Vol 17, No 2 (2024)

Cellular and subcellular metabolic activities are crucial processes involved in the regulation of intracellular homeostasis, including cellular and subcellular signaling pathways. Dysregulation of intracellular regulation mechanisms is catastrophic and cumulates into cell death. To overcome the issue of dysregulation of intracellular regulation mechanisms, the preservation of subcellular and extracellular components is essential to maintain healthy cells with increased longevity. Several physiopathological changes occur during cell ageing, one of which is the dysregulation of intracellular physiology of the oxidative phosphorylation process. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) remains in the debut of anti-aging therapeutic effect. Aged myocardiocyte characterized by disrupted NMN and or its precursors or signaling pathways. Simultaneously, several other pathophysiological occur that collectively impair intracellular homeostasis. The NMN role in the antiaging effect remains unclear and several hypotheses have been introduced into describing the mechanism and the potential outcomes from NMN exogenous supply. Correction of the impaired intracellular homeostasis includes correction to the NMN metabolism. Additionally, autophagy correction, which is the key element in the regulation of intracellular intoxication, including oxidative stress, unfolding protein response, and other degradation of intracellular metabolites. Several signaling pathways are involved in the regulation mechanism of NMN effects on myocardiocyte health and further longevity. NMN protects myocardiocytes from ischemic injury by reducing anabolism and, increasing catabolism and further passing the myocardiocytes into dormant status. NMN applications include ischemic heart, disease, and failed heart, as well as dilated cardiomyopathies. Cytosolic and mitochondrial NADPH are independently functioning and regulating. Each of these plays a role in the determination of the longevity of the myocardiocytes. NMN has a cornerstone in the functionality of Sirtuins, which are an essential anti-senescent intrinsic molecule. The study aims to assess the role of NMN in the longevity and antisenescent of myocardiocytes.

Background:The incidence of elderly people experiencing falls is currently increasing, which results in serious medical issues, such as fear of falling, limited physical activity, disability, and bone fractures, especially hip fractures. This study aimed to investigate balancing ability using a multi-directional reach test (MDRT) in older adults with and without diabetes mellitus.

Methods:72 older adults with and without diabetes mellitus were recruited, and divided into two groups, including older adults without diabetes mellitus (n= 36) and older adults with diabetes mellitus (n= 36). All subjects completed all directions of the MDRT.

Results:There were no significant differences in MDRT scores in all directions between the two groups (p>0.05). Both groups achieved the highest MDRT scores in the forward direction. In contrast, the two groups had the lowest scores of MDRT in a backward direction. Furthermore, older adults with diabetes mellitus had lower MDRT scores in all directions than older adults without diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion:The current study indicated that MDRT could be used to investigate the ability of balance in individuals with diabetes mellitus.

Objective:The increasing prevalence of age-related cognitive decline highlights the importance of physical activity for cognitive health. Regular exercise has been associated with improved mental health and reduced risk of cognitive decline. This study investigated the connection between self-reported physical activity and cognitive function in middle-aged adults.

Methods:This cross-sectional study included 56 Indian adults aged 30-55, selected based on a health screening questionnaire. Participants reported their physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), which categorized them into low, moderate, and high activity levels. Cognitive functions, including visual memory, executive function, and attention, were assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Automated Testing Battery (CANTAB). Results were statistically analyzed for relationships between cognitive domains and physical activity parameters using Pearson’s correlation and linear regression analysis.

Results:The study showed a significant positive correlation of attention with moderate and vigorous physical activity, while sedentary behavior negatively impacted attention. Linear regression showed that attention is affected by moderate-intensity activity whereas executive function and visual memory are affected by age.

Conclusion:This study supports the view that moderate and vigorous intensity activities may positively affect attention in middle-aged adults highlighting the benefits of physical activity.

Background:Aging is associated with the slowing down of metabolic processes, diminished physiological processes, changes in hormonal activity and increasing exposure to oxidative stress factors and chronic inflammation. The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a major signaling network that plays a pro-homeostatic role in the central and peripheral organs of the human body. A class of minor lipids, N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), which do not activate cannabinoid receptors, except for anandamide, but can potentiate the action of endocannabinoids and have a wide spectrum of biological activity and significant adaptogenic potential, belongs to ECS. The results of different studies over the past decades have established the protective effect of NAE on many pathological conditions.

Objective:This study aimed to investigate the cardioprotective effects of C18:0 NAE— N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) in aged rats. In this study, we focused on investigating the effects of C18:0 NAE— N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) on the intensity of oxidative/ nitrosative stress, antioxidant potential, lipoprotein profile and inflammation markers of blood plasma, phospholipid composition and age-related morphological changes of old rat heart tissues.

Methods:The study was conducted on Sprague Dawley male laboratory rats. The three groups of rats were involved in the study design. The first group consisted of young rats aged 4 months (n=10). The second (n=10) and third (n=10) groups included old rats aged of 18 months. Rats from the third group were administered a per os aqueous suspension of NSE at a dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight daily for 10 days. All groups of rats were kept on a standard vivarium diet. The blood plasma, serum, and heart of rats were used for biochemical and histological analysis.

Results:The cardioprotective effect of N-stearoylethanolamine in old rats was established, which was expressed in the normalization of the antioxidant system condition and the level of proinflammatory cytokines, positive modulation of blood plasma and lipoprotein profile, normalization of heart tissue lipid composition, and significant reduction in age-related myocardium morphological changes.

Conclusion:The revealed effects of N-stearoylethanolamine can become the basis for developing a new drug for use in complex therapy to improve the quality of life of older people.

Background:Duchene Muscular Disorder (DMD) is a severe X-linked recessive neuromuscular disease. Previous reports predicted that one-third of cases with a fatal X-linked recessive disease will be caused by a novel mutation, and the mutation rate for DMD seems to be higher in males.

Objective:A novel mutation in the DMD gene DMD (NM_004006.3):c.92A>G (p.Lys31Arg) is suggested for males because of their heterozygous mothers carrying the mutant alleles

Method:Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) was done for a 25-year-old female followed by the screening of the novel mutation in her parents and her brother by the Sanger sequencing technique. Some in silico analyses were run to find the putative alterations in wild-type and mutant structures by PolyPhen-2 and Mupro. Notably, SWISS-MODEL was performed to build a reliable model for the mutant allele based on the PDB ID: 1DXX structure. Also, superimposition was done by PyMol.

Results:WES analysis revealed three novel mutations including DLD (exon13:c.G1382A:p. G461E), ABCA3 (exon12:c.G1404C:p.W468C), and DMD (exon2:c.A92G:p.K31R) in the case. Focusing on DMD mutation, Sanger sequencing of the patient’s parents and brother indicated no mutant allele in her mother and brother but a mutant allele in her father as a hemizygous pattern. In silico analyses showed no considerable change regarding pathogenic impact.

Conclusion:In conclusion, our findings revealed no pathogenic effect of the new mutation (K31R) of the DMD gene in an Iranian 25-year-old woman. Because of the DMD importance in preclinical diagnosis, these data may shed a light on the diagnosis of this mutation in future pregnancies.