Sexual dimorphism in shape and size of the neurocranium

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Sex identification is a primary step in forensic analysis of skeletal remains. The accuracy of sex estimation methods greatly depends on the sexual...     

The Associations of Dietary Inflammatory Potential With Musculoskeletal Health in Chinese Community-Dwelling Older People: The Mr. OS and Ms. OS (Hong Kong) Cohort Study

Inflammation, an important contributory factor of muscle and bone aging, is potentially modulated by diet. This study examined the associations of dietary inflammatory index (DII) score with musculoskeletal parameters and related disease outcomes in 3995 community-dwelling Chinese men and women aged ≥65 years in Hong Kong. DII score at baseline was estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. Bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle mass estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), hand grip strength, gait speed, and chair stand test were measured at baseline, year 4, and year 14. The associations of DII score with the longitudinal changes of musculoskeletal parameters, and incidence of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and fractures were examined by using general linear model, multinomial logistic regression model, and Cox proportional hazards regression model, respectively. After multiple adjustments, each tertile increase in DII score in men was associated with 0.37 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10–0.64) kg loss in grip strength and 0.02 (95% CI, 0.01–0.03) m/s loss in gait speed over 4 years. In men, the highest tertile of DII was associated with a higher risk of incident fractures, with adjusted and competing death adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) of 1.56 (1.14–2.14) and 1.40 (1.02–1.91), respectively. In women, DII score was not significantly associated with any muscle-related outcomes or incidence of fracture, but a significant association between higher DII score and risk of osteoporosis at year 14 was observed, with the highest tertile of DII score having adjusted odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) of 1.90 (1.03–3.52). In conclusion, pro-inflammatory diet consumption promoted loss of muscle strength and physical function, and increased risk of fractures in older Chinese men. Pro-inflammatory diets had no significant association with muscle related outcomes but increased the long-term risk of osteoporosis in older Chinese women. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Psychosocial mechanisms of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence of prostate cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: We examined underlying psychosocial processes of a behavioral treatment for urinary incontinence (UI) of prostate cancer survivors.

Design: Secondary analysis of data collected from a clinical trial.

Sample: Two hundred forty-four prostate cancer survivors who participated in a clinical trial of behavioral intervention to UI as intervention or control subjects.

Methods: The participants had a 3-month behavioral intervention or usual care and were followed up for an additional 3?months. They were assessed at baseline, 3, and 6?months. Latent growth curve models were performed to examine trajectories of each study variable and relationships among the variables.

Findings: Increasing self-efficacy and social support were significantly and independently associated with more reduction of urinary leakage frequency over time.

Implications for psychosocial oncology: Providing problem-solving skills and social support, including peer support, are essential for empowering patients to reduce UI.     

电子线照射对小鼠胰岛素生长因子相关蛋白表达的影响

目的：探讨电子线对胰岛素生长因子-1家族蛋白表达的影响，为研究辐射对肝脏的早期损伤提供依据。方法：采用电子线照射小鼠，照射剂量为1、2、4 Gy，用Western blot法检测照射后12、48和72 h小鼠肝脏中胰岛素生长因子1受体（IGF-1R）、胰岛素生长因子结合蛋白1（IGFBP1）、胰岛素生长因子结合蛋白4（IGFBP4）和胰岛素生长因子1（IGF-1）蛋白表达水平的改变。结果：照射剂量为1 Gy时，与对照组相比，IGF-1蛋白在照射后48 h时表达增加，IGFBP1、IGFBP4和IGF1R蛋白的表达在照射后12、48和72 h均表达减少。照射剂量为2 Gy时，IGF-1和IGFBP4蛋白在照射后48 h时表达增加，其余时间点表达减少。IGFBP1蛋白在照射后12 h时表达增加，48和72 h时表达减少。IGF1R蛋白在照射后3个时间点均呈现为表达减少。照射剂量4 Gy时，肝脏中IGF-1、IGFBP1和IGFBP4蛋白均表达减少，IGF1R蛋白在照射后12 h时表达增加，48、72 h时均表达减少（均为P < 0.05）。结论：电子线照射后小鼠肝脏中胰岛素生长因子-1家族蛋白多以下调表达为主，与前期基因表达的结果相一致，有可能作为反映放射性工作人员早期肝脏损伤的生物标志物之一。