Serum Zinc,Copper, and Zinc/Copper in Healthy Residents of Jinan

Sera of 890 healthy Jinan residents were chosen randomly, and the concentrations of serum Zn and Cu were detected by atomic absorption spectrometry. The mean serum Zn and Cu concentrations and Zn/Cu were 1.32 ± 0.49 mg/l, 0.99 ± 0.26 mg/l, and 1.41 ± 0.56, respectively. Significantly higher levels of serum Zn and Zn/Cu but lower serum Cu were found in the men. Descending tendency of serum Zn and Zn/Cu was observed with social-economic status and age but not significant. Alcohol consumption produced higher level of serum Zn and Zn/Cu but lower Cu concentration. Smoking caused significant lower level in serum Cu concentration but no significance in serum Zn and Zn/Cu. Serum Zn and Zn/Cu were normal only when hours of sleep a night were kept within 7–9 h. Higher level of serum Zn and Cu concentrations and Zn/Cu were observed in individuals with regular physical exercise, but still no significant difference existed. No clear relationship between educational levels with serum Zn and Cu concentrations and Zn/Cu was observed.     

Serum selenium and selenoprotein P status in adult Danes – 8-year followup

Selenium is an essential micronutrient important to human health. The main objective of this study is to describe serum selenium and selenoprotein P status in two samples of the Danish population. In addition, the influence of various factors potentially associated with selenium status was investigated.Blood samples from a total of 817 randomly selected subjects from two cities in Denmark were analyzed. Half of the samples were collected in 1997–1998 and the other half in 2004–2005. Samples from women aged 18–22, 40–45 and 60–65 years, and men aged 60–65 years were selected for this study. All subjects had filled in a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a questionnaire with information about smoking habits, alcohol consumption and exercise habits.Mean serum selenium level was 98.7±19.8 μg/L and median selenoprotein P level was 2.72 (2.18–3.49) mg/L. Serum selenium and selenoprotein P increased with age, and selenoprotein P was higher in men than in women. Serum selenium levels decreased by 5% on average from 1997–98 to 2004–05 (P<0.001), whereas selenoprotein P level increased (P<0.001). The intake of fish correlated weakly with serum selenium level (r=0.14, P<0.001) but not with selenoprotein P level. Smoking status, alcohol intake, exercise habits, BMI and medicine use did not influence selenium status.It is concluded that selenium status in this Danish population is at an acceptable level. No major groups with regard to age, sex or lifestyle factors could be identified as being in risk for selenium deficiency.     

长期强迫运动对大绒鼠体重、能量代谢和血清瘦素的影响

动物稳定体重的维持需要能量摄入和消耗之间的平衡。运动是影响动物能量平衡的重要因素之一。为了解运动对大绒鼠(Eothenomys miletus)的生理学效应,在室内条件下,测定了强迫运动训练(运用小鼠封闭跑台)8周后大绒鼠的体重、代谢率、摄入能、血清瘦素和身体组成的变化。结果显示,强迫运动训练8周对大绒鼠的体重无显著影响;大绒鼠的代谢率和摄入能均显著增加,训练8周后静止代谢率较对照组增加了29.9%,运动最大代谢率较对照组增加了10.7%;强迫运动训练8周组的身体脂肪重量比对照组降低了28.9%,血清瘦素水平比对照组下降了27.4%,对照组的瘦素与体脂含量具有明显的相关性,但运动组则不具有相关性;运动组的肝重量和消化道重量较对照组均显著增加;而体水重量则显著降低。这些结果表明,在强迫运动训练期间大绒鼠主要通过动员储存的脂肪、增加代谢率和食物摄入的方式来维持自身的体重及能量平衡。瘦素在长期强迫运动过程中对身体脂肪含量的变化具有调节作用。     

First BAFF gene cloned from an aquatic mammal

The finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides) is one of the smallest cetacean species. Research into the immune system of the finless porpoise is essential to the protection of this species, but, to date, no genes coding for proteins from the tumor necrosis factor family (TNF family) have yet been reported from finless porpoises. The TNF B cell activating factor (BAFF) is critical to B cell survival, proliferation, maturation, and immunoglobulin secretion and to T cell activation. It acts through its three receptors, BAFF-R, BCMA, and TACI. In the present study, the full-length cDNA of BAFF (designated NpBAFF) from the finless porpoise was cloned using RT-PCR and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) techniques, and its biological activities have been characterized. To our knowledge, this is the first report of any BAFF gene being cloned from an aquatic mammal. The full-length cDNA of NpBAFF consists of 1502 bases including an 852 bp open reading frame encoding 283 amino acids. This protein was found to contain a predicted transmembrane domain, a putative furin protease cleavage site, and a typical TNF homology domain corresponding to other, known BAFF homologues. Sequence comparison indicated that the amino acid sequence of NpBAFF was very similar to its bovine (87.68%), porcine (76.33%), hircine (87.68%) and canine (82.19%) counterparts. The predicted three-dimensional (3D) structure of the NpsBAFF monomer, analyzed by comparative protein modeling, revealed that it was very similar to its human counterpart. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that NpBAFF showed a notable homology with Artiodactyla BAFFs. The SUMO-NpsBAFF was efficiently expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and confirmed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Laser scanning confocal microscopy analysis showed that NpsBAFF could bind to its receptors on B cells. In vitro, MTT assays indicated that SUMO-NpsBAFF could promote the survival or proliferation of mouse splenic B cells grown with anti-mouse IgM. These findings indicate that NpBAFF plays an important role in the survival or proliferation of B cells and has functional cross-reactivity among cetaceans and other mammals. The present findings may provide valuable information for research into the immune system of the finless porpoise.     

Biochemistry and biology of the inducible multifunctional transcription factor TFII-I: 10 years later

Exactly twenty years ago TFII-I was discovered as a biochemical entity that was able to bind to and function via a core promoter element called the Initiator (Inr). Since then several different properties of this signal-induced multifunctional factor were discovered. Here I update these ever expanding functions of TFII-I--focusing primarily on the last ten years since the first review appeared in this journal.     

Ca^2＋激活Cl^-通道功能及分子基础研究进展

自从1983年Barish在爪蟾卵母细胞中发现钙激活的Cl^–通道以来,此种类型Cl^–通道一直在被广泛的研究,其在不同组织中的重要作用也被不断报道。但是,钙激活氯电流的分子机制一直未被阐明。直到2008年,由三个实验室分别发现了构成钙激活Cl^–通道的分子基础为跨膜蛋白16A（transmembrane protein 16A,TMEM16A）,这一发现使得人为通过基因手段调控钙激活Cl^–通道的功能与表达成为可能。该文综述了钙激活Cl^–通道在不同组织中的作用、TMEM16A的电生理和药理学特性以及TMEM16A在心肌肥厚和心衰中的可能作用,以及以Cl^–通道作为药物作用靶点的研究进展。     

肺癌患者血清TGF-β1浓度检测及临床意义分析

目的 探讨检测肺癌患者血清中转化生长因子β1( transforming growth factorβtype1,TGF-β1)的临床应用价值.方法 收集98例肺癌患者血清标本及40例健康对照者血清标本,运用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测两组标本血清TGF-β1浓度.分析二者之间的差异及其与肺癌患者临床特征之间的关系.结果 肺癌患者的血清TGF-β1浓度明显高于健康对照者,差异有统计学意义(66848 pg/mL±37178 pg/mL vs 48790 pg/mL±23111 pg/mL,P＜0.01);肺癌患者血清TGF-β1浓度与TNM分期,淋巴结转移,病理分型无相关性(P＞0.05);手术前后,化疗前后血清TGF-β1浓度差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 血清TGF-β1对肺癌的辅助诊断有一定的临床价值.     

长期运动训练对机体血清中AMPK 水平的影响

目的:探讨长期运动训练对机体血清中磷酸化腺苷活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)水平的影响.方法:采用双抗体两步夹心酶联免疫吸附法( ELISA)测定29名专业运动员(运动组)和26名健康志愿者(对照组)血清中AMPK水平.结果:运动组和对照组血清中AMPK浓度值分别为211.00±13.68U/L和9.70± 2.45 U/L,组间比较具有显著性差异(P＜0.01).结论:长期运动训练能显著提高机体血清中AMPK水平,有效增加组织的能量代谢.