Autonomic brain functioning and age-related health concerns

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulates involuntary bodily functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, and digestion, in addition to controlling motivation and behavior. In older adults, the ANS is dysregulated, which changes the ability of the ANS to respond to physiological signals, regulate cardiovascular autonomic functionality, diminish gastric motility, and exacerbate sleep problems. For example, a decrease in heart rate variability, or the variation in the interval between heartbeats, is one of the most well-known alterations in the ANS associated with health issues, including cardiovascular diseases and cognitive decline. The inability to perform fundamental activities of daily living and compromising the physiological reactivity or motivational responses of older adults to moving toward or away from specific environmental stimuli are significant negative consequences of chronic and geriatric conditions that pose grave threats to autonomy, health, and well-being. The most updated research has investigated the associations between the action responsiveness of older adults and the maintenance of their physiological and physical health or the development of mental and physical health problems. Once autonomic dysfunction may significantly influence the development of different age-related diseases, including ischemic stroke, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases, this review aimed to assess the relationship between aging and autonomic functions. The review explored how motivational responses, physiological reactivity, cognitive processes, and lifelong developmental changes associated with aging impact the ANS and contribute to the emergence of health problems

Regulation of ABCG4 transporter expression by sterols and LXR ligands

Background: Oxysterols, which are derivatives of cholesterol produced by enzymic or non-enzymic pathways, are potent regulators of cellular lipid homeostasis. Sterol homeostasis in the brain is an important area of interest with regards to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD). Brain cells including neurons and astrocytes express sterol transporters belonging to the ABC transporter family of proteins, including ABCA1, ABCG1 and ABCG4, and these transporters are considered of interest as therapeutic targets. Although regulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1 is well established, regulation of ABCG4 is still controversial, in particular whether the transporter is an Liver X receptor (LXR) target. ABCG4 is thought to transport cholesterol, oxysterols and cholesterol synthesis intermediates, and was recently found on the blood brain barrier (BBB), implicated in amyloid-beta export. In this study, we investigate the regulation of ABCG4 by oxysterols, cholesterol-synthesis intermediates and cholesterol itself. Methods: ABC transporter expression was measured in neuroblastoma and gliablastoma cell lines and cells overexpressing ABCG4 in response to synthetic LXR ligands, oxysterols and cholesterol-synthesis intermediates. Results: In contrast to previous reports, ABCG4 expression was induced by a synthetic LXR ligand in U87-MG astrocytes but not in neuroblastoma and BBB endothelial cell lines. In addition, ABCG4 protein was stabilized by cholesterol as was previously shown for ABCG1. ABCG4 protein was furthermore stabilized by cholesterol-synthesis intermediates, desmosterol, lathosterol and lanosterol. Conclusions: These results identify new aspects of the post-translational control of ABCG4 that warrant further exploration into the role of this transporter in the maintenance of sterol homeostasis in the brain

Isorhamnetin Reduces Glucose Level, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin Diabetic Mice Model

Background: Isorhamnetin is a flavonoid that is found in medical plants. Several studies showed that isorhamnetin has anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects. This study aims to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of isorhamnetin in a high-fat diet and Streptozotocin-(HFD/STZ)-induced mice model of type 2 diabetes. Materials and Methods: Mice were fed with HFD followed by two consecutive low doses of STZ (40 mg/kg). HFD/STZ diabetic mice were treated orally with isorhamnetin (10 mg/kg) or (200 mg/kg) metformin for 10 days before sacrificing the mice and collecting plasma and soleus muscle for further analysis. Results: Isorhamnetin reduced the elevated levels of serum glucose compared to the vehicle control group (p p p p > 0.01). LDL, triglyceride, and cholesterol were reduced in diabetic mice treated with isorhamnetin compared to vehicle control (p p p p < 0.05) in diabetic mice compared to vehicle control. Conclusions: Isorhamnetin ameliorates insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Isorhamnetin could represent a promising therapeutic agent to treat T2D

Perspective of biopharmaceutics knowledge and practice of pharmacy personnel toward the effect of medication route and medical procedure on nullifying fasting

Background: In Ramadan, most of the dosing schedules for the patients are changed, and to ensure patient compliance to medications and to healthy life among patients, appropriate guidelines and educations are needed. This can be achieved by pharmacy personnel in all clinical settings who are recognized as biopharmaceutical experts and integral educators of medications. Aims: This study aimed to identify the perspective knowledge of pharmacy personnel about effect of medication route and medical procedure on nullifying fasting in Ramadan and to determine the predictors of this knowledge. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Jordan during March-April 2022. An internet-based self-administrated questionnaire on knowledge, and views was distributed using social media groups to the pharmacy personnel among different geographical areas in Jordan. A descriptive and univariate analysis were performed. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine the predictors of knowledge including all variables with p < 0.20 on univariate analysis. Results: A total of 1003 responses to the study questionnaire were collected and included in the analysis. The most common source that pharmacy personnel used to get information on medication intake and medical procedures during fasting in Ramadan was Fatwa (57.8%) followed by Islamic materials “books and brochures” (47.1%). The majority of respondents were knowledgeable about the effect of administration route of medication and medical procedures on nullifying fasting in Ramadan (greater than70%). The univariate analysis showed that more than half of respondents (56.1%) were considered knowledgeable, and the binary logistic regression analysis identified that both professional degree type and confidence of respondents to modify the patient's medication schedule as predictors for knowledge (OR = 1.791, 95% CI = 1.035–3.098, p = 0.037), (OR = 1.375, 95% CI = 1.04–1.817, p = 0.025), respectively. Conclusions: Most of pharmacy personnel in Jordan are knowledgeable in biopharmaceutics principles and practice toward effect of medication route and medical procedure on nullifying fasting, and the identified predictors for this knowledge, can provide an opportunity to improve safe and effective use of medications and medical procedures during the holy month of Ramadan