The effects of training on hormonal concentrations in young soccer players

To test the hypothesis that football training would be accompanied by physiological adaptations and hormonal changes, we analyzed the effects of a whole football season on physical fitness and hormonal concentrations in youth football players. Male football players (n = 29, age 16.51 ± 0.7 years) in a regional professional league and male healthy control subjects (n = 30, age 17.1 ± 1 years) participated to the study. Blood cortisol, testosterone, and growth hormone (hGH) concentrations were assayed before the beginning of the training period (T0), just after the training period (T1), at the middle of the season (T2), and at the end of the season (T3). In each period physical tests and anthropometric measurements were also performed. Results showed significant differences in basal values of cortisol, testosterone, and growth hormone (hGH) in the four time points evaluated (P < 0.01). In addition, the concentrations of hGH were higher in the soccer players group than in control subjects (P < 0.001). Between the start of the training period and the end of the football season significant differences were observed in the anthropometric characteristics and in the physical form of the football players. Furthermore, the hormonal status was significantly correlated with the indicators of the lower limb power (squat-jump [SqJ], and counter-movement-jump [CMJ]) and those of aerobic performance (Yo–Yo intermittent recovery test level 1 (YYIRT1) and maximal oxygen consumption (VO_2max)).These data underscore the importance of establishing training protocols that present the potential to promote positive adaptations without, at the same time, provoking overtraining of young players.     

Novel complex hydrogels based on N-carboxyethyl chitosan and quaternized chitosan and their controlled in vitro protein release property

A novel pH-responsive hydrogel (CHC) composed of N-carboxyethyl chitosan (CEC) and N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium) propyl] chitosan chloride (HTCC) was synthesized by the redox polymerization technique. Turbidimetric titrations were used to determine the stoichiometric ratio of these two chitosan derivatives. The hydrogel was characterized by FT-IR, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dynamic transport of water showed that the hydrogel reached equilibrium within 48 h. The swelling ratio of CHC hydrogel depended significantly on the pH of the buffer solution. The performance of the CHC as a matrix for the controlled release of BSA was investigated. It was found that the release behavior was determined by pH value of the medium as well as the intermolecular interaction between BSA and the hydrogels.     

RACK1 identified as the PCBP1‐interacting protein with a novel functional role on the regulation of human MOR gene expression

Poly C binding protein 1 (PCBP1) is an expressional regulator of the mu‐opioid receptor (MOR) gene. We hypothesized the existence of a PCBP1 co‐regulator modifying human MOR gene expression by protein–protein interaction with PCBP1. A human brain cDNA library was screened using the two‐hybrid system with PCBP1 as the bait. Receptor for activated protein kinase C (RACK1) protein, containing seven WD domains, was identified. PCBP1‐RACK1 interaction was confirmed via in vivo validation using the two‐hybrid system, and by co‐immunoprecipitation with anti‐PCBP1 antibody and human neuronal NMB cell lysate, endogenously expressing PCBP1 and RACK1. Further co‐immunoprecipitation suggested that RACK1‐PCBP1 interaction occurred in cytosol alone. Single and serial WD domain deletion analyses demonstrated that WD7 of RACK1 is the key domain interacting with PCBP1. RACK1 over‐expression resulted in a dose‐dependent decrease of MOR promoter activity using p357 plasmid containing human MOR promoter and luciferase reporter gene. Knock‐down analysis showed that RACK1 siRNA decreased the endogenous RACK1 mRNA level in NMB, and elevated MOR mRNA level as indicated by RT‐PCR. Likewise, a decrease of RACK1 resulted in an increase of MOR proteins, verified by ³H‐diprenorphine binding assay. Collectively, this study reports a novel role of RACK1, physically interacting with PCBP1 and participating in the regulation of human MOR gene expression in neuronal NMB cells.     

Theoretical studies on DNA-binding, DNA-photocleavage and spectral properties of Co(III) complexes [Co(phen)2(L)] (L = pip, hpip, hnaip)

Theoretical studies on the DNA-binding, DNA-photocleavage and spectral properties of Co(III) polypyridyl complexes [Co(phen)₂(L)]³⁺ (L = pip, hpip, hnaip) have been carried out, using the density functional theory (DFT), Hartree-Fock (HF) and configuration interaction singles (CIS) methods. The optimized geometric structures of these Co(III) complexes in aqueous solution are more close to experimental data than those in vacuo at the B3LYP/LanL2DZ level. Based on the optimized geometric structures in solution, the electronic structures of these Co(III) complexes were analyzed and the trend in the DNA-binding constants (K_b) was reasonably explained. In particular, via the analysis of natural charges of the complexes in ground state and excited state, it is very interesting to find the following: under UV or visible light irradiation, the Co(Ш) polypyridyl complexes undergo an intra-molecular electron transfer from S₀ state to T₁ state, and the positive charges on the main-ligand in the T₁ state are greatly increased, so as to form a radical cation with strong oxidation ability. Meanwhile, the change in geometry of the complexes under light irradiation also helps to the radical cation easily approaching and further oxidating DNA-base-pairs. These results offer the theoretical explanation for the photo-induced oxidation-reduction mechanism which was experimentally proposed on DNA-photocleavage by Co(Ш) polypyridyl complexes. In addition, the electronic absorption spectra of these complexes were calculated and simulated in aqueous solution using the time dependent DFT (TDDFT) method, in satisfying agreement with experimental results, and the properties of experimental absorption bands have been theoretically explained in detail.     

CHANGE IN BLOOD GELSOLIN CONCENTRATION IN RESPONSE TO PHYSICAL EXERCISE

Plasma gelsolin (pGSN) produced by muscle is an abundant protein of extracellular fluids capable of severing actin filaments and eliminating actin from the circulation. Additionally, pGSN modulates the cellular effects of some bioactive lipids. In this study we test the hypothesis that hormonal and metabolic adaptations to exercise are associated with changes in gelsolin concentration in blood. Plasma samples were collected from twenty healthy males recruited from untrained (UT, n=10) and endurance trained (ET, n=10) groups that performed 30-60 minutes of exercise on a cycloergometer at a workload corresponding to 70% of VO₂max. Gelsolin concentration was determined by quantitative Western blot analysis with an anti-human gelsolin antibody. The gelsolin concentration in UT and ET subjects before starting exercise ranged from 104 to 330 and 163 to 337 µg · ml^-1 respectively. After 30 minutes of exercise we observed a significant decrease of plasma gelsolin in the UT group (p<0.05) while the gelsolin concentration in the ET group rose on average from 244 to 271 µg · ml^-1. However, this increase did not reach statistical significance. Endurance training might increase the ability of muscle tissue to express plasma gelsolin as part of an adaptive mechanism.     

桂西北喀斯特移民区土地利用方式对土壤养分的影响

利用典型喀斯特峰丛洼地主要土地利用方式（灌草地、次生林地、果园、牧草地、旱地）的土壤养分测定数据,研究土地利用变化对土壤养分的影响.结果表明：土壤有机碳、全氮、有效氮含量随土地利用强度的增加而降低,灌草地和次生林地比果园、牧草地和旱地土壤有机质含量高86%～155%、全氮含量高62%～119%、有效氮含量高66%～215%（P<0.05）;全磷和全钾含量主要受养分来源的影响,受土地利用方式影响较小;速效磷含量主要受施肥的影响,有效钾含量则主要受植被覆盖和水土流失状况的影响.土地利用方式是影响土壤有机碳、全氮、有效氮、有效磷、有效钾等养分含量变化的重要因素.粗放的农业耕作降低了土壤养分并引起土壤退化,而植被恢复等措施可以培肥土壤.因此,喀斯特区域应改变粗放的农业耕作方式,加强施用有机肥和平衡施肥,对坡度≥25°的坡耕地采取“退耕还林还草”措施,以恢复和重建喀斯特地区生态环境,实现土地资源的可持续利用.     

Bph3在栽培稻和药用野生稻中的BAC-FISH比较物理定位

用栽培稻(Oryza sativa L.)遗传图第四连锁群中与抗褐稻虱基因Bph3紧密连锁的RFLP标记RZ69及筛选出来的BAC克隆38J9作探针,对药用野生稻(O.officinalis Well ex Watt)和栽培稻荧光原位杂交,供试标记RZ69及38J9均被定位于药用野生稻和栽培稻第4染色体的短臂上,药用野生稻杂交信号的百分距分别为22.12±3.44和20.00±5.40,而栽培稻均为0.在栽培稻中,信号检出率相应地为6.29%和56.10%,在药用野生稻中则为6.14%和50.00%.BAC克隆和RFLP标记探针杂交信号的百分距十分接近,说明在栽培稻和野生稻中RFLP标记RZ69都在同一BAC克隆的大插入片段中.由此推知,药用野生稻与抗性基因Bph3的同源顺序就在第4染色体信号出现的相应位置.在未封阻的情况下,药用野生稻的BAC杂交在多条染色体上具有信号,这表明它和栽培稻的Cot-1 DNA重复顺序也在一定程度上具有同源性.药用野生稻第4染色体是根据栽培稻与药用野生稻的比较遗传图选用与Gm-6连锁的RG214通过FISH确定的.讨论了栽培稻BAC克隆对药用野生稻比较原位杂交物理作图的可行性问题.