Lamins are major components of the nuclear lamina, a network of proteins that supports the nuclear envelope in metazoan cells. Over the past decade, biochemical studies have provided support for the view that lamins are not passive bystanders providing mechanical stability to the nucleus but play an active role in the organization of the genome and the function of fundamental nuclear processes....

One of the major challenges in neurodegenerative research is modeling systemic aging. Here, senescence-accelerated mice such as the multigenic SAMP8 (senescence accelerated prone 8) mice are useful as they are characterized by an early manifestation of senescence that includes a shortened lifespan and impaired brain and immune functions. While SAMP8 mice are widely used tools to address aging a...

INTRODUCTION: Polycarbonate urethane (PCU) has been investigated as a candidate bearing material for total acetabular replacement and unicondylar knee replacement [1-4], and is currently being used in a pliable acetabular component (AIC Acetabular Buffer: Active Implants Corp., Memphis, TN). However, the susceptibility of PCU to post-irradiation aging is not yet fully understood. Furthermore, d...

Organism envy afflicts most researchers who work on aging in mice; how frustrating it is to see the worm and fly biologists nail down milestone after milestone, citation after citation! Surely genetic trickery can produce mice that age in a comparable jiffy? Alas, our near-total ignorance of what times the aging process makes it hard to guess what genes to tweak, if indeed aging can be mimicked...

This paper presents research results dealing with power MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor) within the prognostics and health management of electronics. Experimental results are presented for the identification of the on-resistance as a precursor to failure of devices with die-attach degradation as a failure mechanism. Devices are aged under power cycling in order to tri...

The possible role of Amadori and Maillard reactions in the deterioration of dry seeds was investigated using model systems and whole soybean seeds, Glycine max cv Hodgson. In model systems of glucose plus an enzyme (lysozyme), the production of Amadori products was accelerated by higher temperature and relative humidity. The reaction between glucose and lysozyme at 50 degrees C, 75% relative hu...

The effects of the energy density that is used for polymerization on properties of dental resin composites are well known. However, few studies relate color stability to this factor. The aim of this study was to assess color changes (deltaE*), in vitro, in terms of accelerated aging under UV exposure of specimens prepared with different energy densities. Four commercial dental resin composites ...

Cushing's syndrome is due to excess cortisol secretion and is associated to increased mortality and severe morbidity that are not fully reversible despite biochemical control. The syndrome consists of a set of systemic manifestations similar to those found in aging. Chronic stress, which also causes hyperstimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, has been related to accelerated tel...

Deregulation of precursor mRNA splicing is associated with many illnesses and has been linked to age-related chronic diseases. Here we review recent progress documenting how defects in the machinery that performs intron removal and controls splice site selection contribute to cellular senescence and organismal aging. We discuss the functional association linking p53, IGF-1, SIRT1, and ING-1 spl...

The p53 tumor suppressor plays a key role in organismal aging. A cellular mechanism postulated to drive the aging process is cellular senescence, mediated in part by p53. Although senescent cells accumulate in elderly individuals, most studies have relied on correlating in vitro senescence assays with in vivo phenotypes of aging. Here, using two different mouse models in which the p53-related p...