Handgrip strength predicts leg power but not cardiorespiratory fitness in children.

Purpose: The current study examined the ability of handgrip strength (HGS) to predict leg muscle power, cardiorespiratory fitness, and movement behaviors in children.

Methods: One hundred eighteen male children aged 10-13 years from primary and middle schools in Saudi Arabia were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Physical fitness tests included HGS, standing long jump (SLJ), and a 20-m shuttle run test (20mSRT).

Semaglutide use is associated with neuromuscular junction degradation in older adults with type II diabetes mellitus.

Aims: Older men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) face a heightened risk of sarcopenia. This study aimed to compare the longitudinal effects of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist and sitagliptin as the control group on sarcopenia indicators and biomarkers of neuromuscular junction and neuronal health in patients with T2DM over 1 year.

Methods: A cohort of 141 older men with T2DM (semaglutide, n = 68; sitagliptin group, n = 73) underwent assessments at baseline, 6 months and 1 year.

GSK-3α regulates miRNAs associated with transcriptional and metabolic processes in human cardiomyocytes under hypoxia.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3α (GSK-3α) is a multifunctional kinase plays roles in the pathogenesis of various cardiac diseases, including ischemia and pressure overload and ischemia-reperfusion-induced injury. It regulates key cellular processes such as cardiac cell proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and inflammation. However, its role in regulating cardiac microRNAs (miRNAs) remains unknown.

Poor performance on a composite mental health index predicts low handgrip strength and physical disabilities in Europe.

Objectives: Poor mental health affects physical health, but the combined effects of mental comorbidities on handgrip strength (HGS), fatigue, and activities of daily living are poorly known. We investigated the combined effects of anxiety, depression, and dementia on handgrip strength (HGS), fatigue, and activities of daily living.

Methods: A composite mental health index (CMHI) comprised of anxiety, depression, and dementia was created and used to predict future onset of low HGS (men ≤ 27 kg, women ≤ 16 kg), fatigue, and four physical difficulties (dressing, walking, climbing stairs, rising from a chair) in 64,244 European adults aged ≥50 from 27 countries using 2021-2022 Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data.

The interface of a leaky gut with neuromuscular junction degradation; implications for severe sarcopenia.

Introduction: A pathological increase in intestinal permeability or leaky gut is recently implicated in the pathogenesis of age-associated muscle loss, termed sarcopenia. However, the associated myotoxic effects are poorly known. We investigated the associations of a leaky gut with neuromuscular junction (NMJ) degradation in the context of severe sarcopenia and functional compromise in older adults.

The Interface of a Leaky Gut with Reduced Sarcopenia-Related Quality of Life (SarQoL) in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Purpose: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) frequently exhibit intestinal leaks and age-related muscle impairment, termed sarcopenia. The sarcopenia-related quality-of-life (SarQoL) is a tool to evaluate the quality of life of sarcopenic patients. However, the association of intestinal leak with SarQoL in COPD patients remains unknown.

Oral butyrate improves postural balance by repairing leaky gut in geriatric adults.

Introduction: Postural imbalance in older adults is a common problem and is partly due to a leaky gut. However, the effective treatments are poorly known. We investigated the effects of butyrate supplementation on postural imbalance and intestinal leak in older adults.

SERCA blockade as a treatment strategy for obesity.

Sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA) pump is essential for maintaining calcium homeostasis in various cell types, including adipocytes. The SERCA function is closely associated with metabolic health, as the dysregulation of SERCA is implicated in the development of obesity. Thus, regulating SERCA may be clinically relevant for treating obesity and related complications.

Molecular signatures of xenograft colorectal cancer in mice treated with topotecan: A mass spectrometry-based study.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide, yet it continues to have a low survival rate, largely due to the lack of effective treatments. Metabolomics offers new insight into disease diagnosis and biomarkers discovery. The aim of the study is to identify serum biomarkers in a CRC xenograft mouse model treated with topotecan using advanced metabolomics techniques to enhance our understanding and management of the disease.

The simple task of lifting five kilograms serves as a predictor of age-related disorders in old adults.

Muscle weakness is a risk factor for multiple diseases. However, most protocols to assess muscle weakness require clinical settings. A difficulty lifting 5 kg may be a simple measure of muscle weakness in domestic settings.

Mouse hindlimb unloading, as a model of simulated microgravity, leads to dysregulated iron homeostasis in liver and skeletal muscle cells.

Microgravity exposure can impact various physiological systems, yet its specific effects on liver cells remain inadequately studied. To address this gap, we used a hindlimb unloading (HU) mouse model to simulate microgravity conditions and investigate alterations in iron metabolism within liver and skeletal muscle cells. 16-week-old male C57BL/6j mice were divided into three groups: (i) ground-based control (GC), (ii) hindlimb unloading treated with vehicle (HU-v), and (iii) hindlimb unloading treated with deferoxamine (DFO).

The association between daily movement behavior and adjusted handgrip strength in post-menopausal women.

Background: The factors driving the sarcopenia phenotype in post-menopausal women remain partly elusive. We thus investigated the associations of physical activity, sedentary behavior, and metabolic biomarkers with handgrip strength (HGS) as a marker of probable sarcopenia in Saudi post-menopausal women.

Methods: We recruited 268 post-menopausal women aged 50 years or above.

Predictors of Osteoarthritis in Older Europeans: Insights From the SHARE Survey.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a widespread degenerative joint condition often seen in older age. Understanding risk factors is crucial for effective prevention and management.

Objective: To identify factors predicting the onset of OA in older Europeans using the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE).

The improvement in muscle function following statin withdrawal might involve the repair of the neuromuscular junction.

Aims: The effects and relative mechanisms of statin usage and withdrawal on subjective and objective muscle functions are poorly known. We investigated the associations of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) degradation to muscle impairment in older adults taking statins.

Methods: We recruited male controls (n = 82) and statin users (n = 76) for measuring handgrip strength (HGS), body composition, gait speed, short physical performance battery (SPPB), statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) and plasma c-terminal agrin fragment-22 (CAF22; a marker of NMJ degradation).

Butyrate improves handgrip strength and physical performance by reducing intestinal leak in post-menopausal women, a randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: Menopause is associated with muscle detriment and physical compromise. However, relevant mechanisms and effective interventions remain elusive. We investigated the therapeutic effects of exogenous butyrate administration on skeletal muscle and physical capacity with relevance to intestinal leak as a potential mechanism in post-menopausal women.

Irisin Predicts Cardiac Contractile and Postural Dysfunction in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure.

Objective: Irisin, a myokine, has been observed to be dysregulated in various pathological conditions. However, its role in regulating chronic heart failure (CHF)-induced physical disability in older adults remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the associations between plasma irisin levels, cardiac parameters, and physical disability in patients with CHF.

Cystatin-c / total cholesterol ratio as a predictor of probable sarcopenia in geriatric population from 12 European countries.

Background: A low handgrip strength (HGS) is associated with several diseases in older adults. However, predictive biomarkers of future low HGS are poorly known. We investigated the prognostic efficacy of the ratio of plasma cystatin-c and total cholesterol (CT ratio) levels for predicting future low HGS in Europe.

Butyrate (short-chain fatty acid) alleviates lipopolysaccharide-binding proteins and improves physical function in knee osteoarthritis patients.

Knee-osteoarthritis (OA) is often associated with increased intestinal permeability, potentially causing sarcopenia, and mobility issues. Current treatments are ineffective. The objective of this study was to investigate if butyrate improves sarcopenia and physical function in knee-OA patients, and if improvements correlate with changes in gut health, specifically intestinal permeability, and bacterial load.

Associations of plasma Neurofilament light chain with sarcopenia and physical capacity in patients with Alzheimer's diseases.

Background: Despite the close association of Alzheimer's disease (AD) with muscle decline, the biomarkers of age-related muscle loss, termed sarcopenia, in AD remain elusive.

Objectives: We investigated the plasma neurofilament light (NfL) chain levels as potential biomarkers of sarcopenia in AD patients. DESIGN SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, MEASUREMENTS: We conducted a cross-sectional, observational study on older adults, including controls and patients with AD (n = 38-44/group).

Accelerometery 24-hour movement behaviours and health markers in the European old population: iso-temporal substitution regression.

Background: The amount of physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behaviour affect several age-related diseases. However, no relevant study about their associations with cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases from European older adults is known.

Methods: We investigated the associations of the volumes of physical activity, sleep, and sedentary behaviour with low handgrip strength (HGS), heart attack, hip fracture, rheumatoid arthritis, stroke, and osteoarthritis among European older adults (age ≥ 50 years, n = 819) from ten countries using cross-sectional data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) conducted between 2019 and 2021.

The Effects of miR-22-3p on Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Stem Cells into Neural Progenitor-Like Cells.

Stem cell treatment shows promise in treating conditions such as neurodegenerative disorders and spinal injuries, but its effectiveness is hampered by cell death and apoptosis. Improving the differentiation of MSCs into neural cells could enhance their therapeutic potential. The role of miR-22-3p in human dental pulp stem cells (HDPSCs), a superior alternative to treat neurodegenerative disorders, and its molecular mechanisms during neural differentiation remain elusive.

Circulating osteonectin predicts postural imbalance and cardiac dysfunction in heart failure.

Osteonectin, a secreted glycoprotein, plays a role in muscle-wasting disease. However, its role in chronic heart failure (CHF) -induced systemic inflammation and postural control is unknown. Here we aim to assess the potential association of soluble osteonectin with cardiac dysfunction and postural imbalance in CHF.

Plasma zonulin levels forecast sarcopenia and physical performance in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) is a common disease in the elderly; however, its causative factors remain poorly elucidated. We investigated the potential contribution of intestinal mucosal disruption to the severity of KOA and physical capacity.

Method: We recruited women, healthy controls (age = 65.

The Pathology of Intestinal Mucosal Disruption; Implications for Muscle Loss and Physical Dependency from Late Adolescence to Octogenarians.

Background And Objectives: A pathological increase in intestinal permeability causes muscle loss and physical decline by inducing systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. However, most relevant studies investigate older adults, and the appropriate data across age spans remain elusive. This study aimed to examine the associations of intestinal permeability with muscle loss and physical decline across a large span of ages.

Probiotics' supplementation alleviates disease severity and improves postural balance by repairing intestinal leak in patients suffering from osteoarthritis: a double-blinded clinical trial.

Increased intestinal leakiness and associated systemic inflammation are potential contributors to osteoarthritis (OA) and postural imbalance in the geriatric population. To date, no successful treatment to correct postural imbalance in OA is known. We aimed to explore the effects of a multistrain probiotic upon postural imbalance in OA-affected patients.