Relationships among serum receptor of nuclear factor-JB ligand, osteoprotegerin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: osteoimmunity versus osteoinflammatory

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations among circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG), the receptor activator of nuclear factor-JB ligand (RANKL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy postmenopausal women. Methods: In a population-based study, highly specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods were used to evaluate the sera of 382 healthy Iranian postmenopausal women (mean age T SD, 58.7 T 7.5 y) for RANKL, OPG, hsCRP, degradation products of C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, and osteocalcin. BMD was determined for the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and the proximal femur using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results: Circulating levels of OPG (r = 0.30, P G 0.001) and the RANKL/OPG ratio (r = j0.17, P G 0.001) were significantly associated with age. The geometric mean of hsCRP was 1.89 mg/L (SE, 1.05) in the population studied. There was a significant correlation between log(hsCRP) levels and body mass index (BMI; r = 0.36, P G 0.001). Multivariate linear analyses revealed that age (A = j0.295, P G 0.001), BMI (A = 0.464, P G 0.001), RANKL (A = j0.105, P = 0.014), and OPG (A = 0.098, P = 0.029) were the independent determinants for lumbar BMD (R2 = 0.35). Age (A = j0.250, P G 0.001), BMI (A = 0.486, P G 0.001), and RANKL (A = j0.110, P = 0.009) were independently correlated with femoral neck BMD (R2 = 0.36). Age- and BMI-adjusted analysis by quartiles of log-transformed hsCRP did not reveal an association with BMD, serum levels of biochemical markers of bone turnover, RANKL, or OPG. Conclusions: The circulating levels of the RANKL/OPG osteoimmunity system have an association with BMD, but subclinical systemic inflammation may not be involved in bone mass in healthy postmenopausal women

Oncogenic human papillomavirus genital infection in southern Iranian women: population-based study versus clinic-based data

Epidemiological studies on genital human papilloma viruses infection (HPVs) in general population are crucial for the implementation of health policy guidelines for developing the strategies to prevent the primary and secondary cervical cancer. In different parts of Iran, there is a lack of population-based studies to determine the prevalence of HPV in the general population. The aim of this population-based study is to compare the prevalence rate of genital HPV infection among reproductive women with our previous clinic-based data, which showed a prevalence rate of 5% in women in southern Iran. Results: Using general primers for all genotypes of HPV, of 799 randomly selected women, five (0.63%, 95% CI 0.23-1.55%) tested positive for HPV DNA. Overall, seven different HPV genotypes were detected: six types (16, 18, 31, 33, 51 and 56) were carcinogenic, or “high risk genotypes” and one genotype (HPV-66) was “probably carcinogenic.” Conclusions: In a population-based study, the prevalence of HPV infection among southern Iranian women was lower than that observed worldwide. However, our gynaecological clinic-based study on the prevalence of HPV infection showed results comparable with other studies in the Middle East and Persian Gulf countries. Since gynaecological clinic-based data may generally overestimate HPV prevalence, estimates of prevalence according to clinic-based data should be adjusted downward by the population-based survey estimates

Relationships among serum receptor of nuclear factor-JB ligand, osteoprotegerin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and bone mineral density in postmenopausal women: osteoimmunity versus osteoinflammatory

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations among circulating osteoprotegerin (OPG), the receptor activator of nuclear factor-JB ligand (RANKL), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and bone mineral density (BMD) in healthy postmenopausal women. Methods: In a population-based study, highly specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods were used to evaluate the sera of 382 healthy Iranian postmenopausal women (mean age T SD, 58.7 T 7.5 y) for RANKL, OPG, hsCRP, degradation products of C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen, and osteocalcin. BMD was determined for the lumbar spine (L2-L4) and the proximal femur using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Results: Circulating levels of OPG (r = 0.30, P G 0.001) and the RANKL/OPG ratio (r = j0.17, P G 0.001) were significantly associated with age. The geometric mean of hsCRP was 1.89 mg/L (SE, 1.05) in the population studied. There was a significant correlation between log(hsCRP) levels and body mass index (BMI; r = 0.36, P G 0.001). Multivariate linear analyses revealed that age (A = j0.295, P G 0.001), BMI (A = 0.464, P G 0.001), RANKL (A = j0.105, P = 0.014), and OPG (A = 0.098, P = 0.029) were the independent determinants for lumbar BMD (R2 = 0.35). Age (A = j0.250, P G 0.001), BMI (A = 0.486, P G 0.001), and RANKL (A = j0.110, P = 0.009) were independently correlated with femoral neck BMD (R2 = 0.36). Age- and BMI-adjusted analysis by quartiles of log-transformed hsCRP did not reveal an association with BMD, serum levels of biochemical markers of bone turnover, RANKL, or OPG. Conclusions: The circulating levels of the RANKL/OPG osteoimmunity system have an association with BMD, but subclinical systemic inflammation may not be involved in bone mass in healthy postmenopausal women

nab-Paclitaxel–Based Therapy in Underserved Patient Populations: The ABOUND.PS2 Study in Patients With NSCLC and a Performance Status of 2

IntroductionThe phase II ABOUND.PS2 study (NCT02289456) assessed safety/tolerability of a first-line modified nab-paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 2.MethodsChemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC and ECOG PS 2 received four cycles of nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m2 days 1 and 8 plus carboplatin area under the curve 5 day 1 q3w (induction). Patients without progression received nab-paclitaxel monotherapy (100 mg/m2 days 1 and 8 q3w) until progression/unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint: percentage of patients discontinuing induction due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs).Results11/40 treated patients (27.5%; 95% CI, 14.60–43.89) discontinued chemotherapy induction due to TEAEs; 16/40 (40.0%) continued nab-paclitaxel monotherapy. Median progression-free and overall survival were 4.4 (95% CI, 2.99–7.00) and 7.7 (95% CI, 4.93–13.17) months. Grade 3/4 TEAEs during induction included neutropenia (22.5%), anemia (17.5%), thrombocytopenia (5.0%), and peripheral neuropathy (2.5%).ConclusionThis nab-paclitaxel–based regimen was tolerable in patients with advanced NSCLC and ECOG PS 2, with efficacy comparable to historical chemotherapy data

Association of corrected QT and QT dispersion with echocardiographic and laboratory findings in uremic patients under chronic hemodialysis

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality in dialysis patients. Chronic renal failure and hemodialysis (HD) patients may have longer corrected QT (QTc) interval compared with the normal population. Long QTc interval may be a predictor of ventricular arrhythmia and cardiovascular mortality in these patients and hence the aim of this study was the evaluation of the relationship between QTc interval and some echocardiographic findings and laboratory exam results in HD patients. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 60 HD patients with age >18 years and the dialysis duration >3 months were enrolled. Blood samples were taken, and electrocardiography and echocardiography were done before the dialysis session in the patients. Results: Mean age of the patients was 56.15 ± 14.6 years. QTc interval of the patients was 0.441 ± 0.056 s and QT dispersion (QTd) was 64.17 ± 25.93 ms. There was no statistically significant relationship between QTc interval and QTd with duration of dialysis, body mass index, age, and gender (P > 0.05). There was also no significant relationship between QTc interval and QTd with mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation and aortic insufficiency (P > 0.05). In addition, QTc interval and QTd of the patients had not any correlation with serum parathormon and serum Ca, K, HCO 3 (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our results, in HD patients, QTc interval and QTd were not correlated with echocardiographic findings or laboratory exam results. Therefore, it can be concluded that QTc interval prolongation probably has not any correlation with cardiac mortality of the HD patients

Association of corrected QT and QT dispersion with echocardiographic and laboratory findings in uremic patients under chronic hemodialysis

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of mortality in dialysis patients. Chronic renal failure and hemodialysis (HD) patients may have longer corrected QT (QTc) interval compared with the normal population. Long QTc interval may be a predictor of ventricular arrhythmia and cardiovascular mortality in these patients and hence the aim of this study was the evaluation of the relationship between QTc interval and some echocardiographic findings and laboratory exam results in HD patients. Materials and Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 60 HD patients with age >18 years and the dialysis duration >3 months were enrolled. Blood samples were taken, and electrocardiography and echocardiography were done before the dialysis session in the patients. Results: Mean age of the patients was 56.15 ± 14.6 years. QTc interval of the patients was 0.441 ± 0.056 s and QT dispersion (QTd) was 64.17 ± 25.93 ms. There was no statistically significant relationship between QTc interval and QTd with duration of dialysis, body mass index, age, and gender (P > 0.05). There was also no significant relationship between QTc interval and QTd with mitral regurgitation, tricuspid regurgitation and aortic insufficiency (P > 0.05). In addition, QTc interval and QTd of the patients had not any correlation with serum parathormon and serum Ca, K, HCO 3 (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Based on our results, in HD patients, QTc interval and QTd were not correlated with echocardiographic findings or laboratory exam results. Therefore, it can be concluded that QTc interval prolongation probably has not any correlation with cardiac mortality of the HD patients

Identification of SCAR and RAPD markers linked to Rz1 gene in Holly sugar beet using BSA and two genetic distance estimation methods

Rhizomania, caused by Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), is the most economically important diseases of sugar beet inIran. We have identified molecular markers associated with resistance gene(s) to this disease. A F2 population including of 106individuals developed at the Sugar Beet Seed Institute, Karaj, Iran, was used to identify molecular markers associated withrhizomania resistance gene from the Holly source. In this study, we used pair combinations of single RAPD primers in bulkedsegregant analysis (BSA) of two bulks (resistant and susceptible) and F2 population individuals. Accordingly 397 paircombinations of single RAPD primers were used. However, nine primer pairs showed polymorphism between DNA bulks. Thepolymorphic markers were tested among the individual plants of the two susceptible and resistant bulks and further were used toanalyze the F2 individuals. Finally, the markers distance from the resistance gene was estimated by using both the Map makerver.3.0 and the frequency of recombinant plants method. Using frequency of recombinant plants method to tag Rz1 gene, it wasfound that R1, R2 and R3 markers were 2.3, 8.3 and 16.6 cM apart in repulsion phase and C3, C4, C1, C2, C5, and C6 markers were20, 21.4, 27.5, 32.9, 43.7, and 51.9 cM apart in coupling phase, respectively. On the other hand, tagging Rz1 gene by Mapmaker ver.3.0 method showed that R1, R2 and R3 markers were 32.4, 44.5 and 60.1 cM apart in repulsion phase and C3, C2, C4and C1 markers were 25, 34.7, 46.5 and 57.9 cM apart in coupling phase, respectively. After sequencing the products amplifiedby MF1 and MF2 (Operon primers number have been replaced by these characters) primer pairs, new PCR primers were used togenerate the SCAR marker R1 (this primer sequence is under patent processing and will be shared once it gets patented) whichcan be readily used for marker assisted selection in breeding programmes

Physical activity, sex, and socioeconomic status: A population based study

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the present study was to investigate physical activity by socioeconomic status (SES) and sex in an Iranian adult population. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 6622 adults, who participated in the Isfahan Healthy Heart program (IHHP) surveys in 2004 and 2005 and were living in urban areas, were studied. Daily leisure time, household, occupational, and transportation physical activity, and total physical activity were calculated and compared in 3 socioeconomic status groups classified by the two-step cluster analysis procedure. RESULTS: Statistically significant variations were found in all physical activity levels, except transportation, by sex. Men were more active than women in all fields, except household physical activity. Leisure time physical activity of men and women were significantly higher in higher SES levels. There was an opposite correlation between SES and total physical activity in men. CONCLUSION: Considering the importance of physical activity as a component of a healthy lifestyle, differences among varying socioeconomic status and sex must be considered while planning for healthy lifestyle programs. Women with low SES, in particular, may need more attention. &nbsp; Keywords: Physical Activity, Socioeconomic Status, Leisure Time, Gender, Cluster Analysis</div