OBJECTIVEEstrogens play an important role in intrinsic skin aging. The associated changes in global gene expression are poorly understood.

METHODSWe used the Illumina microarray platform to obtain comprehensive gene expression profiles in female Chinese Han skin, and confirmed the data by quantitative real-time PCR (Q-RT-PCR).

RESULTSWe found 244 genes significantly related to estrogen-associated intrinsic skin aging, and some of these genes were confirmed by Q-RT-PCR. We also performed functional analysis by both Gene Ontology annotation and enrichment of the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways database. The functional analysis revealed 11 biological pathways (including the KEGG pathways, the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway and metabolic pathways), that were associated with multiple cellular functions which may be involved in intrinsic skin aging.

CONCLUSIONThis study suggests that estrogen-associated intrinsic skin aging is a complicated biological process involving many genes and pathways.

Aging ; physiology ; China ; ethnology ; Estrogens ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; Humans ; Menopause ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; RNA ; genetics ; metabolism ; Skin ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: The number of adults aged over 65 years is rapidly increasing in several Southeast Asian countries. Muscle mass decreases with age, leading to sarcopenia. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether differences exist in the body composition and physical strength, according to ethnicity, among community-dwelling Japanese and Thai older adults living in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. METHODS: A survey was conducted in February and March 2019. Japanese and Thai adults aged ≥ 60 years living in Chiang Mai Province were recruited through community clubs. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire that enabled collection of data on age, sex, educational background, marital status, annual income, current medical conditions, smoking and alcohol consumption, and exercise habits. Measurements were collected on height, weight, body composition, blood pressure, hand grip, and walking speed for 6 m. Body composition was measured using a standing-posture 8-electrode multifrequency bioimpedance analysis analyzer. Hand grip of each hand was measured with the patient in the standing position using a digital grip dynamometer. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with skeletal muscle mass index (SMI). RESULTS: Of the total 119 participants, 47 were Japanese (26 men, 21 women) and 72 were Thai (16 men, 56 women). The prevalence of a low SMI was 3/26 (12%), 1/21 (5%), 6/16 (38%), and 5/56 (9%) among Japanese men, Japanese women, Thai men, and Thai women, respectively. The prevalence of low muscle strength was 2/26 (8%), 2/21 (10%), 3/16 (19%), and 13/56 (23%) among Japanese men, Japanese women, Thai men, and Thai women, respectively. There were significant differences between ethnic groups in body mass index for both sexes, percentage body fat in women, SMI in men, and average grip strength in men. Ethnic group, sex, age, and body mass index were independent predictors of SMI. CONCLUSIONS Ethnicity had a clinically important effect on body composition and physical strength among older Japanese and Thai adults living in a similar environment.
Aged ; Aging/physiology* ; Asians/ethnology* ; Body Composition ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Electric Impedance ; Ethnicity ; Female ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Independent Living ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Strength ; Thailand/ethnology* ; Walking Speed

PURPOSE: There are marked differences in facial skeletal characteristics between Asian and Caucasian. However, ethnic differences in age-related facial skeletal changes have not yet been fully established. The aims of this study were to evaluate age-related changes in Asian midfacial skeletons and to explore ethnic differences in facial skeletal structures with aging between Caucasian and Asian. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 108 men (aged 20-79 years) and 115 women (aged 20-81 years). Axial CT images with a gantry tilt angle of 0 were analyzed. We measured three-dimensional (3D) coordinates at each point with a pixel lens cursor in a picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and angles and widths between the points were calculated using 3D vector mathematics. We analyzed angular changes in 4 bony regions, including the glabellar, orbital, maxillary, and pyriform aperture regions, and changes in the orbital aperture width (distance from the posterior lacrimal crest to the frontozygomatic suture) and the pyriform width (between both upper margins of the pyriform aperture). RESULTS: All 4 midfacial angles in females and glabellar and maxillary angles in males showed statistically significant decreases with aging. On the other hand, the orbital and pyriform widths did not show statistically significant changes with aging. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that Asian midfacial skeletons may change continuously throughout life, and that there may be significant differences in the midfacial skeleton between both sexes and between ethnic groups.
Adult ; Aged ; Aging/ethnology/*physiology ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Facial Bones/*anatomy & histology/*radiography ; Female ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Male ; Mathematics ; Maxilla/anatomy & histology/radiography ; Middle Aged ; Orbit/anatomy & histology/radiography ; Radiology Information Systems ; Republic of Korea ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods ; Young Adult ; Zygoma/anatomy & histology/radiography