COL11A1 gene is associated with limbus vertebra in gymnasts

Several studies have shown higher frequencies of radiological abnormalities among gymnasts. Recently, the gene encoding the α1 chain of type XI collagen, (COL11A1) (rs 1676486), was associated with lumbar disc herniation in the Japanese population. We hypothesized that there was a significant relationship between abnormal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of the lumbar spine and the COL11A1 4603C/T gene polymorphism in collegiate gymnasts. Our study participants included 103 Japanese collegiate gymnasts (70 men and 33 women). Radiological abnormalities were evaluated using T1- and T2-weighted MRI. Genotyping for COL11A1 was performed for all the participants. By using logistic regression analysis, we observed significant associations between limbus vertebra and age (adjusted odds ratio=0.51, 95% confidence interval: 0.27-0.96), sporting experience (adjusted odds ratio=1.49, 95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.94), and a TT genotype (adjusted odds ratio=7.83, 95% confidence interval: 1.33-46.03). We conclude that a TT genotype of COL11A1 polymorphism may be a significant risk factor for limbus vertebra in Japanese collegiate gymnasts.     

The effect of a healthy school tuck shop program on the access of students to healthy foods

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a healthy school tuck shop program, developed as a way of creating a healthy and nutritional school environment, on students'' access to healthy foods. Five middle schools and four high schools (775 students) participated in the healthy school tuck shop program, and nine schools (1,282 students) were selected as the control group. The intervention program included restriction of unhealthy foods sold in tuck shops, provision of various fruits, and indirect nutritional education with promotion of healthy food products. The program evaluation involved the examination of students'' purchase and intake patterns of healthy foods, satisfaction with the available foodstuffs, and utilization of and satisfaction with nutritional educational resources. Our results indicated that among of the students who utilized the tuck shop, about 40% purchased fruit products, showing that availability of healthy foods in the tuck shop increased the accessibility of healthy foods for students. Overall food purchase and intake patterns did not significantly change during the intervention period. However, students from the intervention schools reported higher satisfaction with the healthy food products sold in the tuck shop than did those from the control schools (all P < 0.001), and they were highly satisfied with the educational resources provided to them. In conclusion, the healthy school tuck shop program had a positive effect on the accessibility of healthy food. The findings suggest that a healthy school tuck shop may be an effective environmental strategy for promoting students'' access to healthy foods.     

Sonoelastography findings of biceps tendinitis and tendinosis

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate sonoelastography (SE) in the assessment of the long head of biceps tendon (LHBT) in patients with symptoms of biceps tendinitis or tendinosis and in patients without biceps lesion. The findings were compared with those obtained at clinical examination, using ultrasonography (US).

Materials and methods

36 shoulders of 34 consecutively registered patients with clinical symptoms and US findings of biceps tendinitis or tendinosis, and 114 shoulders of 98 patients without biceps lesions were assessed with SE. Transverse and longitudinal images of LHBT were obtained using SE. SE images were evaluated by reviewers using an experimentally proven color grading system.

Results

The transverse images of SE showed a mean sensitivity of 69.4 %, a mean specificity of 95.6 % and a mean accuracy of 89.3 %. Good correlation of conventional ultrasound findings was found (p < 0.001, r = 0.763). The longitudinal images of SE showed a mean sensitivity of 94.4 %, a mean specificity of 92.1 % and a mean accuracy of 92.7 %. Good correlation of conventional ultrasound findings was found (p < 0.001, r = 0.585). Inter-observer reliability of SE was in “almost perfect agreement” with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.84.

Conclusions

SE has potential to be clinically useful in the detection of the intratendinous and peritendinous alterations of LHBT and has excellent accuracy and excellent correlation with conventional ultrasound findings.     

Prevaccination antibody titers can estimate the immune response to influenza vaccine in a rural community-dwelling elderly population

Influenza and its complications are related to increased morbidity and mortality in elderly persons. Influenza vaccination is an important strategy to minimize the excess morbidity and mortality caused by influenza infection. Influenza epidemics start in November and continue to March in the next year, but it is not clear if the immunization-induced antibody titer lasts throughout the influenza season. One hundred eighty-two rural community-dwelling elderly persons older than 61 years were immunized with one dose of influenza vaccine in the 2005-2006 influenza season, and the antibody response after vaccination was investigated. Both the antibody titers and seroprotection rates were significantly higher four weeks after the vaccination but decreased markedly at 22 weeks after the vaccination. Analysis of the factors affecting the antibody response showed that those who have a low antibody titer before vaccination (‘seronegative’) do not acquire enough antibody with one dose of influenza vaccine. Neither age nor vaccination in the previous year was related to the antibody response after vaccination. These findings suggest that future clinical trials should be performed to determine if a second booster vaccination maintains the titer.     

Factors associated with subjective quality of life in Korean patients with depressive disorders: the CRESCEND study

Purpose

A number of studies suggest that depression is associated with the significant disability and the poorer subjective quality of life (QOL). We aimed to assess subjective QOL in Korean patients with depression and explore the factors (sociodemographic characteristics and clinical features) associated with subjective QOL.

Methods

We obtained the data from 808 depressive patients who entered the Clinical Research Center for Depression (CRESCEND) study and evaluated the relationship between subjective QOL and personal sociodemographics, and various clinical features, including depressive severity, and subjective QOL. We assessed subjective QOL using the 26-item abbreviated version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) instrument.

Results

Decrements in patients?? physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and environment domains of subjective QOL were all strongly associated with the greater depressive symptom severity. After controlling for age and depressive symptom severity, the lower subjective QOL was independently related to being divorced or separated, the less monthly household income, and having no religious practices.

Conclusion

Our results suggest the importance of sociodemographic characteristics in addition to symptoms for the understanding of subjective QOL in depressed patients. The prospective studies to compare the different treatments?? effects on various subjective QOL domains are needed.     

Comparison of PET Imaging with 64Cu-Liposomes and 18F-FDG in the 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-Induced Hamster Buccal Pouch Model of Oral Dysplasia and Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose

Currently, 2-deoxy-2-[¹⁸F]fluoro-d-glucose (¹⁸F-FDG) is the gold standard radiotracer for staging of head and neck cancer; however, the low sensitivity of this tracer can impede detection of early lesions. ⁶⁴Cu-liposomes accumulate in various cancers and provide both a sensitive tracer and an indication of the biodistribution of nanotherapeutics. Here, the accumulation of ⁶⁴Cu-liposomes in early and established cancers is assessed and compared with ¹⁸F-FDG in a head and neck cancer model.

Methods

Lesions ranging from mild dysplasia to squamous cell carcinoma were induced in a hamster model of head and neck cancer by topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to the buccal pouch. The hamsters were imaged with micro-positron emission tomography using ¹⁸F-FDG and ⁶⁴Cu-liposomes.

Results

At 24 h postinjection, ⁶⁴Cu-liposome accumulation exceeded the accumulation of ¹⁸F-FDG in every pathologic grade. The lesion-to-cheek pouch (background) ratio and lesion-to-brain ratio were also higher for ⁶⁴Cu-liposomes than for ¹⁸F-FDG.

Conclusion

Imaging of a nanotracer such as ⁶⁴Cu-liposomes can improve the visualization of head and neck tumors. Accumulation of liposomal particles in head and neck tumors over various pathologic grades averaged 3.5 %ID/cc demonstrating the potential for liposomal therapy with targeted chemotherapeutic agents.