Stereological evaluation of fibronectin in the periurethral region of the transitional zone from normal human prostates compared with benign prostatic hyperplasia

The aim of this study was to assess the volumetric density (Vv) of the fibronectin in the periurethral region of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and compare with a control group. Prostatic periurethral tissue samples were obtained from ten patients (age range 65 to 79 years, mean 66) with clinical symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction who had undergone open prostatectomy. The control group samples (periurethral tissue samples from the transitional zone) were collected from prostates obtained during autopsy of accidental death adults of less than 25 years. The volumetric density (Vv) of the fibronectin was determined with stereological methods from 25 random fields per sample using the point-count method with an M-42 grid test system. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Mann-Whitney U tests. The Vv in the control and BPH groups was 21.9% ± 1.5% and 29.1 % ± 1.2% in the fibronectin, respectively. BPH tissues presented a significant increase of fibronectin in prostatic periurethral region in the transitional zone that may cause lengthening of the prostatic urethra.     

Bone Mass and Strength in School‐Age Children Exhibit Sexual Dimorphism Related to Differences in Lean Mass: The Generation R Study

Bone strength, a key determinant of fracture risk, has been shown to display clear sexual dimorphism after puberty. We sought to determine whether sex differences in bone mass and hip bone geometry as an index of strength exist in school‐age prepubertal children and the degree to which the differences are independent of body size and lean mass. We studied 3514 children whose whole‐body and hip scans were measured using the same densitometer (GE‐Lunar iDXA) at a mean age of 6.2 years. Hip dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans underwent hip structural analyses (HSA) with derivation of bone strength indices. Sex differences in these parameters were assessed by regression models adjusted for age, height, ethnicity, weight, and lean mass fraction (LMF). Whole‐body bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) levels were 1.3% and 4.3% higher in girls after adjustment by LMF. Independent of LMF, boys had 1.5% shorter femurs, 1.9% and 2.2% narrower shaft and femoral neck with 1.6% to 3.4% thicker cortices than girls. Consequent with this geometry configuration, girls observed 6.6% higher stresses in the medial femoral neck than boys. When considering LMF, the sexual differences on the derived bone strength indices were attenuated, suggesting that differences in muscle loads may reflect an innate disadvantage in bone strength in girls, as consequence of their lower muscular acquisition. In summary, we show that bone sexual dimorphism is already present at 6 years of age, with boys having stronger bones than girls, the relation of which is influenced by body composition and likely attributable to differential adaptation to mechanical loading. Our results support the view that early life interventions (ie, increased physical activity) targeted during the pre‐ and peripubertal stages may be of high importance, particularly in girls, because before puberty onset, muscle mass is strongly associated with bone density and geometry in children. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.     

Factors associated with physiotherapy provision in a population of elderly nursing home residents; a cross sectional study

Background

Evaluating collaborative community health promotion initiatives presents unique challenges, including engaging community members and other stakeholders in the evaluation process, and measuring the attainment of goals at the collective community level. Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) is a versatile, under-utilized evaluation tool adaptable to a wide range of situations. GAS actively involves all partners in the evaluation process and has many benefits when used in community health settings.

Methods

The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of GAS as a potential means of measuring progress and outcomes in community health promotion and community development projects. GAS methodology was used in a local community of seniors (n = 2500; mean age = 76 ± 8.06 SD; 77% female, 23% male) to a) collaboratively set health promotion and community partnership goals and b) objectively measure the degree of achievement, over- or under-achievement of the established health promotion goals. Goal attainment was measured in a variety of areas including operationalizing a health promotion centre in a local mall, developing a sustainable mechanism for recruiting and training volunteers to operate the health promotion centre, and developing and implementing community health education programs. Goal attainment was evaluated at 3 monthly intervals for one year, then re-evaluated again at year 2.

Results

GAS was found to be a feasible and responsive method of measuring community health promotion and community development progress. All project goals were achieved at one year or sooner. The overall GAS score for the total health promotion project increased from 16.02 at baseline (sum of scale scores = -30, average scale score = -2) to 54.53 at one year (sum of scale scores = +4, average scale score = +0.27) showing project goals were achieved above the expected level. With GAS methodology an amalgamated score of 50 represents the achievement of goals at the expected level.

Conclusion

GAS provides a "participatory", flexible evaluation approach that involves community members, research partners and other stakeholders in the evaluation process. GAS was found to be "user-friendly" and readily understandable by seniors and other community partners not familiar with program evaluation.     

A genome scan for joint-specific hand osteoarthritis susceptibility: The Framingham Study

OBJECTIVE: Studies investigating hand osteoarthritis (OA) as a single entity have not shown strong linkage of the disease with any chromosomal sites. We undertook this study to test our hypothesis that phenotypes of hand OA may show stronger linkage than has been shown for overall hand OA. METHODS: We performed a factor analysis on measures of hand OA to determine patterns of disease. Using the joint regions identified by this analysis, we performed a genome-wide linkage analysis for OA susceptibility loci using 426 original cohort members and 790 offspring cohort members in 267 pedigrees. Radiographic OA features evaluated included the Kellgren/Lawrence score, osteophytes, and joint space narrowing. Prior to linkage analysis, standardized residuals were computed from regression analysis of each phenotype on age. This was performed separately for each sex and cohort. The variance component model (GeneHunter) was then applied to the normalized scores of the residuals of both sexes and cohorts. RESULTS: There was evidence suggestive of linkage (logarithm of odds [LOD] score >1.5) at 16 sites. Four of these sites had LOD scores >3.0. Two of these sites (identified in the full sample) included a linkage region for OA of the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint on chromosome 7 (155 cM; LOD score 3.06) and a linkage region for OA of the first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint on chromosome 15 (81 cM; LOD score 6.25). The other 2 sites (identified in women) included a linkage region for OA of the DIP joint on chromosome 1 (202 cM; LOD score 3.03) and a linkage region for OA of the first CMC joint on chromosome 20 (4 cM; LOD score 3.74). CONCLUSION: These data suggest that several chromosomes contain hand OA susceptibility genes and that a joint-specific approach may be more rewarding than a global approach to the genetics of hand OA. Further investigation of these regions is warranted using finer maps and other populations.     

Mouse models in liver cancer research： A review of current literature

Primary liver cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. Due to differences in prevalence of etiological factors the incidence of primary liver cancer varies among the world, with a peak in East-Asia. As this disease is still lethal in most of the cases, research has to be done to improve our understanding of the disease, offering insights for possible treatment options. For this purpose, animal models are widely used, especially mouse models. In this review, we describe the different types of mouse models used in liver cancer research, with emphasis on genetically engineered mice used in this field. We focus on hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）, as this is by far the most common type of primary liver cancer, accounting for 70%-85% of cases.     

Effects of testosterone administration on growth hormone pulse dynamics in human immunodeficiency virus-infected women

The effects of testosterone administration on the GH axis in androgen-deficient HIV-infected women are unknown. In this study, we determined the effects of transdermal testosterone administration on GH secretory dynamics and pulse characteristics in this population. GH-IGF-I parameters were determined in response to testosterone (4.1 mg/patch, twice a week; estimated delivery rate, 150 microg/d) vs. placebo over 6 months in 31 HIV-infected women. IGF-I increased significantly in the testosterone-treated compared with the placebo-treated patients [37 (-4, 73) vs. -30 (-98, 39) ng/ml, P = 0.01; 4.8 (-0.5, 9.6) vs. -3.9 (-12.8, 5.1) nmol/liter]. GH pulse frequency increased significantly in the testosterone-treated compared with the placebo-treated subjects [1.0 (1.0, 2.0) vs. 0.0 (-0.5, 1.5) peaks per 12 h, respectively; P = 0.02]. Before testosterone administration, overnight GH pulse amplitude was significantly related to IGF-I in univariate (r = 0.41, P = 0.03) and multivariate regression analysis; however, free testosterone, estradiol, and body mass index were not significantly correlated with baseline IGF-I. In contrast, after 6 months of treatment with testosterone, the change in IGF-I was significantly correlated to the change in free testosterone in univariate (r = 0.40, P = 0.04) and multivariate regression analysis. For each 1.0 pg/ml (3.5 pmol/liter) increase in free testosterone, IGF-I increased 19 ng/ml (2.5 nmol/liter), controlling for estradiol, body mass index, and GH pulse parameters (r(2) = 0.64). We demonstrate that IGF-I increases in response to physiologic, transdermal testosterone in HIV-infected women. The mechanism of this effect is unknown, but may involve a direct effect of testosterone on IGF-I, independent of changes in GH pulse dynamics.