Hand osteoarthritis and aging: the results of a large-scale cross-sectional study

<i>Background</i>: Because osteoarthritis (OA) is associated with morbidity and mortality, we hypothesized that radiographic hand OA would generally be associated with chronic systemic morbidity and it will be less prevalent in longevity populations than in non-longevity populations. <i>Aims</i>: 1) to evaluate the association between chronic systemic morbidity and radiographic hand OA; 2) to compare the prevalence and the mode of the development of radiographic hand OA in three longevity populations (Abkhazian, Azerbaijani and Georgian) vs. two non-longevity populations (Russian and Chuvashians). <i>Methods</i>: Radiographic hand OA was evaluated using the left hand radiograms in 14 joints according to the Kellgren and Lawrence’s (K-L) grading system. Each individual was characterized by the total number of affected (K-L≥2) joints (NAJ). The prevalence of hand OA was defined as the presence of at least one affected joint. Morbidity data were attained from their medical records and divided into 9 categories by a research physician. The longevity index was calculated as a ratio of the number of individuals aged >90 years versus the number of people aged >60, expressed in per mills (‰). The population with the longevity index >40‰ was considered as the longevity population. Statistical analyses included the prevalence estimation and ANOVA. <i>Results</i>: Radiographic hand OA was statistically significantly and positively associated with the ischemic heart disease. A significant difference in the age standardized prevalence of hand OA was found between each pair of the studied samples, except between the Chuvashians, Russians and Georgians and between the Azerbaijanis and Abkhazians. The lowest prevalence was found in the Abkhazians followed by the Azerbaijanis and Georgians. The highest prevalence was found in the Chuvashians. ANOVA showed significant differences between the age-adjusted means of NAJs. The lowest age-adjusted NAJ was found in the Abkhazian population followed by the Azerbaijanis and Georgians. The highest NAJ was found in the Chuvashians. <i>Conclusions</i>: The results of our study showed association between ischemic heart diseases and hand OA. Longevity populations showed lower hand OA prevalence and NAJ compared to a non-longevity population, that can be interpreted as that longevity populations age slower. Additional follow-up studies are needed to verify this hypothesis

Finger length ratio and body composition in Chuvashians

Very few studies that evaluated the association between finger length ratio and body composition in adult population showed very diverse results. We carried out a radiographic study on a large population sample who had participated in a Chuvashian skeletal aging study investigating different aspects of skeletal aging. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between 2D:4D ratio and various indices of body composition in Chuvashian males and females. The study sample included 802 males (mean age 46.98±17.10 years) and 783 females (mean age 48.65±16.62 years). Single plain radiographs of both hands were taken. Each hand was classified according to whether the index finger was longer (Type 1), equal to (Type 2) or shorter than the ring finger (Type 3) by visual comparison of the soft tissue outline of the finger ends on the radiograph. Anthropometry, including body weight, stature, and six circumferences from the body trunk and extremities were taken from each participant. We found no evidence of substantial associations between visually assessed finger length ratio and adult BMI, WC, hip and chest circumferences, WHT and WCR for men and women. These results suggest that associations between finger length ratio and hormone-related diseases and disorders can be interpreted directly, independent of any mediating effects of adult body composition parameters

Finger Length Ratio (2D:4D) and Aging

This study aimed to evaluate the association between the index to ring (2D:4D) finger length ratio and aging-related traits (hand osteoarthritis (OA), the osseographic score (OSS), and reproductive period), as well as to assess the heritability of finger length. A Chuvashian population-based sample included 802 males (mean age 46.98±17.10 years) and 738 females (mean age 48.65±16.62 years). Age, sex, basic demographics, anthropometric data, reproductive indices (age at menarche, menopausal age, and length of the reproductive period), and x-rays of both hands were collected. Finger length ratio was measured on x-ray and each hand was visually classified as either type 1 – 2D>4D; type 2 ― 2D=4D; or type 3 ― 2D<4D. Hand OA was defined by the number of affected joints (Kellgren-Lawrence score ≥2) and the total of Kellgren-Lawrence scores (total OA score). OSS is a skeletal biomarker that comprises osteoporotic and OA changes observable on a hands x-ray. We calculated the familial correlations and performed a heritability analysis of 2D:4D ratio traits in a studied sample. After comparing the OA variables of individuals with different finger length ratio types (after adjustment for age and BMI) significant differences were found only in females between finger ratio types of the right hand in a number of affected joints (F=3.153, p=0. 043) and finger ratio types of the left (F=3.330, p=0. 036) and right (F=2.397, p=0. 047) hands of the total OA score. Females with type 3 ratio had the highest adjusted values of hand OA parameters. Results of one-way ANCOVA for finger length ratio types of the right hand showed a significant difference in OSS (df =2, F=7.569, P=0.001), after adjustment for age, sex, and BMI. The posthoc comparison showed that individuals with type 3 (2D<4D) ratio showed significantly higher OSS scores than ones with type 1 (p=0.012) and type 2 (p=0.003). In an analysis of finger length ratio types of left hand also a significant difference in OSS was found (df=2, F=3.290, P=0.038). The posthoc comparison showed that individuals with type 3 ratio showed significantly higher OSS scores than ones with type 2 (p=0.33) ratio. We found that a low finger length ratio, a masculine visually evaluated finger length ratio type, was associated with later menarche and a shorter reproductive period. No association was found with menopausal age. Familial correlations of finger length ratio traits showed no significant correlation for spouses, however, parent-offspring (0.15―0.28, p<0.001) and sibling correlations (0.13―0.38, p<0.009) were found significant. Heritability (H2) of visual classification of finger length ratio was 0.36 for the left and 0.28 for the right hand; finger ratio was 0.55 and 0.66, respectively; the ray ratio was 0.49 and 0.59, respectively, thus indicating the existence of a clear familial aggregation of finger length ratio variation in the Chuvashian pedigrees, which cannot be explained by pure common environmental effects

Finger length ratio and body composition in Chuvashians

Very few studies that evaluated the association between finger length ratio and body composition in adult population showed very diverse results. We carried out a radiographic study on a large population sample who had participated in a Chuvashian skeletal aging study investigating different aspects of skeletal aging. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between 2D:4D ratio and various indices of body composition in Chuvashian males and females. The study sample included 802 males (mean age 46.98±17.10 years) and 783 females (mean age 48.65±16.62 years). Single plain radiographs of both hands were taken. Each hand was classified according to whether the index finger was longer (Type 1), equal to (Type 2) or shorter than the ring finger (Type 3) by visual comparison of the soft tissue outline of the finger ends on the radiograph. Anthropometry, including body weight, stature, and six circumferences from the body trunk and extremities were taken from each participant. We found no evidence of substantial associations between visually assessed finger length ratio and adult BMI, WC, hip and chest circumferences, WHT and WCR for men and women. These results suggest that associations between finger length ratio and hormone-related diseases and disorders can be interpreted directly, independent of any mediating effects of adult body composition parameters

Advice from a Medical Expert through the Internet on Queries about AIDS and Hepatitis: Analysis of a Pilot Experiment

BACKGROUND: Advice from a medical expert on concerns and queries expressed anonymously through the Internet by patients and later posted on the Web, offers a new type of patient–doctor relationship. The aim of the current study was to perform a descriptive analysis of questions about AIDS and hepatitis made to an infectious disease expert and sent through the Internet to a consumer-oriented Web site in the Spanish language. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Questions were e-mailed and the questions and answers were posted anonymously in the “expert-advice” section of a Web site focused on AIDS and hepatitis. We performed a descriptive study and a temporal analysis of the questions received in the first 12 months after the launch of the site. A total of 899 questions were received from December 2003 to November 2004, with a marked linear growth pattern. Questions originated in Spain in 68% of cases and 32% came from Latin America (the Caribbean, Central America, and South America). Eighty percent of the senders were male. Most of the questions concerned HIV infection (79%) with many fewer on hepatitis (17%) . The highest numbers of questions were submitted just after the weekend (37% of questions were made on Mondays and Tuesdays). Risk factors for contracting HIV infection were the most frequent concern (69%), followed by the window period for detection (12.6%), laboratory results (5.9%), symptoms (4.7%), diagnosis (2.7%), and treatment (2.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm a great demand for this type of “ask-the-expert” Internet service, at least for AIDS and hepatitis. Factors such as anonymity, free access, and immediate answers have been key factors in its success

Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research: An Inventory of Programs and Materials within CTSAs

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) require instruction in the responsible conduct of research (RCR) as a component of any Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). The Educational Materials Group of the NIH CTSA Consortium's Clinical Research Ethics Key Function Committee (CRE-KFC) conducted a survey of the 38 institutions that held CTSA funding as of January 2009 to determine how they satisfy RCR training requirements. An 8-item questionnaire was sent by email to directors of the Clinical Research Ethics, the Educational and Career Development, and the Regulatory Knowledge cores. We received 78 completed surveys from 38 CTSAs (100%). We found that there is no unified approach to RCR training across CTSAs, many programs lack a coherent plan for RCR instruction, and most CTSAs have not developed unique instructional materials tailored to the needs of clinical and translational scientists. We recommend collaboration among CTSAs and across CTSA key function committees to address these weaknesses. We also requested that institutions send electronic copies of original RCR training materials to share among CTSAs via the CTSpedia website. Twenty institutions submitted at least one educational product. The CTSpedia now contains more than 90 RCR resources.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/79071/1/j.1752-8062.2010.00193.x.pd

1,303 generic names of agarics and Agaricales: Where are they now?

Abstracts from the April 12-14, 2019 MASC Conferenc

Use of dietary supplements among people living with HIV/AIDS is associated with vulnerability to medical misinformation on the internet

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Use of dietary supplements is common among people living with HIV/AIDS. Because dietary supplements are used in the context of other health behaviors, they may have direct and indirect health benefits. However, supplements may also be associated with vulnerability to medical misinformation and unfounded health claims. We examined use of dietary supplements among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and the association between use of dietary supplements and believing medical misinformation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A convenience sample of 268 men and 76 women living with HIV was recruited from AIDS services and clinics in Atlanta, GA. Participants completed measures of demographic and health characteristics, dietary supplement use, beliefs about dietary supplements, internet use, and an internet evaluation task designed to assess vulnerability to medical misinformation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One out of four PLWH currently used at least one dietary supplement product excluding vitamins. Dietary supplement use was associated with higher education and greater use of the internet for health-related information. Dietary supplement users also endorsed greater believability and trust in unfounded claims for HIV cures.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Dietary supplement use is common among PLWH and is associated with a broad array of health information seeking behaviors. Interventions are needed to reduce the vulnerability of PLWH, particularly dietary supplement users, to medical misinformation propagated on the internet.</p

Neonatal Circumcision for HIV Prevention: Cost, Culture, and Behavioral Considerations

Seth Kalichman discusses a new study that finds neonatal circumcision in Rwanda to be a cost-saving HIV prevention strategy