THE RELEVANT USE OF THE TRADITIONAL TUNISIAN GAME ‘‘RAQASSA’’ FOR CARDIOVASCULAR STIMULATION IN SCHOOLCHILDREN

The aim of this study was to investigate the heart rate (HR) responses, the rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and the feeling during physical education schooling while performing traditional games activities compared to intermittent exercise. Nineteen pre-pubertal children randomly performed on different days two types of lessons (intermittent running mode vs. traditional Tunisian “Raqassa” game) lasting 12-min each. HR was continuously recorded during both lessons, while ratings of perceived exertion and Feeling values were recorded after the sessions. The mean HR value during the traditional game was significantly higher than during intermittent exercise (p<0.05). Conversely, the perceived exertion score was significantly higher after intermittent exercise than the traditional exercise game (p<0.05), showing that the higher cardiovascular strain of the game was perceived as “lighter” than the run. Simultaneously, the children''s Feeling was significantly higher after the traditional game than intermittent exercise (p<0.001), showing a higher satisfaction from playing with respect to running. Exercise based on the “Raqassa” traditional game could be used in pre-pubertal children as an alternative or as an additional method for suitable cardiovascular stimulation during physical education lessons with lower perceived exertion and better feeling compared to intermittent running.     

人参皂甙Rb1对心力衰竭大鼠蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶途径的影响

目的探讨人参皂甙Rbl（Gs—Rbl）改善阿霉素所致心力衰竭（HF）效应是否与调整蛋白激酶R样内质网激酶（PERK）通路有关。方法阿霉素（Adr）诱导的HF大鼠随机分为HF组（n=15）和Gs．Rbl组（70rng／kg／d,n=17）,另随机选取同龄大鼠作为对照组（n=10）。干预结束并进行心脏超声检查后,TUNNEL检测心肌细胞凋亡率（AR）,Western blot和Rt-PCR检测葡萄糖调节蛋白78（GRP78）、PERK、p-PERK、真核细胞起始因子2-（elF2a）、p-elF2a、C／EBP同源蛋白（CHOP）和cleavedcaspase-12。结果1．Adr干预成功构建HF模型,Gs—Rbl显著提高左室射血分数（LVEF）和降低心肌细胞AR（P〈O．01）;2．HF组GRP78mRNA和蛋白均显著高于对照组,Gs—Rbl显著低于HF组和对照组二组的表达（P〈0．01）;3．Gs—Rbl显著降低HF大鼠PERK和p-PERK表达（P〈0．01）;4．HF导致elF2amRNA和蛋白、p-elF2a显著升高,Gs—Rbl显著下调三者的表达（P〈O．01）;5．HF组CHOPmRNA和蛋白显著高于对照组,Gs—Rbl组显著抑制其表达（P〈0．01）;6．Gs—Rbl显著抑制阿霉素所致的caspase-121TIRNA和cleaved caspase-12蛋白表达（P〈0．01）。结论Gs—Rbl通过调节PERK内质网通路介导其改善HF效应。     

Interactions between climatic and production factors on returns of female pigs to service during summer in Japanese commercial breeding herds

The objectives of this study were to determine the associations between climatic factors and production factors for returns to service of female pigs during summer and to quantify the associations between these factors and occurrences of returns to service. The factors that were assessed were as follows: maximum temperature (HT), relative humidity, age of gilts at first mating, parity, weaning-to-first-mating interval (WMI), and lactation length. The study analyzed records of 18,307 gilts in 99 herds and 78,135 parity records of 56,322 sows in 103 herds; all the females were first-serviced between June and September, 2007 to 2009. Average daily HT and relative humidity for 15 days post-service of a female were obtained from 21 local weather stations and coordinated with the performance data of the respective local herds. The returns to service were categorized into three groups: regular returns (RRs: 18–24 days), irregular returns (IRs: 25–38 days), and late returns to service (LRs: 39 days or later). Two-level mixed-effects models were applied to the data by using a herd at level 2 and an individual record at level 1. In mated gilts, the occurrences (%) of RRs, IRs, and LRs were 4.8%, 1.8%, and 5.3%, respectively. In mated sows, the respective occurrences were 3.3%, 1.8%, and 4.2%. Mean values (ranges) of HT and relative humidity were 28.4 °C (13.6 °C–39.8 °C) and 73.4% (35.0%–98.0%), respectively. In gilts, as HT increased from 25 °C to 30 °C, the occurrence of RR increased from 3.7% to 4.4% (P < 0.05). However, there was no association between the occurrence of RR and either relative humidity (P = 0.17) or age at first mating (P = 0.23). In addition, there were no associations between the occurrences of either gilt IR or LR and HT (P ≥ 0.05), relative humidity (P ≥ 0.46), or age at first mating (P ≥ 0.32). In sows, greater occurrences of RRs, IRs, and LRs were associated with higher HT, lower parity, and a WMI of 7 days or longer (P < 0.05), but they were not associated with relative humidity (P ≥ 0.62) or lactation length (P ≥ 0.13). The occurrence of RRs in sows of all WMI groups increased 1.22 (1.04⁵) times for each 5 °C increase in HT. For sows with WMI 0 to 6 days, each 5 °C rise in HT increased the occurrence of IRs and LRs by 1.36 (1.06⁵) and 1.27 (1.05⁵) times, respectively. However, there was no association between increased HT and occurrences of IRs or LRs for sows with WMI 7 days or longer (P ≥ 0.38). Therefore, in order to prevent returns to service, it is recommended that producers apply cooling management for females during the post-service periods in summer.     

Diethylmaleate and iodoacetate in combination caused profound cell death in astrocytes

Energy failure and oxidative stress have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ischemia. Here, we report a potential link between cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) activation and energy failure/oxidative stress‐induced astrocyte damage involving reactive oxygen species (ROS), protein kinase C‐α (PKC‐α), Src, Raf, and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) signaling and concurrent elevation of endogenous chelatable zinc. Energy failure and oxidative stress were produced by treating astrocytes with glycolytic inhibitor iodoacetate and glutathione chelator diethylmaleate, respectively. Diethylmaleate and iodoacetate in combination caused augmented damage to astrocytes in a time‐ and concentration‐dependent manner. The cell death caused by diethylmaleate/iodoacetate was accompanied by increased ROS generation, PKC‐α membrane translocation, Src, Raf, ERK, and cPLA₂ phosphorylation. Pharmacological studies revealed that these activations all contributed to diethylmaleate/iodoacetate‐induced astrocyte death. Intriguingly, the mobilization of endogenous chelatable zinc was observed in diethylmaleate/iodoacetate‐treated astrocytes. Zinc appears to act as a downstream mediator in response to diethylmaleate/iodoacetate treatment because of the attenuating effects of its chelator N,N,N′,N′‐tetrakis(2‐pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine. These observations indicate that ROS/PKC‐α, Src/Raf/ERK signaling and cPLA₂ are active participants in diethylmaleate/iodoacetate‐induced astrocyte death and contribute to a vicious cycle between the depletion of ATP/glutathione and the mobilization of chelatable zinc as critical upstream effectors in initiating cytotoxic cascades.

     

A combined LDL receptor/LDL receptor adaptor protein 1 mutation as the cause for severe familial hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) results from impaired catabolism of plasma low density lipoproteins (LDL), thus leading to high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and a high risk of premature myocardial infarction. FH is commonly caused by defects of the LDL receptor or its main ligand apoB, together mediating cellular uptake and clearance of plasma LDL. In some cases FH is inherited by mutations in the genes of PCSK9 and LDLRAP1 (ARH) in a dominant or recessive trait. The encoded proteins are required for LDL receptor stability and internalization within the LDLR pathway. To detect the underlying genetic defect in a family of Turkish descent showing unregular inheritance of severe FH, we screened the four candidate genes by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) mutation analysis. We identified different combinatory mixtures of LDLR- and LDLRAP1-gene defects as the cause for severe familial hypercholesterolemia in this family. We also show for the first time that a heterozygous LDLR mutation combined with a homozygous LDLRAP1 mutation produces a more severe hypercholesterolemia phenotype in the same family than a homozygous LDLR mutation alone.     

Relationship between chemokine (C–X–C motif) ligand 12 gene variant (rs1746048) and coronary heart disease: Case–control study and meta-analysis

The goal of our study is to evaluate the contribution of CXCL12 rs1746048 (hg19, chr10:44775574) to the risk of CHD in Han Chinese, and to summarize its role in CHD through meta-analysis of existing studies among various ethnic groups. Significant association is observed between rs1746048-C and an increased risk of CHD in Han Chinese (χ² = 5.41, df = 1, P = 0.02). Post hoc analysis reveals an even stronger association of rs1746048 with the risk of CHD for subjects aged 65 years or older (genotype: χ² = 8.39, df = 2, P = 0.015; allele: χ2 = 9.13, df = 1, P = 0.003, odd ratio (OR) = 1.91, 95% confidential interval (CI) = 1.25–2.91). A break down analysis by gender shows that rs1746048 is likely a CHD risk factor under the recessive model in males (CC + CT versus TT: P = 0.05, χ² = 3.59, df = 1, OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.00–3.04). In addition, a meta-analysis of ten studies among over 107,000 individuals confirms that rs1746048 is a risk factor of CHD (P < 0.0001, OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.09–1.15) and this agrees with the findings of our case–control study in Han Chinese.     

基于FMEA的C形臂X线机的使用风险分析与控制

??????? 目的 基于失效模式与效应分析（FMEA）方法分析控制C形臂X线机的使用风险。方法 成立FMEA 5人小组,运用现场观察和访谈的方法,识别C形臂X线机使用的潜在失效模式,并对其发生的严重度、发生概率及检测的难易度进行评价打分,计算失效原因的风险优先指数。结果 FMEA小组找出了必须优先解决的C臂机使用的失效模式,制定并实施了改进措施,在不增加管理成本的基础上,取得了良好的管理效果。结论 FMEA可以评估医疗设备使用过程的失效,并能排序优先解决的问题,不增加管理成本就能预防问题的发生,是有效的过程管理工具。     

基于FMEA和POSSUM评分的手术风险评估研究

??????? 目的 研究建立手术风险评估的架构,以正确决策手术时机。方法 采用用于计数死亡率和并发症发生率的生理学和手术严重性（POSSUM）评分原理进行分层计分,同时引用失效模式与效应分析方法对手术可能发生故障模式的严重度及发生可能性及风险因素的影响度3个维度进行评估。结果 建立了手术前风险预警机制及手术评估架构,利用评估架构对某综合医院2010年200例80岁高龄的手术病人进行了术前评估,结果手术后并发症的发生率较2009年同年龄的手术病人的并发症下降了10.45%。结论 在手术前对手术相关因素进行评估,可以为手术时机的选择提供参考。     

Fish hypnosis: Induction of an atonic immobility reflex

An immobility reflex may be induced in fish by a vigorous flow of water through the branchial chamber. The reflex was observed in 22 species representing bony and cartilaginous fishes from diverse habitats, and was invariably characterised by loss of caudal muscle tone and limp posture. The immobilised state may be maintained for many hours, and revival is instantaneous. The critical flow rate for induction increases with increasing body size in the snapper, Pagrus auratus, and heart rate falls below the resting rate. In addition, haematological parameters, and plasma lactate after 6?h were typical of resting fish. Although the mechanism is unclear, and the selective advantage for the fish unknown, pressure-sensitive receptors in the branchial chamber are likely to be involved. Application in live fish transport, and recovery from handling and exercise stressors is suggested.