubes is sufficient to increase atrophy-associated markers. Inhibition of HDC activity by α-fluoromethylhistidine (FMH) in the in vitro model of cachexia protected against myotube thinning. Finally, we treated tumor-bearing aged mice with FMH and observed a) decreased histamine in the muscles 2) decreased HDC activity in the muscles 3) decreased muscle wasting, 4) decreased atrophy markers. Together, we present a novel wasting-associated metabolic pathway and corresponding therapeutic avenue for cancer cachexia that may have been overlooked if not for the use of a more-age-appropriate model of pancreatic cancer. Citation Format: Aneesha Dasgupta, Rebecca E. Schmitt, Jessica Z. Schneider, Jason D. Doles. Targeting differential metabolism in an aged model of cancer cachexia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 356.

Possible Role of Oxidative Stress and Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway in Pentylenetetrazole-induced Epilepsy in Aged Rats.

To examine the impact of aging on the response of rats to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induction of epilepsy and the possible role of oxidative stress and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/ heme oxygenase (HO)-1 pathway in this response. Forty male albino rats were equally allocated into 4 groups; 1) Young control (YC) group, aged 8-12 weeks, 2) Old control (OC) group, aged 24 months, 3) PTZ-Young group: young rats received PTZ (50 mg/Kg, i.p. every other day) for 2 weeks and 4) PTZ-Old group: as group 3 but rats were old. The seizure score stage and latency to the first jerk were recorded in rats. Redox state markers in brain tissues including malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated. Also, the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 genes were measured in the brain tissues. Old rats showed an early and a significant rise in the seizure score with PTZ administration and a significant drop in the seizure latency compared to young rats (P <0.01). Also, old rats showed a significantly higher MDA concentration and a significantly lower TAC and catalase activity than young rats (P <0.01). Moreover, the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 was significantly lowered in old rats compared to young rats with PTZ administration (P < 0.01). Aging increases the vulnerability of rats to PTZ-induced epilepsy. An effect might come down to the up-regulation of oxidative stress and the down regulation of antioxidant pathways including Nrf2 and HO-1.

Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Juvenile Macaques Reversed the Serum Protein Expression Profile in Aged Macaques.

The aim of the study was to reveal the changes in serum protein composition and content in macaques during the process of ageing, and explore the effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (BMMSC) on the serum protein expression profile in elderly macaques. Naturally ageing macaques were assessed according to age. BMMSCs were intravenously infused into aged macaques. In addition, peripheral blood was collected to obtain serum for dataindependent acquisition (DIA) protein sequencing to identify aging-related indicators. One hundred eighty days after macaques received BMMSC treatment, haemoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was performed to observe the morphology and structure of aortic arches. Compared to infant and young control macaques, aged macaques showed erythema on the face, dry skin, reduced amounts of hair on the head and back, and paleness. Cultured BMMSCs from the 4th passage (P4 BMMSCs) were grown in accordance with standards used to culture mesenchymal stem cells. After BMMSC treatment, the assessed aortic arches showed no calcium salt deposition or cell necrosis, and the characteristics of the serum protein expression profile tended to be similar to that of the infant and young groups, with the expression of 41 proteins upregulated with age and that of 30 proteins downregulated with age but upregulated after BMMSC treatment. Moreover, we identified 44 significantly differentially expressed proteins between the aged model and treatment groups; 11 of the upregulated proteins were related to vascular ageing, neuronal ageing and haematopoiesis, and 33 of the downregulated proteins were associated with neuronal ageing, cardiovascular disease, and tumours. Interestingly, S100 expression in serum was significantly decreased, COMP expression was significantly increased, NKAP expression reappeared, and LCN2, CSF1R, CORO1C, CSTB and RSU-1 expression disappeared after BMMSC treatment. BMMSCs can reverse ageing-related serum protein expression.

VEGFA Promotes Skeletal Muscle Regeneration in Aging.

Aging is associated with loss of skeletal muscle regeneration. Differentially regulated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)A with aging may partially underlies this loss of regenerative capacity. To assess the role of VEGFA in muscle regeneration, young (12-14weeks old) and old C57BL/6 mice (24,25 months old) are subjected to cryoinjury in the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle to induce muscle regeneration. The average cross-sectional area (CSA) of regenerating myofibers is 33% smaller in old as compared to young (p<0.01) mice, which correlates with a two-fold loss of muscle VEGFA protein levels (p=0.02). The capillary density in the TA is similar between the two groups. Young VEGFlo mice, with a 50% decrease in systemic VEGFA activity, exhibit a two-fold reduction in the average regenerating fiber CSA following cryoinjury (p< 0.01) in comparison to littermate controls. ML228, a hypoxia signaling activator known to increase VEGFA levels, augments muscle VEGFA levels and increases average CSA of regenerating fibers in both old mice (25% increase, p<0.01) and VEGFlo (20% increase, p<0.01) mice, but not in young or littermate controls. These results suggest that VEGFA may be a therapeutic target in age-related muscle loss.

Quercetin handles cellular oxidant/antioxidant systems and mitigates immunosenescence hallmarks in human PBMCs: An in vitro study.

Immunosenescence, oxidative stress, and low vaccine efficacy are important symptoms of aging. The goal of our study was to test if quercetin had antiaging and stimulating effects on peripheral blood mononuclear cell(PBMC) immune cells in vitro in the presence of concanavalin a, PBMCs were isolated from healthy elderly and young people and cultured in a complete Roswell Park Memorial Institute 1640 medium supplemented with quercetin. Cell proliferation was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromidecolorimetric assay after a 48-hincubation period. Spectrophotometricassays were used to assess oxidative biomarkers (proteins carbonyl[PC], malondialdehydes [MDA], and reduced glutathione [GSH]).The enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay method was used to determine the amount of interleukin(IL)-2 released. A Griess reagent was used to investigate inducible nitrite oxide synthase(iNOS) activity. When compared to young control cells, aged PBMCs had lower proliferation potency, lower IL-2 and NO release, and higher MDA and PC levels. Importantly, quercetin-treated aged PBMCs have a high proliferative response comparable to young cells, restored iNOS activity, and increased levels of GSH antioxidant defences. In comparison to untreated aged PBMCs, treated PBMCs have lower lipo-oxidative damage but higher PC levels. Quercetin may be used as a promising dietary vaccinal adjuvant in the elderly, it has significant effects in reducing immunosenescence hallmarks, as well as mitigating the lipo-oxidative stress in PBMCs cells.

Analysis of Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA) Parameters in Young Adults after SARS-CoV-2 Infection (COVID-19) Compared with Healthy Young Controls.

To compare retinal changes in young adults with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection with healthy young controls using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). This prospective single-center study was conducted at the University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Participants were imaged from May to November 2021 using the SOLIX device (Visionix International SAS, Pont-de-l'Arche, France). We performed 12 mm × 12 mm, 6.4 mm × 6.4 mm, 6 mm × 6 mm and 3 mm × 3 mm OCT and OCTA scans, as well as fundus photography of each participant's eyes. In total, 466 participants were imaged. Of these, 233 were healthy controls with negative RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2, 168 were young adults who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection at least 180 days previously, 19 were participants who had a SARS-CoV-2 infection < 180 days previously, and 46 were participants with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (i.e., serologically positive but with no symptoms). Compared with healthy controls, statistically significant differences were found for OCTA recordings of the optic disc for the whole image (WI) and WI capillary vessel density, with both being higher in the SARS-CoV-2 group. Statistically significant results were only observed for selected variables, and in parts, only unilaterally, with relatively large p values (p = 0.02-0.03). Thus, we did not interpret these as clinically significant, leading to the conclusion that young and otherwise healthy individuals (mainly men) seem to recover from mild COVID-19 infections with no ophthalmological residues.

A comparison of MRI-based pelvic floor support measures between young and old women with prolapse.

We sought to 1) test the hypothesis that young women (≤45years) with pelvic organ prolapse have a higher prevalence of major levator ani muscle (LAM) defects than old women (≥70years) with prolapse and 2) compare level II/III measurements between young and old women with prolapse and age-matched controls to evaluate age-related mechanistic differences in the disease process. A secondary analysis examined four groups of parous women: young prolapse (YPOP, n = 17); old prolapse (OPOP, n = 17); young controls (YC, n = 15); old controls, (OC, n = 13). Prolapse was defined as any compartment at or beyond the hymen with vaginal bulge symptoms. Genital hiatus (GH) was measured on clinical exam. Major LAM defects and level II/III measurements (UGH: urogenital hiatus, LA: levator area, and apex location) were assessed on MRI at rest and strain, and the difference (Δ) between measurements calculated. Principal component analysis was used to evaluate levator plate (LP) shape. Major LAM defects occurred in 42% of YPOP and 47% of OPOP (p > .99). GHrest was 1.5cm larger in OPOP versus YPOP (p < .001) and 2cm larger in OPOP versus OC (p < .001). Regardless of prolapse status, LArest and UGHrest on MRI increased with age. YPOP had larger ΔLA (p = .04), ΔUGH (p = .03), and Δapex than OPOP (p = .01). Resting LP shape was more dorsally oriented in OPOP versus YPOP (p = .02) and OC versus YC (p = .004). Prolapse in young women cannot be solely explained by a higher LAM defect prevalence. GH size and other measures of level II/III pelvic support worsen with age regardless of prolapse status.

A computational musculoskeletal arm model for assessing muscle dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Computational models have been used extensively to assess diseases and disabilities effects on musculoskeletal system dysfunction. In the current study, we developed a two degree-of-freedom subject-specific second-order task-specific arm model for characterizing upper-extremity function (UEF) to assess muscle dysfunction due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Older adults (65years or older) with and without COPD and healthy young control participants (18 to 30years) were recruited. First, we evaluated the musculoskeletal arm model using electromyography (EMG) data. Second, we compared the computational musculoskeletal arm model parameters along with EMG-based time lag and kinematics parameters (such as elbow angular velocity) between participants. The developed model showed strong cross-correlation with EMG data for biceps (0.905, 0.915) and moderate cross-correlation for triceps (0.717, 0.672) within both fast and normal pace tasks among older adults with COPD. We also showed that parameters obtained from the musculoskeletal model were significantly different between COPD and healthy participants. On average, higher effect sizes were achieved for parameters obtained from the musculoskeletal model, especially for co-contraction measures (effect size = 1.650 ± 0.606, p < 0.001), which was the only parameter that showed significant differences between all pairwise comparisons across the three groups. These findings suggest that studying the muscle performance and co-contraction, may provide better information regarding neuromuscular deficiencies compared to kinematics data. The presented model has potential for assessing functional capacity and studying longitudinal outcomes in COPD.

Abnormal intra- and inter-network functional connectivity of brain networks in early-onset Parkinson's disease and late-onset Parkinson's disease.

The purpose of this study is to look into the altered functional connectivity of brain networks in Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease (EOPD) and Late-Onset Parkinson's Disease (LOPD), as well as their relationship to clinical symptoms. A total of 50 patients with Parkinson' disease (28 EOPD and 22 LOPD) and 49 healthy controls (25 Young Controls and 24 Old Controls) were admitted to our study. Employing independent component analysis, we constructed the brain networks of EOPD and Young Controls, LOPD and Old Controls, respectively, and obtained the functional connectivity alterations in brain networks. Cerebellar network (CN), Sensorimotor Network (SMN), Executive Control Network (ECN), and Default Mode Network (DMN) were selected as networks of interest. Compared with their corresponding health controls, EOPD showed increased functional connectivity within the SMN and ECN and no abnormalities of inter-network functional connectivity were found, LOPD demonstrated increased functional connectivity within the ECN while decreased functional connectivity within the CN. Furthermore, in LOPD, functional connectivity between the SMN and DMN was increased. The functional connectivity of the post-central gyrus within the SMN in EOPD was inversely correlated with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III scores. Age, age of onset, and MMSE scores are significantly different between EOPD and LOPD (p < 0.05). There is abnormal functional connectivity of networks in EOPD and LOPD, which could be the manifestation of the associated pathological damage or compensation.

Role of age-related plasma in the diversity of gut bacteria

Recent studies have demonstrated the efficacy of young blood plasma factors in reversing aging-related deformities. However, the impact of plasma exchange between young and old individuals on gut microbiota remains understudied. To investigate this, we evaluated the effects of plasma exchange between 5-week-old and 24-month-old rats on gut microbiota composition. In this study, old rats were administered 0.5 ml of young plasma, while young rats were administered 0.25 ml of old plasma daily for 30 days. Metagenome analysis was performed on the contents of the cecum after completing plasma transfer. Results showed that transferring young plasma to old rats significantly increased the alpha diversity indices (Shannon and Simpson values), while the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio decreased significantly. Conversely, transferring aged plasma to young rats led to a significant decrease in Shannon value and F/B ratio but no change in Simpson value. Plasma exchange also caused substantial changes in the top ten dominant genera and species found in the gut microbiota of young and old rats. After young blood plasma transfer, the dominant bacterial profile in the old gut microbiota shifted toward the bacterial profile found in the young control group. Notably, old plasma also altered the gut microbiota structure of young rats toward that of old rats. Our findings suggest that age-related changes in plasma play a crucial role in gut microbiota species diversity and their presence rates.

Polyoxidovanadates as a pharmacological option against brain aging

The world population is aging rapidly, and chronic diseases associated are cardiometabolic syndrome, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Oxidative stress and inflammation are typical hallmarks in them. Polyoxidovanadates (POVs) have shown interesting pharmacological actions against chronic diseases. This work aimed to evaluate the POV effect on hippocampal neuroinflammation, redox balance, and recognition memory in the aging of rats. Rats 18 months old were administered a daily dose of sodium metavanadate (MV), decavanadate (DV), Metformin (Metf), or MetfDeca for two months. Results showed that short-term and long-term recognition memory improved by 28 % and 16 % (DV), 19 % and 20 % (Metf), and 21 % and 27 % (MetfDeca). In hippocampi, reactive oxygen species, IL-1β, and TNF-α, after DV, Metf, and MetfDeca decreased at similar concentrations to young adult control, while lipid peroxidation substantially ameliorated. Additionally, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity increased by 41 % and 42 % (DV), 39 % and 41 % (Metf), and 75 % and 73 % (MetfDeca). POV treatments reduced Nrf2 and GFAP immunoreactivity in CA1 (70–87.5 %), CA3 (60–80 %), and DG (57–89 %). Metformin treatment showed a minor effect, while MV treatment did not improve any parameters. Although DV, Metf, and MetfDeca treatments showed similar results, POVs doses were 16-fold fewer than Metformin. In conclusion, DV and MetfDeca could be pharmacological options to reduce age-related neuronal damage.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Young Adult Women With a History of Premature Adrenarche.

Premature adrenarche (PA) may predispose to some adverse long-term health outcomes. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is one of the strongest factors known to predict overall health, but no data exist on the CRF of women with a history of PA. To study if hyperandrogenism in childhood resulting from PA leads to a measurable difference in CRF between young adult PA and control women. A total of 25 women with PA and 36 age-matched controls were followed from prepubertal age until adulthood. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, biochemical, and lifestyle factors were assessed. The main outcome measure was maximal cycle ergometer test result at the mean age of 18.5 years. We also assessed prepubertal predicting factors for CRF with different linear regression models. Though prepubertal children with PA were taller and heavier than their non-PA peers, there were no significant differences in height, body mass index, body composition, or physical activity in young adulthood. We observed no significant differences in any of the parameters of the maximal cycle ergometer test, including maximal load (P = .194) or peak oxygen consumption (P = .340). Hemodynamic responses of the groups were similar. None of the examined models or prepubertal factors significantly predicted CRF at adult age. This study suggests that hyperandrogenism in childhood/adolescence resulting from PA does not have a significant impact on adulthood CRF.

Functional gradients in prefrontal regions and somatomotor networks reflect the effect of music training experience on cognitive aging.

Studies showed that the top-down control of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) on sensory/motor cortices changes during cognitive aging. Although music training has demonstrated efficacy on cognitive aging, its brain mechanism is still far from clear. Current music intervention studies have paid insufficient attention to the relationship between PFC and sensory regions. Functional gradient provides a new perspective that allows researchers to understand network spatial relationships, which helps study the mechanism of music training that affects cognitive aging. In this work, we estimated the functional gradients in four groups, young musicians, young control, older musicians, and older control. We found that cognitive aging leads to gradient compression. Compared with young subjects, older subjects presented lower and higher principal gradient scores in the right dorsal and medial prefrontal and the bilateral somatomotor regions, respectively. Meanwhile, by comparing older control and musicians, we found a mitigating effect of music training on gradient compression. Furthermore, we revealed that the connectivity transitions between prefrontal and somatomotor regions at short functional distances are a potential mechanism for music to intervene in cognitive aging. This work contributes to understanding the neuroplasticity of music training on cognitive aging.

Unexpected Classes of Aquaporin Channels Detected by Transcriptomic Analysis in Human Brain Are Associated with Both Patient Age and Alzheimer’s Disease Status

The altered expression of known brain Aquaporin (AQP) channels 1, 4 and 9 has been correlated with neuropathological AD progression, but possible roles of other AQP classes in neurological disease remain understudied. The levels of transcripts of all thirteen human AQP subtypes were compared in healthy and Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains by statistical analyses of microarray RNAseq expression data from the Allen Brain Atlas database. Previously unreported, AQPs 0, 6 and 10, are present in human brains at the transcript level. Three AD-affected brain regions, hippocampus (HIP), parietal cortex (PCx) and temporal cortex (TCx), were assessed in three subgroups: young controls (n = 6, aged 24-57); aged controls (n = 26, aged 78-99); and an AD cohort (n = 12, aged 79-99). A significant positive correlation (p < 10-10) was seen for AQP transcript levels as a function of the subject's age in years. Differential expressions correlated with brain region, age, and AD diagnosis, particularly between the HIP and cortical regions. Interestingly, three classes of AQPs (0, 6 and 8) upregulated in AD compared to young controls are permeable to H2O2. Of these, AQPs 0 and 8 were increased in TCx and AQP6 in HIP, suggesting a role of AQPs in AD-related oxidative stress. The outcomes here are the first to demonstrate that the expression profile of AQP channels in the human brain is more diverse than previously thought, and transcript levels are influenced by both age and AD status. Associations between reactive oxygen stress and neurodegenerative disease risk highlight AQPs 0, 6, 8 and 10 as potential therapeutic targets.

Ukrainian dual use export control evolution: historical pickles

A prime object of this effort was to evaluate the premises of appearance and historical evolution of export control and transfer of dual use (DU) technologies emerged in Ukraine after 1991.&#x0D; Investigated problem: Liquidation of Soviet's monopoly on foreign trade in 1990s, a change in relations between the state and commodity producers, and a massive entry of unprepared exporters chasing maximum profits into the world market could not be envisaged in a full swing at that time by young and unexperienced Ukrainian export control system. The paper looks into Ukrainian DU technology transfer (TT) through a prism of historical premises. Those premises have been formed and are still found standing amongst technology offeror/end user and other TT players. Needless to say, that a technology transfer is a complicated, multi-leveled and multi-players process being impacted and followed with few factors and historically pre-set conditions that constrain its success or failure at the end. The development of DU technologies continues in a quagmire of conflicting interests, the ongoing war in Ukraine, national security and export control rationales.&#x0D; For the time being, debates on Ukrainian DU technologies and their misuse so far lack creativity and rather blurred; political and diplomatic initiatives came finally to nowhere trying to find turnkey solutions, all this is quite a challenge nowadays.&#x0D; The results of this analytical endeavor make a further solid floor for further debates in terms of politics, legislation and export control

A Comprehensive Analysis of Speech Disfluencies in Autistic Young Adults and Control Young Adults: Group Differences in Typical, Stuttering-Like, and Atypical Disfluencies.

The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of speech disfluencies in autistic young adults and controls by using a wide-range disfluency classification of typical disfluencies (TD; i.e., filled pauses, revisions, abandoned utterances, and multisyllable word and phrase repetitions), stuttering-like disfluencies (SLD; i.e., sound and syllable repetitions, monosyllable word repetitions, prolongations, blocks, and broken words), and atypical disfluencies (AD; i.e., word-final prolongations and repetitions and atypical insertions). Thirty-two autistic young adults and 35 controls completed a narrative telling task based on socially complex events. Frequencies of total disfluencies, TD, SLD, AD and stuttering severity were compared between groups. The overall frequency of disfluencies was significantly higher in the autistic group and significant between-group differences were found for all disfluency categories. The autistic group produced significantly more revisions, filled pauses, and abandoned utterances, and each subtype of SLD and AD than the control group. In total, approximately every fourth autistic participants scored at least a very mild severity of stuttering, and every fifth produced more than three SLD per 100 syllables. Disfluent speech can be challenging for effective communication. This study revealed that the speech of autistic young adults was highly more disfluent than that of the controls. The findings provide information on speech disfluency characteristics in autistic young adults and highlight the importance of evaluating speech disfluency with a wide-range disfluency classification in autistic persons in order to understand their role in overall communication. The results of this study offer tools for SLPs to evaluate and understand the nature of disfluencies in autistic persons.

Verified Parental Cardiovascular Events for Young and Middle-Aged Ischaemic Stroke Patients and Controls

Introduction. Nonmodifiable cardiovascular risk factors, like age and sex, are easily quantifiable. Due to immense technical progress in diagnostics and medical data storage, the aim of this study was to quantify, verify, and to compare parental cardiovascular events (CVE) as an additional nonmodifiable risk factor for young and middle-aged ischaemic stroke patients and controls. Methods. Information about parental CVE was first obtained by standardized questionnaires answered by 385 acute ischaemic stroke patients (15-60 years of age) and 260 controls. After consent to contact living and include deceased parents, patients and controls provided necessary personal identification of their parents. Thereafter, CVE were verified by standardized questionnaires answered by parents or medical records in case of deceased parents. Results. One hundred-and-nine (14.2%) of 770 patient parents vs. 128 (24.6%) of 520 control parents were not available for verification. Active participation was obtained for 229 (73.9%) of 310 patient parents vs.113 (58.2%) of 194 control parents. Medical record verification was obtained for 192 (54.7%) of 351 deceased patient parents, vs.103 (52.0%) of 198 deceased control parents. This study showed highest death rates of fathers (65.3% patient fathers and 57.6% control fathers) and highest numbers of CVE, especially myocardial infarction among patient fathers of patients aged 50-60 years. Discussion and Conclusion. Obtaining verified parental CVE as a nonmodifiable risk factor is still challenging, despite widely available digital medical information. To attain more accurate information on parental CVE, we recommend active involvement of family members in addition to medical record verification, especially for patients aged &lt;50 years. Trial Registration. This trial is registered with NCT01597453

Neurocognitive effects of binge drinking on verbal episodic memory. An ERP study in university students.

Background: Verbal memory may be affected by engagement in alcohol binge drinking during youth, according to the findings of neuropsychological studies. However, little is known about the dynamics of the neural activity underlying this cognitive process in young, heavy drinkers. Aims: To investigate brain event-related potentials associated with cued recall from episodic memory in binge drinkers and controls. Methods: Seventy first-year university students were classified as binge drinkers (32: 17 female) or controls (38: 18 female). The participants completed a verbal paired associates learning task during electroencephalogram (EEG) recording. ERPs elicited by old and new word pairs were extracted from the cued-recall phase of the task by using Principal Component Analysis. Subjects also performed a standardized neuropsychological verbal learning test. Results: Two of the three event-related potentials components indicating old/new memory effects provided evidence for anomalies associated with binge drinking. The old/new effects were absent in the binge drinkers in the two subsequent posterior components, identified with the late parietal component and the late posterior negativity The late frontal component revealed similar old/new effects in both groups. Binge drinkers showed similar behavioural performance to controls in the verbal paired associates task, but performed poorly in the more demanding short-term cued-recall trial of a neuropsychological standardized test. Conclusion: Event-related potentials elicited during a verbal cued-recall task revealed differences in brain functioning between young binge drinkers and controls that may underlie emergent deficits in episodic memory linked to alcohol abuse. The brain activity of binge drinkers suggests alterations in the hippocampal - posterior parietal cortex circuitry subserving recognition and recollection of the cue context and generation of the solution, in relation to verbal information shallowly memorised.

Intake of Fluted Pumpkin Seeds Rebalances Oxidative Stress Parameters in the Aged Rat’s Testes

The effect of fluted pumpkin seeds (FPS) consumption on the antioxidant status of the testes of aged Wistar rats was evaluated in this study. Sixty (50 aged, 6 months old, and 10 young, 2 months old) rats were divided into six groups of 10 per each group. Testosterone (15 mg kg-1 body weight, once weekly for 40 days) was injected intraperitoneally and used as positive control. FPS intake (50, 100, and 200 mg kg-1 body weight) or vehicle control (corn oil) were administered orally, twice weekly for 40 days and compared with the untreated aged and young control rats. Changes in antioxidant status in the testis of the aged rats was reflected as increased superoxide dismutase and catalase activities and glutathione and decreased lipid peroxidation levels which were attenuated more efficiently by the lowest dose FPS (50 mg kg-1 body weight). Additionally, nitrite concentration that was found to be diminished in the aged rats was raised to the young control values after intake of the FPS (50 mg kg-1 body weight). As expected, testosterone injection increased endogenous testosterone concentration and also remained higher in the untreated aged animals than in young control and treated aged rats. In conclusion, compromised antioxidant defense system of the testes that is associated with ageing could be reversed to the status of the young control by the intake of FPS.