Editors: Natalia Gavrilova and Stacy Tessler Lindau
CCBAR News:
Video presentations from the last CCBAR Conference on Biomeasures Collection in Population-Based Health Research (October 2011) are now available online. Please visit CCBAR website and watch presentations by Rose Anne Kenny (Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland), Lorna Thorpe (Columbia University), Jennifer Makelarski (The University of Chicago), Bill Funk (Northwestern University), Joachim Pleil (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency), Heidi Allen (Providence Portland Medical Center) and Jens Ludwig (The University of Chicago) using the following link:
CCBAR Questions and Answers this Month:
Q: In a study of post-menopausal women using vaginal self-swabs, if a woman has spotting on her swab, what would you advise?
A:
We did have some women complain of spotting in the NSHAP study. In the
counseling about the self-swab, we offered anticipatory guidance that
this sometimes occurs and should not be of concern. It can be pinkish
discharge on the swab or a little bit of pinkish/brownish or rarely a
little bit of bright red blood on underwear or with urinating. If
symptoms worsen or persist, women were advised to contact their
physician for further evaluation. This guidance seemed to be sufficient
with no other complications to my knowledge. If the bleeding is not
self-limited in relation to the swabbing or escalates or becomes
persistent or post-coital or spontaneous, etc., then the woman should
be evaluated for post-menopausal bleeding as usual.
News
from
the NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ, PNAS, Lancet and JAMA
Genetics:
The rate of human mutation
A comprehensive analysis of human spontaneous
mutation has revealed a
strong influence of paternal age, suggesting a link between an
increasing number of older fathers and the rise in disorders such as
autism. See Article p.471
Rate
of de novo mutations and the importance of father's age to disease risk
Mutations generate sequence diversity and provide a
substrate for
selection. The rate of de novo mutations is therefore of major
importance to evolution. Here we conduct a study of genome-wide
mutation rates by sequencing the entire genomes of 78 Icelandic
parent?offspring trios at high
[Research
Articles] Niacin Lipid Efficacy Is Independent of Both the Niacin R...
Nicotinic acid (niacin) induces beneficial changes in serum
lipoproteins and has been associated with beneficial cardiovascular
effects. Niacin reduces low-density lipoprotein, increases high-density
lipoprotein, and decreases triglycerides. It is well established that
activation of the seven-transm...
How
We All Will Live to Be 100
Two approaches to longevity research aim to extend
the average life span out to a century or more
DNA
methylation: Variation in methylomes of neonatal twins
Inter-individual differences in DNA methylation are
thought to
contribute to disease risk, but what influences these differences in
methylation? This paper provides valuable insight by presenting the
genome-wide methylation profiles of neonatal mono- and dizygotic twins.
The differences they detect ...
The
continuing value of twin studies in the omics era
The classical twin study has been a powerful
heuristic in biomedical,
psychiatric and behavioural research for decades. Twin registries
worldwide have collected biological material and longitudinal
phenotypic data on tens of thousands of twins, providing a valuable
resource for studying complex phen...
Understanding
adolescence as a period of social-affective engagement and goal...
Research has demonstrated that extensive structural
and functional
brain development continues throughout adolescence. A popular notion
emerging from this work states that a relative immaturity in frontal
cortical neural systems could explain adolescents' high rates of
risk-taking, substance use and...
Public
health: Health risks of physical inactivity similar to smoking
Physical inactivity causes approximately one in
every 10 deaths each
year, and accounts for 6-10% of major noncommunicable diseases
worldwide. Removing this behavior could prevent 5.3 million deaths
annually, and extend life expectancy in the population of the world by
0.68 years. These important fi...
Fight
to tackle unhealthy lifestyles has widened gap in health inequalities
Efforts to persuade people to follow a healthier
lifestyle have worked
only for wealthier parts of the population and widened the health
inequalities divide.This is the conclusion of a report from...
Risk
factors: Calcium supplements and cardiovascular risk
In the Heidelberg-EPIC study, an association was
found between the use
of calcium supplements and risk of myocardial infarction, corroborating
published data. Given these findings and the absence of clear
beneficial effect on fracture risk, the use of these supplements should
be discouraged, and ind...
Heartache
and heartbreak - the link between depression and
cardiovascular disease
The close, bidirectional relationship between
depression and
cardiovascular disease is well established. Major depression is
associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease and acute
cardiovascular sequelae, such as myocardial infarction, congestive
heart failure, and isolated systolic ...
GAPDH
induces cell senescence [Cell Biology]
Oxidative stress regulates telomere homeostasis and
cellular aging by
unclear mechanisms. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is
a key mediator of many oxidative stress responses, involving GAPDH
nuclear translocation and induction of cell death. We report here that
GAPDH interacts with...
Gender,
norms, and survival in maritime disasters [Economic Sciences]
Since the sinking of the Titanic, there has been a
widespread belief
that the social norm of "women and children first" (WCF) gives women a
survival advantage over men in maritime disasters, and that captains
and crew members give priority to passengers. We analyze a database of
18 maritime disaster...
Health
Care's Response to Women Exposed to Partner Violence Moving Beyond
Uni...
Partner
violence is a serious social and
health care issue that results in short- and long-term physical and
psychological harm for women, their children, and their families.
Consequently, an issue with which the health sector has struggled since
partner violence was identified as a major public hea...
Evolving
Research on the Treatment of Health Effects of Violence and Human Ri...
The 1999
JAMA theme issue on violence
and human rights included a number of studies that reported on violence
in schools, the increasing incidence of child abuse, rates of screening
for intimate partner violence, and the mental health of refugees and
noncombatants in war. In an Editorial in that iss...
QuickStats:
FROM THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR HEALTH STATISTICS Age-Adjusted Homic...
Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report Volume Number: 308, Issue Number: 7, First
Page: 664, Last Page: 664
Biomarkers
and
Aging
in
the
News
Media
• The
role of genes in political behavior
Politics and genetics have traditionally been considered
non-overlapping fields, but over the past decade it has become clear
that genes can influence political behavior, according to a review.
This paradigm shift has led to novel insights into why people vary in
their political preferences and could have important implications for
public policy.
• Walking
for health
Americans are walking more, but not always briskly enough to improve
their health.
• Anesthesia
use in children may increase risk for language, memory problems
Study showed that children who used general anesthesia before the age
of 3 were 87 percent more likely to have language problems at 10
• Video:
Blood type may be linked to heart disease risk: study
Your blood type may affect your heart disease risk. Dr. Holly Phillips
reports on a study that links blood types A, AB and B with a higher
risk of heart disease.
• CDC
report on teen oral sex trends sparks calls for better education
Fewer teens engaging in oral sex, but more teens engaging in oral sex
than having vaginal intercourse
• Brush
your teeth! Dental health linked to dementia
People, especially women, who keep their teeth and gums healthy with
regular brushing may have a lower risk of developing dementia later in
life, according to a new study.
• Drinking
milk not linked to early puberty
Despite popular belief, drinking cow's milk does not increase
children's risk for early puberty, according to a new study from China.
• Ancestry
Strikes a Blow: Mexican-Americans at Higher Risk of Diabetes
Mexican-Americans who have an ancestral link to Amerindian tribes have
a higher risk of developing diabetes type 2 and other metabolic
disorders.
• Children
Born to Older Moms Are Healthier and More Socially Adept
Older mothers give their children a better start to life. Higher
education, stable income and marriage help moms provide a better
environment for the child.
• Stressed
Young Men Are More Likely to Have Anxious Daughters and Granddaughters
A woman's risk of anxiety and other psychiatric disorders may depend on
how stressed out her father was when he was young, scientists claim.
• Men
Also Have a Biological Clock: Older Dads Pass on More Gene Mutations,
Lin...
New research published in the journal Nature says that the age of
fathers is actually more important than mothers' ages in protecting the
health of their unborn children.
• How
a virus might make you diabetic later in life
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of the viruses that most infected people
carry without ill effects. Once infected you are infected for life and,
although it normally is dormant, it can become active again at any
point in time. New research shows that CMV infection is a significant
risk factor for the type 2 diabetes in the elderly.
• Midlife
fitness staves off chronic disease at end of life
Being physically fit during your 30s, 40s, and 50s not only helps
extend lifespan, but it also increases the chances of aging healthily,
free from chronic illness, investigators have found.
• Antioxidants
Boost Sperm Quality in Older Men
Older men can improve the quality of their sperm by eating a healthy
diet rich in antioxidants.
• Calcium
Levels May be a Better Indicator of Heart Disease Risk
A test that measures calcium deposits on walls of blood vessels may be
a better way to screen people who are at risk for developing heart
attack or stroke, a new study says.
• Gout
Linked to Low Levels of Lead
New evidence that links low levels of lead in the blood to an increased
risk of gout suggests that currently acceptable levels of lead exposure
are too high.
• Can
Prostate Cancer Screening Improve Men's Lives?
Study: PSA prostate cancer screening adds quality life years to a
population. But how individual men feel about risking impotence or
incontinence in order to live free of cancer tips the balance for or
against screening.
• Cocoa
May Sharpen Aging Brain
Drinking a cocoa-rich beverage every day may help brain health in older
adults, a new study shows.
• Snoring
Tots May Be at Risk for Behavior Problems
Preschool-aged kids who snore loudly on a regular basis may be at a
greater risk for behavioral problems, a study shows.
• Daily
Aspirin May Reduce Risk of Cancer Death
Daily aspirin use, long recommended for those at high risk of heart
attack, may also reduce the risk of dying from cancer, according to new
research.
• Saving
a penny: Stem cell therapy shows promise in repairing stress urinary
i...
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can occur due to sneezing, coughing,
exercising or even laughing and happens because the pelvic floor
muscles are too weak causing leakage when the bladder is put under
pressure. New research shows that a new technique, using stem cells
isolated from amniotic fluid, can regenerate damaged urethral sphincter
muscles and prevent pressure incontinence in mice. Although SUI is more
common during and after pregnancy, and after the age of 40, one in
three women will e...
• A
material to rejuvenate aging and diseased human vocal cords
A new made-in-the-lab material designed to rejuvenate the human voice,
restoring the flexibility that vocal cords lose with age and disease,
is emerging from a collaboration between scientists and physicians, a
scientist heading the development team said.
• Obesity,
metabolic factors linked to faster cognitive decline
People who are obese and also have high blood pressure and other risk
factors called metabolic abnormalities may experience a faster decline
in their cognitive skills over time than others, according to a new
study.
• Sex
and the female brain: Protein in semen acts on female brain to prompt
ovu...
Scientists have discovered that a protein in semen acts on the female
brain to prompt ovulation, and is the same molecule that regulates the
growth, maintenance, and survival of nerve cells.
• Model
shows dramatic global decline in ratio of workers to retired people
A new statistical model predicts that by 2100 the number of people
older than 85 worldwide will increase more than previously estimated,
and there will be fewer working-age adults to support them than
previously expected.
• Stress,
Poverty Blamed for High Abortion Rates in U.S.
A new study has found that 57 percent women who had an abortion in 2008
had at least one traumatic event within the last calendar year.
• Cataract
Surgery May Help Prevent Hip Fractures
Helping older people see more clearly may help to lower their risk for
falls and potentially disabling hip fractures.
NIH Press Releases
Compounds
activate key cancer enzyme to interfere with tumor formation
Scientists have known for decades that cancer cells use more glucose
than healthy cells, feeding the growth of some types of tumors. Now, a
team that includes researchers from the National Institutes of Health's
new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) has
identified compounds that delay the formation of tumors in mice, by
targeting a key enzyme that governs how cancer cells use glucose and
its metabolites.
New
mobile app from NIH helps women learn about their health in 52 weeks
52 Weeks for Women's Health, a new app that offers women access to a
year's worth of practical health information, highlighted week-by-week,
is now available.
NIH
launches trial to evaluate anti-inflammatory treatment for preventing
hea...
An international multi-site trial has launched to determine whether a
common anti-inflammatory drug can reduce heart attacks, strokes, and
deaths due to cardiovascular disease in people at high risk for them.
This study is being supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute (NHLBI), a part of the National Institutes of Health.
Information
for older drivers is newest topic on NIHSeniorHealth site
The National Institutes of Health today unveiled a new online resource
for older drivers and families seeking information on an often
sensitive topic: Is it still safe to drive? Developed by the National
Institute on Aging (NIA) at NIH and the U.S. Department of
Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
(NHTSA), the Older Drivers topic offers up-to-date information on how
aging may affect driving, including physical changes, safety issues and
ways older drivers can cope when driving skills change.
Federal
report details health, economic status of older Americans
Today's older Americans enjoy longer lives and better physical function
than did previous generations, although, for some, an increased burden
in housing costs and rising obesity may compromise these gains,
according to a comprehensive federal look at aging. The report, Older
Americans 2012: Key Indicators of Well-Being, tracks trends at regular
intervals to see how older people are faring as the U.S. population
grows older.
NIH
launches contest for audacious goals in vision research
The National Eye Institute (NEI), a part of the National Institutes of
Health, is offering $3,000 awards to as many as 20 contestants who
submit the most compelling one-page ideas to advance vision science.
The submission deadline for the Challenge to Identify Audacious Goals
in Vision Research and Blindness Rehabilitation is Nov. 12, 2012.
NIH
seeks proposals to study genomic sequencing in newborn period
The National Institutes of Health is seeking proposals for research
projects on the implications of information obtained from sequencing
the genome to identify diseases in newborns. The intent of funding such
projects is to further the understanding of disorders that appear
during the newborn period and to improve treatments for these diseases.
Brain
hubs boil when hoarders face pitching their own stuff
In patients with hoarding disorder, parts of a decision-making brain
circuit under-activated when dealing with others' possessions, but
over-activated when deciding whether to keep or discard their own
things, a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)-funded study has
found. NIMH is part of the National Institutes of Health.
NIH Announcements
Secondary
Analyses of CALERIE Data Set and Stored Biospecimens to Address
Research Questions Related to Effects of Caloric Restriction in Humans
and Adherence to Caloric Restriction Interventions (R01).
RFA-AG-13-008
Expiration Date: October 31, 2012
Time-Sensitive
Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation (R01)
Expiration Date: September 11, 2015
Estimating
the Economic Costs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
(R03)
Expiration Date: September 8, 2015
Estimating
the Economic Costs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
(R21)
Expiration Date: September 8, 2015
Estimating
the Economic Costs of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias
(R01)
Expiration Date: September 8, 2015
Secondary
Analyses and Archiving of Social and Behavioral Datasets in Aging
(R03)
Expiration Date: October 20, 2012
PAR-12-186 DBSR
Macroeconomic Aspects of Population Aging (R01)
Expiration
date:
10/04/2014
NIMHD
Community-Based
Participatory Research (CBPR) Initiative in Reducing
an...
Funding Opportunity RFA-MD-12-006 from the NIH Guide for Grants and
Contracts. The National Institute on Minority Health and Health
Disparities (NIMHD) invites applications for this Funding Opportunity
Announcement (FOA) to plan the development of effective interventions
using community based participatory research (CBPR) approaches. Support
will be provided to develop and strengthen partnerships between
researchers and health disparity communities to plan and pilot
interventions for a disease or condition to reduce health disparities.
Secondary
Analyses
in Obesity, Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R21)
Funding Number: PA-12-125
Expiration Date: May 8, 2015
Biodemography
of
Aging
(R21),
Funding
Number:
PAR-12-079
Expiration Date: March 4, 2014
Biodemography
of
Aging
(R03),
Funding
Number:
PAR-12-080
Expiration Date: March 4, 2014
Biodemography
of
Aging
(R01),
Funding
Number:
PAR-12-078
Expiration Date: March 4, 2014
Events:
Announcements:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), in collaboration with mHIMSS,
will host the NIH mHealth Training Institute at the 2012 mHealth Summit
on December 1st and 2nd. The mHealth Institute is designed to provide
behavioral and social scientists tools to successfully add mobile
health technologies to their research in a collaborative team
environment with mentorship from leaders in the fields of engineering,
medicine and the behavioral and social sciences. This two-day Institute
will provide participants with an overview of the central
multidisciplinary aspects of mobile and wireless research. The training
will follow a project from conception through dissemination led by a
panel of experts. Participants will be involved in didactic
sessions targeting major cross-cutting research issues and
interdisciplinary team exercises developing mHealth research projects.
In your mHealth Summit registration, request the NIH mHealth training
Institute. Please note that there is an additional mHealth Summit fee
of $100.00 to attend the training. Information about registration for
the mHealth Summit is available at the following website: http://www.mhealthsummit.org/registration
Registration for the training institute opens on Monday, August 20th,
2012.
Conferences:
2012
Annual
Meeting
of
the American Sociological Association, August 17-20, Denver,
CO
Abstracts
Deadline:
January
11,
2012
Gerontological
Society
of
America's
65th
Annual
Scientific
Meeting, November 14-18, 2012, San Diego, CA.
Abstracts
Deadline:
March
15,
2012
Population Association of America Annual
meeting, New Orleans, LA.
The 2013 Annual Meeting will be held April 11-13 at the Sheraton New
Orleans Hotel
Abstract deadline:
September 21, 2012
The 20th
IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics, June
23-27, 2013, Seoul, Korea
Abstract deadline: October 31, 2012
This
Newsletter is supported by a grant from the National
Institute on
Aging, National Institutes of Health (Grant No. 5 P30 AG012857)
If you would like to unsubscribe please notify us at ngavrilova@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu