An FDA Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for this Wednesday will address GlaxoSmithKlines application for approval of its human papillomavirus vaccine, Cervarix, as well as Mercks vaccine Gardasil for use in males to prevent genital warts, the AP/Detroit Free Press reports. FDA posted related information on its Web site on Friday. Although FDA is not required to follow the panels recommendation, it usually does (AP/Detroit Free Press, 9/5).

Cervarix is effective 93% of the time in preventing the two strains of the virus that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Like Mercks HPV vaccine, Gardasil, Cervarix protects against HPV strains 16 and 18, which cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. However, unlike Gardasil, Cervarix does not protect against other HPV types that cause 90% of genital warts. GSK is seeking approval of the vaccine for use in girls and women ages 10 to 25 (Perrone, AP/Detroit Free Press, 9/5). Gardasil is FDAapproved for girls and women ages nine to 26, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends routine vaccination for girls ages 11 and 12. The vaccine also is recommended for girls and women ages 13 through 26 who have not yet been vaccinated or who have not received all three doses (Womens Health Policy Report, 8/21).

Cervarix is approved in several European counties. However, U.S. approval was delayed when FDA in 2007 requested additional information after studies showed that individuals who received Cervarix had a higher number of muscular and neurological problems. On Friday, FDA said that outside experts determined that Cervarix did not cause those problems. FDA also noted that data showing a slightly increased number of miscarriages in women receiving Cervarix does “not establish a causal relationship” (AP/Detroit Free Press, 9/5).

Gardasil Prevents Male Genital Warts

Also on Friday, FDA said that Gardasil is effective in preventing male genital warts 90% of the time. According to documents posted online, the vaccine blocks two strains of HPV that cause irregular growths and rare types of cancer in male genitals. A panel of experts will consider Mercks appeal for approval of the vaccine for use in boys ages nine to 26 (AP/Baltimore Sun, 9/5).

Reprinted with kind permission from nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Womens Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Womens Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

© 2009 The Advisory Board Company. All rights reserved.

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Researchers have found a way to directly convert spermatogonial stem cells, the precursors of sperm cells, into tissues of the prostate, skin and uterus. Their approach, described this month in the journal Stem Cells, may prove to be an effective alternative to the medical use of embryonic stem cells.

The hunt for alternatives to embryonic stem cells has led to some promising yet problematic approaches, some of which involve spermatagonial stem cells (SSCs). Researchers recently observed, for example, that SSCs grown in the laboratory will eventually give rise to a few cells that look and act like embryonic stem cells. This process can take months, however, and only a small percentage of the SSCs are converted into “embryonic stemlike” cells.

Other researchers have used viruses to insert genes into SSCs that will spur them to turn into ESlike cells. But this approach is problematic and the use of viruses to ferry in the needed genes has caused concern.

The new method, recently developed at the University of Illinois, takes advantage of the unusual interaction of two tissue types the epithelium and the mesenchyme. The epithelium lines the cavities and surfaces of glands and many organs and secretes enzymes and other factors that are essential to the function of these tissues. The mesenchyme is the connective tissue in embryos. (In adults, the connective tissue is called stroma.)

In the 1950s, scientists discovered that the epithelium takes its developmental instructions from the mesenchyme. For example, when researchers put bladder epithelial cells on the mesenchyme of a prostate gland, the bladder cells were changed into prostatic epithelium. The prostatic mesenchyme had altered the fate of the bladder epithelium.

“The mesenchyme its the director; its controlling the show,” said University of Illinois veterinary biosciences professor Paul Cooke, who led the new study with postdoctoral researcher Liz Simon.

Cooke began the effort with what even he considered an unlikely proposition.

“Could we take spermatagonial stem cells and cause them to directly change into other cell types by putting them with various mesenchymes and growing them in the body?” he said. “I thought it was possible, but I didnt think it would work.”

The experiment did work, however. When Simon placed SSCs from inbred mice on prostate mesenchyme and grafted the combination into living mice, the SSCs became prostatic epithelium. When combined with skin mesenchyme and grown in vivo, the SSCs became skin epithelum. The researchers were even able to convert SSCs into uterine epithelium by using uterine mesenchyme.

The newly formed tissues had all the physical characteristics of prostate, skin or uterus, and produced the telltale markers of those tissue types, Cooke said. They also stopped looking and behaving like SSCs.

To assure that their tests were not contaminated with epithelial cells from the source of the mesenchyme cells, the researchers repeated the experiments using a mouse whose cells contained a gene that fluoresces green under ultraviolet light. The SSCs were obtained from a greenfluorescing mouse, but the mesenchyme came from a nonfluorescing mouse. This enabled the researchers to trace the fate of the SSCs. If the newly formed prostatic epithelium glowed green even though the mesenchyme did not, for example, the researchers knew that the SSCs had been converted into prostatic epithelium.

Cooke hopes that a more streamlined approach can be developed that makes use of a mans own SSCs and stroma (the adult equivalent of the mesenchyme) to produce new skin cells or other tissues when needed for example, to replace skin damaged in a burn. And his team is investigating the use of ovarian stem cells instead of SSCs to see if the same results can be obtained with ovarian tissue.

This work was supported by the Billie A. Field Endowment, the U. of I., and the National Institutes of Health.

“Direct Transdifferentiation of Stem/Progenitor Spermatogonia Into Reproductive and Nonreproductive Tissues of All Germ Layers” appears in Volume 27, Number 7, of the journal Stem Cells. The authors Liz Simon, Gail C. Ekman, Natalia Kostereva, Zhen Zhang, Rex A. Hess, MarieClaude Hofmann, Paul S. Cooke.

Source
Diana Yates

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Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca is considering expanding an eightyearold program at Mens Central Jail that distributes condoms in a unit for gay men, the Los Angeles Times reports. Under the program, an outreach worker from the nonprofit Center for Health Justice visits the jail once weekly to distribute about one condom per inmate to the units 300 inmates. Baca is considering doubling the number of condoms being distributed. Sheriff Department officials acknowledge that HIV is a problem in county jails and spend about $2 million annually on HIV/AIDS medication and identify about 65 new cases of HIV each month, according to the Times. Steve Whitmore, a spokesperson for the Sheriffs Department, said, “Sex in jails is against the law, but there is a public health issue that needs to be considered.” A separate condom distribution program is being piloted at the California State Prison at Solano (Bloomekatz, Los Angeles Times 6/29).

This information was reprinted from dailyreports.kff.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily U.S. HIV/AIDS Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at dailyreports.kff.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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There is a high probability of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in nonobese, middleaged patients, according to a research abstract presented at SLEEP 2009, the 23rd Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Results confirmed that OSA in nonobese patients is most prevalent in middleaged men with larger neck sizes. Fiftyfour percent (2,906) of 5,426 nonobese patients were OSA positive, and most of them were middle age (57 percent). An equal number of patients had mild OSA (50.4%) or moderate to severe OSA (49.6%). Male prevalence and neck size were significantly higher in the group with moderate to severe OSA.

According to lead author Teimur Yeligulashvili, PhD, clinical supervisor at SleepTech in Wayne, N.J., the researchers were surprised by the fact that no significant differences were found in Epworth Sleepiness Scale results and neck size between OSA positive and OSA negative in nonobese patients.

“More than 50 percent of nonobese OSA patients had mild OSA, suggesting that inlab polysmonography may be more accurate in assessing people in this demographic, as opposed to portable monitoring systems,” said Yeligulashvili.

The study included data from 5,426 non obese patients and 23,157 overweight patients. Data were collected from a total of 28,583 polysomnograms from patients 18 years or older between 2004 and 2008 from 18 sleep centers in the SleepTech network. Patients with body mass index (BMI) between 18.5 and 27 were considered as nonobese and patients with apneahypopnea index (AHI) of greater than five were defined as OSA positive.

Associations have been found between OSA and serious medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension and increased risk for mortality.

Abstract Title Obstructive Sleep Apnea in NonObese Patients Age, Gender and SeverityPresentation Date Tuesday, June 9
Category Sleep Disorders Breathing
Abstract ID 0565

Source
Kelly Wagner

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Boys who carry a particular variation of the gene Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), sometimes called the “warrior gene,” are more likely not only to join gangs but also to be among the most violent members and to use weapons, according to a new study from The Florida State University that is the first to confirm an MAOA link specifically to gangs and guns.

Findings apply only to males. Girls with the same variant of the MAOA gene seem resistant to its potentially violent effects on gang membership and weapon use.

Led by noted biosocial criminologist Kevin M. Beaver at FSUs College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, the study sheds new light on the interplay of genetics and environment that produces some of societys most serious violent offenders.

“While gangs typically have been regarded as a sociological phenomenon, our investigation shows that variants of a specific MAOA gene, known as a lowactivity 3repeat allele, play a significant role,” said Beaver, an awardwinning researcher who has coauthored more than 50 published papers on the biosocial underpinnings of criminal behavior.

“Previous research has linked lowactivity MAOA variants to a wide range of antisocial, even violent, behavior, but our study confirms that these variants can predict gang membership,” he said. “Moreover, we found that variants of this gene could distinguish gang members who were markedly more likely to behave violently and use weapons from members who were less likely to do either.”

The MAOA gene affects levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin that are related to mood and behavior, and those variants that are related to violence are hereditary. Some previous studies have found the “warrior gene” to be more prevalent in cultures that are typified by warfare and aggression.

“Whats interesting about the MAOA gene is its location on the Xchromosome,” Beaver said. “As a result, males, who have one Xchromosome and one Ychromosome, possess only one copy of this gene, while females, who have two Xchromosomes, carry two. Thus, if a male has an allele (variant) for the MAOA gene that is linked to violence, there isnt another copy to counteract it. Females, in contrast, have two copies, so even if they have one risk allele, they have another that could compensate for it. Thats why most MAOA research has focused on males, and probably why the MAOA effect has, for the most part, only been detected in males.”

The new study examined DNA data and lifestyle information drawn from more than 2,500 respondents to the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Beaver and colleagues from Florida State, Iowa State and Saint Louis universities detailed their findings in a paper to be published in a forthcoming edition of the journal Comprehensive Psychiatry. Currently, the paper (”Monoamine oxidase A genotype is associated with gang membership and weapon use”) is accessible online at comppsychjournal.com via the “Articles in Press” link.

In addition to the MAOA study, Beavers body of biosocial criminology research includes published research that links genetics to adolescent victimization and formation of delinquent peer groups and the use of steroids to “roid rage” all among the first such works in the field. He won the American Society of Criminologys 2009 Ruth Shonle Cavan Young Scholar Award in recognition of his outstanding scholarly contributions during the short time since he earned a Ph.D. in criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati in 2006. Beaver is the coauthor/editor of “Biosocial Criminology A Primer” (Kendall/Hunt, 2009) and six other books.

Source
Kevin Beaver

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More than 17 percent of gay men in Chicago have HIV, and 39 percent went untested in the last 12 months because of fear of the results, according to a study of nearly 600 gay men in the city by the Chicago Department of Health, the ChiTown Daily News reports. The study also found that gay black men had an infection rate that was more than twice the rates of gay white and Hispanic men. Jim Pickett, director of advocacy for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, said the findings indicate that, “We need to incorporate HIV into a broader or more holistic framework (covering) gay mens health needs from top to toe.” The city will formally release the studys results next week (Parker, ChiTown Daily News, 6/2).

This information was reprinted from dailyreports.kff.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily U.S. HIV/AIDS Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at dailyreports.kff.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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We want our husbands, fathers, brothers, uncles and grandfathers, all indispensable parts of our families, to live long, healthy lives. Reliv International nutritional supplements can help them do just that. Distributors of Reliv supplements are honoring National Mens Health Week, June 15th to June 21st, by offering tips on how men can step up their healthy defenses.

“Unfortunately, mens tendencies to skip routine doctor visits and just tough things out set them up for unforeseen complications and particular health risks,” said Dr. Carl Hastings, Reliv Internationals chief scientific officer. “But, by being proactive and following a few simple steps, they can significantly improve their quality of life and lessen their chances of being stricken with disease.”

Hastings recommends that men incorporate the following tips to avoid the onset of some of the most common malespecific health conditions

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in men. Hastings recommends that local males fight these odds by controlling their cholesterol levels with plenty of exercise and a diet low in saturated fat. Supplementation with plantbased compounds known as phytosterols has also shown to have positive effects.

One of the most common cancers to inflict American men, prostate cancer, develops from both genetic and dietary factors. While it may not be possible to entirely prevent the cancer from occurring, a diet high in vegetables, fruits and whole grains can lower the risk. Supplementation with Vitamin E and selenium also may play a role in prevention.

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The Foundation for the Mid South, hoping to prompt the book changes that improve the lives of black men in the South, released a report last week examining the healthiness, enlightenment and wealth disparities of black men in the region, the AP/New Orleans TimesPicayune reports. Blacks represent 26% of the population in the midSouth and 12% of the U.S. population, according to the AP/TimesPicayune.

Chris Crothers, journalist of the report, studied black males ages 16 to 44 in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and endow that they are more conjecturable to be uninsured, drop out of school or die in a homicide when compared with their white counterparts. In Mississippi, for citation where blacks cook up more than onethird of the states population 46.9% of black males are uninsured, compared with 25.3% of white males. The regions poverty rate is 17.3%, about 5% higher than the national average.

State Rep. George Flaggs (D), chair of the Mississippi residence Banking Committee, said, “We have to imagine policies that direction to civilization and constitution care more accessible to young black males,” adding, “That has not antediluvian a priority. Thats the problem.” He urged for more tax credits and incentives to improve economic conditions in the region.

Crothers said, “A lot of these conversations are being held nationally, but not in our region. We dont have an initiative that focuses unbiased on black males.” He added, “We feel that there should be a field thats developed neighboring these issues” (Byrd, AP/New Orleans TimesPicayune, 12/8).

The report is available on the web (.pdf).

Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily hardiness organization Report, search the archives, or vestige up for subscription delivery at kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily form program Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free fitness of The Henry J. Kaiser strain Foundation.

&imitation; 2008 Advisory Board corps and Kaiser subdivision Foundation. All rights distant.

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The Foundation for the Mid South, hoping to prompt method changes that improve the lives of black men in the South, released a report last week examining the vigor, apprenticeship and wealth disparities of black men in the region, the AP/New Orleans TimesPicayune reports. Blacks represent 26% of the population in the midSouth and 12% of the U.S. population, according to the AP/TimesPicayune.

Chris Crothers, wordsmith of the report, studied black males ages 16 to 44 in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and settle that they are more achievable to be uninsured, drop out of school or die in a homicide when compared with their white counterparts. In Mississippi, for case history where blacks adjust up more than onethird of the states population 46.9% of black males are uninsured, compared with 25.3% of white males. The regions poverty rate is 17.3%, about 5% higher than the national average.

State Rep. George Flaggs (D), chair of the Mississippi flophouse Banking Committee, said, “We have to constitute policies that accomplish guidance and state care more accessible to young black males,” adding, “That has not antiquated a priority. Thats the problem.” He urged for more tax credits and incentives to improve economic conditions in the region.

Crothers said, “A lot of these conversations are being held nationally, but not in our region. We dont have an initiative that focuses condign on black males.” He added, “We feel that there should be a field thats developed near these issues” (Byrd, AP/New Orleans TimesPicayune, 12/8).

The report is available on the web (.pdf).

Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily state administration Report, search the archives, or assurance up for subscription delivery at kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily vigor scheme Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free employ of The Henry J. Kaiser genre Foundation.

&replica; 2008 Advisory Board band and Kaiser genealogy Foundation. All rights formal.

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The Foundation for the Mid South, hoping to prompt practice changes that improve the lives of black men in the South, released a report last week examining the fine feather, pedagogy and wealth disparities of black men in the region, the AP/New Orleans TimesPicayune reports. Blacks represent 26% of the population in the midSouth and 12% of the U.S. population, according to the AP/TimesPicayune.

Chris Crothers, scribe of the report, studied black males ages 16 to 44 in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi and fashion that they are more destined to be uninsured, drop out of school or die in a homicide when compared with their white counterparts. In Mississippi, for representation where blacks fashion up more than onethird of the states population 46.9% of black males are uninsured, compared with 25.3% of white males. The regions poverty rate is 17.3%, about 5% higher than the national average.

State Rep. George Flaggs (D), chair of the Mississippi commorancy Banking Committee, said, “We have to originate policies that produce schooling and wholeness care more accessible to young black males,” adding, “That has not extinct a priority. Thats the problem.” He urged for more tax credits and incentives to improve economic conditions in the region.

Crothers said, “A lot of these conversations are being held nationally, but not in our region. We dont have an initiative that focuses ethical on black males.” He added, “We feel that there should be a field thats developed all through these issues” (Byrd, AP/New Orleans TimesPicayune, 12/8).

The report is available on the internet (.pdf).

Reprinted with kind permission from kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily salubriousness strategy Report, search the archives, or foretoken up for e autograph delivery at kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily stamina custom Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free aid of The Henry J. Kaiser race Foundation.

&imitation; 2008 Advisory Board aggregation and Kaiser kindred Foundation. All rights selfcontained.

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