Trace elements levels in centenarian ‘dodgers’
Trace element bioavailability can play a role in several metabolic and physiological pathways known to be altered during the aging process. We aimed to explore the association of trace elements with increased lifespan by analyzing the circulating levels of seven trace elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Se and Zn) in a cohort of healthy centenarians or ‘dodgers’ (≥100 years, free of major age-related diseases) in comparison with sex-matched younger elderly controls. Centenarians showed significant lower Cu (783.7 (76.7, 1608.9) vs 962.5 (676.3, 2064.4) μg/mL, P < 0.001), but higher Fe (1.3 (0.4, 4.7) vs 1.1 (0.5, 8.4) μg/mL, P = 0.003) and Se (85.7 (43.0, 256.7) vs 77.8 (24.3, 143.8) ng/mL, P = 0…
Exome sequencing of three cases of familial exceptional longevity
Exceptional longevity (EL) is a rare phenotype that can cluster in families, and co-segregation of genetic variation in these families may point to candidate genes that could contribute to extended lifespan. In this study, for the first time, we have sequenced a total of seven exomes from exceptionally long-lived siblings (probands ≥ 103 years and at least one sibling ≥ 97 years) that come from three separate families. We have focused on rare functional variants (RFVs) which have ≤ 1% minor allele frequency according to databases and that are likely to alter gene product function. Based on this, we have identified one candidate longevity gene carrying RFVs in all three families, APOB. Inter…
No evidence of adverse cardiac remodeling in former elite endurance athletes
Background: The impact of high exercise loads on a previously healthy heart remains controversial. We examined the consequences of decades of strenuous endurance exercise at the highest competition level on heart dimensions and volumes as well as on serum biomarkers of cardiac fibrosis/remodeling. Methods and results: We compared echocardiographic measurements and serum biomarkers of cardiac fibrosis/remodeling [troponin I, galectin-3, matrix metallopeptidase-2 and -9, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, carboxy-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen, and soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity-2 (sST-2)/interleukin(IL)-1R4] in 53 male athletes [11 former professional ('elite') and 42…
Physical inactivity and low fitness deserve more attention to alter cancer risk and prognosis.
Abstract Sedentary lifestyle is associated with elevated cancer risk whereas regular physical activity (PA) and high cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) have the opposite effect, with several biologic mechanisms mediating such associations. There is a need for lifestyle interventions aimed at increasing the PA levels and CRF of the general population and particularly cancer survivors. Furthermore, provocative data suggest a dose-dependent benefit of increasing levels of PA and/or CRF against cancer risk or mortality. Thus, current PA guidelines (≥150 min/wk of moderate-to-vigorous PA) may not be sufficiently rigorous for preventing cancer nor for extending cancer survivorship. Research targetin…
Strenuous exercise and the heart: are we not seeing the wood for the trees?
The health benefits of regular moderate-intensity physical activity (e.g. brisk walking, jogging) are well established and include, among others, a lower risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Yet whether such benefits, especially with regard to CVD, are also conferred by higher exercise levels is a matter of growing controversy in the medical literature. For instance, Guash and Mont recently expressed understandable concern about the link between regular strenuous endurance exercise. 4.036 JCR (2014) Q1, 29/123 Cardiac and cardiovascular systems UEM
Serum irisin levels, precocious myocardial infarction, and healthy exceptional longevity.
Abstract Background Skeletal muscles produce irisin. Growing controversy exists on the association between this myokine and chronic disease risk. On the basis of the potential protective effects that irisin could exert on both vascular function and skeletal muscle mass, we hypothesized that an elevated level of this molecule may contribute to successful aging. Methods Serum irisin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in disease-free centenarians, young healthy controls, and patients with precocious acute myocardial infarction. Results We found the highest levels of serum irisin in disease-free centenarians (35.3 ± 5.5 ng/mL) compared with young healthy controls (20.7…
PTK2 rs7460 and rs7843014 polymorphisms and exceptional longevity: a functional replication study
Focal adhesion is critical for cell survival. The focal adhesion kinase (FAK, or PTK2) is an important component of the human interactome and thus is a potential longevity-related protein. Here we studied the association between two PTK2 gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs7843014, rs7460) and exceptional longevity (EL). In addition to gaining insight into their functionality by determining luciferase gene reporter activity, we studied the genotype/allele frequency of these two SNPs among three different cohorts: (1) Spanish centenarians (n=175, 100–111 years, 144 women) and healthy controls (n=355, 20–50 years, 284 women); (2) Italian centenarians (n=79, 100–104 years, 40 women)…
Strenuous endurance exercise and right ventricular systolic function: no evidence of long-term sequelae.
a Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain b Fundacion de Investigacion del Hospital Clinico Universitario Valencia (FIHCUV-INCLIVA), Valencia, Spain c Faculty of Health and Sport Science, University of Zaragoza, Huesca, Spain d Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Research Institute (i + 12), Madrid, Spain e HospitalUniversitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain f Cardiology Service, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain g European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain h Faculty of Medicine, Physical Education and Sports Section, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
Elite athletes live longer than the general population: a meta-analysis
OBJECTIVE: To perform a meta-analysis of cohort studies aimed at providing an accurate overview of mortality in elite athletes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed English-language scientific articles available in Medline and Web of Science databases following the recommendations of the Meta-analyses Of Observational Studies in Epidemiology group. We searched for publications on longevity and professional or elite athletes (with no restriction on the starting date and up to March 31, 2014). RESULTS: Ten studies, including data from a total of 42,807 athletes (707 women), met all inclusion criteria. The all-cause pooled standard mortality ratio (SMR) was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.55-0.81; P<.001) with n…
Blood and urinary abnormalities induced during and after 24-hour continuous running: A case report
In this reported clinical case, a healthy and well-trained male subject [aged 37 years, maximal oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2max) 64 mL·kg·min] ran for 23 hours and 35 minutes covering 160 km (6.7 km/h average running speed). The analysis of hematological and biochemical parameters 3 days before the event, just after termination of exercise, and after 24 and 48 hours of recovery revealed important changes on muscle and liver function, and hemolysis. The analysis of urine sediments showed an increment of red and white blood cells filtrations, compatible with transient nephritis. After 48 hours, most of these alterations were recovered. Physicians and health professionals who monito…