Comparison of methods for estimating percent body fat in distance-runners]

A comparative study was conducted between two independent methods to estimate body fat in 13 college male distance-runners (20.2 +/- 1.1 yrs) and 11 male college students (19.6 +/- 0.7 yrs) as control group. The methods dealt with different body component parameters. Body fat was estimated (1) in terms of total body water based on the analysis of dilution of orally ingested deuterium oxide (D2O) in urine, and (2) in terms of body density based on underwater weighing. The results were as follows: 1) The skinfold thickness at 14 sites in distance-runners were thinner than those in control group. The mean values for subcutaneous fat in distance-runners were 4.3 +/- 0.7 kg (7.2 +/- 1.1%), which were lower than those (8.3 +/- 2.7 kg & 13.3 +/- 3.4%) in control group significantly. Oh the other hand, the mean values for internal fat in distance-runners were 8.7 +/- 1.4 kg (14.4 +/- 1.6%), which were larger than those (6.5 +/- 3.1 kg & 10.2 +/- 4.3%) in control group. 2) The mean values for percent body fat in control group were 16.1 +/- 1.6% by skinfolds method, 20.2 +/- 5.1% by body density method and 23.5 +/- 4.6% by total body water method. The estimated values of percent body fat by the methods of body density and total body water were approximately the same. 3) The mean values for percent body fat in distance-runners were 11.9 +/- 1.4% by skinfolds method, 11.8 +/- 1.7% by body density method and 21.5 +/- 1.9% by total body water method. The estimated values of percent body fat in distance-runners were lower than those in control group.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of taxol on slow and fast axonal transport

Axonal transport of tubulin in the rat sciatic nerve is almost completely inhibited by a single subepineural injection of taxol, without affecting that of neurofilament proteins. Actin and a large number of polypeptides cotransported with actin as minor components are also blocked by taxol, although to a lesser extent. Fast axonal transport is essentially free from the inhibitory effect of this drug. Although previous models have suggested that slow axonal transport involves the bulk movement of cytoskeletal structures, these results suggest that such transport may involve an equilibrium between polymerised and depolymerised forms of the axonal cytoskeleton.     

Terminal heterogeneity and corrections of the nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from an extreme thermophile, Thermus thermophilus HB8

The nucleotide sequence of 5S rRNA from an extreme thermophile Thermusthermophilus HB8 has been re-examined and determined as [Formula: see text] The present study could resolve previously ambiguous residues and find two additional residues (G(8 3), C(9 7)), G at position 89 and two terminal heterogeneities which are exactly the same as reported with Thermusaquaticus 5S rRNA.Images     

Relationship of the waist to hip ratio with serum lipids in women

Recent reports have shown that a high ratio of waist to hip circumference (WHR) may be associated with a high proportion of intra-abdominal fat. The metabolic complications of obesity, which are associated with a high WHR, may therefore relate specifically to the amount of intra-abdominal fat. The purpose of this study was to determine if WHR is associated with the concentration of serum lipids that may predispose individuals to a higher risk for metabolic complications. Serum lipids concentrations were determined in 45 female subjects, ranging from 31 to 40 years in age, and WHR ranging from 0.71 to 0.98. Positive correlations of WHR with the ratio of cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol (r = 0.641, p less than 0.001) and with triglycerides (r = 0.479, p less than 0.001), were found, while a negative correlation existed between WHR and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.600, p less than 0.001). In order to investigate the relationship between the fat distribution in the body and the serum lipids, the subjects were divided into two groups according to their % Body fat; one group with a % Body fat more than 30 and the other with a % Body fat less than 30. The two groups differed significantly in WHR. In the group of obese women with high WHR (greater than 0.87), the ratio of cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were higher and HDL-cholesterol lower than in the normal group with low WHR (less than 0.80).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Quantitative design and experimental validation for a single-molecule DNA nanodevice transformable among three structural states

In this work, we report the development and experimental validation of a coupled statistical thermodynamic model allowing prediction of the structural transitions executed by a novel DNA nanodevice, for quantitative operational design. The efficiency of target structure formation by this nanodevice, implemented with a bistable DNA molecule designed to transform between three distinct structures, is modeled by coupling the isolated equilibrium models for the individual structures. A peculiar behavior is predicted for this nanodevice, which forms the target structure within a limited temperature range by sensing thermal variations. The predicted thermal response is then validated via fluorescence measurements to quantitatively assess whether the nanodevice performs as designed. Agreement between predictions and experiment was substantial, with a 0.95 correlation for overall curve shape over a wide temperature range, from 30C to 90C. The obtained accuracy, which is comparable to that of conventional melting behavior prediction for DNA duplexes in isolation, ensures the applicability of the coupled model for illustrating general DNA reaction systems involving competitive duplex formation. Finally, tuning of the nanodevice using the current model towards design of a thermal band pass filter to control chemical circuits, as a novel function of DNA nanodevices is proposed.     

Biogenesis of diverse plant phasiRNAs involves an miRNA-trigger and Dicer-processing

Journal of Plant Research - It has been almost 30 years since RNA interference (RNAi) was shown to silence genes via double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) in Caenorhabditis elegans (Fire et al....     

Pathological femoral fractures due to osteomalacia associated with adefovir dipivoxil treatment for hepatitis B: a case report

ABSTRACT: We present a case of a 62-year-old man who underwent total hip arthroplasty for treatment of pathologic femoral neck fracture associated with adefovir dipivoxil-induced osteomalacia. He had a 13-month history of bone pain involving his shoulders, hips, and knee. He received adefovir dipivoxil for treatment of lamivudine-resistant hepatitis B virus infection for 5 years before the occurrence of femoral neck fracture. Orthopedic surgeons should be aware of osteomalacia and pathological hip fracture caused by drug-induced renal dysfunction, which results in Fanconi's syndrome.Virtual slidesThe virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1600344696739249.     

Light-Induced Lipid Peroxidation in Isolated Chloroplasts and Role of α-Tocopherol

Lipid peroxidation in isolated chloroplasts illuminated by visible light and the role of α-tocopherol in chloroplasts were studied. The TBA reactants and fluorescent products derived from lipid peroxidation were formed by illumination. Peroxidation was inhibited by free radical scavengers and ¹O₂ quenchers. Hydroxy methyl octadecanoates, which were the reduced and hydrogenated products of lipid hydroperoxides, were detected. Among them, 10-and 15-hydroxy methyl octadecanoates were generated from ¹O₂ oxidation. On the other hand, lipid hydroperoxides did not accumulate in this peroxidation process. The amount of α-tocopherol in the chloroplasts decreased with lipid peroxidation, and α-tocopheryl quinone was produced. The results indicate that α-tocopherol acts as a free radical scavenger for photo-oxidation of chloroplasts.