CCBAR
Newsletter – February-March, 2008
Editors:
Natalia Gavrilova and Stacy Tessler Lindau
CCBAR
News: 2008 Biomeasures Workshop Update
Since 2003, the
University of Chicago and NORC Center on Demography and Economics of
Aging Core on Biomarkers in Population Based Health and Aging Research
(CCBAR), has hosted a series of successful, annual interdisciplinary
workshops bringing together predominantly senior and mid-career social
scientists with biomedical researchers interested in the biological
mechanisms through which social relationships and factors influence
health and health behaviors. Each year, attendance has grown and
we have seen a core of recurring participants representing many
NIA-funded research groups. Participants have also included
junior faculty and students as well as researchers funded by other NIH
entities, predominantly NICHD. Our 5th annual workshop, held in
June, 2007, was our first internationally-focused meeting which
attracted researchers from NIA-funded and other studies around the
world. Evaluations have been consistently positive with high
ratings for likelihood of returning to future meetings. Over
time, other workshops and training opportunities have arisen that
overlap with our reach to the relevant research community.
Participation from the other NIA-funded Centers on Aging, for example,
has been lower than we would like. With five years' experience
under our belts, and a rapidly evolving research community, we have
decided that a best next step would be to convene a small working group
to plan for the next “generation” of workshops. Two small group
meetings have been organized to re-invigorate and possibly refocus the
annual Biomeasures Workshop. These will be held in New Orleans,
Thursday, April 17 between 3 and 5 pm and Friday, May 23, 2008 in
Chicago. Please contact Jessica Schwartz at jschwartz@babies.bsd.uchicago.edu
for more information.
CCBAR
Report: Using dried blood spots for detecting herpes simplex and
varicella zoster viruses
by A. Gomero
Herpes simplex virus
1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2), and varicella-zoster virus
(VZV) are among viruses humans experience most commonly in populations
of all ages. These are recognized by their pathology, including
infection of cells, central nervous system infections, and
life-threatening disease (Whitley 2004). Early diagnosis and treatment
of these viruses is important to minimize effects of infection
(Lewensohn-Fuchs et al 2003; Opstelten et al 2003). Assays using dried
blood spots to diagnose infection by HSV-1, HSV-2, and VZV offer rapid
diagnostic techniques (Lewensohn-Fuchs et al 2003) and diagnostic
advantages in resource-limited locations (Opstelten et al 2003).
We were unable to identify any local laboratories that currently offer
these assays. Studies have been conducted on the viability of using
dried blood spots as a diagnostic method for HSV-1, HSV-2, and
VZV. A study conducted in Sweden used minimal essential medium
extraction (MEM), available from Invitrogen lab, to detect HSV-1 and
HSV-2 DNA by PCR in dried blood spots of neonates (Lewensohn-Fuchs et
al 2003). The children had verified neonatal infection, as a result of
maternal infection in 27 out of 28 cases. Infection was verified by PCR
technique in CSF or serum, vesicle virus isolation, or serology.
Maternal infections had been verified by sera analysis. Results suggest
that in order for HSV to be detected in the blood spot, the child must
be in a viremic period, 5 days before and 6 days after onset of herpes.
This assay was highly sensitive in analysis of cytomegalovirus, also in
Sweden (Fischler et al 1999). However, in the Lewensohn-Fuchs
investigation it had low sensitivity of only 7 positive found out of
28. There was also a study in the Netherlands on diagnosis of herpes
zoster from dried blood spots, compared to diagnosis based on clinical
judgment (Opstelten et al 2003). The assay for this study was
referenced as Enzygnost, Dade Behring, Marburg, Germany. Clinical
diagnosis was confirmed in 90.8% of patients by the presence of
VZV-IgM, VZV-IgA, or VZV-IgG antibodies. Specificity and sensitivity
could not be assessed because the study only confirmed physician
clinical diagnosis. Findings, however, suggest that for VZV, dried
blood spots are a convenient method of serological investigation.
1. Fischler, B., P. Rodensjo, et al. (1999). "Cytomegalovirus DNA
detection on Guthrie cards in patients with neonatal cholestasis." Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed
80(2): F130-4.
2. Lewensohn-Fuchs, I., P. Osterwall, et al. (2003). "Detection of
herpes simplex virus DNA in dried blood spots making a retrospective
diagnosis possible." J Clin Virol
26(1): 39-48.
3. Opstelten, W., A. M. van Loon, et al. (2007). "Clinical diagnosis of
herpes zoster in family practice." Ann
Fam Med 5(4): 305-9.
4. Whitley, R.J. (2004). Herpes
Simplex
Virus. Infections of the Central Nervous System. W. M. Scheld,
R. J. Whitley and C. M. Marra: 123.
NSHAP
News
The National Social
Life Health and Aging Project (NSHAP) is proud to announce the *NSHAP
Early Results Conference*, an NIA funded, competitive workshop to
present findings on integrated health and aging research using the
first wave of the NSHAP data. NSHAP data include detailed information
on physical and mental health; social networks and support; and sexual
and intimate partnerships. Both interview and biomeasure data
were collected from 3005 adults aged 57-85.
We invite you to submit research proposals using the NSHAP data.
Proposals will be reviewed for relevance to aging and health,
multi-disciplinary approach and scientific validity. Researchers with
accepted proposals will be invited to present their results at the
conference. Travel and expenses will be reimbursed for presenters.
Workshop Dates:
January 28th and 29th, 2009
Deadline for submission:
May 1, 2008
Obtaining the Data:
The data are available through the National Archive of Computerized
Data on Aging. Data access requires human subjects approval.
Contact: For
proposal format and submission requirements, please contact Sara
Leitsch at Leitsch-Sara@norc.org
News
From the NEJM, Nature Journals, Science, BMJ and PNAS
100%
Accuracy in Automatic Face Recognition
The simple process of image averaging can boost the performance of a
commercial face recognition system to 100% accuracy.
[Neuroscience]
Slow-wave sleep and the risk of type 2 diabetes in humans
There is convincing evidence that, in humans, discrete sleep stages
are important for daytime brain function, but whether any particular...
[Genetics]
Required sample size and nonreplicability thresholds for heterogen...
Many gene–disease associations proposed to date have not been
consistently replicated across different populations. Nonreplication
often reflects false positives in...
[Neuroscience]
IL-1 is an essential mediator of the antineurogenic and anhed...
Stress decreases neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus, and blockade
of this effect is required for the actions of antidepressants in...
[Medical_Sciences]
A model for obesity and gigantism due to disruption of the...
Obesity is a major health hazard that is caused by a combination of
genetic and behavioral factors. Several models of...
[Applied_Physical_Sciences]
Spreading of sexually transmitted diseases in het...
The spread of sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia,
syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV, etc.) across populations is a major concern
for scientists...
[Anthropology-BS]
Selectivity of Black Death mortality with respect to preexi...
Was the
mortality associated with the deadliest known epidemic in
human history, the Black Death of 1347–1351, selective with respect...
[Genetics]
Molecular insights into human daily behavior
Human beings exhibit wide variation in their timing of daily
behavior. We and others have suggested previously that such
differences...
EDITORIAL:
Molecular Origins of Cancer
Over the past decade, insights into the origins and behavior of
human cancers have reshaped our understanding of these diseases and
have generated advances in clinical care. The seminal feature ...
[Evolution]
Paternal effects on offspring fitness in a multimale primate society
When females mate with multiple males, paternal care is generally
expected to be negligible, because it may be difficult or...
[NEWS]
CLINICAL RESEARCH: Deaths in Diabetes Trial Challenge a Long-Held Theory
Last week, a major component of a glucose-reduction trial was suspended
because there were more deaths in the treatment group than among those
who received standard care and had higher glucose levels.
[Anthropology-BS]
Heritability of cooperative behavior in the trust game
Although laboratory experiments document cooperative behavior in
humans, little is known about the extent to which individual
differences in cooperativeness...
Biomarkers
and Aging in the News Media
• Vitamin
E 'may ward off decline'
Vitamin E may
play a role in warding off physical decline in elderly
people, research suggests.
• Getting
in Shape Reduces Death Risk
The more fit you
are, the longer you're likely to live,
according to a large study of veterans that applies to black men as
well as white men. The Veterans Affairs researchers found that the
"highly fit" men in the study had half the risk of death as those who
were the least fit. Being "very highly fit" cut the risk even more, by
70 percent....
• Western
Diet Ups Heart, Diabetes Risk
Indulging in a
typical Western diet of burgers, fries, and diet soda
boosts your risk of getting heart disease and diabetes, a study shows.
• Chronic
Fatigue, Stress Hormone Linked
Women with
chronic fatigue syndrome may have lower morning levels of
the stress hormone cortisol than healthy women, experts report.
• Calcium:
Heart Risk For Older Women?
Calcium
supplements, generally thought to preserve both bone and heart
health, may boost the risk of heart disease in healthy postmenopausal
women, according to New Zealand researchers.
• Study
Links Vitamin C To Stroke Risk
Though the
science behind it continues to confound researchers, a new
study shows clearly that getting a healthy dose of vitamin C through
eating fruit and vegetables can greatly reduce the risk of stroke.
• On
sex after prostate surgery, confusing data
One of the
biggest fears for men undergoing prostate surgery is
impotence, but research doesn't do much to clarify risk.
• Sedentary
life 'speeds up ageing'
Leading a
sedentary lifestyle may make us genetically old before our
time, research suggests.
• Testosterone
seen unrelated to prostate cancer risk
Natural levels
of a man's testosterone do not affect
his prostate cancer risk as some had thought, a finding that should
spur scientists to rethink their approach to the disease, researchers
said on Tuesday.
• Lead
Linked to Aging in Older Brains
Could it be that
the "natural" mental decline that
afflicts many older people is related to how much lead they absorbed
decades before?...
• Male
Circumcision No Aid to Women in Study
Expectations
that circumcision among men would reduce the risk of their
female sexual partners becoming infected with AIDS were refuted by a
new study.
• Addiction
may be linked to hunger
People whose
mothers lived through a famine during their first
trimester of pregnancy appear to have a greater risk of addiction, ...
• Elderly
Women Hard Hit By Depression
Older women are
more likely to suffer from symptoms of depression and
remain depressed for a longer period of time than men, a new study
shows.
• Wealth
'may not lead to health'
Economic growth
does not always lead to better health or lower child
mortality, new research suggests.
• Being
overweight may raise cancer risk
Being obese or
even overweight may increase a person's risk of
developing up to a dozen different types of cancer, European
researchers ...
• More
Heart Deaths In Nation's Future?
U.S. heart
disease prevalence stopped going down in the mid-1990s --
and may now be going up in younger adults, a Mayo Clinic study shows.
• Living
To 100 Is Easier Than You Think
Surprising new
research suggests that even people who develop heart
disease or diabetes late in life have a decent shot at reaching the
century mark. It may be due to doctors who refuse to believe older
people won't benefit from treatment.
• Mood
Can Impact Heart Health
Research shows
the mind-body connection is more than a myth. Moods,
particularly bad moods, can affect our physical well-being. Taking
steps to calm stress, or manage anger or depression can have positive
long-term effects on heart health.
• Childhood
Respiratory Disease Boosts Illness And Death Risks In Adulthood, St...
Respiratory
disease, particularly bronchitis, in early childhood boosts
the risks of illness and premature death in adulthood, indicates new
research. The researchers base their findings on around 10,000 male
graduates who went to Glasgow University between 1948 and 1968 and
agreed to be part of a long term study to track their health.
• Race
May Affect Macular Degeneration
Whites over the
age of 65 may face a higher risk of losing their sight
due to macular degeneration than African-Americans.
• Vital
Signs: Antioxidants may reduce cataract risk in women
The antioxidants
vitamin E and lutein, from both food and supplements,
may reduce women's risk for cataracts, researchers report.
• Gentlemen,
5 easy steps to living long and well
Five behaviors
in elderly men are associated not only with living into
extreme old age, a new study has found, but also with good health and
independent functioning.
• 'Testosterone
link' to depression
Older men with
less male sex hormone testosterone could be more prone
to depression, research suggests.
• Too
Old, Too Fast
Stem cell
identity crisis might explain "accelerated aging" disease
• Psychological
Distress, Not Depression, Linked To Increased Risk Of Stroke
Psychological
distress, but not depression, may increase the risk of
stroke, according to a new study published in Neurology. Previous
studies have shown that stroke often leads to depression, but the
evidence was mixed as to whether depression could lead to stroke.
• Good
marriage may be good for blood pressure
A happy marriage
is good for your blood pressure, but a stressed one
can be worse than being single, a preliminary study suggests.
• Anxiety
Advantage For Elderly Women?
Anxious elderly
women, but not men, may live longer than their calmer
peers, experts announce at the American Psychosomatic Society's annual
meeting.
• Sense
of Smell May Predict Parkinson's
A poor sense of
smell may help predict Parkinson's disease in elderly
men, researchers report in the journal Neurology.
• Will
Whole Genome Research Result In Genetic Profiling?
Interest in
whole-genome research has grown substantially over the past
few months. But what are the ethics issues associated with this work?
In whole-genome research, participants quickly lose control over access
to their personal information, and they run the risk of "genetic
profiling."
• Parents'
High Blood Pressure Associated With Increased Risk Of Hypertension T...
Individuals who
have one or two parents with hypertension appear to
have a significantly increased risk of developing elevated blood
pressure throughout their adult lives, according to a new report.
NIH
Press Releases
Researchers
Uncover New Piece to the Puzzle of Human Height
In studies
involving more than 35,000 people and a survey across the
entire human genome, an international team supported in part by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH) has found evidence that common
genetic variants recently linked to osteoarthritis may also play a
minor role in human height.
International
Effort Finds New Genetic Variants Associated with Lipid Levels,...
Now, in an
international collaboration supported primarily by the
National Institutes of Health (NIH), scientists have discovered more
than 25 genetic variants in 18 genes connected to cholesterol and lipid
levels.
Heart
Disease Deaths Continue to Decline in American Women
Heart disease
deaths in American women continued to decline in 2005,
and for the first time, have declined six years consecutively, covering
the years 2000-2005, according to newly analyzed data announced today
by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the
National Institutes of Health.
Researchers
Find Biological Factors that May Drive Prostate Tumor Aggressiven...
Researchers
analyzing prostate tumors have identified differences in
gene expression (the degree to which individual genes are turned on or
off) between African-American and European-American men that show the
existence of distinct tumor microenvironments (the area that includes
the tumor and the surrounding non-cancerous tissue) in these two
patient groups. These findings by researchers at the National Cancer
Institute (NCI), part of the National Institute of Health, appeared
online February 1, 2008, in "Cancer Research"
Newly
Identified Genetic Variations May Affect Breast Cancer Risk
Researchers have
identified genetic variations in a region of DNA that
may be associated with risk for breast cancer. Women with the variation
have a 1.4 times greater risk of developing breast cancer compared to
those without this variation. The study is one of several genome-wide
association studies looking for breast cancer genes to be published
this year by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part
of the National Institutes of Health, and their colleagues.
Modified
Virus Vaccine Shows Promise in Mouse Model of Breast Cancer
Researchers have
shown that vaccinating mice with a modified form of a
virus containing proteins from breast cancer cells can kill large
breast cancer tumors and tumors that have spread to the lungs. The
rodent model of cancer used in this study closely resembles a type of
breast cancer seen in humans called HER2-positive. Although other
cancer vaccines have shown activity in the treatment of very small
tumors, their ability to influence large, established tumors, such as
many HER2-positive breast cancers, has proven difficult. The study, led
by researchers at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the
National Institutes of Health, appeared in the March 15, 2008, issue of
"Cancer Research".
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
This
Newsletter is
supported by a grant from the National Institute on Aging, National
Institutes of Health (Grant No. 5 P30 AG012857)