Subclinical hypervitaminosis A in rat: measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) do not reveal adverse skeletal changes

We have previously shown that subclinical hypervitaminosis A in rats causes fragile bones. To begin to investigate possible mechanisms for Vitamin A action we extended our previous study. Forty-five mature female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, each with 15 animals. They were fed a standard diet containing 12IU Vitamin A per g pellet (control, C), or a standard diet supplemented with 120 IU ("10xC") or 600 IU ("50xC") Vitamin A/g pellet for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, serum retinyl esters were elevated 4- and 20-fold. Although neither average food intake nor final body weights were significantly different between groups, a dose-dependent reduction in serum levels of Vitamin D and E, but not Vitamin K, was found. In the 50xC-group the length of the humerus was the same as in controls, but the diameter was reduced (-4.1%, p<0.05). Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) at the diaphysis showed that bone mineral density (BMD) was unchanged and that periosteal circumference had decreased significantly (-3.7%, p<0.05). Ash weight of the humerus was not affected, but since bone volume decreased, volumetric BMD, as measured by the bone ash method, even increased (+2.5%, p<0.05). In conclusion, interference with other fat-soluble Vitamins is a possible indirect mechanism of Vitamin A action. Moreover, BMD measurements do not reveal early adverse skeletal changes induced by moderate excesses of Vitamin A in rats. Since the WHO criterium for osteoporosis is based on BMD, further studies are warranted to examine whether this is also true in humans.     

4种鼠尾草属植物根、茎、叶中脂溶性成分的分布差异性

为了说明4种鼠尾草属植物脂溶性成分在根、茎、叶中的分布情况,本文采用了组织化学定位和HPLC图谱分析相结合的方法,对4种鼠尾草属植物不同部位的脂溶性成分进行了分析.结果表明:4种鼠尾草属植物的根、茎、叶中脂溶性成分的分布有差异,根中脂溶性成分分布于周皮,茎、叶中脂溶性成分分布于表皮.丹参和白花丹参根中的脂溶性成分主要是丹参酮ⅡA、丹参酮Ⅰ和二氢丹参酮Ⅰ,鼠尾草和药用鼠尾草根中仅含丹参酮ⅡA,不含丹参酮Ⅰ和二氢丹参酮Ⅰ.茎、叶中的脂溶性成分不是丹参酮ⅡA、丹参酮Ⅰ和二氢丹参酮Ⅰ.脂溶性成分的种类和含量随品种和引种地的不同而产生差异.这一结果明确了脂溶性成分在4种鼠尾草属植物不同部位的确切分布,为准确用药提供了依据.     

南五味子脂溶性成分的GC-MS分析

目的:对南五味子脂溶性成分进行研究。方法:采用索氏提取法提取脂溶性成分,甲酯化后用GC-MS联用技术分离鉴定其组成和含量。结果:脂溶性成分的得率为15．42％。鉴定了32个化合物,占样品总量的91．95％,其中脂肪酸成分的量占81．30％。含量较高的化合物为亚油酸(57．63％),油酸(13．37％),棕榈酸(7．16％)。结论:首次对南五味子脂溶性成分进行了分析,主要为脂肪酸,不饱和脂肪酸占优势。     

Bioaccumulation of selected metals in the gill,liver and muscle tissue of rednose labeo Labeo rosae from two impoundments on the Olifants River,Limpopo river system,South Africa

Metal concentrations in the gill, muscle and liver tissues of Labeo rosae from two impoundments, Loskop and Flag Boshielo dams on the Olifants River, were evaluated in 2011 to detect patterns in metal associations between tissues and impoundments. Elevated concentrations of Ba, Zn, B, Al, Si and Fe, relative to a pristine site in the catchment, were found in the muscle, liver and gill tissues at both impoundments. Molybdenum concentrations were exceptionally high in all tissues at Loskop Dam and in liver at Flag Boshielo Dam. No definite pattern in the ratio metal concentrations within, or between, fish tissues was identified. The expected trend, liver > gills > muscle, was found at both impoundments, but was less prominent at Loskop Dam. Metal concentrations in muscle of Loskop Dam fish were significantly higher than in those at Flag Boshielo Dam. The inverse was true for liver. The long-term impact of elevated metal concentrations on fish health at both impoundments raises concern.     

Ecology of the fiddler crabUca (Thalassuca) vocans vocans (Linnaeus) (Decapoda: Ocypodidae) I. Daily activity in warm and cold seasons

Field observations on the behaviour of Uca (Thalassuca) vocans vocans were made in the estuary of the Okukubi river, Okinawa Island. The formation of the feeding aggregation of wandering individuals or drove was found in warm seasons above an average monthly air temperature 20°C from April to early November, while the aggregation was little observed in cold seasons below the temperature from the middle of November to March. The members of the aggregation tended to move down from the upper levels of burrow area, rather than lower levels. This may be related to the richness of organic matters in the substratum of the lower levels as compared with the upper levels. The feeding aggregation was mostly composed of males, but in June females were numerously seen and its peak occurred in June. It suggested that the peak in June is related to both feeding and copulation. Behaviour different from warm seasons was observed in cold seasons. When feeding on surface soil or Enteromorpha the crabs carried a mass of surface soil or the alga into their burrow. It was though that this behaviour was related to the storage of food. It seems likely that the crabs maintain the population by the formation of the aggregation of wandering feeders in warm seasons when there are no algae and by feeding abundant algae as well as surface soil or by storing up food in good weather for bad one in cold seasons.     

A population study of the japanese wood mouse,Apodemus speciosus (Mammalia: Muridae), with reference to its social behavior

The role of social behavior on the population regulation of the Japanese wood mouse, Apodemus speciosus, was studied in the Ashu Experimental Forest of Kyoto University by monthly trapping and direct observation on the social behavior at the artificial feeding site. The census was carried out from May to October in 1974 and 1975, and the direct observation in June, August and October, 1975. In the study area, the Japanese wood mouse has two breeding seasons in a year: in spring and in autumn. Minimum survival rate was high in the non-breeding season and low in the breeding season. It was negatively correlated to the number of sexually active adults in both sexes. Home ranges of females tended to be mutually exclusive, and female residents prevented the settlement of female immigrants. On the other hand, home ranges of males overlapped largely and males had a straight social hierarchy. Subordinate males tended to disappear more often than dominant males did, but male residents did not hinder the settlement of male immigrants. Males may regulate their number by driving out the subordinate males, while females by spacing behavior.     

Circannual Variations in Blood Cholesterol Levels

The seasonality of blood cholesterol is still not well established. Some have described a seasonal pattern with highest levels during autumn and lowest in summer, whereas others have reported no change. A number of studies showed circannual variations with maximum levels in winter and minimum in summer. The aim of this study was to examine the circannual variation of cholesterol in a large cohort in Israel. In the Israeli CORDIS study, employees of 21 factories were screened for cardiovascular disease risk factors during 1985-7. As part of the information gathered, serum cholesterol and blood counts were available for 3,726 men and 1,514 women. Serum cholesterol levels fit a circannual rhythm assessed by the cosinor analysis. Highest levels of serum cholesterol were found in spring and lowest in summer. We conclude that there is a circannual change of serum cholesterol, which could be partially associated with changes in environmental temperature. The circannual variation in serum cholesterol was considerable and should be taken into account when carrying out clinical evaluation of patients.     

Univoltine and bivoltine life cycles in insects: A model with density-dependent selection

Selection for univoltine and bivoltine life cycles in insects under resource-limited but favourable temperature conditions is analyzed with a difference equation model including density-dependent population dynamics based on the conceptual framework of an evolutionarily stable strategy. The model predicts that the bivoltine type can spread in a univoltine population when the fraction of density-independent rate of annual increase by producing a second generation exceeds the survival rate during diapause of the univoltine type, but monopoly of the bivoltine type is not possible unless it attains an equilibrium population density exceeding that of the univoltine type. The applicability of the model prediction in explaining the occurrence of a partial bivoltine cycle in predominantly univoltine population in the temperate zones is discussed.     

脂溶性维生素的安全性

脂溶性维生素是很重要的营养素,在食品或饲料业中作为添加剂,使用范围广泛。这类维生素可在体内贮存,缺乏或过量都会影响机体生长和代谢功能。本文综述脂溶性维生素的生理功能与来源、缺乏与过量时的危害,以及添加时的注意事项,以保证其使用的安全性。     

Seasonal Variation in the Orcadian Rhythm of Pulmonary Function in Stable Astthmatic Children who have Nearly Outgrown their Asthma

To study whether nocturnal bronchial obstruction changes during the year, we assessed the circadian FEV₁ variation during four consecutive seasons in 20 children (12 boys; aged 9–12 years) with episodic asthma who were outgrowing their asthma. FEV₁ was determined every 4 h between 10:00 and 10:00 during two consecutive days. The last six FEV₁ values were submitted to cosinor and coefficient of variation (CV) analyses. The seasonal means (SD) in the group 24 h percent predicted FEV₁ was 85.5 (11.4), 81.2 (10.6), 86.0 (11.6), and 82.2 (14.0)% during spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The difference between the summer and autumn FEV₁ values was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean (SD) of the circadian amplitude values was 4.1 (4.3), 6.0 (3.8), 4.9 (3.4), and 7.2 (4.1)% during spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The difference in amplitude between the spring and winter and between the autumn and winter values was statistically significant (p<0.05). CV values of 48 of the 80 (60%) circadian FEV, time series exceeded the average CV of 5% observed in non-asthmatic children studied in our laboratory. There was an unequal distribution during the year in elevated CV values; 6, 17, 10, and 15 of the high CV values occurred, respectively, in the spring, summer, autumn, and winter. These results suggest that nocturnal bronchial obstruction may change seasonally in terms of severity and amplitude in children who have nearly outgrown their asthma. (Chronobiology International, 13(4), 295–303, 1996)     

脂溶性维生素的安全性

脂溶性维生素是很重要的营养素,在食品或饲料业中作为添加剂,使用范围广泛。这类维生素可在体内贮存,缺乏或过量都会影响机体生长和代谢功能。本文综述脂溶性维生素的生理功能与来源、缺乏与过量时的危害,以及添加时的注意事项,以保证其使用的安全性。     

Chromosome replication pattern in dam mutants of Escherichia coli

Summary The replication cycle of Escherichia coli dam mutants was analysed and compared with that of isogenic Dam⁺ strains. Marker frequency analyses indicated no gross difference between the strains. In the Dam^– as well as in the Dam⁺ bacteria, initiation most likely occurs at oriC, replication forks move at a constant and invariant velocity, and termination takes place in the terC region. An analysis of replication terminator activity indicated that this activity is unaffected by the methylation status. Taken together with previous results, our data are compatible with Dam methylation controlling initiation timing but no subsequent step of the replication process.     

中缅树鼩能量代谢的季节变化

小型哺乳动物的体重和产热特征的季节调节对其生存至关重要。为探讨中缅树鼩的能量代谢适应特征随季节的变化,采用耗氧量测定、食物平衡法、形态测量等方法,分别对其冬季和夏季的基础代谢率(BMR)、非颤抖性产热(NST)、体温、体重、蒸发失水、能量收支和消化道的长度和重量进行了测定。中缅树鼩冬季体温、体重、基础代谢率、NST、蒸发失水散热分别为37. 9℃ ± 0.14℃ ,126.1 ± 2.1 g,42. 94 ± 2.65 J/g· h,54. 97 ±2.14 J/ g·h,5. 69 ±0.33 J/ g·h;夏季体温、体重、基础代谢率、NST、蒸发失水散热分别为38.5℃ ± 0. 27℃ ,106.9 ±5.1 g,28. 69 ±3.06 J/ g·h,47.43 ± 2.45 J / g·h,7.12 ±0. 57 J/ g·h;中缅树鼩的每日摄入能、消化能、可代谢能冬季均比夏季显著增加,消化道特征冬季和夏季存在变化,随着温度降低、食物质量下降,小肠长度和重量增加。这些结果表明:中缅树鼩在冬季,通过增加体重、基础代谢率和NST、能量摄入、消化能和可代谢能,降低蒸发失水等方式应对季节性环境变化。代谢产热和消化生理调节在季节性适应过程中具有重要地位。     

Effect of delivery season on subsequent birth interval in early 20th century in Japan

Questionnaires of birth dates of family members (13 404 families in total) were analyzed in order to examine the effects of delivery season of a baby on the subsequent birth interval. Deliveries at maternal age of 20–34 years were used. In 1921–1935, the mothers who had been delivered of a baby in August–October showed the shortest (30.62 months geometric mean) and those in February–April the longest (34.05 months) non-last intervals, with a highly significant difference among the four delivery seasons (P<0.001, Kruskal-Wallis test,n=5678). Although the intervals were abruptly prolonged just before the last birth, the above difference was also consistent in the last intervals. When seasonal distributions of last and non-last births were compared, last births tended to be concentrated in the summer half of a year (P<0.05) in 1921–1935. In 1951–1965, overall geometric mean of the interval shortened to 28.44 months, and the length of intervals did not differ appreciably according to the season of preceding delivery. Deliveries in late summer (August–October) in 1921–1935, therefore, were associated with increased risk of termination of reproduction, on one hand, but a lowered chance of prolongation of the subsequent interval, on the other hand. Possible environmental factors are discussed to explain this apparently paradoxical phenomenon.     

Influence of season on corpus luteum structure and function and AI outcome in the Italian Mediterranean buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The aim was to ascertain whether relationships between corpus luteum (CL) vascularization, CL function, and pregnancy outcome in AI in buffaloes were consistent across the breeding season and transition period to the nonbreeding season in a Mediterranean environment. Stage of the estrous cycle in Italian Mediterranean buffaloes was synchronized using the Ovsynch with timed AI program and buffaloes were mated by AI in both the breeding season (N = 131) and transition period (N = 125). Detailed investigation of CL structure and function was undertaken in 39 buffaloes at each of the respective times using realtime B-mode/color-Doppler ultrasonography on Days 10 and 20 after AI. Progesterone (P4) concentrations were determined by RIA in all buffaloes. Pregnancy rate on Day 45 after AI was greater (P < 0.05) during the breeding season (58.0%) than the transitional period (45.6%) and this was primarily the result of a lower (P < 0.05) late embryonic mortality during the breeding season (7.3%) compared with the transition period (23%). Circulating concentrations of P4 on Days 10 and 20 after AI were greater (P < 0.01) during the breeding season (4.6 ± 0.3 and 3.4 ± 0.2, respectively) than during the transition period (1.6 ± 0.12 and 1.8 ± 0.2, respectively), and this was independent of reproductive status as there was no interaction between pregnancy and season. Corpus luteum time average medium velocity at Day 10 after AI was greater (P < 0.01) during the breeding season (19.3 ± 1.5) than in the transitional period (8.3 ± 0.7). There were positive correlations in pregnant buffaloes between CL time average medium velocity and P4 concentrations on Day 10 (r = 0.722; P < 0.01) and Day 20 (r = 0.446; P < 0.01) after AI. The findings were interpreted to indicate that relationships between CL vascularization, CL function, and pregnancy outcome in AI in buffaloes are consistent across the breeding season and transition period to the nonbreeding season. The distinction between the breeding season and the transition period is the relatively low proportion of buffaloes that have CL function and P4 concentrations required to establish a pregnancy during the transition period, which is manifested in a greater incidence of embryonic mortality.     

Birth Month and Risk of Glioma in Adults: A Registry‐Based Study in Bavaria

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible seasonality of birth in adult patients suffering from glioma. For this purpose, data from the database of the population‐based cancer registry of Bavaria (Germany) were retrieved. For the period 2002–2005, we identified a total of 2174 patients born between 1931 and 1986 diagnosed with malignant glioma. Statistical analyses failed to document a significant annual periodicity of glioma risk in either men or women with respect to birth month in the observed cohort. Thus, we found no association between month of birth and the risk of glioma. In contrast, an analysis of the official birth rate data of Bavaria revealed marked annual variation in birth rates up until 1965, which decreased markedly in prominence in the years thereafter. Our findings confirm the results of a recent similar study conducted in The Netherlands. Therefore, we support the hypothesis of possible etiological factors of glioma acting in adulthood rather than in the perinatal period.