Fatalism and Cardio-Metabolic Dysfunction in Mexican–American Women

Background

Mexican-American women are disproportionately vulnerable to cardio-metabolic dysfunction and related health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Research shows that low socioeconomic status contributes to this populations excess vulnerability to cardio-metabolic dysfunction, but little is known about the contribution of cultural factors to these associations.

Purpose

The current study explored the association between fatalism and cardio-metabolic dysfunction in a randomly selected community cohort of middle-aged Mexican–American women and examined whether fatalism could be conceptualized as a pathway linking socioeconomic status to cardio-metabolic dysfunction in this population.

Method

Participants included 300 women (ages 40–65), recruited from San Diego communities located near the Mexican border, who completed a self-administered survey battery and underwent a fasting clinical exam between the years 2006 and 2009.

Results

Linear regression analyses and mediation analyses utilizing bootstrapping procedures were performed to test study hypotheses. After controlling for age, menopausal status, and acculturation level, fatalism was associated with cardio-metabolic dysfunction. Although slightly attenuated, this relationship persisted after accounting for socioeconomic status. In addition, individuals of low socioeconomic status displayed more fatalistic beliefs and higher cardio-metabolic dysfunction after accounting for relevant covariates. Finally, the indirect effect of socioeconomic status on cardio-metabolic dysfunction via fatalism reached statistical significance.

Conclusions

Fatalism may be an important independent risk factor for cardio-metabolic dysfunction in Mexican–American women as well as a mechanism linking socioeconomic status to cardio-metabolic health.     

A systematic review of sugammadex vs neostigmine for reversal of neuromuscular blockade

We reviewed systematically sugammadex vs neostigmine for reversing neuromuscular blockade. We included 17 randomised controlled trials with 1553 participants. Sugammadex reduced all signs of residual postoperative paralysis, relative risk (95% CI) 0.46 (0.29–0.71), p = 0.0004 and minor respiratory events, relative risk (95% CI) 0.51 (0.32–0.80), p = 0.0034. There was no difference in critical respiratory events, relative risk (95% CI) 0.13 (0.02–1.06), p = 0.06. Sugammadex reduced drug‐related side‐effects, relative risk (95% CI) 0.72 (0.54–0.95), p = 0.02. There was no difference in the rate of postoperative nausea or the rate of postoperative vomiting, relative risk (95% CI) 0.94 (0.79–1.13), p = 0.53, and 0.87 (0.65–1.17), p = 0.36 respectively.     

Locus assignment of two alpha-globin structural mutants from the Caribbean basin: alpha Fort de France (alpha 45 Arg) and alpha Spanish Town (alpha 27 Val)

Two alpha-globin structural mutants were mapped to their encoding loci by in vitro translation of hybrid-selected alpha 1- and alpha 2-globin mRNA. The more highly expressed mutant, alpha Spanish Town (alpha 27Val), is encoded at the alpha 2 locus and the less expressed mutant, alpha Fort de France (alpha 45Arg), is encoded at the alpha 1 locus. These results further define the distribution of alpha-globin structural mutations within the alpha-globin gene cluster and substantiate the dominant role of the alpha 2-globin locus in alpha- globin expression.     

KiSS-1/G protein-coupled receptor 54 metastasis suppressor pathway increases myocyte-enriched calcineurin interacting protein 1 expression and chronically inhibits calcineurin activity

OBJECTIVE: Tumor metastasis is a critical determinant of death from cancer. Metastin, a product of the KiSS-1 gene, is an endogenously expressed metastasis suppressor that is the ligand for G protein-coupled receptor 54 (GPR54), a Gq/11-coupled receptor. In the present study, our goal was to define the basis of GPR54 action using thyroid cancer cells as a model. DESIGN AND RESULTS: We used GPR54-null thyroid cancer cells to create a stable GPR54 overexpression model. Cell growth and cell migration of the GPR54-expressing lines were inhibited by recombinant metastin, and metastin stimulated the protein kinase C, ERK, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase pathways. To identify metastin-regulated genes, we performed microarray analyses using RNA isolated from GPR54 stable transfectants before and after 1 and 24 h of metastin stimulation. Consistent increases in expression of the gene encoding myocyte-enriched calcineurin interacting protein 1 (MCIP-1), an inhibitor of calcineurin, were identified and confirmed using real-time RT-PCR and Western blot. Functionally, metastin treatment of GPR54-expressing cells initially increased calcineurin activity, followed by a prolonged reduction in calcineurin activity for 24 and 48 h, consistent with the pattern of MCIP-1 expression. In addition, treatment with cyclosporin A, a calcineurin inhibitor, blocked cell migration. Lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancers demonstrated loss of MCIP-1 expression in comparison with primary tumors. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest a role for MCIP-1 and calcineurin inhibition in GPR54-mediated metastasis suppression in human cancers.     

Chlamydia trachomatis infection among HIV-infected women attending an AIDS clinic in the city of Manaus,Brazil

This was a cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of and to identify risk factors for Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected women attending the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) clinic in the city of Manaus, Brazil, in 2009-2010. Participants answered a questionnaire containing demographic, epidemiological, and clinical data. A genital specimen was collected during examination to detect CT-DNA by hybrid capture, and blood samples were taken to determine CD4⁺T and HIV viral load. There were 329 women included in the study. Median age was 32 years (IQR = 27-38) and median schooling was nine years (IQR = 4-11). The prevalence of CT was 4.3% (95%CI: 2.1-6.5). Logistic regression analysis showed that age between 18-29 years [OR = 4.1(95%CI: 1.2-13.4)] and complaint of pelvic pain [OR = 3.7 (95%CI: 1.2-12.8)] were independently associated with CT. The use of condom was inversely associated with CT [OR = 0.39 (95%CI: 0.1-0.9)]. The results showed that younger women who did not use condoms are at a higher risk for CT. Screening for sexually transmitted infections must be done routinely and safe sexual practices should be promoted among this population.     

Postinfectious gastrointestinal disorders following norovirus outbreaks

Background.?The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 20.9 million norovirus infections annually in the United States. Although the acute disease burden is sizeable, emerging data suggest norovirus may be associated with chronic gastrointestinal problems. We identified known outbreaks in US military recruits and used the Defense Medical Encounter Database (DMED) to identify the risk of new onset functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGD) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods.?Subjects reporting for care of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) at a military treatment clinic during 3 known norovirus outbreaks were identified. Each AGE subject was matched with up to 4 subjects with unrelated medical encounters. Medical encounter data were analyzed for the duration of military service time (or a minimum of 1 year) to assess for incident FGD or GERD. Relative risks were calculated using regression models. Results.?We identified 1718 subjects from 3 outbreaks. After controlling for important demographic covariates, the incidence of constipation, dyspepsia, and GERD was approximately 1.5-old higher (P?相似文献