Bathing before sleep in the young and in the elderly

In this study we investigated the effects of bathing on the quality of sleep in 30 elderly people (ages 65-83 years) and in 30 young people (ages 17-22 years) in their homes. Room temperature did not vary significantly during the nights that data were acquired, ranging from 8 to 12 degrees C. After bathing and at the beginning of sleep, the mean (SE) rectal temperatures of the young and the elderly were 37.8 (0.08) and 37.5 (0.07) degrees C, respectively, and were higher by 0.7 (0.13) and 0.6 (0.07) degrees C, respectively, than when the subjects had not bathed. At the beginning of the sleep after bathing in the young subjects, skin temperature was 32.5 (0.24) and 1.5 (0.34) degrees C higher than when those subjects had not bathed. In the elderly, however, there were no significant differences in skin temperature with and without prior bathing because they used electric blankets during sleep. After bathing, the young people reported "warmth" in their hands and/or legs, while the elderly more often reported "good sleep" or "quickness of falling asleep". During the first 3 h of sleep, body movements were less frequent after bathing for both the young and the elderly subjects. The results suggest that a bath before sleep enhances the quality of sleep, particularly in the elderly.     

Variants in the CNR1 and the FAAH Genes and Adiposity Traits in the Community

Pharmacologic blockade of the endocannabinoid receptor 1 leads to weight loss and an improved metabolic risk profile in overweight and obese individuals. We hypothesize that common genetic variants in the CNR1 (encoding endocannabinoid receptor 1) and FAAH genes (encoding fatty acid amide hydrolase, a key enzyme hydrolyzing endocannabinoids) are associated with adiposity traits. We genotyped 18 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CNR1 gene and 9 SNPs in the FAAH gene in 2,415 Framingham Offspring Study participants (mean age 61 ± 10 years; 52.6% women; mean BMI 28.2 ± 5.4 kg/m²; 30.3% obese) and studied them for association with cross‐sectional and longitudinal measures of adiposity (BMI, waist circumference, change over time in BMI and waist circumference, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue) using linear mixed‐effect models. The selected SNPs captured 85% (r² = 0.8) of the common variation (minor allele frequency >5%) at the CNR1 locus and 96% (r² = 0.8) of the common variation at the FAAH locus (defined as the genomic segment containing the gene +20 kb upstream and +10 kb downstream). After correction for multiple testing, none of the SNPs in the CNR1 gene or in the FAAH gene displayed statistical evidence for association with BMI, waist circumference, and visceral adipose tissue or subcutaneous adipose tissue (all P > 0.18). Despite comprehensive SNP mapping across the genes and their regulatory regions in a large unselected sample, we failed to find evidence for an association of common variants in the CNR1 and FAAH genes with measures of adiposity in our community‐based sample.     

Calcium dependence of the contractile response of the aorta in the rat, rabbit and guinea pig and in the human uterine artery

The influence of extracellular Ca2+ on the contraction produced by noradrenaline (NA) (3 x 10(-6) M), KCl (60 mM) and BaCl2 (30 mM) on human uterine arteries (AUH) and aortic strips from rats, rabbits and guinea-pigs have been studied. The vessels were cut spirally and incubated in Krebs solution containing 2.5 mM Ca2+ (KN), 0 mM Ca2+ (K-0Ca) or 0 mM Ca2+ + 3 mM EDTA (K-EDTA). Both phases (fast and slow) of the response of aortic strips to NA and of the AUH to NA, KCl and BaCl2 were significantly smaller in solutions without Ca2+. Only in rabbit aortic strips the slow phase was significantly more reduced than the fast phase. Overall, the contractions of the rat aortic strips were most resistant to the absence of extracellular Ca2+. These results confirm the variability of the responses of blood vessels from different vascular beds and species to the removal of extracellular Ca2+.     

Paleopathology and the origin of agriculture in the Levant

This study addresses changes in health which were consequential to the Neolithic transition in the southern Levant, judged on the basis of the study of specific and nonspecific stress indicators, trauma, and degenerative joint disease in 200 Natufian (hunter‐gatherer) skeletons (10,500–8300 BC) and 205 Neolithic (agricultural) skeletons (8300–5500 BC) from the southern Levant. The comparison of the health profiles of pre‐Neolithic (Natufian) and Neolithic populations reveals a higher prevalence of lesions indicative of infectious diseases among the Neolithic population, and an overall reduction in the prevalence of skull trauma among males. No change over time was observed in the prevalence of degenerative joint disease. These results indicate that in the southern Levant the Neolithic transition did not simply lead to an overall deterioration in health but rather resulted in a complex health profile which was shaped by 1) an increase exposure to disease agents, 2) changes in diet, 3) population aggregation in larger and denser settlements, 4) changes in activity patterns and the division of labor, and possibly 5) a higher resistant immunological system and response capacity to environmental aggressions (mainly infections). Am J Phys Anthropol 143:121–133, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Involvement of the D-type cyclins in germ cell proliferation and differentiation in the mouse

Using immunohistochemistry, the expression of the D-type cyclin proteins was studied in the developing and adult mouse testis. Both during testicular development and in adult testis, cyclin D(1) is expressed only in proliferating gonocytes and spermatogonia, indicating a role for cyclin D(1) in spermatogonial proliferation, in particular during the G(1)/S phase transition. Cyclin D(2) is first expressed at the start of spermatogenesis when gonocytes produce A(1) spermatogonia. In the adult testis, cyclin D(2) is expressed in spermatogonia around stage VIII of the seminiferous epithelium when A(al) spermatogonia differentiate into A(1) spermatogonia and also in spermatocytes and spermatids. To further elucidate the role of cyclin D(2) during spermatogenesis, cyclin D(2) expression was studied in vitamin A-deficient testis. Cyclin D(2) was not expressed in the undifferentiated A spermatogonia in vitamin A-deficient testis but was strongly induced in these cells after the induction of differentiation of most of these cells into A(1) spermatogonia by administration of retinoic acid. Overall, cyclin D(2) seems to play a role at the crucial differentiation step of undifferentiated spermatogonia into A(1) spermatogonia. Cyclin D(3) is expressed in both proliferating and quiescent gonocytes during testis development. Cyclin D(3) expression was found in terminally differentiated Sertoli cells, in Leydig cells, and in spermatogonia in adult testis. Hence, although cyclin D(3) may control G(1)/S transition in spermatogonia, it probably has a different role in Sertoli and Leydig cells. In conclusion, the three D-type cyclins are differentially expressed during spermatogenesis. In spermatogonia, cyclins D(1) and D(3) seem to be involved in cell cycle regulation, whereas cyclin D(2) likely has a role in spermatogonial differentiation.     

Superoxide elimination activity and the transferrin-ceruloplasmin antioxidant system in the blood serum in chronic emotional-pain stress and the administration of dimethyl sulfoxide in rats

The influence of emotional painful stress (EPS) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment on ceruloplasmin-transferrin (Cp-Tr) antioxidant system and superoxide dismutase-like activity (SODLA) of the rat serum was studied. No changes in Cp-Tr and SODLA were observed in EPS. On the contrary, DMSO treatment was followed by a decrease in Cp-Tr activity and an increase in SODLA. It is suggested that Cp-Tr and SODLA systems are two interacting antioxidant systems of the serum.     

Causal relationship between the transitions in the core and the surface in porcine low-density lipoproteins

Two independent parameters, two characteristic temperatures, one indicating the change in the molecular organization of the core, Tc, and the other in the surface layer, Ts, were measured for a number of natural and triglyceride-enriched porcine low-density lipoprotein (LDL1 (buoyant density 1.020--1.063 g/ml) and LDL2 (buoyant density 1.063--1.080 g/ml) samples. Tc was determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), whereas Ts was measured by Mn(II) binding to the lipoprotein surface followed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. A significant causal relationship between Tc and Ts in both LDL subfractions demonstrates the surface-core interaction in LDL. The significance of that interaction is emphasized as a possible link in the chain diet----lipoprotein changes----atherosclerosis.     

Secretory patterns of progesterone and gonadotropins in the ovarian branch of the ovarian vein and the jugular vein during and around the second trimester of pregnancy in the cow

Indwelling catheters were placed in the ovarian branch of the ovarian vein (OBOV) of 14 pregnant beef cows assigned to one of three periods of gestation: Period 1, catheterization on Days 70-100 (n = 5); Period 2, Days 120-150 (n = 5); and Period 3, Days 180-210 (n = 4). Samples were collected from the OBOV twice daily at 0600-0800 h (AM) and 1700-1900 h (PM). Intensive sample collections (every 20 min for 6 h, short-term sampling windows) were performed from the jugular vein (JV) and the OBOV. Average and baseline OBOV progesterone (P4) concentrations per 6-h window as well as the magnitude and amplitude of OBOV P4 pulses decreased from Period 1 to Period 2. The number of pulses per window and the relative increase of pulses above the baseline did not change. There was an increase in the average, but not the baseline, concentration of OBOV P4 from Period 2 to Period 3. The average and baseline concentrations of P4 in the JV as well as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the OBOV and JV remained constant from Day 70 to Day 210 of gestation. There was no difference between the OBOV and JV for either LH or FSH, whereas the concentration of P4 in the OBOV was higher than in the JV for all periods. In both the AM and PM OBOV samples, P4 concentrations in Period 2 (AM = 83 ng/ml; PM = 67 ng/ml) were lower than Periods 1 (AM = 343 ng/ml; PM = 333 ng/ml) and 3 (AM = 534 ng/ml; PM = 305 ng/ml). However, no difference could be detected between AM (187 ng/ml) and PM (180 ng/ml) P4 concentrations when all periods were combined. Changes occurred in the concentrations and secretion patterns of P4 in the OBOV during and around the second trimester of gestation that were not reflected by P4 in the JV nor by LH and FSH in either vessel.     

S-Transnitrosylation of albumin in human plasma and blood in vitro and in vivo in the rat

S-Nitrosoalbumin (SNOALB) is the most abundant physiological circulating nitric oxide (NO) carrier regulating NO-dependent biological actions in humans. The mechanisms of its formation and biological actions are still incompletely understood. Nitrosation by authentic NO and S-transnitrosylation of the single sulfhydryl group located at Cys-34 of human albumin by the physiological S-nitroso compounds S-nitrosocysteine (SNOC) and S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) are two possible mechanisms. On a quantitative basis, we investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry the contribution of these two mechanisms to SNOALB formation in human plasma and blood in vitro. GSNO and SNOC (0-100 microM) rapidly and efficiently (recovery=35%) S-transnitrosylated albumin to form SNOALB. NO (100 microM) S-nitrosated albumin to SNOALB at a considerably lower extent (recovery=5%). The putative NO-donating drugs glyceryl trinitrate and sodium nitroprusside (each 100 microM) failed completely in S-nitrosating albumin. Bubbling NO into human plasma and blood resulted in formation of SNOALB that inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation. Infusion of GS(15)NO in the rat resulted in formation of S(15)NOALB, [(15)N]nitrate and [(15)N]nitrite. Our results suggest that S-transnitrosylation of albumin by SNOC and GSNO could be a more favored mechanism for the formation of SNOALB in the circulation in vivo than S-nitrosation of albumin by NO itself.     

Mutations and polymorphisms in the genes for myocilin and optineur in as the risk factors of primary open-angle glaucoma

A collection of DNA samples obtained from primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients from St. Petersburg was analyzed for single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) to reveal sequence variants in exon 3 of the myocilin gene (MYOC/TIGR) and in exons 4 and 5 of the optineurin gene (OPTN), where most of the mutations revealed worldwide are located. The Q368X mutation (c. 1102 C --> T) in exon 3 of MYOC/TIGR was detected in 1.2% (2/170) of the POAG patients from St. Petersburg, i.e., with the frequency close to that observed in other world populations. Three known polymorphisms in exon 3 of MYOC/TIGR, Y347Y (c. 1041 T --> C) (12.4%), T325T (c. 975 G --> A) (0.6%), and K398R (c. 1193 A --> G) (0.6%) were also detected. No statistically significant differences in frequencies of these polymorphisms were revealed between the POAG patient and control groups. The L41L polymorphism (c. 433 G --> A) in exon 4 of OPTN was detected in 2.9% of probands and in 1% of controls. The frequency of heterozygotes for the M98K polymorphism (c. 603 T --> A) in the OPTN exon 5 was statistically significantly higher (P = 0.036; Fisher's exact test) among the POAG patients (6.5%) than among the controls (1%). In the sample examined the E50K mutation, typical of the patients with pseudonormal intraocular pressure glaucoma, was not found.     

Cortical and pontine variations occurring in the voltammetric no signal throughout the sleep-wake cycle in the rat

Voltammetric measurements of nitric oxide (NO) were performed either in the frontal cortex (Cx) or in the nucleus raphe dorsalis (nRD) of rats equipped for polygraphic recordings. In the frontal cortex, the 650 mV signal related to NO exhibited its highest height during the waking state (W) and decreased slightly during slow-wave sleep (SWS) and even more during paradoxical sleep (PS). In the nRD, opposite variations were observed, i.e. the signal tended towards an increase during SWS and raised more consistently during PS versus W. Recordings performed either in the Cx or the nRD, throughout the light (12-h) and dark (12-h) periods, exhibited opposite nycthemeral changes, i.e. the signal height was higher in the Cx and lower in the nRD during the dark period and conversely for the light one. Paracrine and synaptic mechanisms taking place within the pons and, at least partly, also reflected in the Cx need to be further investigated.     

Mobility of the conceptus and uterine contractions in the mare

Location of the embryonic vesicle within the uterus of mares was recorded every. five minutes for two consecutive hours (25 location determinations per trial) in three experiments. In Experiment 1 (n=7), the number of location changes among nine uterine segments (three body segments and three segments for each horn) was greater (P<0.05) on Day 13 than on Day 10. The vesicle was located in the body more frequently (P<0.05) and tended (P<0.1) to move to a more caudal position more frequently on Day 10 than on Day 13. Fixation occurred on Day 15 in four of seven mares and on Day 16 in the remaining three mares. The number of location changes was not significantly different between two days prior to fixation and one day prior to fixation. In Experiment 2, the effect of clenbuterol, a B₂ sympathomimetic blocker of uterine contractions, was studied on Days 12 or 13 of pregnancy. Location changes occurred less frequently (P<0.05) in treated mares (n=9) than in controls (n=10), indicating involvement of uterine contractions in the mobility of the embryonic vesicle. In Experiment 3, when the initial direction of location changes was caudal within a horn and cranial within the uterine body, the vesicle was more likely (P<0.05) to continue moving in the same direction than in the opposite direction. However, when the direction within a horn was cranial, the next location change was as likely to be in the opposite direction as in the same direction (not significantly different from equality). When the direction within the uterine body was caudal, the next location change was more likely (P<0.05) to be in the opposite direction.     

紫扇贝与海湾扇贝通用SSR的检测及其在杂交子代鉴定中的应用

以紫扇贝DNA为模板,用已开发的147个海湾扇贝微卫星标记引物扩增,结果表明100个微卫星标记能成功扩增,其中有47个表现出多态性,等位基因数目从2到9不等.观测杂合度范围为0.128 0～1.000 0(平均0.660 4),期望杂合度范围为0.503 1～0.862 1(平均0.671 9),有6个位点偏离Hardy-Weinberg平衡(P<0.05).用7对引物分别对紫扇贝、海湾扇贝及其种间正反杂交F1各30个个体进行PCR扩增,发现它们可明确区分紫扇贝与海湾扇贝,且所检测60个杂交子代均同时含海湾扇贝与紫扇贝的相应种特异性条带,证明全部为种间杂交子代.将该7对引物的扩增产物克隆测序,发现这些位点在两种扇贝中的序列同源率为40.22%～91.95%,其中3个位点在紫扇贝中的扩增产物仍然含有微卫星.     

Glucocorticoids and hypothermic induction and survival in the rat

Glucocorticoids (GC) are important for thermoregulatory responses to low environmental temperatures. Pretreatment of hamsters, which are capable of natural hibernation, with cortisone acetate has been demonstrated to improve carbohydrate homeostasis during hypothermia. The objectives of the current studies were to evaluate the effects of GC pretreatment of a nonhibernator, the rat, on (i) cooling time, (ii) carbohydrate homeostasis (in terms of liver and cardiac glycogen concentrations and plasma glucose concentration), and (iii) duration of survival in hypothermia. In addition, the effects of liver glycogen depletion on cooling times and survival were examined. Hypothermia was induced in rats by exposure to a helium:oxygen (80:20, Helox) atmosphere at 0 degree C. Pretreatment of rats with triamcinolone acetonide (1.5 mg/kg/day, sc, 48, 24, and 1 hr prior to induction) significantly (P less than 0.05) lengthened induction time, while fasting was associated with a significant decrement (25%). While liver and cardiac glycogen levels in control and GC-treated rats fell approximately 45% during cooling, this reduction occurred over a significantly greater period of time in treated rats and suggests a sparing of glycogen or increased capacity for its production in response to GC. Glycogen utilization was accompanied by a hyperglycemia in control, GC-treated, and fasted groups. Survival in hypothermia at a rectal temperature of 14-15 degrees C in GC-treated (9.5 +/- 1.2 hr) and fasted (10.9 +/- 0.9 hr) rats was not significantly different from control (10.5 +/- 1.1 hr) values. These findings suggest that treatment with GC can increase the thermogenic capacity of the rat (as evidenced by an increased induction time) and promote carbohydrate homeostasis, but does not contribute to an enhancement of survival in the hypothermic nonhibernator.     

Pyruvate decarboxylation in astrocytes and in neurons in primary cultures in the presence and the absence of ammonia

Oxidative decarboxylation of [1-¹⁴C]pyruvate was studied in primary cultures of neurons and of astrocytes. The rate of this process, which is a measure of carbon flow into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and which is inhibited by its end product, acetyl CoA, was determined under conditions which would either elevate or reduce the components of the malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS). Addition of aspartate (1 mM) was found to stimulate pyruvate decarboxylation in astrocytes whereas addition of glutamate (or glutamine) had no effect. Since aspartate is a precursor for extramitochondrial malate, and thus intramitochondrial oxaloacetate, whereas glutamate and glutamine are not, this suggests that an increase in oxaloacetate level stimulates TCA cycle activity. Conversely, a reduction of the glutamate content by 3 mM ammonia, which might reduce exchange between glutamate and aspartate across the mitochondrial membrane, suppressed pyruvate decarboxylation. This effect was abolished by addition of glutamate or glutamine or exposure to methionine sulfoximine (MSO). These findings suggest that impairment of MAS activity by removal of MAS constituents decreases TCA cycle activity whereas replenishment of these compounds restores the activity of the TCA cycle. No corresponding effects were observed in neurons.     

Crystallins in the differentiation and regeneration processes of the crystalline lens in amphibia

The published and authors' data have been summarized on (1) the spectrum and properties of crystallins in different amphibian species, (2) localization and synthesis of crystallins in different cellular compartments of the adult amphibian lens, (3) dynamics of crystallin formation during embryogenesis and (4) lens regeneration from tissues of the larval and adult amphibian eyes. The necessity of more detailed studies of crystallin synthesis during embryogenesis and lens regeneration using molecular biological and biochemical methods is stressed. The significance of this approach is illustrated by the pioneering data of Soviet scientists on crystallin polypeptides and corresponding mRNAs in development of Rana temporaria obtained with the use of DNA-RNA hybridization and immunoelectroblotting.     

Metabolism of androgens in the seminal vesicles and the different lobes of the prostate in young mature rats

Oxidation and reduction of 4-androstene-3,17-dione (androstenedione), 17 beta-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one (testosterone), 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-androstan-3-one (DHT), 5 alpha-androstan-3 alpha,17 beta-diol (3 alpha-A'diol) and 5 alpha-androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol (3 beta-A'diol) were measured in homogenates from ventral (VP), dorsal (DP) and lateral prostate (LP), the coagulating gland (CG) and seminal vesicle (SV) of the intact sexually mature rat using NAD(H) or NADP(H) as cofactors. The specific activity of the various enzymes varied significantly between the different organs. 5 alpha-Reductase activity was highest in the DP and the CG, and undetectable in the LP. 17 beta-Hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (17 beta-HSOR) activity was mainly confined to the LP. 3 alpha-Hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3 alpha-HSOR) activity was also highest in the LP. In the VP the highest 3 alpha-HSOR activity was recorded using NAD(H) as cofactor. In the other organs, similar or higher enzymatic activities were measured using NADP(H) as added cofactor. 3 beta-Hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3 beta-HSOR) activity was high in the LP and low or undetectable in the other tissues. Our results indicate that isoenzymes of 3 alpha-HSOR, 3 beta-HSOR and 17 beta-HSOR are present in the accessory sex organs of the rat.     

Variation in the sizes of eggs and oncospheres and the numbers and distributions of testes in the tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta

Four "strains" of Hymenolepis diminuta were examined for morphological variation. These included the ARME "strain" (currently maintained at the University of Keele, U.K.), the OSU "strain" (currently maintained at The Ohio State University) and the TOR (or UT) "strain" (currently maintained at the University of Toronto), all of which were derived from the parental RICE "strain," and the ANU "strain" (currently maintained at the Australian National University). Additionally, 2 separate "clonal" populations (populations derived from single cysticercoids) from both the OSU and ANU "strains" were examined. All "strains" and "clones" were maintained under identical conditions using Tenebrio molitor and male Sprague-Dawley rats as the intermediate and definitive hosts, respectively. The lengths and widths of eggs and larvae (oncospheres) passed in the hosts' feces, and the numbers and distributions of testes in proglottids were quantified and the data analyzed. Although analyses of the lengths and widths of eggs and larvae demonstrated significant differences among some "strains" and "clones," a discriminate analysis of the data indicated these parameters to be of questionable taxonomic significance. The eggs of all "strains" and "clones" consisted of 2 distinct populations differing in density and size but not infectivity; the relative proportions of eggs in the 2 populations were not determined. Considering all possible numbers and distributions of testes, 17 variations were seen in the strobilae of tapeworms. Analyses of the data demonstrated that the "strains" and "clones" could be differentiated clearly using only the frequencies of the 1p2a (1 poral and 2 aporal testes) or 1p3a distribution, or the frequencies of proglottids containing 3 or 4 testes; all other variations failed to clearly differentiate or group the various "strains" and "clones."(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The concentrations of catecholamines and oxytocin receptors in the oviduct and its contractile activity in cows during the estrous cycle

In vitro experiments on oviducts of cyclic cows were undertaken to study: (1) the content of dopamine (DA), noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) in infundibulum, ampulla and isthmus, (2) the concentration of oxytocin receptors (OTR) in oviductal tissues and (3) the motility of ampulla and isthmus. Changes of DA content were observed in the infundibulum and the ampulla with maximal values occurring on Days 6-10 of the estrous cycle. The mean NA content was greatest in infundibulum相似文献   

Variations in oxytocin, vasopressin and neurophysin concentrations in the bovine ovary during the oestrous cycle and pregnancy

Bovine ovaries were obtained from the abattoir and corpora lutea were classified as: (1) early luteal phase (approximately Days 1-4); (2) mid-luteal phase (Days 5-10); (3) late luteal phase (Days 11-17); (4) regressing (Days 18-20) and (5) pregnant (Days 90-230). In addition, preovulatory follicles and whole ovaries without luteal tissue were collected. Concentrations of oxytocin, vasopressin, bovine neurophysin I and progesterone were measured in each corpus luteum by radioimmunoassay. Progesterone and neurophysin I levels increased from Stage 1 to Stage 2, plateaued during Stage 3 and declined by Stage 4. Oxytocin and vasopressin concentrations increased from Stage 1 to Stage 2 but declined during Stage 3 and were low (oxytocin) or undetectable (vasopressin) in follicles, whole ovaries and pregnancy corpora lutea. Therefore the concentrations of both peptide hormones were maximal during the first half of the cycle and declined before those of progesterone. The high concentration of oxytocin within the corpus luteum coupled with the presence of bovine neurophysin I suggests that oxytocin is synthesized locally.