Beneficial effects of an investigational wristband containing Synsepalum dulcificum (miracle fruit) seed oil on the performance of hand and finger motor skills in healthy subjects: A randomized controlled preliminary study

Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) seed oil (MFSO) contains phytochemicals and nutrients reported to affect musculoskeletal performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of a compression wristband containing MFSO on its ability to measurably improve the hand and finger motor skills of participants. Healthy right‐handed participants (n = 38) were randomized in this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study of MFSO and vehicle wristbands. Subjects wore the wristband on their left hand 4–6 weeks and then only on their right hand 2–4 weeks; the contralateral untreated hand served as an additional control. Twelve hand/finger motor skills were measured using quantitative bio‐instrumentation tests, and subject self‐assessment questionnaires were conducted. With each hand, in 9/12 tests, the MFSO group showed a clinically meaningful average improvement compared with an average worsening in the vehicle group. Statistical superiority to the control treatment group was exhibited in 9/12 tests for each hand (p < .01). After discontinuing the MFSO wristband on the left hand, test values regressed toward baseline levels. Subjects favored the MFSO wristband over the control, rating it as effective in improving their motor skills. Use of the MFSO wristband may improve an individual's manual dexterity skills and ability to maintain this performance.     

Variations in apolipoprotein E frequency with age in a pooled analysis of a large group of older people

Variation in the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) has been reported to be associated with longevity in humans. The authors assessed the allelic distribution of APOE isoforms ε2, ε3, and ε4 among 10,623 participants from 15 case-control and cohort studies of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in populations of European ancestry (study dates ranged from 1990 to 2009). The authors included only the 10,623 control subjects from these studies who were classified as having no evidence of AMD, since variation within the APOE gene has previously been associated with AMD. In an analysis stratified by study center, gender, and smoking status, there was a decreasing frequency of the APOE ε4 isoform with increasing age (χ(2) for trend = 14.9 (1 df); P = 0.0001), with a concomitant increase in the ε3 isoform (χ(2) for trend = 11.3 (1 df); P = 0.001). The association with age was strongest in ε4 homozygotes; the frequency of ε4 homozygosity decreased from 2.7% for participants aged 60 years or less to 0.8% for those over age 85 years, while the proportion of participants with the ε3/ε4 genotype decreased from 26.8% to 17.5% across the same age range. Gender had no significant effect on the isoform frequencies. This study provides strong support for an association of the APOE gene with human longevity.     

Association of Overweight and Obesity with Breast Cancer in India

Background:

In women, cancer of the breast is one of the most common incident cancer and cause of death from cancer. Anthropometric factors of weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) have been associated with breast cancer risk.

Objectives:

To study the association of overweight and obesity with breast cancer in India.

Materials and Methods:

A hospital-based matched case-control study was conducted. Three hundred and twenty newly diagnosed breast cancer patients and three hundred and twenty normal healthy individuals constituted the study population. The subjects in the control group were matched individually with the patients for their age ±2 years and socioeconomic status. Anthropometric measurements of weight and height were recorded utilizing the standard equipments and methodology. The paired ‘t’ test and univariate logistic regression analysis were carried out.

Results:

It was observed that the patients had a statistically higher mean weight, body mass index, and mid upper arm circumference as compared to the controls. It was observed that the risk of breast cancer increased with increasing levels of BMI. Overweight and obese women had Odd''s redio of 1.06 and 2.27, respectively, as compared to women with normal weight.

Conclusions:

The results of the present study revealed a strong association of overweight and obesity with breast cancer in the Indian population.     

The health educator's role in advocacy and policy: principles, processes, programs, and partnerships

Advocacy skills are essential for the public health practitioner. Recognizing this need, two statewide public health organizations partnered for a series of advocacy trainings. Outcomes included an increased competence for such advocacy as providing expert testimony, writing position papers, forging stronger relationships with policy makers, and committing to ongoing advocacy. An increase in statewide initiatives also included a legislative scorecard, development of a model advocacy network by voting districts, advocacy policy for associations, fact sheets for legislators on pending public health issues, a new university advocacy course, and advocacy action by two associations' members to reach common goals. The trainings and subsequent initiatives provide a template for organizations and individuals to build advocacy skills and increase the role of public health professionals in setting state public health policy.     

Long-term human blood cultures: application to circulating progenitor cell autografting

Peripheral blood cells collected by cytapheresis from patients with acute leukemia following induction therapy or with multiple myeloma off-therapy, were maintained in a one-stage long-term liquid culture system. The data indicate that: (1) blood-derived granulopoietic proliferation can be sustained for up to 8 weeks with generation of CFU-GM in a way similar to bone marrow cells; and (2) this normal hematopoiesis can be sustained in spite of the absence of any development of a substantial stromal adherent layer, which suggests that, unlike hematopoiesis from bone marrow, the blood-derived non-adherent cell population is a self-sustaining compartment. While autologous transplantation with peripheral progenitor cells is gaining importance as an alternative to autologous bone marrow transplantation, this study suggests that circulating progenitor cells may have a different behavior from marrow cells. This observation may be relevant to the understanding of cases of defective hematopoietic reconstitution.     

Stimulatory effects of plasma from patients with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia on early erythroid progenitors and pluripotent stem cells

To examine mechanisms of cytopenia in acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), we determined whether leukemic plasma (LP) contains growth-promoting factors that support mammalian erythroid progenitor and pluripotential stem cell proliferation in vitro. When added to serum-free cultures of human bone marrow and peripheral blood cells, LP from anemic patients with ANLL stimulated erythroid burst formation to greater levels than did normal human plasma (p less than 0.05 for each). While LP also enhanced erythroid burst development in murine bone marrow cells, preincubation of marrow cells with LP did not alter the formation of splenic colonies (CFU-S-derived colonies) in irradiated mice (p greater than 0.10). To determine whether erythropoietin or other growth factors (functionally similar to burst-promoting activity, BPA) are important in mediating the erythropoietic effects observed in vitro, LP was preabsorbed with monospecific IgG raised against human erythropoietin or human BPA. Although elevated erythropoietin levels were found in each LP, preabsorption with antierythropoietin IgG did not alter its capacity to enhance human burst formation. In contrast, preabsorption with antimembrane IgG capable of recognizing human BPA abrogated the stimulatory effects of LP (p less than 0.05). In addition, LP was found to increase the percentage of murine CFU-S that are synthesizing DNA by the (3H) Tdr suicide technique, an effect which was not abrogated by preabsorption of LP with monospecific IgG raised against human BPA. We conclude that both erythropoietin and BPA are appropriately increased in ANLL. In addition, a factor is present in LP which induces DNA replication in murine pluripotential stem cells.     

The effect of graded unilateral testicular biopsy on the reproductive capacity of male rats

Fifty adult rats were subjected to unilateral testicular biopsy removing either 0.01, 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 cc of testicular parenchyma. In addition, 20 rats underwent either hemicastration or sham surgery. After a 30-day recovery period each male was housed with two cycling females for 20 days. At the end of this breeding trial the percentage of fertile males, percentage of pregnant females and resulting embryo scores (no. of embryos X size of embryos) were determined for each group of male rats. After an additional 30 days (60 days post-biopsy) a second breeding trial was performed so as to note any long-term changes in fertility. In addition to the fertility parameters, mean seminiferous tubule diameters and serum testosterone levels were noted. After the first breeding trial the percentage of fertile males and percentage of pregnant females were inversely proportional to the amount of biopsy material removed (p less than 0.05). However, the hemicastrate and sham-operated groups did not differ from the O cc control animals. The results of the second breeding trial showed a significant improvement in the percentage of females becoming pregnant (p less than 0.05) and a tendency for improvement in the percentage of fertile males when compared to data of the first breeding trial. In addition, we found the mean seminiferous tubular diameter of the biopsied testes to be inversely proportional to the size of the biopsy (p less than 0.01) with no apparent effect on the contralateral testes. We conclude that removing relatively large amounts of testicular parenchyma during unilateral testicular biopsy transiently affects male reproductive capacity, at least in the healthy animal model studied here.     

An immunoenzyme method of determining pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein]

Methods for purification of pregnancy-associated alpha 2-glycoprotein, obtained antibodies to it, and enzyme immunoassay of this protein are described. Enzyme immunoassay permits measurement of this protein in blood serum and mononuclear cell cultures in a wide range of concentrations. The method sensitivity may be improved by removing the antibodies cross-reacting with animal proteins.