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INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular disease (CVD), accounting for one in every four U.S. deaths, has had a devastating impact on Mississippi's African American population. Seeking innovative mitigation models, this study assesses CVD prevalence and reach via barbershops to rural Mississippi African Americans. METHODS Data was collected from barbershop clientele who consented to be screened and contacted for referral to clinical care if blood pressure was found to be elevated. RESULTS Most participants were African American (97.7%, n=2,756) and male (54.4%). Descriptive findings revealed more than one-third of participants (34.2%) had elevated blood pressure at screening. Factoring in those with hypertension in control, we found lower rates of hypertension in the male population (males 51.4% vs. females 57.8%), a sharp contrast to national rates. CONCLUSION Evaluation findings suggest CVD prevalence in rural Mississippi is comparatively high but that barbershop partners were able to successfully reach and screen the target population.

Complement activation is critical in the development of local mucosal damage and inflammation as well as of remote organ injury after mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion. To further define the role of C5 activation in local and remote tissue injury, C5 deficient (C5 −/− ) and wild-type control (C5 +/+ ) mice treated with an anti-C5 mAb were subjected to sham or ischemia followed by up to 4 h of reperfusion. The development of local (intestinal) and remote (lung) injury was associated with the expression of CD49d on the surface of circulating blood neutrophils and with VCAM on the endothelial cells of intestinal and lung vessels. Because CD49d heterodimerizes with integrin β1 on the surface of neutrophils and can bind VCAM on the endothelium, we propose that complement activation causes organ damage by upregulating molecules that lead to inappropriate homing of neutrophils.

As men age, they will begin to experience numerous changes in their bodies and sometimes these changes are life threatening. Unfortunately, these alteractions can result in protate cancer which tends to be a major public health issue and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in males (Greenlee et a., 2001). Androgens are metabolites of testosterone (TST), which are essential for maintenance of the normal morphology and functionof the prostate gland. With advancing age, transpositions can result in reduced testosterone levels and alter the ratio between testosterone levels and alter the ratio between testosterone and the chief female hormone, estrogen (Harman 2005). Testosterone is the major circulating androgen and it plays a major role in the overall health and well-being of both sexes. Similarly, estrogen (EST) is equally important and has been shown to be a powerful antioxidant responsible for suppressing free radical-induced peroxidation chain reactions (Sugioka et al., 1987; Green et al., 1997). Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is also a significant hormone responsible for regulating the calcium and phosphate within ghe body. Research has been ongoing examining these hormones in specific conditions to determine their effects (Bhasin 2003; Tanaka et al 2004; Young et al 2004). In this study, three antioxidants, epigallocatehin -3-gallate (EGCG), thymoquinone (TQ), and tannic acide (TA) were analyzed in combination with the above hormones to compare the effects of conventional and sustained administration of TST, EST, and PTH. Data of the study demonstrated that regardless of the route of administration cell growth was suppressed. Overall results revealed that route of administration played a significant role in disrupting prostate cancer growth.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a major role in the progression of renal disease. Vitamins can be used to attenuate the production of ROS and potentially slow or stop the progression of renal disease. In both renal transplant rejection and acute glomerulonephritis, there is an increase in polymophonuclear cells which lead to increases in local production of H2O2, and ultimately to large amounts of ROS and cellular damage. Decreasing ROS will lead to better graft survival and resolution of acute inflammation. Black seed has free radical scavenging properties and inhibits lipid peroxidation. Thymoquinone has been documented to have a cytocidal effect on cancer cells and reduced the cytotoxicity of standard antineoplastic drugs. Thymoquinone has also been documented to protect renal tissue by significantly reducing the side effect of nephrotoxicity associated with various medications. The hepatoprotective property of thymoquinone may be attributed to the preservation of intracellular glutathione or may be related to the inhibition of thromboxane B2 production. The overall goal of this study was to define a dose of TQ which will increase cellular glutathione levels without cytotoxic effects. Thirty-five wells were plated with RMKEC and sub-divided into five equal groups. Group 2-4 was treated with 10microM TQ, 50 microM TQ, or 100 microM of TQ respectively. Data obtained suggests that: (1) TQ does not act as a prooxidant at higher concentrations, which would induce cellular damage leading to cell death, and (2) at 72 hours in culture there was a significant increase in glutathione levels in all treatment groups when compared with control cells suggesting possible protective effects of this compound. The data suggests that further studies need to be conducted to determine the full impact of thymoquinone on kidney epithelial function as a means of cellular protection against oxidative damage.

Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Although many subsequent studies have been done on antioxidants and cancer, studies that specifically assess the relation with ovarian cancer are very limited. The goal of this study was to establish alternative treatment methodologies in the treatment of the aggressive behavioral activity of ovarian carcinogenesis through investigation of the effects of antioxidants. The specific aims of this study were to analyze the effect of low and high doses of EGCG, Selenium, and Thymoquinone on ES-2 ovarian cell line at 24, 48, and 72 hours as determined by morphology, cell count, and biochemical markers. During phase I, experimental groups were administered physiological doses of specific antioxidants. Upon administration of epigallecatechin-3-gallate, selenium, and thymoquinone, selenium exhibited the largest effect on biochemical assays in the study. Analysis of collected data showed that antioxidants suppress metabolic activity, alter behavioral responses, and cause molecular damage. However, it has not been shown that the antioxidants utilized result in total eradication of ES-2 ovarian cancer cell line.

Complement activation is critical in the development of local mucosal damage and inflammation as well as of remote organ injury after mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion. To further define the role of C5 activation in local and remote tissue injury, C5 deficient (C5(-/-)) and wild-type control (C5(+/+)) mice treated with an anti-C5 mAb were subjected to sham or ischemia followed by up to 4 h of reperfusion. The development of local (intestinal) and remote (lung) injury was associated with the expression of CD49d on the surface of circulating blood neutrophils and with VCAM on the endothelial cells of intestinal and lung vessels. Because CD49d heterodimerizes with integrin beta1 on the surface of neutrophils and can bind VCAM on the endothelium, we propose that complement activation causes organ damage by upregulating molecules that lead to inappropriate homing of neutrophils.