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Faith-based organizations (FBOs) (e.g., churches, mosques, and gurdwaras) can play a vital role in health promotion. The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health for Asian Americans (REACH FAR) Project is implementing a multi-level and evidence-based health promotion and hypertension (HTN) control program in faith-based organizations serving Asian American (AA) communities (Bangladeshi, Filipino, Korean, Asian Indian) across multiple denominations (Christian, Muslim, and Sikh) in New York/New Jersey (NY/NJ). This paper presents baseline results and describes the cultural adaptation and implementation process of the REACH FAR program across diverse FBOs and religious denominations serving AA subgroups. Working with 12 FBOs, informed by implementation research and guided by a cultural adaptation framework and community-engaged approaches, REACH FAR strategies included (1) implementing healthy food policies for communal meals and (2) delivering a culturally-linguistically adapted HTN management coaching program. Using the Ecological Validity Model (EVM), the program was culturally adapted across congregation and faith settings. Baseline measures include (i) Congregant surveys assessing social norms and diet (n= 946), (ii) HTN participant program surveys (n= 725), (iii) FBO environmental strategy checklists (n= 13), and (iv) community partner in-depth interviews assessing project feasibility (n= 5). We describe the adaptation process and baseline assessments of FBOs. In year 1, we reached 3790 (nutritional strategies) and 725 (HTN program) via AA FBO sites. Most AA FBOs lack nutrition policies and present prime opportunities for evidence-based multi-level interventions. REACH FAR presents a promising health promotion implementation program that may result in significant community reach.

Cyclophilins (Cyps) belong to a group of proteins that have peptidyl-prolyl cis–transisomerase (PPIase) and molecular chaperone activities. Originally, Cyps were identified as the intracellular receptors for the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporin A. Cyps are found in all prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and have been structurally conserved throughout evolution, implying their importance in cellular function. There are seven major Cyp isoforms in humans. CypA is up-regulated in many human cancers, and there is a strong correlation between over-expression of the CYPAgene and malignant transformation in some cancers. Moreover, CypA is directly under the transcriptional control of two critical transcription factors for cancer development: p53 and hypoxia inducible factor-1α. This review discusses the general biological functions of Cypsunder a variety of stress conditions, and the importance and diverse roles of over-expression of CYPgenes in human cancers, with a particular emphasis on CYPA. These oncogenic properties suggest that CypA is a promising target for cancer therapy.

Purpose. To assess the remodelling process of the bone graft and fused bodies after non-instrumented anterior interbody fusion with autogenous iliac graft in patients with spondylosis, infections, fractures, or disorders of the cervical spine.Methods. 68 patients aged 18 to 58 years who underwent non-plated anterior lower cervical interbody fusion with an iliac graft were retrospectively studied. Diagnoses of the patients were degenerative disc diseases (n=32), disc herniation (n=15), fractures (n=13), and tuberculosis (n=8). The Robinson and Smith technique was used to treat degenerative disc diseases and protruded disc, and the Bailey and Badgley procedure for fractures or tuberculosis of the cervical spine. 34, 25, and 9 patients underwent one-, 2-, and 3-segment fusions, respectively. 18 of the 25 patients underwent two-segment fusion with a single large bone block, and 7 with 2 separate bone blocks for each segment. Four of the 9 patients underwent three-segment fusion with a single large bone block, and 5 used separate grafts for each segment independently. Plain and stress radiography was primarily used to assess the fusion. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were also used in some patients. Some anterior graft extrusion (amounting to less than 10% of corresponding anteroposterior body width) was used to observe the remodelling during graft-take and thereafter. Postoperative cervical traction for 2 to 4 weeks, then cervical collar immobilisation for 4 to 12 weeks were strictly followed according to the numbers of fused segments. A halo vest was applied in 4 patients with fracture undergoing 3-segment fusion as they could not tolerate the prolonged bed rest or rigid cervical brace.Results. The mean time for the graft to fuse was 8.6 (range, 7–14) weeks in patients who underwent each segment fusion with independent free grafts, and 10 and 14 weeks in those who underwent 2- and 3-segment single large graft fusion, respectively. The final loss of disc height and joint angle were negligible, regardless of the extent of fusion. Bony absorption of the anteriorly protruded part of the graft began at postoperative week 10 (range, 6–28), which coincided with the time of graft-take and initiation of remodelling.Conclusion. The earliest sign of bony absorption of the anteriorly protruded part of the graft indicated the initiation of the graft-take and the graft remodelling. The inwaisting sign of the surgically fused block of vertebral bodies was a morphological adaptation. Despite the altered biomechanics of the spine in the fused area, the inwaisting sign indicated maintenance of normal function at the parafusion motion segments.

Purpose. To assess the effectiveness of Brooks' posterior stabilisation and fusion for the unstable atlantoaxial joint due to congenital dysplastic dens and trauma.Methods. We retrospectively studied records of 54 patients (36 males and 18 females; age range, 3–58 years) who underwent Brooks' posterior stabilisation procedure between March 1975 and December 1999, at the Catholic University of Korea Medical Center and Dong-Shin General Hospital, Seoul. A single-stranded Kirschner wire was used to stabilise the first 19 cases (thin wires in 12 cases and thick wires in 7), and double-stranded wires were used in the next 35 cases (thin wires in 4 cases and thick wires in 31). After surgery, patients were immobilised in bed with light Halter traction of the head, followed by cervical bracing.Results. Fusion was observed by X-ray postoperatively at 15 weeks in 48 patients. Reduction was achieved in 3 luxation cases (including the single case of rotatory fixation). Brooks' fusion failed in 4 patients with dens fractures and 2 with dens anomaly. Four dens fractures in cases of successful Brooks' fusion in Brooks' fusion did not unite. Wire failure occurred in 4 cases of thin single-stranded wire fixation, namely, 2 cases of dens fractures and 2 of dens anomaly.Conclusion. Brooks' procedure is safe and has a high fusion rate when double-stranded strong wire fixation of the atlantoaxial joint is combined with meticulous bone grafting and subsequent cervical bracing.

Retrieval, extracorporal storage and autotransplantation of testicular tissue could become an important strategy for preserving male gonadal function. The present study used syngeneic and immunodeficient nude mice as hosts, and immature and adult mice, neonatal and adult photoregressed Djungarian hamsters and neonatal marmosets to identify the potential of testicular tissue grafting to maintain the morphological and functional integrity of the testis. Testicular tissue was grafted s.c. either as fresh tissue or after cryopreservation into adult, orchidectomized hosts. The mice that received rodent testis tissue were autopsied 50 days later, and blood samples were collected. Sixty-five per cent of mouse isografts contained morphologically normal testicular tissue and seminiferous tubules with some degree of spermatogenic recovery. Mature spermatozoa were recovered after enzymatic disaggregation. Although the recovery of spermatogenesis was limited in adult mouse and hamster tissue, complete spermatogenesis was observed in grafts from immature rodents. Testicular tissue from neonatal marmosets developed up to the stage of spermatocytes at day 135 after xenografting. Androgen concentrations were comparable in intact control mice and in mice receiving fresh mouse and hamster grafts, slightly lower in mice receiving cryopreserved grafts and adult photoregressed hamster tissue, and low in castrated control mice and in mice receiving marmoset tissue. These results show that isografts and xenografts of immature and adult testicular tissue become functionally active as a s.c. graft in the mouse and that this approach might be useful in combination with cryopreservation as a tool for storage and activation of the male germ line and androgen replacement therapy in patients.