2,576 research outputs found

    The alcohol industry lobby and Hong Kong's zero wine and beer tax policy

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    Dual actions of osteoclastic-inhibition and osteogenic-stimulation through strontium-releasing bioactive nanoscale cement imply biomaterial-enabled osteoporosis therapy

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    Repair of defective hard-tissues in osteoporotic patients faces significantly challenges with limited therapeutic options. Although biomedical cements are considered promising materials for healthy bone repair, their uses for healing osteoporotic fracture are clinically limited. Herein, strontium-releasing-nanoscale cement was introduced to provide dual therapeutic-actions (pro-osteogenesis and anti-osteoclastogenesis), eventually for the regeneration of osteoporotic bone defect. The Sr-nanocement hardened from the Sr-doped nanoscale-glass particles was shown to release multiple ions including silicate, calcium and strontium at doses therapeutically relevant over time. When the Sr-nanocement was treated to pre-osteoblastic cells, the osteogenic mRNA level (Runx2, Opn, Bsp, Ocn), alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and target luciferase reporter were stimulated with respect to the case with Sr-free-nanocement. When treated to pre-osteoclastic cells, the Sr-nanocement substantially reduced the osteoclastogenesis, such as osteoclastic mRNA level (Casr, Nfatc1, c-fos, Acp, Ctsk, Mmp-9), tartrate-resistant acid trap activity, and bone resorption capacity. In particular, the osteoclastic inhibition resulted in part from the interactive effect of osteoblasts which were activated by the Sr-nanocement, i.e., blockage of RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand) binding by enhanced osteoprotegerin and the deactivated Nfatc1. The Sr-nanocement, administered to an ovariectomized tibia defect (osteoporotic model) in rats, exhibited profound bone regenerative potential in cortical and surrounding trabecular area, including increased bone volume and density, enhanced production of osteopromotive proteins, and more populated osteoblasts, together with reduced signs of osteoclastic bone resorption. These results demonstrate that Sr-nanocement, with its dual effects of osteoclastic inhibition and osteogenic-stimulation, can be considered an effective nanotherapeutic implantable biomaterial platform for the treatment of osteoporotic bone defects

    Significant associations of PAI-1 genetic polymorphisms with osteonecrosis of the femoral head

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The pathogenesis of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) has been implicated in hypofibrinolysis and blood supply interruption. Previous studies have demonstrated that decreased fibrinolytic activity due to elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels correlates with ONFH pathogenesis. The -675 4G/5G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP rs1799889) in the PAI-1 gene promoter is associated with PAI-1 plasma level. We investigated whether rs1799889 and two other SNPs of the PAI-1 gene (rs2227631, -844 G/A in the promoter; rs11178, +10700 C/T in the 3'UTR) are associated with increased ONFH risk.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three SNPs in PAI-1 were genotyped in 206 ONFH patients and 251 control subjects, using direct sequencing and a TaqMan<sup>® </sup>5' allelic discrimination assay. We performed association analysis for genotyped SNPs and haplotypes with ONFH.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The 4G allele of rs1799889, A allele of rs2227631, and C allele of rs11178 were significantly associated with increased ONFH risk (p = 0.03, p = 0.003, and p = 0.002, respectively). When we divided the population according to gender, an association between the three SNPs and increased risk of ONFH was found only in men. In another subgroup analysis based on the etiology of ONFH, rs2227631 (A allele) and rs11178 (C allele) in the idiopathic subgroup (p = 0.007 and p = 0.021) and rs1799889 (4G allele) and rs11178 (C allele) in the alcohol-induced subgroup (p = 0.042 and p = 0.015) were associated with increased risk of ONFH. In addition, a certain haplotype (A-4G-C) of PAI-1 was also significantly associated with ONFH (p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings demonstrated that three SNPs (rs1799889, rs2227631, and rs11178) of the PAI-1 gene were associated with ONFH risk. This study also suggests that PAI-1 SNPs may play an important role in ONFH.</p

    Post-Intervention Acceptability of a Multicomponent Intervention for Hypertension Management in Primary Care Clinics by Health Care Providers and Patients: A Qualitative Study of a Cluster RCT in Singapore

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    Tazeen H Jafar,1– 3 Ngiap Chuan Tan,4 Rupesh M Shirore,1 Chandrika Ramakrishnan,1 Sungwon Yoon,1 Christina Chen,5 Amudha Aravindhan5 1Program in Health Services & Systems Research, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore; 2Department of Renal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; 3Global Health, Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, USA; 4Research, SingHealth Polyclinics, Singapore, Singapore; 5PhD Student, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, SingaporeCorrespondence: Tazeen H Jafar, Program in Health Services & Systems Research, Duke NUS Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore, 169857, Singapore, Tel +65-6601-2582, Fax +65-6534-8632, Email [email protected]: Hypertension is a major public health challenge, globally. Recently, we reported findings from cluster randomized trial in 8 primary care clinics in Singapore and showed that a multicomponent “SingHypertension” intervention comprising 1) motivational conversation by trained nurses, 2) telephone-based follow-ups, 3) standardized algorithm with single-pill combination (SPC) antihypertensive medications, and 4) subsidy on SPC antihypertensive drugs was effective on improving BP control. This paper presents the acceptability of SingHypertension multicomponent intervention among the key stakeholders.Methods: We conducted post-implementation interviews of 38 stakeholders, including 18 patients and 20 healthcare providers (HCPs) in 4 primary care clinics randomized to the multicomponent “SingHypertension” intervention in Singapore. We used Theoretical Framework for Acceptability (TFA) framework with a focus on affective attitude, burden, ethicality, intervention coherence, opportunity cost, perceived effectiveness and self-efficacy to assess stakeholders’ acceptability of the intervention.Results: SingHypertension multicomponent intervention had high perceived effectiveness and a good fit with the value system and ethics of patients and HCPs. Physicians appreciated the guidance from standardized training in hypertension management. Although workload was increased, the nurses felt rewarded for their positive interactions with the patients during motivational conversation sessions and the telephone follow-ups. Most patients reported high self-efficacy levels, improved lifestyles, and adherence to antihypertensive medications. The limited choice of SPC medication, lack of subsidy beyond the trial duration, and shortage of nurses were significant challenges to wide-scale implementation. All HCPs and patients supported scaling up the intervention across primary care clinics.Conclusion: SingHypertension multicomponent intervention is acceptable to the key stakeholders in Singapore. Taken together with the effectiveness of the intervention, our findings make a compelling case for scaling-up SingHypertension in primary care clinics in Singapore and possibly other countries with similar healthcare infrastructure.Keywords: blood pressure, hypertension, cardiovascular risk, multicomponent intervention, cluster-randomized, acceptabilit

    Atomic-scale combination of germanium-zinc nanofibers for structural and electrochemical evolution

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    Alloys are recently receiving considerable attention in the community of rechargeable batteries as possible alternatives to carbonaceous negative electrodes; however, challenges remain for the practical utilization of these materials. Herein, we report the synthesis of germanium-zinc alloy nanofibers through electrospinning and a subsequent calcination step. Evidenced by in situ transmission electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterizations, this one-dimensional design possesses unique structures. Both germanium and zinc atoms are homogenously distributed allowing for outstanding electronic conductivity and high available capacity for lithium storage. The as-prepared materials present high rate capability (capacity of similar to 50% at 20 C compared to that at 0.2 C-rate) and cycle retention (73% at 3.0 C-rate) with a retaining capacity of 546 mAh g(-1) even after 1000 cycles. When assembled in a full cell, high energy density can be maintained during 400 cycles, which indicates that the current material has the potential to be used in a large-scale energy storage system

    Nanoemulsion and Encapsulation Strategy of Hydrophobic Oregano Essential Oil Increased Human Prostate Cancer Cell Death via Apoptosis by Attenuating Lipid Metabolism

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    Origanum vulgare essential oil (EO) is traditionally well-known for its aromatic properties and biomedical applications, including anticancer. This was the first report where oregano essential oil-based nano emulsion (OENE) was synthesized for studying its effects on prostate cancer cell lines (PC3). At first, we have synthesized OENE and characterized using various spectroscopic analyses. The toxicity and inhibitory concentration (IC50) of OENE toward prostate cancer by MTT analysis were performed. The lipid biogenesis mediated, molecular target pathway analyses were performed using fluorescence cellular staining techniques, real-time RT-PCR, or western blotting analysis. OENE showed IC50 at 13.82 µg/mL and significantly induced distinct morphological changes, including cell shrinkage, cell density, and cell shape reduction. In addition, OENE could also significantly decreased lipid droplet accumulation which was confirmed by studying mRNA transcripts of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) (0.31-fold), fatty acid synthase (FASN) (0.18-fold), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREPB1) (0.11-fold), respectively. Furthermore, there is a significant upregulation BAX (BCL2 associated X) and caspase 3 expressions. Nevertheless, OENE decreased the transcript level of BCL2 (B-cell lymphoma 2), thus resulting in apoptosis. Overall, our present work demonstrated that OENE could be a therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer and warrants in vivo studies.</jats:p

    Socioeconomic disparities in behavioral risk factors and health outcomes by gender in the Republic of Korea

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Few studies have examined socioeconomic disparities in health and behavioral risk factors by gender in Asian countries and in South Korea, specifically. We investigated the relationship between socioeconomic position (education, income, and occupation) and subjective and acute and chronic health outcomes and behavioral risk factors by gender, and compared results from 1998 and 2005, in the Republic of Korea.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined data from a nationally representative stratified random sample of 4213 men and 4618 women from the 1998 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and 8289 men and 8827 women from the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey using General Linear Modeling and multiple logistic regression methods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Controlling for behavioral risk factors (smoking, drinking, obesity, exercise, and sleep), those in lower socioeconomic positions had poorer health outcomes in both self-reported acute and chronic disease and subjective measures; differences were especially pronounced among women. A socioeconomic gradient for education and income was found for both men and women for morbidity and self-reported health status, but the gradient was more pronounced in women. In 1998, the odds ratios (ORs) of higher morbidity for illiterate vs. college educated females was 5.4:1 and 1.9:1 for females in the lowest income quintile vs. the highest. The OR for education decreased in 2005 to 2.9:1 and that for income quintiles remained the same at 1.9:1. The OR of lower self-reported health status for illiterate vs. college educated females was 2.9:1 and 1.6:1 for females in the lowest income quintile vs. the highest in 1998, and 3.3:1 and 2.3:1 in 2005.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Among Korean adults, men and women in lower socioeconomic position, as denoted by education, income, and somewhat less by occupation, experience significantly higher levels of morbidity and lower self-reported health status, even after controlling for standard behavioral risk factors. Disparities were more pronounced for women than for men. Efforts to reduce health disparities in South Korea require attention to the root causes of socioeconomic inequality and gender differences in the impact of socioeconomic position on health.</p

    Tear fluid biomarkers in ocular and systemic disease: potential use for predictive, preventive and personalised medicine

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    In the field of predictive, preventive and personalised medicine, researchers are keen to identify novel and reliable ways to predict and diagnose disease, as well as to monitor patient response to therapeutic agents. In the last decade alone, the sensitivity of profiling technologies has undergone huge improvements in detection sensitivity, thus allowing quantification of minute samples, for example body fluids that were previously difficult to assay. As a consequence, there has been a huge increase in tear fluid investigation, predominantly in the field of ocular surface disease. As tears are a more accessible and less complex body fluid (than serum or plasma) and sampling is much less invasive, research is starting to focus on how disease processes affect the proteomic, lipidomic and metabolomic composition of the tear film. By determining compositional changes to tear profiles, crucial pathways in disease progression may be identified, allowing for more predictive and personalised therapy of the individual. This article will provide an overview of the various putative tear fluid biomarkers that have been identified to date, ranging from ocular surface disease and retinopathies to cancer and multiple sclerosis. Putative tear fluid biomarkers of ocular disorders, as well as the more recent field of systemic disease biomarkers, will be shown
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