HIV-1 shedding from the female genital tract is associated with increased Th1 cytokines/chemokines that maintain tissue homeostasis and proportions of CD8+FOXP3+ T cells.

Background: HIV-1 shedding from the female genital tract is associated with increased sexual and perinatal transmission and has been broadly evaluated in cross-sectional studies. However, few longitudinal studies have evaluated how the immune microenvironment effects shedding.

Methods: Thirty-nine HIV-1-infected women had blood, cervicovaginal lavage, and biopsies of the uterine cervix taken quarterly for up to 5 years.

Systematic review of the performance of rapid rifampicin resistance testing for drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Introduction: Rapid tests for rifampicin resistance may be useful for identifying isolates at high risk of drug resistance, including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). However, choice of diagnostic test and prevalence of rifampicin resistance may both impact a diagnostic strategy for identifying drug resistant-TB. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the performance of WHO-endorsed rapid tests for rifampicin resistance detection.

Iron deficiency protects against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria and death in young children.

Background: Iron supplementation may increase malaria morbidity and mortality, but the effect of naturally occurring variation in iron status on malaria risk is not well studied.

Methods: A total of 785 Tanzanian children living in an area of intense malaria transmission were enrolled at birth, and intensively monitored for parasitemia and illness including malaria for up to 3 years, with an average of 47 blood smears. We assayed plasma samples collected at routine healthy-child visits, and evaluated the impact of iron deficiency (ID) on future malaria outcomes and mortality.

Frequent intentional weight loss is associated with higher ghrelin and lower glucose and androgen levels in postmenopausal women.

Population-based studies suggest that repetitive cycling of weight loss and regain may be associated with future weight gain. Therefore, to better define the relationship between weight cycling, energy homeostasis, and future weight gain, we examined associations between frequent intentional weight loss and hormonal profiles in postmenopausal women. This cross-sectional study evaluated the relationship between a history of frequent weight loss and biomarkers, including serum glucose, insulin, leptin, and ghrelin, as well as sex steroid hormones.

Malaria severity and human nitric oxide synthase type 2 (NOS2) promoter haplotypes.

Nitric oxide (NO) mediates host resistance to severe malaria and other infectious diseases. NO production and mononuclear cell expression of the NO producing enzyme-inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) have been associated with protection from severe falciparum malaria. The purpose of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes in the NOS2 promoter, to identify associations of these haplotypes with malaria severity and to test the effects of these polymorphisms on promoter activity.

Elevated biomarkers of inflammation are associated with reduced survival among breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE Chronic inflammation is believed to contribute to the development and progression of breast cancer. Systemic C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) are measures of low-grade chronic inflammation and potential predictors of cancer survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS We evaluated the relationship between circulating markers of inflammation and breast cancer survival using data from the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study (a multiethnic prospective cohort study of women diagnosed with stage 0 to IIIA breast cancer).

No effect of aspirin on mammographic density in a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Background: Epidemiologic studies suggest a reduced risk of breast cancer among women who regularly use aspirin; a plausible mechanism is through aspirin effect on mammographic breast density, a breast cancer risk factor, possibly mediated through aspirin interference with estrogen synthesis.

Methods: In a 2-arm randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, we evaluated the effects of 6-month administration of 325 mg/day aspirin on total mammographic breast dense area and percent of the mammographic breast image occupied by dense areas (% density) in 143 postmenopausal women. Eligible women, recruited from 2005 to 2007, were healthy, not taking hormone therapy, with elevated mammographic breast density (American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System density category 2, 3, or 4) within 6 months before enrollment.

Physical activity, long-term symptoms, and physical health-related quality of life among breast cancer survivors: a prospective analysis.

Introduction: Many breast cancer survivors experience persistent physical symptoms of cancer and treatment that can decrease health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This prospective study investigated physical activity (PA), occurrence of physical symptoms, and HRQOL in a large, ethnically-diverse cohort of breast cancer survivors.

Materials And Methods: Survivors (n = 545), on average 6 months post-diagnosis, were assessed in person or by mail at baseline (retrospective reports of pre-diagnosis PA), at 29 months post-diagnosis (post-diagnosis PA), and at 39 months post-diagnosis (pain, hormone symptoms, sexual interest/dysfunction, fatigue, physical subscales of HRQOL).

Vitamin D insufficiency in a multiethnic cohort of breast cancer survivors.

Background: Little is known about vitamin D status in breast cancer survivors. This issue is important because vitamin D influences pathways related to carcinogenesis.

Objective: The objective of this report was to describe and understand vitamin D status in a breast cancer survivor cohort.

Serum leptin concentrations and markers of immune function in overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

Experimental studies and case reports suggest a multifunctional role of leptin in immune function. However, clinical studies of leptin in healthy individuals with a comprehensive assessment of immunity are lacking. This study investigated associations between serum leptin concentrations and multiple biomarkers of cellular immunity and inflammation among 114 healthy postmenopausal, overweight, or obese women.

Effect of exercise on in vitro immune function: a 12-month randomized, controlled trial among postmenopausal women.

Cross-sectional studies suggest that moderate physical activity is associated with enhanced resting immune function; however, few randomized controlled trials have investigated this link. We investigated the effect of 12-mo aerobic exercise, relative to stretching control, on in vitro immune function in a randomized, controlled trial of 115 postmenopausal, overweight, or obese sedentary women, aged 50-75 yr. The exercise goal was > or =45 min/day, 5 days/wk.

Correlates of circulating C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A concentrations in breast cancer survivors.

Introduction: Inflammatory status may be an important prognostic factor for breast cancer. Correlates of markers of inflammation in breast cancer survivors have not been thoroughly evaluated.

Methods: Using data from, the Health, Eating, Activity, and Lifestyle (HEAL) Study (a population-based, multiethnic prospective cohort study of female breast cancer patients) we evaluated the associations between circulating markers of inflammation (C-reactive protein [CRP] and serum amyloid A [SAA], measured approximately 31 months after diagnosis) and several demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics in 741 disease-free breast cancer survivors.

Effect of exercise on serum sex hormones in men: a 12-month randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: The effect of exercise on androgens in middle-aged to older men is poorly understood, and it could have implications for several aspects of health. This analysis was conducted to examine the effects of long-term aerobic exercise on serum sex hormones in middle-aged to older men.

Methods: One hundred two sedentary men, ages 40-75 yr, were randomly assigned to a 12-month exercise intervention or a control group (no change in activity).

Predictors of diet quality among overweight and obese postmenopausal women.

Previous studies have shown that sociodemographic characteristics can be determinants of healthful eating. However, health characteristics such as smoking status have not been well studied. The objective of this research, therefore, was to determine predictors of diet quality in postmenopausal women.

No effect of exercise on colon mucosal prostaglandin concentrations: a 12-month randomized controlled trial.

Background: Epidemiologic studies provide evidence that exercise is associated with reduced risk of colon cancer. Exercise may exert protective effects on the colon by influencing prostaglandin production. We hypothesized that an exercise intervention would decrease prostaglandin E(2) concentrations and increase prostaglandin F(2alpha) in colon biopsies compared with controls.

Associations between healthy eating patterns and immune function or inflammation in overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

Background: The link between poor nutritional status and impaired immune function is well established; however, most studies have focused on individual nutrients instead of overall dietary patterns.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate associations between 3 indexes of overall diet quality [the Diet Quality Index (DQI), the DQI including supplementary calcium (DQI-Ca), and the Healthy Eating Index (HEI)] and biomarkers of inflammation and immunity.

Design: This cross-sectional study included 110 overweight or obese postmenopausal women.

Effect of a 12-month exercise intervention on the apoptotic regulating proteins Bax and Bcl-2 in colon crypts: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Cellular proliferation and apoptosis (cell death) are highly regulated in the colon as insufficient apoptosis may lead to polyps and cancer. Physical activity decreases risk of colon cancer in observational studies, but the biological basis is not well defined. The objective of this study is to examine the effects of a 12-month aerobic exercise program on expression of proteins that promote (Bax) or inhibit (Bcl-2) apoptosis in colon crypts.

Exercise effect on weight and body fat in men and women.

Objectives: The effect of national exercise recommendations on adiposity is unknown and may differ by sex. We examined long-term effects of aerobic exercise on adiposity in women and men.

Research Methods And Procedures: This was a 12-month randomized, controlled clinical trial testing exercise effect on weight and body composition in men (N = 102) and women (N = 100).

Effect of a 12-month randomized clinical trial of exercise on serum prolactin concentrations in postmenopausal women.

Prolactin is associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer; however, few modifiable factors are known to reduce prolactin concentrations. Therefore, we examined the effect of a 12-month moderate-intensity exercise intervention on serum prolactin concentrations as a secondary end point (primary end points were estrogens and androgens). We randomly assigned 173 postmenopausal women who were sedentary, overweight (body mass index >24 kg/m(2), body fat >33%), ages 50 to 75 years, and not using hormone therapy to an exercise intervention or stretching control group.

Effects of an exercise intervention on other health behaviors in overweight/obese post-menopausal women.

Background: Little is known about whether initiating physical activity induces change in other health-related behaviors. If other behaviors do change with increasing physical activity, this would complicate interpretation of differences in study outcomes in exercise intervention trials.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Associations between the CYP17, CYPIB1, COMT and SHBG polymorphisms and serum sex hormones in post-menopausal breast cancer survivors.

Several polymorphisms have been identified in genes that code for enzymes involved with estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism. Little is known about the functional relevance of these polymorphisms on sex hormones in vivo. We examined the association between CYP17, CYP1B1, COMT or SHBG genotypes and serum concentrations of estrone, estradiol, free estradiol, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), testosterone, free testosterone and dehyroepiandrosterone in 366 post-menopausal breast cancer survivors in New Mexico, California and Washington.

Moderate-intensity exercise reduces the incidence of colds among postmenopausal women.

Purpose: Our aim was to assess the effect of a moderate-intensity, year-long exercise program on the risk of colds and other upper respiratory tract infections in postmenopausal women.

Subjects: A total of 115 overweight and obese, sedentary, postmenopausal women in the Seattle area participated.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to the moderate-intensity exercise group or the control group.

Effect of a 12-month exercise intervention on patterns of cellular proliferation in colonic crypts: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Colon crypt architecture and proliferation may be appropriate biomarkers for testing prevention interventions. A hypothesized mechanism for exercise-induced colon cancer risk reduction might be through alterations in colon crypt cell architecture and proliferation.

Methods: Healthy, sedentary participants with a colonoscopy within the previous 3 years were recruited through gastroenterology practices and media.