Resveratrol Delays Age-Related Deterioration and Mimics Transcriptional Aspects of Dietary Restriction without Extending Life Span

22 páginas, 4 figuras.A small molecule that safely mimics the ability of dietary restriction (DR) to delay age-related diseases in laboratory animals is greatly sought after. We and others have shown that resveratrol mimics effects of DR in lower organisms. In mice, we find that resveratrol induces gene expression patterns in multiple tissues that parallel those induced by DR and every-other-day feeding. Moreover, resveratrol-fed elderly mice show a marked reduction in signs of aging, including reduced albuminuria, decreased inflammation, and apoptosis in the vascular endothelium, increased aortic elasticity, greater motor coordination, reduced cataract formation, and preserved bone mineral density. However, mice fed a standard diet did not live longer when treated with resveratrol beginning at 12 months of age. Our findings indicate that resveratrol treatment has a range of beneficial effects in mice but does not increase the longevity of ad libitum-fed animals when started midlife.This work was supported by grants from the American Heart Association (0425834T to J.A.B. and 0435140N to A.C.) and from the NIH (RO1GM068072, AG19972, and AG19719 to D.A.S.), (HL077256 to Z.U.), (HD034089 to L.W), (2RO1 EY011733 to N.S.W.), Spanish grant (BFU2005-03017 to P.N.), and by the generous support of Mr. Paul F. Glenn and The Paul F. Glenn Laboratories for the Biological Mechanisms of Aging.Peer reviewe

Clients' perceptions of the quality of family planning care: An exploration of differences by race, ethnicity, and language

This dissertation sought to learn whether clients of different racial, ethnic and language backgrounds have different family planning service experiences or different service preferences. First, a review of the US literature on family planning service quality was conducted. Second, a quantitative analysis was carried out to test for racial, ethnic and language group differences in low income women's perceptions of reproductive health service quality and service delivery preferences. The data came from a telephone survey with a nationally representative sample of 1,852 low income African-American, Latina, and White women. Logistic regression analysis was used. Third, forty in-depth interviews were conducted with women who were recent family planning clients. Women were recruited from two family planning clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the quantitative phase, racial, ethnic and language group differences in quality perceptions and service delivery preferences were identified. Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Latinas were more likely than Whites to prefer a female clinician at reproductive health visits and to prefer provider continuity across visits. English-speaking Latins and African-Americans were more likely than Whites to prefer reproductive health service delivery at a site delivering general health care. There were no group differences in clients' perceptions of the interpersonal treatment at their most recent reproductive health visit or in clients' reports about whether they were informed about contraceptive options; however, Spanish-speaking and English-speaking Latins were less likely than Whites to rate the facility environment or the patient-centeredness at their most recent visit optimally. African-Americans were more likely than Whites to report ever being pressured by a health care provider to adopt a contraceptive method. The qualitative study indicated that women evaluated the quality of their family planning care considering nine factors: the information provided, whether their autonomy was respected, accessibility, how personalized services were, how caring providers seemed, the attention paid to their comfort, technical quality, organizational factors, and the outcome of the visit. There were few racial, ethnic, or language group differences in the factors women considered important when receiving care. These results can inform future research on family planning service quality and future service delivery improvement efforts

Decriminalization of abortion in Mexico City: The effects on women\u27s reproductive rights

In April 2007, the Mexico City, Mexico, legislature passed landmark legislation decriminalizing elective abortion in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. | In Mexico City, safe abortion services are now available to women through the Mexico City Ministry of Health\u27s free public sector legal abortion program and in the private sector, and more than 89 000 legal abortions have been performed. By contrast, abortion has continued to be restricted across the Mexican states (each state makes its own abortion laws), and there has been an antichoice backlash against the legislation in 16 states. | Mexico City\u27s abortion legislation is an important first step in improving reproductive rights, but unsafe abortions will only be eliminated if similar abortion legislation is adopted across the entire country

Do Mexico City pharmacy workers screen women for health risks when they sell oral contraceptive pills over-the-counter?

Context: In Mexico, oral contraceptives (OCs) are available to women over-the-counter in pharmacies. While past research has suggested that nonmedical providers, such as pharmacy workers, are capable of screening women for contraindications to OCs, little is known about their practices. Methods: After selecting a 10% random sample of all pharmacies in Mexico City (n = 108), we surveyed the first available pharmacy worker to learn more about pharmacy workers\u27 screening practices when selling OCs over-the-counter to women. Results: While nearly all of the pharmacy workers surveyed had sold OCs without a prescription, only 31% reported asking women any questions before selling pills. Among those who asked questions, the most commonly asked questions were about other medications a woman was taking, about blood pressure and about alcohol intake. Pharmacy workers did not ask these questions consistently to all clients. Conclusion: Training pharmacy workers might be one strategy to improve screening of women for pill contraindications. However, pharmacy workers may lack the time and motivation to carry out such screening. An alternative strategy might be to better inform women to self-screen for pill contraindications

Emergency contraception among university students in Kingston, Jamaica: a survey of knowledge, attitudes, and practices.

Emergency contraceptives (ECs) are an important option for young women in Jamaica, where rates of unplanned pregnancy are high. Few previous studies of EC exist in Jamaica. We surveyed a random sample of 205 students living on campus at the University of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, to learn more about students' knowledge and opinions of EC pills (ECPs). General awareness of ECPs was high (84%), although many students were unaware of specific details regarding the method's appropriate use, such as the time frame. Twenty students (10%) had used ECPs themselves or had a partner who had used them. Most had used ECPs for the first time because they lacked contraception or because of contraceptive failure. Following their first use of ECPs, 55% adopted an ongoing method of contraception. Most students felt ECPs were an important option for women in Jamaica; however, some feared ECPs might be overused. Future educational campaigns should provide Jamaican university students with detailed information about this method

Conducting Collaborative Abortion Research In International Settings

Nearly 20% of the 208 million pregnancies that occur annually are aborted. More than half of these (21.6 million) are unsafe, resulting in 47,000 abortion-related deaths each year. Accurate reports on the prevalence of abortion, the conditions under which it occurs, and the experiences women have in obtaining abortions are essential to addressing unsafe abortion globally. It is difficult, however, to obtain accurate and reliable reports of attitudes and practices given that abortion is often controversial and stigmatized, even in settings where it is legal. To improve the understanding and measurement of abortion, specific considerations are needed throughout all stages of the planning, design, and implementation of research on abortion: Establishment of strong local partnerships, knowledge of local culture, integration of innovative methodologies, and approaches that may facilitate better reporting. This paper draws on the authors’ collaborative research experiences conducting abortion-related studies using clinic- and community-based samples in five diverse settings (Poland, Zanzibar, Mexico City, the Philippines, and Bangladesh). The purpose of this paper is to share insights and lessons learned with new and established researchers to inform the development and implementation of abortion-related research. The paper discusses the unique challenges of conducting abortion-related research and key considerations for the design and implementation of abortion research, both to maximize data quality and to frame inferences from this research appropriately

Exploring knowledge and attitudes about emergency contraceptive pills among university students in Jamaica: A qualitative approach

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are an important option for university students who may be at high risk for unplanned pregnancies. In the Caribbean, little research has been carried out on university student's knowledge and opinions of this method. This study uses qualitative methodology to explore knowledge and opinions on ECPs among university students attending The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona campus. We conducted eight focus groups (n = 71) with female and male university students at The University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica, in March 2000. The group discussions lasted approximately two hours. We tape-recorded discussions and then transcribed and analyzed them by coding responses according to themes. General knowledge of ECPs was high, but students lacked specific information about the method such as its time frame and its mechanism of action. Most students supported the method, especially after learning correct information. However, several students were concerned about its side effects and the potential for abuse or irresponsible use by young adults. Although the university students in this study lacked detailed information about ECPs, their opinion toward the method was favourable. We suggest further research to investigate the prevalence of misinformation about the method among other groups of Jamaicans