No Association between HMOX1 and Risk of Colorectal Cancer and No Interaction with Diet and Lifestyle Factors in a Prospective Danish Case-Cohort Study

Red meat is a risk factor for colorectal cancer (CRC). We wanted to evaluate whether a functional polymorphism in the HMOX1 gene encoding heme oxygenase modifies risk of CRC or interacts with diet or lifestyle factors because this would identify heme or heme iron as a risk factor of CRC. The HMOX1 A-413T (rs2071746) was assessed in relation to risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and interactions with diet (red meat, fish, fiber, cereals, fruit and vegetables) and lifestyle (use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and smoking status) were assessed in a case-cohort study of 928 CRC cases and a comparison group of 1726 randomly selected participants from a prospective study of 57,053 persons. No association between HMOX1 A-413T and CRC risk was found (TT vs. AA + TA; IRR = 1.15, 95% CI: 0.98–1.36, p = 0.10 for the adjusted estimate). No interactions were found between diet or lifestyle and HMOX1 A-413T. HMOX1 A-413T was not associated with CRC risk and no interactions with diet or lifestyle were identified in this large, prospective cohort with high meat intake. The results reproduced the previous findings from the same cohort and did not support a link between heme or heme iron and colorectal cancer. These results should be sought and replicated in other well-characterized cohorts with high meat intake.     

Effect of controlled extracellular oxidation–reduction potential on microbial metabolism and proteolysis in buckwheat sourdough

The aim of this study was to keep constant the extracellular oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and to observe the microbial activity changes in gluten-free (GF) sourdough fermentations with lactic acid bacteria (Weissella cibaria, Pediococcus pentosaceus and coculture of both microorganisms). ORP (E_h7) was held constant at ca. +350 and ?300 mV by gas sparging with air and N₂/H₂, respectively, to achieve oxidizing or reducing conditions during buckwheat sourdough fermentations. Microbial metabolism, free thiols, proteolysis and volatile compounds were monitored. Oxidizing conditions increased the acidification rate of W. cibaria and mixed culture (mix), which contains P. pentosaceus and W. cibaria. Reducing conditions exhibited a slow acidification rate and low microbial cell density upon fermentation. Oxidizing conditions changed lactic to acetic acid ratio of W. cibaria and mix culture from 7.9 ± 1.3 and 16.0 ± 0.6 (control conditions) to 0.5 ± 0.1 and 1.2 ± 0.2 (oxidizing conditions). A release of glucose and fructose was observed by W. cibaria and P. pentosaceus under oxidizing conditions. Free thiols content was increased by reducing conditions in fermentations with P. pentosaceus. Free amino nitrogen and free amino acid content were highly increased by reducing conditions in fermentations with W. cibaria. Free amino acid release was mainly influenced by low ORP and low pH values. Extracellular redox potential changes exhibited profile modifications of volatile compounds. Oxidizing conditions promoted a higher variety in volatile compounds as compared to the profile obtained under reducing conditions. It has been demonstrated that the extracellular ORP control has an influence on the microbial activity in buckwheat sourdoughs. Oxidizing and reducing conditions can influence the microbial activity differently and thus the final quality of GF sourdough. This is a new alternative approach for GF sourdough production and it could provide an improvement of raw materials, which can be used for GF bread production.     

Grafting of nanospherical PMMA brushes on cross-linked PMMA nanospheres for addition in two-solution bone cements

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) brushes were grafted to the surface of cross-linked PMMA nanospheres for use as the polymer phase in the preparation of the two-solution bone cement. PMMA chains grafted on the core of the cross-linked PMMA nanostructures were hypothesized to impart viscosity to the cement mixture, while providing entanglements with the matrix chains formed during cement cure. The first goal of this study was to develop a novel synthetic strategy to decorate the surface of nanoparticles with functional groups that allowed for grafting of PMMA brushes via radical polymerization. The grafting reactions were performed at specific combinations of monomer and initiator to produce a range of molecular weights adequate for the preparation of bone cements. The second goal was to investigate the ability of this novel methodology to produce high graft densities on the core surface from the analysis of the hydrodynamic properties of brushes. The synthetic pathway discussed enabled the synthesis of brushes with high graft densities and molecular weights tuned to provide optimal viscosities for preparation of brush-containing two-solution bone cements.     

Thermoset–thermoplastic hybrid nanoparticles and composite coatings

Structured thermoset–thermoplastic hybrid nanoparticles and composite coatings were successfully synthesized through a novel one-pot approach. Both the polyaddition of epoxy curing and the free radical polymerization of various vinyl monomers were performed in sequence in miniemulsion droplets. Benefiting from the precise control of the compatibility between thermoset phase (epoxy monomer/amine curing agent) and vinyl phase (vinyl monomers/polymers), colloidally stable, core–shell structured thermoset–thermoplastic hybrid nanoparticles between 100 and 200 nm were obtained through chemically induced phase separation. The influence of the compositions on the colloidal stability and morphology of the final hybrid latexes and films was studied in detail. Meanwhile, the mechanical properties of thermoset–thermoplastic coatings and corresponding thermoplastic coatings were investigated. It is found that the thermoset–thermoplastic composite coatings showed significantly improved film properties in terms of hardness compared to the analogous thermoplastic coatings. Furthermore the thermoset–thermoplastic hybrid films were highly transparent even with 33 wt% of epoxy thermoset domains embedded.     

Psychomotor stimulation by dopamine D?-like but not D?-like agonists in most mouse strains.

Many neurological and psychiatric disorders are treated with dopamine modulators. Studies in mice may reveal genetic factors underlying those disorders or responsiveness to various treatments, and species and strain differences both complicate the use of mice and provide valuable tools. We evaluated psychomotor effects of the dopamine D?-like agonist R-6-Br-APB and the dopamine D?-like agonist quinelorane using a locomotor activity procedure in 15 mouse strains (inbred 129S1/SvImJ, 129S6/SvEvTac, 129X1/SvJ, A/J, BALB/cByJ, BALB/cJ, C3H/HeJ, C57BL/6J, CAST/EiJ, DBA/2J, FVB/NJ, SJL/J, SPRET/EiJ, outbred Swiss Webster, and CD-1) and Sprague–Dawley rats, using groups of both females and males. Both D? and D? stimulation produced hyperactivity in the rats, and surprisingly, only two mouse strains were similar in that regard (C3H/HeJ, SPRET/EiJ). In contrast, the majority of mouse strains exhibited hyperactivity only with D? stimulation, whereas D? stimulation had no effect or decreased activity. BALB substrains, A/J and FVB/NJ mice showed only decreased activity after either D? or D? stimulation. CAST/EiJ mice exhibited hyperactivity exclusively with D? stimulation. Sex differences were observed but no systematic trend emerged: For example, of the five strains in which a main factor of sex was identified for the stimulant effects of the D? agonist, responsiveness was greatest in females in three of those strains and in males in two of those strains. These results should aid in the selection of mouse strains for future studies in which D? or D? responsiveness is a necessary consideration in the experimental design. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Moving to Opportunity? An Examination of Housing Choice Vouchers on Urban Poverty Deconcentration in South Florida

The increase in socioeconomic disparity between households runs counter to federal housing goals to improve the prospects of the poor. One goal of the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, which provides rental assistance to low-income families, is the deconcentration of poverty. This study is a longitudinal analysis of the HCV program's deconcentration effectiveness in Broward County, Florida. The movement of HCV households before and after voucher assignment is examined. Spatial statistics reveal that HCV recipients are highly clustered in low opportunity areas both prior to and after receiving a voucher. Factors that significantly relate to the likelihood that a voucher recipient will or will not move to an area of higher opportunity are assessed. Results from an opportunity index derived from principal components analysis and an ordinary least squares regression model indicate that being non-Black, having a larger household, and originating from economically distressed areas with high poverty and unemployment relates more strongly to relocation to neighborhoods with greater opportunity.