Perceived Neighborhood Environment Associated with Sarcopenia in Urban-Dwelling Older Adults: The Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS)

Sarcopenia is associated with adverse health outcomes among older individuals. However, little is known about its association with neighborhood environmental factors. We explored the relationship between sarcopenia and perceived neighborhood environmental factors among community-dwelling older adults aged 70–84 years. We analyzed 1778 participants (mean age of 75.9 ± 3.8 years; 54.0% women) who lived in urban areas and underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study. Sarcopenia was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 definition. Perceived neighborhood environmental factors were assessed using the Environmental Module of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-E). In the multivariate analysis, compared to the fifth quintile of the IPAQ-E score, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sarcopenia in the first, second, third, and fourth quintiles were 2.13 (1.40–3.24), 1.72 (1.12–2.64), 1.75 (1.15–2.66), and 1.62 (1.06–2.47), respectively. These neighborhood environmental characteristics were linked with an increased likelihood of sarcopenia: no public transportation access (OR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.19–3.48), poor recreational facilities access (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.01–1.90), absence of destination (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.06–2.20), many hill hazards (OR = 1.36; 95% CI = 1.03–1.78), and lack of traffic safety (OR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.02–1.78). Thus, better neighborhood environmental strategies may help prevent sarcopenia among urban-dwelling older adults

PER, a Circadian Clock Component, Mediates the Suppression of MMP-1 Expression in HaCaT Keratinocytes by cAMP

Skin circadian clock system responds to daily changes, thereby regulating skin functions. Exposure of the skin to UV irradiation induces the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and causes DNA damage. It has been reported both DNA repair and DNA replication are regulated by the circadian clock in mouse skin. However, the molecular link between circadian clock and MMP-1 has little been investigated. We found PERIOD protein, a morning clock component, represses the expression of MMP-1 in human keratinocytes by using a PER-knockdown strategy. Treatment with siPer3 alleviated the suppression of MMP-1 expression induced by forskolin. Results revealed PER3 suppresses the expression of MMP-1 via cAMP signaling pathway. Additionally, we screened for an activator of PER that could repress the expression of MMP-1 using HaCaT cell line containing PER promoter-luciferase reporter gene. Results showed Lespedeza capitate extract (LCE) increased PER promoter activity. LCE inhibited the expression of MMP-1 and its effect of LCE was abolished in knockdown of PER2 or PER3, demonstrating LCE can repress the expression of MMP-1 through PER. Since circadian clock component PER can regulate MMP-1 expression, it might be a new molecular mechanism to develop therapeutics to alleviate skin aging and skin cancer

Biomarker Discovery of Acute Coronary Syndrome Using Proteomic Approach

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a condition in which the coronary artery supplying blood to the heart is infarcted via formation of a plaque and thrombus, resulting in abnormal blood supply and high mortality and morbidity. Therefore, the prompt and efficient diagnosis of ACS and the need for new ACS diagnostic biomarkers are important. In this study, we aimed to identify new ACS diagnostic biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity using a proteomic approach. A discovery set with samples from 20 patients with ACS and 20 healthy controls was analyzed using mass spectrometry. Among the proteins identified, those showing a significant difference between each group were selected. Functional analysis of these proteins was conducted to confirm their association with functions in the diseased state. To determine ACS diagnostic biomarkers, standard peptides of the selected protein candidates from the discovery set were quantified, and these protein candidates were validated in a validation set consisting of the sera of 50 patients with ACS and 50 healthy controls. We showed that hemopexin, leucine-rich α-2-glycoprotein, and vitronectin levels were upregulated, whereas fibronectin level was downregulated, in patients with ACS. Thus, the use of these biomarkers may increase the accuracy of ACS diagnosis

The Alleviating Effect of <i>Lagerstroemia indica</i> Flower Extract on Stretch Marks through Regulation of Mast Cells

Striae distensae (SD) or stretch marks are common linear scars of atrophic skin with disintegrating extracellular matrix (ECM) structures. Although fibroblasts contribute to the construction of ECM structure in SD, some studies have reported that mast cell degranulation causes the disruption of ECM in early SD lesions. Lagerstroemia indica flower (LIF) has traditionally been used in India as a diuretic. However, little is known about the effect and molecular action of Lagerstroemia indica flower extract (LIFE) on alleviating SD. This study evaluated the effects of LIFE on mast cell degranulation and the synthesis of ECM components in fibroblasts. LIFE inhibits the adhesion of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells, RBL-2H3 on fibronectin (FN) and the expression of integrin, a receptor for FN, thereby reducing focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation. In addition, LIFE attenuated the allergen-induced granules and cytokine interleukin 3 (IL-3) through the adhesion with FN. Moreover, the conditioned medium (CM) of activated mast cells decreases the synthesis of ECM components, and LIFE restores the abnormal expressions induced by activated mast cells. These results demonstrate that LIFE suppresses FN-induced mast cell activation and promotes the synthesis of ECM components in fibroblast, which indicates that LIFE may be a useful cosmetic agent for SD treatment

Two-year longitudinal associations between nutritional status and frailty in community-dwelling older adults: Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study

Abstract Background Korea is expected to become a super-aged society in 2026, and improving nutritional status, which is directly related to health problems, is therefore important for increasing healthy life expectancy. Frailty is the most complex phenotype of aging, and leads to adverse health outcomes, disability, poor quality of life, hospitalization, and mortality. Malnutrition is a major risk factor for frailty syndrome. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of pre-frailty or frailty in the second wave (T2, 2018–2019) according to general characteristics and nutritional status in the first wave (T1, 2016–2017); and examine the longitudinal association of nutritional status in T1 and the incidence of pre-frailty or frailty in T2 among older adults living in a community. Methods A secondary data analysis was performed using the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study (KFACS). Participants comprised 1125 community-dwelling older Korean adults aged 70–84 years (mean age: 75.03 ± 3.56 years; 53.8% males). Frailty was assessed using the Fried frailty index, and nutritional status was assessed using the Korean version of the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form and blood nutritional biomarkers. Binary logistic regression was used to identify longitudinal associations between the nutritional status at T1 and pre-frailty or frailty at T2. Results Over the two-year follow-up period, 32.9% and 1.7% of the participants became pre-frail and frail, respectively. After the potential confounders were adjusted (sociodemographic, health behaviors, and health status characteristics), pre-frailty or frailty had a significant longitudinal association with severe anorexia (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 4.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–16.54), moderate anorexia (AOR, 2.31; 95% CI, 1.46–3.64), psychological stress or acute disease (AOR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.26–5.39), and body mass index (BMI) less than 19 (AOR, 4.11; 95% CI, 1.20–14.04). Conclusions Anorexia, psychological stress, acute disease, and low BMI are the most significant longitudinal risk factors for pre-frailty or frailty in older adults. As nutritional risk factors may be preventable or modifiable, it is important to develop interventions targeting the same. Community-based health professionals in health-related fields should recognize and manage these indicators appropriately to prevent frailty among older adults living in the community

How Do Phytochromes Transmit the Light Quality Information to the Circadian Clock in Arabidopsis?

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Proteomics Approach for the Discovery of Rheumatoid Arthritis Biomarkers Using Mass Spectrometry

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes serious functional loss in patients. Early and accurate diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis may attenuate its severity. Despite a diagnosis guideline in the 2010 American College of Rheumatology (ACR)/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis, the practical difficulties in its diagnosis highlight the need of developing new methods for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis. The current study aimed to identify rheumatoid arthritis diagnostic biomarkers by using a proteomics approach. Serum protein profiling was conducted using mass spectrometry, and five distinguishable biomarkers were identified therefrom. In the validation study, the five biomarkers were quantitatively verified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) analysis. Two proteins, namely serum amyloid A4 and vitamin D binding protein, showed high performance in distinguishing patients with rheumatoid arthritis from healthy controls. Logistic analysis was conducted to evaluate how accurately the two biomarkers distinguish patients with rheumatoid arthritis from healthy controls. The classification accuracy was 86.0% and 81.4% in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and in healthy controls, respectively. Serum amyloid A4 and vitamin D binding protein could be potential biomarkers related to the inflammatory response and joint destruction that accompany rheumatoid arthritis