scholarly journals The effects of ageing on tactile function in humans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah McIntyre ◽  
Saad Nagi ◽  
Francis McGlone ◽  
Håkan Olausson

Ageing is accompanied by a steady decline in touch sensitivity and acuity. Conversely, pleasant touch, such as experienced during a caress, is even more pleasant in old age. There are many physiological changes that might explain these perceptual changes, but researchers have not yet identified any specific mechanisms. Here, we review both the perceptual and structural changes to the touch system that are associated with ageing. The structural changes include reduced elasticity of the skin in older people, as well as reduced numbers and altered morphology of skin tactile receptors. Effects of ageing on the peripheral and central nervous systems include demyelination, which affects the timing of neural signals, as well as reduced numbers of peripheral nerve fibres. The ageing brain also undergoes complex changes in blood flow, metabolism, plasticity, neurotransmitter function, and, for touch, the body map in primary somatosensory cortex. Although several studies have attempted to find a direct link between perceptual and structural changes, this has proved surprisingly elusive. We also highlight the need for more evidence regarding age-related changes in peripheral nerve function in the hairy skin, as well as the social and emotional aspects of touch.

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 168
Author(s):  
Charles Spence ◽  
Jozef Youssef

The growing aging population are increasingly suffering from the negative health consequences of the age-related decline in their senses, especially their chemical senses. Unfortunately, however, unlike for the higher senses of vision and hearing, there is currently nothing that can be done to bring back the chemical senses once they are lost (or have started their inevitable decline). The evidence suggests that such chemosensory changes can result in a range of maladaptive food behaviours, including the addition of more salt and sugar to food and drink in order to experience the same taste intensity while, at the same time, reducing their overall consumption because food has lost its savour. Here, though, it is also important to stress the importance of the more social aspects of eating and drinking, given the evidence suggesting that a growing number of older individuals are consuming more of their meals alone than ever before. Various solutions have been put forward in order to try to enhance the food experience amongst the elderly, including everything from optimising the product-intrinsic food inputs provided to the remaining functional senses through to a variety of digital interventions. Ultimately, however, the aim has to be to encourage healthier patterns of food consumption amongst this rapidly-growing section of the population by optimising the sensory, nutritional, social, and emotional aspects of eating and drinking. An experimental dinner with the residents of one such home where nostalgic-flavoured healthy ice-creams were served is described.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 61-68
Author(s):  
Maruti Ram Annamraju ◽  
Ravindra Kumar Boddeti ◽  
Subhadra Devi Velichety ◽  
Srihari Rao Battalapalli

Background: Fetal suprarenal gland consists of three zones. They are the outer definitive zone or neocortex (DZ) that forms adult Zona Glomerulosa (ZG), the centrally located fetal zone and a third transitional zone (TZ) the future adult Zona Fasciculata (ZF) which lies just between the neocortex and fetal zone (FZ). The inner ZF that consists of large eosinophilic cells, and the outer definitive zone (DZ) consists of small, densely packed basophilic cells. As early as in 6th week of gestational Age, pheochromoblasts derived from the neural crest migrate through the fetal cortex to form the medulla at a later stage of development. The medulla unrecognizable as a distinct structure in the suprarenal gland throughout most of the gestation, except for small clusters or nests of chromaffin cells scattered throughout the body of the cortex. Aims and Objective: The study was designed and aimed to understand the early developmental histology of suprarenal gland. Materials and Methods: Study conducted at the Department of Anatomy, SV Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study was carried out by processing representative samples of fetal suprarenal tissues of 13 weeks, 17 weeks, 24 weeks, 25 weeks and 38 weeks gestational age. While processing, we observed the standard dissection procedure and histopathological tissue processing for the human samples. Results: Peripheral narrower and darker definitive zone or true cortex and an inner wider and lighter fetal zone was observed at 13, 17, 24 weeks with 10x objective. The demarcation between cortex and medulla could be seen clearly at 24 weeks. At 25 weeks capsule is very thick and vascular. A well-differentiated gland tissue with clear demarcation of cortex and medulla and a large central vein was observed. At 38 weeks degeneration of fetal zone with a thick-walled central vein was observed at lower magnification (10x objective) Conclusion: Observations on prenatal microscopic structure and gestational age-related changes in suprarenal glands form the basis for understanding structural changes and a foetal database for the local population.


Author(s):  
A. E. Chernikova ◽  
Yu. P. Potekhina

Introduction. An osteopathic examination determines the rate, the amplitude and the strength of the main rhythms (cardiac, respiratory and cranial). However, there are relatively few studies in the available literature dedicated to the influence of osteopathic correction (OC) on the characteristics of these rhythms.Goal of research — to study the influence of OC on the rate characteristics of various rhythms of the human body.Materials and methods. 88 adult osteopathic patients aged from 18 to 81 years were examined, among them 30 men and 58 women. All patients received general osteopathic examination. The rate of the cranial rhythm (RCR), respiratory rate (RR) heart rate (HR), the mobility of the nervous processes (MNP) and the connective tissue mobility (CTM) were assessed before and after the OC session.Results. Since age varied greatly in the examined group, a correlation analysis of age-related changes of the assessed rhythms was carried out. Only the CTM correlated with age (r=–0,28; p<0,05) in a statistically significant way. The rank dispersion analysis of Kruskal–Wallis also showed statistically significant difference in this indicator in different age groups (p=0,043). With the increase of years, the CTM decreases gradually. After the OC, the CTM, increased in a statistically significant way (p<0,0001). The RCR varied from 5 to 12 cycles/min in the examined group, which corresponded to the norm. After the OC, the RCR has increased in a statistically significant way (p<0,0001), the MNP has also increased (p<0,0001). The initial heart rate in the subjects varied from 56 to 94 beats/min, and in 15 % it exceeded the norm. After the OC the heart rate corresponded to the norm in all patients. The heart rate and the respiratory rate significantly decreased after the OC (р<0,0001).Conclusion. The described biorhythm changes after the OC session may be indicative of the improvement of the nervous regulation, of the normalization of the autonomic balance, of the improvement of the biomechanical properties of body tissues and of the increase of their mobility. The assessed parameters can be measured quickly without any additional equipment and can be used in order to study the results of the OC.


Author(s):  
E.P. Dolgov ◽  
◽  
A.A. Abramov ◽  
E.V. Kuzminova ◽  
E.V. Rogaleva ◽  
...  

The article presents the data on the study of the influence of mycotoxins combination (T-2 toxin at the concentration of 0.095 mg/kg and aflatoxin B1 in the concentration of 0.019 mg/kg) on the body of quails and the results of pharmacocorrection of toxicosis with a complex consisting of beet pulp and lecithin. Structural changes in the intestines of quais at fodder mycotoxicosis are described. The use of antitoxic feed additives in poultry led to a weakening of the action of xenobiotics, which was confirmed by an increase in the safety of poultry and increase in body weight of quails, a decrease in the clinical manifestations of intoxication, as well as in positive changes in the structure of the intestine of the poultry during histological examination.


Author(s):  
N. I. Maslova

The article presents analysis of material and results of their own studies on changes in the permeability of cellular structures, organs and tissues in carp, which is of great importance in determining age-related indicators. The cells permeability in liver and gonads estimation was carried out under the experimental base of VNIIR on two carp genotypes during the pre-spawning period. The carp groups taken for analysis differed significantly in their genotypes. In females of the Khrapunov group the fecundity was 2023.0 thousand units, while the number of oocytes filled with yolk was only 0.7%, in the Ostashevsky ones - 1370.0 thousand units and 8.6%, respectively. During estimation the chemical composition of the generative tissue in females and males it was established that the cholesterol and lecithin content in males is higher than that of females, while feeding dependence is observed, especially on the amount of protein in the diet. For example, in females on protein diet contained less glycogen in gonads than on females on carbohydrate diet. Lecithin and cholesterol are higher in males than in females, which corresponds to increasing the Gyurdy Ratio (estimation of cell membrane strength). In spermatogenesis the content of phospholipids and cholesterol in the liver was decreased less than during ovogenesis. This indicates a lower level of synthetic processes in the milts compared with the ovaries. The cholesterol content in sperm is higher than in caviar in 19.6 times, and phospholipids almost doubled. With increasing age, the Gyordy Ratio for caviar decreases, for sperm it increases, the percentage of caviar fertilization increases. As the body age metabolism deteriorates, cellular permeability decreases (the ratio of lecithin and cholesterol changes significantly). At the same time, the permeability of cells in different organs and tissues varies and depends on living conditions, especially feeding and to some extent on the origin. In fish the gross productivity decreases as growth slows down and more energy is spent on adaptation to environmental conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-209
Author(s):  
Syed Saqib Ali ◽  
Mohammad Khalid Zia ◽  
Tooba Siddiqui ◽  
Haseeb Ahsan ◽  
Fahim Halim Khan

Background: Ascorbic acid is a classic dietary antioxidant which plays an important role in the body of human beings. It is commonly found in various foods as well as taken as dietary supplement. Objective: The plasma ascorbic acid concentration may range from low, as in chronic or acute oxidative stress to high if delivered intravenously during cancer treatment. Sheep alpha-2- macroglobulin (α2M), a human α2M homologue is a large tetrameric glycoprotein of 630 kDa with antiproteinase activity, found in sheep’s blood. Methods: In the present study, the interaction of ascorbic acid with alpha-2-macroglobulin was explored in the presence of visible light by utilizing various spectroscopic techniques and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Results: UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy suggests the formation of a complex between ascorbic acid and α2M apparent by increased absorbance and decreased fluorescence. Secondary structural changes in the α2M were investigated by CD and FT-IR spectroscopy. Our findings suggest the induction of subtle conformational changes in α2M induced by ascorbic acid. Thermodynamics signatures of ascorbic acid and α2M interaction indicate that the binding is an enthalpy-driven process. Conclusion: It is possible that ascorbic acid binds and compromises antiproteinase activity of α2M by inducing changes in the secondary structure of the protein.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (26) ◽  
pp. 2892-2905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumit Jamwal ◽  
Ashish Mittal ◽  
Puneet Kumar ◽  
Dana M. Alhayani ◽  
Amal Al-Aboudi

Adenosine is a naturally occurring nucleoside and an essential component of the energy production and utilization systems of the body. Adenosine is formed by the degradation of adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) during energy-consuming processes. Adenosine regulates numerous physiological processes through activation of four subtypes of G-protein coupled membrane receptors viz. A1, A2A, A2B and A3. Its physiological importance depends on the affinity of these receptors and the extracellular concentrations reached. ATP acts as a neurotransmitter in both peripheral and central nervous systems. In the peripheral nervous system, ATP is involved in chemical transmission in sensory and autonomic ganglia, whereas in central nervous system, ATP, released from synaptic terminals, induces fast excitatory postsynaptic currents. ATP provides the energetics for all muscle movements, heart beats, nerve signals and chemical reactions inside the body. Adenosine has been traditionally considered an inhibitor of neuronal activity and a regulator of cerebral blood flow. Since adenosine is neuroprotective against excitotoxic and metabolic dysfunctions observed in neurological and ocular diseases, the search for adenosinerelated drugs regulating adenosine transporters and receptors can be important for advancement of therapeutic strategies against these diseases. This review will summarize the therapeutic potential and recent SAR and pharmacology of adenosine and its receptor agonists and antagonists.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8298
Author(s):  
Hugo Christian Monroy-Ramirez ◽  
Marina Galicia-Moreno ◽  
Ana Sandoval-Rodriguez ◽  
Alejandra Meza-Rios ◽  
Arturo Santos ◽  
...  

Carbohydrates and lipids are two components of the diet that provide the necessary energy to carry out various physiological processes to help maintain homeostasis in the body. However, when the metabolism of both biomolecules is altered, development of various liver diseases takes place; such as metabolic-associated fatty liver diseases (MAFLD), hepatitis B and C virus infections, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), and in more severe cases, hepatocelular carcinoma (HCC). On the other hand, PPARs are a family of ligand-dependent transcription factors with an important role in the regulation of metabolic processes to hepatic level as well as in other organs. After interaction with specific ligands, PPARs are translocated to the nucleus, undergoing structural changes to regulate gene transcription involved in lipid metabolism, adipogenesis, inflammation and metabolic homeostasis. This review aims to provide updated data about PPARs’ critical role in liver metabolic regulation, and their involvement triggering the genesis of several liver diseases. Information is provided about their molecular characteristics, cell signal pathways, and the main pharmacological therapies that modulate their function, currently engaged in the clinic scenario, or in pharmacological development.


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