Light Intensity Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Relation to Body Mass Index and Grip Strength in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Findings from the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) Study

BackgroundIdentifying modifiable determinants of fat mass and muscle strength in older adults is important given their impact on physical functioning and health. Light intensity physical activity and sedentary behavior are potential determinants, but their relations to these outcomes are poorly understood. We evaluated associations of light intensity physical activity and sedentary time—assessed both objectively and by self-report—with body mass index (BMI) and grip strength in a large sample of older adults.MethodsWe used cross-sectional baseline data from 1130 participants of the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders (LIFE) study, a community-dwelling sample of relatively sedentary older adults (70-89 years) at heightened risk of mobility disability. Time spent sedentary and in light intensity activity were assessed using an accelerometer worn for 3–7 days (Actigraph GT3X) and by self-report. Associations between these exposures and measured BMI and grip strength were evaluated using linear regression.ResultsGreater time spent in light intensity activity and lower sedentary times were both associated with lower BMI. This was evident using objective measures of lower-light intensity, and both objective and self-reported measures of higher-light intensity activity. Time spent watching television was positively associated with BMI, while reading and computer use were not. Greater time spent in higher but not lower intensities of light activity (assessed objectively) was associated with greater grip strength in men but not women, while neither objectively assessed nor self-reported sedentary time was associated with grip strength.ConclusionsIn this cross-sectional study, greater time spent in light intensity activity and lower sedentary times were associated with lower BMI. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that replacing sedentary activities with light intensity activities could lead to lower BMI levels and obesity prevalence among the population of older adults. However, longitudinal and experimental studies are needed to strengthen causal inferences.     

The Legislation for Biodiversity Conservation in China

Effectivebiodiverdityconservationneedsasoundlegalsystemthatincludesthelegisla-tionininternational,nationalandlocallevels.TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)thatenteredintoforceonDecember29,1993,isaninternationallegalinstrument.Asaframeconvention,ithasformedalegalsystem,togetherwiththeotherinternationalagree-mentssuchastheConventiononWetlandsofInternationalImportanceEspeciallyasWater-fowlHabitat(Ramsar1971),theConventionConcerningtheProtectionoftheWorldCul-turalandNaturalHeritage(P…     

Clinical Significance of IgG Antibody Titer against Helicobacter pylori

Background: We clarified the clinical significance of measurement of IgG antibody titers against Helicobacter pylori using data from a nested case–control study from a large-scale cohort study in Japan.
Method: Participants included 36,745 subjects from the Japan Health Center-based Prospective Study who responded to the baseline questionnaire and provided a blood sample. Subjects were aged 40–69 years and were followed over 15 years after initial sampling. Controls were matched to 511 gastric cancer patients. Plasma surface antigen (Hp)-IgG titer was measured using ELISA, and mucosal atrophy was determined by measuring pepsinogen I and II levels.
Results: Seropositive subjects with low Hp-IgG titer and mucosal atrophy showed a higher risk for gastric cancer than high-titer subjects. Odds ratio (OR) referred to cases with true negative IgG titers and no mucosal atrophy. In moderately atrophic subjects, the low titer OR was 19.0, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 7.7–46.9, and 12.5 for high titer, with a 95% CI of 5.2–30.0. In severely atrophic subjects, the low titer OR was almost double that of high-titer subjects (OR = 30.2, 95% CI = 12.4–73.7 and OR = 15.9, 95% CI = 6.3–40.3, respectively). These associations were observed more frequently for differentiated than undifferentiated gastric cancer.
Conclusion: Combination assay with Hp-IgG titer and pepsinogens may help identify groups at high risk for gastric cancer. Subjects with low Hp-IgG titer and mucosal atrophy were at extremely high risk for gastric cancer, particularly differentiated cancer. Subjects with this background may require ongoing observation and periodic endoscopic examination for early cancer detection.     

Mortality Associated with Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Older Women

Background

Current guidelines for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) recommend diabetes as a CVD risk equivalent. However, reports that have examined the risk of diabetes in comparison to pre-existing CVD are lacking among older women. We aimed to assess whether diabetes was associated with a similar risk of total and cause-specific mortality as a history of CVD in older women.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We studied 9218 women aged 68 years or older enrolled in a prospective cohort study (Study of Osteoporotic Fracture) during a mean follow-up period of 11.7 years and compared all-cause, cardiovascular and coronary heart disease mortality among 4 groups: non-diabetic women with and without existing CVD, diabetic women with and without existing CVD. Mean (SD) age of the participants was 75.2 (5.3) years, 3.5% reported diabetes and 6.8% reported existing CVD. During follow-up, 5117 women died with 36% from CVD. The multivariate adjusted risk of cardiovascular mortality was increased among both non-diabetic women with CVD (hazard ratio (HR) 2.32, 95% CI: 1.97–2.74, P<0.001) and diabetic women without CVD (HR 2.06, CI: 1.62–2.64, P<0.001) compared to non-diabetic women without existing CVD. All-cause, cardiovascular and coronary mortality of non-diabetic women with CVD were not significantly different from diabetic women without CVD.

Conclusions/Significance

Older diabetic women without CVD have a similar risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to non-diabetic women with pre-existing CVD. The equivalence of diabetes and CVD seems to extend to older women, supporting current guidelines for cardiovascular prevention.     

cDNA末端快速扩增技术及其应用*

摘要：cDNA末端快速扩增（RACE）技术是一种快速获得cDNA的3′和5＇端的方法。本文从RACE的原理出发,指出其技术本身存在的优缺点,阐述了RACE操作中须注意和不容忽视的技术要点,并对前人对RACE技术所做的改进加以总结,最后对RACE技术的应用前景给予了展望。Abstract: Rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) technique is a method of which the 3’ and 5’ fragments of cDNA can be rapidly obtained. In this review, the advantages and shortcomings RACE manipulation were pointed out and some important technical points in RACE protocols in the previous literatures were summarized.     

Fanconi anemia: contribution of molecular analyses to the identification of bone marrow graft donors and the study of chimerism in grafted patients

We report on the effectiveness of molecular studies regarding Fanconi anemia (FA) for a better selection of bone marrow graft donors and for post-transplant follow up. Ten unrelated FA patients and their families were analyzed by microsatellite markers. In 9 cases, the cytogenetic investigation of potential human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-identical related donors was normal, and the molecular analyses confirmed that they were also either normal or heterozygous carriers. For 1 patient, cytogenetic analysis of an HLA-identical sibling donor yielded ambiguous results with a relatively high number of chromosomal breakages using cross-linking agents. However, genotyping of this potential donor demonstrated his heterozygous state. Nine patients have received allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from HLA-matched related donors. Microsatellite analysis showed complete chimerism (CC) in all cases. The median follow up was 54 months (range 8-144 months). One patient out of 9 with CC rejected her graft without prior detection of a transitional mixed chimerism. Among these patients, 1 died 25 months after the transplantation of a chronic graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). We conclude that, when the cytogenetic studies are not conclusive, molecular analyses are crucial to distinguish heterozygous carriers from asymptomatic FA Tunisian patients. Molecular analyses also allowed the evaluation of hematopoietic chimerism after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and might be of value to identify patients with a high risk for graft rejection.     

长江春大豆核心种质构建及分析

利用长江春大豆初选核心种质SSR(simple sequence repeat）标记和农艺性状表型等基础数据,对用不同个体取样方法以及不同数据类型建立的核心种质进行评价,目的是确定中国大豆（Glycine max）核心种质的最佳取样策略提供依据,结果表明,根据SSR分子数据聚类,采用类内随机取样,类内以遗传相似性系数取样以及仅依据遗传相似性系数取样都可用于大豆核心种质构建,但是综合不同评价参数发现,以类内随机取样最佳,类内按遗传相似性系数取样次之,单独以遗传相似性系数取样较差。分析不同SSR等位变异保留比例的遗传多样性指数发现,当保留90%和80%的SSR等位变异时,核心种质具有更高的遗传多样性,由于与SSR分子数据种质遗传关系评价的不一致性,农艺性状等基础数据虽然可用来构建核心种质,但其SSR分子水平代表性相对较低,本研究结果还表明,用不同方法或同一方法不同重复次数取样建立的核心种质具有异质性,且这种异质性随核心种质取样比例的降低而增大,因此,虽然可依据不同数据类型确定相应的方法建立核心种质,但综合表型和分子数据建立的核心种质更具有代表性。