Wuzi Yanzong administration alleviates Sertoli cell injury by recovering AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy and the mTORC1-mTROC2 balance in aging-induced testicular dysfunction.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Wuzi Yanzong Prescription (WZ), a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula, has the properties of kidney nourishing and essence strengthening, and it is widely used to treat male infertility with a long history. Sertoli cells are injured with aging, resulting in testicular dysfunction, and WZ effectively rejuvenates the age-related decline of testicular function. However, whether the therapeutic effects of WZ on aging-related testicular dysfunction are dependent on the restoration of Sertoli cell function remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: In a mouse model of natural aging, we explored the protective effects of WZ and its potential mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen-month-old C57BL/6 mice were randomized to receive either standard diet or WZ (2 and 8 g/kg) for 3 months. Meanwhile, 10 1-month-old mice were considered the adult control group and received standard diet for 3 months. The testis and epididymis were rapidly collected, and the sperm quality, testicular histology, Sertoli cell numbers, tight junction (TJ) ultrastructure, and blood-testis barrier-associated protein expression and localization were assessed. RESULTS: WZ significantly increased sperm concentration and sperm viability, improved the degenerative histomorphology and elevated the seminiferous epithelium height. Furthermore, WZ increased the number of Sertoli cells, restored the ultrastructure of the Sertoli cell TJ, and upregulated the expression of TJ-associated proteins (zonula occludens-1 and Claudin11), ectoplasm specialized-associated proteins (N-Cadherin, E-Cadherin and ß-Catenin), and gap junction-associated protein (connexin 43), but did not affect the expression of Occludin and cytoskeletal protein (Vimentin). In addition, WZ did not change the localization of zonula occludens-1 and ß-Catenin in aged testis. Moreover, WZ increased the expression of autophagy-associated proteins (light chain 3 beta and autophagy related 5) and decreased the expression of p62, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin, and phosphorylated AKT in Sertoli cells. Finally, we found that WZ attenuated mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity and upregulated mTORC2 activity, as evidenced by inhibition of the expression of the regulatory-associated protein of mTOR, phosphorylated p70 S6K, and phosphorylated ribosomal protein s6 and enhancement of the expression of Rictor in the Sertoli cells of aging mice. CONCLUSIONS: WZ improves the injury of Sertoli cells by restoring AKT/mTOR-mediated autophagy and the mTORC1-mTROC2 balance in Sertoli cells during aging. Our findings provide a new mechanism of WZ in the treatment of aging-induced testicular dysfunction.

Authentication of aged beef in terms of aging time and aging type by 1H NMR spectroscopy.

Meat authenticity addresses parameters such as species, breed, sex, housing system and postmortem treatment. Seventy-four beef backs from two breeds ('Fleckvieh' and 'Schwarzbunt') and three cattle types (heifer, cow, young bull) were dry-aged and wet-aged up to 28 days and analyzed by 1H NMR spectroscopy. Statistical models based on partial least squares regression and discriminant analysis were performed to classify the beef samples by breed, cattle type, aging time, and aging type based on their 1H NMR spectra. The aging time of beef samples can be predicted with an error ± 2.28 days. The cattle type model has an accuracy of cross-validation of 99.2 %, the breed models of 100 % and the aging type model for 28-days aged samples of 99.6 %. These models allow the authentication of beef samples in terms of breed, cattle type, aging time, and aging type with a single 1H NMR measurement.

Atomic Force Microscopy of Viruses: Stability, Disassembly, and Genome Release.

In atomic force microscopy (AFM), the probe is a nanometric tip located at the end of a microcantilever which palpates the specimen under study as a blind person manages a walking stick. In this way, AFM allows obtaining nanometric resolution images of individual protein shells, such as viruses, in liquid milieu. Beyond imaging, AFM also enables not only the manipulation of single protein cages but also the evaluation of each physicochemical property which is able of inducing any measurable mechanical perturbation to the microcantilever that holds the tip. In this chapter, we start revising some recipes for adsorbing protein shells on surfaces and how the geometrical dilation of tips can affect to the AFM topographies. This work also deals with the abilities of AFM to monitor TGEV coronavirus under changing conditions of the liquid environment. Subsequently, we describe several AFM approaches to study cargo release, aging, and multilayered viruses with single indentation and fatigue assays. Finally, we comment on a combined AFM/fluorescence application to study the influence of crowding on GFP packed within individual P22 bacteriophage capsids.

High-resolution omics of vascular ageing and inflammatory pathways in neurodegeneration.

High-resolution omics, particularly single-cell and spatial transcriptomic profiling, are rapidly enhancing our comprehension of the normal molecular diversity of gliovascular cells, as well as their age-related changes that contribute to neurodegeneration. With more omic profiling studies being conducted, it is becoming increasingly essential to synthesise valuable information from the rapidly accumulating findings. In this review, we present an overview of the molecular features of neurovascular and glial cells that have been recently discovered through omic profiling, with a focus on those that have potentially significant functional implications and/or show cross-species differences between human and mouse, and that are linked to vascular deficits and inflammatory pathways in ageing and neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, we highlight the translational applications of omic profiling, and discuss omic-based strategies to accelerate biomarker discovery and facilitate disease course-modifying therapeutics development for neurodegenerative conditions.

Auditory robustness and resilience in the aging auditory system of the desert locust.

After overexposure to loud music, we experience a decrease in our ability to hear (robustness), which usually recovers (resilience). Here, we exploited the amenable auditory system of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, to measure how robustness and resilience depend on age. We found that gene expression changes are dominated by age as opposed to noise exposure. We measured sound-evoked nerve activity for young and aged locusts directly, after 24 hours and 48 hours after noise exposure. We found that both young and aged locusts recovered their auditory nerve function over 48 hours. We also measured the sound-evoked transduction current in individual auditory neurons, and although the transduction current magnitude recovered in the young locusts after noise exposure, it failed to recover in the aged locusts. A plastic mechanism compensates for the decreased transduction current in aged locusts. We suggest key genes upregulated in young noise-exposed locusts that mediate robustness to noise exposure and find potential candidates responsible for compensatory mechanisms in the auditory neurons of aged noise-exposed locusts.

Epigenome-wide association study on short-, intermediate- and long-term ozone exposure in Han Chinese, the NSPT study.

Epidemiological and epigenetic studies have acknowledged ambient ozone exposure associated with inflammatory and cardiovascular disease. However, the molecular mechanisms still remained unclear, and epigenome-wide analysis in cohort were lacking, especially in Chinese. We included blood-derived DNA methylation for 3365 Chinese participants from the NSPT cohort and estimated individual ozone exposure level of short-, intermediate- and long-term, based on a validated prediction model. We performed epigenome-wide association studies which identified 59 CpGs and 30 DMRs at a strict genome-wide significance (P < 5 ×10-8). We also conducted comparison on the DNA methylation alteration corresponding to different time windows, and observed an enhanced differentiated methylation trend for intermediate- and long-term exposure, while the short-term exposure associated methylation changes did not retain. The targeted genes of methylation alteration were involved in mechanism related to aging, inflammation disease, metabolic syndrome, neurodevelopmental disorders, and oncogenesis. Underlying pathways were enriched in biological activities including telomere maintenance process, DNA damage response and megakaryocyte differentiation. In conclusion, our study is the first EWAS on ozone exposure conducted in large-scale Han Chinese cohort and identified associated DNA methylation change on CpGs and regions, as well as related gene functions and pathways.

Whole-body aging mediates the association between exposure to volatile organic compounds and osteoarthritis among U.S. middle-to-old-aged adults.

BACKGROUND: Humans are constantly exposed to various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) because of their widespread sources and characteristic of easy evaporation. Existing evidence regarding the association between VOC exposure and osteoarthritis (OA) risk is limited. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the associations between individual urinary VOC metabolites (VOCMs) and the VOCM mixture, representing internal exposure levels of VOCs, with prevalent OA risk and to explore the mediating effect of aging and oxidative stress (OS) in these associations. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2005-2020 were analyzed. Weighted generalized linear regression was employed to explore the associations between individual VOCMs and OA risk, as well as aging and OS biomarkers. A five-repeated ten-fold cross-validation elastic net model was used to identify critical VOCMs for the weight quantile sum (WQS) analysis, which was performed to explore the VOCM mixture and OA risk association. Parallel and serial mediation analyses were conducted to identify the potential mediators and mediation pathways. RESULTS: This study included 6578 American adults aged ≥40 years, among whom 1052 (16.0 %) individuals reported prevalent OA. Urinary levels of N-acetyl-S-(benzyl)-L-cysteine, mandelic acid and phenylglyoxylic acid were positively associated with OA risk. Eleven VOCMs with nonzero coefficients were identified and included in the WQS analysis, and results revealed an average increase of 24.4 % in OA risk (OR = 1.244, 95 % CI: 1.041, 1.486) per one-quantile increment in the VOCM mixture. Two aging biomarkers, phenotypic age and biological age, parallelly mediated the association between the VOCM mixture and OA risk, with mediation effect proportions of 9.0 % and 16.4 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to VOCs is associated with an increased OA risk in middle-to-old aged American adults. The mediating effect of aging contributes to the association between co-exposure to VOCs and OA risk. Further prospective studies are required to substantiate these findings.

The dual effects of Congea chinensis Moldenke on inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and delaying aging by activating TERT transcriptional activity.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Natural medicinal plants, also named herbs, have attracted considerable research attention for their potential pharmacological activities, such as antitumor and longevity-promoting activities. Our previous review proposed that maintaining the homeostatic balance between aging and cancer may benefit organisms to enable tumor-free longevity. Congea chinensis Moldenke (CCM) is a plant species that grows on the border of Yunnan Province of China. Its medicinal value has been few reports until now. Thus, screening and extraction the ingredients from CCM that are both active tumor suppressors and TERT activators is a therapeutic strategy for improving tumor-free longevity. AIM OF THE STUDY: To extract and evaluate the cytotoxic antitumor and TERT transcription-promoting activities of the plant CCM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The ingredients extracted from CCM were tested for transcriptional activation of p53 using pGL4-p53-GFP cells and for TERT expression using a real-time PCR assay. In vitro antitumor activity was detected by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay and Annexin V/PI staining assay. The cell-permeable probe H2DCFDA was used to detect intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Western blot was performed to verify predicated proteins regulated by the ingredients. RNA-sequence analysis was applied to predicate the underlying mechanism of CCM. RESULTS: Both CCM and MPRC2-8, two novel extracts of Congea chinensis Moldenke, activated the expression of p53 and TERT and were selectively cytotoxic toward tumor cells. In addition, the cytotoxic mechanism of MPRC2-8 was identified as ROS generation-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, MPRC2-8 showed opposite regulatory effects on the SIRT1-p53 axis in A549 and HT-29 cells, which have different p53 statuses. RNA-seq analysis showed that CCM and MPRC2-8 induced the p53, apoptosis and ROS signaling pathways, consistent with the results of cellular experiments in vitro. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that CCM and MPRC2-8 have two complementary activities, antitumor activity and TERT-activating activity, with potential antitumor and longevity-improving effects.

Kinsenoside from Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. suppressed oxidative stress to attenuate aging-related learning and memory impairment via ERK/Nrf2 pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Anoectochilusroxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (AR), as an exceptionally valuable traditional Chinese medicine, has been widely used to treat hepatitis, cancer, diabetes, etc. But, the effects and the primary functioning element of AR on attenuating aging and aging-related learning and memory degradation has not yet been explored. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed at exploring the protective property of aqueous extract of AR (AEAR) on alleviation of aging and aging-related learning and memory impairment in vivo, and further investigating the main active ingredient and mechanism of AEAR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: D-galactose (D-gal) induced aging mice and HT22 cells exposed with L-Glutamic acid (Glu) were used as in vivo and in vitro model, separately. The effects of AEAR on aging and aging-related learning and memory degradation were explored by using morris water maze test, immunohistochemistry staining, biochemistry assay, etc. The effects and mechanism of AEAR and Kinsenoside (Kin) on antioxidation in vitro were investigated by cell viability assay, biochemistry assay, qRT-PCR, western blotting and molecular docking studies. RESULTS: Treatment with AEAR (containing 69.52 ± 0.85% Kin, i.g.) for 63 days, alleviated low growth rate, abnormal brain, liver and thymus index, and decline in learning and memory capability of aging mice. Meanwhile, AEAR inhibited the decreased activities of SOD and GSH-PX, the decline in the ratio of GSH to GSSG, and the increase of MDA in both serum and brain, and also promoted the Nrf2 nuclear translocation in brain of aging mice induced by D-gal. The effects of AEAR on alleviating abnormal physiological characteristics, attenuating learning and memory impairment, and inhibiting oxidative stress in aging mice was similar to or even better than that of Vc. In HT22 cells exposed with Glu, Kin increased the cell viability, up-regulated the activities of SOD and GSH-PX, enhanced the ratio of GSH to GSSG, and down-regulated MDA, which was superior to AEAR. Kin up-regulated the ratio of p-ERK1/2 to ERK1/2, promoted the Nrf2 nuclear translocation and its downstream target genes, i.e. HO-1, NQO-1, GCLC and GCLM expression at the mRNA and protein levels, which were consistent with AEAR. Further, molecular docking results also confirmed that Kin had strong binding energy with ERK1 and ERK2. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that Kin could alleviate the oxidative stress in aging mice via activating the ERK/Nrf2 signaling pathway, in order to attenuate aging and aging-related learning and memory impairment, as the main active ingredient of AR.

Bidirectional associations between memory and depression moderated by sex and age: Findings from the CLSA.

BACKGROUND: Research has struggled to understand the temporal relationship between cognition and depression. Some literature suggests that depression may be a risk factor for memory decline, while other work indicates that memory decline may precede depression symptoms. The purpose of this study was to clarify the temporal relationship between memory and depression, examining the moderating role of sex and age. METHODS: Data were drawn from two time points in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). Memory was measured using a composite of immediate and delayed verbal recall scores, and depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Short Depression Scale (CESD-10). Separate cross-lagged panel models (CLPMs) were run based on age (i.e., ages 45-64; ages 65+) and sex (n = 51,338). RESULTS: Results indicated bidirectional associations between depressive symptoms and memory such that depressive symptoms at baseline predicted memory at follow-up (ß= 0.029-0.068, with all p-values <0.01) and memory at baseline predicted depressive symptoms at follow-up (ß= 0.025-0.033, with all p-values <0.05). The only exception was in the older female group, where memory did not predict depressive symptoms (ß= -0.006, p = 0.543). Depressive symptoms at baseline were a stronger predictor of memory at follow-up than memory at baseline was for depressive symptoms at follow-up in all groups except for older males. FINDINGS: The findings suggest small but consistent bidirectional associations between depression and memory in almost all sex/age groupings. Depressive symptoms tended to be a stronger predictor of memory than memory was for future depressive symptoms.

Effect of physio-cognitive dual-task training on cognition in pre-ageing and older adults with neurocognitive disorders: A meta-analysis and meta-regression of randomized controlled trial.

Declines in cognitive performance, such as those seen in neurocognitive disorders (NCDs) are often associated with ageing. Both physical activity and cognitive training are common interventional strategies that can mitigate the decline in cognitive and physical performance. This review aims to (1) to evaluate the effects of Physio-Cognitive Dual-task Training (PCDT) intervention on cognition, physical performance, activities of daily living (ADL) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pre-ageing and older adults with neurocognitive disorders, (2) explore the effects of covariates on intervention outcomes. A systematic search was conducted in eight databases. Cochrane's Risk of Bias Tool version 1 and GRADE criteria were used to assess risk of bias and certainty of evidence, respectively. Meta-analysis and meta-regression analyses were conducted using R software. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials involving 1,949 pre-ageing and older adults with NCDs were included in the meta-analysis. PCDT interventions had small-to-medium effect size on all cognition outcomes (g = 0.40-0.52) and instrumental ADL (g == 0.42), and a large effect size on HRQoL (g = 0.72). The quality of evidence was rated moderate to low for the outcome measures in pre-ageing and older adults with NCDs. These findings highlight the importance of PCDT interventions in preventing and slowing down cognitive impairment in pre-ageing and older adults. Registration: PROSPERO Number (CRD42020213962).

Cognitive Changes Associated with Aging and Physical Disease in Dogs and Cats.

Behavior changes may indicate primary physical disease or primary behavioral disorders in veterinary patients. It is imperative to recognize that secondary behavioral problems can develop due to medical causes. The incidence of systemic disease increases with age and behavior manifestations can be similar to those expected with cognitive dysfunction syndrome. In this article, we review basic concepts of cognition, aging, and cognitive dysfunction syndrome. Additionally, we provide information regarding factors that influence cognition, and the role medical conditions have on the behavior of aging pets.

Sarcopenia of the longitudinal tongue muscles in rats.

The tongue is a muscular hydrostat, with lingual movements occurring during breathing, chewing, swallowing, vocalization, vomiting, coughing and grooming/sexual activities. In the elderly, reduced lingual dysfunction and weakness contribute to increased risks of obstructive sleep apnea and aspiration pneumonia. In Fischer 344 (F344) rats, a validated model of aging, hypoglossal motor neuron death is apparent, although there is no information regarding tongue strength. The intrinsic tongue muscles, the superior and inferior longitudinal, transversalis and verticalis exist in an interdigitated state. Recently, we established a method to measure the specific force of individual intrinsic tongue muscle, accounting for the tissue bulk that is not in the direction of uniaxial force. In the longitudinal muscles of 6- (n = 10), 18- (n = 9) and 24-month-old (n = 12) female and male F344 rats, we assessed specific force, fatigability, fiber type dependent cross-sectional area (CSA) and overall CSA. Muscle force and fatigue was assessed ex vivo using platinum plate simulation electrodes. Tongue muscles were frozen in melting isopentane, and transverse sections cut at 10 µm. Muscle fiber type was classified based on immunoreactivity to myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoform antibodies. In H&E stained muscle, CSA and uniaxial muscle contributions to total tongue bulk was assessed. We observed a robust ∼30% loss of longitudinal specific force, with reductions in overall longitudinal muscle fiber CSA and specific atrophy of type IIx/IIb fibers. It will be important to investigate the mechanistic underpinnings of hypoglossal motor neuron death and tongue muscle weakness to eventually provide therapies for age-associated lingual dysfunctions.

Behavior and Cognition of the Senior Cat and Its Interaction with Physical Disease.

In cats, age-related pathologic condition and neurologic degeneration can produce changes in activity, vocalization, appearance, appetite, litter box use, sleep-wake cycle, personality, and cognitive ability. These changes can influence the relationship between owner and pet. Although cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) can cause altered behavior later in life, other medical or behavioral causes may mimic these clinical signs or complicate diagnosis. Management and treatment of CDS can be accomplished through pharmacologic intervention, diet and nutritional supplementation, and environmental enrichment aimed at slowing the progression of the disease.

Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation process effects on tire wear particles aging and ecotoxicity.

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are widely distributed in natural water and pose as major pollutants in aquatic environments. In this study, heat-activated persulfate (HPT) and ultraviolet-activated persulfate treatments (UPT) were employed to investigate the influence of sulfate radical (SO4-•)-based advanced oxidation process (SAOPs) on TWP physicochemical properties and to clarify their ecotoxic effects in laboratory-level studies. Results showed that the specific surface areas of TWPs increased after UPT but decreased after HPT. In terms of chemical properties, the increase of oxygen-containing functional groups on the surfaces of TWPs was more evident in UPT than that in HPT. The atrazine (ATZ) adsorption capacity of TWPs after HPT and UPT was increased compared with the untreated TWPs. Atrazine adsorbed by TWPs was easily resolved and released in artificial intestinal fluid (1.89-2.08 mg/g) and artificial gastric fluid (1.60-2.04 mg/g) conditions. Acute toxicity experiments of Photobacterium phosphoreum and SEM-EDS detection results suggested that various heavy metals (e.g., Zn2+, Cu2+) in the TWPs would be released into the water system in SAOPs. ATZ released from TWPs that adsorbed ATZ herbicide, rather than TWPs themselves, had a negative effect on aquatic plant growth (e.g., C. vulgaris). The leaching solution of oxidized TWPs (after HPT and UPT) showed a more significant inhibition effect on the zebrafish survival compared with that of untreated TWPs, which was possibly caused by the generation of oxidation byproducts such as N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine-quinone.

Aging Skin and Wound Healing.

Responsible for many essential functions of life, human skin is made up of many components, each of which undergoes significant functional changes with aging and photodamage. Wound healing was previously thought to be defective in the elderly given the higher presence of chronic wounds and the longer time required for re-epithelialization of acute wounds. However, these notions have been challenged in recent research, which has shown that wound healing in the elderly is delayed but not defective. Poor healing of chronic wounds in older populations is more often attributable to comorbid conditions rather than age alone.

Cosmetic Dermatology Concerns in Older Adults.

It is important to understand that each layer of facial tissue, from the underlying facial skeleton to the overlying skin, undergoes significant changes during the aging process. Bony support is lost along the mandible and maxilla and the orbital aperture widens. Superficial and deep fat pads undergo volume loss and migration and the overlying skin begins to reveal signs of both intrinsic aging with skin laxity and fine rhytids as well as extrinsic aging in the form of coarse, deeper rhytids and dyspigmentation.

Beneficial effect of GABA-rich fermented milk whey on nervous system and intestinal microenvironment of aging mice induced by D-galactose.

This study aims to investigate the protective effect of a freeze-dried powder prepared from a fermentation milk whey containing a high-yield GABA strain (FDH-GABA) against D-galactose-induced brain injury and gut microbiota imbalances in mice by probing changes to the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. A prematurely aged mouse model was established by performing the subcutaneous injection of D-galactose. Subsequently, the effects of FDH-GABA on the nervous system and intestinal microenvironment of the mice were explored by measuring their antioxidant activities, anti-inflammatory state, autophagy, pathway-related target protein expression levels, and intestinal microorganisms. Compared to the D-gal group, FDH-GABA improved the levels of SOD, T-AOC, IL-10, and neurotransmitters, while it reduced the contents of MDA and TNF-α. FDH-GABA also promoted autophagy and inhibited the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in the brains of the aged mice. Moreover, FDH-GABA restored the diversity of their intestinal flora. Pathological observations indicated that FDH-GABA was protective against damage to the brain and intestine of D-galactose-induced aging mice. These results reveal that FDH-GABA not only improved antioxidant stress, attenuated inflammation, restored the neurotransmitter content, and protected the tissue structure of the intestine and brain, but also effectively improved their intestinal microenvironment. The ameliorative effect of FDH-GABA on premature aging showed a clear dose-response relationship, and at the same time, the changes of intestinal microorganisms showed a certain correlation with the relevant indexes of nervous system. These findings provide insight into the effect of the FDH-GABA intervention on aging, providing a novel means for alleviating detrimental neurodegenerative changes in the aging population.

Quantification of golgi dispersal and classification using machine learning models.

The Golgi body is a critical organelle in eukaryotic cells responsible for processing and modifying proteins and lipids. Under certain conditions, such as stress, disease, or ageing, the Golgi structure alters. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that regulate Golgi dispersion has significant research contributions to identifying disease. However, there is a lack of tools to quantify the Golgi dispersion datasets. In this paper, we aim to automate the process of quantification of Golgi dispersion and use extracted features to classify dispersed Golgi images from undispersed Golgi images using machine learning models. First, we collected confocal microscopy images of transiently transfected HeLa cells expressing Galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT)- green fluorescent protein (GFP) to quantify Golgi dispersal and classification. For the quantification, we introduced automated image processing and segmentation by applying mean and Gaussian filters. Then we used Otsu thresholding on preprocessed images and watershed segmentation to refine the segmentation of dispersed Golgi particles. In the case of classification, we extracted features from the Golgi dispersal images and classified them into empty vector (EV) versus CARP1 ring mutant (CARP1 RM) and empty vector (EV) versus CARP1 wildtype (CARP1 WT) classes. Our approach used machine-learning models, including logistic regression, decision tree, random forest, Naive Bayes, k-Nearest Neighbor (KNN), and gradient boosting for dispersed Golgi image classification. The experiment results show that our quantification technique on Golgi dispersal images reached 65% classification accuracy when the system uses a gradient boosting classifier for EV vs. CARP1 WT classification. Furthermore, our approach achieved 65% classification accuracy using a random forest classifier for EV vs. CARP1 RM classification.

Interpersonal touch and the importance of romantic partners for older adults' neuroendocrine health.

Interpersonal touch is an essential aspect of human interaction that has the ability to regulate physiological stress responses. Prolonged exposure to stress can have cumulative multiphysiological effects; for example, allostatic load. Despite the increased susceptibility of social isolation for older adults, there is a paucity of research on the efficacy of touch in regulating stress responses among this population. It is also unknown whether touch confers benefits regardless of the person with whom it is shared. This study investigates the difference in physiological stress based on the frequency of touch (hugs, holding, or other close physical contact) shared with romantic partners as compared to other close adults (family, friends, and neighbours) in an older adult population. Data were analysed from 1419 respondents (aged 57-85 years) of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) in 2005-2006. Principal components analysis determined whether the eight markers of allostatic load measured in the NSHAP function as a singular system or as distinct components. Analyses revealed three components of allostatic load: metabolic, cardiovascular, and neuroendocrine health. The results of multiple regression revealed that a higher frequency of interpersonal touch shared with romantic partners was associated with better neuroendocrine health (ß = 0.13, p = 0.004) following adjustment for a variety of covariates (but not with better metabolic or cardiovascular health), with no associations apparent for touch from other close adults. These findings highlight the importance of promoting interpersonal touch with romantic partners for older adults' neuroendocrine health.