The endothelium covers the entire luminal surface of blood vessels, organizes the interface between the blood and underlying tissues, and controls vascular tone, blood clotting, transport of various substances across the vascular wall, adhesion and transmigration of leukocytes, and so forth. The structural and functional integrity of endothelium is essential for the maintenance of vascular health. In light of its important role, the endothelium should have a self-defense system such as vasohibin-1 (VASH1), a protein preferentially expressed in endothelial cells (ECs). Unique features of VASH1 are its anti-angiogenic activity and ability to promote stress tolerance of ECs. This mini review summarizes the current understanding of VASH1, especially the posttranscriptional regulation of its synthesis in response to cellular stresses and aging.
Aging ; Blood Coagulation ; Blood Vessels ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Leukocytes ; Phenobarbital

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Aging ; blood ; physiology ; Animals ; Humans ; Mice ; Qi

With the arrival of the era of global population aging, we strive for healthy aging and a healthy senior life rather than simple prolongation of the physical age. For the past 50 years, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have been the most common cause of death among the elderly people globally. In China, there has been an exponential increase in the incidence of heart disease and stroke in the elderly population. Atherosclerosis is the pathological change in the coronary artery disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. Despite the significant benefit demonstrated, control of classic risk factors alone, such as lifestyle change or drug therapy, was shown to have limitations in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events. Vascular aging has been shown to be an important independent predictor of CVD events. Interventions targeting vascular aging have emerged as a new paradigm in conjunction with control of risk factors for the prevention of CVD. Vascular aging and atherosclerosis are two distinct pathological changes and difficult to distinguish clinically. Recent research with Chinese medicine (CM) has shown encouraging observations, linking the clinical benefit of delaying vascular aging and treating atherosclerosis. These results demonstrate great potential of CM in the prevention and treatment of CVD.
Aging ; pathology ; Atherosclerosis ; therapy ; Blood Vessels ; pathology ; Humans ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the impact of age on arterial stiffness and blood pressure (BP) variables in newly diagnosed untreated hypertension (HT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 144 patients with newly diagnosed untreated HT were divided into two groups: young group (age < or =50 years, n=71), and old group (age >50 years, n=73). BP variables were measured on office or 24 hours ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Parameters of arterial stiffness were measured on pulse wave velocity (PWV). Pulse wave analysis (PWA) was compared. RESULTS: Although office BP and pulse pressure (PP) were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the young group than in the old group, BP and PP on ABPM were not significantly different. Central systolic BP and PP, augmentation pressure, augmentation index on PWA, and PWV were significantly higher or faster in the old group compared to that in the young group. Age showed significant positive correlation with both PWV and PWA variables in the young group with HT. However, age only showed significant positive correlation with PWV in the old group with HT. In the young group with HT, PWA variable showed better correlation with age than PWV. CONCLUSION: Considering BP levels on ABPM, office BP is prone to be overestimated in young patients with HT. Parameters of arterial stiffness measured by PWV and PWA were more affected by age rather than by BP level in patients with HT. Therefore, PWA variable might be a more sensitive marker of arterial stiffness in young patients with HT. However, PWV might be a better marker for old patients with HT.
Aging ; Blood Pressure* ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Vascular Stiffness*

Partial androgen deficiency in aging males can be defined as a clincal condition characterized by a partial deficiency of androgen in blood and/or a decrease genomic sensitivity to testosterone or its active metabolites in target tissues. This state of hypogondism leads to a decline of physical energy, an altered state of well-being, a sexual dysfunction and various metabolic alterations. Testosterone supplement therapy can improve all these symptoms.
Aging ; physiology ; Androgens ; blood ; deficiency ; Humans ; Male ; Testosterone ; pharmacology

UNLABELLEDOBJECTIVE; To observe clinical therapeutic effect and the mechanism of drug-separated moxibustion at the navel for delaying aging.

METHODSSeventy-one cases were randomly divided into 3 groups. The group of drug-separated moxibustion at the navel (n=30) were treated with drug-separated moxibustion at the navel, twice each week; the acupuncture group (n=21) with acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23) and Taixi (KI 3) as main points once each day; the western medicine group (n=20) with oral administration of vitamin E capsules, 0. 1 g each time, twice daily. Their clinical therapeutic effects, and changes of cumulative scores, serum SOD activities and MDA contents after treatment were compared among the 3 groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment, clinical symptoms in the 3 groups very significantly improved (P < 0.01), with the group of drug-separated moxibustion at the navel more significantly improved (P < 0.01); in the 3 groups, SOD activities significantly increased (P < 0.01) and serum MDA contents significantly decreased (P < 0.01), and SOD activity and MDA content in the group of drug-separated moxibustion at the navel were not significantly different from those in the acupuncture group (P > 0.05), but significantly different from those in the western medicine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe drug-separated moxibustion at the navel can significantly delay aging.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Aged ; Aging ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the characteristics of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) in senior males living on high altitude

METHODSAccording to the years of living on 3,100-meter high altitude. 90 senior males who were more than sixty years old were divided into three groups: group 1 (one year on the high altitude, n = 30), group 2 (two years on the high altitude, n = 30) and group 3 (over 10 years on the high altitude, n = 30). Additionally, there was a control group (living on the sea level). Radioimmunoassay technique was used to measure the level of T and E2 in their serum respectively. At the same time, the ratio of T/E2 was also examined.

RESULTSThe levels of T, E2 and T/E2 of the three groups were 42.2 +/- 38.5, 70.0 +/- 31.5, 190.3 +/- 73.5 and 44.0 +/- 42.2, 60.6 +/- 28.3, 144.9 +/- 62.0 and 0.96 +/- 0.19, 1.16 +/- 0.11, 1.33 +/- 0.24, respectively. The levels of T, E2 and T/E2 of group 3 increased obviously than those of the other two groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe sexual hormone levels in senior males living on high altitude increase along with the living years.

Aged ; Aging ; physiology ; Altitude ; Estradiol ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Radioimmunoassay ; Testosterone ; blood

BACKGROUND: There is a need to prepare an adequate blood supply because of the imbalance between the blood supply and demand and the advent of an aging society. This paper presents the basic data for the blood supply and demand through an estimation of the blood donation and blood usage over the next ten years. METHODS: Data analysis was carried out using time-series methods. The data for the monthly blood donation from the Korean Red Cross from 1992 to 2004 was used to estimate the blood donation, and data of the blood supply from the Korean Red Cross and hospitals from 2000 to 2004 for the estimation of the blood supply for transfusion. In order to overcome the limits of the time-series methods, one prospect excluding the data from the year 2004 and the other prospect including the data from the year 2004 were analyzed simultaneously. RESULTS: According to the analysis performed with data from the year 2004 excluded, blood donation rate is expected to decrease to 2.5% in 2015 and the total blood demand (1,435,903 units), which is composed of RBC and single donor platelet, is expected to exceed the total blood donation (1,408,244 donors) by 2015. According to the analysis performed with the data from the year 2004 included, the blood donation rate is expected to decrease to 1.3% in 2015 and the total blood demand (1,760,219 units) is expected to exceed the total blood donation (1,639,042 donors) in 2009. CONCLUSION: A shortage of blood supply is expected to occur during the next ten years. In order to eliminate this blood shortage, a national data management system for blood collection and usage will be needed. In addition, adequate donor resources as well as a monitoring system will be needed to improve the efficiency of blood usage.
Aging ; Blood Donors ; Blood Platelets ; Humans ; Red Cross ; Statistics as Topic ; Tissue Donors

Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione ; blood ; Glutathione Disulfide ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidation-Reduction

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-aging effect of artemisia burning products (ie. smoke of moxibustion) and its proper intervention parameters.

METHODSAccording to factorial experiment design, 70 SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into one model group (group M) and 6 intervention groups: low concentration with 15 min group (group A1), low concentration with 30 min group (group A2), middle concentration with 15 min group (group B1), middle concentration with 30 min group (group B2), high concentration with 15 min group (group C1), high concentration with 30 min group (group C1). There were 10 cases in each group. Ten age-matched SAMR1 mice were used as normal group (group Z). All the mice in the 6 intervention groups were fumed with artemisia burning products of different concentration and time. The content of serum malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH-Px) were tested.

RESULTSMDA content in group M was significantly higher than that in group Z (both P < 0.05), while SOD and GSH-Px activity were significantly lower in group M than that in group Z (both P < 0.05). Results of MDA, SOD and GSH-Px in 6 intervention groups were either of no statistically significant differences, or better than that in group M. Among 6 intervention groups, results of MDA and GSH-Px were better in group B1, while the result of SOD was better in group B2. Time factor didn't make any difference, while concentration of artemisia burning products is meaningful. As to SOD and GSH-Px, there's a strong interaction between the two factors.

CONCLUSIONWith certain concentration and time period, the intervention of artemisia burning products can exert anti-aging effect by increasing antioxydative capability and reducing metabolites of free radicals. Middle concentration and 30 minutes are recommended when intervened with artemisia burning products.

Aging ; blood ; metabolism ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Artemisia ; chemistry ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Glutathione Reductase ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Mice ; Moxibustion ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood