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Puerarin extends longevity of flies by improving climbing activity, ATP production, and stress resistance but repressing fecundity. Puerarin promotes lysosome-involved autophagy via inhibiting TOR phosphorylation, resulting in longevity of flies.

As COVID-19 pandemic approaching its third year, more data have shown that obesity and hypertriglyceridemia are the high-risk factors for the major complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome, thromboembolism, coagulopathy and cytokine storm, which are responsible for the majority of disease severity and mortality. In this review article, we have analyzed the public available clinical reports and laboratory research results of the COVID-19 studies by researchers and clinicians of many nations around the world. Many of these reports covered COVID-19 patients of different ethnic groups. We suggested that obesity and high triglycerides are high risks for severe COVID-19 and death. We also summarized the possible underlying molecular mechanism likely connecting the severe COVID-19 with obesity and hypertriglyceridemia. From public health perspective, we highlight the importance of the healthy diet and lifestyle in fighting against SARS-CoV-2 virus in long period of time.

Background: As for support for the elderly naturally, the family is an important carrier for achieving a sense of security, happiness, and worthiness in old age. This study analyzed the characteristics of intergenerational support in longevity elderly families and explored the impact of the number of family generations on intergenerational support. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between April 2020 to January 2021 among 62 elderly people aged 90+ in Rugao, the sixth longest-lived city in the world. Under the guidance of the researcher, longevity elderly completed questionnaires including general demographics, intergenerational support, and so on. And Logistic regression model was used to analyze the influence of the number of family generations on the intergenerational economy, life, and spiritual support of the longevity elderly. Results: Longevity elderly, were primarily care recipients in their families and recipients in intergenerational support for declined physical functions and limited self-care ability. The study found that the more numbers of family generations, the more the family intergenerational life care and intergenerational spiritual comfort provided for longevity elders. Conclusion: There is a positive effect of family generations on intergenerational support for longevity elderly. The government and society should promote the fine tradition of respecting and honoring the elderly while paying close attention to the dynamic changes in the family structure of the longevity elderly, and promoting high-quality and sustainable development of the population, economy, and society.

Background. The burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing substantially due to population growth and aging. Determining effective prevention and understanding the underlying mechanisms remain desirable pursuits for increasing the quality of life. As centenarians and their offspring may have genetic advantages, they may present with healthier cardiovascular-related profiles. Methods. We launched a cross-sectional household-based survey of centenarian families, including 253 centenarians, 217 centenarian offspring, and 116 offspring spouses without centenarian parents from county-level Chinese longevity city Rugao. Among offspring and offspring spouses were the following arrangements: 101 paired offspring and offspring spouses who lived together, 116 unpaired offspring, and 16 unpaired spouses. We investigated their cardiovascular-related health status including waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, and plasma lipids and compared results among centenarians, centenarian offspring, and offspring spouses. Results. Centenarians ranged from 99 to 109 years with a median age of 100 years. Centenarian offspring, with a median age of 70 years, and offspring spouses, with a median age of 69 years, shared similar age. Results of blood pressure, plasma lipid levels, and BMI displayed no significant difference between centenarian offspring and offspring spouses. However, centenarians appeared to have lower waist circumference, BMI, TC, LDL-C, TG, and diastolic blood pressure but higher levels of systolic blood pressure ( p < 0.05 ). Multivariate analysis showed the prevalence of obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia was similar between centenarian offspring and offspring spouses, while centenarians appeared to have a lower prevalence of obesity and a higher prevalence of hypertension ( p < 0.05 ). Conclusions. Centenarians and centenarian offspring did not present healthier BMI, blood pressure, or plasma lipids than offspring spouses. Further research on longevity and cardiovascular diseases are desirable.

Ferulic acid (FA) is an active component of the traditional Chinese herb Angelica sinensis. Numerous health benefits have been attributed to FA, but few studies have investigated the effects of FA on osteoblasts (Obs). Our work studied the effects of FA on proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of rat calvarial Obs and examined the signaling pathways involved. Cell proliferation and differentiation were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assay kit, respectively. Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase II (PKGII) expression was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA). The mRNA expression was investigated by semi-quantitative PCR. FA (40-2560 μM) promoted Ob proliferation and differentiation; at 40-640 μM, FA stimulated calcified nodule formation and increased the expression of osteogenic genes encoding osteopontin and collagen-l. FA (40-2560 μM) increased cGMP levels in Obs and upregulated the expression of PKGII, EnaCα, and ENaCγ mRNAs. Downregulated ENaCα mRNA expression in Obs transfected with the siRNA for PKGII was reversed when FA was introduced into Obs. These results demonstrated that FA promoted proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization of Obs in vitro, and enhanced osteogenic genes expression partly through the cGMP-PKGII-ENaC signaling pathway.

To study the best ultrasonic technology of the extraction of icariin of Hugu capsule.Used the content of icariin as index, orthogonal experiment was carried out to investigate 4 influential factors as follows: the ultrasonic power (A), the ultrasonic frequency (B), the material fluid ratio (C), the time (D).The best extraction conditions were as follows: the ultrasonic power was 120 W, the ultrasonic frequency was 28 KHz, solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 35, the extraction time was 10 min.Optimization of extracting process is simple, quick and low energy consumption. Under these conditions, the extraction of icariin is 1.8 times higher than that of the traditional extraction method.