CONTENTS
1. Effect of piracetam in reserpine-induced gastric ulcers in rats
Vl Sandor, B Cuparencu, C Valsan, MA Birt, V Cristea
2. The activity of NADH and NADPH mitochondrial oxidase in psoriasis
Adriana Filip, Simona Clichici, Adela Joanta, Rodica Cosgarea, Magda Petrescu, Adriana Muresan,
M Dorofteiu
3. The effects of diltiazem in an experimental model of acute inflammation in rats
Anca Dana Buzoianu, Dana Gosa, Claudia Militaru
4. Erythropoietin and thrombocytopoiesis
Irina Chis, Ramona Stanciu, Adriana Muresan
5. Effects of zolpidem on blood glucose level, serum lipid concentration and clot lysis time innormoglycemic and normolipidemic rats
Cecilia Bobos, J Horak, J Pucsok, Aliz Horak
6. FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER: The study of some pollutants on the heart – in vitro andin vivo experiments
Simona Gusti, Alice Gusti, G Balica
7. Protocol for isolation and autologus transplantation of beta pancreatic cells in pancreatectomizedpigs
C Roman, Erica Suciu, V Ordodi, M Groza, Gabriela Nita, O Bedreag, C Suciu, C Oancea, V
Paunescu
8. Present and future anti-aging strategies in geronto-geriatrics. 10th Congress IABG – International
Association of Biomedical Gerontology, Queens’ College, Cambridge, UK, 19-23 September 2003
D Riga, S Riga, Fr Schneider

1. EFFECT OF PIRACETAM IN RESERPINE-INDUCED GASTRIC ULCERS IN RATS
Vl Sandor2, B Cuparencu1, C Valsan2, MA Birt3, V Cristea4
1
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea
2
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,
3
Department of Psychiatry, Psychology and Educational Sciences Faculty ”Babeş-Bolyai”
University Cluj-Napoca, Clinical Hospital, Psychiatry-Ergotherapy Section, Cluj-Napoca
4
Department of Immunopathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy”Iuliu Haţieganu” Cluj-Napoca
Address for correspondence: Professor Vl Sandor, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Medicine
and Pharmacy „Iuliu Hatieganu”, 13 Emil Isac Street, Cluj-Napoca

ABSTRACT
Nootropic drugs, which are widely used in the treatment of cognitive disorders and degenerative
brain diseases, extend their therapeutic use to somatic and visceral pathology. We have investigatedthe effects of acutely administered piracetam on reserpine-induced gastric ulcers in rats. The drug
effects are moderate and dose-dependent. In single doses, piracetam tends to aggravateulcerogenesis. In case of repeated doses, a discrete protection is noticed.
Key words: gastric ulcers, piracetam, rats, reserpine.

2. THE ACTIVITY OF NADH AND NADPH MITOCHONDRIAL OXIDASE IN PSORIASIS
Adriana Filip1, Simona Clichici1, Adela Joanta1, Rodica Cosgarea2, Magda Petrescu3, AdrianaMuresan1, M Dorofteiu1
1
The Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu” Cluj-Napoca
2
The Dermatology and Venereology Clinic, Cluj-Napoca
3
The Morgue of the County Clinic Cluj-Napoca

Address for correspondence: Dr. Adriana Filip, Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Iuliu
Hatieganu”, 13 Emil Isac Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ABSTRACTThis study aims to identify the markers in psoriasis, which might allow the quantifying of oxidative
processes in the tissue. For this purpose, tissue biopsies were collected and the activity of two
mitochondrial oxidant enzymes which intervene in the forming of superoxide anion was analyzed
from a histoenzymologic point of view.
Key words: psoriasis, mitochondrial oxidases, superoxide anion.

3. THE EFFECTS OF DILTIAZEM IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF ACUTEINFLAMMATION IN RATS
Anca Dana Buzoianu, Dana Gosa, Claudia Militaru
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University of Medicine andPharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Address for correspondence: Dr.Anca Buzoianu, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Medicine
and Pharmacy „Iuliu Hatieganu”, 13 Emil Isac Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, E-mail: ancabuzoianu@yahoo.com

ABSTRACTIn this paper, we studied the effect of diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, in acute experimental
inflammation. The material was represented by 5 groups of rats, which were injected with kaolin
solution in one paw. The inflammatory response was measured using a digital plethysmometer in 4
moments: initially, after 1 hour, 2 hours and 24 hours after injection. We compared the obtained
values between groups treated with different diltiazem amounts and with the combination diclofenacdiltiazem. Our results show a moderate anti-inflammatory effect of diltiazem in mentioned doses,
and also the potentiation of the diclofenac anti-inflammatory effect by the small dose of diltiazem.
Keywords: anti-inflammatory effect, calcium channel blockers, oedema.

4. ERYTHROPOIETIN AND THROMBOCYTOPOIESIS
Irina Chis, Ramona Stanciu, Adriana Muresan
Department of Physiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Haţieganu” Cluj-Napoca,
Romania
Address for correspondence: Dr. Irina Chis, Physiology Department, University of Medicine and Pharmacy „Iuliu
Hatieganu”, 13 Emil Isac Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ABSTRACT
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a α1- glycoprotein with a major role in erythropoiesis regulation. EPO also
has other roles: antiapoptotic, mitogenic, chemotactic, angiogenetic, mobilizer of intracellular
calcium, neurotrophic, neuroprotector. Recent researches have shown that EPO has role indiminishing the oxidative stress and inflammation.
Recent data have shown that the treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo)
improves the thrombocyte function in haemodialysis patients, function which is appreciated throughthe measurement of platelet adesivity, platelet aggregation and the seric level of the factors
implicated in the platelet function. From clinical trials it is also known that the therapy with rHuEpo
results in the increase of platelets number.
In this paperwork the authors will follow the erythropoietin`s implications in the production ofthrombocytes. The experiments were carried out on white Wistar rats in which increased doses ofrHuEpo were administered.
From the collected data we have observed an increased platelet number, especially in the 7-th day
after the administration of rHuEpo to all groups taken for study. This study comes to confirm thenew data from medical literature according to which erythropoietin could stimulate the production ofthrombocytes.
Key words: erythropoietin, thrombocytes, thrombocytosis.

5. EFFECTS OF ZOLPIDEM ON BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL, SERUM LIPID
CONCENTRATION AND CLOT LYSIS TIME IN NORMOGLYCEMIC ANDNORMOLIPIDEMIC RATS
Cecilia Bobos1, J Horak2, J Pucsok3, Aliz Horak4
1
Department of Pharmaceutical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of
Oradea2
University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu” Cluj-Napoca
3
Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea
4
Institute of Oncology “Ion Chiricuta” Cluj-Napoca
Address for correspondence: Professor Josef Horak, Ion Andreescu Street No. 7, Apt. 3, 400306 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

ABSTRACT
In normoglycemic and normolipidemic rats, the i.p. injection of zolpidem induced an acceleration offibrinolysis in a dose-dependent bell-shaped manner and various changes of the blood glucose level.
Total lipids, total cholesterol and trigyceride serum levels remained unaffected at the dose of 1.25,
2.5 and 15.0 mg/kg, with the exception of the medium dose (5.0 mg/kg) and the next dose (10.0mg/kg), which lowered them very significantly.
Key words: zolpidem, rats, normoglycemia, normolipidemia, fibrinolysis, serum lipids, blood
glucose level, total cholesterol.

6. FOR THE GENERAL PRACTITIONER: THE STUDY OF SOME POLLUTANTS ON
THE HEART – IN VITRO AND IN VIVO EXPERIMENTS
Simona Gusti1, Alice Gusti2, G Balica3
1
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmcy, Craiova,
Romania2
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Physic Education and Sport, University, Craiova, Romania
3
Microproduction Laboratory “ELIXIR” S.R.L. Craiova, Romania
Address for correspondence: Professor Simona Gusti, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of
Medicine and Pharmacy, Petru Rares Street No. 4, Craiova, Romania.

ABSTRACT
Nowadays drinking water and nourishing supplies contain smaller or larger amounts of nitrites,
because of industrialization and chemical fertilizers, and these factors are real pollutants that
endanger people’s health. Taking into account these reasons, we have accomplished a study ofnitrites, isonyaside, and gamma picoline, during in vitro experiments performed on 42 isolated frog
hearts, and in vivo studies on 28 rats which were EKG monitored. We have noticed that nitrites andespecially a mixture of nitrites and isonyaside reduced significantly the amplitude and the contraction
intensity of the myocardium with 60% in the in vitro experiments. In vivo studies showed a decreaseof cardiac rhythm, associated with bi and trigeminate rhythm, and ischemic T waves, probably due tothe formation of a toxic compound, izonicotinoilaside. Pyracetam administration, proved to bewholesome for restarting the normal activity of the heart. We remarked after gamma picoline
administration a decrease of the contraction force and amplitude, finally causing cardiac arrest, inboth in vitro and in vivo experiments. The administration of PP vitamin proved to be benefic, theheart regaining its normal activity.
Key words: nitrites, isonyaside, gamma picoline, heart, in vitro, in vivo experiment.

7. PROTOCOL FOR ISOLATION AND AUTOLOGUS TRANSPLANTATION OF BETAPANCREATIC CELLS IN PANCREATECTOMIZED PIGSC Roman, Erica Suciu, V Ordodi, M Groza1, Gabriela Nita2, O Bedreag3, C Suciu4, C Oancea, V
Paunescu
Department of Physiology and Immunology
1
Department of Surgery
2
Department of Microsurgery
3
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care
4
Department of Histology
University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara
Address for correspondence: Professor V Paunescu, Department of Physiology and Immunology, University of Medicine
and Pharmacy, Col. Martir Uta Ioan Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania. E-mail: vpaunescu@umft.ro

ABSTRACTTransplantation of isolated islets of Langerhans for the treatment of type I diabetes has beendeveloped through experimental research in several animal species, including pigs, and is now being
applied to humans with some success albeit limited. Therefore, in the present study, our purpose wasto isolate beta pancreatic cells and to demonstrate their efficiency to correct high glucose bloodlevels in pigs.
In pigs, diabetes was induced by total pancreatectomy and splenectomy. After pancreas removal, its
tissue was digested with collagenase and islet purification was performed by centrifugation on
discontinuous Ficoll and RPMI solutions. Insulin secreting cells were distinguished using dythizone(DTZ) staining and administered by intravenous injection.
Glycemia was determined for each animal before pancreatectomy and one hour after surgery. We
also performed several other determinations in the following days after the surgical intervention.
After a week, in 3 out of 7 pigs, the glucose blood level decreased from initial high values to smaller
ones. These results indicate that our procedure for islet isolation could represent an efficienttherapeutic method. Moreover, we were able to obtain a large number of viable islet cells, which
exhibited the metabolic capacity to correct diabetes.
Key words: diabetes, pancreatectomy, islet cells, collagenase.

8. PRESENT AND FUTURE ANTI-AGING STRATEGIES IN GERONTO-GERIATRICS.
10TH CONGRESS IABG – INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BIOMEDICALGERONTOLOGY, "SENS - STRATEGIES FOR ENGINEERED NEGLIGIBLE
SENESCENCE: REASONS WHY GENUINE CONTROL OF AGING MAY BE
FORESEEABLE", QUEENS’ COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE, UK, 19-23 SEPTEMBER 2003
D Riga, S Riga, Fr Schneider
Address for correspondence: Dan Riga, MD, PhD, Department of Stress Research & Prophylaxis, “Al. Obregia” Clinical
Hospital of Psychiatry, 10 Berceni Road, Sector 4, 041914, Bucharest 8, Romania. E-mail: D_S_Riga@yahoo.com

The Congress was opened by Prof. Denham Harman, well-known father of "Free radical theory of
aging" in 1956, and founder of the IABG (International Association of Biomedical Gerontology) at
the 1st IABG Congress in New York, NY, 1985, together with Dr. Aubrey D.N.J. de Grey,
congress organizer and creator of SENS (Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence) concept
in October 2000, concept presented in detail at the 9th IABG Congress in Vancouver, Canada, 2001.
By their "data presented at this conference", world-wide scientists, contributors from 27 countries, 78
speakers, over 100 poster presenters with their 184 abstracts published in Biogerontology (6), show
unambiguously "that real anti-aging medicine is not science fiction any more, but science
foreseeable" (A.D.N.J. de Grey, Abstract no. 44).
The knowledge of molecular and cellular mechanisms implicated in aging and anti-aging processes,
in shorting life and longevity, in tissue degeneration and regene-ration were presented as starting
points in working out of efficient ways in aging control.

Anti-aging strategies will become in a short period of time a revolutionary regenerative medicine bysystematic application of biotechnology, bioengineering, nanotechnology and information sciences in
the improvement of human health (W. Haseltine Keynote Lecture, Abstract no. 74). Therefore, thisinternational debate mainly focused on three anti-senescence strategical fields: aging reversal, aging
prevention and deceleration, as well as replacement, repair and regeneration of aged damaged
tissue/organ structures.
Epidemiological and demographic implications of aging and anti-aging treated populations, as wellas ticklish senescence and prolongevity ethics were discussed.
ELUCIDATION OF AGING MECHANISMS
Many studies and researches were focused on the elucidation and understanding of mechanisms andprinciples involved in regeneration, longevity, as well as in impairment and aging processes.
A first field refers to animal and human models of premature and accelerated aging. As animalmodel, SMP 30 knockout (SMP 30 KO) mouse, a mice strain lacking senescence marker protein 30
was presented (N. Maruyama, Abstract no. 120). As human model, progeroid Werner's syndrome(WS) was discussed regarding telomeres which may shorten faster in WS fibroblasts (T. Davis,
Abstract no. 41), defect in WRN
gene, loss of the WRN helicase/exonuclease (A. M. Rodriguez-Lopez, Abstract no. 181), abnormal
sensivity to the drug camptothecin, an inhibitor of type I topoisomerase (J. Lowe, Abstract no. 50),
and relationship between WS fibroblasts and stress-induced premature senescence (J. P. de
Magalhaes, Abstract no. 116).
The second field is represented by systematic researches in comparative anatomy, biology andzoology, in comparative senescence and biogerontology, investigations which open new prospects inaging control. All five classes of Vertebrata were presented. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has remarkablereproductive and regenerative
abilities and very gradual or sub-negligible senescence in vivo (S. Kishi, Abstract no. 95). Also,
some species of rockfish (genus Sebastes) has negligible senescence. The researches on intra-species
fish lifespan comparison (under 30 or exceeding 200 years) conducted to "The Centenarian Species
and Rockfish Project", which has a total of 14 pilot studies (J. C. Guerin, Abstract no. 70). Tailed
amphibians (newts and salamanders) possess strong regenerative abilities, being depended on thelocal activation of plasticity in residual differentiated cells (J. P. Brockes, Abstract no. 18). Also,
turtles (reptiles of the order Chelonia, comprising acquatic and terrestrial species) represent naturally
long-lived animal models for the study of longevity and slow aging (D. J. Holmes, Abstract no. 79).
In birds, telomerase profiles vary with lifespan. The two short-lived species (zebra finches and treeswallows) have high telomerase activity with a sharp down-regulation in both the young and oldadults), but the two long-lived species (common terns and storm-petrels) have relatively hightelomerase activity, that did not differ in the three age-classes (hatchling, young adult and old adult),(M. F. Haussmann, Abstract no. 75). Within-individual selection of efficient mitochondria, due toselective pressure created by the high energetic demands of flight, determines the maximum lifespanpotential (MLSP) of 34 years at bats - flying mammals, litle brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) incomparison with MLSP of 2 years at short-tailed shrews, mouselike insectivore mammals (Blarina
brevicauda), (A. K. Brunet-Rossinni, Abstract no. 20).
The third field of studies pointed out the mitochondria and oxidative stress parts in biogerontology,
aging progressing and pathology. In this respect, the oxidative stress/antioxidant defence gene
network investigation (R. Arking, Abstract no. 7), mitochondrial reactive oxygen species'
production correlated with lifespan of mammals (G. Barja, Abstract no. 11), and non-invasive
human oxidative stress profiling, combining both oxidative damage impacts with defence/repair
processes (R. G. Cutler, Abstract no. 39) become useful search tools. In the brain, cytochromeoxidase (COX), the terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, can be considered a
reliable index of the mitochondrial metabolic competence (C. Bertoni-Freddari, Abstract no. 14),and its activity can be take into account as an endogenous marker of neuronal oxidative metabolism(C. Bertoni-Freddari, Abstract no. 15) which is modified with age. In Alzeheimer's disease (AD),both lesions (amyloid-beta and tau, the major components of senile plaques and respectively
neurofibrillary tangles) occur as a consequence of oxidative stress and are relatively late events

(M. A. Smith, Abstract no. 155). Correlation between lipofuscin accumulation, imperfect autophagic
recycling, oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage was studied in aging of cultured rat cardiac
myocytes (A. Terman, Abstract no. 21, A. Terman, Abstract no. 162). In addition, at thetrancriptional level, there is an age-related impairment of specific inducible pathways in the responseto oxidative stress in the mouse heart (M. Edwards, Abstract no. 138). The phenotypic expression ofage-associated mtDNA deletion mutations in rat skeletal muscle is fiber type-dependent (J. W.
Pak, Abstract no. 132), rat muscle protein,
phosphorylase B from Fischer 344 rats undergo oxidative and nitrative modifications
under normal biological aging conditions (V. S. Sharov, Abstract no. 151), and skeletal
muscle atrophy from immobilization and aging is the result of activation of both intra- andextracellular proteolytic systems (A. Z. Reznick, Abstract no. 142). Also, mitochondrial respiratory function in culture senescent fibroblasts (E. Huetter, Abstract no. 84),
oxidative stress in prostate fibroblasts (R. Gander, Abstract no. 58), as well as oxidative stressduring replicative senescence of human peritoneal mesothelial cells(K. Ksiazek, Abstract no. 106) were presented. K. J. A. Davies (Abstract no. 40) described anddiscussed on the two different patterns of proteolytic activity decreases with age: Proteasome (foundin cytoplasm and nucleus) and Lon protease (from mitochondrial matrix). Non-metal and metal toxic
compounds were investigated in relation with oxidative stress, aging and neurodegeneration: kainicacid (Z. Chen, Abstract no. 29), aluminium (P. Fattoretti, Abstract no. 51), and iron (D. W.
Killilea, Abstract no. 92, T. Kurz, Abstract no. 107).
REAL AGING REVERSAL STRATEGIES.
The first direction is genetic manipulation in mouse (M. R. Capecchi Keynote Lecture, Abstract no.
24) to create the Methuselah mouse (D. Gobel, Abstract no. 62). Then, in this century, the results canbe applied in human prolongevity medicine, to obtain Methuselah's (an antediluvian patriarch Genesis, 5:27) lifespan of 969 years. Because sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass and function) is one of
the most marked problems associated with aging and health care systems, its amelioration using
mechano growth factor (MGF) delivered as a peptide or by gene therapy acquires new dimensions(G. Goldspink, Abstract no. 63). The identification of human genes prolonging lifespan by a highthroughput functional genomic strategy (C. Chen, Abstract no. 28) becomes necessary.
Given the recent technical developments of telomere dynamics, that is, quantitative telomere
fluorescence in situ hybridisation (Q-FISH) and PCR based single telomere length analysis(STELA), (D. M. Baird, Abstract no. 10), the second type of intervention for aging reversal
addresses telomere erosion with age, by telomerase activation through transcriptional control oftelomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT), (J. W. Shay, Abstract no. 152, E. Trivier, Abstract no.
166), or by a telomerase-independent mechanism (D. Broccoli, Abstract no. 17). In addition,interference with the action of DNA damage checkpoint kinases can restore the DNA replicative
ability of senescent cells (F. d'Adda di Fagagna, Abstract no. 49). On the other hand, theformation of 8-oxodG at the GGG triplet in telomere sequence induced by oxidative stress could
participate in acceleration of telomere shortening (S. Kawanishi, Abstract no. 87). Because
telomeres may shorten faster in Werner's syndrome (WS) fibroblasts (T. Davis, Abstract no. 41),
telomere manipulation can be useful in this inherited genetic
disease. Moreover, telomere biology plays a causal role in normal human aging, as well as in agerelated diseases, including cancer. Therefore, specific interventions in oncology (i.e., telomerase
vaccines, telomerase inhibitors and telomerase promoter-driven cell killing) open new therapeutic
expectations (C. B. Harley, Abstract no. 71). Also, as an anti-cancer strategy, telomere dynamics
may be efficient in combination with stem cell utilizations, the so-called WILT (Whole-body
Interdiction of Lengthening of Telomeres) therapy (A. D. N. J. de Grey, Abstract no. 43). Genetherapy of virus-specific CD8 T cells with the catalytic component of telomerase (hTERT) corrects
many of cell cycle-related defects, and leads to telomere maintenance and restoration of antiviral cytotoxic functions (R. B. Effros, Abstract no. 48).
The third aging reversal intervention is transgenic introduction of microbial hydrolases from thegenus Rhodococcus into human postmitotic cells and organs to destroy subcellular lipofuscin/age

pigment aggregates and recalcitrant components of atherosclerotic plaques from arteries (J. A. C.
Archer, Abstract no. 5).

AGING PREVENTION AND DECELERATION THERAPIES
The first orientation in this field of strategies is Caloric Restriction (CR), the world-wide tested andaccepted intervention to extend lifespan and to retard the age-related declines in mammalianstructures and functions. Theoretical considerations and the mechanism of calorie/aging-rateinteractions were presented by R. M. Anson (Abstract no. 4). G. Barja's research demonstrated that
long-lived homeothermic vertebrates, CR rodents and long-lived Ames dwarf mice have lower ratesof mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and lower levels of mtDNA oxidative
damage (Abstract no. 11). N. Barzilai et al. have shown the potential role of hexosamine
biosynthesis pathway (HBP) on the mechanisms mediating the beneficial effects of CR (Abstract no.
12). Life-long CR has been shown to have neuroprotective effects, as well as to prevent ageassociated loss of skeletal muscle fibres in Fischer-344 rats (C. Leeuwenburgh, Abstract no. 110),
and of skeletal muscle fibres in Rhesus monkeys (S. M. McKiernan, Abstract no. 121). In addition,
the positive influence of CR on insulin/IGF-1 signaling (IS) pathway (M. Zhu, Abstract no. 177) andon mtDNA deletion decrease (P. Cassano, Abstract no. 179) were presented.
As CR is unpleasant and restrictive for humans, studies with CR mimetics (drugs mimicking thegene expression effects of CR) gain ground as a prolongevity strategy (D. K. Ingram, Abstract no.
81, S. R. Spindler, Abstract no. 156).
The second type of intervention in aging prevention and deceleration is by regular physical activity.
Regular exercise induced adaptive molecular responses even at old ages and reduced age-related
increase in inflammatory and other detrimental consequences caused by oxidative stress (S. Goto,
Abstract no. 67) in the brain, cardiac and skeletal muscles. Moreover, exercise induced
cardioprotection against ischemia-reperfusion (I-R) injury (S. K. Powers, Abstract no. 136), andattenuation of osteoporosis (K. Kikkawa, Abstract no. 91). Combination of physical activity withantioxidant protection (North American ginseng - Panax Quinquefolium or an oat antioxidant avenathramides) via dietary supplimentation (L. L. Ji, Abstract no. 85), or with metabolic therapy(coenzyme Q10, alpha-lipoic acid, magnesium orotate andomega-3-fatty acids) and mental relaxion and stress reduction, such as Metabolic, Physical and
Mental (MPM) program (F. L. Rosenfeldt, Abstract no. 145) has positive effects on skeletal muscles
and myocardium, respectively in cardiac surgery.
The third possibility is represented by daily mental training in a complex, enriched environment,
which has positive effects on exploration, cognitive performances and motor activity in aged rats (C.
I. Fernandez, Abstract no. 54).
The fourth strategy to aging prevention and deceleration is the use of nutri-ceuticals and/or metabolic
pharmaceuticals with high specific anti-aging actions and properties.
Dietary supplementation with polyphenol-rich fruits (blueberries) increased neurogenesis andimproved cognitive performance (J. A. Joseph, Abstract no. 86), and with tetrahydrocurcumin(biotransformed metabolite contained in turmeric of Indian
curry) or green tea polyphenols significantly rised lifespan (K. Kitani, Abstract no. 96).
Also, dietary carnosine (b-alanyl-L-histidine) increased lifespan (G. Gallant, Abstract no. 57), anddietary intake of omega-3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) and coenzyme Q10 counteracted agerelated alterations of heart cell and mitochondrial membranes (S. Pepe, Abstract no. 135).
Metabolic pharmaceuticals and anti-aging medicines have beneficial actions and effects on human
longevity (S. V. Ukraintseva, Abstract no. 168), in geriatrics and age-related and degenerative
diseases. Alpha-lipoic acid enhances sodium potassium ATPase activity and reduces lipofuscin
accumulation in several brain regions (P. Arivazhagan, Abstract no. 6), while alpha-lipoic acid andacetyl carnitine restore mitochondrial functions (B. N. Ames Keynote Lecture, Abstract. no. 3). Bothaging and vitamin E deficiency are responsible of altered RNA pathways in hepatocytes (M.
Malatesta, Abstract no. 117), and of marked decrease of MAP-2 level (protein involved in dendritic
remodeling) in hippocampus (T. Casoli, Abstract no. 27). In addition, the long-term treatment with
CDP-Choline (precursor of phosphatidylcholine with repairing actions on brain membranes) haspositive effects of hippocampal morphology, as well as on memory and behaviour (D. Crespo,
Abstract no. 38). Moreover, the administration of a synergistic biological therapy, with new celltrophic-regenerative and antioxidative-neurometabolic-cerebrovascular actions, has demonstrated its
concomi-tant preclinical - experimental efficacy in distress, impairment and aging (D. Riga, S.
Riga, F. Schneider, Abstract no. 143), as well as its clinical - human efficiency in distress, geriatrics
and related diseases (S. Riga, D. Riga, F. Schneider, Abstract no. 144). This advanced
prophylactical and therapeutical anti-stress and anti-aging strategy was world-wide patented (19942003 in 25 countries). Interesting results were reported with a lipid algae extract (Phaeodactylum
tricornutum) that has a stimulating and/or protective effect on proteasome in culture humankeratinocytes and in stratum corneum skin cells (C. Nizard, Abstract no. 128), and with a plant
extract (Salix Alba) on heat shock protein (HSP) 47 in aged, photo-aged and senescent normal
human fibroblasts (E. Noblesse, Abstract no. 129). Because zinc- bound-metallothionein in themarker upstream affecting functional biochemical cascade involved in immune plasticity
maintenance, zinc supplementation has beneficial effects in old infected patients (E. Mocchegiani,
Abstract no. 124).
The fifth direction is on immune system, system strong impaired by mammal aging. Thus,
therapeutic intervention with interleukin (IL)-7 in old mice increases both the size of the thymus andits subsequent output benefiting the functional performance of the T cells in the peripheral T cellpool (R. Aspinall, Abstract no. 8), and the creation of a CCR9/IL-7 fusion protein reduces dosage
levels and treatment frequency (S. M. Henson, Abstract no. 77). On the other hand, theimmunization (antibodies) against beta-amiloid can slow cognitive decline in patients with
Alzheimer's disease (R. M. Nitsch, Abstract no. 127).
The sixth strategy is represented by other new approaches of anti-aging mechanisms. Thus, repetitive
mild heat stress has numerous anti-aging hormetic effects: maintenance of stress protein profile,
reduction in the accumulation ofoxidatively and glycoxidatively damaged proteins, stimulation of the proteasomal activities for the
degradation of abnormal proteins, improved cellular resistance tosevere stressors and enhanced levels of various antioxidant enzymes (S. I. S. Rattan, Abstract no.
140). On the other hand, the gatekeeper molecules, represented by caveolin, play the prime roles inthe senescent phenotypes (S. C. Park, Abstract no. 133), and the reduction of caveolin-1 insenescent fibroblasts restores the normal growth factor responses and recovers the mitogenic
signaling (K. A. Cho, Abstract no. 33).
TISSUE ENGINEERING - REGENERATIVE MEDICINE STRATEGIESThe three R's of regenerative medicine (Replace, Repair and Regenerate) are very actual andnecessary in the next years, because at present aged populations have need of immediate solutions
for damaged or failed tissue/organ structures. For these is no time for aging prevention, but is thetime for organ reparation and/or replacement. Therefore, the development of regenerative medicine(the older term - tissue engineering) becomes imperative (M. V. Sefton, Abstract no. 150), as well as
the extensive use and unlimited supply of cells, soluble and matrix bound factors and supporting
structures to regenerate/replace aged/damaged tissue/organ structures and functions are the rational
solutions.
In this field, research and characterization of stem cells are very important and timely: aging of stem
cells in general and of hematopoietic stem cells in particular (G. van Zant, Abstract no. 173), role ofmitochondrial mutations in aging of intestinal stem cells (T. B. L. Kirkwood, Abstract no. 94),
opportunities to transform human embryonic stem cells into young cells in vitro for therapy(transplant) in age-related diseases (M. West Keynote Lecture, Abstract no. 175), and relationshipbetween stem cells and carcinogenesis (M. D. Lynch, Abstract no. 115).
Supplemental growth factors can amplify the local stimulus of injury or degeneration by mobilizing
uncommited stem cells to target and rebuild damaged tissues (N. Rosenthal, Abstract no. 146). In
addition, rat femur bone marrow stem cells graft to striatum and hippocampus of impaired aged rats
generated a significant functional recovery (C. I. Fernandez, Abstract no. 53), and combining stem
and gene therapy in aging brain with Parkinson's disease also brought about important restoration (C.
Svendsen, Abstract no. 159).

For humans with unsolved mortal diseases also there is a solution with a bridge to a time in which
senescence will by controlled: cryobiology with medical time travel (J. B. Lemler, Abstract no.
111).
EPIDEMIOLOGY, DEMOGRAPHY AND ETICS
Demographic and epidemiological studies on human supercentenarian (L. S. Coles, Abstract no. 34),
delay and/or escape of cardiovascular disease in centenarian offspring (D. F. Terry, Abstract no.
163), pathways to exceptional human longevity (L. S. Corder, Abstract no. 36), gender differencesin Alzheimer's disease neuropathology(E. H. Corder, Abstract no. 35), obesity, infectious diseases and forecasts of human life expectancy(S. J. Olshansky, Abstract no. 131), and Belfast Elderly Longitudinal Free-living aging study(BELFAST), (I. M. Rea, Abstract no. 141, O. A. Ross, Abstract no. 147) were presented.
Debates on immortal ethics (J. Harris Inaugural SENS Lecture, Abstract no. 73), social, politicaland ethical obstacles to human life extension (S. N. Austad, Abstract no. 9, A. Caplan Keynote
Lecture, Abstract no. 25, J. K. Davis, Abstract no. 42) and planning for demographic changes (G.
Stock, Abstract no. 157) become topical, because now prolongevity and regenerative medicines arecertainties.
By extensive scientific participation, discussions and debates, the 10th IABG Congress gave life,
implemented and determined the scientists to reason, to research and to work with the SENS concept
in redefining of interventional strategies on aging processes.
Thus, this congress may be considered as "SENS 4" (A.D.N.J. de Grey), and as international
acceptance and devotion of this concept. Indeed, SENS earned world-wide SENSe in global
scientific community, and this is to A.D.N.J. de Grey's great merit and effort.
At beginning of century, this congress, with the main papers published as a volume of the prestigious
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (2), together with the recent five monographs (1, 3, 4,5, 7) of new book series "Biology of Aging and its Modulation" (General editor S.I.S. Rattan), whichdevelop important themes of the congress, represent the task force in the advance of biogerontology.
P.S.
Punting on the Cam (river which passes through Cambridge, near Queen's College), the last meeting
event on September 23th, 2003, was the first congress-related practical demonstration of right use ofdaily physical activity in aging prevention and deceleration.
Caloric restriction mimetics become of great prospects taking into acount the large appetite ofparticipants, especially on English dishes.
In addition, the congress was a strong and practical example of cerebral activation (mental training)in a complex and enriched place (distinguished scientists in a charming environment).
REFERENCES
1. Aspinall R. Aging of Organs and Systems. Dordrecht, NL, Kluwer Acad. Publ., 2003.
2. de Grey A.D.N.J. Ed. Strategies for Engineered Negligible Senescence Why Genuine Control of
Aging May Be Foreseeable, Ann. New York Acad. Sci., vol. 1019. New York, NY, New York
Academy of Sciences, 2004.
3. Kaul S.C., Wadhwa R. Eds. Aging of Cells in and Outside the Body. Dordrecht, NL, Kluwer Acad.
Publ., 2003.
4. Osiewacz H.D. Ed. Aging of Organisms. Dordrecht, NL, Kluwer Acad. Publ., 2003.
5. Rattan S.I.S. Ed. Modulating Aging and Longevity. Dordrecht, NL, Kluwer Acad. Publ., 2003.
6. Rattan S.I.S., de Grey A.D.N.J. Eds. Abstracts of the International Association of Biomedical
Gerontology 10th Congress, Cambridge, UK, 19-23 September 2003. Biogerontology 2003; 4(Suppl. 1): i-xxi, 1-107.
7. von Zglinicki T. Ed. Aging at the Molecular Level. Dordrecht, NL, Kluwer Acad. Publ., 2003.
Dan Riga, Sorin Riga and Francisc Schneider