Double trouble: Co-occurrence of testosterone deficiency and body fatness associated with all-cause mortality in US men.

BACKGROUND: Testosterone deficiency (TD, total testosterone ≤350 ng/dL [12.15 nmol L-1 ]) and obesity epidemic are growing in parallel in the United States. Yet, the sequelae of TD and obesity on the risk of mortality remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the co-occurrence of TD and overall obesity (body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 ), and abdominal obesity (waist circumference ≥102 cm), is associated with a risk of all-cause mortality in American men. DESIGN: The data were obtained from the NHANES 1999-2004 and the Linked Mortality File (December 31, 2011). A total of 948 participants aged ≥20 years old with endogenous sex hormones and adiposity measurements data were included in this study. RESULTS: Over a median of 9.5 years of follow-up, 142 men died of any cause in this cohort. Multivariable analysis showed a 2.60 fold increased risk of death among men with TD compared with men without TD (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.20-5.80). No evidence for interaction between TD and overall or abdominal obesity with risk of death (Pinteraction ≥ .80). However, only after comparing men with TD and abdominal obesity with men without TD and no abdominal obesity, we found a 3.30 fold increased risk of death (HR = 3.30, 95% CI = 1.21-8.71). CONCLUSION: Men with co-occurrence of TD and abdominal obesity have a higher risk of mortality. The effect of co-occurrence of TD and abdominal obesity should be further explored with a larger and longer follow-up time study.

The binding affinity of human IgG for its high affinity Fc receptor is determined by multiple amino acids in the CH2 domain and is modulated by the hinge region.

A family of chimeric immunoglobulins (Igs) bearing the murine variable region directed against the hapten dansyl linked to human IgG1, -2, -3, and -4 has been characterized with respect to binding to the human high affinity Fc gamma receptor, Fc gamma RI. Chimeric IgG1 and -3 have the highest affinity association (Ka = 10(9) M-1), IgG4 is 10-fold reduced from this level, and IgG2 displays no detectable binding. A series of genetic manipulations was undertaken in which domains from the strongly binding subclass IgG3 were exchanged with domains from the nonbinding subclass IgG2. The subclass of the CH2 domain was found to be critical for determining IgG receptor affinity. In addition, the hinge region was found to modulate the affinity of the IgG for Fc gamma RI, possibly by determining accessibility of Fc gamma RI to the binding site on Fc. A series of amino acid substitutions were engineered into the CH2 domain of IgG3 and IgG4 at sites considered potentially important to Fc receptor binding based on homology comparisons of binding and nonbinding IgG subclasses. Characterization of these mutants has revealed the importance for Fc gamma RI association of two regions of the genetic CH2 domain separated in primary structure by nearly 100 residues. The first of these is the hinge-link or lower hinge regions, in which two residues, Leu (234) and Leu(235) in IgG1 and -3, are critical to high affinity binding. Substitution at either of these sites reduces the IgG association constant by 10-100-fold. The second region that appears to contribute to receptor binding is in a hinge-proximal bend between two beta strands within the CH2 domain, specifically, Pro(331) in IgG1 and -3. As a result of beta sheet formation within this domain, this residue lies within 11 A of the hinge-link region. Substitution at this site reduces the Fc receptor association constant by 10-fold.

The differential ability of human IgG1 and IgG4 to activate complement is determined by the COOH-terminal sequence of the CH2 domain.

Using domain switch chimeric antibodies, we confirm the important role of CH2 in complement activation. In addition, we demonstrate that the structures responsible for the differential ability of human IgG1 and IgG4 to activate complement are located at the COOH-terminal part (from residue 292 to 340) of the CH2 domain. The amino acids in CH2 that might be involved in complement interaction are discussed. While CH3 contributes to efficient complement activation, CH3 from IgG2 and CH3 IgG3 are equally effective.

Birth order, atopy, and symptoms of allergy and asthma among inner-city children attending Head Start in New York City.

BACKGROUND: In past research, children with older siblings were more likely than others to wheeze at age 2 years, but less likely by age 6 years. Higher infection transmission and a down-regulated allergic immune response as a result of these infections, respectively, were suggested as the causes. However, in a study of children aged 0-3 years in a low-income urban community in New York City, USA, with high asthma prevalence, we observed no birth-order effect. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between birth order and atopy and respiratory symptoms in 4-year-old children attending Head Start programs in NYC. METHODS: Respiratory symptoms were assessed by questionnaire for 1005 children (mean age 4.0 years) living in high asthma prevalence neighbourhoods. Serum was collected from a subgroup of the children (n=494) and specific IgE responses to dust mite, cockroach, mouse, and cat allergens were measured. RESULTS: Prevalence of specific IgE (> or =0.35 IU/mL) did not differ significantly among first (35%), second (35%), and later-born children (28%) (P=0.23). Increasing birth order was associated with increasing prevalence of respiratory symptoms in the prior year, including wheeze (first 20%, second 27%, third or later 35%; P<0.001), being awakened at night by cough (28%, 33%, 38%; P=0.005), emergency department visits (14%, 17%, 21%; P=0.02) and hospitalizations for difficulty breathing (6.1%, 6.6%, 10%; P=0.04). The associations of birth order with respiratory symptoms were statistically significant only for the non-seroatopic children and those without an asthmatic parent. CONCLUSIONS: Non-seroatopic children with older siblings were more likely than those without older siblings to have respiratory symptoms at age 4 years. Although the stability of these associations over time remains to be determined, the differences in findings between this study and our previous NYC birth cohort study suggest that patterns of asthma development may vary even among low-income populations within the same city.

Independent contributions of GR-1+ leukocytes and Fas/FasL interactions to induce apoptosis following interleukin-12 gene therapy in a metastatic model of prostate cancer.

In a mouse model of prostate cancer, adenovirus-mediated interleukin-12 (Ad.mIL-12) gene therapy resulted in significant growth inhibition of both the injected primary tumor and synchronous metastases. Within 2 days of vector injection, two distinct patterns of apoptosis were detected within the primary tumor, the inhibition of which with a caspase inhibitor substantially negated growth suppression. The dominant pattern displayed localized sheets of apoptotic cells in close association with necrosis containing polymorphic neutrophils (PMNs). Depletion of PMNs resulted in the loss of this pattern of apoptosis and reduced growth suppression. A second major wave of growth suppression within the primary tumor was mediated by an immune response. Natural killer (NK) cell activity was detected within tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) by the eighth day post-vector injection, the depletion of which resulted in a significant loss of survival enhancement. A more modest role for T cells was identified, which in the absence of documented cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity may be related to a significant reduction in interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels found in mice depleted of T cells, thereby reducing the secondary influences of IFN-gamma. However, depletion of NK cells or T cells had no discernible negative effect on IL-12-mediated anti-metastatic activity. Attention focused on the role of IFN-gamma, observed following Ad.mIL-12 therapy, to mediate the diffuse pattern of apoptosis seen in the primary and metastatic lesions. In vitro studies noted the ability of IFN-gamma to up-regulate tumor cell expression of Fas and FasL to mediate apoptosis, whereas in vivo blockage of Fas/FasL interactions with soluble Fas resulted in a modest reduction in primary tumor growth suppression but complete abrogation within metastatic lesions.

Gastric juice electrolyte secretion in conscious dogs with gastric fistulae and its modification by FPL 52694, a mast cell stabilizing agent.

Studies have been made of the electrolyte output in the gastric juice of conscious dogs equipped with gastric fistulae during stimulation by intravenous infusion of either pentagastrin (2 micrograms kg-1 h-1), histamine (30 micrograms kg-1 h-1) or insulin (0.1 u kg-1 h-1). The mast cell stabilizing agent, FPL 52694 (4.35 mg ml-1) was instilled into the stomach for 30 min and caused a marked reduction of H+ output, H+ concentration and osmotic strength of the juice during stimulation with pentagastrin, histamine, or insulin. There was also a marked increase in the rate of Na+ output into the juice. When pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion was inhibited by cimetidine (4 mumol kg-1 i.v.) acid output was reduced but there were no sustained changes in ion concentrations, osmolarity or Na+ output of the type seen following inhibition with FPL 52694. It is concluded that FPL 52694 may have a dual mode of action in this preparation; a direct reduction of the output of hydrochloric acid and a smaller effect to increase gastric NaHCO3 output leading to a post-secretory neutralization of the juice.

Inhibition of gastric acid secretion in the conscious dog by the mast-cell stabilizing agent, FPL 52694.

The effects of the mast-cell stabilizing agent, FPL 52694, on gastric acid secretion in conscious dogs with gastric fistulae have been studied. FPL 52694 (5 or 10 mg kg-1 h-1) given intravenously during a plateau response to pentagastrin stimulation (2 micrograms kg-1 h-1) caused a maximum inhibition of acid output of about 50% but had no significant effect on volume output so that the [H+] in the juice was markedly reduced. The ratio of mucosal blood flow/acid output (Ra) was increased in the presence of FPL 52694. There was no maintained reduction of [H+] when inhibition was due to cimetidine (4 mumol kg-1, i.v.). Instillation of FPL 52694 (4.35 mg ml-1) directly into the stomach via the fistula for 30 min also resulted in an inhibition of acid output and reduction of [H+] during both pentagastrin-(2 micrograms kg-1 h-1) and histamine-stimulated (30 micrograms kg-1 h-1) secretion. Inhibition of pentagastrin-stimulated acid output by intragastric administration of FPL 52694 was much greater than the maximum effect seen following intravenous infusion. The results are discussed in relation to the possible mode of action of FPL 52694. It is concluded that FPL 52694 is active orally and has a novel action on acid secretion which may include stimulation of gastric bicarbonate secretion.

The inhibitory effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on gastric acid secretion by the rat isolated stomach.

1 The effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on acid secretion by a rat isolated stomach preparation has been studied. 2 5-HT at 10(-5)M in the serosal bathing fluid produced significant inhibition of the acid secretory responses to histamine, pentagastrin and isoprenaline but was without effect on basal secretion or that due to bethanechol, dibutryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (db cyclic AMP) or phosphodiesterase inhibition with ICI63197. Increasing the concentration of 5-HT to 5 x 10(-5) M did not change this pattern of response whilst 5-HT at 10(-6) M did not cause consistent inhibition. 3 The inhibitory action of 5-HT could be prevented by the antagonist methysergide (2.5 x 10(-5) M). This concentration of methysergide alone did not affect responses to secretagogues or basal acid output. 4 Neither propranolol (2.5 x 10(-5) M) nor tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M) antagonized the inhibitory action of 5-HT. 5 Both indomethacin (2.8 x 10(-5) M) and ibuprofen (2.4 x 10(-4) M) antagonized the action of 5-HT. Indomethacin alone had no effect upon secretagogue responses. 6 5-HT at 10(-5) M had no inhibitory action when applied to the mucosal side of the preparation. 7 The results indicate that 5-HT can act directly on the stomach of the rat to produce inhibition of acid output. This inhibition is selective and may involve the products of cyclo-oxygenase activity.

A possible role for cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in the regulation of acid secretion in the isolated stomach of guinea-pig.

1 The rate of acid secretion and mucosal cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) content have been measured on the same guinea-pig isolated stomach preparation in response to histamine, theophylline and ICI 63197, a potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor. 2 Unstimulated control tissues had a spontaneous rate of acid secretion of 74.41 +/- 9.06 mumol H+/g wet wt. of mucosa per hour (s.e. mean, n = 20) and a cyclic AMP content of 0.517 +/- 0.058 mnol/g wet weight. 3 Each of the three drugs caused an increase in both the mucosal cyclic AMP content and the rate of acid secretion. These increases were inearly related to the logarithm of drug concentration for each drug. 4 There were no statistically significant differences between the three regression coefficients obtained for acid on drug and for cyclic AMP on drug. 5 There was a significant correlation between the rate of acid secretion and mucosal cyclic AMP content in stimulated preparations (P less than 0.001) and also in control preparations which received no drug (P less than 0.05). 6 These results are discussed in relation to the possible role of cyclic AMP in the mediation of acid secretory responses in the mammalian stomach.

The action of morphine and naloxone on acid secretion by the rat isolated stomach.

The action of morphine and naloxone on acid secretion by the rat isolated stomach has been studied. Morphine (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) had no effect upon spontaneous acid secretion. Morphine (10(-6) M) did not modify the acid output in response to sub-maximal stimulation by pentagastrin, histamine, bethanechol or isoprenaline. Naloxone (10(-6) M) was without effect on the response to pentagastrin or histamine. Our results suggest that opiate receptors do not modify acid secretion in this preparation.

Inhibition of acid secretion in the rat isolated stomach preparation by 5-hydroxytryptamine.

The effect of 5 hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on gastric acid secretion by the rat isolated stomach has been studied. 5-HT (10 microM) significantly inhibited secretory responses to pentagastrin, histamine and isoprenaline but not those due to bethanechol, dibutyryl cyclic AMP or a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The response was antagonized by methysergide (25 microM), indomethacin (28 microM) and ibuprofen (240 microM) but not by TTX (1 microM). It is concluded that 5-HT can exert a direct, inhibitory effect on acid secretion by the rat stomach and that this may involve the products of cyclo-oxygenase activity.

Inhibition of gastric acid secretion in conscious dog with fistula following intragastric administration of FPL 52694.

The effects of a mast cell stabilizing agent, FPL 52694, on gastric acid secretion have been investigated in conscious dogs with gastric fistulae. This drug, given by intragastric instillation, inhibited acid output in response to submaximal infusions of pentagastrin and of histamine. A prolonged and significant fall in the acid concentration of the gastric juice was also observed. In the same animals, secretory inhibition by cimetidine was not accompanied by a sustained fall in acid concentration. The inhibition of histamine-induced secretion makes it unlikely that these effects of FPL 52694 are due to prevention of endogenous histamine release.

The mechanical properties and heat production of chicken latissimus dorsi muscles during tetanic contractions.

1. A study has been made of the mechanical properties and heat production of chicken anterior (ALD) and posterior (PLD) latissimus dorsi muscles during contractions at 20 degrees C.2. There is a difference between these two muscles in the time course of the isometric response. The PLD reaches maximum tetanic tension 10 times faster and relaxes 8 times faster than ALD. The ratio of heat rate to isometric tension (heat rate/tension x length) for PLD is 7-8 times larger than for ALD.3. ALD maintains substantial isometric tension for more than 2 min of stimulation. In PLD tetanic tension begins to fall after only 1 sec.4. The ALD muscle does not show the ;activation' heat seen at the start of contraction with frog and toad muscle but this may be present in PLD.5. There is a range of stimulation frequencies for both muscles over which the fused tetanic tension increases with stimulation frequency.6. The tension-length curve of ALD has a pronounced plateau and is broader than that of PLD.7. The normalized force-velocity relations for the two muscles are similar and may be fitted by Hill's equation with a value of a/P(0) = 0.15-0.16. The maximum velocity of unloaded shortening of PLD is 4-5 times that of ALD.8. Preliminary experiments indicate that the resting heat rate of both muscles is 4 times greater than that of frog muscle at the same temperature. The recovery heat rate of ALD is similar to that of frog.

The nonintegrin laminin binding protein (p67 LBP) is expressed on a subset of activated human T lymphocytes and, together with the integrin very late activation antigen-6, mediates avid cellular adherence to laminin.

A search for genes expressed in activated T cells revealed that the nonintegrin, 67-kDa laminin binding protein (p67 LBP) is expressed on the surface of a subset (10-15%) of activated peripheral blood T cells. Surface p67 LBP expression is detectable by FACS using the anti-p67 LBP mAb, MLuC5, within 6 h of T cell activation with phorbol dibutyrate and ionomycin, peaks 18-36 h postactivation, and persists for 7-10 days. The subset of T cells expressing p67 LBP is composed of mature, single-positive cells (85% CD4+8-, 15% CD4-8+) of memory cell phenotype (100% CD45 RO+/CD45 RA-). The p67 LBP+ T cells also express the integrin alpha6 chain (CD49f), which is known to associate with p67 LBP on tumor cells. In addition, the p67 LBP+ T cells express the integrin beta1, which associates with alpha6 in the laminin-specific integrin receptor very late activation Ag (VLA)-6 (alpha6beta1). Expression of an exogenous cDNA encoding the 37-kDa LBP precursor (p37 LBPP) confers p67 LBP surface expression on a p67 LBP-negative Jurkat T cell line (B2.7). Expression of p67 LBP induces B2.7 transfectants to adhere to laminin, but avid laminin binding depends on coexpression of VLA-6. Taken together, these data indicate that p67 LBP is an activation-induced surface structure on memory T cells that, together with VLA-6, mediates cellular adherence to laminin.

A comparison of the effects of sympathomimetic agents on gastric acid secretion by the rat stomach in vivo and in vitro.

1. The action of isoprenaline on gastric acid secretion in rats with Heidenhain pouches has been compared with its action in a rat isolated stomach preparation. 2. Isoprenaline (40 micrograms kg-1 h-1) inhibited the acid secretion in response to pentagastrin (20 micrograms kg-1 h-1) in conscious rate with Heidenhain pouches. 3. This inhibition could be abolished by propranolol (2 mg kg-1) and butoxamine (8 mg kg-1) and partially reversed by practolol (8 mg kg-1). 4. Propranolol (2 mg kg-1) significantly increased the response to pentagastrin (20 micrograms kt-1 h-1) but butoxamine and practolol (both at 8 mg kg-1) and the inactive isomer (+)-propranolol (2 mg kg-1) were without any effect on the pentagastrin response in the rats with pouches. 5. In the rat isolated stomach preparation isoprenaline stimulated acid secretion over the range 10(-7) M-10(-3) M whereas phenylephrine and methoxamine were without effect. 6. Propranolol (2 X 10(-5) M) inhibited this stimulatory effect of isoprenaline in vitro but (+)-propranolol (2 X 10(-5) M), practolol and butoxamine (both at 10(-4) M) had no effect on the response. 7. Propranolol (2 X 10(-5) M) did not have any effect on the response of the isolated stomach to pentagastrin (5 X 10(-7) M) or bethanechol (1.7 X 10(-5) M). 8. Phenylephrine (2 X 10(-5) M) did not affect the in vitro responses to pentagastrin (2.17 X 10(-7) M), bethanechol (1.7 X 10(-5) M) or histamine (5.4 X 10(-5) M). 9. It is concluded that isoprenaline has a direct stimulatory effect and an indirect inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion in the rat. Both effects involve stimulation of beta-adrenoceptors. The relative predominance of one or other of these two opposing effects may help to explain the contradictory results in the literature regarding the actions of beta-adrenoceptor agonists on gastric acid secretion.

Pharmacological study of basal acid secretion by the rat isolated fundus preparation.

The rat isolated stomach preparation secretes acid in the absence of exogenous stimulants. This basal secretion of acid was unaffected by high concentration of antagonists to stimulated secretion in this preparation and by TTX. Basal secretion was inhibited by omeprazole (10(-7)-10(-5) M), KSCN (10(-4)-10(-2) M) and to a lesser extent by somatostatin (10(-6)-10(-5) M) but not by verapamil (3 X 10(-4) M), nifedipine (3 X 10(-4) M) and trifluoperazine (10(-3) M). Two long-acting H2-antagonists, oxmetidine and SKF 93479 (10(-5)-10(-4) M) inhibited basal secretion by a mechanism not involving an action at H2-receptors. It is concluded that basal secretion in this in vitro preparation is independent of the endogenous release of known stimulants of acid secretion and activity of the intrinsic nervous system.