An optimized MALDI MSI protocol for spatial detection of tryptic peptides in fresh frozen prostate tissue

MALDI MS imaging (MSI) is a powerful analytical tool for spatial peptide detection in heterogeneous tissues. Proper sample preparation is crucial to achieve high quality, reproducible measurements. Here we developed an optimized protocol for spatially resolved proteolytic peptide detection with MALDI time-of-flight MSI of fresh frozen prostate tissue sections. The parameters tested included four different tissue washes, four methods of protein denaturation, four methods of trypsin digestion (different trypsin densities, sprayers, and incubation times), and five matrix deposition methods (different sprayers, settings, and matrix concentrations). Evaluation criteria were the number of detected and excluded peaks, percentage of high mass peaks, signal-to-noise ratio, spatial localization, and average intensities of identified peptides, all of which were integrated into a weighted quality evaluation scoring system. Based on these scores, the optimized protocol included an ice-cold EtOH+H₂O wash, a 5 min heating step at 95°C, tryptic digestion incubated for 17h at 37°C and CHCA matrix deposited at a final amount of 1.8 μg/mm². Including a heat-induced protein denaturation step after tissue wash is a new methodological approach that could be useful also for other tissue types. This optimized protocol for spatial peptide detection using MALDI MSI facilitates future biomarker discovery in prostate cancer and may be useful in studies of other tissue types.     

No OTA in fresh cocoa beans

The presence of ochratoxin A (OTA) in cocoa and chocolates has been reported. There is no previously published data available on the source and development of OTA producing moulds and OTA itself in cocoa,i.e. where the mycotoxin enters the cocoa supply chain. A selection of fresh and undamaged cocoa pods from various growing regions was examined for mycotoxin OTA content. In addition, a small selection of damaged or mouldy cocoa pods was included in the examination. It was shown that the ripening phase of healthy cocoa pods from the tree up to being harvested was not a critical period for the occurrence of the mycotoxin OTA. The mycotoxin OTA was not detectable in any of the analysed cocoa pods. Presented at the 28^th Mykotoxin-Workshop, Bydgoszcz, Poland, May 29–31, 2006     

35种鲜花的抗氧化活性

采用了Fe^2 诱发的脂蛋白PUFA过氧化、H2O2诱导的RBC溶血和紫外线（UV）诱发的RBC溶血等3个体外抗氧化实验体系,对映山红（Rhododendron simsii Planch.)等35种鲜花的抗氧化活性进行了测定和比较。结果表明,在所测定的35种鲜花中,4种杜鹃属（Rhododendron L.)植物的花勒抗氧化活性最强。一定浓度白杜鹃[R.mucronatum (Blume)G.Don]花蕾提取液的抗Fe^2 诱发的脂蛋白PUFA过氧化活性明显高于维生素C。     

Practical method of estimating fresh mass of Adélie penguin eggs

Fresh egg mass (FEM) is an important measure as it relates to many allometric relationships. Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) eggs, as other bird eggs, begin to lose weight as soon as they are laid but their linear dimensions remain constant. The FEM of an Adélie penguin’s egg can be estimated within 1% from the relationship FEM = 0.564 × LW ², where L is the length and W is the width. The constant 0.564 was calculated by weighing the eggs after replacing the air cell with water. The calculated mean egg mass agrees well with that obtained by weighing eggs after replacement of the air cell with water (r ² = 0.996). This method of estimating FEM based on linear measurements is easily applicable in the field.     

Patterns in body mass distributions: sifting among alternative hypotheses

Understanding how animals interact with their environment is critical for evaluating, mitigating and coping with anthropogenic alteration of Earth's biosphere. Researchers have attempted to understand some aspects of these interactions by examining patterns in animal body mass distributions. Energetic, phylogenetic, biogeographical, textural discontinuity and community interaction hypotheses have been advanced to explain observed patterns. Energetic and textural discontinuity hypotheses focus upon the allometry of resource use. The community interaction hypothesis contends that biotic interactions within assemblages of species are of primary importance. Biogeographical and phylogenetic hypotheses focus on the role of constraints on the organization of communities. This paper examines and organizes these various propositions about species body mass distributions and discusses the multiple competing hypotheses, how their predictions vary, and possible methods by which the hypotheses can be distinguished and tested. Each of the hypotheses is partial, and explains some elements of pattern in body mass distributions. The scale of appropriate application, relevance and interpretation varies among the hypotheses, and the mechanisms underlying observed patterns are likely to be multicausal and vary with scale.     

Variation in body mass index among Polish adults: effects of sex, age, birth cohort, and social class

Remains of 15 hominids were recovered within a Mousterian archaeological context in the cave of Qafzeh, Israel. Dated to ca. 95 kyr BP, this skeletal material has been crucial for understanding biological, chronological, and cultural aspects of anatomically modern ancient Homo sapiens. The high proportion of children (N = 8) in Qafzeh Cave is unique among Middle Palaeolithic sites and encourages the search for skeletal evidence of disease and trauma. We report on the case of one child, Qafzeh 12, ca. 3 years old (according to modern human reference standards), who manifests some outstanding skeletal abnormalities that indicate hydrocephalus.     

鲜罗汉果果汁脱色方法研究

采用3因素3水平正交设计法,以脱色率、总甙收得率为指标,筛选影响罗汉果果汁颜色和总甙收得率的因素,建立了罗汉果果汁脱色的最佳工艺。结果表明实验设计的A因素对罗汉果果汁脱色率具有显著影响,C因素对总甙收得率有显著影响。最终优选鲜罗汉果果汁的脱色条件是A2BC3(鲜罗汉果∶D900树脂重量比为3∶1;固形物含量为工艺流程可变含量,洗水量为树脂重量的4倍),工艺中试验证时脱色率为96.5%、总甙收得率高达97.7%,该工艺技术操作简单,脱色效果好,回收率高,适合于工业化大生产。     

Chemokines and their association with body mass index among healthy Saudis

Obesity is a chronic disorder that is associated with body mass index (BMI) of greater or equal to 30 kg/m². The prevalence of obesity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is increasing at an alarming rate and is expected to reach 41% in men and up to 78% in women by 2022. Since chemokines are associated with involuntary weight loss, the objective of this study was to elucidate their association with BMI among Saudis. A questionnaire was used to collect information about diet, health conditions, and demographics from 15 men and 16 women who participated in the study. BMI was calculated based on clinical measurements and participants were classified according to their BMI category as: normal, underweight, overweight, or obese. Serum samples were collected for a multiplex assay using the Human Chemokine Magnetic 30-plex panel. The serum concentration of either the monokine induced by gamma interferon (MIG) or the CXC-motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL-9) was significantly increased in obese men (P = 0.0194) and women (P = 0.043) as compared to underweight men and women, respectively. However, the serum levels of other chemokines were not significantly different among the groups. We found that MIG levels are differentially regulated in serum, based on individuals’ BMI.     

Body mass, body composition and sleeping metabolic rate before, during and after endurance training

Metabolic rate, more specifically resting metabolic rate (RMR) or sleeping metabolic rate (SMR), of an adult subject is usually expressed as a function of the fat-free mass (FFM). Chronic exercise is thought to increase FFM and thus to increase RMR and SMR. We determined body mass (BM), body composition, and SMR before, during, and after an endurance training programme without interfering with energy intake. The subjects were 11 women and 12 men, aged 37 (SD 3) years and body mass index 22.3 (SD 1.5) kg · m^–2. The endurance training prepared subjects to run a half marathon competition after 44 weeks. The SMR was measured overnight in a respiration chamber. Body composition was measured by hydrostatic weighing. Measurements were performed at 0, 8, 20, 40, and 90 weeks after the start of the training. The BM had decreased from a mean value of 66.6 (SD 6.9) to 65.6 (SD 6.7) kg (P<0.01), fat mass (FM) had decreased from 17.1 (SD 3.9) to 13.5 (SD 3.6) kg (P<0.001), and FFM had increased from 49.5 (SD 7.3) to 52.2 (SD 7.6) kg (P<0.001) at 40 weeks. Mean SMR before and after 40 weeks training was 6.5 (SD 0.7) and 6.2 (SD 0.6) MJ · day^–1 (P<0.05). The decrease in SMR was related to the decrease in BM (r=0.62,P=0.001). At 90 weeks, when most subjects had not trained for nearly a year, BM and SMR were not significantly different from the initial value while FM and FFM had not changed since week 40 of training. In conclusion, it was found that an exercise induced increase in FFM did not result in an increase in SMR. There was an indication of the opposite effect, a decrease in SMR in the long term during training, possibly as a defence mechanism of the body in the maintenance of BM.     

Body mass index, socio-economic status and socio-behavioral practices among Tz’utujil Maya women

This study investigates the associations between body mass index (BMI), socio-economic status (SES) and related socio-behavioral practices including marriage and market visits in a population of adult Tz’utujil Maya women in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala, aged 18-82. Mixed qualitative and quantitative methods include cross-sectional anthropometric measurements and semi-structured interviews gathered in 2007, as well as participant observation and purposive interviews conducted in 2007-2008. The regional quota sample of 53 semi-structured interviews was designed to be representative of the cantones (municipal divisions) of Santiago Atitlán. BMI was positively associated with years of schooling, income and literacy, all measures of SES. A statistical analysis of our data indicates that increased income, increased market visits and being married are significantly positively associated with BMI. Qualitative analysis based on the grounded theory method reveals relevant themes including a preoccupation with hunger and undernutrition rather than obesity, a preference for food quantity over dietary diversity, the economic and social influence of a husband, the effects of market distance and the increasing consumption of food from tiendas. These themes help to explain how SES, socio-behavioral practices and BMI are positively associated and can inform future public health interventions related to obesity and undernutrition.     

鲜食大豆蚜虫种群增长规律与防治指标

大豆蚜Aphis glycinesMatsmura种群增长随时间而变化,符合Logistic增长模型,得出回归方程N=58.5330/(1+e4.8704-0.2274t),当t≈21时,可作为防治大豆蚜的关键时期,此时正值田间大豆苗期的营养生长盛期。大豆苗期随着蚜量上升,危害损失增加。根据田间蚜虫密度与危害损失率之间的相互关系,大豆蚜的防治指标可确定为平均每穴蚜量24头或800头/百株。     

Associations of body mass index with cancer incidence among populations,genders, and menopausal status: A systematic review and meta-analysis

In order to further reveal the differences of association between body mass index (BMI) and cancer incidence across populations, genders, and menopausal status, we performed comprehensive meta-analysis with eligible citations. The risk ratio (RR) of incidence at 10 different cancer sites (per 5 kg/m² increase in BMI) were quantified separately by employing generalized least-squares to estimate trends, and combined by meta-analyses. We observed significantly stronger association between increased BMI and breast cancer incidence in the Asia⿿Pacific group (RR 1.18:1.11⿿1.26) than in European⿿Australian (1.05:1.00⿿1.09) and North-American group (1.06:1.03⿿1.08) (meta-regression p < 0.05). No association between increased BMI and pancreatic cancer incidence (0.94:0.71⿿1.24) was shown in the Asia⿿Pacific group (meta-regression p < 0.05), whereas positive associations were found in other two groups. A significantly higher RR in men was found for colorectal cancer in comparison with women (meta-regression p < 0.05). Compared with postmenopausal women, premenopausal women displayed significantly higher RR for ovarian cancer (pre- vs. post- = 1.10 vs. 1.01, meta-regression p < 0.05), but lower RR for breast cancer (pre- vs. post- = 0.99 vs. 1.11, meta-regression p < 0.0001). Our results indicate that overweight or obesity is a strong risk factor of cancer incidence at several cancer sites. Genders, populations, and menopausal status are important factors effecting the association between obesity and cancer incidence for certain cancer types.     

甘蔗—大豆间作对大豆鲜荚产量和农艺性状的影响

为探讨甘蔗-大豆间作模式对大豆鲜荚产量和农艺性状的影响,于2009—2011年连续3年在广州市华南农业大学农场进行大田试验,试验设置2种施氮水平(常规施氮(525kg·hm-2)和减量施氮(300kg·hm-2))和3种种植模式(甘蔗-大豆(1∶1)、甘蔗-大豆(1∶2)、单作大豆)。结果表明:甘蔗-大豆间作(1∶2)模式下,2009年减量施氮水平的大豆鲜荚产量较常规施氮水平提高了33%,2010和2011年不同施氮水平间均无显著差异;甘蔗-大豆间作模式对大豆的单株鲜荚重、多粒荚数和百粒鲜重无显著影响;大豆单株鲜荚重与多粒荚数在不同种植模式下均呈显著相关(P<0.05),在常规施氮间作模式下与大豆单株荚数呈显著相关(P<0.05)。甘蔗-大豆间作没有降低大豆的单株鲜荚产量,也没有对大豆的农艺性状产生负面影响,从增产增收、提高土地生产力来考虑,减量施氮模式下甘蔗-大豆间作具有一定的可行性。     

不同缓控释肥对鲜食玉米产量、品质及氨挥发的影响

采用田间试验,设置不施氮对照(CK)、常规施肥(U)、增效尿素(DU)、包膜尿素(CU)、缓控释掺混尿素(CDU)共5个处理,研究了常规施肥(240 kg N·hm^-2)和不同缓控释肥料一次性减量施用(180 kg N·hm^-2)对鲜食玉米产量、品质与土壤无机氮变化和氨挥发的影响。结果表明: U处理氨挥发总量最高,追肥是产生氨挥发损失的重要因素;与U处理相比,DU、CU、CDU处理氨挥发减排78%～81%。收获后U处理80～100 cm土层硝态氮浓度最高,为51.6 mg·kg^-1,氮淋溶风险较高,而DU、CU、CDU处理同土层硝态氮含量均较低,降低了淋溶风险。与U处理相比,减氮25%的3个缓控释肥处理没有减产,并增加了籽粒维生素C、可溶性糖和蛋白质含量;缓控释肥处理之间,DU处理的氮肥农学效率和经济效益最高。综上,减量施用新型缓控释肥可以实现鲜食玉米稳产提质,显著降低氨挥发损失和硝态氮淋失风险。与成本较高的树脂包膜控释肥相比,双效抑制剂增效肥(DU)成本低、制作便捷,是鲜食玉米专用肥的较好选择。     

Resistin levels are related to fat mass,but not to body mass index in children

The relationship of resistin levels with obesity remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine resistin levels in prepubertal children and adolescents and evaluate their association with anthropometric parameters and body composition. The study population included 420 randomly selected 6–8-year-old children and 712 children aged 12–16 years. Anthropometric data were measured and body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip and waist-to-height ratios were calculated. Body composition was assessed using an impedance body composition analyzer. Serum resistin levels were determined using a multiplexed bead immunoassay. Resistin levels were not significantly different between sexes. No significant differences in serum resistin concentrations were found between obese, overweight, and normal weight children at any age, and no significant correlations were observed between resistin concentrations and weight or BMI. However, resistin levels showed a significant positive correlation with fat mass in 12–16-year-old children, particularly in girls. In addition to describing serum resistin levels in prepubertal children and adolescents, our study suggests that resistin is related to body fat rather than to BMI in adolescents.     

Electron microscopy of human melanosomes in unstained,fresh air-dried hair bulbs and their examination by electron probe microanalysis

Summary Electron microscopy of unstained, fresh air-dried spreads of plucked human hair bulbs revealed relatively well preserved melanocytes and dense storage granules of melanin. Energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis of melanosomes and premelanosomes from black facial hair bulbs disclosed high peaks for potassium and sulfur, intermediate peaks for magnesium and calcium, and low but distinct ones for phosphorus and chlorine. No peaks for magnesium were found in the central portion of mature melanosomes, but at their edges and in premelanosomes conspicuous peaks for this element were obtained.Supported by a grant from the Ministry of Education of JapanThe author thanks Dr. H. Fujita for his advice and Messrs K. Yonehara, S. Okamura, T. Fukuoka, and T. Asai, Naka Works, Hitachi Ltd., Katsuta, Ibaraki, for use of their X-ray microanalyzer and for their assistance in electron probe analysis     

组培苗鲜罗汉果与干罗汉果营养成分的分析和比较

对组培苗鲜罗汉果与干罗汉果提取物的营养成分进行分析和比较研究,分别测定了蛋白质、脂肪、总糖、碳水化合物、灰分、矿质元素、维生素E和氨基酸含量。结果表明:组培苗鲜罗汉果和干罗汉果蛋白质含量分别为22.23%、19.8%,氨基酸总量分别为12.51%、8.36%,其中人体必需氨基酸占氨基酸总量分别为38.13%、36.36%,矿质元素含量分别为1081mg/100g、1089mg/100g,维生素E含量分别为0.183mg/100g、0.589mg/100g。组培苗鲜罗汉果的蛋白质、氨基酸含量比组培苗干罗汉果分别高2.43%、4.15%,碳水化合物、维生素E含量组培苗干罗汉果比组培苗鲜罗汉果分别高2.44%、0.406mg/100g,矿质元素、粗脂肪、总糖、灰分等含量两者不存在明显差异。