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Background Aging is the most important risk factor for prostate cancer (PCa), but how age contributes to PCa is poorly understood. Aging is characterized by low-grade systemic inflammation (i.e., inflammaging) that is often attributed to the progressive activation of immune cells over time, which may play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis. Th17 response is elevated in aging humans and mice, but it remains unknown whether it is increased in prostate tissue or contributes to prostate carcinogenesis during aging. In this study, we aimed to determine the role of age-related Th17 response in PCa cell growth, migration, and invasion. Methods C57BL/6J (B6) mouse was used as an aging animal model and the prostate histopathology during aging was analyzed. Splenic CD4+ T cells were isolated from young (16-20 weeks old) and aged (96-104 weeks old) mice, and cultured in the presence of plate-bound anti-CD3/anti-CD28, with or without Th17 differentiation conditions. The cells were collected and used for subsequent flow cytometry or quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The supernatant was collected and used to treat PCa cell lines. The treated PCa cells were analyzed for cell viability, migration, invasion, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. Results Aged mice had enlarged prostate glands and increased morphological alterations, with not only increased inflammatory cell infiltration but also increased Th17 cytokines in prostate tissue, compared to young mice. Naive CD4+ T cells from aged mice differentiated increased interleukin (IL)-17-expressing cells. CD4+ T cells from aged mice spleen had increased Th17 cells, Th17 cytokines and Th17/Treg ratio compared to young mice. Factors secreted from aged CD4+ T cells, especially from ex vivo differentiated Th17 cells, not only promoted PCa cell viability, migration, and invasion but also activated the NF-κB signaling in PCa cells compared to young mice. Conclusions These results indicate that age-related CD4+ T cells, especially Th17 cells-secreted factors have the potential to contribute to prostate carcinogenesis. Our work could prompt further research using autochthonous PCa mouse models at different ages to elucidate the functional role of Th17 response in prostate carcinogenesis during aging.

The conditional release of individuals detained in jails and forensic hospitals reflects a growing trend in state policies toward community-based forensic mental health programming (McDermott, Scott, Bosse, Andrade, Zozaya & Quanbeck, 2008; Vitacco, Vauter, Erickson, & Ragatz, 2013). When individuals are released from a secure forensic setting, it is important to demonstrate that treatment in the community is effective and that public safety is not compromised. In addition, factors that influence whether an individual is likely to be successful on conditional release are important to understand so that clinicians and legal decision-makers have an empirical basis to guide release evaluations and placement decisions. Conditional release into the community is predicated on individuals meeting specific conditions of the release agreement. If an individual violates the conditions of his or her release, the person is subject to revocation of release and return to incarceration or inpatient treatment. Owing to the important public safety and policy implications involving the release of individuals into the community from secure forensic facilities, recent research has focused on the success of individuals placed on conditional release. The majority of the empirical research on conditional release programs has considered whether individuals on conditional release are able to be maintained in the community safely and successfully. Research demonstrates that conditional release programs are effective on key variables, such as reducing recidivism, minimizing arrests and revocations (Bloom, Williams, & Bigelow, 1991, 1992; Vitacco et al., 2013; Wiederanders, 1992; Wilson, Tien, & Eaves, 1995). Early studies demonstrated the success of conditional release programs (i.e., arrest on new charges and revocation), although revocation rates among not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) acquittees across studies tended to hover between 35% and 49% (Callahan & Silver, 1998). More recent research has demonstrated improvement in revocation rates and the maintenance of individuals on conditional release in the community over longer durations, perhaps due to the evolution of conditional release programming and responsiveness to behavioral changes in individuals (Vitacco et al., 2013). Much of the extant research investigating conditional release focuses on identifying the factors associated with its successful maintenance; however, differences among programs, participants, and jurisdictions make comparisons difficult. The majority of studies focus on the conditional release of NGRI acquittees (Callahan & Silver, 1998; Monson, Gunnin, Fogel, & Kyle, 2001; Parker 2004; Vitacco et al., 2008, 2011, 2013), although Bertman-Pate and colleagues (2004) and Wilson and colleagues (1995) evaluated conditional release in a mixed sample of mentally disordered offenders. Wilson and colleagues (1995) reported a 35% revocation rate for male mentally disordered offenders released to an intensive assertive case management program. Individuals released from jail to an intensive forensic case management program spent fewer post-release days in jail and were maintained longer in the community than a comparison sample released from jail without follow-up. Callahan and Silver (1998) examined conditional release across four states. The average revocation rate was 31%, indicating that most participants are successful on conditional release. Several variables were related to success on conditional release. Individuals with a substance abuse history were more likely to be revoked. Being White, employed, and married is associated with a lower likelihood of revocation. Race percentages were not listed. Callahan and Silver (1998) also found a trend for individuals with a history of prior hospitalizations to have greater rates of revocation. Consistent with the results found by Callahan and Silver (1998), Monson, Gunnin, Fogel, & Kyle (2001) demonstrated that minority status, substance abuse diagnosis, and prior criminal history predicted revocation in a random sample of 125 NGRI acquittees. Thirty-eight percent of the Monson and colleagues sample was African-American. In a study similar to the one conducted by Wilson and colleagues (1995), examining treatment outcome, Parker (2004) evaluated conditional release success in an assertive community treatment (ACT)-based program over a five year period. Arrest or hospitalization (not revocation) was the primary outcome measure used to determine success on conditional release. Parker (2004) demonstrated that 83% of NGRI acquittees in an assertive case management program were maintained in the community during the five year study period. He reported a 1.4% arrest rate with only one arrest for violent behavior. The primary factor associated with failure on conditional release was a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Length of time in the community also significantly predicted maintenance on conditional release. Overall, Parker (2004) demonstrated a low arrest rate, moderate hospitalization rate, and high community tenure. Bertman-Pate and colleagues (2004) reviewed the factors associated with successful conditional release in a sample of individuals at the New Orleans Forensic Aftercare Clinic (FAC). The original study examined the conditional release system as it operated in Louisiana from 1995 to 2002. In that study, no significant differences between individuals who were discharged on conditional release from long-term hospitalization and those diverted from jail were found. For both jail-diverted and hospital-discharged clients, success on conditional release was significantly related to fewer previous hospitalizations, fewer prior arrests and a lower number of in- program incidents. Individuals who had their conditional release revoked were more likely to have a diagnosis of schizophrenia and less likely to have a diagnosis of mental retardation. Sixty-five percent of the sample maintained their conditional release over the seven year follow-up period. A 10% rearrest rate was noted with only two arrests for violent charges. The sample in the Bertman-Pate et al. study was a largely minority cohort (81.5% African-American), in contrast to most other published reports. Most recently, Vitacco and colleagues (2008, 2011, 2013) conducted a series of robust studies examining factors related to the maintenance of conditional release. Vitacco and colleagues (2008) demonstrated in a large sample (n = 363) of NGRI acquittees that 66% maintained conditional release for 3.7 years. A diagnosis of substance abuse, previous revocation of conditional release, and mental health symptoms requiring inpatient hospitalization were all positively related to revocation of conditional release. In the only study examining conditional release in female NGRI acquittees, Vitacco and colleagues (2011) demonstrated that 68.4% maintained conditional release for an average of 4 years. There were no revocations due to violent behavior. Emerging symptoms of mental illness requiring hospitalization were related to revocation. Vitacco and colleagues (2013) examined a racially diverse sample of 127 NGRI acquittees in Virginia who were on conditional release from 2007 to 2010. The sample was described as racially diverse and consisted of 38% African-Americans and 56% Caucasian Americans. Previous failure on conditional release, non-adherence to treatment, dangerousness, and prior violent charges predicted revocation. A multivariate survival analysis indicated that criminal behavior (i.e., number of previous charges, number of violent charges) and previous failure on conditional release predicted time to revocation. The authors note that although they relied on a list of standard risk factors, they did not employ an empirically based measure of violence risk. Research on conditional release has focused on the identification of individual factors associated with success on conditional release. Studies employing primarily demographic and standardized risk data demonstrate that individuals are able to be maintained safely in the community, although there exists a subset of individuals who do not respond favorably to community-based treatment programs (Bieber, Pasewark, Bosten, & Steadman, 1988). The conditional release of individuals is predicated on making informed decisions regarding which factors impact success on conditional release, such as the presence and severity of an individual’s mental illness, criminogenic factors related to recidivism and potential dangerousness (McDermott et al., 2008; McDermott & Thompson, 2006). Identifying factors related to conditional release revocation can inform conditional release programming and aid in the development of successful risk management and risk reduction strategies for individuals in community-based treatment.

Object This study analyses inappropriate use of emergency department (ED) services among type 2 diabetics under an evidence-based management programme. Methods Using 1999-2006 databases of Louisiana Health Care Services Division (HCSD) eight public hospitals ED visits among the uninsured and other patients in Louisiana, we termed urgent ED visits appropriate and less-urgent visits inappropriate. Eliminating weekend ED visits, 17 458 urgent and 22 395 less-urgent visits by 8596 patients were analysed, using generalized estimating equation methods. Results Caucasians were 0.82 times (95% CI: 0.751–0.889) less likely to use the ED inappropriately compared with African Americans. Patients with commercial insurance, Medicaid and Medicare used the ED more inappropriately than uninsured, with odds ratios of 1.28, 1.32 and 1.28, respectively. Patients hospitalized the prior year were 0.84 times (95% CI: 1.08–1.31) less likely for inappropriate. Patients in larger hospitals used the ED more inappropriately, with an odds ratio of 1.44 (95% CI: 1.32–1.56). Conclusions The study suggests that inappropriate use of the ED among diabetic patients in an evidence-based management programme is more likely to occur among African American, patients with insurance coverage and those seeking care in larger hospitals. Reinforcing the regular use of clinic services for diabetes management, providing clinic access in off-hours, and engaging the health plans in providing incentives for more appropriate use of the ED might reduce inappropriate ED visits. Notably, uninsured patients with diabetes from HCSD were more efficient users of the ED.

This study was designed to assess the effects of various cryopreservation protocols on the postthaw survival of rhesus macaque sperm. Multiple ejaculates of five mature males were collected and frozen by each of four different methods. Cryopreservation significantly reduced motility in all samples, regardless of the method, and the response of different ejaculates of the same male to each method proved to be consistent. The freezing method was a significant factor in determining the immediate postthaw motility, although this effect disappeared after 4 hr. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between individual males and freezing method suggesting that developing a single freezing protocol that is universally suitable may be difficult. Am. J. Primatol. 70:1093–1096, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Problem The endocervix is a major target of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, but little is known about the immune repertoire in this tissue, or its response to these common bacteria. Method of study Using a cytobrush, we isolated cells from the endocervix of 20 women during C. trachomatis infection, and post-antibiotic treatment. Endocervical swabs and blood were taken in parallel. Endocervical cells were enumerated, and endocervical and blood T cells immunophenotyped. Chlamydia trachomatis was genotyped by sequence analysis of the OmpA gene, and quantified by culture. Results Chlamydia trachomatis genotypes were D, E, F and Ia, and infectious burden varied considerably. Endocervical T cell and neutrophil numbers were highly elevated during infection, with both CD4 and CD8 T-cell subsets accumulating. Regardless of the presence or absence of infection, the endocervical cell infiltrate was dominated by effector memory T cells, and the numbers of CCR5 and CD103 expressing T cells was significantly higher than in the blood. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA-DR) expression by endocervical T cells was significantly increased during infection. Conclusion The human endocervix exhibits a distinct cellular response to C. trachomatis infection that can be longitudinally evaluated by cytobrush sampling. Infecting organisms can be sampled and analyzed in parallel.

Leptin is considered to act as a signal relating somatic energetic status to the reproductive sys- tem. However, the nature of that signal and its relation- ship with male reproductive function across nonhuman primate species are unclear. We suggest that species-spe- cific differences in leptin physiology may be related to the degree of environmental variation and variation in the importance of energy stores for male reproduction. In or- der to test the role of seasonality in species differences among nonhuman primates, we compared leptin, testos- terone, and body composition in male rhesus (n 69) and pig-tailed (n 43) macaques. Despite having larger ab- dominal fat deposits, the rhesus macaques did not exhibit significantly higher leptin levels (rhesus, 2.21 0.43 ng/ ml; pig-tailed, 2.12 0.39 ng/ml). Both species showed increases in leptin across adolescent, subadult, and adult age-groups (P 0.036 for rhesus; P 0.0003 for pig-tailed by ANCOVA). Testosterone was not significantly associ- ated with leptin in either the rhesus (r 0.039; P 0.754) or pig-tailed (r 0.2862; P 0.066) samples. Comparison of leptin levels across the two species using univariate modeling procedures showed no significant age-group by abdominal fat interaction. These findings suggest little difference in leptin production between these two closely related species, despite the difference in breeding season- ality. Am J Phys Anthropol 127:335-341, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Though baboons have been considered an appropriate non- human primate model for studying human reproductive and endocrine development, the overall similarity of reproductive maturation between the two species is unclear. This paper examines the role of testicular and adrenal hormones for pubertal changes in a cross-sectional sample of 21 captive male savanna baboons. Morphometric and hormonal in- dices demonstrate changes in size and gonadal function, but not adrenal function, during pubertal maturation among baboons. Results also indicate that gonadal, but not adrenal, androgens are related to morphometric variables. We conclude that savanna baboons do not make an appropriate evolutionary model of human pubertal matura- tion.

This paper describes an intervention to increase high school students' fruit and vegetable consumption. Twelve schools were randomized to intervention or control conditions. The cohort (2,213 students; 56% females, 84% Caucasian) were followed from 9th to 12th grades. Interventions comprised a media campaign, classroom workshops, school meal modification, and parental support. Usual daily servings of fruit/vegetables increased 14% in the intervention compared to the control group (p > 0.001) the first three years. At follow-up, consumption within the control group also increased, resulting in no significant difference between groups. Intervention group knowledge scores and awareness indicators were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < 0.0001). Gimme 5 provided a first model to show that dietary habits of high school students can be influenced by positive media messages relative to that age group, increased exposure to a variety of tasty products, and minimal classroom activity.

This study investigated whether self-esteem precedes various academic behaviors and beliefs among 593 high school students (63.7% female, 60.9% African American). Measures of home and school self-esteem, grade point average, perceived academic standing and progress, and educational plans were collected by survey and archival review of grade and attendance records at the beginning (pre-test) and end of the school year (post-test). Self-esteem and academic variables differed by gender, race, and guardianship. Self-esteem related significantly to academics and absenteeism. Results suggest selected academic variables predict self-esteem even when the effects of gender, race, and guardianship are removed and pretest self-esteem scores are controlled. In conclusion, student academic performance influences subsequent academic and home self-esteem. Creation of positive academic experiences for youth may be a critical activity, since experts contend that low self-esteem is associated with subsequent behavioral problems. The markedly lower self-esteem of Native American and Hispanic youth warrants further investigation.

Bioaccumulation models are used to describe chemical uptake and clearances by organisms. Averaged input parameter values are traditionally used and yield point estimates of model outputs. Hence, the uncertainty and variability of model predictions are ignored. Probabilistic modeling approaches, such as Monte Carlo simulation and the Bayesian method, have been recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide a quantitative description of the degree of uncertainty and/or variability in risk estimates in ecological hazards and human health effects. In this study, a Bayesian analysis was conducted to account for the combined uncertainty and variability of model parameters in a crayfish bioaccumulation model. After a 5-d exposure in the LaBranche Wetlands (LA, USA), crayfish were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations and lipid fractions. The posterior distribution of model parameters were derived from the joint posterior parameter distributions using a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach and the experimental data. The results were then used to predict the distribution of chrysene concentration versus time in the crayfish to compare the predicted ranges at the different study sites.