Non-targeted metabolomics of Brg1/Brm double-mutant cardiomyocytes reveals a novel role for SWI/SNF complexes in metabolic homeostasis

Mammalian SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes utilize either BRG1 or Brm as alternative catalytic subunits to alter the position of nucleosomes and regulate gene expression. Genetic studies have demonstrated that SWI/SNF complexes are required during cardiac development and also protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer. However, Brm constitutive null mutants do not exhibit a cardiomyocyte phenotype and inducible Brg1 conditional mutations in cardiomyocyte do not demonstrate differences until stressed with transverse aortic constriction, where they exhibit a reduction in cardiac hypertrophy. We recently demonstrated the overlapping functions of Brm and Brg1 in vascular endothelial cells and sought here to test if this overlapping function occurred in cardiomyocytes. Brg1/Brm double mutants died within 21 days of severe cardiac dysfunction associated with glycogen accumulation and mitochondrial defects based on histological and ultrastructural analyses. To determine the underlying defects, we performed nontargeted metabolomics analysis of cardiac tissue by GC/MS from a line of Brg1/Brm double-mutant mice, which lack both Brg1 and Brm in cardiomyocytes in an inducible manner, and two groups of controls. Metabolites contributing most significantly to the differences between Brg1/Brm double-mutant and control-group hearts were then determined using the variable importance in projection analysis. Increased cardiac linoleic acid and oleic acid suggest alterations in fatty acid utilization or intake are perturbed in Brg1/Brm double mutants. Conversely, decreased glucose-6-phosphate, fructose-6-phosphate, and myoinositol suggest that glycolysis and glycogen formation are impaired. These novel metabolomics findings provide insight into SWI/SNF-regulated metabolic pathways and will guide mechanistic studies evaluating the role of SWI/SNF complexes in homeostasis and cardiovascular disease prevention

Correlates of sunscreen use among high school students: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Background Adolescents put themselves at risk of later skin cancer development and accelerated photo-aging due to their high rates of ultraviolet radiation exposure and low rates of skin protection. The purpose of the current study was to determine which of the Integrative Model constructs are most closely associated with sunscreen use among high school students. Methods The current study of 242 high school students involved a survey based on the Integrative Model including demographic and individual difference factors, skin protection-related beliefs and outcome evaluations, normative beliefs, self-efficacy, sunscreen cues and availability, intentions, and sunscreen use. Our analyses included multiple linear regressions and bootstrapping to test for mediation effects. Results Sunscreen use was significantly associated with female gender, greater skin sensitivity, higher perceived sunscreen benefits, higher skin protection importance, more favorable sunscreen user prototype, stronger skin protection norms, greater perceived skin protection behavioral control, and higher sunscreen self-efficacy. Intentions to use sunscreen mediated the relationships between most skin protection-related beliefs and sunscreen use. Conclusions The current study identified specific variables that can be targeted in interventions designed to increase sunscreen use among adolescents.</p

Sun protection and sunbathing practices among at-risk family members of patients with melanoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the increased level of familial risk, research indicates that family members of patients with melanoma engage in relatively low levels of sun protection and high levels of sun exposure. The goal of this study was to evaluate a broad range of demographic, medical, psychological, knowledge, and social influence correlates of sun protection and sunbathing practices among first-degree relatives (FDRs) of melanoma patients and to determine if correlates of sun protection and sunbathing were unique.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We evaluated correlates of sun protection and sunbathing among FDRs of melanoma patients who were at increased disease risk due to low compliance with sun protection and skin surveillance behaviors. Participants (<it>N </it>= 545) completed a phone survey.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>FDRs who reported higher sun protection had a higher education level, lower benefits of sunbathing, greater sunscreen self-efficacy, greater concerns about photo-aging and greater sun protection norms. FDRs who reported higher sunbathing were younger, more likely to be female, endorsed fewer sunscreen barriers, perceived more benefits of sunbathing, had lower image norms for tanness, and endorsed higher sunbathing norms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Interventions for family members at risk for melanoma might benefit from improving sun protection self-efficacy, reducing perceived sunbathing benefits, and targeting normative influences to sunbathe.</p

Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) position statement: ban indoor tanning for minors

The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), an interdisciplinary professional organization focused on the science of health behavior joins the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a host of other national and international organizations in support of a total ban on indoor tanning for minors under the age of 18. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation are in the highest category of carcinogens, joining tobacco and asbestos. Strong evidence links indoor tanning to increased risk for melanoma with repeated exposure during childhood being associated with the greatest increase in risk. Several countries and five US states have passed legislation banning indoor tanning in minors. We strongly encourage the remaining US states to do the same in an effort to protect children and prevent new cases of melanoma. SBM also strongly encourages research that explores the use of tanning beds in the home. Home-based indoor tanning has the potential to be especially dangerous given the complete absence of safety regulations. Children are currently protected from exposure to health-harming substances like tobacco and lead; thus, legislation protecting them from artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation is yet another important step forward in improving public health

Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) Position Statement: Ban Indoor Tanning for Minors

The Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM), an interdisciplinary professional organization focused on the science of health behavior joins the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and a host of other national and international organizations in support of a total ban on indoor tanning for minors under the age of 18. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation are in the highest category of carcinogens, joining tobacco and asbestos. Strong evidence links indoor tanning to increased risk for melanoma with repeated exposure during childhood being associated with the greatest increase in risk. Several countries and five US states have passed legislation banning indoor tanning in minors. We strongly encourage the remaining US states to do the same in an effort to protect children and prevent new cases of melanoma. SBM also strongly encourages research that explores the use of tanning beds in the home. Home-based indoor tanning has the potential to be especially dangerous given the complete absence of safety regulations. Children are currently protected from exposure to health-harming substances like tobacco and lead; thus, legislation protecting them from artificial sources of ultraviolet radiation is yet another important step forward in improving public health

Measuring Nonsolar Tanning Behavior: Indoor and Sunless Tanning

Objective To develop items to measure indoor tanning and sunless tanning that can be used to monitor trends in population surveys or to assess changes in behavior in intervention studies. Design A group of experts on indoor tanning convened in December 2005, as part of a national workshop to review the state of the evidence, define measurement issues, and develop items for ever tanned indoors, lifetime frequency, and past-year frequency for both indoor tanning and sunless tanning. Each item was subsequently assessed via in-person interviews for clarity, specificity, recall, and appropriateness of wording. Setting Universities in Tennessee and Virginia, a medical center in Massachusetts, and a high school in New Hampshire. Participants The study population comprised 24 adults and 7 adolescents. Results Participants understood indoor tanning to represent tanning from beds, booths, and lamps that emit artificial UV radiation, rather than sunless tanning, even though both can be obtained from a booth. Two items were required to distinguish manually applied from booth-applied sunless tanning products. Frequency of use was easier for participants to recall in the past year than for a lifetime. Conclusions While indoor tanning items may be recommended with confidence for clarity, sunless tanning items require additional testing. Memory aids may be necessary to facilitate recall of lifetime use of nonsolar tanning. In addition, studies that assess reliability and validity of these measures are needed. Since study participants were primarily young and female, testing in other populations should also be considered

Additional file 4: of Muscle-specific regulation of right ventricular transcriptional responses to chronic hypoxia-induced hypertrophy by the muscle ring finger-1 (MuRF1) ubiquitin ligase in mice

Figure S2. Literature Net analysis of differentially expressed genes in MuRF1 Tg + right ventricles after chronic hypoxia challenge compared to wildtype controls. Analysis of the top 28 genes increased (> 3 fold) and top 18 genes decreased (<− 3 fold) listed in Fig. 3b using Literature Net on Duke Gather ( http://changlab.uth.tmc.edu/gather/gather.py ). (PDF 24 kb

Buprenorphine + naloxone plus naltrexone for the treatment of cocaine dependence: the Cocaine Use Reduction with Buprenorphine (CURB) study

AimsTo examine the safety and effectiveness of buprenorphine&nbsp;+&nbsp;naloxone sublingual tablets (BUP, as Suboxone(®) ) provided after administration of extended-release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX, as Vivitrol(®) ) to reduce cocaine use in participants who met DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence and past or current opioid dependence or abuse.MethodsThis multi-centered, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, conducted under the auspices of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, randomly assigned 302 participants at sites in California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Ohio, New York and Washington DC, USA to one of three conditions provided with XR-NTX: 4&nbsp;mg/day BUP (BUP4, n&nbsp;=&nbsp;100), 16&nbsp;mg/day BUP (BUP16, n&nbsp;=&nbsp;100, or no buprenorphine (placebo; PLB, n&nbsp;=&nbsp;102). Participants received pharmacotherapy for 8&nbsp;weeks, with three clinic visits per week. Cognitive behavioral therapy was provided weekly. Follow-up assessments occurred at 1 and 3&nbsp;months post-intervention. The planned primary outcome was urine drug screen (UDS)-corrected, self-reported cocaine use during the last 4&nbsp;weeks of treatment. Planned secondary analyses assessed cocaine use by UDS, medication adherence, retention and adverse events.ResultsNo group differences were found between groups for the primary outcome (BUP4 versus PLB, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.262; BUP16 versus PLB, P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.185). Longitudinal analysis of UDS data during the evaluation period using generalized linear mixed equations found a statistically significant difference between BUP16 and PLB [P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.022, odds ratio (OR)&nbsp;=&nbsp;1.71] but not for BUP4 (P&nbsp;=&nbsp;0.105, OR&nbsp;=&nbsp;1.05). No secondary outcome differences across groups were found for adherence, retention or adverse events.ConclusionsBuprenorphine&nbsp;+&nbsp;naloxone, used in combination with naltrexone, may be associated with reductions in cocaine use among people who meet DSM-IV criteria for cocaine dependence and past or current opioid dependence or abuse