Long-Term Exposure to Supraphysiological Levels of Testosterone Impacts Rat Submandibular Gland Proteome.

The salivary glands play a central role in the secretion of saliva, whose composition and volume affect oral and overall health. A lesser-explored dimension encompasses the possible changes in salivary gland proteomes in response to fluctuations in sex hormone levels. This study aimed to examine the effects of chronic exposure to testosterone on salivary gland remodeling, particularly focusing on proteomic adaptations. Therefore, male Wistar rats were implanted with subcutaneous testosterone-releasing devices at 14 weeks of age. Their submandibular glands were histologically and molecularly analyzed 47 weeks later. The results underscored a significant increase in gland mass after testosterone exposure, further supported by histologic evidence of granular duct enlargement. Despite increased circulating sex hormones, there was no detectable shift in the tissue levels of estrogen alpha and androgen receptors. GeLC-MS/MS and subsequent bioinformatics identified 308 proteins in the submandibular glands, 12 of which were modulated by testosterone. Of note was the pronounced upregulation of Klk3 and the downregulation of Klk6 and Klk7 after testosterone exposure. Protein-protein interaction analysis with the androgen receptor suggests that Klk3 is a potential target of androgenic signaling, paralleling previous findings in the prostate. This exploratory analysis sheds light on the response of salivary glands to testosterone exposure, providing proteome-level insights into the associated weight and histological changes.

Relationship between functional fitness, medication costs and mood in elderly people.

OBJECTIVE: To verify if functional fitness (FF) is associated with the annual cost of medication consumption and mood states (MSt) in elderly people. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 229 elderly people aged 65 years or more at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Coimbra, Portugal. Seniors with physical and psychological limitations were excluded, as well as those using medication that limits performance on the tests. The Senior Fitness Test was used to evaluate FF, and the Profile of Mood States - Short Form to evaluate the MSt. The statistical analysis was based on Mancova, with adjustment for age, for comparison between men and women, and adjustment for sex, for comparison between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles. The association between the variables under study was made with partial correlation, controlling for the effects of age, sex and body mass index. RESULTS: An inverse correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and the annual cost of medication consumption was found (p < 0.01). FF is also inversely associated with MSt (p < 0.05). Comparisons between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles showed higher medication consumption costs in seniors with lower aerobic endurance, as well as higher deterioration in MSt (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Elderly people with better FF and, specifically, better cardiorespiratory fitness present lower medication consumption costs and a more positive MSt.

Relationship between functional fitness, medication costs and mood in elderly people / Relações entre aptidão física funcional, custos com consumo de medicamentos e estados de humor em pessoas idosas

Objective: to verify if functional fitness (FF) is associated with the annual cost of medication consumption and mood states (MSt) in elderly people. Methods: a cross-sectional study with 229 elderly people aged 65 years or more at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Coimbra, Portugal. Seniors with physical and psychological limitations were excluded, as well as those using medication that limits performance on the tests. The Senior Fitness Test was used to evaluate FF, and the Profile of Mood States - Short Form to evaluate the MSt. The statistical analysis was based on Mancova, with adjustment for age, for comparison between men and women, and adjustment for sex, for comparison between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles. The association between the variables under study was made with partial correlation, controlling for the effects of age, sex and body mass index. Results: an inverse correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and the annual cost of medication consumption was found (p < 0.01). FF is also inversely associated with MSt (p < 0.05). Comparisons between cardiorespiratory fitness quintiles showed higher medication consumption costs in seniors with lower aerobic endurance, as well as higher deterioration in MSt (p < 0.01). Conclusion: elderly people with better FF and, specifically, better cardiorespiratory fitness present lower medication consumption costs and a more positive MSt. .

Objetivo: verificar se a aptidão física funcional (AFF) tem associação com o custo anual de consumo de medicamentos e com os estados de humor (EH) em pessoas idosas. Métodos: estudo transversal com 229 idosos de 65 anos de idade ou mais da Instituição Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Coimbra, Portugal. Foram excluídos os idosos com limitações físicas e psicológicas e os que usavam medicamentos que condicionariam a realização dos testes. Foram utilizados a bateria Senior Fitness Test e o questionário Profile of Mood States - Short Form como instrumentos de coleta de dados. A análise estatística recorreu à Mancova, com ajuste de idade, para comparação entre homens e mulheres, e ajustada também para o sexo, para comparação entre quintis da aptidão cardiorrespiratória. A associação entre as variáveis de interesse foi feita com a correlação parcial, corrigindo o efeito da idade, do sexo e do índice de massa corpórea. Resultados: verificou-se a existência de correlação inversa entre a aptidão cardiorrespiratória e o custo anual de consumo de medicamentos (p < 0,01). A AFF associou-se também inversamente com os EH (p < 0,05). As comparações entre os quintis da aptidão cardiorrespiratória revelaram maior consumo de medicamentos em idosos com menor resistência aeróbia, assim como maior deterioração dos EH (p < 0,01). Conclusão: idosos com melhor AFF e, particularmente, melhor aptidão cardiorrespiratória apresentam menores custos com consumo de medicamentos e EH mais positivos. .