Editors: Natalia Gavrilova and Stacy Tessler Lindau
CCBAR
Questions and Answers this Month:
Q: Are sex hormone assays available for dried blood spots?
A: Yes, see work by Carol
Worthman and colleagues at Emory: https://webdrive.service.emory.edu/groups/research/lchb/PUBLICATIONS%20Worthman/PUBLICATIONS%20CMW%201997/Hormone%20measures.pdf
In addition, the National
Social Life, Health and Aging Project collected salivary specimens for
free sex hormone assessment. See NSHAP Technical Reports http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/ccbartechreports.html and a recent publication
by CCBAR researchers “Salivary Sex Hormone Measurement in a National,
Population-Based Study of Older Adults,” The Journals of Gerontology
Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences Advance Access
published on February 9, 2009, J GERONTOL B PSYCHOL SCI SOC SCI 2009
64B: i94-i105; doi:10.1093/geronb/gbn028
Q: Can you provide training on how to collect dried blood spots?
A: Yes, CCBAR will hold
its next training on dried blood spot collection methods next
Wednesday, February 3, 3-5 pm at the University of Chicago Medical
Center. Spots available for 10 attendees. Please contact Ms. Thuy Tran,
ttran2@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu.
Q: Is there a dried blood spot
protocol for trans-fats?
A: We know of one
protocol in development. See Gupta R, Abraham RA, Dhatwalia S,
Ramakrishnan L, Prabhakaran D, Reddy KS. Use of dried blood for
measurement of trans fatty acids. Nutrition Journal, 2009, Volume
8, Article Number: 35. Published: JUL 24 2009.
Q: Can you link us to a physician with both survey research skills and
an active clinical practice specializing in sexually transmitted
disease symptoms and diagnosis?
A: Yes. We linked this
survey research group to a community-based organization and an academic
physician-epidemiologist with the needed expertise.
Biomarkers:
Decoding the
microvesicle message
Microvesicles are shed from the membranes of many types of cell and can
transfer their contents to other cell types. Those shed by tumour cells
have been implicated in promoting tumour progression by manipulating
the surrounding environment. Now, Johan Skog and colleagues have shed
light
[Neuroscience]
From the Cover: Feature Article: A robust automated system elu...
Patterns of behavior exhibited by mice in their home cages reflect
the function and interaction of numerous behavioral and physiological...
ORIGINAL
ARTICLE: Giant Osteoclast Formation and Long-Term Oral Bisphosphonat...
This study examined bone-biopsy specimens obtained after a
3-year,
double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial of
oral alendronate to prevent bone resorption in healthy postmenopausal
women. Long-term alendronate treatment was associated with an increase
in the number of osteoclasts, which include distinctive giant,
hypernucleated, detached osteoclasts that undergo protracted apoptosis.
The finding of such cells, despite decreased resorption after long-term
therapy with oral nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate, may have clinical
implications.
ORIGINAL
ARTICLE: Shared and Distinct Genetic Variants in Type 1 Diabetes and...
Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease, both of which are associated
with
HLA class II genes, cosegregate in populations, suggesting a common
genetic origin. In this article, the authors tested whether any non-HLA
loci are shared. They report susceptibility alleles shared by both
diseases, indicating that common biologic mechanisms underlie these
immune-mediated disorders.
PERSPECTIVE:
Screening for Prostate Cancer among Men 75 Years of Age or Older
Prostate-cancer screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
test remains one of the most controversial issues in modern medicine.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent group
of experts ...
SPECIAL
ARTICLE: Mortality Attributable to Smoking in China
In this large, prospective cohort study of Chinese adults in
2005,
tobacco smoking was associated with increased mortality. The authors
estimate that 673,000 deaths in China in 2005 were caused by smoking.
The leading causes of smoking-related deaths were cancer,
cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases.