Editors:
Natalia Gavrilova and Stacy Tessler Lindau
News from the NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ, PNAS and JAMA
Ageing:
Diet and longevity in the balance
Dietary restriction promotes longevity but impairs fecundity in
many
organisms. When the amino acids in a diet are fine-tuned, however,
lifespan can be increased without loss of fecundity - at least in
fruitflies.
Amino-acid
imbalance explains extension of lifespan by dietary restriction in...
Biomarkers
still off the mark for detecting breast cancer
Atherosclerosis:
keep your macrophages in shape
Lipid accumulation leads to atherosclerosis partly by eliciting lethal
levels of cellular stress in macrophages. A signaling pathway that
drives such lipid-induced toxicity is now identified. The findings
reveal a chaperoning function that might provide the clue needed to
rescue this pathogenic effe...
Hypertension
finds a new rhythm
Blood pressure oscillates with the circadian rhythm, and a molecular
mechanism has now been discovered (pages 67-74). The results point to a
new genetic risk factor for hypertension and to a potential new target
against this condition.
Systemic
inflammation as a confounding factor in cancer biomarker discovery a...
Cancer and inflammation are inextricably linked and cancer patients
have local and systemic changes in inflammatory parameters. However,
this crucial aspect of tumour biology is often overlooked in biomarker
studies and needs to be urgently addressed.
Senescence
in tumours: evidence from mice and humans
The importance of cellular senescence, which is a stress response that
stably blocks proliferation, is increasingly being recognized.
Senescence is prevalent in pre-malignant tumours, and progression to
malignancy requires evading senescence. Malignant tumours, however, may
still undergo senescence ...
Nutrition:
Preventing falls in the elderly - benefits of vitamin D supplementat...
Ensuring elderly individuals maintain sufficient levels of vitamin D
might help prevent falls in this vulnerable subgroup of the general
population, according to the results of a meta-analysis published in
the British Medical Journal. Vitamin D deficiency contributes to the
increased rate of falls
Ejaculate
components delay reproductive senescence while elevating female rep...
Increased female reproductive rates usually result in accelerated
senescence. This correlation provides a link between the evolutionary
conflict of the...
The
association between BMI and mortality using offspring BMI as an
indicator...
Objectives To obtain valid estimates of the association between
body
mass index (BMI) and mortality by using offspring BMI as an
instrumental variable for own BMI.
Design Cohort study based on...
Icelandic
genetic database not at risk from bankruptcy
Although the Icelandic genomics company deCODE has filed for
bankruptcy, this does not, as you put it in your News story (Nature462,
401; 2009), leave the "fate of its valuable genetic database
unclear".As chief executive of deCODE, I can state
Sociocultural
epistasis and cultural exaptation in footbinding, marriage form...
Social theorists have long recognized that changes in social order
have cultural consequences but have not been able to provide...
Social
isolation dysregulates endocrine and behavioral stress while
increasin...
In a life span study, we examined how the social environment
regulates naturally occurring tumor development and malignancy in
genetically...
Ginkgo
biloba for Preventing Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: A Randomized
...
The herbal product Ginkgo biloba is
taken
frequently with the intention of improving cognitive health in aging.
However, evidence from adequately powered clinical trials is lacking
regarding its effect on long-term cognitive functioning.
Alzheimer
disease: Neutral lipid accumulation in PBMCs'a biomarker for AD?
Monitoring neutral lipid accumulation in peripheral blood mononuclear
cells (PBMCs) may allow early identification of a subset of
asymptomatic, normal-weight individuals at risk of developing Alzheimer
disease (AD), according to new evidence from Pani et al. Alterations
of cholesterol homeostasis ...
Prevalence
and Trends in Obesity Among US Adults, 1999-2008 [Original Contrib...
Context The prevalence of obesity increased in the United
States between 1976-1980 and 1988-1994 and again between 1988-1994 and
1999-2000.
Objective To examine trends in obesity from 1999 through
2008 and the current prevalence of obesity and overweight for 2007-2008.
Prevalence
of High Body Mass Index in US Children and Adolescents, 2007-2008 ...
Context The prevalence of high body mass index (BMI) among
children and adolescents in the United States appeared to plateau
between 1999 and 2006.
Objectives To provide the most recent estimates of high
BMI
among children and adolescents and high weight for recumbent length
among infant...
Association
of Marine Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels With Telomeric Aging in Patie...
Context Increased dietary intake of marine omega-3 fatty
acids is associated with prolonged survival in patients with coronary
heart disease. However, the mechanisms underlying this protective
effect are poorly understood.
Objective To investigate the association of omega-3 fatty
acid bl...
Association
of a Functional Polymorphism in the Cholesteryl Ester Transfer Pr...
Context Polymorphisms in the cholesteryl ester transfer
protein (CETP)
gene have been associated with exceptional longevity and lower
cardiovascular risk, but associations with memory decline and dementia
risk are unclear.
Objective To test the hypothesis that a single-nucleotide
polymor...
Methodological
challenges of genome-wide association analysis in Africa
Medical research in Africa has yet to benefit from the advent of
genome-wide association (GWA) analysis, partly because the genotyping
tools and statistical methods that have been developed for European and
Asian populations struggle to deal with the high levels of genome
diversity and population
How
culture shaped the human genome: bringing genetics and the human
sciences...
Researchers from
diverse backgrounds are converging on the view that
human evolution has been shaped by gene-culture interactions.
Theoretical biologists have used population genetic models to
demonstrate that cultural processes can have a profound effect on human
evolution, and anthropologists are ...
Biomarkers
and Aging in the News Media
• Alzheimer's
may 'ward off cancer'
Alzheimer's
disease is associated with a reduced risk of cancer and
vice versa, a US study suggests.
• Coffee
may have health benefits and may not pose health risks for many people
Of all the
relationships in my life, by far the most on-again,
off-again has been with coffee: From that initial, tentative dalliance
in college to a serious commitment during my first real reporting job
to breaking up altogether when I got pregnant, only to fail miserably
at quitting my daily la...
• Heart
Risk of Obesity Greater Than Thought
The link between
obesity and death from heart disease may be even worse
than previously thought, but health problems associated with being
underweight may have been exaggerated, a new study shows.
• How
calorie-restricted diets fight obesity and extend life span
Scientists
searching for the secrets of how calorie-restricted diets
increase longevity are reporting discovery of proteins in the fat cells
of human volunteers that change as pounds drop off. The proteins could
become markers for monitoring or boosting the effectiveness of
calorie-restricted diets -- the only scientifically proven way of
extending life span in animals.
• Citrus
surprise: Vitamin C boosts the reprogramming of adult cells into stem
...
Famous for its
antioxidant properties and role in tissue repair,
vitamin C is touted as beneficial for illnesses ranging from the common
cold to cancer and perhaps even for slowing the aging process. Now, a
new study uncovers an unexpected new role for this natural compound:
facilitating the generation of embryonic-like stem cells from adult
cells.
• Genetic
causes identified for disturbances in lipid metabolism; implications ...
Scientists have
identified new gene variants associated with
disturbances in the lipid metabolism. Some of these common human gene
variants are already known to be risk factors for diabetes mellitus.
• Couch
potatoes may have shorter lives
Lounging in
front of the tube not only eats up hours in your day, it
may also shorten your life, according to a new study.
• New
Airport Scanners: Radiation Risk Tiny
Radiation from
new imaging scanners isn't dangerous, says the American
College of Radiology. It's as much radiation as you get flying in an
airplane for two minutes.
• New
Brain Scan May Predict Alzheimer's
A new imaging
technique that measures the random motion of water within
the brain may prove useful for detecting early signs of Alzheimer's
disease.
• Quitting
Smoking Carries Diabetes Risk
Cigarette
smoking is linked to an increased risk of diabetes, but
quitting the habit, ironically, may increase diabetes risk in the short
term, a new study says.
• Excess
protein in urine is indicator of heart disease risk in whites, but
not...
The
cardiovascular risk that is associated with proteinuria, or high
levels of protein in the urine, a common test used by doctors as an
indicator of increased risk for progressive kidney disease, heart
attack and stroke, has race-dependent effects, according to a new study.
• Women's
Scent Triggers Hormone Surge in Men
The scent of an
ovulating woman is enough to trigger a surge of testosterone in men and
may affect mating behavior.
• Sex
Good for Men's Hearts, Study Shows
Guys Having It
at Least Twice a Week Cut Risk of Serious Cardiac Woes Almost in Half,
Research Indicates
• Stress
of Caregiving Linked to Stroke Risk
Caregivers who
find their responsibilities highly stressful may be at increased risk
for stroke, according to a new study.
• BPA
May Be Linked to Heart Disease Risk
Nearly everybody
in the U.S. has the plastics chemical BPA in their
bodies. Those with the highest BPA levels have the highest risk of
heart disease, new data confirms.
• 'Longevity'
Gene May Cut Dementia Risk
The so-called
"longevity gene" may help stave off age-related cognitive decline, a
study shows.
• Opinion:
Uncovering secrets to a longer life
In the same way
organisms select for characteristics that favor the
survival and well-being of its species over successive generations, so
too do cultures. With organisms, we call this process evolution and it
represents a sort of accumulated wisdom. There is no word for this
process in cultures, but there is one for the result. And that word is
tradition.
• Low
Vitamin D Has a Role in Heart Risk
Low levels of
vitamin D may help explain why African-Americans are more
likely than whites to die of heart attacks and strokes, a study shows.
• Mice
and humans with same anxiety-related gene abnormality behave similarly
Studying animals
in behavioral experiments has been a cornerstone of
psychological research, but whether the observations are relevant for
human behavior has been unclear. Researchers have now identified an
alteration to the DNA of a gene that imparts similar anxiety-related
behavior in both humans and mice, demonstrating that laboratory animals
can be accurately used to study these human behaviors.
• Gene
linked to schizophrenia may reduce cancer risk
A specific form
of a gene that puts people on the road to schizophrenia may protect
against some forms of cancer.
• Blueberry
Juice May Boost Memory
A new study
shows drinking a daily dose of wild blueberry juice
improved the memory of older adults with age-related memory problems.
• Vitamin
D May Lower Colon Cancer Risk
People with
abundant levels of vitamin D -- the so-called sunshine
vitamin -- may have a much lower risk of colon cancer, a study shows.
• Chemical
May Be Linked to Thyroid Disease
A chemical
compound used to make non-stick cookware, food wrappers, and
water-resistant coatings for carpets and fabrics has been linked to an
increased risk for thyroid disease in an early study.
NIH
Press Releases
NIH
to Hold Press Telebriefing on February 4 following State-of-the-Science
C...
Although colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of
cancer-related deaths in the United States, screening for this disease
is currently underutilized among eligible individuals. An NIH
State-of-the-Science Conference on Enhancing Use and Quality of
Colorectal Cancer Screening will be held February 2-4, 2010.
National
Library of Medicine Launches Mobile MedlinePlus to Meet the Health I...
Wondering what the side effects are for your new prescription? Go to
Mobile MedlinePlus while you're waiting for the pharmacist to fill your
order! Or, instantly look up the symptoms of H1N1 flu if you're at the
supermarket and your child's school calls you to tell you he doesn't
feel well. The National Library of Medicine's Mobile Medline Plus
builds on the NLM's MedlinePlus Internet service, which provides
authoritative consumer health information to over 10 million visitors
per month.
COPD, Even
When Mild, Limits Heart Function
A common lung condition, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
diminishes the heart's ability to pump effectively even when the
disease has no or mild symptoms, according to research published in the
Jan. 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The study is the
first time researchers have shown strong links between heart function
and mild COPD. The research was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and
Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health.
Newly
Identified Genes Influence Insulin and Glucose Regulation
An international research consortium has found 13 new genetic variants
that influence blood glucose regulation, insulin resistance, and the
function of insulin-secreting beta cells in populations of European
descent. Five of the newly discovered variants increase the risk of
developing type 2 diabetes, the most common form of diabetes.
Hypothermia:
Staying Safe in Cold Weather
Frigid weather can pose special risks to older adults. The National
Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health,
has some advice for helping older people avoid hypothermia -- when the
body gets too cold -- during cold weather.
Diet May
Protect Against Gene Changes in Smokers
Leafy green vegetables, folate, and some multivitamins could serve as
protective factors against lung cancer in current and former smokers,
according to a study that is a first step in understanding a complex
association. The study was supported by the National Cancer Institute
(NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health. The study appeared
online Jan. 12, 2010, in Cancer Research.
Molecule
Repairs Alcohol Metabolism Enzyme
An experimental compound repaired a defective alcohol metabolism enzyme
that affects an estimated 1 billion people worldwide, according to
research supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and
Alcoholism (NIAAA). The findings, published Jan. 10, 2010 in the
advance online edition of Nature Structural and Molecular Biology,
suggest the possibility of a treatment to reduce the health problems
associated with the enzyme defect.
Small
Changes in Protein Chemistry Play Large Role in Huntington's Disease
In Huntington's disease, a mutated protein in the body becomes toxic to
brain cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that a small region
adjacent to the mutated segment plays a major role in the toxicity. Two
new studies supported by the National Institutes of Health show that
very slight changes to this region can eliminate signs of Huntington's
disease in mice.
Survival
of Children with HIV in the United States Has Improved Dramatically ...
The death rates of children with HIV have decreased ninefold since
doctors started prescribing cocktails of antiretroviral drugs in the
mid-1990s, concludes a large-scale study of the long-term outcomes of
children and adolescents with HIV in the United States. In spite of
this improvement, however, young people with HIV continue to die at 30
times the rate of youth of similar age who do not have HIV, found
researchers from the National Institutes of Health and other
institutions.
NIH
Announcements
Restructured
Application Forms and Instructions for Submissions for FY2011 Fu...
Notice from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Change
in Application Submission Package and Clarification of Research
Strate...
Notice from the
NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Recovery
Act Limited Competition: NIH Basic Behavioral and Social Science
Opportunity Network (OppNet) Short-term Mentored Career Development
Awards
in
the Basic Behavioral and Social Sciences for Mid-career and Senior
Investigators (K18)
Expires: 2010/02/19
ARRAOS:
Recovery Act Limited Competition: Behavioral Economics for Nudging the
Implementation of Comparative Effectiveness Research: Clinical Trials
(RC4)
Expires: 2010/04/08
Recovery
Act Limited Competition: Methodology Development in Comparative
Effectiveness Research (RC4)
Expires: 2010/02/27
ARRAOS:
Recovery Act Limited Competition: Behavioral Economics for Nudging the
Implementation of Comparative Effectiveness Research: Pilot Research
(RC4)
Expires: 2010/03/20
Development,
Application, and Evaluation of Prediction Models for Cancer Risk...
Program Announcement from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Development,
Application, and Evaluation of Prediction Models for Cancer Risk...
Program Announcement from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Obesity
Policy Research: Evaluation and Measures (R01)
Program Announcement from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Obesity
Policy Research: Evaluation and Measures (R21)
Program Announcement from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Obesity
Policy Research: Evaluation and Measures (R03)
Program Announcement from the NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts
Events
• Memory and the
Aging Brain
The NIH Director's Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series includes weekly
scientific talks by some of the top researchers in the biomedical
sciences worldwide.
Air date: 3/17/2010 3:00:00 PM Eastern Time
• New Models for
Large Prospective Studies
Large prospective, population-based cohorts are the optimal design for
defining disease burden and studying the many genetic, lifestyle, and
environmental factors that underlie human disease. Leveraging or
expanding existing efforts to establish a large-scale population cohort
may serve to create a much needed national research resource with which
to examine genetic and environmental contributions to disease and
advance
personalized medicine. The symposium, organized by the NIH
Office of the ...
• NIH
State-of-the-Science Conference: Preventing Alzheimer's Disease and
Cognitive Decline
Day 1 - Air
date: Monday, April 26, 2010, 8:30:00 AM
Day 2 - Air
date: Tuesday, April 27, 2010, 8:30:00 AM
Day 3 - Air
date: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 9:00:00 AM
Conferences:
Genomics Workshop -
Demography of Aging Centers Biomarker Network Meeting at PAA, Hyatt Regency Dallas,
TX
Attendance is
limited to 50 people. Those interested in attending should email
Eileen Crimmins (crimmin@usc.edu) by March 1st, 2010.
Abstracts Deadline: March 15, 2010
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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