Vol 6, No 2 (2016)

The paper proposes a simple approach for matching the ages of humans and mammals (some laboratory animals are considered to be mammals). A mathematical and simulation model has been built based on an analysis of the time of the onset of individual ontogenic events (such as the emergence of the first molars, first ovulation, almost complete cessation of growth, and menopause for female individuals). The choice of the these events is due to the fact that the time of the onset of the same events can be individually fixed in the human. Age-matching is important in giving each person the opportunity to make an individual choice in the regulation of a drug application that corresponds to his or her biological age.

Modern terminology on active and healthy aging used in scientific and project activities is discussed. The active longevity policy, which has no precise, universally agreed definition, and its main determinants are analyzed based on the WHO concept. The paper presents the fields of scientific expertise in the major European projects, INNOGAVE on the assessment of potentially profitable social innovations relating to the improvement of welfare and quality of life and health in old age and MOPACT on the study of the mutual influence of the demographic development and main dimensions of economic and social contribution of elderly people. Emphasis is placed on an approach to implement the policy of active and healthy longevity as a valuable asset in the modern society.

With benzylamine as a substrate, the amine oxidase activity was determined in the pineal gland of adult rats and compared with the same activity in brain areas and the pituitary. Two groups of rats aged 6–8 and 14–15 months were also compared on the basis of this activity. The benzylamine deaminating activity in the pineal gland was significantly higher than in the area preoptica medialis, the corpus mamillare, the tuberculum olfactorium, and the hypophysis, and was lower than in the eminentia mediana. A significant increase of the activity in the pineal gland in animals aged 6–8 to 14—15 months was revealed. Benzylamine deaminating activity in the pineal gland was totally inhibited by 0.002 mM R-deprenyl, indicating B-type monoamine oxidase (MAO B) activity. An age-associated increase of MAO B activity in the pineal gland, accompanied by decrease of glutathione peroxidase activity, which was reported earlier, can cause oxidative damage in the pineal gland during aging.

This paper studies the age dynamics of the proteomic profile of urine in healthy volunteers. The proteome composition was determined by chromatography-mass-spectrometry based on a nanostream highly efficient liquid chromatograph (Agilent 1100), and mass-spectra were obtained with a LTQ-FT hybrid mass-spectrometer. The urine samples obtained from 52 healthy men aged 19–54 years were found to contain 259 various proteins. According to the TiGER database, the tissue origin was established for 141 of them, and 715 biological processes in which they participate were identified. A significant positive correlation of the number (R = 0.566, p-value = 1.24E–05) and weight of proteins (R = 0.45; p-value = 8.17E–04) with age was found. We identified 23 proteins that are significantly more frequent in urine with increasing age of the subjects (p < 0.05) and only one protein, RGSL1, that is a regulator of signal transmission through receptors connected with G-protein (MW 125.69), which becomes less frequent with increasing age.

The serum hormone levels of middle- and gerontic-aged residents of Arkhangelsk were studied by enzyme immunoassay and radioimmunoassay. A significant increase of follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones levels in gerontic-aged men was recorded in the presence of higher concentrations of these hormones in women. There was a statistical tendency toward a decrease in the testosterone level in gerontic-aged women as compared to middle-aged women. Regardless of gender, a decrease of the dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate content was observed in gerontic-aged residents as compared to the level in the middle-aged. The criteria for a functional activity reduction of the thyroid gland were a decrease in serum-free thyroxine fraction levels in gerontic-aged women and low concentrations of common triiodothyronine in middle-aged men living in Arkhangelsk. Serum cortisol, insulin, estradiol, growth hormone had no significant age or sex differences in the considered groups. The number of correlations was greater among the gerontic-aged people in comparison with the middle-aged, especially among women.

Pathology of the musculoskeletal system is widespread in the population and is one of the most common diseases in patients of older age groups. The most significant are osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and sarcopenia. All three components separately, of course, lead to lower quality of life. We show the mechanisms of their interaction and their combined impact on the musculoskeletal system as a target organ of senile asthenia processes. Osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and especially their combination lead to hypomobility. Hypomobility under the action of external factors is one of the leading syndromes that can potentially aggravate senile asthenia processes. This triggers the reentry mechanism, and a vicious circle forms, leading to fatal medical-social and social consequences. It is shown that changes in the musculoskeletal system should be considered as a single aging problem of senile asthenia, and all previous and newly created medicalsocial rehabilitation and prevention programs should have an integrated nature.

Angiomotin- and endostatin-positive structures were studied by the indirect immunohistochemical method in the skin of human fetuses that died antenatally from different causes in the 20th to 40th weeks of pregnancy and in skin samples extracted during the autopsy of humans who died from different causes at ages from 1 day to 85 years. The cells of epidermis, the fibroblasts, sweat and sebaceous glands of the dermis, and the blood vessels had a positive reaction to angiomotin and endostatin. Considering the fundamental importance of angiomotin and endostatin for angiogenesis, we studied the content of these substances in the blood vessels. Angiomotin-positive blood vessels were detected in skin samples of humans of all ages. An agedependent decrease was found in the angiomotin content in blood vessels of the dermis; it was more strongly expressed in humans aged 61–85 years. Endostatin-positive blood vessels were detected in the skin samples of humans of all ages. An age-dependent increase in the endostatin content in blood vessels of the dermis was found. The change in the angiomotin and endostatin contents and the balance between these substances probably have a negative effect on the angiogenesis processes in human skin during aging.