A prospective study of dietary fiber types and symptomatic diverticular disease in men

To examine prospectively dietary fiber calculated from food composition values based on analytic techniques and specific dietary fiber types in relation to risk of diverticular disease, we analyzed data from a prospective cohort of 43,881 U.S. male health professionals 40-75 y of age at base line; subjects were free of diagnosed diverticular disease, colon or rectal polyps, ulcerative colitis and cancer. The insoluble component of fiber was inversely associated with risk of diverticular disease relative risk (RR) = 0. 63, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.44-0.91, P for trend = 0.02, and this association was particularly strong for cellulose (RR = 0.52, 95% CI, 0.36-0.75, P for trend = 0.002). The association between diverticular disease and total dietary fiber intake calculated from the AOACstandards method was not appreciably different from results using the Southgate or Englyst method [for AOAC method, RR = 0.60, 95% CI, 0.41-0.87; for Southgate method, RR = 0.61, 95% CI, 0.42-0. 88; for Englyst method, RR = 0.60, 95% CI, 0.42-0.87, for the highest quintiles]. Our findings provide evidence for the hypothesis that a diet high in dietary fiber decreases the risk of diverticular disease, and this result was not sensitive to the use of different analytic techniques to define dietary fiber. Our findings suggest that the insoluble component of fiber was significantly associated with a decreased risk of diverticular disease, and this inverse association was particularly strong for cellulose.     

Alpha-catenin can form asymmetric homodimeric complexes and/or heterodimeric complexes with beta-catenin

The cadherin-based transmembrane cell-cell adhesive complex is thought to be composed of a cadherin molecule, a beta-catenin, and an alpha-catenin, which connects the complex to the cytoskeleton. The precise stoichiometry of this complex remains uncertain. We have used a series of recombinant molecules and biophysical techniques to assess the multimeric state of human alpha- and beta-catenin in vitro and then visualized them by electron microscopy after rotary shadowing. Calculated solution molecular masses are 213 kDa for alpha-catenin, 73 kDa for beta-catenin, and 186 kDa for both. This suggests that alpha-catenin exists as a homodimer in solution, beta-catenin is a monomer, and when both are present, they form alpha/beta-catenin heterodimers. Co-precipitation and surface plasmon resonance assays localize the site of alpha-catenin dimerization to the NH2-terminal 228 amino acids. This region encompasses a high-affinity (Kd = 100 nM) binding site for beta-catenin that lies between residues 54 and 157. We anticipate that the oligomeric state of alpha-catenin and the relative stoichiometry of the components in the membrane adhesion complex will be dynamic and regulated by beta-catenin, cell adhesion, and probably other factors as well.     

Cognitive, assertive, and insight-oriented group therapies in the treatment of reactive depression in women.

33 nonpsychotic, nonsuicidal women (mean age 35.1 yrs) who scored between 15 and 31 on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and whose depression was situationally related were assigned to 6-wk cognitive, assertive, or insight-oriented group therapy. Ss were administered a standardized interview, BDI, Rathus Assertiveness Schedule, Personality Data Form, and 4 tape-recorded scenes requiring an assertive response before and after the groups and at a 2-mo follow-up. Results show all groups improved significantly in depression, rationality, and assertiveness. Assertive and insight groups improved significantly more in rationality regarding acceptance than the cognitive group. At follow-up, none of the assertive groups, 18% of the cognitive group, and 45% of the insight group had sought further treatment. Additionally, the assertive group was significantly more rational regarding frustrating events and self-worth. The assertive and insight groups made significantly more gains and were more assertive than the cognitive group. A 3 (change in depression) by 3 (treatment group) ANOVA showed high-depression-change and medium-depression-change Ss changed significantly more in assertiveness and rationally than low-depression change Ss. (36 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Race and sex differences in long-term survival rates for elderly patients with pulmonary embolism

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to provide estimates of race- and sex-specific survival rates over a 10-year period for a cohort of 49,752 Medicare patients admitted to the hospital in 1984 with a diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. METHODS: Data were derived from Medicare Provider Analysis and Review Record inpatient claims files and the National Death Index file. RESULTS: For a primary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, median survival times among Black men and women were 2.5 years and 5.2 years, respectively; for White men and women, the median survival times were 4.3 years and 5.9 years, respectively. Median survival times for Black men and women and White men and women with a secondary diagnosis of pulmonary embolism were 0.4 years, 0.7 years, 0.8 years, and 1.4 years, respectively. Survival rates declined with advancing age. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, survival rates among Blacks were lower than those among Whites, and men had lower survival rates than women. These survival estimates provide new insights into outcomes following pulmonary embolism in hospitalized elderly people.     

A role for transforming growth factor-beta1 in the increased pneumonitis in murine allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients with graft-versus-host disease after pulmonary herpes simplex virus type 1 infection

To gain further insights in the pathogenesis of herpesvirus pneumonia in allogeneic bone marrow transplant recipients, transplanted mice (B10.BR --> CBA) with graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and control mice (transplanted mice without GVHD and normal CBA mice) were infected intranasally with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). When compared with infected control mice, infected allogeneic transplant recipients with GVHD showed increased periluminal mononuclear cell infiltrates. However, infected allogeneic transplant recipients with GVHD showed lower virus content in the lung tissue than infected control mice. High concentrations of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1) were detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of mock-infected allogeneic transplant recipients with GVHD, which increased slightly after infection. Anti-TGF-beta treatment of allogeneic transplant recipients with GVHD significantly decreased the histological evidence of pneumonitis at day 4 after HSV-1 infection. We conclude that allogeneic transplant recipients with GVHD have (1) increased pneumonia, (2) highly elevated levels of TGF-beta1 in the BAL fluid, and (3) reduced pulmonary virus content after HSV-1 infection. Our data suggest that the newly recognized dysregulation of cytokine (TGF-beta1) production may be more important than the viral load for the increased severity of HSV-1 pneumonia in allogeneic transplant recipients with GVHD.     

Expression of c-met is a strong independent prognostic factor in breast carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The c-met protooncogene encodes the met protein, the receptor for scatter factor/hepatocyte growth factor, a growth factor that modulates the motility and stable interaction of the epithelial cells. This study assesses the expression of met receptor in breast carcinoma and its prognostic value with respect to survival. METHODS: Immunofluorescence was used to evaluate 91 archival breast carcinoma specimens using a polyclonal antibody to the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor. Cases were scored by two pathologists on a percentage basis and then converted to binary scores (positive or negative) on the basis of a bimodal distribution. RESULTS: Strong expression of met was found in 20 invasive ductal breast tumor specimens (22%). The 5-year survival of patients whose tumors showed decreased met expression was 89%, in contrast to a 52% 5-year survival rate in patients whose tumors expressed met (P = 0.008). This trend also was observed in patients without lymph node metastases at presentation, in whom met negative patients had a 95% 5-year survival compared with only 62% for met positive patients (P = 0.006) Multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model showed met expression to be an independent predictor of survival, with a predictive value nearly equivalent to that associated with lymph node status. CONCLUSIONS: The authors conclude that expression of met in patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast is a strong, independent predictor of decreased survival and may be a useful prognostic marker with which to identify a subset of patients with more aggressive disease.     

A prospective study of dietary calcium and other nutrients and the risk of symptomatic kidney stones

BACKGROUND: A high dietary calcium intake is strongly suspected of increasing the risk of kidney stones. However, a high intake of calcium can reduce the urinary excretion of oxalate, which is thought to lower the risk. The concept that a higher dietary calcium intake increases the risk of kidney stones therefore requires examination. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of the relation between dietary calcium intake and the risk of symptomatic kidney stones in a cohort of 45,619 men, 40 to 75 years of age, who had no history of kidney stones. Dietary calcium was measured by means of a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire in 1986. During four years of follow-up, 505 cases of kidney stones were documented. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, dietary calcium intake was inversely associated with the risk of kidney stones; the relative risk of kidney stones for men in the highest as compared with the lowest quintile group for calcium intake was 0.56 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.73; P for trend, < 0.001). This reduction in risk decreased only slightly (relative risk, 0.66; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.49 to 0.90) after further adjustment for other potential risk factors, including alcohol consumption and dietary intake of animal protein, potassium, and fluid. Intake of animal protein was directly associated with the risk of stone formation (relative risk for men with the highest intake as compared with those with the lowest, 1.33; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.77); potassium intake (relative risk, 0.49; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.35 to 0.68) and fluid intake (relative risk, 0.71; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.52 to 0.97) were inversely related to the risk of kidney stones. CONCLUSIONS: A high dietary calcium intake decreases the risk of symptomatic kidney stones.     

Covert sensitization in the treatment of obesity.

1 group of 6 overweight undergraduates received 6 sessions of covert sensitization. A 2nd similar group received 6 sessions of a realistic attention-control condition, while a 3rd group served as nontreated controls. At the end of treatment, covert sensitization Ss reporting the greatest reaction to the imagined scene showed greater weight loss than the attention-control and control groups. At a 6-wk follow-up, the treatment effect including all covert sensitization Ss was highly significant. Self-report measures indicate that covert sensitization Ss perceived their treatment positively and were highly motivated. Anxiety reduction and weight loss were found to be uncorrelated. Results offer considerable support for the efficacy of covert sensitization in the treatment of obesity. (29 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A self-control approach to inefficient spending

Endocardial pacemaker electrodes rely in part upon endocardial fixation proximal to the electrode tip to prevent ejection of the tip from the ventricular apex. Fixation of these electrodes to the superior vena cava and tricuspid valve, in particular, has been reported. Infection of endocardial electrodes necessitates their removal. This report concerns avulsion of a tricuspid valve leaflet during traction on an infected electrode. With the availability of new methods of apical fixation, the utilization of electrode sheathing materials which discourage endocardial fixation would increase the safety of their removal under the circumstances reported herein.