Body fat measurement in Indian men: comparison of three methods based on a two-compartment model

Obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes and related disorders. The current classification of obesity is based on body mass index (BMI, kg/m(2)), which is a surrogate for the total body fat. Since the relationship between BMI and body fat varies in different populations, an independent validation of the BMI-body fat relationship in the population of interest is desirable. OBJECTIVES: (1) To study the validity of field methods of measuring body fat (multiple skinfolds and bioimpedance) against a criterion method (deuterium dilution) and (2) To compare the prevalence of obesity (WHO 2000 criteria for BMI) with adiposity (body fat >25%) in middle-aged Indian men in rural and urban Pune. DESIGN: Community-based multistage stratified random sampling of middle-aged men from rural and urban Pune for study of body composition and cardiovascular risk. A third of these men, selected to represent wide BMI distribution, were studied for body fat measurements by specific methods. SUBJECTS: A total of 141 healthy men, approximately similar number from rural, urban slums and middle class from Pune. They were 39.3 (+/-6.2) y old and had a BMI of 21.9 (+/-3.7) kg/m(2). MEASUREMENTS: Anthropometry (height, weight and multiple skinfold thicknesses) by trained observers using standardised technique to calculate body fat by Durnin and Womersley's equation. Total body water and body fat by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and deuterium oxide dilution (D(2)O). RESULTS: Mean total body fat was 14.3 kg (23.0%) by anthropometry, 16.5 kg (26.0%) by BIA and 15.3 kg (24.6%) by D(2)O method. Although there was a good correlation between fat estimation by three methods (r= approximately 0.9, P<0.001 all), compared to D(2)O method anthropometry underestimated body fat by 1.0 kg and BIA overestimated fat by 1.2 kg (P<0.001 both). Using the standard cut-point of 25% body fat for 'adiposity' 29.5% rural, 46.0% slum and 75.0% middle class men were adipose. These proportions were considerably higher than the number of men who were 'preobese' (BMI> or =25-29.9 kg/m(2), 9.0% rural, 22.0% urban slums and 27.0% urban middle class) and 'obese' (BMI >30 kg/m(2), 4.0% urban slums, none in rural and urban middle class). CONCLUSION: We recommend that future studies assessing risk for chronic diseases in Indians should measure adiposity by anthropometry (multiple skinfolds) or BIA (calibrated for Indians) rather than relying only on BMI cut-points.     

Research on tuberculosis in tribal areas in India: A systematic review

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in resource-poor countries including India. Scientific knowledge is used to guide policy and practice. There is however, a limited, systematically collected data required for guiding the scale-up of interventions particularly amongst vulnerable populations including tribal groups in the country. In view of this, a systematic review of the TB research studies carried out in tribal areas of different parts of the country was undertaken.

Cervical lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa: a retrospective study on pattern of involvement and clinical analysis

Background The study was performed with an aim to map the pattern of metastasis of squamous cell carcinomas of buccal mucosa to various cervical lymph node levels and analyze its correlation with primary tumor size and histo-pathological grading. Material and Methods 254 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa treated with surgery first approach were analyzed retrospectively. The tumor size was noted from pre-operative CT Scans and were divided into early and advanced tumors. The resected specimen was studied to note the histo-pathological grading of the squamous cell carcinoma and the metastatic deposits at various lymph node levels. Results Out of 254 patients (149 females, 105 males), 145 patients showed histo-pathologically proven metastatic deposits in one or more lymph nodes out of which there were 56 patients showing occult metastasis. 78/145 patients showed metastatic involvement of level IB and/or IA lymph nodes, 31 showed involvement of level II and/or I lymph nodes, 27 showed involvement of level III with or without involvement of level I and II and 9 showed metastasis to level IV and V lymph nodes with or without level I, II or III lymph nodes. Cervical lymph node metastasis had statistically significant association with tumor size with advanced tumors showing worse pattern of metastatic spread beyond level I and II lymph nodes. As the degree of differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma reduced, they were more prone for cervical metastasis with moderately and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma showing higher involvement of level III, IV and V lymph nodes. Conclusions The majority of buccal mucosa cases showed metastasis to level I, II and III lymph nodes out of which level IB and/or IA was most frequently involved. Metastasis to level IV and V lymph nodes was rare and was seen especially in patients with advanced primary tumor and poor histo-pathologic differentiation. Key words:Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), cervical lymph node metastasis, histologic differentiation, locally advanced disease.     

Mammalian target of rapamycin inhibition after solid organ transplantation: can it,and does it,reduce cancer risk?

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors sirolimus and everolimus has been increasingly used as immunosuppressants for recipients of solid organ transplants. Over the years, potential advantages unique to this class of immunosuppressants have been recognized, including chemoprevention by virtue of their antiproliferative effects. Prevention of malignancy after transplant through mTOR inhibitor‐based immunosuppression may have a specific practical application in transplant recipients with preexisting malignancy including hepatocellular carcinoma or cholangiocarcinoma. This review will reveal how the biochemistry of the mTOR pathway, as it pertains to chemoprevention, can support a clinical role for mTOR inhibitors in the prevention of malignancies, recurrent or de novo, after solid organ transplantation in selected patients.     

Eosinophils stimulate fibroblast DNA synthesis

Fibrosis complicates a number of chronic inflammatory diseases and occurs in some conditions following chronic hypereosinophilic syndromes. We assessed whether eosinophils might be a source of fibrogenic factors. Extracts of human and guinea pig cell populations enriched for eosinophils contained substances that stimulated tritiated thymidine incorporation by human fibroblasts. Supernatants derived from resting eosinophils and extracts prepared from eosinophil granules also contained fibrogenic factors. Our findings demonstrate a new potential role for eosinophils and suggest a causal relationship between tissue eosinophilia and scar formation in certain parasitic conditions.     

Efficacy of Human Chorion Membrane Allograft for Recession Coverage: A Case Series

Background : Membranes of human placentas have been used in the field of medicine for skin grafts, treatment of burns, and ulcerated skin conditions with great success. The use of placenta allografts in dentistry is a more recent development, with the first commercial product being made available in 2008. The unique inherent biologic properties in placenta allografts enhance wound healing and may propagate regeneration. Methods: Ten healthy adult patients presenting with 21 Miller Class I gingival recession (GR) defects (isolated or adjacent multiple) were surgically treated with a modified coronally advanced flap and chorion membrane for root coverage. Clinical parameters measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months were probing depth, clinical attachment level, GR height, width of keratinized gingiva, and assessment of gingival biotype. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the treatment outcomes at the follow‐up intervals. Results: The results showed statistically significant (P <0.001) improvements in all clinical parameters at the 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐ups. The mean percentage of root coverage at the end of 6 months was 89.92% ± 15.59%, and 14 of 21 treated GR defects showed 100% root coverage. The gingival biotype also showed a thick biotype in nine sites that had an initial thin biotype. Conclusions: Fetal membranes possess distinctive properties that can be harnessed to promote periodontal healing. The chorion membrane covered by a modified coronally advanced flap is a new approach that has shown promising results in terms of root coverage, increased width of keratinized tissue, and thickness of the gingival biotype.     

Complications of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: a concise review

Calcific tendinitis (CT) of the rotator cuff (RC) muscles in the shoulder is a disorder which remains asymptomatic in a majority of patients. Once manifested, it can present in different ways which can have negative effects both socially and professionally for the patient. The treatment modalities can be either conservative or surgical. There is poor literature evidence on the complications of this condition with little consensus on the treatment of choice. In this review, the literature was extensively searched in order to study and compile together the complications of CT of the shoulder and present it in a clear form to ease the understanding for all the professionals involved in the management of this disorder. Essentially there are five major complications of CT: pain, adhesive capsulitis, RC tears, greater tuberosity osteolysis and ossifying tendinitis. All the above complications have been explained right from their origin to the control measures required for the relief of the patient.Level of evidence 5.     

Generation of CD1+RelB+ dendritic cells and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells from human monocytes

We previously showed that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) stimulate the differentiation of human monocytes into two phenotypically distinct types of macrophages. However, in vivo, not only CSF but also many other cytokines are produced under various conditions. Those cytokines may modulate the differentiation of monocytes by CSFs. In the present study, we showed that CD14+ adherent human monocytes can differentiate into CD1+relB+ dendritic cells (DC) by the combination of GM-CSF plus interleukin-4 (IL-4) and that they differentiate into tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast-like multinucleated giant cells (MGC) by the combination of M-CSF plus IL-4. However, the monocyte-derived DC were not terminally differentiated cells; they could still convert to macrophages in response to M-CSF. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulated the terminal differentiation of the DC by downregulating the expression of the M-CSF receptor, cfms mRNA, and aborting the potential to convert to macrophages. In contrast to IL-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) had no demonstrable effect on the differentiation of monocytes. Rather, IFN- gamma antagonized the effect of IL-4 and suppressed the DC and MGC formation induced by GM-CSF + IL-4 and M-CSF + IL-4, respectively. Taken together, these results provide a new aspect to our knowledge of monocyte differentiation and provide evidence that human monocytes are flexible in their differentiation potential and are precursors not only of macrophages but also of CD1+relB+DC and TRAP-positive MGC. Such a diverse pathway of monocyte differentiation may constitute one of the basic mechanisms of immune regulation.