超声波技术治疗皮肤老化临床效果的初步观察

目的观察超声波技术治疗颜面部皮肤老化的临床疗效。方法采用超声波治疗仪的特定声波强度,对60例颜面部皮肤老化者进行治疗。颜面部皮肤老化的治疗10次为一个疗程,每隔一天治疗一次,观察临床效果。针对每例患者治疗前后的对比照片,并做好记录,进行临床疗效的评估。结果本组患者60例,其中额部皱纹:显效12例,有效36例,无效12例;鱼尾纹:显效15例,有效36例,无效9例;眉间皱纹:显效6例,有效42例,无效12例。无一例出现面部红斑及损伤等不良反应。结论使用超声波皮肤治疗仪能改善面部皮肤松弛与老化,操作简单,安全可靠,患者无痛苦,易于接受,是目前具有临床推广价值的方法。     

Ultrastructural observations on neuronal lipofuscin (age pigment) and dense bodies induced by a proteinase inhibitor,leupeptin, in rat hippocampus

The ultrastructure of lipofuscin (age pigment) and dense bodies induced by intraventricular administration of leupeptin, a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, were investigated in the neurons of rat hippocampal dentate gyrus. Four-day treatment with leupeptin (0.5 mg/day) rapidly caused a considerable accumulation of intracytoplasmic dense bodies and swelling of neuronal processes. We demonstrated, as inner structures of the pigments, that pentalaminar structure with a thickness of 12–13 nm and finely granular matrix were exactly common to the leupeptin-induced dense bodies and lipofuscin granules. Furthermore, the transitional stages from lysosomes into the dense granules were observed in the neurons of the leupeptin-treated rats. On the other hand, some morphological differences between the leupeptin-induced dense bodies and lipofuscin granules have been shown: (1) distribution in different cell types, (2) intracytoplasmic location, (3) tendencies to associate with vacuoles, and (4) electron density. The present findings suggested that the decline of the lysosomal protein degradation could play a role in lipofuscinogenesis, especially in the genesis of their electron-dense portion, but some other mechanisms might participate in the formation and accumulation of lipofuscin with aging     

Neuropeptides: Animal behaviour and human psychopathology

Summary Animal studies have demonstrated that neuropeptides modulate nervous system functions. It has been postulated that disturbances in neuropeptide systems may be aetiological factors in psychiatric and neurological disorders. Neuropeptides related to ACTH/MSH, including ORG 2766, increase motivation and attention and facilitate recovery processes after nerve damage. These peptides may be effective during the early stage of dementia. Vasopressin and related peptides improve memory processes in animals and humans. In addition, these peptides influence social behaviour, mood and addictive behaviour. The non-opioid -type endorphins have neurolepticlike activities in animals and antipsychotic effects in a category of schizophrenic patients. Peptides related to CCK have also been found to be effective in these patients. Some neuropeptides, e.g. TRH and PLG, have been reported to exert antidepressant effects. Further research may eventually produce neuropeptides with therapeutic action in psychiatric and neurological diseases.Parts of this article were presented on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Mainz on April 2 and 3, 1987     

Subsynaptosomal distribution of calcium during aging and 3,4-diaminopyridine treatment

Since previous studies showed that calcium uptake by synaptosomes from rodents declines with aging [30], the subsynaptosomal distribution of calcium was determined with the disruption method of Scott et al. [37]. Calcium uptake by the mitochondrial (digitonin-resistant) and non-mitochondrial (digitonin-labile) compartments, as well as total uptake, were determined at 2, 5 and 10 min. After a 10 min incubation under resting conditions (5 mM-KCl), total calcium uptake decreased at 10 months (−14.6%) and 30 months (−33.0%) of age; mitochondrial calcium uptake increased by 10 months (+11.2%) but declined by 30 months (−17.5%); the nonmitochondrial calcium compartment declined at 10 (−34.7%) and 30 (−43.4%) months when compared to the 3 month old control. With potassium depolarization (31 mM-KCl), total calcium uptake declined from 100% (3 months) to 73.8% (10 months) or 53.0% (30 months); mitochondrial calcium uptake declined from 100% (3 months) to 85.6% (10 months) or 68.4% (30 months); non-mitochondrial calcium uptake decreased at 10 (−34.3%) and 30 (−57.7%) months of age when compared to 3 months (100%). The deficits in calcium homeostasis are not due to changes in synaptosomal volumes or to diminished membrane potentials, as assessed by tetraphenylphosphonium ion accumulation. 3,4-Diaminopyridine partially reversed the alterations in total, mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial calcium uptake by synaptosomes from aged mice.     

红细胞衰老过程中渗透脆性的变化

作者在用抗体诱发红细胞溶血清建立的红细胞在体衰老模型的基础上，研究了红细胞衰老过程中渗透脆性的变化。结果显示，随着红细胞年龄的增加，其渗透脆性增加，推论其渗透脆性的变化可能与红细胞膜结构及红细胞几何形状（即红细胞表面积与体积之比）的变化有关。     

Contraction-specific differences in maximal muscle power during stretch-shortening cycle movements in elderly males and females

Elderly people (age 75 years; n=48 males and 34 females) were studied in order to elucidate gender differences in elderly subjects on the determinants of muscle power (force and velocity) during a stretch-shortening cycle. All subjects performed three maximal counter-movement vertical jumps using both legs, on a force platform (Kistler 9281 B). The eccentric (Ep) and concentric (Cp) phases of the jumps were analyzed. The Ep was further divided into an acceleration phase (Ep_acc: from the start of the downward movement to the maximal negative velocity) and deceleration phase (Ep_dec: from the maximal negative velocity to the end of the downward movement). Jump height for the men was higher than for the women (P < 0.001). During both Ep_acc and Ep_dec no significant differences were observed between males and females in force and power generation. However, the men had a higher peak muscle power during the Cp, which may be explained exclusively by the velocity determinant (P < 0.001). No specific gender-related strategy appeared to influence the motor pattern of the movement. The comparable eccentric force generation of the leg extensors in both genders suggests a similar ability to cope with eccentric muscle actions during everyday activities. In contrast, the marked lower capacity for concentric contractions in women may result in an impaired performance, especially in activities where intense and rapid movements are essential, for example when reversing a forward fall. This may be one reason why elderly women are more prone to falls than are elderly men. Accepted: 19 September 2000     

Intermale aggression and infanticide in aged C57BL/6J male mice: Behavioral deficits are not related to serum testosterone (T) levels and are not recovered by supplemental T

Healthy aged adul (24–26 months of age) and young adult (2–4 months of age) C57BL/6J male mice were assessed for intermale aggression, pup-killing behavior (infanticide), and circulating levels of testosterone (T). When compared to young adult male mice, aged adult males were highly variable in the exhibition of both androgen-dependent behaviors. Significant numbers of aged males exhibited deficits in aggression and pup-killing while other animals were as behaviorally active as their young male counterparts. Assessment of serum T showed that aging did not produce a reduction in levels of the steroid and individual variability in androgen-dependent behavior of aged males was not related to plasma levels of the hormone. When aged non-aggressive and non-killer males were exposed to supplemental T by way of subcutaneously implanted silastic capsules, circulating levels of the steroid were elevated but T-dependent behavior was not recovered. These findings, in combination with those previously reported for copulatory behavior, indicate that the deficits observed in the androgen-dependent behavior of aged male mice cannot be attributed to a breakdown in the production of testicular androgens. While neural refractoriness to T may account in part for deficits in androgen-dependent behavior of aged males, the variability that is observed in the reproductive behaviors of aged male rodents ultimately may be related to other sources of variation such as perinatal environment.     

Amide molecular clocks in drosophila proteins: potential regulators of aging and other processes

After synthesis and folding, peptides and proteins undergo changes in charge and conformation through nonenzymatic deamidation of asparaginyl and glutaminyl residues. Each amide has a specific deamidation rate that is genetically determined by the sequence of residues immediately adjacent in the peptide chain and by secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure. By means of experimentally verified computations, we have determined the deamidation rates of 49 Drosophila peptides and proteins. These rates demonstrate that deamidation provides molecular clocks that are suitable for the regulation of Drosophila aging, development, and other biochemical processes. We have also determined the rates of deamidation for 17,886 other proteins from a wide variety of organisms. The distribution function of these deamidation rates demonstrates the suitability of amide residues as biomolecular clocks.     

Seasonal variation in sweating responses of older and younger men

Eight older (60–65 years) and six younger (20–25 years) men were exposed to a standard heat stress for 60 min in summer, autumn, winter, and spring. The test consisted of placing the lower legs and feet in a 42°C water bath while sitting in constant environmental conditions (30°C and 45% relative humidity). The increase of rectal temperature (T _re) was significantly greater (P < 0.05) in autumn, winter, and spring than in summer for the older group, but significantly greater only in winter than in summer for the younger group (P < 0.05). The T _re was greater for the older group in all seasons, but of significance only in autumn and spring (P < 0.01). There were no significant season-related differences for metabolic heat production (m) and mean skin temperature ( _sk) during the heat test in the respective groups, although the m and _sk were lower for the older group in all seasons (P < 0.01). In the older group total body sweating rate (m_sw) divided by T _re (total m_sw/T _re) decreased from summer to winter (P < 0.02) and did not differ between winter and spring, whereas total m_sw/T _re in the younger group increased in spring after decreasing from autumn to winter (P < 0.03). The variations of the value, local sweating rate on the back and thigh divided by T _re (back m_sw/T _re and thigh m_sw/T _re), were similar to those of the total m_sw/T _re in each group, except for back m_sw/T _re in the younger group, which did not increase from winter to spring. The total m_sw/T _re, back m_sw/T _re and thigh m_sw/T _re were significantly less for the older group in summer, autumn and spring (P < 0.05). The range of seasonal variations was significantly less for the older group (P < 0.001). The results indicated that, compared with younger men in older men, the enhancement of sweating function toward summer occurred later and its reduction toward winter occurred earlier despite a smaller range of seasonal variation and that older men had a somewhat lesser capability to maintainT _re when challenged by heat stress in all seasons.     

Age-dependent cerebral metabolic effects of unilateral nucleus basalis magnocellularis ablation in rats

To investigate the age-dependent functional importance of cholinergic neocortical inputs, and to explore whether cortical cholinergic denervation in aged animals might better model the cerebral metabolic changes of Alzheimer's disease, the effects of unilateral ablation of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) on cerebral glucose metabolism were studied in young and aged rats. Regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose (rCMRglc) were determined, using the [14C]deoxyglucose method, in 48 brain regions of 3- and 24-month old Fischer-344 rats at 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after stereotaxic injection of ibotenate into the right NBM, and in sham-operated animals at 3 and 14 days later. For both ages the peak effect of unilateral NBM ablation occurred 3 days later: in young rats, rCMRglc was significantly reduced (compared to the contralateral side) in all 24 anterior cortical areas examined (mean decline 20%), whereas in aged animals, only 9 of 24 areas showed a significant decline in glucose utilization, and the magnitude of rCMRglc reduction (9%) was smaller. Near complete recovery of rCMRglc occurred by 7 days in young and old rats. We conclude that the basalocortical cholinergic projection plays a smaller role in neocortical function of aged rats, possibly because its tonic activity is reduced. Both young and aged rats undergo cortical metabolic normalization after unilateral NBM ablation; hence the NBM-lesioned aged rat is not a better model of the progressive decline in rCMRglc that occurs in Alzheimer's disease.