Abstinence Only vs. Comprehensive Sex Education: What are the Arguments? What is the Evidence?

Responding to the continuing health threats of HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancy among young people, the widely respected Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences recently recommended eliminating congressional, federal, state and local "requirements that public funds be used for abstinence-only education." And surveys consistently show that the public wants schools to deliver strong abstinence messages alongside information about self-protection for young people who find themselves in sexual situations. The vast majority of parents support sex education in the schools, including the provision of information about contraceptive and condom use.Unfortunately, federal policy is grossly out of step with the wishes of most parents and students, as well as the scientific research. Since the early 1980s, Congress has devoted significant resources to abstinence-only programming. Partly as a result of federal policy and funding changes, public schools are increasingly supporting abstinence-only curricula that are less likely to include information about birth control, STD prevention and sexual orientation. The evidence tells us that these trends represent a dangerous disservice to America's younger generation

EVALUATION OF ANTI-CANCER ACTIVITY IN METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF ENICOSTEMMA LITTORALE ON DEN INDUCED HEPATOCARCINOGENESIS IN RATS

The present study is aimed at evaluating the chemoprotective effect of Enicostemma littorale in DEN induced hepato-carcinogenesis in Sprague Dawley rats. The preliminary steps involved extraction, phytochemical investigation, HPTLC study and In vitro antioxidant activity using DPPH, ABTS. and Initiation of HCC was done by single i.p injection of DEN at a dose of 200mg/kg. The MEEL received treatment for 90 days after 14 days of development of HCC and continued for entire study period, whereas the other two group given normal saline, 5-flurouracil (20mg/kg ) i.p. The results showed that the injection DEN lead to the development of liver tumors in rats. Significant effect of serum biochemical parameter like SGOT, SGPT, ALP, UREA, TOTAL PROTEIN and tumor marker was observed with depletion of endogenous antioxidants SOD, CAT, GSH, there by leading to higher LPO. The result exhibited that MEEL treatment (Preventive) group offered excellent shielding against HCC and displayed all the parameter in near normal range with a maintained antioxidant enzyme system. The result obtained showed that extracts were found to containing phenols at a concentration of 70.25 mg/g and flavonoids 26.03mg/g. HPTLC Analysis showed presence of Quercetin, Mangiferin, Gallic acid, Catechin and sweroside. In the DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, TRAP radical scavenging assay MEEL has displayed the highest antiradical activity in both assays and was also comparable with the standard qucertein The present study reveal the efficacy of the MEEL to prevent malignancy induced by chemical carcinogen and the phytoconstituents responsible for activity

Extraction, structural and physical characterization of type I collagen from the outer skin of Sepiella inermis (Orbigny, 1848)

The acid soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin soluble collagen (PSC) were extracted from the outer skin of Sepiella inermis and further characterized partially. The yield of ASC was low (0.58% on dry weight basis); whereas the yield of PSC was comparatively more (16.23% on dry weight basis). The protein content in ASC and PSC was calculated as 20.24 and 69.56%, respectively (on dry weight basis). The sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) gel profile showed two bands for ASC and PSC with corresponding molecular weight of 86 and 67 kDa and 86, 63 and 58 kDa respectively. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed that ASC withstand up to 75.93°C whereas the PSC withstand up to 75.05°C. The fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrum of both ASC and PSC recorded 11 and 13 peaks, respectively. The fine structure of both ASC and PSC was also studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).Key words: Sepiella inermis, acid soluble collagen (ASC), pepsin soluble collagen (PSC), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Group III PLA2 from the scorpion, Mesobuthus tamulus: cloning and recombinant expression in E. coli

Phospholipases A2 (PLA2) are enzymes that specifically hydrolyze the sn-2 fatty acid acyl bond of phospholipids, producing a free fatty acid and a lyso-phospholipid. We report the cloning and expression of a secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) from Mesobuthus tamulus, Indian red scorpion. The nucleotide sequence codes for a 167 residue enzyme. The open reading frame codes for a 31 amino acid signal peptide followed by a mature portion of the protein. The primary structure shows the calcium binding motif, catalytic residues, 8 highly-conserved cysteines and C-terminal extension which classify it as a group III PLA2. The entire transcript was expressed in Escherichia coli and was purified by metal affinity chromatography under denaturing conditions. The protein was refolded by serial dilutions in the refolding buffer to its active form. Hemolytic assays indicate that the protein adopts a functional conformation. The functional requisites such as optimum pH of 8 and calcium dependency are shown. This report provides a simple but robust methodology for recombinant expression of toxic proteins

Polysaccharide binding sites in hyaluronate lyase-crystal structures of native phage-encoded hyaluronate lyase and its complexes with ascorbic acid and lactose

Hyaluronate lyases are a class of endoglycosaminidase enzymes with a high level of complexity and heterogeneity. The main function of the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteriophage protein hyaluronate lyase, HylP2, is to degrade hyaluronan into unsaturated disaccharide units. HylP2 was cloned, over-expressed and purified to homogeneity. The recombinant HylP2 exists as a homotrimer with a molecular mass of approximately 110 kDa under physiological conditions. The HylP2 was crystallized and the crystals were soaked in two separate reservoir solutions containing ascorbic acid and lactose, respectively. The crystal structures of native HylP2 and its two complexes with ascorbic acid and lactose have been determined. HylP2 folds into four distinct domains with a central core consisting of 16 antiparallel β-strands forming an irregular triangular tube designated as triple-stranded β-helix. The structures of complexes show that three molecules each of ascorbic acid and lactose bind to protein at the sugar binding groove in the triple-stranded β-helix domain. Both ascorbic acid and lactose molecules occupy almost identical subsites in the long saccharide binding groove. Both ligands are involved in several hydrogen bonded interactions at each subsite. The binding characteristics and stereochemical properties indicate that Tyr264 may be involved in the catalytic activity of HylP2. The mutation of Tyr264 to Phe264 supports this observation

Association of Bowel Habits with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Men: Findings from the 2005–2006 and 2007–2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

PURPOSE: We examine the association between self-reported lower urinary tract symptoms and bowel habits in men in a large, cross-sectional, population based cohort study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 3,077 men participating in the 2005–2006 or 2007–2008 cycles of the NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) who were 40 years old or older and without a history of prostate cancer. Men were considered to have lower urinary tract symptoms if they reported nocturia, urinary hesitancy and/or incomplete bladder emptying. Bowel habits were characterized by frequency of bowel movements per week and stool consistency based on the Bristol Stool Form Scale. Weighted associations between bowel habits and lower urinary tract symptoms were determined using univariate and multivariate techniques, adjusting for age, race, body mass index, diabetes, alcohol intake, activity level and smoking. RESULTS: The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms was 37%, with 4% reporting all 3 symptoms. Reporting 3 or fewer bowel movements per week was associated with nocturia (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.21–2.30), incomplete bladder emptying (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.06–4.31) and urinary hesitancy (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.06–4.02). Reporting more than 10 bowel movements per week was associated with nocturia only (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.01–1.55). Hard (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.31–2.37) and loose (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01–1.55) stool consistency increased the odds of reporting nocturia. CONCLUSIONS: Lower urinary tract symptoms in the adult male were independently associated with low stool frequency, hard stool type and loose stool type. These data suggest causality or a common pathophysiology of lower urinary tract symptoms and abnormalities of bowel habits

Up-regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in primary afferent pathway regulates colon-to-bladder cross-sensitization in rat

Background In humans, inflammation of either the urinary bladder or the distal colon often results in sensory cross-sensitization between these organs. Limited information is known about the mechanisms underlying this clinical syndrome. Studies with animal models have demonstrated that activation of primary afferent pathways may have a role in mediating viscero-visceral cross-organ sensitization. Methods Colonic inflammation was induced by a single dose of tri-nitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) instilled intracolonically. The histology of the colon and the urinary bladder was examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. The protein expression of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel of the vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were examined by immunohistochemistry and/or western blot. The inter-micturition intervals and the quantity of urine voided were obtained from analysis of cystometrograms. Results At 3 days post TNBS treatment, the protein level of TRPV1 was increased by 2-fold (p \u3c 0.05) in the inflamed distal colon when examined with western blot. TRPV1 was mainly expressed in the axonal terminals in submucosal area of the distal colon, and was co-localized with the neural marker PGP9.5. In sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), BDNF expression was augmented by colonic inflammation examined in the L1 DRG, and was expressed in TRPV1 positive neurons. The elevated level of BDNF in L1 DRG by colonic inflammation was blunted by prolonged pre-treatment of the animals with the neurotoxin resiniferatoxin (RTX). Colonic inflammation did not alter either the morphology of the urinary bladder or the expression level of TRPV1 in this viscus. However, colonic inflammation decreased the inter-micturition intervals and decreased the quantities of urine voided. The increased bladder activity by colonic inflammation was attenuated by prolonged intraluminal treatment with RTX or treatment with intrathecal BDNF neutralizing antibody. Conclusion Acute colonic inflammation increases bladder activity without affecting bladder morphology. Primary afferent-mediated BDNF up-regulation in the sensory neurons regulates, at least in part, the bladder activity during colonic inflammation

Inhibition of Protein Aggregation: Supramolecular Assemblies of Arginine Hold the Key

BACKGROUND: Aggregation of unfolded proteins occurs mainly through the exposed hydrophobic surfaces. Any mechanism of inhibition of this aggregation should explain the prevention of these hydrophobic interactions. Though arginine is prevalently used as an aggregation suppressor, its mechanism of action is not clearly understood. We propose a mechanism based on the hydrophobic interactions of arginine. METHODOLOGY: We have analyzed arginine solution for its hydrotropic effect by pyrene solubility and the presence of hydrophobic environment by 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonic acid fluorescence. Mass spectroscopic analyses show that arginine forms molecular clusters in the gas phase and the cluster composition is dependent on the solution conditions. Light scattering studies indicate that arginine exists as clusters in solution. In the presence of arginine, the reverse phase chromatographic elution profile of Alzheimer's amyloid beta 1-42 (Abeta(1-42)) peptide is modified. Changes in the hydrodynamic volume of Abeta(1-42) in the presence of arginine measured by size exclusion chromatography show that arginine binds to Abeta(1-42). Arginine increases the solubility of Abeta(1-42) peptide in aqueous medium. It decreases the aggregation of Abeta(1-42) as observed by atomic force microscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experimental results we propose that molecular clusters of arginine in aqueous solutions display a hydrophobic surface by the alignment of its three methylene groups. The hydrophobic surfaces present on the proteins interact with the hydrophobic surface presented by the arginine clusters. The masking of hydrophobic surface inhibits protein-protein aggregation. This mechanism is also responsible for the hydrotropic effect of arginine on various compounds. It is also explained why other amino acids fail to inhibit the protein aggregation