FT3/FT4比值、Apo B/Apo A1比值与急性缺血性脑卒中患者临床疗效和出院后短期预后的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨游离三碘甲腺原氨酸（FT3）/游离甲状腺素（FT4）比值、载脂蛋白B （Apo B）/载脂蛋白A1（Apo A1）比值与急性缺血性脑卒中（AIS）患者临床疗效和出院后短期预后的关系。方法：选取2020年2月至2022年2月安徽省第二人民医院收治的102例AIS患者,所有患者入院后接受血运重建、抗血小板等治疗,根据临床疗效将患者分为有效组（76例）和无效组（26例）。治疗后检测所有AIS患者血清FT3、FT4、Apo B、Apo A1水平,计算FT3/FT4比值、Apo B/Apo A1比值,所有AIS患者出院后随访3个月,根据AIS患者随访期间的预后情况将其分为预后不良组（31例）和预后良好组（71例）。比较不同组间血清FT3、FT4、Apo B、Apo A1水平以及FT3/FT4比值、Apo B/Apo A1比值差异,分析影响AIS患者出院后短期预后的因素。结果：无效组血清FT3水平、FT3/FT4比值低于有效组（P＜0.05）,血清Apo B水平、Apo B/Apo A1比值高于有效组（P＜0.05）。预后不良组血清FT3水平、FT3/FT4比值低于预后良好组（P＜0.05）,血清Apo B水平、Apo B/Apo A1比值高于预后良好组（P＜0.05）。美国国立卫生院神经功能缺损评分（NIHSS评分）高、Apo B/ApoA1比值增高是AIS患者出院后短期预后不良的危险因素（P＜0.05）,FT3/FT4比值增高是其保护因素（P＜0.05）。结论：AIS临床治疗无效和预后不良患者FT3/ FT4比值降低,Apo B/ApoA1比值增高,低FT3/ FT4比值和高Apo B/ApoA1比值与AIS患者出院后短期预后不良有关。     

Variation in growth form in relation to spectral light quality (red/far-red ratio) in Plantago lanceolata L. in sun and shade populations

Plants from a sun and shade population were grown in two environments differing in the ratio of red to far-red light (R/FR ratio). A low R/FR ratio, simulating vegetation shade, promoted the formation of long, upright-growing leaves and allocation towards shoot growth, whereas a high R/FR ratio had the opposite effects. The increase in plant height under the low R/FR ratio was accompanied by a reduction in the number of leaves. Population differences in growth form resembled the differences between plants grown in different light environments: plants from the shade population had rosettes with long erect leaves, whereas plants from the sun population formed prostrate rosettes with short leaves. Plants from the shade population were more responsive to the R/FR ratio than plants from the sun population: the increases in leaf length, plant height, and leaf area ratio under a low R/FR ratio were larger in the shade population. However, differences in plasticity were small compared to the population difference in growth form itself. We argue that plants do not respond optimally to shading and that developmental constraints might have limited the evolution of an optimal response. Received: 8 December 1996 / Accepted: 31 March 1997     

花椰菜主要经济性状的配合力及遗传效应研究

采用Griffing 6×6完全双列杂交设计,对长江流域内秋冬栽培的6个主要花椰菜（Brassica oleraceaLinn.var.botrytis Linn.）资源的自交系育种材料的球高、球径、单球重、成熟期、毛花率和内叶盖球度等6个花球主要经济性状进行一般配合力（GCA）和特殊配合力（SCA）分析,并对花椰菜的各个性状进行了遗传相关性分析。结果表明：花椰菜的6个经济性状同时受加性和非加性效应控制。其中成熟期、毛花率、球高和内叶盖球度性状的一般配合力大于特殊配合力,受加性基因效应影响大;而球径、单球重等性状间一般配合力小于特殊配合力,在相当程度上受非加性基因控制。花椰菜各性状的狭义遗传力由大到小依次为：成熟期、毛花率、内叶盖球度、球高、球径和单球重。花椰菜的球高与单球重、球径与单球重、球高与成熟期、单球重与内叶盖球度、成熟期与内叶盖球度等5个成对性状应该同时选择;而球高与毛花率、球高与内叶盖球度、球径与成熟期、球径与毛花率、单球重与毛花率、成熟期与毛花率、毛花率与内叶盖球度等7个成对性状的选择可以独立进行,彼此间不会相互影响,可实现同一组合或品种具备多种优质性状。在6个自交系中,P2和P5是理想亲本;P4是配制耐寒组合的亲本材料;亲本P6应用价值最低。组合中表现最好的为P2×P4,各性状的特殊配合力均较优。     

不同林龄柚木人工林土壤生态化学计量特征

为了阐明林龄对柚木人工林土壤生态化学计量特征及土壤理化性质的影响,在广西凭祥市中国林业科学研究院热带林业实验中心青山实验场选取3块不同林龄(10、32、37 a)的柚木人工林为研究对象,在每个林龄地块内选择具有代表性的地段分别设置3块20 m×20 m样地,按照多点混合、随机布点和相同数量的原则,按0—10、10—20、20—30、30—50、50—100 cm土层取样,测定土壤的水分-物理性质、pH、有机碳(Soil organic carbon,SOC)、全氮(Total nitrogen,TN)、全磷(Total phosphorus,TP)、全钾(Total potassium,TK)含量,并计算土壤碳、氮、磷之间的计量比,探讨它们随林龄的变化及其与C∶N∶P化学计量比之间的关系,以期为柚木人工林持续经营管理提供科学依据。结果表明:除土壤容重(SBD)、有效磷(AP)、速效钾(FK)、C∶P和N∶P外,林龄对其他土壤理化性质和C∶N均有显著影响;C∶N、C∶P随林龄的增加而增大,柚木纯林化经营减少了C、N、P储量,其生长受到P限制,适当混交化改造显得十分重要;研究区域3个林龄柚木人工林土壤C∶N(7.32)、C∶P(26.92)和N∶P(3.56)平均值均明显低于全国土壤C∶N(11.90)、C∶P(60.00)和N∶P(5.10)平均水平,表明该地区土壤可利用C、N、P素仍非常有限。对土壤SOC、TN、TP含量、C∶N、C∶P和N∶P之间进行皮尔逊相关分析得出,C∶N与SOC的相关性大于与TN的相关性,C∶P与SOC的相关性大于与TP的相关性,说明柚木人工林土壤C∶N和C∶P主要受有机碳含量的影响,因此在柚木人工林经营管理过程中如何科学调控土壤中有机碳含量显得尤为重要。本研究区C∶N和C∶P较低,表明有机质分解较快,这对于雨量充沛的南亚热带柚木人工林来讲可能不利于其土壤肥力的维持。     

Does the Mother or Father Determine the Offspring Sex Ratio? Investigating the Relationship between Maternal Digit Ratio and Offspring Sex Ratio

Objective

In mammals, high parental testosterone levels present around the time of conception are thought to skew offspring sex ratio toward sons. The second to fourth digit ratio (digit ratio) is now widely accepted as a negative correlate of prenatal testosterone. Thus, we investigated the association between digit ratio and offspring sex ratio.

Methods

A total of 508 Korean patients (257 males and 251 females) less than 60 years old who had one or more offspring were prospectively enrolled. The lengths of the 2nd and 4th digits of the right hand were measured by a single investigator using a digital vernier calliper. Next, the patients’ lifetime offspring birth sex ratios were investigated.

Results

Maternal (rather than paternal) digit ratio was significantly associated with the number of sons (r = -0.153, p = 0.015), number of daughters (r = 0.130, p = 0.039), and offspring sex ratio (r = -0.171, p = 0.007). And, the maternal digit ratio was a significant factor for predicting offspring sex ratio (B = -1.620, p = 0.008) on multiple linear regression analysis. The female patients with a lower digit ratio (< 0.95) were found to have a higher offspring sex ratio (0.609 versus 0.521, p = 0.046) compared to those with a higher digit ratio (≥ 0.95). Furthermore, females in the low digit ratio group have a probability 1.138 greater of having sons than females in the high digit ratio group.

Conclusions

Maternal digit ratio was negatively associated with offspring sex ratio. Females with a lower digit ratio were more likely to have more male offspring compared to those with a higher digit ratio. Thus, our results suggest that the sex of offspring might be more influenced by maternal rather than paternal factors.     

Seasonal patterns of muscle RNA-DNA ratio and growth in black crappie,Pomoxis nigromaculatus

Synopsis Black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) were collected weekly from a natural lake during the period mid-April to mid-September. The fish were weighed, state of maturity determined and RNA-DNA ratio of white muscle was measured. Water temperature and primary production were measured in the lake. RNA-DNA ratio declined during the spawning season, reaching a low in mid-May, then increased steadily during the remainder of the year. RNA-DNA ratio was significantly correlated with body weight. The correlation was improved if RNA-DNA ratio was paired with weight for the following week. The correlation was further improved when the spawning season was removed from the data set. Both weight and RNA-DNA ratios were significantly correlated with water temperature, as expected. The correlations were again improved if water temperature was paired with weight and RNA-DNA values for the following week. Weight and RNA-DNA ratio were also correlated with primary production when the correlation was made with concurrent values, and the correlations were improved when RNA-DNA ratio or weight were paired with primary production values for the previous month. RNA-DNA ratio was determined to be a useful predictor of skeletal muscle growth in natural populations of fish over short (ca. one week) time intervals.     

东北地区蒙古栎群落区系地理成分分析

分析了东北地区蒙古栎群落192个属分布区类型,其中温带分布属占72%,热带分布属占9.7%.也比较了东北地区10个地点和河北省1个地点的蒙古栎群落物种所在属的分布区类型,统计了不同地点属的分布区类型占总属的比例,计算了温带属与热带属(T/R)的比值,结果发现蒙古栎群落的温带分布属和T/R值(温带属和热带属之比值)不仅受纬度地带性影响,也受垂直地带性影响;在海拔相差不大的情况下蒙古栎群落T/R值随着纬度的递增而递增,热带分布属随着纬度递增而减少。垂直地带性对T/R之比率也有较大的影响,使得T/R值随纬度变化时出现波动。并给出了T/R值、纬度和海拔三者关系的回归方程,结果表明T/R值与纬度、海拔有着比较精确的数量关系。最后对这种分布格局产生的原因进行了解释.     

关节置换前后髌骨高度对膝关节功能的影响

目的:研究全膝关节置换术前、术后Insall-Salvati指数和改良Insall-Salvati指数与术后膝关节活动度的关系。方法:采用HSS评分系统对患者全膝关节置换术后半年至一年的关节功能、活动度、肌力、屈曲畸形、稳定性等进行评价。测量81例(106膝)患者术前、术后X线片Insall-salvati指数及改良Insall-salvati指数。结果:术后HSS评分为(89±10)分,术前Insall-salvati指数及改良Insall-salvati指数分别为(1.00±0.13)、(1.61±0.21),术后Insall-salvati指数及改良Insall-salvati指数分别为(0.94±0.19)、(1.67±0.34)。关节置换术后Insall-salvati指数较置换前显著降低(P0.05),改良Insall-salvati指数显著提高(P0.05)。术后低位髌骨组(Insall-salvati指数0.8)HSS评分、活动度和屈曲畸形分值均较正常髌骨组(0.8Insall-salvati指数1.5)显著降低(P0.05)(P0.05)。高位髌骨组(Insall-salvati指数1.5)和正常髌骨组各项评分均无显著差异(P0.05)。术前改良Insall-salvati指数小于1.8的患者术后膝关节HSS评分、功能、活动度、肌力、屈曲畸形、稳定性显著高于大于1.8的患者(P0.05)。结论:术前改良Insall-salvati指数和术后Insall-salvati指数可作为评价术后膝关节功能的参考指标。术前、术后的膝关节高度均会影响术后关节功能,全膝关节置换术中精确截骨对术后关节功能十分重要。     

辽东栎幼苗对干旱和去叶的生态反应的初步研究

幼苗阶段是植物种群生活史中亏损最严重的时期之一。通过干旱处理和去叶试验研究了辽东栎幼苗的生态反应。结果表明：⑴干旱处理显著降低了单叶面积、叶面积比和叶比重,从而也降低了单株生物量,但根比重却较对照组有显著上升;⑵去叶显著提高了单株叶数、叶面积比和叶比重,尽管单株生物量只稍高于对照组,这说明辽东栎在去叶后有一定的补偿能力。     

An examination of subspecific differences in the merus of the fifth walking leg of the amphipod Gammarus duebeni Lilljeborg

Stock SL Pinkster (1970) erected two subspecies of Gammarus duebeni primarily on the basis of a difference in the relative dimensions of the merus on the fifth walking leg. The diagnostic feature was given as the ratio of merus length/width, with ratio < 2 in G. duebeni duebeni and ratio > 2 in G. duebeni celticus. It is shown here that the ratio varies with the size of the animal, and this particular ratio is therefore not valid as a taxonomic character. Regressions of log merus width on log merus length were made on large samples of G. duebeni assumed to belong to subspecies celticus and duebeni respectively. The regressions were significantly diiferent and were used to predict that the ratio log merus width/log merus length is relatively constant in both subspecies. Diagnostic values for this ratio were 0.71–0.73 in celticus and 0.74–0.77 in duebeni. The ratio was also determined in small samples of G. duebeni from other localities in western Britain. The morphological difference which characterizes celticus and duebeni was not associated with habitat salinity or with previously determined physiological characteristics. It may be an instance of cHnal variation reinforced by geographical isolation. Regressions of merus length against cephalic length suggest that the relative growth rates of the merus may also differ in the two subspecies.     

Lipid-protein ratios by infrared spectroscopy

A method for measuring the ratio of diacyl phospholipid to protein in lipid-protein mixtures and membranes by infrared spectroscopy is described. Samples made of diacyl phospholipid and proteins mixed in known ratios were analyzed for lipid-protein ratio by the infrared (ir) method. Results had a standard deviation of less than +/- 4% over the lipid-protein molar ratio range of 9:1 to 320:1. Calculations of the ratio of total lipid to protein require that the diacyl phospholipid-to-protein ratio be divided by the mole fraction of diacyl phospholipid in the total lipid. Phospholipid-protein ratios for various sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane preparations (R1-washed, octylglucoside purified, deoxycholate treated) were determined by the ir method and compared to literature values. Also, phospholipid-protein ratios were determined for R1-washed sarcoplasmic reticulum by three chemical analyses using different protein assays and were compared with ratios obtained by the infrared method. The infrared results were closest to those of a chemical method designed specifically for membrane proteins.     

Likelihood ratio tests for detecting positive selection and application to primate lysozyme evolution

An excess of nonsynonymous substitutions over synonymous ones is an important indicator of positive selection at the molecular level. A lineage that underwent Darwinian selection may have a nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratio (dN/dS) that is different from those of other lineages or greater than one. In this paper, several codon-based likelihood models that allow for variable dN/dS ratios among lineages were developed. They were then used to construct likelihood ratio tests to examine whether the dN/dS ratio is variable among evolutionary lineages, whether the ratio for a few lineages of interest is different from the background ratio for other lineages in the phylogeny, and whether the dN/dS ratio for the lineages of interest is greater than one. The tests were applied to the lysozyme genes of 24 primate species. The dN/dS ratios were found to differ significantly among lineages, indicating that the evolution of primate lysozymes is episodic, which is incompatible with the neutral theory. Maximum- likelihood estimates of parameters suggested that about nine nonsynonymous and zero synonymous nucleotide substitutions occurred in the lineage leading to hominoids, and the dN/dS ratio for that lineage is significantly greater than one. The corresponding estimates for the lineage ancestral to colobine monkeys were nine and one, and the dN/dS ratio for the lineage is not significantly greater than one, although it is significantly higher than the background ratio. The likelihood analysis thus confirmed most, but not all, conclusions Messier and Stewart reached using reconstructed ancestral sequences to estimate synonymous and nonsynonymous rates for different lineages.      

Does Landscape Fragmentation Influence Sex Ratio of Dioecious Plants? A Case Study of Pistacia chinensis in the Thousand-Island Lake Region of China

The Thousand-Island Lake region in Zhejiang Province, China is a highly fragmented landscape with a clear point-in-time of fragmentation as a result of flooding to form the reservoir. Islands in the artificial lake were surveyed to examine how population sex ratio of a dioecious plant specie Pistacia chinensis B. was affected by landscape fragmentation. A natural population on the mainland near the lake was also surveyed for comparison. Population size, sex ratio and diameter at breast height (DBH) of individuals were measured over 2 years. More than 1,500 individuals, distributed in 31 populations, were studied. Soil nitrogen in the different populations was measured to identify the relationship between sex ratio and micro-environmental conditions. In accordance with the results of many other reports on biased sex ratio in relation to environmental gradient, we found that poor soil nitrogen areas fostered male-biased populations. In addition, the degree of sex ratio bias increased with decreasing population size and population connectivity. The biased sex ratios were only found in younger individuals (less than 50 years old) in small populations, while a stable 1∶1 sex ratio was found in the large population on the mainland. We concluded that the effects of landscape fragmentation on the dioecious population sex ratio were mainly achieved in relation to changing soil nitrogen conditions in patches and pollen limitation within and among populations. Large populations could maintain a more suitable environment in terms of nutrient conditions and pollen flow, subsequently maintaining a stable sex ratio in dioecious plant populations. Both micro-environmental factors and spatial structure should be considered in fragmented landscape for the conservation of dioecious plant species.     

重症监护病房长期机械通气患者撤机困难的原因及死亡影响因素分析

目的:探讨重症监护病房(ICU)长期机械通气患者撤机困难的原因及撤机死亡的影响因素。方法:对2015年6月至2018年10月我院收治的80例长期机械通气患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析,按照患者撤机结果分为撤机成功组52例和撤机困难组28例,根据患者存活情况分为存活组59例和死亡组21例。比较各组临床资料,分析撤机困难的原因及撤机死亡的影响因素。结果:撤机困难组年龄、心功能不全比例、多器官功能障碍(MODS)比例、呼吸机相关肺炎(VAP)比例、肝功能不全比例、肾功能不全比例、血尿素氮显著高于撤机成功组,机械通气时间、气管切开时间显著长于撤机成功组,血清白蛋白显著低于撤机成功组(P0.05)。死亡组年龄、合并糖尿病比例、心功能不全比例、MODS比例、VAP比例、肝功能不全比例、肾功能不全比例、血尿素氮显著高于存活组,机械通气时间、气管切开时间显著长于存活组,血清白蛋白显著低于存活组(P0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示:年龄、合并糖尿病、MODS、VAP、机械通气时间、气管切开时间、血清白蛋白是ICU长期机械通气患者撤机死亡的影响因素(P0.05)。结论:患者治疗期间发生脏器功能不全或器官功能衰竭、机械通气时间较长、气管切开时间较长、营养状态较差是长期机械通气患者撤机困难的主要原因,年龄、合并糖尿病、MODS、VAP、机械通气时间、气管切开时间、血清白蛋白是ICU长期机械通气患者撤机死亡的影响因素。     

Proteomic analysis of astaxanthin biosynthesis in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous in response to low carbon levels

The ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N) in media plays a crucial role in the production of microbial carotenoids. However, the effects of a high C/N ratio on carotenoid production are ambiguous, and the mechanism of how C/N ratio affects astaxanthin accumulation in X. dendrorhous is unclear. In this study, the influence of C/N ratio on astaxanthin biosynthesis in X. dendrorhous at a fixed nitrogen concentration was investigated, and comparative proteomics were applied to address how C/N ratio affects cell growth and astaxanthin accumulation in X. dendrorhous. The results showed that cell growth and astaxanthin accumulation in X. dendrorhous were strongly related to the ratio of carbon to nitrogen with increasing C/N ratio in medium. However, the astaxanthin content per cell showed an inverse relationship, decreasing with an increasing C/N ratio. Differential proteomics showed the proteins with highest degree of change in expression under varying C/N ratios were mainly involved in carbohydrate metabolic pathways and carotenogenesis metabolism. In addition, several redox- and stress-associated proteins were up-regulated along with the carotenogenesis proteins, implying the environmental stress may affect metabolism and astaxanthin synthesis. A possible regulatory mechanism in response to glucose in X. dendrorhous is discussed.

     

岷江上游干旱河谷矮探春叶片特征与环境因子的关系

对岷江上游干旱河谷矮探春(Jasminumhumile L.)的叶片形态解剖特征进行了显微观察,分析了海拔梯度上叶片形态与环境因子的关系。结果表明,矮探春叶片呈长椭圆形,叶肉组织分化明显;随着海拔升高,叶面积、厚度、干重、饱和含水量、海绵组织厚度,中脉厚度以及厚角组织厚度/中脉厚度之比(M/C)等呈增大趋势,而栅栏组织厚度/海绵组织厚度之比(P/S)则减小;叶片长/宽比、表皮厚度、栅栏组织厚度和比叶重在海拔梯度上无明显差异。叶面积、干重、饱和含水量、叶厚度和海绵组织厚度等参数两两之间呈显著正相关,而它们与P/S均呈显著负相关。叶面积、干重、海绵组织厚度和M/C等主要受土壤含水量的影响,并随着土壤含水量增加而增大;P/S随着土壤含水量和年降水量增加而减小;叶片厚度、饱和含水量和中脉厚度均随着温和度的降低而增大。岷江上游干旱河谷区土壤水份和生长季温度可能是影响矮探春叶片形态解剖特征的主要因子。     

Sex ratio and dynamic behavior in populations of the exotic blowfly Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera, Calliphoridae).

Sex ratio is an essential component of life history to be considered in population growth. Chrysomya albiceps is a blowfly species with a naturally biased sex ratio. In this study, we evaluated the impact of changes in sex ratio on the dynamic behavior of C. albiceps using a density-dependent mathematical model that incorporated demographic parameters such as survival and fecundity. These parameters were obtained by exponential regression, with survival and fecundity being estimated experimentally as a function of larval density. Bifurcation diagram of the results indicated the evolution of stable equilibrium points as a function of sex ratio. A continually increasing sex ratio yielded a hierarchy of bifurcating stable equilibrium points that evolved into a chaotic regime. The demographic parameters obtained by exponential regression were also changed to maximum and minimum values in order to analyze their influence on dynamic behavior with sex ratio being considered as an independent variable. Bifurcations with periodicity windows between chaos regimes were also found.     

Growth and maturity of the spider crab Halicarcinus planatus (Brachyura: Hymenosomatidae) females in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. Can these parameters be influenced by the population sex ratio?

The Halicarcinus planatus populations of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean show a highly variable sex ratio and a large size overlapping between females in the last immature instar (ADO) and mature (MAT) females. We hypothesized that these facts are related and that female impregnation has a central role in this relation. Non-impregnated ADO females delay maturity and would continue to grow, leading to size overlapping. This scenario is most probable in populations with a scarcity of males and could affect the growth, maturity and population structure. The sex ratio and female size distribution of several populations of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean were analysed. Growth and maturity were studied in two populations with different sex ratios (Camarones, a population with males, and Rada Tilly, a population where no males were found). Size overlapping was not related to the population sex ratio. Size overlapping was due to a variable moult increment and, to a lesser extent, to delayed maturity. Females mated before terminal moult in both populations. However, in Camarones, physiological maturity was not related to impregnation, while in Rada Tilly, vitellogenic oocytes were observed only in impregnated females. Also, differences in the number of spermatophores in female spermathecae were related to the sex ratio. Our results showed that the morphological maturity pattern of females was not influenced by the population sex ratio. However, physiological maturity was related to female impregnation and sex ratio. Also, the variation in the number of spermatophores suggests differences in the mating system related to the sex ratio.     

Regulation of adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate-dependent protein kinase in cerebral cortex

Alterations in the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio in response to putative neurotransmitters and other cyclic AMP-elevating agents in intact cerebral cortical slices and Krebs-Ringer particulate preparations from cerebral cortex were examined. Both norepinephrine (30 microM) and forskolin (20 microM) produced a time-dependent increase in intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in cerebral cortical slices which was paralleled by an increase in both cyclic AMP and the protein kinase activity ratio. The increases were maximal at 5 min. and remained elevated for at least 15 min. Forskolin, norepinephrine, adenosine and isoproterenol produced a concentration-dependent increase in both cyclic AMP and the protein kinase activity ratio, however, the degree of increase observed was dissimilar. Thus, a 5-fold change in intracellular cyclic AMP resulted in only a 2-fold increase in the activity ratio. Of the agents examined, forskolin produced the most marked change in the activity ratio (from 0.23 to 0.78 at 100 microM) while isoproterenol at 100 microM produced only a 50% increase in the activity ratio. The half-time for the decline in forskolin elicited elevations of either the activity ratio or cyclic AMP was about 4-6 min. In the presence of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, Ro 20-1724, both were significantly prolonged being 60-70% of the maximum observed immediately after forskolin stimulation, at 15 min. Potentiation of forskolin elicited increases in the activity ratio by Ro 20-1724 were also observed but the increase in the activity ratio was maximal at 7.5 min. while cyclic AMP accumulations continued to rise during the entire 15 min. incubation. Particulate preparations from cerebral cortex were found to contain a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase which could be activated 2 to 3-fold with either forskolin, norepinephrine, or adenosine. Unlike the intact brain slice the changes in protein kinase activity ratio and intracellular levels of cyclic AMP in cell-free particulate preparations were similar in both time and degree.     

Sex ratio in the offspring of parents with chronic radiation exposure from nuclear testing in Kazakhstan

The former Soviet Union conducted a nuclear test program in the Semipalatinsk region of northeastern Kazakhstan in 1949-1989. The population in the vicinity of the test site was chronically exposed to radiation fallout, especially from above-ground tests during 1949-1956. Male:female sex ratio has been proposed as a measure of reproductive health, with some reports suggesting an alteration in the sex ratio of offspring of parents exposed to radiation. We investigated the impact of radiation exposure and other factors on the sex ratio in the population inhabiting the exposed region. A total of 11,464 singleton births of 3,992 mothers exposed to radiation during 1949-1956 were analyzed. The overall sex ratio was 1.07, similar to the current sex ratio in Kazakhstan (1.06). The sex ratio increased from 1.04 where mothers received <20.0 cSv to 1.12 where mothers received > or =60.0 cSv. However, the linear trend across exposures was not significant (P = 0.42). No consistent association was found between the sex ratio and the time since parental radiation exposure, parental age at exposure, or year of birth. Sex ratio was significantly associated with maternal age, birth order and possibly ethnicity but not with paternal age, parental educational level or season. In conclusion, no significant association was found between radiation exposure level and sex ratio, but some previously suggested demographic factors were positively associated with sex ratio.