CCBAR Newsletter – July-August, 2008

Editors: Natalia Gavrilova and Stacy Tessler Lindau

CCBAR News

CCBAR is publishing a series of technical report on biomarker collection in population-based studies. Currently technical reports are available on saliva specimens (cotinine, estradiol, DHEA, progesterone, testosterone), vaginal swabs specimens (bacterial vaginosis, HPV, candidiasis) and medication. Technical reports are available at the CCBAR website: http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/ccbartechreports.html

Proceedings of the 2007 Chicago Annual Biomeasures meeting are available online. Please visit CCBAR website at http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/workshopproceedings.htm

News From the NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ and PNAS

[Anthropology-BS] Stress reduction through consolation in chimpanzees
Consolation, i.e., postconflict affiliative interaction directed from a third party to the recipient of aggression, is assumed to have a...

[Physiology] Carboxypeptidase E mediates palmitate-induced {beta}-cell ER str...
Obesity is a principal risk factor for type 2 diabetes, and elevated fatty acids reduce β-cell function and survival. An...

REVIEW ARTICLE: Medical Progress: Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in people 50 years of age or older in the developed world. This article reviews the clinical and histopathological features of age-related macular degeneration and its genetics and epidemiology and discusses current management options and research advances.

[Genetics] Sperm cross-over activity in regions of the human genome showing e...
Population diversity data have recently provided profound, albeit inferential, insights into meiotic recombination across the human genome, revealing a landscape...

[Neuroscience] Uncoupling of behavioral and autonomic responses after lesions...
Successful adaptation to changes in an animal's emotional and motivational environment depends on behavioral flexibility accompanied by changes in bodily...

PERSPECTIVE: The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act -- A Half-Step tow...
Consider three Americans -- one with an increased genetic risk for colon cancer, one with a family history of colon cancer, and one with a colonoscopic finding of several large ...

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Weight Loss with a Low-Carbohydrate, Mediterranean, or Low-...
This 2-year trial, which took place in an isolated workplace that facilitated retention in the study, randomly assigned 322 moderately obese subjects to one of three diets: a low-fat, restricted-calorie diet; a Mediterranean, restricted-calorie diet; or a low-carbohydrate, non-restricted-calorie diet. The results suggest that the Mediterranean and low-carbohydrate diets are effective alternatives to low-fat diets and that personal preferences and metabolic considerations might inform individualized tailoring of dietary interventions.

Genome-wide association studies: a new window into immune-mediated diseases
Given the recent explosion of genetic discoveries, 2007 is becoming known to human geneticists as the year of genome-wide association studies. In fact, more genetic risk factors for common diseases were identified in this one year than had been collectively reported before 2007. In particular,

Cancer as an overhealing wound: an old hypothesis revisited
What is the relationship between the wound-healing process and the development of cancer? Malignant tumours often develop at sites of chronic injury, and tissue injury has an important role in the pathogenesis of malignant disease, with chronic inflammation being the most important risk factor. The

Molecular biology: Senior signals
Cell134,291?303 (2008)By comparing the long list of messenger RNAs produced in young and old roundworms, biologists have identified three proteins that control ageing independently of environmental insults and the cellular wear and tear that accumulates over time. The proteins, ELT-3, ELT-5 and

Switching on and off fear by distinct neuronal circuits
Switching between exploratory and defensive behaviour is fundamental to survival of many animals, but how this transition is achieved by specific neuronal circuits is not known. Here, using the converse behavioural states of fear extinction and its context-dependent renewal as a model in mice, we

Biomarkers and Aging in the News Media

• In lean times, flies can’t survive without their sense of smell
By comparing fruit flies that can and can’t smell, researchers at last quantify how important the sense of smell is for survival.
• Eroded telomeres are behind a rare premature aging syndrome
By identifying the root cause of a rare aging syndrome, scientists provide a new perspective on how cells age.
• Ethnic infant mortality 'higher'
Infant mortality rates are much higher among some ethnic groups in England and Wales, figures show.
• Many may "trust" their partner is a low STD risk
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Too many people may consider themselves at low risk of sexually transmitted diseases simply because they trust their partner, a new study suggests.
• Coffee, tea may curb stroke risk in male smokers
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In men who smoke, drinking coffee and tea may reduce the risk of stroke caused by a blockage, findings of a new study hint.
• Scientists identify possible Alzheimer's gene
NEW YORK (AP) -- Scientists have identified a gene that may raise the risk of getting the most common kind of Alzheimer's disease by about 45 percent in people who inherit a certain form of it....
• Lack of sunshine vitamin may cloud survival odds
CHICAGO (AP) -- New research linking low vitamin D levels with deaths from heart disease and other causes bolsters mounting evidence about the "sunshine" vitamin's role in good health....
• Vital Signs: Nutrition: Chinese Ingredient Said to Help the Heart
A new study suggests that Chinese red yeast rice reduced the risk of repeat heart attacks in people who have already had one.
• New Test For Osteoporosis Fracture Risk
An ultrasound exam of the heel combined with an assessment of specific risk factors for bone loss and falling can help predict fracture risk due to osteoporosis, a new study suggests.
• 115-Year-Old Brain Was Good As New
Oldest woman in the world at the time she died, Henrikje van Andel-Schipper, showed little sing of aging, memory loss, and Alzheimer's in her brain.
• Social Ties May Help Cut Dementia Risk
Elderly women who maintain close friendships and strong family ties are less likely to develop dementia than women who are less sociable, according to a study.
• 1% of Newborns Now Test-Tube Babies
CDC: 1% of U.S. newborns were conceived via in-vitro fertilization. Half these babies came in multiple births with a 66%-97% risk of being born preterm.
• Hormone Replacement for Men: Pros, Cons
Testosterone replacement therapy can help older men deficient in the hormone reduce their risks of heart disease, diabetes and death, researchers say.
• Automated MRI Technique Assists In Earlier Alzheimer's Diagnosis
An automated system for measuring brain tissue with magnetic resonance imaging can help physicians more accurately diagnose Alzheimer's disease at an earlier stage according to a new study.
• Singles 'face Alzheimer's risk'
Being single when you reach middle age could increase your risk of dementia, a study suggests.
• 'Hygiene hypothesis' may be tied to bowel disease
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Children who grow up in a spick-and-span home may have a higher risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease, a study suggests.
• Astronaut technology could prevent elderly falls
BOSTON (AP) -- Scientists working to help astronauts regain balance after extended flights in zero gravity say they've found a way to use the research to help elderly people avoid catastrophic falls....
• Missing DNA chunks tied to schizophrenia risk
NEW YORK (AP) -- Two huge international studies show that people who lack certain chunks of DNA run a dramatically higher risk of getting schizophrenia, a finding that could help open new doors to understanding and diagnosing the disease....
• Mom's Alzheimer's May Raise Kid's Risk
Adult kids of moms with late-onset Alzheimer's disease may be more likely to have brain metabolism changes tied to Alzheimer's, new research shows.
• 10 Healthy Aging Tips From Centenarians
Stay close to family and friends, keep your mind active, and have a sense of humor, centenarians say in a healthy aging poll.
• Weighing Risks Of Removing Ovaries
There is not enough evidence to justify the routine removal of the ovaries during hysterectomy - a common practice that may convey as many risks as benefits for premenopausal women, a new analysis suggests.
• Older Women's Stroke Risk Linked To Sleep
Getting too much sleep may be a more serious sign of stroke risk among older women than getting too little, according to a new study.
• Breast Self-Exams: No Survival Benefit
Doing a breast self-exam doesn't improve breast cancer survival, and it makes biopsies of benign breast lumps more likely, an updated research review shows.
• Older Americans May Be Happier Than Younger Ones
Many times in science, research studies point in conflicting directions. Part of the challenge -- and the fun -- of watching science is to try to sort out lines of intersecting evidence hidden amid a welter of confusing data.
• Mom's Vitamin D Levels Affect Baby's Dental Health
FRIDAY, July 4 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born to women with low levels of vitamin D during pregnancy may be at increased risk for tooth enamel defects and early childhood tooth decay, a Canadian study finds.
• Discovery May Lead To Immunization Against Cardiovascular Disease
Low levels of naturally occurring antibodies may represent an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, particularly stroke in men. This discovery, published in the academic journal Atherosclerosis, has now led to attempts to develop an immunization against cardiovascular disease.

NIH Press Releases

Scientists Isolate a Toxic Key to Alzheimer's Disease in Human Brains
Scientists have long questioned whether the abundant amounts of amyloid plaques found in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's actually caused the neurological disease or were a by-product of its progress. Now, using new research techniques, scientists have shown that a two-molecule aggregate (or dimer) of beta-amyloid protein fragments may play a role in initiating the disease. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, suggests a possible new target for developing drug therapies to combat the irreversible and progressive disorder.

NIAMS Scientists Find Potential New Way to Block Inflammation in Autoimmune D...
Researchers from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), have identified a promising new target for autoimmune disease treatment -- a cell-surface receptor called DR3.

Hearing Loss Is Common in People with Diabetes
Hearing loss is about twice as common in adults with diabetes compared to those who do not have the disease, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

New Research Results Explain How Dormant Tumor Cells Become Active in Later Y...
Scientists using a three-dimensional cell culture system have identified a mechanism by which dormant, metastatic tumor cells can begin growing again after long periods of inactivity. The new findings indicate that the switch from dormancy to proliferative, metastatic growth may be regulated, in part, through signaling from the surrounding microenvironment, which leads to changes in the skeletal architecture of dormant tumor cells. Targeting this mechanism may also provide strategies for inhibiting the switch from dormancy to proliferation. The results of this study by National Cancer Institute (NCI) scientists and their collaborators, appears in the August 1, 2008, issue of NCI is part of the National Institutes of Health.

NIDDK Publishes New Resources about Urologic and Kidney Disorders
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has published several new resources to help people learn more about urologic and kidney disorders. These disorders are among the most critical health problems in the United States, affecting millions of Americans, including children and young adults. The publications address interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS), urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children, prostatitis, IgA nephropathy, and home hemodialysis.

Advice for Older Adults on Staying Safe in Hot Weather
Hyperthermia is the name given to a variety of heat-related illnesses that can include heat stroke, heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after exercising in the heat), heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Older adults are particularly at risk for developing heat-related illness because the ability to adequately respond to summer heat can become less efficient with age. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has some advice for helping older people avoid heat problems during the summer months.

NIH Creates Global Health Program to Fight Chronic Diseases
The Fogarty International Center, the global arm of the National Institutes of Health, today launched a $1.5 million-a-year grant program to fund domestic and overseas training of researchers to fight chronic diseases in developing nations.

NIDDK Publishes a Strategic Plan for Research into Benign Prostate Di...
For the first time, a strategic plan for research into benign prostate disease, based on the latest scientific knowledge, has been published by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIDDK Prostate Research Strategic Plan is the culmination of discussions and meetings among experts over the past two years in an effort to outline a strategic vision for research into these elusive and multi-faceted diseases.

NIH Announcements

Centers on the Demography and Economics of Aging (P30)
Request for Applications from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Roybal Centers for Translational Research on Aging (P30)
Request for Applications from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Neural and Behavioral Profiles of Cognitive Aging (R01)
Request for Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-AG-09-010
Paul B. Beeson Career Development Awards in Aging (K08 & K23)
Request For Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-AG-09-012
Letters of Intent Receipt Date: October 3, 2008
Application Receipt Date: November 3, 2008
Social Neuroscience of Aging (R01)
Request for Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-AG-09-006
Development of Models to Forecast Medicare Expenditures (R01)
Request for Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-AG-09-007
Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R01)
Program Announcement from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Biomarkers of Infection-Associated Cancers (R21)
Program Announcement from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Biomarkers for Older Controls at Risk for Dementia (BIOCARD) Study Extension (U01)
Request For Applications (RFA) Number: RFA-AG-09-002

Events

January 28-29, 2009. The National Social Life Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) will host the *NSHAP Early Results Conference*, an NIA funded, competitive workshop to present findings on integrated health and aging research using the first wave of the NSHAP data. Please contact Sara Leitsch at Leitsch-Sara@norc.org for more information.

Gerontological Society of America Annual meeting will be held November 21-25, 2008 in National Harbor, Maryland

Population Association of America Annual Meeting. April 30-May 2, 2009. Detroit, Michigan Marriott Renaissance Center.

The 19th IAGG World Congress of Gerontology and Geriatrics. July 5-10, 2009. Paris, France

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This Newsletter is supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (Grant No. 5 P30 AG012857)