Upregulation of miR-522 is associated with poor outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to explore the clinicopathologic and prognostic significance of miR-522 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The expression of miR-522 in 161 HCC tissues and adjacent non-tumor tissues was examined using quantitative real-time-PCR. The association of miR-522 expression with clinicopathological features and the prognosis of HCC patients were also analyzed. The overall survival (OS) was analyzed by log-rank test. Cox regression models were fitted to analyze the effect of prognostic factors on OS. RESULTS: The relative level of miR-522 was significantly higher in HCC tissues compared to the adjacent normal liver tissues. In addition, miR-522 upregulation more frequently occurred in HCC specimens with lymph node metastasis (p = 0.000), and tumor grade (p = 0.002). Moreover, the level of miR-522 expression was markedly correlated with the HCC patients' overall survival (p < 0.000). In the Cox proportional hazard model, the results showed that miR-522 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for OS CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of miR-522 functions as an unfavorable prognostic biomarker in HCC patients.

Self-efficacy targeted treatments for weight loss in postmenopausal women.

Matching behavioral treatment programs to different types of obese clients is a rarely studied strategy, thus guidelines for identifying who might benefit most from which program remain elusive. This study categorized the weight control self-efficacy beliefs of obese, postmenopausal women, and determined the effects of self-efficacy targeted versus non-targeted (control) treatment on weight loss outcomes (body habitus, physical conditioning, affect, and eating behaviors). Obese (BMI 33 +/- 5), postmenopausal (60 +/- 6 years old) women (n = 59) participated in a 6-month weight loss program. The 37 women categorized by Q methodology as Assured (self-confident, independent) were randomized to Assured (AT) or Non-Targeted (NT) treatment; the 22 Disbelievers (doubtful, wavering) were randomized to Disbeliever (DT) or NT treatment. At baseline, the Assureds had significantly smaller body girths and reported significantly greater self-esteem, fewer symptoms of binge eating, and less negative affect overeating than the Disbelievers. Improvement in these variables with weight loss erased significant differences between the groups and was a desired outcome. Treatment delivery type may have influenced attrition rate, since significantly more Assureds dropped from NT than AT and significantly more Disbelievers dropped from DT than NT. Thus, the self-efficacy type may serve as a means to identify different types of treatment needs (flexible vs. rigid) to sustain women's adherence and success in the program. The significant weight loss outcomes for women in all groups argues for the incorporation of strategies to enhance self-efficacy but not the need for specific treatments that directly target self-efficacy types.

The adoption of eating behaviors conducive to weight loss.

Given the plethora of eating behavior techniques that obese individuals might adopt for weight loss, it is not likely that they could, or would be willing to, adopt all of them. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the specific eating behaviors conducive to weight loss adopted during the behavioral treatment of obesity, and to distinguish those that were deemed beneficial from the ones that were not. Fifty obese (BMI 32+/-4 kg/m(2), mean+/-SD), postmenopausal women (60+/-6 years old) participated in a 6-month behavior modification, dietary, low-intensity walking weight loss program. For analysis, they were divided into two groups: "no weight loss" (5 kg, n=32). At pre- and posttreatment women completed the Eating Behavior Inventory (EBI) that measures specific strategies conducive to weight loss. Women who lost weight increased their total eating behavior score by 20% (p<0.001) and improved the adoption of 14 eating behaviors, which was more than twice that of the non-weight losers. Topping the list of most strongly adopted behaviors were carefully watching and recording the type and quantity of food consumed. Maintaining a weight graph and weighing daily also were important to these women. Neither group of women adopted potentially helpful eating behaviors such as leaving food uneaten, refusing food offered by others, or shopping from a list. In studies of obesity treatment, attendance at class sessions is one marker of program adherence. More definitively, implementing the EBI in clinical and research obesity treatment programs will provide its leaders with insight into whether participants adopt, ignore, or fight the essential behaviors that will facilitate success toward their personal weight loss goals.

The impact of a shipboard weight control program.

OBJECTIVE: The specific aim was to determine whether a multifaceted approach to weight loss and physical readiness could be implemented onboard a deployed combatant ship of the U.S. Navy. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Thirty-nine men (31+/-6 years old, mean+/-standard deviation) assigned to the USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) during a 6-month Mediterranean deployment who had failed their previous Physical Readiness Test due to excessive body weight (108+/-11 kg overweight) were randomly assigned to nutrition, cognitive-behavioral obesity treatment plus exercise or to the Navy's usual treatment (control), which is exercise alone. RESULTS: Outcomes for the treatment group were significantly better than the controls, with 8.6+/-5.0 vs. 5.0+/-4.1 kg weight loss, 8% vs. 5% reduction in original body weight, and body fat loss of 7% vs. 5%. Triglycerides declined significantly greater in the treatment group than the controls (145 mg/dL to 109 mg/dL vs. 146 mg/dL to 145 mg/dL, p<0.05), whereas depression and eating behaviors significantly improved among treated men. Problematic environmental factors were the limited variety of heart healthy foods in the galley, short meal breaks, and long mess hall lines that led to eating snacks from vending machines and frequent port calls. DISCUSSION: Although greater weight loss than would be expected of a Navy usual care group diluted the treatment effect, the treated men still fared significantly better. The physical readiness implication of this research has the potential to impact Navy health promotion programs and policy, the health and well-being of its personnel, and the Navy's ability to meet mission requirements.