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Important Risk Factor (important + risk_factor)
Selected AbstractsCharacteristics of spousal homicide perpetrators: a study of all cases of spousal homicide in Sweden 1990,1999CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR AND MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 2 2004Professor Henrik Belfrage PhD Background In Sweden 20 000 cases of assault against women are reported to the police every year. Method All data on the perpetrators of spousal homicide in Sweden between 1990 and 1999 were investigated (n = 164). A control group of all other perpetrators of homicide in Sweden during the same period, i.e. cases of homicide not committed in the context of spouse violence (n = 690) was used. All verdicts, as well as all material in the police investigations, including interviews with all of the police investigators, were analysed. Copies of police examinations of the suspects, and forensic reports from the autopsies, were also examined. Data on all registered criminality were collected from the National Police Register, and in cases where the perpetrators had been subject to forensic psychiatric examinations, those reports were obtained from the Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine. In addition, the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version scores were rated from the forensic psychiatric examinations. Results There was a four times higher suicide rate among the spousal homicide perpetrators (24%, n = 40) compared with the perpetrators in the control-group (6%, n = 39, chi-squared = 55,42df = 1 , p < 0.001). Consequently, suicidal ideation must be considered as an important risk factor for spousal homicide. In 79% of the cases the spousal homicide perpetrators were subject to forensic psychiatric examinations. All except 5% were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric diagnosis, and 34% were sentenced to forensic psychiatric treatment. If it is assumed that the psychiatric morbidity was high in the 24% of the perpetrators who committed suicide, then 80% of all perpetrators of spouse homicide during the study period can be characterized as mentally disordered. ,Psychopathic' perpetrators, who generally are over-represented in most violent criminality, were comparatively uncommon. Only seven (4%) in the study group met the diagnostic criteria for psychopathy as measured with the PCL:SV. Discussion The group of spouse killers studied here fits the dysphoric/borderline group of spouse assaulters. This is a group that may benefit from treatment. Perhaps police officers could help identify this kind of spouse assaulter before a fatality occurs. Copyright © 2004 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] Dexamethasone alters F-actin architecture and promotes cross-linked actin network formation in human trabecular meshwork tissueCYTOSKELETON, Issue 2 2005Abbot F. Clark Abstract Elevated intraocular pressure is an important risk factor for the development of glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness. This ocular hypertension is due to increased hydrodynamic resistance to the drainage of aqueous humor through specialized outflow tissues, including the trabecular meshwork (TM) and the endothelial lining of Schlemm's canal. We know that glucocorticoid therapy can cause increased outflow resistance and glaucoma in susceptible individuals, that the cytoskeleton helps regulate aqueous outflow resistance, and that glucocorticoid treatment alters the actin cytoskeleton of cultured TM cells. Our purpose was to characterize the actin cytoskeleton of cells in outflow pathway tissues in situ, to characterize changes in the cytoskeleton due to dexamethasone treatment in situ, and to compare these with changes observed in cell culture. Human ocular anterior segments were perfused with or without 10,7 M dexamethasone, and F-actin architecture was investigated by confocal laser scanning microscopy. We found that outflow pathway cells contained stress fibers, peripheral actin staining, and occasional actin "tangles." Dexamethasone treatment caused elevated IOP in several eyes and increased overall actin staining, with more actin tangles and the formation of cross-linked actin networks (CLANs). The actin architecture in TM tissues was remarkably similar to that seen in cultured TM cells. Although CLANs have been reported previously in cultured cells, this is the first report of CLANs in tissue. These cytoskeletal changes may be associated with increased aqueous humor outflow resistance after ocular glucocorticoid treatment. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 60:83,95, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Models of white matter injury: Comparison of infectious, hypoxic-ischemic, and excitotoxic insultsDEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 1 2002Henrik Hagberg Abstract White matter damage (WMD) in preterm neonates is strongly associated with adverse outcome. The etiology of white matter injury is not known but clinical data suggest that ischemia-reperfusion and/or infection-inflammation are important factors. Furthermore, antenatal infection seems to be an important risk factor for brain injury in term infants. In order to explore the pathophysiological mechanisms of WMD and to better understand how infectious agents may affect the vulnerability of the immature brain to injury, numerous novel animal models have been developed over the past decade. WMD can be induced by antenatal or postnatal administration of microbes (E. coli or Gardnerella vaginalis), virus (border disease virus) or bacterial products (lipopolysaccharide, LPS). Alternatively, various hypoperfusion paradigms or administration of excitatory amino acid receptor agonists (excitotoxicity models) can be used. Irrespective of which insult is utilized, the maturational age of the CNS and choice of species seem critical. Generally, lesions with similarity to human WMD, with respect to distribution and morphological characteristics, are easier to induce in gyrencephalic species (rabbits, dogs, cats and sheep) than in rodents. Recently, however, models have been developed in rats (PND 1,7), using either bilateral carotid occlusion or combined hypoxia-ischemia, that produce predominantly white matter lesions. LPS is the infectious agent most often used to produce WMD in immature dogs, cats, or fetal sheep. The mechanism whereby LPS induces brain injury is not completely understood but involves activation of toll-like receptor 4 on immune cells with initiation of a generalized inflammatory response resulting in systemic hypoglycemia, perturbation of coagulation, cerebral hypoperfusion, and activation of inflammatory cells in the CNS. LPS and umbilical cord occlusion both produce WMD with quite similar distribution in 65% gestational sheep. The morphological appearance is different, however, with a more pronounced infiltration of inflammatory cells into the brain and focal microglia/macrophage ("inflammatory WMD") in response to LPS compared to hypoperfusion evoking a more diffuse microglial response usually devoid of cellular infiltrates ("ischemic WMD"). Furthermore, low doses of LPS that by themselves have no adverse effects in 7-day-old rats (maturation corresponding to the near term human fetus), dramatically increase brain injury to a subsequent hypoxic-ischemic challenge, implicating that bacterial products can sensitize the immature CNS. Contrary to this finding, other bacterial agents like lipoteichoic acid were recently shown to induce tolerance of the immature brain suggesting that the innate immune system may respond differently to various ligands, which needs to be further explored. MRDD Research Reviews 2002;8:30,38. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] ,Perinatal infection is an important risk factor for cerebral palsy in very-low-birthweight infants'DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 12 2000Richard Reading No abstract is available for this article. [source] Perinatal infection is an important risk factor for cerebral palsy in very-low-birthweight infantsDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2000Mary Wheater MAPhD FRCPCH Consultant Paediatrician Sixty-nine very-low-birthweight infants out of a population of 923 had cerebral palsy (CP) at an 18-month follow-up. Thirty-nine of these had cranial ultrasound abnormalities in the neonatal period and 30 had normal cranial ultrasounds. The distribution of subtypes of CP differed markedly between the two groups, with hemiplegia predominating in those with abnormal cranial ultrasounds and diplegia in those with normal cranial ultrasounds. Regardless of ultrasound appearance, the relative risk of CP increased approximately fourfold with a neonatal history of sepsis. [source] Reflux injury of esophageal mucosa: experimental studies in animal models of esophagitis, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinomaDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 5 2007Yan Li SUMMARY., Barrett's esophagus (BE), a gastroesophageal reflux associated complication, is defined as the replacement of normal esophageal squamous mucosa by specialized intestinal columnar mucosa with the appearance of goblet cells. The presence of BE is associated with an increased risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Although the exposure of gastroduodenal contents to the esophageal mucosa is considered to be an important risk factor for the development of esophagitis, BE and EAC, the mechanisms of reflux esophageal injury are not fully understood. Animal models are now being used extensively to identify the mechanisms of damage and to devise protective and mitigating strategies. Experimental studies on animal models by mimicking the processing of gastroesophageal reflux injury have bloomed during the past decades, however, there is controversy regarding which experimental model for reflux esophagitis, experimental BE and experimental EAC is best. In this review article we aim to clarify the basic understanding of gastroesophageal reflux injury and its complications of BE and EAC, as well as to present current understanding of the reflux experimental models. The animal models of experimental esophageal injury are summarized with focus on the surgical procedures to guide the investigator in choosing or developing a correct animal model in future studies. In addition, our own experimental studies of the animal models are also briefly discussed. [source] Alcohol consumption during pregnancy and its effects on neurodevelopment: what is known and what remains uncertainADDICTION, Issue 8 2009Ron Gray ABSTRACT It has been claimed that mothers' drinking during pregnancy may affect the neurodevelopment of around 1% of all children. If this is true, then prenatal alcohol exposure represents an important risk factor for neurodevelopmental problems, giving rise to a large burden of disability which could be potentially preventable. Evidence to support this idea has come from animal experiments and human observational studies. However, such findings need to be supported by more robust research designs. Because randomized controlled trials in this area are neither feasible nor ethical, suggestions are made for further research making more use of natural experiments. [source] Endogenous estrogen status, but not genistein supplementation, modulates 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mutation in the liver cII gene of transgenic big blue rats,ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS, Issue 5 2005Tao Chen Abstract A growing number of studies suggest that isoflavones found in soybeans have estrogenic activity and may safely alleviate the symptoms of menopause. One of these isoflavones, genistein, is commonly used by postmenopausal women as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Although sex hormones have been implicated as an important risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, there are limited data on the potential effects of the estrogens, including phytoestrogens, on chemical mutagenesis in liver. Because of the association between mutation induction and the carcinogenesis process, we investigated whether endogenous estrogen and supplemental genistein affect 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced mutagenesis in rat liver. Intact and ovariectomized female Big Blue rats were treated with 80 mg DMBA/kg body weight. Some of the rats also received a supplement of 1,000 ppm genistein. Sixteen weeks after the carcinogen treatment, the rats were sacrificed, their livers were removed, and mutant frequencies (MFs) and types of mutations were determined in the liver cII gene. DMBA significantly increased the MFs in liver for both the intact and ovariectomized rats. While there was no significant difference in MF between the ovariectomized and intact control animals, the mutation induction by DMBA in the ovariectomized groups was significantly higher than that in the intact groups. Dietary genistein did not alter these responses. Molecular analysis of the mutants showed that DMBA induced chemical-specific types of mutations in the liver cII gene. These results suggest that endogenous ovarian hormones have an inhibitory effect on liver mutagenesis by DMBA, whereas dietary genistein does not modulate spontaneous or DMBA-induced mutagenesis in either intact or ovariectomized rats. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2005. Published 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Effect of housing factors and surficial uranium on the spatial prediction of residential radon in IowaENVIRONMETRICS, Issue 5 2007Brian J. Smith Abstract Growing epidemiologic evidence suggests that residential radon is an important risk factor for lung cancer. Consequently, public health professionals have expressed interest in characterizing the spatial distribution of radon concentrations in order to identify geographic regions of high exposure. Ambient radon concentrations are a function of geologic features including soil radium content. Indoor radon concentrations can vary based on building characteristics that affect the entry of radon into the building and movement between rooms therein. We present a geostatistical hierarchical Bayesian model for radon that allows for spatial prediction based on geologic data and housing characteristics. Our model is applied to radon data from an epidemiologic study in Iowa that consist of 136 outdoor measurements and 2590 indoor measurements from 614 residential homes. Housing characteristics collected in the Iowa Study are included as predictors in the model. Geologic data in the form of county-average surficial uranium concentrations from the USGS National Uranium Resource Evaluation project are also considered. A ,change of support' approach is implemented to combine the radon measurements, collected at points in space, and the uranium concentrations, averaged over counties, so that point-source concentrations for the latter are available for the analysis. Estimates of the effect of select housing factors on radon are provided along with spatial maps of predicted radon concentrations in Iowa. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Angiotensin-converting enzyme polymorphisms and risk of spontaneous deep intracranial hemorrhage in TaiwanEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 11 2008C.-M. Chen Background and purpose:, This study examines whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphisms are associated with the risk of spontaneous deep intracerebral hemorrhage (SDICH) in Taiwan using a case,control study. Methods:, Totally, 217 SDICH patients and 283 controls were recruited. Associations of ACE A-240T and ACE I/D polymorphisms with SDICH were examined under the additive model and adjusted for gender, age, body mass index, total cholesterol level, smoking history, alcohol use, hypertension, and use of ACE inhibitors. Results:, Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, family history of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH), and low cholesterol level increase risk of female SDICH, whereas hypertension, alcohol use, smoking history, family history of SICH, and low cholesterol level are an important risk factor for male SDICH. After adjusting for covariates, only haplotype ACE T-D (OR = 2.7, 95% CI, 1.1,6.5, P = 0.02) was associated with female SDICH. Conclusions:, This study demonstrates that environmental risk factors play a major role and ACE polymorphisms play a minor role in contributing risk of SDICH in Taiwan. [source] Obesity: a new disaster for haemophilic patients?HAEMOPHILIA, Issue 5 2008A nationwide survey Summary., The prevalence of obesity, an important risk factor for both cardiovascular disease and arthropathy, is strongly increasing in the general population, but data for the haemophilia population are scarce. Obesity may have a more profound effect on arthropathy and on cardiovascular disease in patients with haemophilia. To assess the prevalence of obesity in haemophilia patients and install adequate measures, if necessary. We performed a nationwide postal survey to measure the prevalence of overweight and obesity in Dutch haemophilia patients in 1992 (n = 980) and 2001 (n = 1066). A random sample of the Dutch male population served as the control group. In adult haemophiliacs, the prevalence of overweight (BMI 25,30 kg m,2) increased from 27% to 35% (95% CI 31.1,38.0) and the prevalence of obesity (BMI ,30 kg m,2) doubled from 4% to 8% (95% CI 6.0,10.1), which was comparable with the general population. The increased prevalence of obesity in boys with haemophiliacs, which tripled in 10 years, is alarming. The increased prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with haemophilia may have a profound effect on morbidity and quality of life of haemophilia patients by aggravating pre-existing arthropathy and predisposing aged patients to cardiovascular disease. Measures to prevent overweight in haemophiliacs are therefore urgently needed. [source] Seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori Infection Among Schoolchildren and Teachers in TaiwanHELICOBACTER, Issue 3 2007Ding-Bang Lin Abstract Background:,Helicobacter pylori are associated with chronic antral gastritis that is related to duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer, and probably gastric adenocarcinoma. Infection of H. pylori during childhood is considered an important risk factor for gastric carcinoma in adult life. Materials and Methods:, To examine the epidemiologic characteristics of H. pylori infection among schoolchildren in central Taiwan, a community-based survey was carried out using stratified sampling in 10 elementary schools and three junior high schools including students and theirs teachers. Serum specimens of 1950 healthy schoolchildren (aged 9,15 years old) and 253 teachers who were randomly sampled were screened for the H. pylori antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed by using the spss for Windows statistical software system. Results:, A total of 332 subjects were H. pylori antibodies positive, giving an overall prevalence of 15.1%. The age-specific seropositive rates were 11.0% in 9,12 years age group, 12.3% in 13,15 years age group, and 45.1% in the teacher group. The older the age, the higher the seroprevalence (OR = 11.53; 95% CI = 6.73,19.74; p < .001 for children vs. teachers). There was no difference in the seroprevalence of H. pylori infection by gender, ethnicity, geographical area, socioeconomic level, parental education, sibship size, family members, and source of drinking water. Conclusion:, The teachers had a much higher prevalence of H. pylori antibodies. The finding suggests that these teachers (adults) might be infected in their early childhood and implies that the poor environmental and hygienic conditions might be responsible for it. It seemed that poor water supply system, sewage disposal, and other environmental hygiene in adult might play some roles in H. pylori infection in Taiwan (before early 1980s). [source] Tooth Loss and Helicobacter pylori Seropositivity: the Newcastle Thousand Families Cohort Study at Age 49,51 YearsHELICOBACTER, Issue 1 2005Mark S. Pearce ABSTRACT Background.,Helicobacter pylori, one of the commonest chronic bacterial infections of humankind, is an important risk factor for gastric carcinoma. It has also been suggested to be present in dental plaque. This study investigated the potential link between the number of teeth lost and H. pylori seropositivity at age 50 years. Methods.,H. pylori seropositivity at age 50 years was investigated among 334 individuals born in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom, in May and June 1947 and related to the number of teeth lost, after adjusting for socioeconomic status. Results., The unadjusted risk of being seropositive for H. pylori increased with increasing number of teeth lost (odds ratio per tooth 1.03, 95% confidence interval 1.01,1.06, p = .019). However, after adjustment for socioeconomic status at birth and at age 50 years, the relationship was no longer significant (p = .36). Conclusions., Our results, obtained using prospectively collected data, suggest that any relationship between poor oral health and seropositivity to H. pylori may be due to both tooth loss and H. pylori colonization being associated with socioeconomic status and related factors. [source] Acute hepatitis C in HIV-infected men who have sex with menHIV MEDICINE, Issue 4 2004J Ghosn Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is usually transmitted via the parenteral route, but there are widely discrepant findings on its possible sexual transmission. Thus there are no recommendations concerning protected sex for couples in which only one partner is HCV-infected. Whether HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases could favour HCV transmission remains unclear, but recent data suggesting an increasing incidence of acute HCV in HIV-infected men underline the major public health implications of this issue. Case reports Between June 2002 and July 2003, five HIV-infected homosexually active men presented with primary (n=4) and secondary (n=1) syphilis and concomitant abnormal liver function tests revealing acute asymptomatic HCV seroconversion. Other causes of acute viral hepatitis were inquired into and excluded. Highly at-risk sexual behaviour, including unprotected anal intercourse and unsafe oral sex, with concomitant syphilis, was found to be the only identifiable important risk factor for transmission of HCV. Conclusions Sexual transmission may be fuelling a significant increase in HCV seroconversions among HIV-infected men who have highly risky sexual behaviours. Given the recent data suggesting the spread of sexually transmitted infections among HIV-infected gay men, specific recommendations concerning safe sex are urgently needed. [source] Parents Don't (Always) Know Their Children Have Been Bullied: Child-Parent Discrepancy on Bullying and Family-Level Profile of Communication StandardsHUMAN COMMUNICATION RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009Masaki Matsunaga Discrepancy between bullied victims' experience and their parents' understanding indicates underutilization of family support system, and thus presents an important risk factor. An online survey (N = 300 child-father-mother triads) was conducted to establish a framework that helps distinguish families with different child-parent discrepancy levels. This family-level variability was modeled by profiling child-father-mother triad's family communication standard (FCS) orientations. This "FCS profile" indeed distinguished families with different levels of discrepancies. Further, SEM analyses revealed that those discrepancies presented a distinct risk factor vis-à-vis effects of bullying reports per se. Finally, FCS profile had an indirect association with victims' well-being via mediation by child-parent discrepancy. These findings are discussed with regard to the role of family communication in bullied individuals' coping processes. Résumé Les parents ne savent pas (toujours) que leurs enfants ont été victimes d'intimidation : L,écart parent-enfant à propos de l'intimidation et le profil familial des normes de communication L,écart entre l'expérience des victimes d,intimidation et la compréhension qu'en ont leurs parents signale une sous-utilisation du système de soutien familial et constitue donc un important facteur de risque. Une enquête en ligne (N= 300 triades enfant-père-mère) fut menée afin d,établir un cadre aidant à distinguer les familles présentant différents niveaux d'écart. La variabilité dans les niveaux familiaux fut modelée en décrivant les orientations des normes de communication familiale (NCF) des triades enfant-père-mère. Ce « profil NCF » a effectivement distingué les familles présentant différents niveaux d,écart. De plus, des analyses de l'erreur-type ont révélé que ces écarts présentaient un facteur de risque distinct des répercussions des signalements d,intimidation. Finalement, le profil NCF était indirectement associé au bien-être des victimes par la médiation de l'écart enfant-parent. Ces résultats sont commentés relativement au rôle de la communication familiale dans le processus d,adaptation des victimes d'intimidation. Abstract Eltern wissen nicht (immer), dass ihre Kinder gehänselt wurden: Unstimmigkeiten zwischen Eltern und Kindern beim Thema Hänseleien und ein Profil der Kommunikationsstandards auf Familienebene Wenn die Erfahrungen von Kindern, die Opfer von Hänseleien geworden sind, auf Unverständnis seitens der Eltern stoßen, deutet dies auf fehlende Unterstützung innerhalb der Familie hin, und stellt somit einen erheblichen Risikofaktor dar. Mittels einer Onlinebefragung (N=300, Kind-Mutter-Vater-Triaden) sollten Familientypen extrahiert werden, die sich hinsichtlich der Ausprägung dieses Unverständnisses unterscheiden. Eine Analyse der Ausrichtung der Familienkommunikation innerhalb dieser Kind-Mutter-Vater-Triaden diente der Modellierung der Unterschiede auf Familienebene. Diese Familienkommunikationsprofile erfüllen tatsächlich ihren Zweck und differenzierten zwischen Familien mit unterschiedlichen Graden des Unverständnisses. Darüber hinaus zeigten Strukturgleichungsmodelle, dass diese Familienkommunikationsprofile einen unabhängigen Risikofaktor darstellen, und zwar über den Effekt der Aussage über Hänseleien hinaus. Die Familienkommunikationsprofile hingen indirekt mit dem Wohlbefinden des Opfers zusammen und wurden lediglich über das Ausmaß der Kind-Eltern-Unstimmigkeit vermittelt. Wir diskutieren diese Ergebnisse im Hinblick auf die Rolle der Familienkommunikation im Bewältigungsprozess bei Hänseleien. Resumen Los Padres no (Siempre) Saben que sus Hijos han Sido Víctimas de Matonismo: La Discrepancia entre los Hijos y los Padres sobre el Matonismo y los Perfiles Familiares de los Estándares de Comunicación La discrepancia entre las experiencias de las víctimas de matonismo y el entendimiento de sus padres indican la sub-utilización del sistema de apoyo familiar, y así, presenta un factor de riesgo importante. Encuestas online (N= 300 tríadas hijo-padre-madre) fueron conducidas para establecer un marco que ayude a las familias a distinguir entre los niveles de discrepancia entre el hijo-padres. La variabilidad de nivel familiar fue modelada a través del perfil de las orientaciones del estándar de comunicación familiar de la tríada hijo-padre-madre (FCS). Este "perfil FCS" en verdad distinguió a las familias con distintos niveles de discrepancia. Más aún, los análisis SEM revelaron que esas discrepancias presentaron un factor de riesgo distintivo en relación a los efectos de los reportes de matonismo en sí mismos. Finalmente, el perfil de FCS tuvo una asociación indirecta con el bienestar de las víctimas mediante mediación en la discrepancia hijo-padres. Estos hallazgos son discutidos en relación al rol de la comunicación familiar en los procesos de recuperación de las personas víctimas del matonismo. ZhaiYao Yo yak [source] Prolonged seated immobility at work is a common risk factor for venous thromboembolism leading to hospital admissionINTERNAL MEDICINE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2008S. Aldington Abstract The role of seated immobility at work in the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is uncertain. In this case series, 61 patients aged <65 years with a recent admission for deep venous thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire to obtain information regarding risk factors. Prolonged seated immobility at work in the 4 weeks before the VTE event was defined as being seated at least 8 h in a 24-h period and at least 3 h at a time without getting up, at least 10 h in a 24-h period and at least 2 h at a time without getting up or at least 12 h in a 24-h period and at least 1 h at a time without getting up. The most commonly identified risk factors were family history of VTE (21 of 61, 34%), seated immobility at work (21 of 61, 34%) and a thrombophilic state (19 of 61, 31%). We conclude that prolonged seated immobility at work may represent a common and important risk factor for VTE. [source] A new multiparameter assay to assess HPV 16/18, viral load and physical status together with gain of telomerase genes in HPV-related cancersINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 4 2010Wendy Theelen Abstract Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most important risk factor for cancer of the uterine cervix and a subgroup of head and neck cancers. Viral load has been associated with persistence of infection, whereas integration of HPV into the host cell genome is associated with transition to invasive disease. Viral integration is frequently correlated with loss of viral E2 and gain of the telomerase-related genes TERC and TERT. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid and sensitive multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) assay for the simultaneous analysis of viral load, integration and copy number gain of TERC and TERT in HPV16/18-associated lesions. The performance of the assay was tested for HPV vs. human gene copy number ratios ranging from 0.1 to 100 and for percentages of integration ranging from 0 to 100%. The model systems used include plasmid mixtures and the HPV-positive cell lines SiHa, HeLa and CaSki described to contain a range of 2,600 viral copies per cell. In samples with low-viral load, viral integration can be reliably determined when more than 30% of the virus is integrated. Gain of the telomerase-related genes in the cell lines as determined by our MLPA assay was in accordance with data reported in the literature. Our study demonstrates that within a single MLPA-reaction viral type, load, integration and gain of TERC and TERT can be reliably determined, which will improve risk assessment for patients suspected for HPV infection. [source] Lifetime and baseline alcohol intake and risk of cancer of the upper aero-digestive tract in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) studyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2009Cornelia Weikert Abstract Recent alcohol consumption is an established risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper aero-digestive tract. In contrast, the role of lifetime exposure to alcohol with regard to risk of SCC is not well established. Historical data on alcohol use are available in 271,253 participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). During 2,330,381 person years, 392 incident SCC cases (279 men and 113 women) were identified. Cox regression was applied to model sex-specific associations between lifetime alcohol intake and SCC risk adjusting for potential confounders including smoking. Compared to men who drank 0.1,6.0 g/day alcohol at lifetime, the relative risks (RR) for developing SCC were significantly increased for men who drank 30.1,60.0 g/day (RR 1.65, 95% confidence interval:1.00,2.71), 60.1,96.0 g/day (RR 2.20, 95%CI 1.23,3.95), and >96.0 g/day, (RR 4.63, 95% CI 2.52,8.48), and for former drinkers (RR 4.14, 95%CI 2.38,7.19). These risk estimates did not considerably change when baseline alcohol intake was analyzed. Compared to women who drank 0.1,6.0 g/day alcohol intake at lifetime, the RR were significantly increased for women who drank >30 g/d (RR 6.05, 95%CI 2.98,12.3). Applying similar categories, the relative risk for baseline alcohol intake was 3.26 (95%CI 1.82,5.87). We observed a stronger association between alcohol intake at lifetime and risk of SCC in women compared to men (p for interaction = 0.045). The strong dose-response relation for lifetime alcohol use underscores that alcohol is an important risk factor of SCC of the upper aero-digestive tract throughout life. © 2009 UICC [source] Evaluation of dietary, medical and lifestyle risk factors for incident kidney cancer in postmenopausal womenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2004Kristin K. Nicodemus Abstract Kidney cancer incidence rates in the United States have been increasing and are not fully accounted for by better diagnostic techniques. Risk factors in women are incompletely described. A total of 34,637 Iowan women initially free of cancer completed a mailed questionnaire in 1986. Kidney cancer incidence was identified over 15 years of follow-up (n = 124) through linkage to a statewide cancer registry. Adjusted for age and other risk factors, kidney cancer was associated positively with maximum adult weight (p for trend = 0.02) and current waist-to-hip ratio (p for trend = 0.002). Compared to nondrinkers, consumers of alcohol of 3.0 or more grams per day had a relative risk (RR) of 0.52 (95% CI = 0.29,0.92). Total vitamin C intake was associated positively with risk of kidney cancer (p for trend = 0.04), whereas total vitamin E intake was associated negatively with risk (p for trend = 0.002). The few women who used copper supplements had a 6.52-fold increase in risk of kidney cancer (95% CI = 1.95,21.8). Compared to never users, women who were former users of estrogen had an increased risk of kidney cancer (RR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.11,2.36), but current users of estrogen were not at a higher risk. Women who were nulliparous or had more than 2 live births were also at increased risk of kidney cancer compared with women who had 1 or 2 live births. In conclusion, in these postmenopausal women, overweight, particularly central adiposity, was an important risk factor for kidney cancer. Potential risk factors that warrant further exploration were low intake of alcohol and vitamin E, higher intake of vitamin C, nulli- or multiparity and use of copper supplements. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Replication efficiency and sequence analysis of full-length hepatitis B virus isolates from hepatocellular carcinoma tissuesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 5 2002Xu Lin Abstract Prolonged replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in liver tissues of hepatitis B patients has been considered as an important risk factor for the development of malignancy. Few studies on full-length HBV sequencing in association with the replication efficiency of isolates from HCC tissues have been reported. To study the structural and functional genomics of HBV isolates from Chinese hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, full-length HBV genomes were amplified from 6 HBV-marker positive HCC tissues and used to transfect HepG2 cells. Five of 6 isolates showed high replicative efficiency. All isolates were of genotype C and "hot-spots" mutations were detected in the B cell and T helper (Th) cell epitopes of the envelope and the core region. In addition, the X region of 2 isolates contained a stop-codon mutation that was predicted to result in a truncated X protein. High replicative HBV immune escape mutants that persist in infected hepatocytes could be 1 of the important factors to initiate pathological processes for the development of HCC in Chinese patients. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Characteristics of skin aging in Korean men and womenINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2005J. H. Chung Introduction Korea is located between Japan and Mainland China. The people of these three countries have similar appearances and it is difficult to differentiate between them. Although the population of Asia is more than half of the total population of the Earth, the inherent characteristics of Asian skin have not been well investigated. Commercial markets for cosmetics and drugs for photoaged skin are rapidly expanding in many Asian countries. Therefore, many investigators in the field of dermatology and cosmetology have become interested in brown Asian skin. Clinical characteristics of skin aging and photoaging in Asians Skin aging can be divided into two basic processes: intrinsic aging and photoaging [1]. Intrinsic aging is characterized by smooth, dry, pale, and finely wrinkled skin, whereas photoaging, which indicates premature skin aging in chronically photodamaged skin, is characterized by severe wrinkling and irregular pigmentation. The pattern of wrinkling in Asians seems to differ from that in Caucasians. Asians have coarser, thicker and deep wrinkles, particularly in the forehead, perioral and Crow's foot areas. In contrast, Caucasians usually have relatively fine cheek and Crow's foot wrinkles. The reasons for these differences are not known and need further investigation. There are racial, ethnic and genetic differences, and differences of skin structure and function, between the brown skin of Asians and the white skin of Caucasians. As Asian skin is more pigmented, acute and chronic cutaneous responses to UV irradiation differ from those in white skin. Many people believe, based on clinical impressions, that the main process of photoaging in Asians involves pigmentary changes, rather than wrinkling. However, no study has been performed to confirm this belief. Risk factors for skin wrinkles and their relative risks in Korean skin [2] Various factors such as age, sun-exposure, and smoking are known to be important risk factors for wrinkles. However, the relative risks of each factor on wrinkles in the brown skin of Asians have not been investigated, and they could differ from those in Caucasians. An evaluation system for skin wrinkling is necessary for Asian skin [3]. Thus, we developed an eight-point photographic scale for assessing wrinkles in both Korean genders [2]. This scale can probably be applied to the populations of other Asian countries, at least to the Japanese and Chinese. The pattern of wrinkles in both genders appears to be similar. Age Age is an important risk factor for wrinkling in Asians, as in Caucasians. Korean subjects in their 60s showed a 12-fold increased risk of wrinkling, while subjects in their 70s have a 56-fold increased risk compared with young age group. UV light It is well known that the UV component in sunlight can cause and accelerate photoaging. The pigmented skin of Asian may better protect skin from acute and chronic UV damage. However, we found a strong association between sun-exposure and the development of wrinkling in Koreans. It was found that sun exposure of more than 5 h per day was associated with a 4.8-fold increased risk in wrinkling versus less than 2 h of sun-exposure in Koreans. Estrogen deficiency Korean females have more wrinkles than men, after controlling for age, sun exposure, and smoking, it was found that they have a 3.6-fold increased risk of developing wrinkles than their male counterparts [2]. It has also been reported, that the relative risk for wrinkling in women is higher than in men as for in white Caucasians [4]. The reason why women show more wrinkles remains to be determined. It is possible that a reduction in skin collagen because of estrogen deficiency in postmenopausal woman may aggravate wrinkling severity. Korean women with more than 10 years since menopause showed a 3.9-fold higher risk of wrinkling than the women 5 years of beyond menopause [5]. We demonstrated that women with a history of HRT have a significantly lower risk, more specifically, one fifth of the risk of facial wrinkling relative to those who had no history of HRT. Interestingly, we found that wrinkle severity significantly increased with an increasing number of full term pregnancies. The relative risk for severe wrinkling is increased by approximately 1.8-fold per full term pregnancy. Smoking It is known that smoking causes skin wrinkling in Caucasians, and that it plays no role in Blacks [6, 7]. Koreans with have a smoking history of more than 30 pack years showed a more than 2.8-fold increased risk of wrinkles [2]. The relative risks of wrinkles associated with a 30,50 pack-years history of smoking were 2.8- and 5.5-fold, respectively. Dyspigmentation in Asian skin To follow pigmentary changes, six photographic standards for both genders were developed for Korean skin, to produce a 6-point scale [2, 8]. Hyperpigmented spots, mostly lentigines, were prominent among women, while seborrheic keratosis tended to be more prominent in men. Seborrheic keratosis in Korean men Seborrheic keratoses (SKs) are benign cutaneous tumors. They have diverse clinical and histopathological appearances and are very common in the elderly (over 50 years old). The etiology of SKs is not well understood, although patients with a great number of lesionsshow a familial trait with an autosomal dominant pattern, and human papilloma virus has been suggested as possible cause because of verrucous appearance of the lesions. Exposure to sunlight has been suggested to be a risk factor for SKs. However, there is still some debate in terms of the role of sunlight. Recently, we have investigated the clinical characteristics of SKs and relationship between SKs and sunlight exposure in Korean males [9]. The prevalence of SKs in Koreans increases with age; it rose from 78.9% at 40 years, to 93.9% at 50 years and 98.7% in those over 60 years. Exposed areas, i.e. the face, neck and dorsum of the hands, demonstrate a significant increase in the prevalence of SKs by decade, whereas partly exposed areas, although SKs tended to increase in prevalence with age, this trend was not significant. When the estimated body surface area (BSA) is taken into account, the number of SKs on both the face and dorsum of the hands (0.51 ± 0.08 per 1% BSA) was over-represented compared with the trunk. SKs were also concentrated on the neck (0.38 ± 0.07 per 1% BSA) and in the V-area (0.47 ± 0.09 per 1% BSA). Outer forearms also showed 3-fold more SKs per unit area than neighboring arms and inner forearms, which are classified as partly exposed area (0.09 ± 0.02, 0.03 ± 0.01, respectively). The total area covered by SKs on exposed area also became significantly larger with aging than on intermittently exposed areas. These results indicate that exposure to sunlight might be related to SK growth. Our results indicated that excessive sun exposure is an independent risk factor of SKs. After controlling for age, smoking, and skin type, subjects with a sun exposure history of more than 6 hours per day showed a 2.28-fold increased risk of having severe SKs (n , 6) compared with those exposed for less that 3 h per day. These findings indicated that sun-exposure may play an important role in SK development. In summary, SKs are very common in Korean males and represent one of the major pigmentary problems. SKs concentrate on exposed skin, especially on the face and dorsum of the hands. Both age and lifetime cumulative sunlight exposure are important contributing factors and may work in a synergistic manner. Conclusion Many people tend to believe that wrinkles are not a prominent feature of Asian photoaged skin, and that dyspigmentation is a major manifestation in Asian skin. Contrary to this impression, wrinkling is also a major problem in the photoaged skin of Asians, and Korean people showing severe pigmentary changes usually tend to have severe wrinkles. In conclusion, the wrinkling patterns and pigmentary changes of photoaged skin in East Asians differ from those of Caucasians, and the relative risks of aggravating factors may be different from those of Caucasian skin. References 1.,Gilchrest, B.A. Skin aging and photoaging: an overview. J. Am. Acad. Dermatol. 21, 610,613 (1989). 2.,Chung, J.H. et al. Cutaneous photodamage in Koreans: influence of sex, sun exposure, smoking, and skin color. Arch. Dermatol. 137, 1043,1051 (2001). 3.,Griffiths, C.E. et al. A photonumeric scale for the assessment of cutaneous photodamage. Arch. Dermatol. 128, 347,351 (1992). 4.,Ernster, V.L. et al. Facial wrinkling in men and women, by smoking status. Am. J. Public Health. 85, 78,82 (1995). 5.,Youn, C.S. et al. Effect of pregnancy and menopause on facial wrinkling in women. Acta Derm. Venereol. 83, 419,424 (2003). 6.,Kadunce, D.P. et al. Cigarette smoking: risk factor for premature facial wrinkling. Ann. Intern. Med. 114, 840,844 (1991). 7.,Allen, H.B., Johnson, B.L. and Diamond, S.M. Smoker's wrinkles? JAMA. 225, 1067,1069 (1973). 8.,Chung, J.H. Photoaging in Asians. Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 19, 109,121 (2003). 9.,Kwon, O.S. et al. Seborrheic keratosis in the Korean males: causative role of sunlight. Photodermatol. Photoimmunol. Photomed. 19, 73,80 (2003). [source] Bacteria of preoperative urinary tract infections contaminate the surgical fields and develop surgical site infections in urological operationsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 11 2004RYOICHI HAMASUNA Abstract Background: The risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) following urological operations have not been clearly identified, although the presence of a preoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) is thought to be one risk factor. We studied potential risk factors to clarify when and how bacteria contaminate wounds and SSI develop. Methods: Objects of the present study were patients with SSI after open urological operations that were performed at the Department of Urology, Miyazaki Medical College Hospital, University of Miyazaki, Kiyotake, Miyazaki, Japan, during the period between June 1999 and December 2000. Endourological operations, operations on children and short operations of less than 2 h duration were excluded. Patients were screened for the presence of UTI before the operation and subcutaneous swabs for culture were collected at the end of the operation by brushing with a sterile cotton-swab just before skin closure. Results: Surgical site infections occurred in 20 of 134 patients. Bacteria from the subcutaneous swabs were detected in 15 (75.0%) of the patients with SSI. All patients received antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP), but bacteria from the subcutaneous swabs of patients with SSI were less susceptible to the agents (20.0%). Preoperative UTI were observed in 11 (55.0%) of the patients with SSI. In these patients, four had the same species of bacteria detected from urine, swab and wound, three had the same species from swab and wound and one had the same species from urine and wound. Conclusions: Preoperative UTI was the most important risk factor for SSI following urological operations. It is most likely that the bacteria in the urine contaminated the surgical fields and the AMP resistant strains produced SSI. [source] Serum Lipid Levels and Cognitive Change in Late LifeJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 3 2010Chandra A. Reynolds PhD OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of lipids and lipoproteins on longitudinal cognitive performance and cognitive health in late life and to consider moderating factors such as age and sex that may clarify conflicting prior evidence. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A 16-year longitudinal study of health and cognitive aging. PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred nineteen adults from the Swedish Adoption Twin Study of Aging aged 50 and older at first cognitive testing, including 21 twin pairs discordant for dementia. MEASUREMENTS: Up to five occasions of cognitive measurements encompassing verbal, spatial, memory, and perceptual speed domains across a 16-year span; baseline serum lipids and lipoproteins including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), apolipoprotein (apo)A1, apoB, total serum cholesterol, and triglycerides. RESULTS: The effect of lipids on cognitive change was most evident before age 65. In women, higher HDL-C and lower apoB and triglycerides predicted better maintenance of cognitive abilities, particularly verbal ability and perceptual speed, than age. Lipid values were less predictive of cognitive trajectories in men and, where observed, were in the contrary direction (i.e., higher total cholesterol and apoB values predicted better perceptual speed performance though faster rates of decline). In twin pairs discordant for dementia, higher total cholesterol and apoB levels were observed in the twin who subsequently developed dementia. CONCLUSION: High lipid levels may constitute a more important risk factor for cognitive health before age 65 than after. Findings for women are consistent with clinical recommendations, whereas for men, the findings correspond with earlier age-associated shifts in lipid profiles and the importance of lipid homeostasis to cognitive health. [source] Hyperkyphotic Posture and Risk of Future Osteoporotic Fractures: The Rancho Bernardo Study,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2006Mei-Hua Huang Abstract It is unknown whether kyphosis of the thoracic spine is an independent risk factor for future osteoporotic fractures. In 596 community-dwelling women, we found that with increasing kyphosis, there was a significant trend of increasing fracture risk that was independent of previous history of fractures or BMD. Introduction: It is unknown whether kyphosis of the thoracic spine is an independent risk factor for future osteoporotic fractures. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 596 community-dwelling women, 47-92 years of age. Between 1988 and 1991, BMD of the hip and spine and kyphosis were measured. Kyphosis was measured by counting the number of 1.7-cm blocks necessary to place under the occiput so participants could lie flat without neck hyperextension. New fractures were reported over an average follow-up of 4 years. Results: Using a cut-off of at least one block, 18% of the participants had hyperkyphotic posture (range, one to nine blocks). There were 107 women who reported at least one new fracture (hip, spine, wrist, clavicle, shoulder, arm, hand, rib, pelvis, leg, or ankle). In logistic regression analyses, older women with hyperkyphotic posture (defined as at least one block) had a 1.7-fold increased risk of having a future fracture independent of age, prior fracture, and spine or hip BMD (95% CI: 1.00-2.97; p = 0.049). There was a significant trend of increasing fracture risk with increasing number of blocks, with ORs ranging from 1.5 to 2.6 as the number of blocks increased from one to at least three blocks compared with those with zero blocks (trend p = 0.03; models adjusted for age, baseline fracture, spine or hip BMD). Stratification by baseline fracture status and controlling for other possible confounders or past year falls did not change the results. Conclusions: Whereas hyperkyphosis may often result from vertebral fractures, our study findings suggest that hyperkyphotic posture itself may be an important risk factor for future fractures, independent of low BMD or fracture history. [source] Association Between Exercise and Pubertal BMD Is Modulated by Estrogen Receptor , Genotype,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 11 2004Miia Suuriniemi MSc Abstract Genetic and environmental factors contribute to bone mass, but the ways they interact remain poorly understood. This study of 245 pre- and early pubertal girls found that the PvuII polymorphism in the ER -, gene modulates the effect of exercise on BMD at loaded bone sites. Introduction: Impaired achievement of bone mass at puberty is an important risk factor for the development of osteoporosis in later life. Genetic, as well as environmental, factors contribute to bone mass, but the ways they interact with each other remain poorly understood. Materials and Methods: We investigated the interaction between a PvuII polymorphism at the ER -, gene and physical activity (PA) on the modulation of bone mass and geometry in 245 10- to 13-year-old pre- and early pubertal Finnish girls. Level of PA was assessed using a questionnaire. Bone properties were measured using DXA and pQCT. The analyses were controlled for the effects of Tanner stage and body size index. Results: Girls with heterozygote ER-, genotype (Pp) and high PA had significantly higher bone mass and BMD, as well as thicker cortex, at loaded bone sites than their low-PA counterparts. No differences were found in bone properties of the distal radius, which is not a weight-bearing bone. Bone properties did not differ in either homozygote groups (PP and pp) regardless of the PA level. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the PvuII polymorphism in the ER -, gene may modulate the effect of exercise on BMD at loaded bone sites. The heterozygotes may benefit most from the effect of exercise, whereas neither of the homozygote groups received any significant improvement from high PA. Furthermore, high PA may hide the genetic influence on bone. Indeed, it seems that one may compensate one's less favorable Pp genotype by increasing leisure PA at early puberty. [source] Genetic and Environmental Determinants of Peak Bone Mass in Young Men and WomenJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 7 2002Fiona E. A. Mcguigan Ph.D. Abstract Peak bone mass is an important risk factor for the development of osteoporosis in later life. Previous work has suggested that genetic, intrauterine, and environmental factors all contribute to the regulation of bone mass, but the ways in which they interact with each other to do so remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the relationship between peak bone mass and polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), estrogen receptor (ER) ,, and collagen type I,1 (COLIA1) genes in relation to other factors such as birth weight, lifestyle diet, and exercise in a population-based cohort of 216 women and 244 men in their early 20s. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that body weight was the strongest predictor of bone mineral density (BMD) in women, accounting for 16.4% of the variance in spine BMD and 8.4% of the variance in femoral neck BMD. Other significant predictors were VDR genotype (3.8%) and carbohydrate intake (1.6%) at the spine and vitamin D intake (3.4%) and ER genotype (3.4%) at the femoral neck. Physical activity was the strongest predictor of BMD in men, accounting for 6.7% of the variance at the spine and 5.1% at the hip. Other significant predictors were body weight (5%) and ER PvuII genotype (2.8%) at the spine and weight (3.4%) and alcohol intake (2%) at the femoral neck. Birth weight was not a significant predictor of BMD at either site but COLIA1 genotype significantly predicted birth weight in women, accounting for 4.3% of the variance. We conclude that peak bone mass is regulated by an overlapping but distinct set of environmental and genetic influences that differ in men and women. However, much of the variance in BMD was unexplained by the variables studied here, which suggests that either most of the genes that regulate BMD remain to be discovered or major environmental influences on BMD exist that have not yet been identified. [source] Pathogenesis and Pathophysiology of the Cardiometabolic SyndromeJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 12 2009Erik P. Kirk PhD The cardiometabolic syndrome represents a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The mechanism(s) responsible for developing the cardiometabolic syndrome is not known, but it is likely that multi-organ insulin resistance, which is a common feature of the cardiometabolic syndrome, is involved. Insulin resistance is an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes and can cause vasoconstriction and renal sodium reabsorption, leading to increased blood pressure. Alterations in adipose tissue fatty acid and adipokine metabolism are involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Excessive rates of fatty acid release into the bloodstream can impair the ability of insulin to stimulate muscle glucose uptake and suppress hepatic glucose production. Noninfectious systemic inflammation associated with adipocyte and adipose tissue macrophage cytokine production can also cause insulin resistance. In addition, increased free fatty acid delivery to the liver can stimulate hepatic very low-density lipoprotein triglyceride production, leading to dyslipidemia. [source] Patient Knowledge and Awareness of Hypertension Is Suboptimal: Results From a Large Health Maintenance OrganizationJOURNAL OF CLINICAL HYPERTENSION, Issue 4 2003Mark Alexander PhD; Patient knowledge and awareness of hypertension are important factors in achieving blood pressure control. To examine hypertensive patients' knowledge of their condition, the authors randomly surveyed 2500 hypertension patients from a large health maintenance organization; questionnaires were supplemented with clinic blood pressure measurements. Approximately 72% of the subjects completed surveys. Of patients with uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure [SBP] 140 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] 90 mm Hg), only 20.2% labeled their blood pressure as "high" and 38.4% as "borderline high." Forty percent of respondents couldn't recall their most recent clinic-based SBP and DBP values. Overall, 71.7% and 61% were unable to report a target SBP or DBP, respectively, or identify elevated targets based on the sixth report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC VI) criteria. Most patients perceived DBP to be a more important risk factor than SBP. Hypertensive patients' awareness of blood pressure targets and current hypertension control status, particularly with respect to SBP, is suboptimal. The authors' findings support the need to improve patient education for better management of hypertension. [source] Aging alters PPAR, in rodent and human adipose tissue by modulating the balance in steroid receptor coactivator-1AGING CELL, Issue 4 2009Stéphanie Miard Summary Age is an important risk factor for the development of metabolic diseases (e.g. obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis). Yet, little is known about the molecular mechanisms occurring upon aging that affect energy metabolism. Although visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) is known for its key impact on metabolism, recent studies have indicated it could also be a key regulator of lifespan, suggesting that it can serve as a node for age-associated fat accretion. Here we show that aging triggers changes in the transcriptional milieu of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR,) in vWAT, which leads to a modified potential for transactivation of target genes upon ligand treatment. We found that in vWAT of mice, rats and men, aging induced a specific decrease in the expression of steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), whose recruitment to PPAR, is associated with improved insulin sensitivity and low adipogenic activity. In contrast, aging and oxidative stress did not impact on PPAR, expression and PPAR, ligand production. Age-induced loss of PPAR,/SRC-1 interactions increased the binding of PPAR, to the promoter of the adipogenic gene aP2. These findings suggest that strategies aimed at increasing SRC-1 expression and recruitment to PPAR, upon aging might help improve age-associated metabolic disorders. [source] Supply response and price volatility in the Greek broiler marketAGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2010Anthony N. Rezitis The authors examine the supply response of the Greek broiler market. A generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) process is used to estimate expected price and price volatility; price and supply equations are estimated jointly. In addition to the standard GARCH model, several different symmetric, asymmetric, and nonlinear GARCH models are estimated. These models use different conditional variance specifications (linear or nonlinear) to grasp some additional empirical regularity of data like asymmetry. Asymmetric price volatility means that different volatility is recorded in the case of a fall in prices than an increase in prices by the same amount. The possible existence of asymmetry in the producer's price volatility gives useful information about market structure and possible market power. The empirical results indicate that among the estimated GARCH models the nonlinear asymmetric GARCH model (NAGARCH) seems to better describe producers' price volatility of the Greek broiler industry. Furthermore, the empirical findings show that price volatility is an important risk factor and broiler feed price is the most significant cost factor of the supply response function. Finally, the model provides forecasts for quantity supplied, producers' price, and price volatility. [EconLit. Classifications: Q110, C510, D200]. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||