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Abstract: Objective: The purpose of the present study was to examine the age- and tissue-related variations of the telomere length in gingiva and dental pulp of donor patients. Design: We quantified the relative telomeric DNA content corresponding to the telomere length in gingiva or dental pulp from donor patients (male and female, aged at 19–68) by using genomic DNA of oral tissues in dot-blot hybridization with telomere-specific probe. Results: Telomeric DNA content in the dental pulp showed a negative correlation with the age of donor patients, with smaller telomeric DNA content observed in the elders (p <0.05). In age-matched gingival samples, the average telomeric DNA content was not significantly different between male and female donors. In the age- and gender-matched samples, telomeric DNA content was significantly greater (p <0.001) in dental pulp than in gingiva. Conclusion: The telomere length is greater in the dental pulp than in the gingiva. In the dental pulp, but not in the gingiva, telomere length shortens with age. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of microgravity or hypergravity on living organisms have been studied extensively; however, thus far no studies have addressed the effects of “partial-gravity”, that is, the low-gravity levels between the unit gravity (1G) on Earth and zero gravity (0G) in space. The purpose of the present study was to examine behavioral responses in rats under partial-gravity conditions. Rat behavior was monitored by video cameras during parabolic flights. The flight trajectory was customized in order to generate graded levels of partial gravity. Gravity-dependent behavior patterns were observed in rats. In the conditions of 0.4G through 0.2G, rats showed startle and crouching. Hindlimb stretching emerged at 0.15G and was more frequently observed toward 0.01G. Different thresholds may exist for emotional and balance/posture-related behaviors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The main risk factors for proximal femoral fracture include the hazard of falling and osteoporosis. The change in walking ability of patients before injury was evaluated over the last 10 years in a rapidly advancing aging society in Tokyo, Japan. The bone quality of patients was clarified in order to develop a strategy for prevention of hip fractures. The subjects were 157 women with proximal femoral fractures treated between 1989 and 1993 (group A) and 216 women treated between 1999 and 2003 (group B). Bone mineral density (BMD) of the radius of the patients showed slightly lower values than those of the elderly general population, but no statistically significant difference was observed in each age group except for the 75–79-year-old age group (p &#60;0.05). Many patients had problems in walking, and 27% of patients in group A and 44% in group B could not walk outdoors or go shopping alone before the injury, and their bone mineral density was reduced. For the prevention of hip fractures, it is important to improve the physical function to avoid falls, which directly cause hip fracture. Patients who have difficulty performing effective physical exercise because of reduced walking ability require medication for osteoporosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]