Bioenergetic signatures of neurodevelopmental regression

Background: Studies have linked autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to physiological abnormalities including mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial dysfunction may be linked to a subset of children with ASD who have neurodevelopmental regression (NDR). We have developed a cell model of ASD which demonstrates a unique mitochondrial profile with mitochondrial respiration higher than normal and sensitive to physiological stress. We have previously shown similar mitochondrial profiles in individuals with ASD and NDR. Methods: Twenty-six ASD individuals without a history of NDR (ASD-NoNDR) and 15 ASD individuals with a history of NDR (ASD-NDR) were recruited from 34 families. From these families, 30 mothers, 17 fathers and 5 typically developing (TD) siblings participated. Mitochondrial respiration was measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the Seahorse 96 XF Analyzer. PBMCs were exposed to various levels of physiological stress for 1 h prior to the assay using 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-napthoquinone. Results: ASD-NDR children were found to have higher respiratory rates with mitochondria that were more sensitive to physiological stress as compared to ASD-NoNDR children, similar to our cellular model of NDR. Differences in mitochondrial respiration between ASD-NDR and TD siblings were similar to the differences between ASD-NDR and ASD-NoNDR children. Interesting, parents of children with ASD and NDR demonstrated patterns of mitochondrial respiration similar to their children such that parents of children with ASD and NDR demonstrated elevated respiratory rates with mitochondria that were more sensitive to physiological stress. In addition, sex differences were seen in ASD children and parents. Age effects in parents suggested that mitochondria of older parents were more sensitive to physiological stress. Conclusion: This study provides further evidence that children with ASD and NDR may have a unique type of mitochondrial physiology that may make them susceptible to physiological stressors. Identifying these children early in life before NDR occurs and providing treatment to protect mitochondrial physiology may protect children from experiencing NDR. The fact that parents also demonstrate mitochondrial respiration patterns similar to their children implies that this unique change in mitochondrial physiology may be a heritable factor (genetic or epigenetic), a result of shared environment, or both.

The Severity and Neural Correlates of Premonitory Urge in Tourette Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Premonitory urge (PU) is an aversive bodily sensation that signals the onset of tic disorder.To our knowledge, PU typically precedes the appearance of tic symptoms, and both age and tic severity are correlated with PU. However, inconsistent findings have also been reported. Hence, we conducted a meta-analysis to examine the relationship among premonitory symptoms, patient age and the severity of tic symptoms, as well as to summarize the research on the neural underpinnings of PU in Tourette syndrome (TS).

METHODS

We conducted a literature search of relevant studies published between December 2005 and April 2022 using databases such as PubMed, Elsevier, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Our analysis was carried out using R software with the assistance of the "meta" and "metafor" packages.

RESULTS

Our meta-analysis included 22 studies with a total of 1236 tic disorder patients. The mean Premonitory Urge for Tics Scale (PUTS) score was 20.17, with a 95% confidence interval of [18.14, 21.68]. Through meta-regression, we found that age and tic severity play important moderating roles in PU severity (p < 0.0001). Neuroimaging studies suggest that PU is related to the insula, prefrontal cortex (PFC), anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), and supplementary motor area (SMA), regardless of the structural or functional level.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis confirmed the positive relationship between the severity of tics and PU and identified age as a significant factor influencing PU. The neural mechanisms underlying PU remain largely unknown, but evidence suggests that the insula, PFC, ACC, and SMA are related regions.

Different hydraulic and photosynthetic responses to summer drought between newly sprouted and established Moso bamboo culms

The subtropical regions in China are prone to recurrent summer droughts induced by the Western Pacific Subtropical High-Pressure, which has induced the death of tens of millions of culms of Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis (Carriere) J. Houzeau), a widely distributed giant bamboo with high economic and ecological values. In the future, the intensity and frequency of the summer drought are projected to increase in these areas due to global climate change, which may lead to significant age-specific mortality of Moso bamboo. So far, it is still unclear about the age-specific response mechanisms of hydraulic traits and carbon balance of Moso bamboo when it is suffering to an ongoing summer drought. This study aimed to investigate the hydraulic and photosynthetic responses of newly sprouted (1 year old) and established (2-5 years old) culms of Moso bamboo to summer drought, which was manipulated by throughfall reduction in Lin'an of Zhejiang. The results showed that both newly sprouted and established culms had a gradually weakening hydraulic conductivity and photosynthesis during the whole drought process. In the early stage of the manipulated drought, the established culms had more loss of hydraulic conductivity than the newly sprouted culms. However, the newly sprouted culms had significant more loss of hydraulic conductivity and lower photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance in the middle and late stages of the manipulated drought. The results suggest that the newly sprouted culms were more susceptible to summer drought than established culms due to the combined effects of hydraulic damage and photosynthetic restriction, explaining why the newly sprouted culms have higher mortality than elder culms when subjected to extreme drought. These findings provided insights into the mechanisms of Moso bamboo's age-specific drought-induced mortality, which will help for the anti-drought management of bamboo.

The Relative Age Effect in Male and Female Brazilian Elite Volleyball Athletes of Varied Competitive Levels

Volleyball is a popular sport in Brazil, and the relative age effect (RAE) is known to occur within it; but less is known of how RAE relates to elite Brazilian volleyball players' age, sex, and competitive levels. We aimed to investigate RAE prevalence with data from two seasons of play among players in the Superliga A (2020/2021 and 2021/2022 seasons), and Superliga B (2021 and 2022 seasons) made available from the Brazilian Volleyball Confederation (CBV), the club's official website, or direct consultation with the CBV. After removing duplicate data, we grouped these 1,063 athletes by their dates of birth, sex, and competition level (Superliga A or B). We divided players' birth dates into quarters (Q1: January-March, Q2: April-June, Q3: July-September and Q4: October-December) and into semesters, and we performed chi-square (χ²) tests to investigate RAE prevalence according to the players' sex and competitive level. RAE was prevalent overall (χ² = 33.198; p < .001), among males (χ² = 24.48; p < .001) and females (χ² = 11.23; p < .011). Regarding competition level, RAE was evident among males in both Superliga A (χ² = 14.581; p = 0.002), and B (χ² = 13.985; p = 0.003), and among females in Superliga B (χ² = 9.204; p = 0.027), but not Superliga A (χ² = 4.012; p = 0.26). Thus, the RAE phenomenon operated differently for male and female Brazilian volleyball players according to their competitive level. We discuss the implications of these findings.

Effects of NSC in different organs and at different growth stages on the yield of oil peony Fengdan with different ages

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) as resource reserves of plants play important roles in energy supply for normal growth and reproduction under environmental stress. The yield of perennial crops is mainly determined by the carbohydrate production and allocation in the current growth season, as well as the re-allocation of NSC reserves. However, the contribution of NSC to crop yield has not been fully determined. Fengdan (Paeonia ostii) is a variety of oil Peony that is newly developed in China. The effects of tree age and NSC on yield were examined by investigated the variations of biomass, soluble sugars, starch, and NSC in the organ and whole tree levels in the dormant and ripening stages of Fengdan populations with 4-, 6-, and 8-year-old in 2020 and 5-, 7-, and 9- year old in 2021. Results showed that the biomass, yield (seed biomass), soluble sugars, starch, and NSC reserve of Fengdan at the whole tree level increased with the increase in age. Although consistent correlations were observed between soluble sugars, starch and NSC storage, and yield among the plants with different ages, Fengdan showed allometric growth relationships between the accumulation of soluble sugars, starch, and NSC and yield and biomass (standardized major axis analyses slope b ≠ 1). Tree age significantly affected biomass and its allocation and NSC levels, especially the yield of Fengdan plants. The results of the investigation of the variations in the relationships between the yield and seasonal fluctuations of NSC and biomass indicate that roots is the key storage structure, whereas stems both serve as sink and/or source functions for the adult (7-9a) plants. NSC level, particularly the concentration of soluble sugars, in stems mainly influences Fengdan yield. These findings together provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the yield formation of Fengdan and have implications for manipulating sink-source relationship to achieve high yield.

Age-related changes in self-reported psychotic experiences in clinical help-seeking population: From 15 to 45 years

AIMS

Psychotic experiences differ with age. It is currently unknown whether there were specific patterns and associations between the presentation of psychotic experiences and age. This study aimed to explore age-related differences (15-45 years) in self-reported psychotic experiences in a large-scale clinical population.

METHODS

A total of 2542 consecutive new patients aged 15-45 years were recruited on their first visit to the Shanghai Mental Health Center and screened with the PRIME Screen-Revised (PS-R). According to the clinical diagnostic information of patients from their outpatient medical records compiled by their clinicians, four diagnostic categories were applied: 1) psychotic disorder; 2) mood disorder; 3) anxiety disorder and 4) others.

RESULTS

The PS-R scores of self-reported psychotic experiences declined with age, except for two age ranges: ≤18 years for overall sample (≤18 vs. 19-34 years: t = 5.531, df = 2202, p < .001) and 37-40 years for female sample (37-40 vs. >40 years: t = 1.985, df = 138, p = .049), which showed upward trends, contrary to those of others. There were no significant differences in self-reported psychotic experiences between age groups in patients with psychotic disorders, while significant age differences were found in all nonpsychotic patients.

CONCLUSION

These findings support the view that frequent PS-R screening demonstrated that psychotic experiences decline with age in the clinical population. Early detection of psychosis should focus on not only adolescents but also women aged >36 years.

Susceptibility to Postoperative Changes in Music Appreciation in Elderly Cochlear Implant Recipients

With the rise in life expectancy and the consequent increase in the elderly population, the use of cochlear implants (CI) in elderly patients with hearing loss is also increasing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether music appreciation in elderly CI users differs from that of non-elderly users. Forty-nine adult CI recipients participated in the study, and the Korean version of the Music Background Questionnaire was utilized preoperatively and postoperatively to evaluate music appreciation. The changes between the preoperative and postoperative values were compared after categorizing the participants into a non-elderly group (<65 years; n = 31) and an elderly group (≥65 years; n = 18). When compared to the non-elderly group, the elderly individuals exhibited a significant decrease in music listening times, without a significant change in the genre of music listened to following CI surgery. Moreover, the elderly group demonstrated significant decreases in music appreciation scores in terms of music quality and music elements, perceiving music as less natural, less clear, and more complex. They also exhibited significant changes in scores with respect to perception of rhythm, melody, timbre, and lyrics. This susceptibility to postoperative changes in music appreciation among elderly CI users should be considered in surgical counseling and music training programs.

A parametric modeling of adult body shape in a supported seated posture including effects of age

Statistical body shape models (SBSM) provide compact, flexible representations of body shape that can be implemented in design software. However, few SBSMs have been created to represent adults in supported seated postures that are relevant for the design of seated environments, and none has incorporated the effects of age. This paper presents an SBSM based on surface laser-scan data from 155 U.S. adults. The data were processed to obtain homologous mesh structure and symmetric geometry, and the processed data were statistically analysed using principal component analysis to obtain a compact representation of the data variance. Regression analysis was conducted to predict body size and shape from stature, body mass index, ratio of sitting height to stature, sex, and age. The resulting model allows rapid generation of realistic body models for applications, including product design, accommodation assessment, and safety system optimisation. The model is publicly accessible at HumanShape.org. Practitioner summary: This paper presents a statistical model that represents adult body shapes in a supported seated posture based on 3 D anthropometric measurements. This model is the first whole-body parametric model known to incorporate age effects based on data extending beyond 65 years of age.

Exploitation of Marginal Hilly Land in Tuscany through the Cultivation of Lavandula angustifolia Mill.: Characterization of Its Essential Oil and Antibacterial Activity

Lavandula angustifolia Mill., known as one of the best essential oil-bearing plants, is an aromatic plant that is well cultivated in many Mediterranean regions due to its adaptability to variations in climatic and edaphic conditions. Therefore, its essential oil (EO) composition and its antimicrobial activity change as a consequence of abiotic and biotic factors. The chemical composition of L. angustifolia EO collected during four consecutive years of growth was one of the aims of this work. The volatile profile evidenced the prevalence of linalool and linalool acetate even though they switched their positions according to age. Plants in their first year were characterized by a high amount of sesquiterpene compounds (22.1% of the identified fraction). This percentage decreased during plant growth, not representing more than 5.3% in the fourth year. It is interesting to note that both the third- and fourth-year plants showed a content of monoterpenes that exceeded 90% of the total identified constituents. The EO extracted from the oldest plants evidenced higher activity on the studied strains, with more sensitivity on the Gram-positive ones. Tuscan lavender EO, especially that obtained from the four-year-old plants, is of great interest for its potential industrial applications and constitutes an example for the valorization of marginal Tuscan land and good-quality production.

The effect of age on the early stage of face perception in depressed patients: An ERP study

The aim of the present study was to investigate the age effect on face perceptual processing in MDD patients by analyzing the N170 component in response to faces and objects presented in upright and inverted conditions. For controls, although the N170 amplitude, overall, did not differ between young and middle-aged participants, the size of N170 inversion effect was larger for young than for middle-aged controls, but the N170 face effect was not influenced by age. For young participants, MDD patients showed N170 amplitude similar to controls and neither the N170 face effect nor the N170 inversion effect were influenced by depression. For middle-aged participants, MDD patients revealed larger N170 than did controls, and both the size of N170 inversion effect and the N170 face effect were larger for MDD patients than controls. These data indicate that, at least at the early stage of face perception, there is altered face perception in middle-aged but not in young MDD patients. This research could provide new evidence for clinical assessment of cognitive function in MDD patients.

Age and Education Effects on a Novel Syntactic Assessment Battery for Elderly Adults

The purpose of this study was to delineate the properties of a novel syntactic assessment battery and to present descriptive data on normal elderly individuals. We administered the Syntactic Assessment Battery (hereinafter SAB) using a sentence-picture paradigm to 195 normal elderly adults in three age groups (60-69, 70-79, and 80-90) and five educational levels (No formal education, Elementary School Graduation, Middle School Graduation, High School Graduation, College Graduation and Above). A multiple linear regression model was applied to verify the age and education effects. A summary of results indicated that the SAB effectively detected age and education effects. People generally demonstrated worse performance as they aged but better performance as their educational levels increased. People with high school education and above generally demonstrated stronger performance on the test, although educational effects were not significantly different between elementary and middle school graduation groups. The current novel syntactic assessment battery can serve as a screening measure that sensitively detects age and education effects.

Age Effect on Incidence, Physical, and Psychiatric Comorbidity for Sudden Cardiac Death in Schizophrenia: Effet de l'âge sur l'incidence, la comorbidité physique et psychiatrique de la mort cardiaque subite dans la schizophrénie

OBJECTIVE

The pathogenesis of sudden cardiac death may differ between younger and older adults in schizophrenia, but evidence remains scant. This study investigated the age effect on the incidence and risk of the physical and psychiatric comorbidity for sudden cardiac death.

METHODS

Using 2000 to 2016 data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and Department of Health Death Certification System, we identified a national cohort of 170,322 patients with schizophrenia, 1,836 of whom had a sudden cardiac death. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were estimated. Hazard ratios and population attributable fractions of distinctive comorbidities for sudden cardiac death were assessed.

RESULTS

The SMRs of sudden cardiac death were all >1.00 across each age group for both sexes, with the highest SMR in male patients aged <35 years (30.88, 95% CI: 26.18-36.18). The fractions of sudden cardiac death attributable to hypertension and congestive heart failure noticeably increased with age. By contrast, the fraction attributable to drug-induced mental disorder decreased with age. Additionally, chronic hepatic disease and sleep disorder increased the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients aged <35 years. Dementia and organic mental disorder elevated the risk in patients aged between 35-54 years. Ischemic heart disease raised the risk in patients aged ≥55 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk is increased across the lifespan in schizophrenia, particularly for younger male patients. Furthermore, physical and psychiatric comorbidities have age-dependent risks. The findings suggest that prevention strategies targeted toward sudden cardiac death in patients with schizophrenia must consider the age effect.

Human immune deficiency virus-related structural alterations in the brain are dependent on age

Currently, it is still unknown whether human immune deficiency virus (HIV)‐related structural alterations in the brain are dependent on age. With people living with HIV at different ages, we aim to investigate age‐specific structural alterations in HIV patients. Eighty‐three male HIV patients and eighty‐three age‐matched male controls were enrolled, and high‐resolution T1 weighted images were collected and analyzed with four morphological metrics. Then, statistical analyses were respectively conducted to ascertain HIV effects, age effects, and medication effects in brain structure of HIV patients, and the relationship with neuropsychological evaluations were further explored. Finally, discriminative performances of these structural abnormalities were quantitatively testified with three machine learning models. Compared with healthy controls, HIV patients displayed lower gray matter volumes (GMV), lower gyrification index, deeper sulcus depth, and larger cortical thickness (CTH). Age‐specific differences were found in GMV and CTH: young‐aged HIV patients displayed more obvious morphological alterations than middle‐aged HIV patients when comparing corresponding age‐matched healthy controls. Furthermore, age‐specific long‐term medication effect of combination antiretroviral therapy were also presented. Additionally, several subcortical structural changes were negatively associated with language, attention and motor functions. Finally, three machine learning models demonstrated young‐aged HIV patients were easier to be recognized than middle‐aged HIV patients. Our study indicated young‐aged HIV patients were more vulnerable to HIV infection in brain structure than middle‐aged patients, and future studies should not ignore the age effect in studying the HIV‐related abnormalities.

Species- and Age/Generation-Dependent Adherence of Bifidobacterium bifidum to Human Intestinal Mucus In Vitro

Adhesion to intestinal mucus is the first event in the process by which intestinal microbes colonize the intestine. It plays a critical role in the initiation of interactions between gut microbes and host animals. Despite the importance, the adhesion properties of probiotics are generally characterized using porcine mucin; adhesion to human mucus has been poorly characterized. In the present study, human intestinal mucus samples were isolated from 114 fecal samples collected from healthy infants and adults. In initial screening, four out of the 13 beneficial microbes tested, including the type strain of Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. bifidum TMC3115, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG, and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis Bb12, showed strong adhesion abilities to human mucus. The type strain of B. bifidum and TMC3115 adhered more strongly to neonatal and infant mucus than to adult mucus, while L. rhamnosus GG and B. lactis Bb12 adhered more strongly to adult mucus than to infant mucus. Similar results were obtained for ten additional strains of B. bifidum. In conclusion, age/generation-related differences were observed in the adhesion properties of B. bifidum and other strains. A deeper symbiotic relationship may exist between infants, particularly neonates, and B. bifidum based on its enhanced adhesion to neonatal intestinal mucus.

The Listening Network and Cochlear Implant Benefits in Hearing-Impaired Adults

Older adults with mild or no hearing loss make more errors and expend more effort listening to speech. Cochlear implants (CI) restore hearing to deaf patients but with limited fidelity. We hypothesized that patient-reported hearing and health-related quality of life in CI patients may similarly vary according to age. Speech Spatial Qualities (SSQ) of hearing scale and Health Utilities Index Mark III (HUI) questionnaires were administered to 543 unilaterally implanted adults across Europe, South Africa, and South America. Data were acquired before surgery and at 1, 2, and 3 years post-surgery. Data were analyzed using linear mixed models with visit, age group (18–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, and 65+), and side of implant as main factors and adjusted for other covariates. Tinnitus and dizziness prevalence did not vary with age, but older groups had more preoperative hearing. Preoperatively and postoperatively, SSQ scores were significantly higher (Δ0.75–0.82) for those aged <45 compared with those 55+. However, gains in SSQ scores were equivalent across age groups, although postoperative SSQ scores were higher in right-ear implanted subjects. All age groups benefited equally in terms of HUI gain (0.18), with no decrease in scores with age. Overall, younger adults appeared to cope better with a degraded hearing before and after CI, leading to better subjective hearing performance.

Burden of Uncontrolled Hyperglycemia and Its Association with Patients Characteristics and Socioeconomic Status in Philadelphia, USA

Purpose: To examine the burden of uncontrolled hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and their characteristics in a large urban city.

Methods: A randomized sample of 4993 patients with DM ≥18 years old who received routine health care in a large university teaching hospital in the city of Philadelphia was analyzed. Uncontrolled hyperglycemia was classified as blood hemoglobin A1c >8%. The associations of uncontrolled hyperglycemia with sociodemographic and cardiovascular factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analysis methods.

Results: The results show that patients 18–54 years had the highest prevalence of uncontrolled hyperglycemia (36.0%), followed by those at age 55–64 (30.9%), 65–74 (22.9%), and ≥75 (20.6%) years (p<0.0001). Unadjusted hyperglycemia was significantly associated with patients with increased total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio (odds ratio [OR]=1.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.33–1.90, p<0.001), and with prevalent coronary heart disease (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.16–1.67, p=0.001). Patients living in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status (SES) had significantly higher uncontrolled hyperglycemia rates across the city (r=0.52, R²=0.27, p=0.03).

Conclusions: Findings of this study is one of the first studies to address that younger adults had higher rates of uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Further attention should be paid to the challenges of controlling DM in younger adults and patients who live in neighborhoods with lower SES.

Double Jeopardy Versus Double Benefit: The Role of Age and Leisure Activities in the Incidence of Disability Among Chinese Older Adults

Objectives: This paper analyzes the double jeopardy effect of age and double benefit of leisure activities in the incidence of disability. Methods: This study uses data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey between 2002 and 2014. Disability status is measured by activities of daily living. Leisure activities include physical and social activities. A generalized linear mixed model with a time-lag design is used to analyze the trajectory of being disabled. Results: Older ages are associated with double jeopardy of disability: higher initial probability and faster pace. The double benefit of leisure activities is confirmed: lower initial probability and a slower pace of change in disability over time. The age pattern is substantially alleviated when leisure activities and other covariates are present. Discussion: Although the risk of disability rises with advancing age, the over-time trajectory can be flattened by engagement in leisure activities and other factors.

Effects of age on the peak ratio of ophthalmic artery Doppler

This study aimed to investigate the effects of age on the peak ratio (PR) of ophthalmic artery (OA) Doppler.The initial peak velocity (P1), second peak velocity (P2) and PR of OA were detected by color Doppler ultrasonography in 147 healthy subjects. All of the subjects were divided into 6 groups (G1-G6) according to the age. (G1, 20-29 years; G2, 30-39 years; G3, 40-49 years; G4, 50-59 years; G5, 60-69 years; and G6, 70 years or older). The blood pressure and heart rate were also examined before ultrasonography. The influences of age, blood pressure and heart rate on the P1, P2, and PR were further evaluated.There were significant differences in the P2 and PR among different age groups except for P1. There were no significant differences in the P2 and PR between the first 2 groups, neither among the latter 4 groups. Nevertheless, P2 and PR in the first 2 groups were significantly different from those in the latter 4 groups. In addition, both P2 and PR (not P1) increased significantly with age, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. P1, P2 and PR were not related to heart rate. Both P2 and PR were closely related to the age. PR also had a weak relationship with systolic blood pressure.Both P2 and PR of OA Doppler increase with age. Concern should be raised when P2 and PR are used to evaluate the hemodynamic change of OA.

Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Chiglitazar, a Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Pan-Agonist, in Patients < 65 and ≥ 65 Years With Type 2 Diabetes

The effect of age on the pharmacokinetics and safety of chiglitazar was evaluated in patients < 65 and ≥ 65 years with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 20 T2DM patients (<65 vs ≥65 years 1:1) completed the study. Patients received multiple doses of 48 mg chiglitazar once daily for 7 days consecutively. After the first dosing, chiglitazar maximum plasma concentration (C_max ) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) in patients ≥ 65 years were similar to those observed in patients < 65 years, with the geometric mean ratio (GMR) for C_max and AUC being 97.22% and 96.83%, respectively. No significant difference was observed in C_max (GMR, 97.23%) in the steady state. Compared with the patients < 65 years, a slight increase (8%-13%) of AUC was observed in the patients ≥ 65 years after multiple doses. Chiglitazar was generally well tolerated following multiple doses in both age groups. In conclusion, there were no significant clinical influences on the pharmacokinetic properties and safety profiles of chiglitazar between patients with T2DM < 65 and ≥ 65 years, indicating that in the future it is not required to adjust the dosing regimen by age for T2DM patients ≥ 65 years.

The Characteristics and Age Effects of Emotional Lability in ADHD Children With and Without Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Objective: This study evaluated the concurrent validity of emotional lability (EL) in children with ADHD. Method: A total of 2,015 children with ADHD and 745 typically developed controls (TDCs) were assessed and compared on EL. Results: ADHD participants expressed higher EL scores than TDCs, not influenced by gender or IQ. Higher levels of EL symptoms were found in children with comorbid oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and with ADHD-combined subtype. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses showed a strong screening efficacy of EL symptoms on ADHD. The effect of developmental age on EL showed a desisting pattern in TDCs, as opposed to a persisting pattern in ADHD (not influenced by ODD comorbid status). ODD symptoms in ADHD showed an ascending pattern. Conclusion: EL can potentially serve as a sentinel index for the presence of ADHD, especially when the ADHD presentation is atypical. ODD may embody a developmental entity distinct from EL.

Age effect of antipsychotic medications on the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients with schizophrenia: A nationwide case-crossover study

AIM

Research regarding the effects of age in patients with schizophrenia taking antipsychotics on the risk of sudden cardiac death is lacking. We determined the effect of patient age on the association between exposure to antipsychotics and the risk of sudden cardiac death in a nationwide schizophrenia cohort.

METHODS

From the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database and Department of Health Death Certification System, data of 1836 patients with schizophrenia who had experienced sudden cardiac death between 2000 and 2016 were included. A case-crossover design by using a 14-day window was applied, and subgroup analyses were performed by stratifying patients into three age subgroups (<45, 45-65, and >65 years) to assess the effect of age on the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients taking antipsychotics.

RESULTS

No association between exposure to antipsychotic agents and sudden cardiac death risk was found in patients aged >65 years who were characterized by a high burden of medical illnesses. However, zotepine significantly increased the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients aged <45 years (adjusted relative risk [RR] = 2.68, P = 0.046). Flupentixol (adjusted RR = 5.30, P = 0.004) and risperidone (adjusted RR = 1.68, P = 0.01) significantly elevated the risk of sudden cardiac death in patients aged 45-65 years.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that individual antipsychotics pose different risks of sudden cardiac death in patients with schizophrenia across their lifespan. Clinicians should consider patient age when evaluating the risks and benefits of antipsychotic treatment.

Age-Dependent Changes of Kidney Injury Biomarkers in Pediatrics

Currently used creatinine-based parameters for monitoring kidney function are not reliable for early detection of kidney injury (KI), particularly tubular damage. Several KI biomarkers allow for early detection of glomerular and tubular damage and may help to prevent drug-related chronic kidney diseases in pediatrics. This literature review describes the state of current research and investigates reference values for these KI biomarkers in neonates, infants, and children to better understand age-related changes. A total of 12 of 237 screened studies fulfilled predefined criteria, including 219 preterm neonates, 70 neonates, 596 infants, and 1726 children. KI biomarkers were analyzed in urine (6 studies), in serum/plasma (5 studies) and in serum and urine (1 study). Four studies (n = 555) measured urinary kidney injury molecule-1, whereas urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin was assessed in 5 studies (n = 888), and 2 studies (n = 203) investigated serum cystatin C. This review of KI biomarkers in different pediatric age groups indicates that (1) the majority of KI biomarkers are measured in urine; (2) the 3 most commonly analyzed KI biomarkers are urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, urinary kidney injury molecule-1, and serum cystatin C; (3) values of KI biomarkers appear to decrease from prematurity to infancy; and (4) there is an unmet need to further enhance knowledge on age-dependent changes of KI biomarkers in pediatrics. Studies are needed to better characterize reference values for these key KI biomarkers in healthy pediatric populations and to evaluate the value of these markers in the early detection of drug-related KI in neonates, infants, and children.

Effects of Age on Long-Term Functional Recovery in Patients with Stroke

Background and objectives: Age might be a determinant that limits functional recovery in patients with stroke. Here, we investigated the effect of age on functional recovery within 30 months after stroke onset. Materials and Methods: This retrospective longitudinal study enrolled 111 patients with first-ever stroke. Functional recovery was assessed at 2 weeks and at 1, 6, and 30 months after stroke onset using the modified Barthel Index (MBI), modified Rankin Score (mRS), functional ambulation category (FAC), muscle strength, and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). A generalized estimating equation analysis was performed. Results: With the MBI, function improved until 6 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years and until 1 month after stroke onset in patients ≥70 years. At 30 months after stroke, there was no significant change of MBI in patients aged <70 years, whereas there was a significant decline in older patients. With the mRS and FAC, function improved until 30 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years and until 1 month after stroke onset in older patients. Motor deficit, assessed using the Medical Research Council (MRC), improved significantly until 6 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years. There was a significant improvement in cognition (assessed using the MMSE) until 6 months after stroke onset in patients aged <70 years and until 1 month after stroke onset in older patients. Conclusions: Long-term functional recovery occurred for up to 30 months after stroke. Patients aged ≥70 years showed functional decline between 6 and 30 months after onset. These findings could be useful when measuring functional recovery after stroke.

Relative Age Effect in the Girls' Volleyball U18 World Championship

The relative age effect (RAE), within the sporting scope, refers to the possible advantages of participation and performance of athletes born in the first months of the year of selection in relation to others within the same age category. The aim of the present study was to investigate the RAE in girls' volleyball players participating in the U-18 World Championship, analysing the differences between the medal teams and other teams in the tournament, and considering this phenomenon in relation to the continents. Data collection was obtained from the website of the International Volleyball Federation with a sample made of 1654 youth players in the last six world championships (2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017). A greater representation of athletes born in the first months of the year of all the world championships was observed. In the comparison among the continents, it was observed that in Africa, there was a more equal distribution of quartiles compared to America, Asia and Europe. It should be noted that there was a higher percentage of medalist athletes born at the beginning of the year in comparison to the countries that placed in the last three positions of the championship. Therefore, in U-18 female volleyball, there is an advantage to have the closest birth age at the beginning of the competitive biennium.

[The effect of age on the degree of strength restoration of the lower limb musles in the long-term period after surgical treatment of adult patients with spondylolisthesis.]

The purpose of the work was to study the effect of age on the degree of isometric strength restoration of the lower limb muscles in the long-term period after surgical treatment of adult patients with spondylolisthesis. 36 patients with spondylolisthesis of I and II displacement degree and 50 normal subjects at the age of 41-66 years were included in the study. Maximum moments of the femur and leg isometric strength were studied using dynamometric stands. The pain syndrome was evaluated in all the patients (VAS scale), as well as their functional condition (Oswestry scale). The investigations were performed before treatment and 75-99 months after surgical intervention. The presented reliable reverse correlation of the patient's age and the pattern and magnitude of changes in the strength of the lower limb muscles was identified in adult patients with spondylolisthesis in the long-term period after surgical treatment. At the younger age (41-59 years) positive dynamics of the muscle strength prevailed - an increase in 56,3% cases, conformity to the preoperative level was observed in 6,3% patients, a decrease in muscle function - in 37,4% cases. In the age-related group of 60-74 years the muscle strength growth was recorded only in 16,7% cases, there was no dynamics relative to the initial level in 8,3% patients, and a decrease in maximum moment of strength was observed in 75% cases. Thus, in case of large intervals of the follow-up period of the results of surgical treatment of adult patients with spondylolisthesis it is impossible to avoid evaluating the effect of age changes in muscles on the degree of restoring isometric strength of the lower limb muscles. As far as age increases, the reserves for muscle function improvement after surgical treatment are reduced significantly.

Audiovisual temporal integration and rapid temporal recalibration in adolescents and adults: Age-related changes and its correlation with autistic traits

Temporal structure is a key factor in determining the relatedness of multisensory stimuli. Stimuli that are close in time are more likely to be integrated into a unified perceptual representation. To investigate the age-related developmental differences in audiovisual temporal integration and rapid temporal recalibration, we administered simultaneity judgment (SJ) tasks to a group of adolescents (11-14 years) and young adults (18-28 years). No age-related changes were found in the width of the temporal binding window within which participants are highly likely to combine multisensory stimuli. The main distinction between adolescents and adults was audiovisual temporal recalibration. Although participants of both age groups could rapidly recalibrate based on the previous trial for speech stimuli (i.e., syllable utterances), only adults but not adolescents showed short-term recalibration for simple and non-speech stimuli. In both adolescents and adults, no significant correlation was found between audiovisual temporal integration ability and autistic or schizotypal traits. These findings provide new information on the developmental trajectory of basic multisensory function and may have implications for neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism) with altered audiovisual temporal integration. Autism Res 2020, 13: 615-626. © 2019 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: Utilizing temporal cues to integrate and separate audiovisual information is a fundamental ability underlying higher order social communicative functions. This study examines the developmental changes of the ability to detect audiovisual asynchrony and rapidly adjust sensory decisions based on previous sensory input. In healthy adolescents and young adults, the correlation between autistic traits and audiovisual integration ability failed to reach a significant level. Therefore, more research is needed to examine whether impairment in basic sensory functions is correlated with broader autism phenotype in nonclinical populations. These results may help us understand altered multisensory integration in people with autism.

Age-Period-Cohort Analysis on the Time Trend of Hepatitis B Incidence in Four Prefectures of Southern Xinjiang, China from 2005 to 2017

Objective: The influence of age, period, and cohort on Hepatitis B (HB) incidence in four prefectures of southern Xinjiang, China is still not clear. This paper aims to analyze the long-term trend of the HB incidence in four prefectures of southern Xinjiang, China and to estimate the independent impact of age, period and cohort, as well as to predict the development trend of HB incidence in male and female groups, then to identify the targeted population for HB screening by the model fitting and prediction. Method: The data were from the Case List of HB Cases Reported in the Infectious Disease Reporting Information Management System and the Xinjiang Statistical Yearbook of China. The age-period-cohort (APC) model was used to estimate the impacts of age, period and cohort on HB incidence, which could be used to predict the HB incidence in specific age groups of men and women. Results: Under the influence of age effect, the incidence of HB in males had two peaks (20–35 years old and 60–80 years old), the influence of age effect on the incidence of HB in females was lower than that of males and the obvious peak was between 20–30 years old; the period effect on the HB incidence in males and females fluctuated greatly and the fluctuation degree of influence on males was bigger than that of women. The HB incidence among males and females in the four regions tended to be affected by cohort effect, which reached a peak after 1990 and then declined sharply and gradually became stabilized. By predicting the HB incidence from 2018 to 2022, we found that there were significant differences in HB incidence among people over 35 years old, under 35 years old and the whole population in four prefectures of southern Xinjiang, China. Conclusions: Although the incidence of HB in some regions shows a downward trend, there is still an obvious upward trend of incidences in other places. In our paper, results indicate that the burden of HB incidence may be extended in the future, so we hope this can draw the attention of relative departments. These results reveal the differences of incidence between males and females as well, so respective measures of the two groups’ functions are essential.

Dependency of Vaccine Efficacy on Preexposure and Age: A Closer Look at a Tetravalent Dengue Vaccine

Background

A recombinant, live-attenuated, tetravalent dengue vaccine (CYD-TDV) was licensed for children aged ≥9 years in a few countries, but the dependence of vaccine efficacy on baseline immunity status and age groups has not been fully characterized.

Methods

Combining the 2 phase 3 trials CYD14 and CYD15, we estimated the vaccine efficacy for each of the 4 serotypes of dengue virus (DENV), as well as all serotypes combined, simultaneously stratified by baseline immunity status and age group, while accounting for uncertainty in the baseline immunity status of subjects.

Results

Baseline seropositive subjects showed high efficacy for all serotypes: 70.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 57.4%-80.1%) for dengue serotype 1 (DENV-1), 67.9% (95% CI, 49.9%-82.0%) for DENV-2, 77.5% (95% CI, 64.3%-90.2%) for DENV-3, 89.9% (95% CI, 79.8%-99.9%) for DENV-4, and 75.4% (95% CI, 68.3%-81.6%) overall. In contrast, baseline seronegative subjects showed moderate efficacy against DENV-4 (51.2% [95% CI, 20.0%-72.8%]) but no significant efficacy against other serotypes. Among seropositive children, the overall efficacy tended to increase with age: 35.9% (95% CI, -7.6% to 69.3%) for children ≤5 years old, 65.6% (95% CI, 40.3%-84.2%) for those 6-8 years old, 73.4% (95% CI, 62.6%-82.1%) for those 9-11 years old, and 80.6% (95% CI, 72.9%-87.3%) for those 12 years or older.

Conclusions

The CYD-TDV vaccine was highly efficacious for all dengue serotypes among children aged >5 years who have acquired baseline immunity from previous exposure. Increasing vaccine efficacy with age was not fully explained by increasing prevalence of baseline immunity with age.

The Vulnerability of Qilian Juniper to Extreme Drought Events

Identifying which trees are more vulnerable to extreme climatic events is a challenging problem in our understanding of forest and even ecosystem dynamics under climate change scenarios. As one of the most widely distributed tree species across the arid and semi-arid northeastern Tibetan Plateau, Qilian juniper (Juniperus przewalskii Kom.), is the main component of the local forest ecosystem, providing critical insurance for the ecological security of the surrounding areas. However, this species's ability to cope with climate extremes (especially drought) has not been adequately assessed. Here, we apply a dendroecological approach that considers indices of resistance and resilience to quantify the vulnerability of Qilian junipers to the extreme drought events of 1957, 1966, 1979, and 1995. A total of 532 Qilian juniper trees from different age stages (100-1,100 years) and altitudes [3,500-4,000 m above sea level (a.s.l.)] were studied to assess their response characteristics during these four drought extremes. We conclude that drought extremes have a significant negative impact on the growth of Qilian juniper. The oldest Qilian junipers at the lower altitudes constituted the most vulnerable populations across the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and were characterized by the lowest resistance values, the narrowest annual rings, and the highest proportion of missing rings during the four drought years. Tree resilience after droughts was strongly related to the intensity of the drought event and did not change with tree age or elevation. A threshold of tree tolerance to drought may exist, with the more vulnerable tree individuals (e.g., the oldest Qilian junipers from lower altitudes) being exposed to the highest mortality risk when drought intensity exceeds the threshold value. Such a threshold needs further consideration, through the study of trees that have died (or are about to die) due to extreme droughts.

Age factor affects reading acuity and reading speed in attaining text information

AIM

To investigate the effect of age on reading acuity and reading speed in attaining text information in healthy eyes.

METHODS

Reading acuity, critical print size, reading speed and maximum reading speed were measured in groups of 40 children (8 to 12 years old), 40 teenagers (13 to 19 years old), 40 young adults (20 to 39 years old), and 40 adults (40 years old and above) using the Buari-Chen Malay Reading Chart [contextual sentences (CS) set and random words (RW) set] in a cross-sectional study design.

RESULTS

Reading acuity was significantly improved by 0.04 logMAR for both CS set and RW set from children to teenagers, then gradually worsened from young adults to adults (CS set: 0.06 logMAR; RW set: 0.08 logMAR). Critical print size for children showed a significant improvement in teenagers (CS set: 0.14 logMAR; RW set: 0.07 logMAR), then deteriorated from young adults to adults by 0.09 logMAR only for CS set. Reading speed significantly increased from children to teenagers, [CS set: 46.20 words per minute (wpm); RW set: 42.06 wpm], then stabilized from teenagers to young adults, and significantly reduced from young adults to adults (CS set: 28.58 wpm; RW set: 24.44 wpm). Increment and decrement in maximum reading speed measurement were revealed from children to teenagers (CS set: 39.38 wpm; RW set: 43.38 wpm) and from young adults to adults (CS set: 22.26 wpm; RW set: 26.31 wpm) respectively.

CONCLUSION

The reference of age-related findings in term of acuity and speed of reading should be incorporated in clinical practice to enhance reading assessment among healthy eyes population.

Mortality trends of bladder cancer in China from 1991 to 2015: an age-period-cohort analysis

Purpose

The effects of age, period, and cohort on mortality rates of bladder cancer in China remained vague. This study aimed to analyze the secular trends of bladder cancer mortality in China and estimate the independent effects of age, period, and cohort.

Methods

Data for bladder cancer mortality from 1991 to 2015 was obtained from the WHO Mortality Database and China Health Statistical Yearbook. The age-period-cohort model was used to estimate the effect of age, period, and cohort. The intrinsic estimator method was used to solve the nonidentification problem of collinearity among age, period, and cohort.

Results

The age-standardized mortality rates of total residents (2.33–1.87/100,000), male (3.45–2.89/100,000), and female (1.24–0.82/100,000) showed decreasing trends, which was more obvious in males than in females. Age effects increased consistently with age in all age groups (coefficients: −2.02 to 1.91 in the total population, −2.06 to 2.02 in males and −2.04 to 1.81 in females). Cohort effects decreased overall (coefficients: 0.96 to −1.62 in the total population, 1.11 to −1.66 in males and 0.78 to −1.46 in females). Period effects were not found in China.

Conclusion

Although a decreasing mortality was observed, the bladder cancer burden in China will likely increase in the next few years due to population aging, environmental pollution, and food safety. The findings suggested that preventive measures should be taken corresponding to the changes in age-and cohort-related factors in the population.

Influence of age and education on the processing of clustering and switching in verbal fluency tasks

Verbal fluency (VF) is a widely used tool in neuropsychological assessment.

Lexical Tones in Mandarin Chinese Infant-Directed Speech: Age-Related Changes in the Second Year of Life

Tonal information is essential to early word learning in tone languages. Although numerous studies have investigated the intonational and segmental properties of infant-directed speech (IDS), only a few studies have explored the properties of lexical tones in IDS. These studies mostly focused on the first year of life; thus little is known about how lexical tones in IDS change as children's vocabulary acquisition accelerates in the second year (Goldfield and Reznick, 1990; Bloom, 2001). The present study examines whether Mandarin Chinese mothers hyperarticulate lexical tones in IDS addressing 18- and 24-month-old children-at which age children are learning words at a rapid speed-vs. adult-directed speech (ADS). Thirty-nine Mandarin Chinese-speaking mothers were tested in a semi-spontaneous picture-book-reading task, in which they told the same story to their child (IDS condition) and to an adult (ADS condition). Results for the F0 measurements (minimum F0, maximum F0, and F0 range) of tone in the speech data revealed a continuum of differences among IDS addressing 18-month-olds, IDS addressing 24-month-olds, and ADS. Lexical tones in IDS addressing 18-month-old children had a higher minimum F0, higher maximum F0, and larger pitch range than lexical tones in ADS. Lexical tones in IDS addressing 24-month-old children showed more similarity to ADS tones with respect to pitch height: there were no differences in minimum F0 and maximum F0 between ADS and IDS. However, F0 range was still larger. These results suggest that lexical tones are generally hyperarticulated in Mandarin Chinese IDS addressing 18- and 24- month-old children despite the change in pitch level over time. Mandarin Chinese mothers hyperarticulate lexical tones in IDS when talking to toddlers and potentially facilitate tone acquisition and word learning.

Age and Influenza-Specific Pre-Vaccination Antibodies Strongly Affect Influenza Vaccine Responses in the Icelandic Population whereas Disease and Medication Have Small Effects

Influenza vaccination remains the best strategy for the prevention of influenza virus-related disease and reduction of disease severity and mortality. However, there is large individual variation in influenza vaccine responses. In this study, we investigated the effects of gender, age, underlying diseases, and medication on vaccine responses in 1,852 Icelanders of broad age range who received trivalent inactivated influenza virus vaccination in 2012, 2013, or 2015. Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) and microneutralization (MN) titers were measured in pre- and post-vaccination sera. Of the variables tested, the strongest association was with level of pre-vaccination titer that explained a major part of the variance observed in post-vaccination titers, ranging from 19 to 29%, and from 7 to 21% in fold change (FC), depending on the strain and serological (HAI or MN) analysis performed. Thus, increasing pre-vaccination titer associated with decreasing FC (P = 1.1 × 10^-99-8.6 × 10^-30) and increasing post-vaccination titer (P = 2.1 × 10^-159-1.1 × 10^-123). Questionnaires completed by 87% of the participants revealed that post-vaccination HAI titer showed association with repeated previous influenza vaccinations. Gender had no effect on vaccine response whereas age had a strong effect and explained 1.6-3.1% of HAI post-vaccination titer variance and 3.1% of H1N1 MN titer variance. Vaccine response, both fold increase and seroprotection rate (percentage of individuals reaching HAI ≥ 40 or MN ≥ 20), was higher in vaccinees ≤37 years of age (YoA) than all other age groups. Furthermore, a reduction was observed in the H1N1 MN titer in people ≥63 YoA, demonstrating a decreased neutralizing functionality of vaccine-induced antibodies at older age. We tested the effects of underlying autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergic diseases and did not observe significant associations with vaccine responses. Intake of immune modulating medication did not show any association. Taken together, our results show that previous encounter of influenza vaccination or infection, reflected in high HAI and MN pre-vaccination titer has the strongest negative effect on vaccine responses measured as FC and the strongest positive effect on post-vaccination titer. Increasing age had also an effect but not gender, underlying disease or medication.

Culm Age and Rhizome Affects Night-Time Water Recharge in the Bamboo Phyllostachys pubescens

Bamboo species-the only herbaceous trees-have unique structural and physiological characteristics that differ from those of other tree taxa. However, the role of night-time water use in bamboo is poorly understood and has rarely been investigated. We studied the day- and night-time sap flow response to culm age and rhizome structure in three age levels (juvenile, mature, and senescent) of Phyllostachys pubescens growing in the Nankun Mountain Natural Reserve, South China. We found that sap flow density and whole-tree hydraulic conductance decreased with culm age. After cutting of rhizome, the day-time sap flow and night-time water recharge decreased obviously. In addition, night-time water recharge accounted for the largest proportion (up to 30%) of total daily transpiration in normal senescent bamboos. Therefore, our study indicates that the connected rhizome system and night-time water recharge played a significant role in water compensation during the day and at night in bamboos. Night-time water recharge is especially critical to senescent bamboos, given their weaker transpiration due to the lower whole-tree hydraulic conductance, and consequently, they are more dependent on night-time water recharge for fulfilling their whole-day water consumption needs.

Host-microbiota interplay in mediating immune disorders

To maintain health, the immune system must maintain a delicate balance between eliminating invading pathogens and avoiding immune disorders such as autoimmunity and allergies. The gut microbiota provide essential health benefits to the host, particularly by regulating immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis, an alteration and imbalance of the gut microbiota, is associated with the development of several autoimmune diseases in both mice and humans. In this review, we discuss recent advances in understanding how certain factors, such as age and gender, affect the gut microbiota, which in turn can influence the development of autoimmune diseases. The age factor in microbiota-dependent immune disorders indicates a window of opportunity for future diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We also discuss unique commensal bacteria with strong immunomodulatory activity. Finally, we provide an overview of the potential molecular mechanisms whereby gut microbiota induce autoimmunity, as well as the evidence that gut microbiota trigger extraintestinal diseases by inducing the migration of gut-derived immune cells. Elucidating the interaction of gut microbiota and the host immune system will help us understand the pathogenesis of immune disorders, and provide us with new foundations to develop novel immuno- or microbe-targeted therapies.

A Comparison of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage Following Maximal Eccentric Contractions in Men and Boys

PURPOSE

Research regarding exercise-induced muscle-damage mainly focuses on adults. The present study examined exercise-induced muscle-damage responses in adults compared with children.

METHOD

Eleven healthy boys (10-12 y) and 15 healthy men (18-45 y) performed 5 sets of 15 maximal eccentric contractions of the knee extensors. Range of motion (ROM), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) during squat and walking, and peak isometric, concentric and eccentric torque were assessed before, post, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr postexercise. Creatine kinase (CK) activity was assessed before and 72 hr postexercise.

RESULTS

Eccentric exercise resulted in DOMS during squat that persisted for up to 96h in men, and 48 hr in boys (p < .05), and DOMS during walking that persisted for up to 72 hr in men, and 48 hr in boys (p < .01). The ROM was lower in both age groups 48 hr postexercise (p < .001). Isometric (p < .001), concentric (p < .01) and eccentric (p < .01) force decreased post, and up to 48 hr postexercise in men. Except for a reduction in isometric force immediately after exercise, no other changes occurred in boys' isokinetic force. CK activity increased in men at 72 hr postexercise compared with pre exercise levels (p = .05).

CONCLUSION

Our data provide further confirmation that children are less susceptible to exercise-induced muscle damage compared with adults.

The Age Effects on the Cognitive Processes of Intention-Based and Stimulus-Based Actions: An ERP Study

The functional decline in action among older adults is caused not only by physical weakness but also by cognitive decline. In this study, we aimed to compare the cognitive effects of age between intention-based and stimulus-based action modes electrophysiologically. Because age-related declines in cognitive function might proceed distinctly according to specific action modes and processes, four specific cognitive processes, action-effect binding, stimulus-response linkage, action-effect feedback control, and effect-action retrieval, were investigated. We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) during a modified acquisition-test paradigm in young (mean age = 21, SD = 2) and old (mean age = 69, SD = 5) groups. A temporal bisection task and a movement pre-cuing task were used during the acquisition and test phases, respectively. Using ERP indices including readiness potential (RP), P3, N2 and contingent negative variation (CNV) to identify these four specific processes for the two action modes, we revealed the effects of age on each ERP index. The results showed similar patterns of waveforms but consistently decreasing amplitudes of all four ERP indices in the old age group compared with the young age group, which indicates not only generally declining functions of action preparation in older adults but also age effects specific to the action modes and processes that might otherwise be mixed together under confounding experimental conditions. Particularly, an interference effect indexed by the differences in the amplitudes of CNV between congruent and incongruent tasks was observed in the young age group, which is consistent with previous behavioral reports. However, this effect was absent in the old age group, indicating a specific age-related deficit in the effect-action retrieval process of intention-based action, which might be caused by an age-related deficit in associative memory. In sum, this study investigated the cognitive processes of two action modes from a developmental perspective and suggests the importance of adding associative memory training to interventions for older adults with the aim of improving intention-based action.

Short-term effects of air pollution on hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction: age effect on lag pattern

The aim of the present study is to analyse the age effect on the lag patterns of relative risk of hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction and NO₂, PM₁₀ and O₃. Daily hospitalizations for AMI during the period 2008-2011 were extracted from administrative data. Analyses were performed using the quasi-Poisson regression model adjusted for seasonality, long-term trend, day of the week and temperature. We observed very different patterns depending on age. For NO₂ and PM₁₀, the younger group (25-54 years) shows a more delayed effect in comparison with the two older age groups (55-64 and ≥ 65 years). Overall, the associations between NO₂ and AMI are higher compared to PM₁₀. There are no associations between O₃ and AMI. This study indicates that age plays a major role in the lag pattern. Younger people have delayed effects, but they are nevertheless sensitive to air pollution.

Age-induced differences in brain neural activation elicited by visual emotional stimuli: A high-density EEG study

Identifying the brain sources of neural activation during processing of emotional information remains a very challenging task. In this work, we investigated the response to different emotional stimuli and the effect of age on the neuronal activation. Two negative emotion conditions, i.e., 'anger' and 'fear' faces were presented to 22 adult female participants (11 young and 11 elderly) while acquiring high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) data of 256 channels. Brain source localization was utilized to study the modulations in the early N170 event-related-potential component. The results revealed alterations in the amplitude of N170 and the localization of areas with maximum neural activation. Furthermore, age-induced differences are shown in the topographic maps and the neural activation for both emotional stimuli. Overall, aging appeared to affect the limbic area and its implication to emotional processing. These findings can serve as a step toward the understanding of the way the brain functions and evolves with age which is a significant element in the design of assistive environments.

The Effect of Age on the Pharmacokinetics of Udenafil in Healthy Subjects

Udenafil, a cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, has been developed to treat erectile dysfunction. We evaluated the effect of age on the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of udenafil. A single-center, open-label, parallel-group phase 1 study was conducted in healthy adult subjects who took a single oral dose of udenafil (100 mg). The pharmacokinetics and tolerability of udenafil were compared between 12 healthy young men (21-27 years) and 12 healthy elderly men (65-78 years). Serial blood and urine samples were collected for up to 60 and 48 hours after dosing. The plasma concentrations of udenafil and its major metabolite, DA-8164, were analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The mean C_max of udenafil tended to be slightly less (214.0 vs 292.8 μg/L) in the elderly compared with the young (GMR, 68.9; 95% CI, 48.9-97.1); however, the AUC did not differ between the groups (1858.8 vs 2100.6 μg·h/L; GMR, 84.6; 95% CI, 66.1-108.4). The mean t_1/2 was prolonged by approximately 5 hours in the elderly (P < .05). The clearance and metabolic AUC ratio did not differ between the elderly and young. In terms of tolerability, all adverse events were mild, and all subjects recovered without additional therapy. The systemic exposure of elderly subjects to udenafil appears to be comparable to or slightly less than that of young healthy subjects. Based on our pharmacokinetic comparisons, udenafil dose adjustment is unlikely to be required in the elderly population.

Age and adaptation to Ca and P deficiencies: 2. Impacts on amino acid digestibility and phytase efficacy in broilers

A total of 1,152 straight-run hatchling Heritage 56M×fast feathering Cobb 500F broiler birds were used to determine Ca, age, and adaptation effects on apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein (AID of CP), amino acids (AID of AA) and phytase efficacy. Twelve treatments with 8 replicates, each were fed from 7 to 9 d (6 birds per replicate), 7 to 21 d (6 birds per replicate) and 19 to 21 d (3 birds per replicate) d of age. Diets were prepared with 3 Ca (0.65, 0.80, and 0.95%) and 2 non-phytate P, (0.20 and 0.40%) concentrations. A 6-phytase was added at 500 or 1,000 FTU/kg to the 0.20% nPP diet at each Ca concentration. The age and adaptation effects were determined by comparing the responses between birds fed from 7 to 9 and 19 to 21 d of age, 19 to 21, and 7 to 21 d of age, respectively. An age effect was observed regardless of Ca, nPP, or phytase concentration, with older birds (19 to 21 d) having greater apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of amino acids (AA) and CP than younger birds (7 to 9 d; P<0.05). Response to adaptation varied depending on Ca, nPP, and phytase concentrations. Constant lower AID of CP and AA was seen in adapted birds (7 to 21 d) compared to unadapted bird (19 to 21 d) when 0.20% nPP diets were fed at 0.95% Ca concentrations (P<0.05). At 0.40% nPP, there was no effect of adaptation on AID of CP and AA at any Ca concentration. Phytase efficacy was significantly lower in younger (7 to 9 d) compared to older birds (19 to 21 d; P<0.05), except at 0.65% Ca. Phytase inclusion increased AID of CP and AA regardless of Ca (P<0.05). In conclusion, the AID of CP and AA can be affected by diet, age, and adaptation.

Similar age-related decline in cortical activity over frontotemporal regions in schizophrenia: a multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy study

OBJECTIVES

Although recent studies have demonstrated that patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls did not differ in the speed of age-related decline in cortical thickness and performances on cognitive tests, hemodynamic changes assessed by functional neuroimaging remain unclear. This study investigated age effects on regional brain cortical activity to determine whether there is similar age-related decline in cortical activity as those observed in cortical thickness and cognitive test performance.

METHOD

A total of 109 patients with schizophrenia (age range: 16-59 y) and 106 healthy controls (age range: 16-59 y) underwent near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) while performing a verbal fluency test (VFT). Group comparison of cortical activity was examined using 2-tailed t tests, adopting the false discovery rate method. The relationship between age and cortical activity was investigated using correlational and multiple regression analyses, adjusting for potential confounding variables. A 2-way ANOVA was conducted to investigate differences in the age effects between diagnostic groups.

RESULTS

The patient group exhibited significantly decreased cortical activity in several regions of the frontotemporal cortices. However, slopes of age-dependent decreases in cortical activity were similar between patients and healthy individuals at the bilateral frontotemporal regions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed no significant between-group differences in the age-related decline in cortical activity, as measured by NIRS, over the frontotemporal regions during a VFT. The results of our study may indicate a decrease in cortical activity in a relatively limited period around illness onset rather than continuously progressing over the course of the illness.

Age-related decreased inhibitory vs. excitatory gene expression in the adult autistic brain

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and restricted behavior and interests. A disruption in the balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission has been hypothesized to underlie these disorders. Here we demonstrate that genes of both pathways are affected by ASD, and that gene expression of inhibitory and excitatory genes is altered in the cerebral cortex of adult but not younger autistic individuals. We have developed a measure for the difference in the level of excitation and inhibition based on gene expression and observe that in this measure inhibition is decreased relative to excitation in adult ASD compared to control. This difference was undetectable in young autistic brains. Given that many psychiatric features of autism are already present at an early age, this suggests that the observed imbalance in gene expression is an aging phenomenon in ASD rather than its underlying cause.

The ages of anxiety--differences across the lifespan in the default mode network functional connectivity in generalized anxiety disorder

OBJECTIVES

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders, but its neural basis is relatively understudied. This study aims to characterize the functional connectivity in the default mode network (DMN) in GAD across the lifespan.

DESIGN AND SETTINGS

Functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging data were collected with subjects at rest. We analyzed the resting state functional connectivity patterns in the DMN for 27 GAD participants and 39 non-anxious comparison participants. Using a two-way analysis of variance, we explored the interaction between age and GAD status on functional connectivity. In GAD participants, we analyzed the correlation of functional connectivity indices with the duration of illness and worry severity.

RESULTS

The age-by-anxiety interaction showed a greater anxiety effect on the functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate seed and the medial prefrontal cortex for the older group relative to the younger participants. Longer duration of illness was positively correlated with greater functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex and the insula. Worry severity was inversely correlated with the functional connectivity between the posterior cingulate cortex seed and the medial prefrontal cortex.

CONCLUSION

The presence of GAD, longer duration of illness, and more severe worry exacerbate the effects of age on the functional connectivity in the DMN. These results support the need for tailored research and interventions in late-life anxiety.

Age-period cohort analysis of AIDS incidence rates in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1985-2009

INTRODUCTION

The long average incubation time from HIV infection to AIDS makes it difficult to estimate the recent tendencies of HIV from AIDS incidence data. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of three temporal components in AIDS incidence in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - age, period, and cohort.

METHODS

Age-specific AIDS incidence rates per 100,000 from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) were calculated for both sexes using five-year age classes from 1985 to 2009 based on reported data from the Notifiable Disease Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health and from census population counts. Multivariate negative binomial models were used to analyze the risk of AIDS by age, period, and birth cohort.

RESULTS

From 1985 to 2009, AIDS incidence initially increased with age in each birth cohort and then decreased (except for individuals born from 1971-1979 to 1986-1994). High peaks in the rates in each birth cohort were detected in 1995-1999 for males and in 2000-2004 for females. Multivariate analysis showed the maximum risk of AIDS in the 30-34 age group and 1958-1962 birth cohort.

CONCLUSION

Age, birth cohort, and period effects all may have influenced the AIDS incidence rates over the period investigated. From 1985 to 1999, comparison of the tendencies (by age) of the period with the birth cohort revealed opposing tendencies in individuals older than 29 years and in the youngest age groups (0 to 14 years). From 2000 to 2009, a strong age effect can be observed in both sexes. Consistent changes in period tendency curves suggest the occurrence of period effects. A reduction in the intensity of the risk of AIDS can be observed after 2000-2004.

Age as a factor in sensory integration function in Taiwanese children

OBJECTIVE

Sensory integration progresses along a normal developmental sequence. However, few studies have explored how age difference affects the way sensory integration functions in Taiwanese children as they develop. Therefore, this study aims to pinpoint the role of age in sensory integration.

METHOD

A purposive sampling plan was employed. The study population comprised 1,000 Chinese children aged 36 to 131 months (mean = 74.48 months, standard deviation = 25.69 months). Subjects were scored on seven subsets of the Test of Sensory Integration Function (TSIF). An analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify differences between four age groups (ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-10 years), in the categories of the TSIF.

RESULTS

ANOVA revealed that age is a significant factor in each of the seven tasks of sensory integration associated with various stages of development. The effect of age was significant in all four groups for the subscale of Bilateral Integration Sequences. The function of sensory integration for the children aged 5-8 years did not produce statistically significant results for the subscale of Postural Movement, Sensory Discrimination, Sensory Seeking, or Attention and Activity. For the subscale of Sensory Modulation and Emotional Behavior, the effect of age was significant in only group 1 (children aged 3-4 years) and group 2 (children aged 5-6 years).

CONCLUSION

There was significant difference between group 1 and group 2 for seven categories. Significant differences were contributed by the differences from group 1 (3-4 years) and group 4 (9-10 years) in five subscales (Postural Movement, Bilateral Integration Sequences, Sensory Discrimination, Sensory Seeking, and Attention and Activity). There were three developmental trends in the seven categories of the TSIF.

Age differential effects of severity of visual impairment on mortality among older adults in China

We use a population-based longitudinal survey in China from 2002 to 2005 to examine age differentials in the association between severity of visual impairment and mortality risk in older adults. Controlling for numerous factors and baseline health, a substantial age difference is found. Young-old women and men aged 65 to 79 with severe visual impairments have 161% (hazard ratio = 2.61) and 52% (hazard ratio = 1.52) higher risk of death respectively as compared to their unimpaired counterparts. Mild impairment does not increase mortality risk among young-old adults, while both mild and severe impairment increase mortality risk by 33% and 32% for women and 24% and 34% for men among the oldest-old as a whole when all factors are controlled for. We conclude that visual impairment is an independent predictor of mortality and severe visual impairment likely plays a stronger role in determining mortality risk among young-old adults than among the oldest-old.