Higher church attendance predicts lower fear of falling in older Mexican-Americans

Several studies have shown that involvement in religious activity appears to benefit health. To estimate the association between church attendance and fear of falling, we used a sample of 1341 non-institutionalized Mexican-Americans aged 70 and over from the third wave (1998-1999) of the Hispanic Established Population for the Epidemiological Study of the Elderly, followed until 2000-2001. Baseline potential predictors of fear of falling were church attendance, socio-demographics, history of falls, summary measure of lower body performance (tandem balance, eight-foot walk, and repeated chair stands), functional status, depressive symptoms, cognitive status, and medical conditions. Fear of falling at the two-year follow-up was measured as no fear, somewhat afraid, fairly afraid, and very afraid. Chi-square statistic and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to estimate associations between the outcome and the potential predictors. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that frequent church attendance was an independent predictor of lower fear of falling (odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.58-0.92, P = 0.008) two years later. Other independent predictors of fear of falling were female gender, poorer objective lower body performance, history of falls, arthritis, hypertension, and urinary incontinence. Frequent church attendance is associated with decreased fear of falling in older Mexican-Americans.     

Thymus-dependent lymphocytes in leprosy. II. Effect of chemotherapy on T-lymphocyte subpopulations

The basis of the immunological unresponsiveness seen in leprosy patients is unknown. Untreated lepromatous leprosy patients display an unspecific cellular anergy which disappears with treatment, leaving an anergy specific forMycobacterium leprae. These patients suffer from a complication, erythema nodosum leprosum, characterized by a recurrent eruption of tender skin nodules disappearing in 2 to 3 days. These nodules show a histological picture reminiscent of an Arthus reaction. Erythema nodosum leprosum can occur in untreated patients but it is more frequent in those receiving effective chemotherapy, and this has been thought to be due to massive release of antigens from the bacilli. By using monoclonal antibodies detecting different subpopulations of human peripheral blood T lymphocytes, we have shown that both borderline lepromatous leprosy patients had increased circulating suppressor cells (P<0.001) while the total number of T cells was within the normal range. The suppressor-cell population decreased with the duration of treatment, the change being evident at as early as 21 days. Five patients developed erythema nodosum leprosum during the study period. In all these patients the number of suppressor cells was decreased prior to the complication, increasing to original values with clinical recovery from this syndrome. There was no significant effect on T-lymphocyte subpopulations during chemotherapy of borderline tuberculoid leprosy patients. It seems that antileprosy chemotherapy precipitates erythema nodosum leprosum by interfering with immunoregulatory T cells.     

Biodistribution and Efficacy of Low Temperature-Sensitive Liposome Encapsulated Docetaxel Combined with Mild Hyperthermia in a Mouse Model of Prostate Cancer

Purpose

Low temperature sensitive liposome (LTSL) encapsulated docetaxel were combined with mild hyperthermia (40–42°C) to investigate in vivo biodistribution and efficacy against a castrate resistant prostate cancer.

Method

Female athymic nude mice with human prostate PC-3 M-luciferase cells grown subcutaneously into the right hind leg were randomized into six groups: saline (+/? heat), free docetaxel (+/? heat), and LTSL docetaxel (+/? heat). Treatment (15 mg docetaxel/kg) was administered via tail vein once tumors reached a size of 200-300 mm³. Mice tumor volumes and body weights were recorded for up to 60 days. Docetaxel concentrations of harvested tumor and organ/tissue homogenates were determined by LC-MS. Histological evaluation (Mean vessel density, Ki67 proliferation, Caspase-3 apoptosis) of saline, free Docetaxel and LTSL docetaxel (+/? heat n?=?3–5) was performed to determine molecular mechanism responsible for tumor cell killing.

Result

LTSL/heat resulted in significantly higher tumor docetaxel concentrations (4.7-fold greater compared to free docetaxel). Adding heat to LTSL Docetaxel or free docetaxel treatment resulted in significantly greater survival and growth delay compared to other treatments (p?<?0.05). Differences in body weight between all Docetaxel treatments were not reduced by >10% and were not statistically different from each other. Molecular markers such as caspase-3 were upregulated, and Ki67 expression was significantly decreased in the chemo-hyperthermia group. Vessel density was similar post treatment, but the heated group had reduced vessel area, suggesting thermal enhancement in efficacy by reduction in functional perfusion.

Conclusion

This technique of hyperthermia sensitization and enhanced docetaxel delivery has potential for clinical translation for prostate cancer treatment.