Steroid hormone regulation of C. elegans and Drosophila aging and life history

In the last two decades it has become clear that hormones and gene mutations in endocrine signaling pathways can exert major effects on lifespan and related life history traits in worms, flies, mice, and other organisms. While most of this research has focused on insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling, a peptide hormone pathway, recent work has shown that also lipophilic hormones play an important role in modulating lifespan and other life history traits. Here we review how steroid hormones, a particular group of lipophilic hormones, affect life history traits in the nematode worm (Caenorhabditis elegans) and the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster), with a particular focus on longevity. Interestingly, a comparison suggests that parallel endocrine principles might be at work in worms and flies in these species and that steroid hormones interact with the gonad to affect lifespan.     

Butyrate Induces Glutathione S-Transferase in Human Colon Cells and Protects From Genetic Damage by 4-Hydroxy-2-Nonenal

Butyrate, one of the major products of gut fermentation, is known to inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis and differentiation, and increase phase II enzyme activities in tumor cells, whereas little information is available on protective effects in less-transformed colon cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the chemoprotective mechanism of glutathione S-transferase (GST) induction by butyrate could also play a role in earlier stages of colon carcinogenesis and whether chemoresistance of cells toward the endogenous genotoxic risk factor 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) could be a consequence of butyrate treatment. As cell models, we used the human tumor cell lines HT29 and HT29 clone 19A, a differentiated subclone with properties resembling primary colon cells. We determined the expression of GSTP1 protein (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), the major GST in HT29, GSTP1 mRNA (Northern blotting), GST activity, intracellular glutathione, and total protein. The genotoxic impact of HNE (100-200 μM) was compared in butyrate-treated and nontreated cells using single-cell microgel electrophoresis. Our results show that GSTP1 mRNA, GSTP1 protein, GST activity, and total protein were increased (1.2- to 2.5-fold) and glutathione levels were maintained after 24- 72 h of incubation with 4 mM butyrate. Moreover, a marked reduction of HNE-induced genotoxicity was caused by preincubation with butyrate. Butyrate also induced the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2, Western blotting) after 5-30 min, which indicates a regulation of GST expression by this signal pathway. Most effects were greater in HT29 parent cells than in clone cells. In conclusion, butyrate enhances expression of GST and other proteins in both cell lines, which leads to an enhanced chemoprotection, reducing the impact of HNE genotoxicity. Thus butyrate could play a role in early and later stages of cancer prevention by reducing exposure to relevant risk factors.     

Intraventricular entrapment of a Sapien-3 balloon in transapical TAVR: A near missed catastrophe

Balloon rupture is an uncommon complication during balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). We describe a balloon rupture and tearing with intraventricular entrapment complicating transapical-TAVR, as well as our bailout retrieval of the failed device.     

Association between Body Iron Status and Leukocyte Telomere Length,a Biomarker of Biological Aging,in a Nationally Representative Sample of US Adults

Background

Excess iron levels can induce oxidative stress and could therefore affect telomere attrition. However, little is known about the impact of body iron status on telomere length.

Do I Just Look Stressed or am I Stressed? Work-related Stress in a Sample of Italian Employees

Work-related stress is becoming a significant problem in Italy and it is therefore essential to advance the theory and methodology required to detect this phenomenon at work. Thus, the aim of this paper is to propose a new method for evaluating stress at work by measuring the discrepancies between employees’ perceptions of stress and their leaders’ evaluation of the stress of their subordinates. In addition, a positive impression scale was added to determine whether workers might give socially desirable responses in organizational diagnosis. Over 1,100 employees and 200 leaders within several Italian organizations were involved in this study. Structural equation modeling was used to test such new method for evaluating stress in a model of stress at work that incorporates relationships among individual (positive impression), interpersonal (workplace bullying) and organizational factors (working conditions, welfare culture, training). Results showed that the leaders’ capacity to understand subordinates’ stress is associated with subordinates’ psychological well-being since higher disagreement between self and leaders’ ratings was related to lower well-being. We discuss the implications of healthy leadership for the development of healthy organizations.     

Is Healthier Nutrition Behaviour Associated with Better Self-Reported Health and Less Health Complaints? Evidence from Turku,Finland

We examined nutrition behaviour, self-reported health and 20 health complaints of undergraduates in Finland. Students at the University of Turku in Finland participated in a cross-sectional online survey (N = 1189). For nutrition behaviour, we computed two composite food intake pattern scores (sweets, cakes and snacks; and fruits and vegetables), a dietary guideline adherence index and the subjective importance of healthy eating. Multinomial logistic regression assessed the association of students’ nutrition behaviour with three levels of self-reported health, controlling for many potential confounders (age, sex, living with partner, economic situation, moderate physical activity, Faculty and BMI). Factor analysis of the 20 health complaints revealed three components (psychological, pains/aches and circulatory/breathing symptoms). Multiple linear regression tested the association of students’ eating habits with the three components of health complaints, controlling for the same confounders. Fruits and raw and cooked vegetable consumption, dietary guideline adherence index and subjective importance of healthy eating were highest among students with excellent/very good self-reported health, exhibiting a decreasing trend for those individuals with poor/fair self-reported health. High levels of psychological symptoms were associated with decreased consumption of fruits and vegetables, less dietary guideline adherence and less subjective importance of healthy eating. Pain/aches symptoms were associated with a higher consumption of sweets, cookies and snacks and a lower adherence to dietary guidelines. More healthy nutrition behaviour was consistently associated with better self-reported health and less health complaints. Of the four nutrition behaviour indicators we employed, the dietary guideline adherence index was the best indicator and exhibited the most consistent associations with self-reported health and health complaints.