DNA Databases - Threat To Privacy Or A Good Thing?

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Main Category: Genetics
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 9:00 PDT Current ratings for:
DNA Databases - Threat To Privacy Or A Good Thing?

Creating huge national databases of people's DNA is an increasingly contentious topic since the US Supreme Court recently backed the routine swabbing of DNA from all criminal suspects once they are arrested - at the immediate stages of investigation and before any legal proceedings.

The Fourth Amendment requires the US government to balance legitimate law enforcement interests with the privacy rights of individuals. When it comes to genetic fingerprinting, people worry about how safely guarded their DNA data is, as well as about the reliability of the information.

Similar concerns are hotly debated in the medical world. The sharing of large amounts of DNA data can enable researchers to predict and treat serious disease. But would you want an insurer to gain access to your genetic blueprint of personal disease risk?

A new example of where there may be clear medical benefits to widespread sampling of DNA is seen in research against Alzheimer's disease.

Today (July 12th), the international conference for the UK's Alzheimer's Association, held in Yorkshire, England, heard researchers claim they had gained whole genome sequences for the "largest cohort of individuals" ever grouped together for a single disease - more than 800 people.

Who should have access to your DNA?

Enrolled in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI), the genetic information from these people could be crucial for the understanding and treatment of this common type of dementia.

But how safe is it to give up all your genetic information to medical research? Well, in medical research studies, highly regulated ethical protocols are in place that aim to prevent such things as abuse of private and confidential data.

For the Alzheimer's research project, anyone interested in enrolling in the study had to give their informed consent, and the study doctors and scientists had to abide by numerous protocols set out in advance. Any parties interested in gaining access to the resulting DNA database must also agree to a number of principles, including not asking any researcher to somehow try and track down individual DNA data.

So, in medical research, information from individual people's DNA should be safely anonymized so that analysis is on a "big data" level and cannot be drilled down to identifiable individuals.

This is not always the case, though. A paper published in the journal Science by Yaniv Erlich, who runs a lab at MIT's Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, shows how he managed to identify individuals and their families among anonymous DNA research data.

So how much trust do people place in police and other public authorities to safeguard the data on your genes? The Economist recently ran an online poll and found a roughly 60/40 split - the majority of people said yes to the question, "Is it ever right for the DNA of the innocent to be used for any purpose without the consent of the 'owner.'" The debate, "The ethics of DNA databasing", centered on a motion that "This house believes that people's DNA sequences are their business, and nobody else's".

While it seems a majority of people are not too worried about national DNA databases, a large minority are seriously concerned.

Written by Markus MacGill

Copyright: Medical News Today
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Dementia Care In Hospitals Is Still Poor, According To Second National Audit Of Dementia, UK

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 2:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Dementia Care In Hospitals Is Still Poor, According To Second National Audit Of Dementia, UK

People with dementia are still experiencing poor quality care in hospitals, according to the second National Audit of Dementia published today (Friday 12 July). Although some improvements have been made since the first audit was published in 2011, there is a gap between written policies and actual practice and several areas have shown little progress.

Just over three quarters (76 per cent) of hospitals now have dementia champions in place at ward level, but two fifths (41 per cent) of hospitals are still not offering dementia awareness training to new staff. Similarly two fifths of hospitals (41 per cent) have offered no awareness training to support staff, and a tenth did not provide this training to nurses in the twelve months.

Commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership and carried out by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the audit surveyed almost all eligible hospitals across England and Wales (98 per cent).

As well as training, the report highlights the following key areas for improvement:

Only 36 per cent of hospitals currently have care pathways in place for people with dementiaLess than half of patients in the audit had been given key health assessments e.g. for delirium (38 per cent) or mental state (50 per cent)A third of hospitals are not giving sufficient guidance and information to family carers and written information in case notes is still patchyLess than half of hospital boards are routinely reviewing performance in relation to patients with dementia.

There has been some progress in areas, including an increase in the number of patients receiving nutritional assessments and a 10 per cent fall in the prescription of antipsychotic drugs.

Alzheimer's Society comment:

'Hospitals are under immense public and political pressure to improve their standards, but given that people with dementia occupy a quarter of hospital beds, it is scandalous that improving dementia care is not a top priority for a number of hospital managers.

'With the news this week that thousands of healthcare assistants are not receiving even basic training, let alone awareness training of how to care for people with dementia, it is unsurprising that we are hearing of instances when carers dare not leave their loved ones' side.

'We know that staff want to improve their knowledge of dementia care, but they need to be offered the right tools, support and training to do so. Without a serious culture change to ensure that new policies are actually being put into everyday practice, care for people with dementia cannot and will not improve.'

George McNamara

Head of Policy and Public Affairs

Alzheimer's Society

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our alzheimer's / dementia section for the latest news on this subject.

One in three people over 65 will develop dementia

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 800,000 people in the UK have a form of dementia, more than half have Alzheimer’s disease. In less than ten years a million people will be living with dementia. This will soar to 1.7 million people by 2051

Alzheimer’s Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and the millions of people who care for them

Alzheimer’s Society works in England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Alzheimer’s Society has a plan to deal with dementia. Help us support people to live well today and fight for a world without dementia tomorrow. We rely on voluntary donations to continue our vital work. You can donate now by calling 0845 306 0898

Alzheimer’s Society provides a National Dementia Helpline, the number is 0300 222 11 22.

Alzheimer’s Society

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Cook Medical Launches Hemospray™ - A Hemostatic Spray For The Treatment Of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeds, UK

Main Category: GastroIntestinal / Gastroenterology
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 2:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Cook Medical Launches Hemospray™ - A Hemostatic Spray For The Treatment Of Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Bleeds, UK

Cook Medical has chosen the annual meeting of the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) to introduce an innovative endoscopic spray for use in nonvariceal bleeds in the upper GI tract to the UK market. Hemospray, which has undergone a clinical study and multiple evaluations[1], expands Cook Medical's current line of haemostasis devices, achieving haemostasis with a proprietary inorganic powder. It is now available to clinicians in the United Kingdom.

Hemospray is a single-use device, delivered through the channel of an endoscope and sprayed toward the source of a bleed. When the powder comes in contact with blood, it absorbs water and forms a gel, which acts both cohesively and adhesively to create a stable mechanical barrier that adheres to and covers the bleeding site. It is a nonthermal, nontraumatic treatment modality for achieving haemostasis.

"Hemospray is an important and new therapy, which offers an additional treatment option for patients who suffer from bleeding lesions in the upper GI tract," said Dr. John Morris, consultant gastroenterologist at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary Hospital.

Current hemostasis therapies rely on thermal, mechanical or injection devices. These devices carry risks of damage to the surrounding tissue and also require that the device be precisely placed on the bleeding vessel. Hemospray is designed to minimize the risks associated with current therapies and without the precision required of other treatment modalities.

"Because these bleeds can be complicated, no treatment option represents the perfect solution, even Hemospray," said Barry Slowey, vice president and global business leader for Cook Medical's Endoscopy division. "However, we do feel that this new device gives clinicians another important tool for the care of their patients."

A study conducted by lead investigators Prof. Joseph Sung and Dr. Sam Giday at the Chinese University of Hong Kong showed that Hemospray achieves acute hemostasis in peptic ulcers.[2] Further clinical studies are currently being conducted with Hemospray across multiple sites in Canada, Europe, and Hong Kong. The results of these studies will be available in the coming months.

For doctors wishing to use Hemospray at their hospital, training can be provided at over 20 centres countrywide in the UK. To reserve a place on an upcoming course please contact your local Cook representative.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our gastrointestinal / gastroenterology section for the latest news on this subject.

Early Clinical Experience of the Safety and Effectiveness of Hemospray in Achieving Hemostasis in Patients with Acute Peptic Ulcer Bleeding Endoscopy 2011; 43: 291-295

A hemostatic spray: The easy way out for upper gastrointestinal bleeding? Endoscopy 2011; 43: 343-344

Safety Analysis of Hemostatic Powder (Hemospray™) in a Porcine Model of Gastric Bleeding. GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 75, No. 4S: 2012: AB228

Use of the endoscopically applied hemostatic powder TC-325 in cancer-related upper GI haemorrhage: preliminary experience (Barkun, AN et al) GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 75, No. 6: 2012: p1278

Hemospray for Non-Variceal Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Results of the Seal Dataset (Survey to Evaluate the Application of Hemospray in the Luminal Tract) GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 75, No. 5: 2012: AB133

Emerging technologies for endoscopic hemostasis. GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY Volume 75, No. 5: 2012: p933

[1] See list of references above.

[2] Sung JJ, Luo D, Wu JC, et al. Early clinical experience of the safety and effectiveness of Hemospray in achieving hemostasis in patients with acute peptic ulcer bleeding. Endoscopy. 2011;43(4):291-295.

Cook Medical

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Consumption Of Artificial Sweeteners Associated With Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Diabetes
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Consumption Of Artificial Sweeteners Associated With Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome, Cardiovascular Disease

More and more Americans are consuming artificial sweeteners as an alternative to sugar, but whether this translates into better health has been heavily debated. An opinion article published by Cell Press in the journal Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism reviews surprising evidence on the negative impact of artificial sweeteners on health, raising red flags about all sweeteners - even those that don't have any calories.

"It is not uncommon for people to be given messages that artificially-sweetened products are healthy, will help them lose weight or will help prevent weight gain," says author Susan E. Swithers of Purdue University. "The data to support those claims are not very strong, and although it seems like common sense that diet sodas would not be as problematic as regular sodas, common sense is not always right."

Consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks has been linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome - a group of risk factors that raises the risk for heart disease and stroke. As a result, many Americans have turned to artificial sweeteners, which are hundreds of times sweeter than sugar but contain few, if any, calories. However, studies in humans have shown that consumption of artificially sweetened beverages is also associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome as well as cardiovascular disease. As few as one of these drinks per day is enough to significantly increase the risk for health problems.

Moreover, people who regularly consume artificial sweeteners show altered activation patterns in the brain's pleasure centers in response to sweet taste, suggesting that these products may not satisfy the desire for sweets. Similarly, studies in mice and rats have shown that consumption of noncaloric sweeteners dampens physiological responses to sweet taste, causing the animals to overindulge in calorie-rich, sweet-tasting food and pack on extra pounds.

Taken together, the findings suggest that artificial sweeteners increase the risk for health problems to an extent similar to that of sugar and may also exacerbate the negative effects of sugar. "These studies suggest that telling people to drink diet sodas could backfire as a public health message," Swithers says. "So the current public health message to limit the intake of sugars needs to be expanded to limit intake of all sweeteners, not just sugars."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our obesity / weight loss / fitness section for the latest news on this subject.

Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism, Swithers et al.: "Artificial sweeteners produce the counterintuitive effect of inducing metabolic derangements."

Cell Press

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posted by kathryn on 12 Jul 2013 at 3:45 pm

I have noticed that many people with weight problems are drinking the poison sweeteners along with massive portions of food.
In a healthy diet sugar is a natural option, it appears diabetes 2 has increased while using the sweeteners, perhaps being obese is not related diabetic problems as I note many slim people and anorexic people use sweeteners and some have diabetes!

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Belly Fat Tied to Raised Heart and Cancer Risks

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Academic Journal
Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Cardiovascular / Cardiology;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 3:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Belly Fat Tied to Raised Heart and Cancer Risks

Carrying too much fat around the abdomen puts people at greater risk for heart disease and cancer compared with people who have a similar body mass index (BMI) but who carry their fat in other parts of the body.

So says a US study published online in the July issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Previous studies have shown that the risk of disease and death linked to obesity or being overweight varies among individuals with the same BMI (body mass index - the ratio of their weight in kilos to their height in metres squared).

Now a new study suggests ectopic fat - that is, fat present where it shouldn't be, in this case the highly visible spare tyre(s) around the middle - might explain this variation.

We already know that carrying excess fat around the waist can be more dangerous than carrying it elsewhere, such as the hips or the thighs (apple-shaped as opposed to pear-shaped).

But this latest study, from lead author Kathryn A. Britton, instructor of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, and colleagues, is the first to use CT scans to see which specific deposits of excess fat are linked to disease risk.

The study uses data collected in the Framingham Heart Study from 3,086 participants who were followed for up to seven years. Their average age was 50, and around half were women.

The physical exams the participants underwent at the start of the Framingham study period included CT scans, which allowed the researchers on this study to assess ectopic fat deposits in the abdomen, around the heart and around the aorta, the largest artery in the human body.

Over the follow-up, there were 90 heart-related events, 141 cases of cancer, and 71 deaths (from all causes) among the participants.

When Britton and colleagues analyzed these in relation to the fat deposits, and took out the effect of clinical risk factors and BMI, they found abdominal fat was linked to heart disease and cancer.

This study is the first to show that when you add presence of belly fat to measures that compare BMI to waist size, the ability to predict cardiovascular risk improves.

Although the researchers didn't investigate why fat in the abdomen is tied to higher risk for heart disease and cancer, they conclude their findings support the growing idea that ectopic fat has "a pathogenic role".

One possible explanation could be to do with the fact belly fat often indicates there is too much fat around internal organs.

Britton says findings like these are valuable because, given the worldwide obesity crisis, it is important to identify individuals at high risk so that prevention and therapy can be tailored specifically for them.

Britton's study comes after one published in 2012 in which researchers at the Mayo Clinic found belly fat increases the risk of death even in people of normal weight.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today Visit our obesity / weight loss / fitness section for the latest news on this subject. "Body Fat Distribution, Incident Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and All-cause Mortality"; Britton KA, Massaro JM, Murabito JM, Kreger BE, Hoffmann U, Fox CS; J Am Coll Cardiol, published online July 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.06.027; Link to Abstract. Additional source: American College of Cardiology. Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

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posted by Joel Mitchell on 12 Jul 2013 at 12:12 pm

Unfortunately, we are what we eat and America's diet now consists of primary PIG food. We use corn and grains to fatten our livestock and now ourselves. Look in the mirror and on your plate. No wonder.

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2nd Digital Marketing For Medical Devices Europe Summit, 22-23 December 2013, London

Main Category: Conferences
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 7:00 PDT Current ratings for:
2nd Digital Marketing For Medical Devices Europe Summit, 22-23 December 2013, London

Conference organizer ExL Pharma is proud to bring the 2nd Digital Marketing for Medical Devices Europe Summit to the Hilton Kensington Hotel in London 22-23 December 2013.

The 2nd Digital Marketing for Medical Devices is designed to give Marketing Professionals in the Medical Device, Biotech, Diagnostics and Healthcare Industries the rare opportunity to discuss and benchmark with peers, where the industry is heading, how to adapt to a changing customer profile and new communication channels and benefit from a fully integrated marketing approach. It will be a MUST ATTEND for these organisations.

18 experts from leading companies such as Zimmer, Medtronic, Mölnlycke, American Medical Systems, Smith Medical, and B. Braun share best practices and vital information how to create and implement a successful digital marketing strategy, align sales and marketing and leverage emerging opportunities.

The medical device industry is often perceived as lagging somewhat behind other industries in areas related to digital marketing, mobile optimization, social media and branding. But with cheap products from China flooding the market, there is a lot of pressure on marketers to review their strategies and ensure maximum reach, while creating brand loyalty to increase sales! This Summit will focus on an integrated marketing approach providing useful tools, hands-on advice and strategies that have worked to overcome common pitfalls. Through interactive workshops, roundtables, panel discussions and case studies participants can enhance their skill set and learn how to overcome their challenges with regards to social media, content & website management, demonstrating ROI, iPad implementation, elearning, analytics, customer engagement and more!

To find out more information about the program and attending the Summit, please contact Kai Hahn at khahn@exlpharma.com or visit http://www.exlpharma.com/digitaldeviceEU

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our conferences section for the latest news on this subject.

About ExL Events

ExL Pharma, a division of ExL Events, Inc., is the industry leader in developing innovative, educational conferences that serve the pharmaceutical and allied healthcare communities in the United States, Europe, Latin America and various markets. Behind our diverse pharmaceutical event portfolio, ExL's experienced team conducts extensive market research and targeted outreach. The results translate into innovative, high-quality events designed to exceed the dynamic informational and networking needs of specific audiences and working groups.

ExL Pharma conference platforms facilitate the exchange of critical information between industry executives and suppliers who support their scientific and commercial goals. Our events are the preferred resource for industry professionals seeking important information and networking opportunities with a clear delineation between content and commercialism.

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Smoking Combined With Heavy Drinking Speeds Up Cognitive Decline

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Smoking Combined With Heavy Drinking Speeds Up Cognitive Decline

The combination of smoking and heavy drinking speeds up cognitive decline, according to new research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Researchers from UCL (University College London) found that smokers who drank alcohol heavily had a 36% faster cognitive decline compared to non-smoking moderate drinkers.

Smoking and heavier alcohol consumption often co-occur, and their combined effect on cognition may be larger than the sum of their individual effects. The research team assessed 6,473 adults (4,635 men and 1,838 women) aged between 45 and 69 years old over a 10-year period. The adults were part of the Whitehall II cohort study of British civil servants.

All the participants were asked about their cigarette and alcohol consumption, and their cognitive function (including verbal and mathematical reasoning, short-term verbal memory and verbal fluency) was then assessed three times over 10 years.

The research team found that in current smokers who were also heavy drinkers, cognitive decline was 36% faster than in non-smoking moderate drinkers. This was equivalent to an age effect of 12 years - an additional two years over the 10-year follow up period. Among smokers, cognitive decline was found to be faster as the number of alcohol units consumed increased.

Lead researcher Dr Gareth Hagger-Johnson said: "Our research shows that cognitive decline was 36% faster in those people who reported both cigarette smoking and drinking alcohol above the recommended limits (14 units per week for women, 21 units per week for men). When we looked at people who were heavy-drinking smokers, we found that for every 10 years that they aged their brains aged the equivalent of 12 years."

"From a public health perspective, the increasing burden associated with cognitive aging could be reduced if lifestyle factors can be modified, and we believe that people should not drink alcohol more heavily in the belief that alcohol is a protective factor against cognitive decline. Current advice is that smokers should stop or cut down, and people should avoid heavy alcohol drinking. Our study suggests that people should also be advised not to combine these two unhealthy behaviours - particularly from mid-life onwards. Healthy behaviours in midlife may prevent cognitive decline into early old age."

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Study Evaluates The Impact Of Childhood Temperament On Later Alcohol Use/Problems

Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Psychology / Psychiatry
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Study Evaluates The Impact Of Childhood Temperament On Later Alcohol Use/Problems

Most risk and protective factors for alcohol use have roots in early childhood. In other words, an individual enters adolescence with personality characteristics and life experiences that have accumulated during the first decade of life. An evaluation of measures of temperament from children six months through to five years of age has found that childhood temperament prior to age five predicts adolescent alcohol use and problems at age 15.5 years, even after controlling for socio-demographic factors and parental alcohol problems.

Results will be published in the December 2013 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

"Most scientists who study alcohol use start studying people in adolescence, since that is when alcohol use is usually first initiated/experimented with," explained Danielle Dick, associate professor of psychiatry, psychology and human and molecular genetics with the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University, as well as corresponding author for the study. "But people don't enter adolescence as blank slates; they have a history of life experiences that they bring with them, dating back to early childhood. This is one of the most comprehensive attempts to understand very early childhood predictors of adolescent alcohol use in a large epidemiological cohort."

"A question largely unanswered by the existing literature concerns the origins of personality differences in adolescents or adults who do and do not have drinking problems," added Matt McGue, Regents Professor in the department of psychology at the University of Minnesota. "In my opinion, the major contribution of the current study is that it shows that these personality differences emerge very early in life."

Dick and her colleagues used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a large epidemiological sample of pregnant women with delivery dates between April 1991 and December 1992. The children (6,504 boys, 6,143 girls) were followed longitudinally. Temperamental characteristics were assessed at six time points from six to 69 months of age. Alcohol use and problems were assessed at age 15.5 years.

"Some of the most interesting findings to emerge from this study are that, one, we can identify childhood temperamental styles that emerge prior to age five that predict alcohol use and problems in mid-adolescence," said Dick. "Two, the early childhood temperamental styles that predict alcohol use are very different and largely uncorrelated - that both kids who show consistent emotional and behavioral problems early on are at elevated risk and kids who are consistently sociable at a very early age are also at risk. This indicates very different pathways to alcohol involvement/patterns, that emerge early on, which has important implications for prevention efforts."

"Temperament is considered to represent the biological foundations of later personality and is manifested in terms of basic reactivity and regulatory process," said McGue. "This study differs from other studies in two significant ways. First, other studies have typically focused on personality, which is normally assessed by self-report. This study indicates that those personality factors are the result, in part, of early temperamental expressions. Second, ALSPAC is a large and very well characterized longitudinal study. This allows the investigators to rigorously evaluate their hypothesis as well as provide them with the statistical power they need to explore important ancillary questions, such as whether the nature of personality risk differs in males and females, a gender effect they did not find in this study."

"Interestingly, the association between sociability and alcohol use/problems was more significant than the association found between emotional and conduct difficulties and later alcohol problems, said Dick. "This underscores the fact that drinking during adolescence is largely a social phenomenon. However, this doesn't mean it's less problematic; we know from other studies that most adolescent drinking is high risk - for example, binge drinking - and can lead to numerous negative consequences."

Both Dick and McGue noted the importance of searching for what may lead to adolescent drinking when trying to understand the development of patterns of alcohol use, such as predictors that emerge very early in life.

"That said," noted McGue, "while I think the most important finding concerns tracing personality differences back to preschool differences in temperament, we cannot, from these findings, predict with much accuracy which preschoolers will have problems with alcohol as adolescents and which will not." McGue spoke favorably of unrelated Canadian research that targets personality risk factors for substance abuse; rather than trying to change the personalities of adolescents, scientists are attempting to teach them how to deal with their personalities.

"All things considered," said Dick, "it's not just 'problem kids' who get involved in alcohol use. It's also the highly sociable kids as well. Parents should be aware of this."

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The Detrimental Effects Of Inflammation Due To Intestinal Bacteria On HIV Patients

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 1:00 PDT Current ratings for:
The Detrimental Effects Of Inflammation Due To Intestinal Bacteria On HIV Patients

A new study of HIV infection by UC San Francisco researchers points to changes in intestinal bacteria as a possible explanation for why successfully treated HIV patients nonetheless prematurely experience life-shortening chronic diseases.

These changes in gut bacteria may perpetuate inflammation initially triggered by the body's immune response to HIV, according to the study, reported online in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

In recent years, such persistent inflammation has been proposed as a cause of the early onset of common chronic diseases found in HIV patients, who now can live for decades without immune system destruction and death due to infection, thanks to lifelong treatment with antiretroviral drugs. Likewise, in the general population, ongoing inflammation has been linked in some studies to chronic conditions such as heart disease, dementia and obesity.

Studies have shown that inflammation is induced by HIV in both treated and untreated patients, and is associated with - and possibly causes - disease in both, according to Joseph M. McCune, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Experimental Medicine at UCSF and a senior author of the study. McCune has been investigating the causes of chronic inflammation in HIV-infected patients and has treated patients with HIV for more than three decades.

"We want to understand what allows the virus to persist in patients who have HIV disease, even after treatment," he said. "In this study, we see that bacteria in the gut may play a role."

The study was initiated by Ivan Vujkovic-Cvijin, a graduate student working in McCune's lab in collaboration with Susan Lynch, PhD, an associate professor in the Division of Gastroenterology at UCSF and an expert on the human microbiome, the collection of microbes the live in and on the human body. Researchers estimate that humans have about ten times as many bacterial cells as human cells, and earlier studies have demonstrated that some of the microbes found within the intestines are able to drive immune responses, Lynch said.

"We thought the gut microbiome might be different in HIV-infected individuals, and that the high degree of immune activation in the patients might be associated with and possibly due to the presence of specific members of the bacterial community," Lynch said.

Vujkovic-Cvijin identified bacterial species in biopsied patient samples by tracking a gene that is distinct among different bacterial species. Working with co-first author, Richard Dunham, PhD, a UCSF postdoctoral fellow, he also tracked markers of inflammation in the blood.

The researchers compared seven untreated HIV patients, including six with active infection and one long-term patient who never developed AIDS; 18 HIV patients in whom ongoing drug treatment had reduced HIV in the blood to undetectable levels; and nine uninfected individuals matched for other health risks. The patients are part of a group being monitored through ongoing UCSF research led by UCSF Steven Deeks, MD, and Jeffrey Martin, MD, MPH, at San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

"We found that HIV-infected people have a very different gut microbiome than people who are uninfected," Vujkovic-Cvijin said. "In particular, infected people harbor more bacteria that can cause harmful inflammation, like Pseudomonas, Salmonella, E. coli, and Staphylococcus."

The degree to which normal bacterial communities in the colon were disrupted corresponded to the levels of an inflammatory molecule, IL-6, in the blood, and also to the production of an enzyme called indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. The enzyme can impair the gut's ability to function as a barrier, thereby allowing bacteria and molecules produced by bacteria to enter the body to fuel even more inflammation. Species of bacteria that can mimic the action of this enzyme also were more abundant in HIV-infected participants, Vujkovic-Cvijin found.

The researchers do not believe that there is a single bacterial species responsible for disrupting the integrity of the gut nor do they propose a specific probiotic bacterial treatment to restore a healthy gut. Nonetheless, Lynch said, manipulating microbial populations is a promising idea.

"It appears that changes in the microbiome perpetuate a vicious cycle that drives inflammation in HIV-infected patients," she said. "We are considering a restoration ecology approach to restore appropriate microbial colonization patterns and healthy functioning of the gut microbiome."

McCune believes that inflammation may also play a role in maintaining the persistence of HIV, even in those with no circulating virus in the bloodstream. "Our dream is to be able to make the virus go away, allowing HIV-infected people to lead longer lives without the need for life-long therapy," he said. "Perhaps restoring the microbiome to normal will be one strategy to make that happen."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, UCSF, and the Harvey V. Berneking Living Trust.

University of California - San Francisco

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YES! Program Significantly Reduces Students' Impulsive Behavior

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Public Health
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
YES! Program Significantly Reduces Students' Impulsive Behavior

In May, the Los Angeles school board voted to ban suspensions of students for "willful defiance" and directed school officials to use alternative disciplinary practices. The decision was controversial, and the question remains: How do you discipline rowdy students and keep them in the classroom while still being fair to other kids who want to learn?

A team led by Dara Ghahremani, an assistant researcher in the department of psychiatry at UCLA's Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior conducted a study on the Youth Empower Seminar, or YES!, a workshop for adolescents that teaches them to manage stress, regulate their emotions, resolve conflicts and control impulsive behavior. Impulsive behavior, in particular - including acting out in class, engaging in drug or alcohol abuse, and risky sexual behaviors - is something that gets adolescents in trouble.

The YES! program, run by the nonprofit International Association for Human Values, includes yoga-based breathing practices, among other techniques, and the research findings show that a little bit of breathing can go a long way. The scientists report that students who went through the four-week YES! for Schools program felt less impulsive, while students in a control group that didn't participate in the program showed no change.

The study appears in the the July issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health.

"The program helps teens to gain greater control over their actions by giving them tools to respond to challenging situations in constructive and mindful ways, rather than impulsively," said Ghahremani, who conducted the study at the UCLA Center for Addictive Behaviors and UCLA's Laboratory for Molecular Neuroimaging. "The program uses a variety of techniques, ranging from a powerful yoga-based breathing program called Sudarshan Kriya to decision-making and leadership skills that are taught via interactive group games. We found it to be a simple yet powerful approach that could potentially reduce impulsive behavior."

Ghahremani noted that teens are often just as stressed as adults.

"There are home and family issues, academic pressures and, of course, social pressures," he said. "With the immediacy and wide reach of communication technology, like Facebook, peer pressure and bullying has risen to a whole new level. Without the tools to handle such pressures, teens can often resort to impulsive acts that include violence towards others or themselves."

Impulsive behavior, or a lack of self-control, in adolescence is a key predictor of risky behavior, Ghahremani said.

"Substance abuse and various mental health problems that begin in adolescence are often very difficult to shake in adulthood - there is a need for interventions that bring impulsive behavior under control in this group," he said. "Our research is the first scientific study of the YES! program to show that it can significantly reduce impulsive behavior."

For the study, students between the ages of 14 and 18 from three Los Angeles-area high schools were invited to participate, between spring 2010 and fall 2011. In total, 788 students participated - 524 in the YES! program and 264 in the control group. The program was taught during the students' physical education courses for four consecutive weeks. Students were asked to fill out questionnaires to rate statements about their impulsive behavior - for example, "I act without thinking" and "I feel self-control most of the time" - directly before and directly after the program. The students who did not go through the program also completed the questionnaires.

The YES! program is composed of three modules focused on healthy body, healthy mind and healthy lifestyle. The healthy body module consists of physical activity that includes yoga stretches, mindful eating processes and interactive discussions about food and nutrition. The healthy mind module includes stress-management and relaxation techniques, including yoga-based breathing practices, yoga postures and meditation to relax the nervous system, bring awareness to the moment and enhance concentration. Group processes promote personal responsibility, respect, honesty and service to others. In the healthy lifestyle module, students learn strategies for handling challenging emotional and social situations, especially peer pressure. Mindful decision-making and leadership skills are taught via interactive games. Students also create a group community-service project, applying their newly learned skills toward that goal.

"There is a need for simple, engaging interventions that bring impulsive behavior under control in adolescents," said Ghahremani. "This is important to the public because impulsive behavior in adolescents is associated with many mental health problems and, when left unchecked, can result in violent acts, such as those resulting in tragedies recently observed on school campuses.

"The advantage of this program over approaches that center around psychiatric medications is that it develops a sense of responsibility and empowerment in teens, allowing them to clarify and pursue their goals while fostering a sense of connection to their community. Although some medications can help control impulsive behavior, they often come with unpleasant side effects and the risk of medication abuse. Moreover, approaches that rely on them don't necessarily focus on empowering kids to take control of their lives. "

Non-pharmacologically-based programs like YES! for Schools that increase self-control are important to explore since they offer concrete tools that students can actively apply to their everyday lives with noticeable results, Ghahremani said.

To follow up on results from this study, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has awarded Ghahremani and his colleagues a grant to examine the effects of the YES! program by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to study the brain circuitry that is important for self-control and emotion regulation. The project also aims to examine how the YES! program can reduce cravings among teen smokers.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our psychology / psychiatry section for the latest news on this subject.

Other authors of the study included Eugene Y. Oh, Andrew C. Dean, Kristina Mouzakis, Kristen D. Wilson and senior author Edythe D. London, all of UCLA. Funding for the study was provided by an endowment from the Thomas P. and Katherine K. Pike Chair in Addiction Studies and a gift from the Marjorie M. Greene Trust.

University of California - Los Angeles

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5 Things The Allergist Needs To Hear From Your Child

Main Category: Respiratory / Asthma
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Allergy
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
5 Things The Allergist Needs To Hear From Your Child

The allergist's office might not be a child's favorite place to visit, but it is a place where they should be able to say how their asthma makes them feel. While children might rely on parents to tell their doctor about how they are feeling, according to a study just released, children should do most of the talking.

The study, published in the July issue of Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the scientific journal of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), found that children with asthma report having a better quality of life in regards to activity limitation, than their parents think they have.

"Our research shows that physicians should ask parents and children about the effects asthma is having on the child's daily life," said lead study author Margaret Burks, MD. "Parents can often think symptoms are better or worse than what the child is really experiencing, especially if they are not with their children all day."

Seventy-nine pediatric asthma patients and their parents were enrolled in the study. While researchers noted useful information comes from caregivers' responses, it's important for the allergist to ask both the parents and children about symptoms, activity limitations and adherence to medications to better understand and treat the child's condition.

"Asthma is a serious condition that results in more than 10.5 million missed schools days for children annually," said James Sublett, MD, chair of the ACAAI public relations committee. "It is important for children to tell their allergist about their symptoms so the best treatment can be provided and over-treating doesn't occur."

To help parents and their children understand the five most important topics they should discuss with their allergist, ACAAI has put together the following list.

Asthma prevents me from playing sports and taking part in other activities - If your child cannot play sports or participate in gym class and recess activities, it's important they tell their allergist. This can be an indication their asthma isn't properly controlled. If they can participate in activities, it is also important they tell their allergist, to show their condition is being well managed. When I am outside or at home my asthma symptoms become worse - An estimated 60 to 80 percent of children with asthma also have an allergy. If nearly inescapable allergens, such as pollen, mold, dust and pet dander are triggering your child's asthma symptoms, an allergist may include immunotherapy (allergy shots) as part of a treatment plan. I often feel sad or different from other kids because I have asthma - Nearly half of children with asthma report feeling depressed or left out of activities due to their condition. Anyone with asthma should be able to feel good and be active. No one should accept less. There have been times I have missed school because of my condition - Asthma is the most common chronic illness in childhood and is a leading caused in missed school days. Research shows children under the care of a board-certified allergist see a 77 percent reduction in lost time from school. My asthma disappeared - It is important your child carry and use their inhaler as prescribed, even if symptoms aren't bothersome. While asthma symptoms are controllable with the proper treatment, there isn't a cure for asthma and it likely won't disappear. An asthma attack can strike at any time.

Effective asthma control begins with the right diagnosis early in the disease by a board-certified allergist. Delays can lead to permanent lung damage.

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Decrease In Lower Limb Amputation

Main Category: Bones / Orthopedics
Also Included In: Diabetes;  Medicare / Medicaid / SCHIP
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Decrease In Lower Limb Amputation

There have been dramatic decreases in the number and severity of lower limb amputations over the past decade, according to a new study published in the July 2013 issue of Foot & Ankle International. At the same time, orthopaedic advances in treating diabetic foot ulcers have become more commonplace, hopefully decreasing the need for amputation.

The statistics on diabetes prevalence and impact are sobering. Nearly 26 million U.S. children and adults, or 8 percent of the population, have diabetes, says the American Diabetes Association. The number of people living with diabetes is expected to reach 44 million individuals by 2034. The economic cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States is $245 billion per year. Finally,diabetes is responsible for more than 60 percent of lower limb amputations from non-trauma causes.

Researchers at the University of Iowa Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation studied lower extremity amputation rates and diabetic foot ulcer treatments under Medicare claims over a 10-year period from 2000-2010. The rate of lower extremity amputations declined 28.8 percent over the decade, but the number of claims for orthopaedic treatments for diabetic foot ulcers rose 143.3 percent during the same time period. Phinit Phisitkul, MD, is senior author of the study "Declines in Lower Extremmity Amputation in the US Medicare Population, 2000-2010" published in the July 2013 issue of Foot & Ankle International, the journal of the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society.

"The shift in amputation level observed in the Medicare population is also quite striking," said Dr. Phisitkul. "Amputations at the upper and lower leg level are down 47 percent, while amputations at the partial toe level increased by 24 percent. What this means for patients is increased mobility, independence and survival rates."

At the same time that amputations were becoming less frequent, the frequency of orthopaedic treatments for diabetic foot ulcers rose significantly. The advances in orthopedic surgery include total contact casting, Achilles tendon release and calf muscle lengthening. These treatments help diabetic foot ulcers heal and help prevent their recurrence by relieving pressure where the ulcers tend to form.

"Further studies are required to determine the causes of the decrease in lower extremity amputation, which could be a combination of better preventive care, insulin control and the orthopaedic treatments. More work is also required to determine the best practices in preventing lower limb amputation," added Phisitkul.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our bones / orthopedics section for the latest news on this subject.

For further information on how to take care of diabetic feet, or to find a local orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeon, visit the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society patient website at http://www.footcaremd.org/.Foot & Ankle International is published by SAGE.

"Declines in Lower Extremity Amputation in the US Medicare Population, 2000-2010" by Daniel A. Belatti, BS and Phinit Phisitkul, MD published July 2013 in Foot & Ankle International. To read the full text of the article, free for a limited time, click here http://fai.sagepub.com/content/34/7/923.full.

SAGE Publications

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Rates Of Decline In Aging And Alzheimer's Disease Higher For Women

Main Category: Alzheimer's / Dementia
Also Included In: Seniors / Aging;  Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Rates Of Decline In Aging And Alzheimer's Disease Higher For Women

The rates of regional brain loss and cognitive decline caused by aging and the early stages of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are higher for women and for people with a key genetic risk factor for AD, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in a study published online in the American Journal of Neuroradiology.

The linkage between APOE e4 - which codes for a protein involved in binding lipids or fats in the lymphatic and circulatory systems - was already documented as the strongest known genetic risk factor for sporadic AD, the most common form of the disease. But the connection between the sex of a person and AD has been less-well recognized, according to the UC San Diego scientists.

"APOE e4 has been known to lower the age of onset and increase the risk of getting the disease," said the study's first author Dominic Holland, PhD, a researcher in the Department of Neurosciences at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "Previously we showed that the lower the age, the higher the rates of decline in AD. So it was important to examine the differential effects of age and APOE e4 on rates of decline, and to do this across the diagnostic spectrum for multiple clinical measures and brain regions, which had not been done before."

The scientists evaluated 688 men and women over the age of 65 participating in the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, a longitudinal, multi-institution study to track the progression of AD and its effects upon the structures and functions of the brain. They found that women with mild cognitive impairment (a condition precursory to AD diagnosis) experienced higher rates of cognitive decline than men; and that all women, regardless of whether or not they showed signs of dementia, experienced greater regional brain loss over time than did men. The magnitude of the sex effect was as large as that of the APOE e4 allele.

"Assuming larger population-based samples reflect the higher rates of decline for women than men, the question becomes what is so different about women," said Holland. Hormonal differences or change seems an obvious place to start, but Holland said this is largely unknown territory - at least regarding AD.

"Another important finding of this study is that men and women did not differ in the level of biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease pathology," said co-author Linda McEvoy, PhD, an associate professor in the UCSD Department of Radiology. "This suggests that brain volume loss in women may also be caused by factors other than Alzheimer's disease, or that in women, these pathologies are more toxic. We clearly need more research on how an individual's sex affects AD pathogenesis."

Holland acknowledged that the paper likely raises more questions than it answers. "There are many factors that may affect the sex differences we observed, such as whether the women in this study may have had higher rates of diabetes or insulin resistance than the men. We also do not know how the use of hormone replacement therapy, reproductive history or years since menopause may have affected these differences. All these issues need to be examined. There is no prevailing theory."

But he said that just as APOE e4 status identifies individuals at greater risk of AD, the sex of a person might prove an important determinant in future treatment as well. Currently, there is no cure for AD or any existing therapies that slow or stop disease progression.

"The biggest impact might be down the road when disease-modifying therapies become available," said Holland. "What works best for men might not work best for women. The same may be true for e4 carriers versus non-carriers."

He added that results also feed back into clinical trial design. The sex-makeup of the sample will affect the rates of decline for both natural progression (the placebo component) and, likely, the degree of disease modification in participants receiving therapy. So a sex-based sub-analysis might be appropriate.

"Additionally, in clinical practice it may be important to expect higher rates of decline for women patients, to help anticipate when stages of decline that significantly alter quality of life would be reached."

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our alzheimer's / dementia section for the latest news on this subject.

Co-authors include Rahul S. Desikan, Department of Radiology, and Anders M. Dale, Departments of Radiology and Neurosciences, UC San Diego.

This research was funded, in part, by National Institutes of Health grants R01AG031224, R01AG22381, U54NS056883, P50NS22343 and P50MH081755; National Institute on Aging grant K01AG029218; and NIH-National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering grant T32 EB005970.

University of California - San Diego

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Victims Of Forced Marriage Wary Of Social Services Due To Lack Of Cultural Understanding

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Victims Of Forced Marriage Wary Of Social Services Due To Lack Of Cultural Understanding

Victims of forced marriage and honour violence in the UK are hesitant to seek professional help because they are worried social workers will not understand their cultural differences, according to new research presented at Royal Holloway University.

Researchers at Royal Holloway have called for social workers to receive mandatory training on sensitive issues surrounding different cultures and religious backgrounds, so that they understand that normal practices, such as involving family members, may not be the best solution in forced marriage cases.

The study, which analysed the forced marriage experiences of both men and women from Indian and Pakistani communities, was presented at the University during the 15th annual UK Joint Social Work Education Conference.

"The forced marriage victims we interviewed recalled their experience as being the worst of their life", said one of the report's authors Stefan Brown, from the Department of Social Work at Royal Holloway. "Yet many victims are hesitant to seek professional help, either because they are unaware of the services available, they are worried non-Asians will not understand the cultural and familial pressures being placed on them or they are scared of the repercussions if they are caught.

"It is vital that social workers are pro-active in supporting victims and receive the necessary training so they understand the horror of what these young people are put through."

The report said that involving family members in discussions is normally considered good practice in the social work profession, but in domestic violence or forced marriage cases, this can instigate violent responses.

"Caution and confidentiality is essential, as well as cultural awareness. Forced marriage victims are subjected to emotional blackmail, physical violence and even death threats if it is thought they could damage the family's 'izzat', or honour. It is an issue that remains largely misunderstood, but one that causes misery for thousands of young people in the UK," Stefan added.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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Upward Trend Of Fertility Halted By Rising Unemployment Rates In European Countries

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: Fertility
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Upward Trend Of Fertility Halted By Rising Unemployment Rates In European Countries

The economic crisis has put measurable pressure on birth rates in Europe over the last decade. On average, the more the unemployment rose, the greater the decrease in fertility compared to the number of children per women expected without the crisis. This is the result of a new study performed by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) in Rostock, Germany. MPIDR demographers Michaela Kreyenfeld, Joshua Goldstein and Aiva Jasilioniene have just published their analysis together with Deniz Karaman Orsal of the Leuphana University, Lüneburg, in the open access journal Demographic Research (online).

The largest effect was seen in young adults. Europeans under the age of 25 have especially refrained from having children in the face of rising unemployment rates. The drop of children per woman was strongest for first births. That means, over the last decade young Europeans have particularly postponed family formation.

Whether this leads to less children throughout their life is an open question. Right now most might just intend to postpone when they have children, not if they have children. "Fertility plans can be revised more easily at younger ages than at ages where the biological limits of fertility are approaching," says MPIDR demographer Michaela Kreyenfeld. In fact, among those over 40, birth rates of first children didn't change due to rising unemployment.

If and how economic conditions influence fertility is one of the big open questions in demographic research. The new MPIDR study proves that the extent of joblessness in a contemporary European country does in fact have an effect on birth rates.

However, the strength of this connection varies since factors such as family policies and job security are different for every nation. For example, the birth rates in southern Europe are most strongly affected by higher unemployment. "This is reflective of the especially unstable job situation at the beginning of the working life in the southern countries," says demographer Kreyenfeld.

The consequences of the recession appear beginning around 2008. "The financial crisis hit Europe at a time when birth rates in many countries had just began rising again," says Michaela Kreyenfeld. The MPIDR had observed in earlier studies that the era of very low fertility in Europe had come to an end and that there had been a trend reversal from falling to increasing birth rates. "In some countries the crisis has just put a halt on the upward trend, in others birth rates actually declined," says Kreyenfeld. A noticeable setback occurred, for instance, in Spain, Hungary, Ireland, Croatia and Latvia. Spain experienced a particularly distinct change. Starting at a rate of 1.24 children per woman at the beginning of the millennium, fertility had risen every single year, reaching 1.47 in 2008. In 2009, however, the birth rate dropped to 1.40 after the unemployment rate jumped from 8.3 percent in 2008 to 11.3 percent in 2009. Spanish fertility continued falling to 1.36 in 2011 (no more recent data is available).

Formerly growing rates came to a halt in countries such as the Czech Republic, Poland, the United Kingdom and Italy. Some nations seemed to experience only weak or no effect from rising joblessness, like Russia or Lithuania. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland the analysis did not yield significant results. In these countries unemployment rates did not rise much or not at all. For Germany they even fell. (Charts with birth rates and unemployment rates for all 28 countries can be found on an additional data sheet online.)

The researchers used data from 2001 to 2010 for their study (some countries up to 2011). It is possible that the negative effects of the crisis on birth rates continue.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
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Study Of Dogs With Microchimerism Should Improve Understanding Of Disease In Humans

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Study Of Dogs With Microchimerism Should Improve Understanding Of Disease In Humans

Some people possess a small number of cells in their bodies that are not genetically their own; this condition is known as microchimerism. It is difficult to determine potential health effects from this condition because of humans' relatively long life-spans. Now, researchers at the University of Missouri have found that microchimerism can be found in dogs as well. Jeffrey Bryan, an associate professor of oncology at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine and director of Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory, says this discovery will help doctors determine what diseases humans with microchimerism may be more likely to develop during their lifetimes.

"Dogs have a much shorter lifespan than humans, which allows us, as researchers, to better monitor what diseases they may develop throughout their entire lives," Bryan said. "We already have some evidence that microchimerism may increase risk of thyroid disease while lowering the risk of breast cancer in women. Finding microchimerism in dogs allows us to track this condition over a lifespan of about 10 years, as opposed to the 70 or 80 years of a human life. This will make it much easier to determine any increased risk of or protection from other diseases brought on by microchimerism."

"Our study demonstrates that male microchimerism of probable fetal origin occurs in the pet dog population," said Sandra Axiak-Bechtel, an assistant professor of oncology at the MU College of Veterinary Medicine. "Evidence exists in women that fetal microchimerism may have conflicting roles in disease formation. The pet dog represents an excellent model of many ailments in people, and the presence of fetal microchimerism in dogs will allow studies which further clarify its role in health and disease."

Microchimerism most often occurs when a mother gives birth to a child. Sometimes, cells from that child are left in the mothers' body and continue to live, despite being of a different genetic makeup than surrounding cells. Those cells can then be passed on to other children the mother may have later. Cells also can be passed on through blood transfusions as well as bone marrow and organ transplants.

In their study published in PLOS ONE, Bryan and Axiak-Bechtel, along with MU researchers Senthil Kumar, a co-investigator in this study and assistant research professor and assistant director of the Comparative Oncology and Epigenetics Laboratory, and Sara Hansen, a comparative medicine resident at MU, studied 90 golden retrievers and found that 36 percent of the dogs had microchimerism. Closer to 40 percent of female dogs that were at least eight years post-pregnancy had the condition.

Axiak-Bechtel, Bryan, and Kumar plan on continuing their research to follow the lifespans of dogs with microchimerism to determine to what diseases those dogs may be susceptible. Bryan and Kumar also received a new grant for more than $400,000 to study epigenetic biomarkers in dogs, which will ultimately enhance diagnosis and treatment of dogs with cancer.

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Don't Worry, Be Happy: Positive Outlook Linked To Reduction In Cardiac Events Such As Heart Attacks

Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Heart Disease;  Cardiovascular / Cardiology
Article Date: 12 Jul 2013 - 0:00 PDT Current ratings for:
Don't Worry, Be Happy: Positive Outlook Linked To Reduction In Cardiac Events Such As Heart Attacks

People with cheerful temperaments are significantly less likely to suffer a coronary event such as a heart attack or sudden cardiac death, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

Previous research has shown that depressed and anxious people are more likely to have heart attacks and to die from them than those whose dispositions are sunnier. But the Johns Hopkins researchers say their study shows that a general sense of well-being - feeling cheerful, relaxed, energetic and satisfied with life - actually reduces the chances of a heart attack.

A report on the research is published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

"If you are by nature a cheerful person and look on the bright side of things, you are more likely to be protected from cardiac events," says study leader Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H., an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "A happier temperament has an actual effect on disease and you may be healthier as a result."

Yanek cautioned that cheerful personalities are likely part of the temperament we are born with, not something we can easily change. While some have suggested it's possible that people lucky enough to have such a trait are also more likely to take better care of themselves and have more energy to do so, Yanek says her research shows that people with higher levels of well-being still had many risk factors for coronary disease but had fewer serious heart events.

She emphasized that the mechanisms behind the protective effect of positive well-being remain unclear. She also noted that her research offers insights into the interactions between mind and body, and could yield clues to those mechanisms in the future.

For the study, Yanek and her colleagues first looked at data from GeneSTAR (Genetic Study of Atherosclerosis Risk), a 25-year Johns Hopkins project sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to determine the roots of heart disease in people with a family history of coronary disease. They analyzed information gathered from 1,483 healthy siblings of people who had coronary events before the age of 60 and who were followed for five to 25 years. Siblings of people with early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) are twice as likely of developing it themselves.

Among other things, study participants filled out well-being surveys and received a score, on a scale of 0 to 110, which gauged cheerful mood, level of concern about health, whether they were relaxed as opposed to anxious, energy level and life satisfaction. Over the course of an average 12-year follow-up, the researchers documented 208 coronary events - heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, acute coronary syndrome, and the need for stents or bypass surgery - in the sibling group.

The researchers found that participants' positive well-being was associated with a one-third reduction in coronary events; among those deemed at the highest risk for a coronary event, there was nearly a 50 percent reduction. The findings took into account other heart disease risk factors such as age, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

To validate their result, the researchers then looked at similar information in a general population using data from 5,992 participants in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In this population, over an average 16-year follow-up, there were 1,226 coronary events (20.5 percent). They found that this group also benefitted from a cheerful temperament, which reduced their risk of a coronary event by 13 percent.

The findings held whether the participants were white or African-American, men or women.

Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release. Click 'references' tab above for source.
Visit our psychology / psychiatry section for the latest news on this subject. The research was supported in part by grants from the National Institutes of Health's National Institute of Nursing Research (NR02241), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01 HL49762 and R01 HL59684) and National Center for Research Resources (M01 RR00052) to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine General Clinical Research Center.

Other Johns Hopkins researchers contributing to this study include Brian G. Kral, M.D., M.P.H.; Taryn F. Moy, M.S.; Dhananjay Vaidya, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., M.P.H.; Mariana Lazo, M.D., Ph.D., Sc.M.; Lewis C. Becker, M.D.; and Diane Becker, Sc.D., M.P.H.

Johns Hopkins Medicine

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