Deoxycholate, an endogenous tumor promoter and DNA damaging agent, modulates BRCA-1 expression in apoptosis-sensitive epithelial cells: loss of BRCA-1 expression in colonic adenocarcinomas.

Deoxycholate, a bile salt present at high levels in the colonic lumen of individuals on a high-fat diet, is a promoter of colon cancer. Deoxycholate also causes DNA damage. BRCA-1 functions in repair of DNA and in induction of apoptosis.

Perils of immunohistochemistry: variability in staining specificity of commercially available COX-2 antibodies on human colon tissue.

We assessed the immunohistochemical (IHC) staining patterns of three commercially available COX-2 antibodies in human tissues. The location of positive stain in sequential serial 4-mu sections of formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissue differed considerably. Staining patterns ranged from diffuse cytoplasmic to occasional perinuclear staining.

In situ evaluation of sodium hexametaphosphate-containing dentifrices.

The purpose of this investigator-blinded, five-treatment, crossover human intraoral study was to evaluate the effects of two experimental dentifrice formulations containing either stannous fluoride (SnF(2)) or sodium fluoride (NaF) packaged with sodium hexametaphosphate in a dual-phase delivery system on demineralization-remineralization using an in situ model system. The experimental dentifrice formulations' ability to alter demineralization-remineralization was compared to a series of three controls: SnF(2)-positive control, NaF-positive control and no-fluoride placebo-negative control. The single-section crown model, developed at the University of Iowa, was used to assess the fluoride efficacy of two experimental products versus the placebo containing no fluoride and positive controls.

Cardiopulmonary responses to exercise in women with sickle cell anemia.

Multiple factors contribute to exercise intolerance in patients with sickle cell anemia, but little information exists regarding the safety of maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) or the mechanisms of exercise limitation in these patients. The purpose of the present study was to examine these issues. Seventeen adult women with sickle cell anemia underwent symptom-limited maximal CPET using cycle ergometry and ramp protocols; blood gases and lactate concentrations were measured every 2 minutes.

The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity. A systematic review.

The Guide to Community Preventive Service's methods for systematic reviews were used to evaluate the effectiveness of various approaches to increasing physical activity: informational, behavioral and social, and environmental and policy approaches. Changes in physical activity behavior and aerobic capacity were used to assess effectiveness. Two informational interventions ("point-of-decision" prompts to encourage stair use and community-wide campaigns) were effective, as were three behavioral and social interventions (school-based physical education, social support in community settings, and individually-adapted health behavior change) and one environmental and policy intervention (creation of or enhanced access to places for physical activity combined with informational outreach activities).

Exercise in sickle cell anemia: effect on inflammatory and vasoactive mediators.

The aim of this study was to determine the response of inflammatory and vasoactive mediators to 3 consecutive days of exercise in African-American women with and without sickle cell anemia (SCA). Circulating inflammatory mediators [C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)] were measured before, and vasoactive mediators [endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx)] before and after each exercise bout in ten subjects with SCA and ten controls. Exercise did not affect ET-1, IL-6 or CRP concentrations (p >.

Removal of extrinsic stain using a 7.0% sodium hexametaphosphate dentifrice: a randomized clinical trial.

A nine-week, randomized and controlled clinical trial was conducted to compare the stain removal efficacy of a 0.243% sodium fluoride dentifrice containing 7% sodium hexametaphosphate (5% hexametaphosphate anion) to that of a 0.243% sodium fluoride control dentifrice.

Anticalculus efficacy and safety of a novel whitening dentifrice containing sodium hexametaphosphate: a controlled six-month clinical trial.

This study was undertaken to establish the tartar control efficacy and long-term safety of a new dentifrice containing sodium hexametaphosphate. In a randomized, examiner blind, parallel group clinical trial, the experimental dentifrice with 7% sodium hexametaphosphate (5% hexametaphosphate anion), a non-abrasive cleaning agent that provides whitening and tartar control benefits, was compared to two currently marketed controls, a regular sodium fluoride dentifrice and a triclosan/copolymer dentifrice. The 8-month trial model included a 2-month pretest period to establish calculus formation after prophylaxis, and a 6-month test period to evaluate anti-calculus efficacy and safety.

Extrinsic stain prevention with a combination dentifrice containing calcium phosphate surface active builders compared to two marketed controls.

A six-week, randomized and controlled, examiner blind, parallel group clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the stain prevention efficacy of an experimental whitening dentifrice containing a combination of sodium hexametaphosphate and soluble pyrophosphate relative to a marketed high-abrasive dentifrice and a marketed control dentifrice. Following the collection of baseline stain scores and subsequent prophylaxis, healthy volunteers were randomized to one of three treatment regimens, balancing for stain levels and smoking status. Throughout the six-week treatment period, subjects brushed twice daily with the assigned dentifrice while following a rinse regimen of three times daily tea and once daily chlorhexidine.

Extrinsic stain removal with a sodium hexametaphosphate-containing dentifrice: comparisons to marketed controls.

Repeated exposure to chlorhexidine and tea has long been recognized to promote extrinsic tooth stain. Previously, the merits of a modified, rapid clinical trial model using chlorhexidine and tea in combination with restricted brushing to accelerate staining have been established. A nine-week randomized and controlled, examiner blind, parallel group clinical trial was conducted to compare selected chemical and mechanical approaches for stain removal using this model.

Preferential repair by squamous epithelium of thermal induced injury to the proximal stomach in patients undergoing ablation of Barrett's esophagus.

Background: The presence of extensions of squamous epithelium into the proximal stomach in patients undergoing routine upper endoscopy has recently been described. The factors that may favor development of squamous epithelium within the proximal stomach remain unknown.

Methods: Patients with Barrett's esophagus who agreed to undergo ablation of Barrett's epithelium by using multipolar electrocoagulation were included.

Body composition in women with sickle cell disease.

Introduction: Adults with sickle cell disease (SCD) have increased morbidity and low perceived health status, similar to patients with other chronic conditions. These patients may be sedentary due to exercise intolerance, physical incapacity due to sickle cell-related complications or medical conservatism. Obesity is an indicator of low health status and overall well-being in the general population, and we hypothesize that adults with SCD will have a high total body fat (%BF).

The Missing Link: Early Methane ("T") Dwarfs in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.

We report the discovery of three cool brown dwarfs that fall in the effective temperature gap between the latest L dwarfs currently known, with no methane absorption bands in the 1-2.5 µm range, and the previously known methane (T) dwarfs, whose spectra are dominated by methane and water. The newly discovered objects were detected as very red objects in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey imaging data and have JHK colors between the red L dwarfs and the blue Gl 229B-like T dwarfs.

Phytoestrogens and the management of menopause.

Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that are structurally or functionally similar to steroidal estrogens produced by the body, such as estradiol. Phytoestrogens are derived from dietary precursors. Methodologically rigorous studies demonstrate the benefit of phytoestrogens in addressing the climacteric syndrome--including vasomotor symptoms--and postmenopausal health risks.

Biomarker studies in reversed Barrett's esophagus.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to use biomarkers to assess for cancer risk in Barrett's esophagus patients with either squamous islands or complete reversal of their intestinal metaplasia to squamous epithelium.

Methods: The biomarkers included proliferation characteristic using Ki-67, p53 abnormalities using immunohistochemical methods with two antibodies, DO-1 and DO-7, and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity.

Results: Eleven patients had complete reversal produced by a combination of acid suppression and thermal injury (multipolar electrocoagulation).

Plasma leptin concentrations in obese children: changes during 4-mo periods with and without physical training.

Background: Little is known about the effects of physical training on plasma leptin concentrations in children.

Objective: We sought to determine the effects of 4-mo periods with and without physical training on leptin in obese children and to explore the determinants of leptin at baseline and in response to physical training.

Design: Participants were 34 obese 7-11-y-old children randomly assigned to engage in physical training during either the first or second 4 mo of the 8-mo study.

Pituitary-adrenal-gonadal responses to high-intensity resistance exercise overtraining.

Weight-trained men [OT; n = 11; age = 22.0 +/- 0.9 (SE) yr] resistance trained daily at 100% one-repetition maximum (1-RM) intensity for 2 wk, resulting in 1-RM strength decrements and in an overtrained state.

Effects of ingesting supplements designed to promote lean tissue accretion on body composition during resistance training.

This study examined the effects of ingesting nutritional supplements designed to promote lean tissue accretion on body composition alterations during resistance training. Twenty-eight resistance-trained males blindly supplemented their diets with maltodextrin (M), Gainers Fuel 1000 (GF), or Phosphagain (P). No significant differences were observed in absolute or relative total body water among groups.

Reproducibility of the measurement of colonic proliferation using bromodeoxyuridine across laboratories.

Although measures of colonic cell proliferation are being used as potential intermediate markers in chemoprevention studies, measurement standardization is still ongoing. This study was designed to assess the reproducibility of the labeling index quantification, as measured by bromodeoxyuridine, across four laboratories experienced in its use. Each institution submitted 10 slides, with one circled area of each slide to be scored.

Demonstration of a field defect in gastric intestinal metaplasia by biological marker analysis.

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is a precursor lesion for gastric cancer. It most frequently involves the antrum and the angularis. At endoscopy, it is not possible to visually distinguish GIM from normal stomach.