Prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en niños y adolescentes de 2 a 16 años

ObjectivesTo estimate the prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents in our city and to investigate the associated factors.Subjects and methodsA cross-sectional study of 1317 children and adolescents aged 2-16 years. Multistage probability sampling was used to select three groups of subjects: 411 aged 12 to 16 years, 504 aged 6 to 12 years, and 402 aged 2 to 6 years. Body mass index was calculated, and obesity and overweight were diagnosed using the threshold levels of the International Obesity Task Force for children and adolescents. Parents were asked about eating habits, health, social, and demographic aspects. Results are given as percentages (95% confidence interval). The relationship between obesity and overweight and the different variables was studied using multiple logistic regression. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was calculated.ResultsAmong children and adolescentes aged 2-16 years, 9.5% (8.0%-11.0%) were obese and 22.4% (23.3%-24.6%) were overweight. Of subjects aged 12-16 years, 8.5% (5.9%-11.2%) were obese and 20.5% (16.7%-24.3%) were overweight. In the groups aged 6-12 years and 2-6 years, rates of obesity and overweight were 11.6% (8.9% -14.3%) and 31.0% (27.0-35.0) and 8.0% (5.4%-10.6%) and 13.6% (10.3%-16.9%) respectively. Obesity or overweight was associated to age (OR 1.21; P< 0.001), maternal obesity (OR 10.99; P= 0.008), a birthweight higher than 4 kg (OR 2.91; p 0.002), and formula feeding (OR 1.82; P= 0.005).ConclusionObesity and overweight in children and adolescents are highly prevalent problems in our city.     

Regeneration of Soft Tissues Is Promoted by MMP1 Treatment after Digit Amputation in Mice

The ratio of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) to the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in wounded tissues strictly control the protease activity of MMPs, and therefore regulate the progress of wound closure, tissue regeneration and scar formation. Some amphibians (i.e. axolotl/newt) demonstrate complete regeneration of missing or wounded digits and even limbs; MMPs play a critical role during amphibian regeneration. Conversely, mammalian wound healing re-establishes tissue integrity, but at the expense of scar tissue formation. The differences between amphibian regeneration and mammalian wound healing can be attributed to the greater ratio of MMPs to TIMPs in amphibian tissue. Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of MMP1 to effectively promote skeletal muscle regeneration by favoring extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling to enhance cell proliferation and migration. In this study, MMP1 was administered to the digits amputated at the mid-second phalanx of adult mice to observe its effect on digit regeneration. Results indicated that the regeneration of soft tissue and the rate of wound closure were significantly improved by MMP1 administration, but the elongation of the skeletal tissue was insignificantly affected. During digit regeneration, more mutipotent progenitor cells, capillary vasculature and neuromuscular-related tissues were observed in MMP1 treated tissues; moreover, there was less fibrotic tissue formed in treated digits. In summary, MMP1 was found to be effective in promoting wound healing in amputated digits of adult mice.     

Locking the 150-Cavity Open: In Silico Design and Verification of Influenza Neuraminidase Inhibitors

Neuraminidase (NA) of influenza is a key target for virus infection control and the recently discovered open 150-cavity in group-1 NA provides new opportunity for novel inhibitors design. In this study, we used a combination of theoretical methods including fragment docking, molecular linking and molecular dynamics simulations to design ligands that specifically target at the 150-cavity. Through in silico screening of a fragment compound library on the open 150-cavity of NA, a few best scored fragment compounds were selected to link with Zanamivir, one NA-targeting drug. The resultant new ligands may bind both the active site and the 150-cavity of NA simultaneously. Extensive molecular dynamics simulations in explicit solvent were applied to validate the binding between NA and the designed ligands. Moreover, two control systems, a positive control using Zanamivir and a negative control using a low-affinity ligand 3-(p-tolyl) allyl-Neu5Ac2en (ETT, abbreviation reported in the PDB) found in a recent experimental work, were employed to calibrate the simulation method. During the simulations, ETT was observed to detach from NA, on the contrary, both Zanamivir and our designed ligand bind NA firmly. Our study provides a prospective way to design novel inhibitors for controlling the spread of influenza virus.     

Distinguishing the effects of vegetation restoration on runoff and sediment generation on simulated rainfall on the hillslopes of the loess plateau of China

Aims

Since the 1970s, extensive croplands were converted to forest and pasture lands to control severe soil erosion on the Loess Plateau of China. We quantify the direct and indirect effects of vegetation restoration on runoff and sediment yield on hillslopes in the field to improve environmental governance.

Methods

An artificial rainfall experiment at a rainfall intensity of 120 mm h⁻¹ and a slope gradient of 22° were used to distinguish the effects of vegetation restoration on runoff and sediment yield.

Results

Compared to the farmland slopes, vegetation restoration directly prolonged the time-to-runoff by 140%, reduced the runoff rate by 20%, and increased the soil infiltration capacity by 15%. Vegetation restoration indirectly delayed the time-to-runoff by 120%, reduced the runoff rate and sediment yield rate by 50% and 94%, respectively, and increased the soil infiltration capacity by 58% on the hillslopes with vegetation restoration.

Conclusions

The direct effects of vegetation restoration on runoff and sediment yield were lower than its indirect impacts. Vegetation cover, decreases in soil bulk density, and increases in belowground root biomasses and > 0.25 mm aggregate stability were the primary causes of runoff and sediment yield reduction on the slopes with vegetation restoration.

     

Arsenic,Cadmium and Lead Erythrocyte Concentrations in Men with a High,Moderate and Low Level of Physical Training

Biological Trace Element Research - The aim of the present study was to determine changes occurring in the erythrocyte concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in highly trained...     

Identification of novel LncRNA targeting Smad2/PKCα signal pathway to negatively regulate malignant progression of glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly proliferative cancer with generally poor prognosis and accumulating evidence has highlighted the potential of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the biological behaviors of glioma cells. This study focused on the identification of lncRNAs to identify targets for possible GBM prognosis. Microarray expression profiling found that 1,759 lncRNAs and 3,026 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were upregulated, and 1932s lncRNA and 2,979 mRNAs were downregulated in GBM. Bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification identified TCONS_00020456 (TCON) for further analysis. In situ hybridization, along with immunohistochemical and receiver operating characteristic analysis determined TCON (truncation value = 3.5) as highly sensitive and specific in GBM. Grade IV patients with glioma life span with different lncRNA staining scores were analyzed. TCON staining scores below 3.5 indicated poor prognosis (life span ranging from 0.25 to 7 months), even if the glioma was surgically removed. TCON decreased significantly in GBM, and showed a coexpressional relationship with Smad2 and protein kinase C α (PKCα). Overexpression of TCON reduced the proliferation on one hand and migration, invasion on the other. TCON also inhibited epithelial–mesenchymal transformation and glioma progression in vivo, based on a nude mouse tumorigenicity assay. In addition, we predicted a potential binding site and intersection that microRNAs targeting Smad2, PKCα, and TCON through RACE pretest and bioinformatics analysis. Taken together, TCON, regarded as oncosuppressor, targeting the Smad2/PKCα axis plays a novel role in inhibiting the malignant progression of glioma. Moreover, it also demonstrates that the level of TCON can be used as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for GBM.     

TRIM59, amplified in ovarian cancer,promotes tumorigenesis through the MKP3/ERK pathway

Tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59) functions as an oncoprotein in various human cancers including ovarian cancer. In this study, we found that TRIM59 gene amplification was prevalent in ovarian cancer tissues, and its amplification was significantly correlated with poorer overall survival. Moreover, knockdown of TRIM59 in SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells, which had relatively high level of TRIM59, suppressed glucose uptake and lactate production. TRIM59 knockdown also decreased the expression of c-Myc and lactate dehydrogenase A, and the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). TRIM59 overexpression in A2780 cells, which expressed low level of TRIM59, showed reverse effects. Notably, treatment with an ERK inhibitor (PD98059) completely abolished the oncogenic effects of TRIM59 overexpression. Interestingly, TRIM59 increased the ubiquitination of MAP kinase phosphatase 3 (MKP3), which may dephosphorylate and inactivate ERK. Ectopic expression of MKP3 inhibited the promoting effects of TRIM59 on glycolysis and the phosphorylation of ERK. TRIM59 protein expression was negatively correlated with MKP3 protein expression in ovarian cancer tissues. Finally, TRIM59 amplification potently affected the anticancer effect of 3-bromopyruvate, an inhibitor of glycolysis, in ovarian cancer cells and patient-derived xenograft. In conclusion, these results suggest that TRIM59 may regulate glycolysis in ovarian cancer via the MKP3/ERK pathway.     

DJ-1 regulates tyrosine hydroxylase expression through CaMKKβ/CaMKIV/CREB1 pathway in vitro and in vivo

Lack of dopamine production and neurodegeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra are considered as the major characteristics of Parkinson's disease, a prevalent movement disorder worldwide. DJ-1 mutation leading to loss of its protein functions is a genetic factor of PD. In this study, our results illustrated that DJ-1 can directly interact with Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CaMKKβ) and modifies the cAMP-responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB1) activity, thus regulates tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression. In Dj-1 knockout mouse substantia nigra, the levels of TH and the phosphorylation of CREB1 Ser133 are significantly decreased. Moreover, Dj-1 deficiency suppresses the phosphorylation of CaMKIV (Thr196/200) and CREB1 (Ser133), subsequently inhibits TH expression in vitro. Furthermore, Knockdown of Creb1 abolishes the effects of DJ-1 on TH regulation. Our data reveal a novel pathway in which DJ-1 regulates CaMKKβ/CaMKIV/CREB1 activities to facilitate TH expression.     

暗黑菌(Atribacteria)的环境分布和功能特征

暗黑菌门包括OP9和JS1两大分支,成员大多为未培养微生物,在自然环境中广泛分布,并且在部分环境如厌氧海洋沉积物、地热环境以及油藏中为优势微生物。基于基因组信息的研究表明,暗黑菌为严格的厌氧微生物,同时具有降解糖类、小分子酸、短链正构烷烃的能力,在地球碳循环过程中可能扮演着重要的角色。然而,由于缺乏相应代表性的纯培养菌株,对于暗黑菌的生理生化功能推测仍有待验证。文章概述了暗黑菌的发现及发展历史,分析了其环境分布和多样性,简述了目前提出的三种代谢方式,提出了未来暗黑菌的研究发展方向。