Physical health, behavioral and emotional functioning in children of gulf war veterans.

OBJECTIVE: We examined whether the prevalence of medical and behavioral conditions is higher in children of deployed veterans (DVs) versus non-deployed veterans (NDVs) after the 1991 Gulf War. METHODS: We examined 1387 children of 737 veterans. Children ages 2-18 had physical exams and parental reports of physical history and behavior. RESULTS: Physical health was analyzed using GEE models. Behavioral health [total, internalizing, and externalizing behavior problems (TBP, IBP, EBP)] was analyzed with mixed-effects regression models. Analyses were conducted by age group (2-3, 4-11, 12-18), and gender (ages 4-11, 12-18). Children of DVs ages 2-3 had significantly worse dentition (13.9% vs. 4.8%, P = 0.03) and more EBP {least square means (lsmeans) 54.31 vs. 47.59, P = 0.02}. Children of DVs ages 4-11 had significantly more obesity (18.8% vs. 12.7%, P = 0.02). Among children 4-11, male children of DVs had significantly more TBP (lsmeans 70.68 vs. 57.34, P = 0.003), IBP (lsmeans 63.59 vs. 56.16, P = 0.002) and EBP (lsmeans 61.60 vs. 52.93, P = 0.03), but female children did not. For children ages 12-18, male children of DVs had more EBP (lsmeans 63.73 vs. 43.51, P = 0.008), while female children of DVs had fewer EBP (lsmeans 45.50 vs. 50.48, P = 0.02). Veteran military characteristics and mental health, and children's social status and health, including obesity, predicted children's TBP for one or more age groups. CONCLUSIONS: Children of DVs experienced worse dentition, greater obesity, and more behavioral problems compared to NDV children, suggesting adverse health effects associated with parental deployment in need of further exploration.

Neural stem cell-mediated CE/CPT-11 enzyme/prodrug therapy in transgenic mouse model of intracerebellar medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastoma is a heterogeneous diffuse neoplasm that can be highly disseminated, and is the most common malignant childhood brain tumor. Although multimodal treatments have improved survival rates for patients with medulloblastoma, these tumors are associated with high morbidity and mortality. New treatment strategies are urgently needed to improve cure rates and, importantly, to spare normal brain tissue from neurotoxicity and patients from life-long cognitive and functional deficits associated with current therapies. In numerous preclinical brain tumor models, neural stem cells (NSCs) have shown great promise as delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes. Here, we have used an established, genetically modified human NSC line (HB1.F3.CD) to deliver carboxylesterase (CE) to cerebellar tumor foci and locally activate the prodrug camptothecin-11 (CPT-11) (Irinotecan) to the potent topoisomerase I inhibitor SN-38. HB1.F3.CD NSC tumor tropism, intratumoral distribution and therapeutic efficacy were investigated in clinically relevant experimental models. Magnetic resonance imaging was used for in vivo tracking of iron nanoparticle-labeled NSCs, and to assess the therapeutic efficacy of CE-expressing HB1.F3.CD cells. As compared with controls, a significant decrease in tumor growth rate was seen in mice that received both NSCs and CPT-11 as their treatment regimen. Thus, this study provides proof-of-concept for NSC-mediated CE/CPT-11 treatment of medulloblastoma, and serves as a foundation for further studies toward potential clinical application.

Effect of xylose on the synthesis of phosphorylcholine and phosphorylethanolamine in rat lenses.

Choline, an essential phospholipid precursor, enters the lens by a facilitated transport system and is phosphorylated to form phosphorylcholine (P-choline). Intact lenses incubated with [3H]choline accumulate both [3H]choline and P-[3H]choline. The rate and extent of this accumulation have been used to study the effects of osmotic or oxidative cataractogenic stress, and also to test the ability of compounds to protect lenses from stress-related damage. The initial effect of oxidative stress on choline metabolism is decreased choline transport, but the mechanism by which osmotic stress affects the accumulation of [3H]choline is not understood. The effects of osmotic and oxidative stress on choline influx and metabolism were compared in rat lenses incubated in TC-199 medium. After osmotic stress by incubation with 30 mM xylose for up to 24 hr, lenses accumulated the same amount of radiolabel as controls during a 30 min pulse with [3H]choline. However, if the lenses were exposed to [3H]choline for 6 hr so that accumulation of radiolabel in the lenses was limited by the rate of P-choline synthesis, xylose treated lenses accumulated less choline than controls. Separation of the lenticular radiolabel into [3H]choline and P-[3H]choline confirmed that xylose decreased synthesis of P-choline, although adequate unphosphorylated [3H]choline was available in the lenses. A decrease in P-[3H]ethanolamine synthesis was also seen in xylose-treated lenses incubated with [3H]ethanolamine. Ethanolamine can enter lenses by a non-saturable process which is not dependent upon a transporter. Although xylose decreased P-choline synthesis in intact lenses, neither xylose nor xylitol inhibited choline kinase in lens homogenates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Lower vertebral bone density in male long distance runners.

Bone density in 13 male long distance runners (28.7 +/- 1.2 yr, 67.6 +/- 2.0 kg) and 11 male nonrunners (26.8 +/- 1.3 yr, 71.0 +/- 2.2 kg) was compared. Bone was measured at the lumbar spine and mid-tibia using dual photon absorptiometry and at the mid-radius using single photon absorptiometry. Runners (mean weekly training 92.2 +/- 6.3 km) had significantly lower (P less than 0.05) vertebral bone mineral density (1.12 +/- 0.03 g.cm-2) than nonrunners (1.24 +/- 0.04 g.cm-2). Tibial and radial bone mineral density did not differ between the groups. Daily calcium intake for runners (1,373 +/- 486 mg) and nonrunners (1,267 +/- 236 mg) exceeded the RDA. The results of this study suggest that long distance running may lead to decreased vertebral bone mineral density. The hormonal changes that occur with endurance training may contribute to this decrease.

Effects of a Rebound Exercise Training Program on Aerobic Capacity and Body Composition.

In brief: Training on rebound exercise equipment (minitrampolines) is a popular new approach to aerobic conditioning, but its physiological benefits have been a matter of debate. This study was designed to determine if rebound aerobic dancing is an effective way to improve aerobic capacity and body composition. A group of previously sedentary college women who trained on rebound equipment three times a week for eight weeks showed a 9% increase in max but no significant change in percent body fat. A control group showed no significant changes. The improvement was similar to results produced by conventional aerobic dance programs of like intensity but moderate in comparison to other established forms of aerobic exercise.