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CCBAR Newsletter – September, 2013

Editors:  Natalia Gavrilova and Stacy Tessler Lindau  


CCBAR News:

Registration for the 7th Chicago Workshop on Biomeasures in Population-Based Health and Aging Research. Registration for the 2013 Workshop, "Biosocial Study of Health and Aging in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and HIV-Affected Populations" (October 17, 2013) continues.  The Workshop agenda can be found at the following link: http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/Agenda-2013.html

Please register using the following URL:

http://biomarkers.uchicago.edu/Reg2013.asp

Workshop space is limited to 50 participants; registration will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Due to limited space, registrants are required to commit to participate in the full conference.  For more information, please contact Lori Garibay, MPH at CCBAR by phone at 773-834-5890 or by email lgaribay@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu.


CCBAR Q & A:

Q: We are looking for lab space on the south side of Chicago where we might be able to store our blood samples before shipping them for microarray analysis.


A: The CRC laboratory will be able to help with storing , centrifuging, and shipping.
Please note there is a charge of $1.40 per sample for whole blood storage.  If you choose to have samples centrifuged; there is a fee of $2.30 for your first sample aliquot and $1.25 for each additional. If you choose to have the laboratory ship samples for you, all materials and FedEx labels will need to be supplied.  We will be able to provide dry ice.  The prices mentioned are for protocols that will have an in house/ U of Chicago investigator.  For more details please contact:

Jessica Camp
ITM Core Laboratory Manager
CRC-Room W547
University of Chicago
5841 S Maryland Ave
Chicago, IL 60706
Tel# 773-702-5479





News from the NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ, PNAS, Lancet and JAMA

Population: Crowd control
by Hania Zlotnik
Hania Zlotnik assesses two polarized takes on population growth and planetary capacity.
Nutrition: Fruits shrink diabetes risk
Highly read on www.bmj.com in AugustThree large, long-running health surveys suggest that some fruits - but not fruit juice - reduce the risk of diabetes.Researchers led by Qi Sun at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, looked at people's
Stem cells: Down's syndrome link to ageing
by George P. Souroullas, Norman E. Sharpless
Triplication of the enzyme USP16 in models of Down's syndrome creates defects in the stem cells resident in adult tissues. This finding provides insight into stem-cell homeostasis during ageing. See Article p.380
Germline mitochondrial DNA mutations aggravate ageing and can impair brain de...
by Jaime M. Ross, James B. Stewart, Erik Hagström, Stefan Brené, Arnaud Mourier, Giuseppe Coppotelli, Christoph Freyer, Marie Lagouge, Barry J. Hoffer, Lars Olson, Nils-Göran Larsson
Ageing is due to an accumulation of various types of damage, and mitochondrial dysfunction has long been considered to be important in this process. There is substantial sequence variation in mammalian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and the high mutation rate is counteracted by different mechanisms that...
Testicular volume predicts paternal brain activity [Evolution]
by Mascaro, J. S., Hackett, P. D., Rilling, J. K.
Despite the well-documented benefits afforded the children of invested fathers in modern Western societies, some fathers choose not to invest in their children. Why do some men make this choice? Life History Theory offers an explanation for variation in parental investment by positing a trade-off be...
Prospects of elimination of HIV [Medical Sciences]
by Kretzschmar, M. E., Schim van der Loeff, M. F., Birrell, P. J., De Angelis, D., Coutinho, R. A.
Recently, there has been much debate about the prospects of eliminating HIV from high endemic countries by a test-and-treat strategy. This strategy entails regular HIV testing in the entire population and starting antiretroviral treatment immediately in all who are found to be HIV infected. We prese...
Social reward requires coordinated activity of nucleus accumbens oxytocin and...
by Gül Dölen, Ayeh Darvishzadeh, Kee Wui Huang, Robert C. Malenka
Social behaviours in species as diverse as honey bees and humans promote group survival but often come at some cost to the individual. Although reinforcement of adaptive social interactions is ostensibly required for the evolutionary persistence of these behaviours, the neural mechanisms by which so...
SIRT1 suppresses GH-induced IGF-I production [Cell Biology]
by Yamamoto, M., Iguchi, G., Fukuoka, H., Suda, K., Bando, H., Takahashi, M., Nishizawa, H., Seino, S., Takahashi, Y.
Adaptation under fasting conditions is critical for survival in animals. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a protein deacetylase, plays an essential role in adaptive metabolic and endocrine responses under fasting conditions by modifying the acetylation status of various proteins. Fasting induces growth hormone (G...
Money and trust among strangers [Economic Sciences]
by Camera, G., Casari, M., Bigoni, M.
What makes money essential for the functioning of modern society? Through an experiment, we present evidence for the existence of a relevant behavioral dimension in addition to the standard theoretical arguments. Subjects faced repeated opportunities to help an anonymous counterpart who changed over...
Ontogeny of prosociality across diverse societies [Psychological and Cognitiv...
by House, B. R., Silk, J. B., Henrich, J., Barrett, H. C., Scelza, B. A., Boyette, A. H., Hewlett, B. S., McElreath, R., Laurence, S.
Humans are an exceptionally cooperative species, but there is substantial variation in the extent of cooperation across societies. Understanding the sources of this variability may provide insights about the forces that sustain cooperation. We examined the ontogeny of prosocial behavior by studying ...
Cognitive emotion regulation fails the stress test [Psychological and Cogniti...
by Raio, C. M., Orederu, T. A., Palazzolo, L., Shurick, A. A., Phelps, E. A.
Cognitive emotion regulation has been widely shown in the laboratory to be an effective way to alter the nature of emotional responses. Despite its success in experimental contexts, however, we often fail to use these strategies in everyday life where stress is pervasive. The successful execution of...
Fetal brain learns to process speech [Psychological and Cognitive Sciences]
by Partanen, E., Kujnodot;ala, T., Naatanen, R., Liitola, A., Sambeth, A., Huotilainen, M.
Learning, the foundation of adaptive and intelligent behavior, is based on plastic changes in neural assemblies, reflected by the modulation of electric brain responses. In infancy, auditory learning implicates the formation and strengthening of neural long-term memory traces, improving discriminati...
Evidence that exercise helps in depression is still weak, finds review
by Kmietowicz, Z.
An analysis of trials that looked at the effectiveness of exercise in treating depression found it to be of moderate benefit, but when the analysis was narrowed to only good quality trials it found...
Nearly half of US births were covered by Medicaid in 2010
by Tanne, J. H.
Medicaid paid for 48% of the 3.8 million births in the United States in 2010, an increase of 19% in only two years, a study has calculated.Next year, when the Affordable Care Act goes into effect, Medicaid will cover many previously uninsured low income women of childbearing age, not just pregnant w...
Cystatin C versus Creatinine in Determining Risk Based on Kidney Function
by Michael G. Shlipak et al
New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 369, Issue 10, Page 932-943, September 2013.
Behavioral and Dietary Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Diseases
by Majid Ezzati et al
New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 369, Issue 10, Page 954-964, September 2013.
Estimated GFR and Risk of Death - Is Cystatin C Useful?
by Julie R. Ingelfinger et al
New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 369, Issue 10, Page 974-975, September 2013.
Prevalence and Control of Diabetes in Chinese Adults
by Xu Y, Wang L, He J, et al.
Importance. Noncommunicable chronic diseases have become the leading causes of mortality and disease burden worldwide.Objective. To investigate the prevalence of diabetes and glycemic control in the Chinese adult population. Design, Setting, and Participants. Using a complex, multistage, probability sampli...
Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in Rural and Ur...
by Chow CK, Teo KK, Rangarajan S, et al.
Importance. Hypertension is the most important preventable cause of morbidity and mortality globally, yet there are relatively few data collected using standardized methods. Objective. To examine hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control in participants at baseline in the Prospective Urb...
Despite 30-Year Low, Decline in Youth Homicides Has Slowed
Homicide rates among older children and young adults have seesawed over the past 3 decades, but steady decreases since the mid-1990s led to a 30-year low in 2010.

Biomarkers and Aging in the News Media

Playing music for your brain
As scientists race to figure out how to promote healthy aging of the brain, and prevent dementia, early research shows music may hold the key.
Anti-depressants' 'link to diabetes'
People prescribed anti-depressants should be aware that they could be at increased risk of type 2 diabetes, say UK researchers.
Vitamin D Alone Doesn't Boost Bone Health, Study Says
But calcium supplements appear to reduce risk of osteoporosis
Vitamin B Supplements May Guard Against Stroke
Review found they reduced risk by 7 percent, but did not reduce severity or risk of death
Little Benefit Seen in Repeat Bone-Density Testing
Older adults without osteoporosis could wait longer between screenings, study suggests
Moderate Arsenic in Environment Tied to Higher Heart Attack, Stroke Risk
Researchers suspect groundwater and certain foods raised levels of chemical in study of Native Americans
Having children lowers mortality in people with type 1 diabetes, women more t...
New research shows that having children lowers mortality in people with type 1 diabetes, but for women more than men.
Health kick 'reverses cell ageing'
Going on a health kick reverses ageing at the cellular level, claim US researchers who have been studying people's DNA.
Study: U.S. teens eating better, watching less TV
Study finds adolescents may be engaging in healthier habits, which may explain leveling off in obesity rates
'Severely obese:' 5 percent of US kids, teens fit risky new category
Overall obesity rates for American kids may have leveled off, but a new report finds that children and teens at the far end of the spectrum are getting heavier, faster -- with about 5 percent now classified as 'severely obese.' That means nearly 4 million U.S.
Older is wiser, at least economically
The brains of older people are slowing but experience more than makes up for the decline. Researchers came up with this conclusion after asking the participants a series of financially related questions.
Older Age May Mean Fewer Hangovers
But study doesn't show why seniors suffer less headache, nausea than younger people after heavy drinking
Childhood Obesity Quadruples Chances of Adult Hypertension: Study
Even being overweight when young was found to double high blood pressure risk in long-term study
Why do young adults start smoking?
The risk of becoming a smoker among young adults who have never smoked is high: 14% will become smokers between the ages of 18 and 24, and three factors predict this behaviour.
Tooth Cavities Linked to Lower Risk of Head, Neck Cancer in Study
Bacteria involved in cavity formation may have some cancer-protective effect, researcher says, but skeptics aren't sure
Nearly 60 Percent of Uterine Cancer Cases Preventable: Report
Women who exercise, maintain healthy weight and drink coffee daily may cut their risk
Lifestyle changes may lengthen telomeres, a measure of cell aging
A small pilot study shows for the first time that changes in diet, exercise, stress management and social support may result in longer telomeres, the parts of chromosomes that affect aging.
Wide-faced men make others act selfishly
Researchers have previously shown that men with wider faces are more aggressive, less trustworthy and more prone to engaging in deception. Now they have shown, in a series of four studies, that individuals behave more selfishly when interacting with men with wider faces and this selfish behavior elicits selfish behavior in others.
Novel biomarker identified for diabetes risk
Researchers have identified a biomarker that can predict diabetes risk up to 10 years before onset of the disease.
Low testosterone? Low estrogen too may cause problems for men
Testosterone is powerful--in the male human body and in the American pharmacological marketplace. From 1993 to 2000, prescriptions for testosterone replacements increased fivefold, boosted by advertising campaigns that invited aging men to "talk to their doctor about low T" if they were experiencing decreased energy, sex drive or muscle tone. 
CDC targets needless deaths due to poor lifestyle habits
Steps such as quitting smoking and controlling blood pressure and cholesterol could save more than 200,000 Americans a year, a report finds.
At least 200,000 Americans die needlessly each year due to heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure, and more than half of these deaths occur in people younger than 65, according to a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Study shows men just as likely to be depressed as women
When researchers expand the symptoms list to include aggression, substance abuse and risk-taking behavior, depression is no longer just a 'woman's disease.'
Depression can look very different in men and women. And many of its hallmarks — rage, risk-taking, substance abuse and even workaholism — can hide in plain sight.
How Down syndrome may help unravel Alzheimer's puzzle
Scientists have known for decades that people with Down syndrome were at increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, but they didn't know why.
Better Hygiene Could Raise Risk of Alzheimer's
A study by researchers at Cambridge University has found that high-income, highly industrialized countries with large urban areas and better hygiene and sanitation have much higher rates of Alzheimer's disease.
Screening for minor memory changes will wrongly label many with dementia, war...
A political drive, led by the UK and US, to screen older people for minor memory changes (often called mild cognitive impairment or pre-dementia) is leading to unnecessary investigation and potentially harmful treatment for what is arguably an inevitable consequence of aging, warn experts.
Black Americans at Raised Risk of Insufficient Sleep, Study Finds
Racial disparity greatest among those in professional, management positions, researchers say
Traumatic Childhood Incidents Could Put People At Risk For Premature Death
As subjects experienced more traumatic childhood experiences, their risk for dying early increased.
Genetic study pushes back timeline for first significant human population exp...
Using new genetic tools, the authors conclude that the first significant expansion of human populations appears to be much older than the emergence of farming and herding, dating back to the Paleolithic (60,000-80,000 years ago) rather than Neolithic age (10,000 years ago). They also suggest that strong Paleolithic expansions may have favored the emergence of sedentary farming in some populations during the Neolithic.


NIH Press Releases

NIH-funded study examines frequency of follow-up bone mineral density tests i...
Researchers examine fracture risk.
NIH funding boosts new Alzheimer's research on prevention, novel drug targets
$45 million in awards to test early interventions, explore new approaches.
NIH-funded study suggests brain is hard-wired for chronic pain
Brain's white matter may determine susceptibility to chronic pain.
NIH approves high-priority research within BRAIN Initiative
Projects seek to enhance understanding of the brain.
BRAIN Working Group to present BRAIN high-priority research for NIH FY2014 fu...
NIH leadership will answer questions about the BRAIN interim report.
Lifestyle intervention improves high schoolers' health, social skills, grades
NIH-supported research shows promise for teens at risk of becoming overweight, obese.
NIH grants to investigate disease-related variations in genetic makeup
Studies focus on underlying susceptibilities in minority populations
NIH program explores the use of genomic sequencing in newborn healthcare
Can sequencing genome provide useful medical information beyond what current newborn screening already provides?


NIH Announcements

NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13/U13)
Funding Number: PA-13-347
Expiration Date: September 8, 2016
Academic Research Enhancement Award (Parent R15)
Funding Number: PA-13-313
Expiration Date: September 8, 2016
Behavioral and Social Science Research on Understanding and Reducing Health Disparities (R21)
Funding Number: PA-13-288
Expiration Date: September 8, 2016
Mid-life Reversibility of Early-established Biobehavioral Risk Factors (R01)
Funding Opportunity RFA-AG-14-006 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is to solicit two-year Research Project Grant (R01) applications that propose to explore the potential for midlife plasticity of biobehavioral or psychological systems affected by early life disadvantage. In order to speed the development of novel intervention strategies, applicants are encouraged either to use existing human cohort data to identify circumstances that mitigate or exacerbate the effects of early adversity or to use human and/or animal models to test the feasibility of developing interventions aimed specifically at increasing malleability in adulthood of risk persistence mechanisms.
High Priority Behavioral and Social Research Networks (R24)
Funding Opportunity RFA-AG-14-007 from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts. The purpose of this funding opportunity announcement (FOA) issued by the National Institute on Aging (NIA), working in part with funds contributed by the NIH Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (http://obssr.od.nih.gov/index.aspx ), is to provide infrastructure support for advancing development of specific emerging and high priority interdisciplinary areas of behavioral and social research of relevance to aging. The infrastructure support will facilitate research networks through meetings, conferences, small scale pilots, training, and dissemination to encourage growth and development of specified priority areas and of resources for the field at large. Projects are solicited that will develop, strengthen, and evaluate transdisciplinary approaches and methods for basic behavioral and/or social research.
Regional and International Differences in Health and Longevity at Older Ages (R03) PA-13-123
Expiration Date September 8, 2016
Regional and International Differences in Health and Longevity at Older Ages (R21) PA-13-124
Expiration Date September 8, 2016
Regional and International Differences in Health and Longevity at Older Ages (R01) PA-13-125
Expiration Date September 8, 2016
Obesity Policy Evaluation Research (R01) PA-13-110
Expiration Date: May 8, 2016
PAR-12-186  DBSR  Macroeconomic Aspects of Population Aging (R01)
Expiration date:  10/04/2014 
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:

Conferences:

66th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America, Wednesday, 11/20 to Sunday, 11/24, 2013
Sheraton New Orleans - New Orleans Marriott, New Orleans, Louisiana
Deadline for abstract submissions was March 15, 2013    

2014 Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America 
Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA, May 1-3, 2014
Abstract deadline:September 27, 2013

2014 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Geriatrics Society (AGS), May 15 - 17, 2014
Orlando, Florida
Abstract deadline: December 2, 2013 at 11:59 pm EST

The 26th REVES meeting on health expectancy
Edinburgh, UK, May 28-30, 2014
Abstract submission deadline: to be announced

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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)

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