Analysis of the cardiovascular risk factors in military above 35 years old

Introduction The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors is mainly due to habits acquired during one’s life. However, military training has physical aptitude as one of its main objectives. The objective of the data analysis was to analyze the practiced physical activity, which is the most active age group and if the intensity of the physical activity influences the various parameters being analyzed. Methodology This evaluation focuses on some cardiovascular parameters like the incidence of family history, medication, smoking habits and blood pressure/heart frequency measurements; data from blood tests to examine the biochemistry; body composition through weight, height, abdominal perimeter and, through DXA, body fat; and with accelerometry the physical activity level has been determined. Results Sedentary physical activity is significantly greater during weekends instead of moderate and intense levels, which occur mainly during work-days. People who are between 45 and 54 years old are the ones who takes more anticholesterolemic medicine and also the one who show the best HDL values. The sedentary level of physical activity is positively and directly related with weight, which presents an inverse correlation with moderate physical activity, and also body fat parameters and abdominal perimeter. The highest prothrombin time levels and sedimentation speed are associated with sedentary physical activity. However, even though HDL levels are significantly greater when intense physical activity is practiced, this also creates higher values of INR. Intense physical activity is also responsible for some ischemic heart disease, reflecting an increase in CK-MB values. Discussion The abdominal perimeter proved to be a better predictor of intra-abdominal fat than the BMI. The youngest age group showed really high values of PCR, protein being a contributing factor for heart disease risk (Albert, Glynn & Ridker, 2003). The relation between physical activity and fat was inverse (Cederberg et al, 2011), while HDL results were better as physical activity increased (Gordon-Larsen et al, 2009). Physical activity intensity above average show little to no benefits (AAdahl, KJæer & Jørgensen, 2007), just like the increase of circulation CK-MB however, sedentary ones showed more changes when it came to coagulation. Balanced physical activity was moderate when it came to benefits/disadvantages

Microbial community analysis in the termite gut and fungus comb of Odontotermes formosanus: the implication of Bacillus as mutualists

The microbial communities harbored in the gut and fungus comb of the fungus-growing termite Odontotermes formosanus were analyzed by both culture-dependent and culture-independent methods to better understand the community structure of their microflora. The microorganisms detected by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), clonal selection, and culture-dependent methods were hypothesized to contribute to cellulose-hemicellulose hydrolysis, gut fermentation, nutrient production, the breakdown of the fungus comb and the initiation of the growth of the symbiotic fungus Termitomyces. The predominant bacterial cultivars isolated by the cultural approach belonged to the genus Bacillus (Phylum Firmicutes). Apart from their function in lignocellulosic degradation, the Bacillus isolates suppressed the growth of the microfungus Trichoderma harzianum (genus Hypocrea), which grew voraciously on the fungus comb in the absence of termites but grew in harmony with the symbiotic fungus Termitomyces. The in vitro studies suggested that the Bacillus sp. may function as mutualists in the termite-gutfungus-comb microbial ecosystem

Optical Properties and Enhanced Photothermal Conversion Efficiency of SiO2/A-Dlc Selective Absorber Films for A Solar Energy Collector Fabricated by Unbalance Sputter

AbstractSolar energy could become the most attractive alternative energy source. In this study we test an attractive new candidate material for solar energy collectors. It can be found that the higher the gas pressure is, the higher the sp2/sp3 area ratio, the greater the sputtering rate and the greater the optical absorption. The photothermal conversion efficiency of a SiO2 coating on the amorphous diamond-like carbon (a-DLC) selective absorber films deposited on the Cr/mirror like Al substrate is 93.2% as the film thickness of a SiO2 coating is 105nm. The coatings also increase the protective properties for a longer service life. This makes the SiO2 coated a-DLC film a promising new candidate material for solar selective absorber films. The SiO2/a-DLC selective absorber films also were deposited on the Al extrusion substrates

Cyclophosphamide induces NR2B phosphorylation-dependent facilitation on spinal reflex potentiation

Chang CH, Peng HY, Wu HC, Lai CY, Hsieh MC, Lin TB. Cyclophosphamide induces NR2B phosphorylation-dependent facilitation on spinal reflex potentiation. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 300: F692-F699, 2011. First published November 24, 2010; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00531.2010.-It is well-established that cyclophosphamide (CYP) can sensitize the pelvic afferent nerve arising from the urinary bladder and therefore induce suprapubic pain. To test the possibility that CYP might mediate the development of visceral hypereflexia/hyperalgesia by facilitating spinal activity-dependent neural plasticity, we compared the pelvic-urethra reflex activity and spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B subunit (NR2B) phosphorylation in rats treated with vehicle solution and CYP. Compared with vehicle solution, when accompanied by upregulation of phosphorylated NR2B expression in the lumbosacral (L6-S2) dorsal horn, CYP increased the evoked spikes in spinal reflex potentiation induced by repetitive stimulation (1 stimulation/1 s). Moreover, intraperitoneal pretreatments with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and roscovitine, nitric oxide synthase and cyclin-dependent protein kinase 5 (Cdk5) antagonists, respectively, overwrote CYP-enhanced reflex potentiation and NR2B phosphorylation. When compared with the untreated group, the treatment with small-interfering RNA of NR2B, which decreased the expression of NR2B expression, abolished CYP-dependent reflex facilitation and spinal NR2B phosphorylation. These results suggested that CYP might facilitate spinal reflex potentiation mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and participate in the development of visceral hypereflexia/hyperalgesia through nitric oxide-and Cdk5-dependent NR2B phosphorylation at the lumbosacral dorsal horn

Spatial analytical methods for deriving a historical map of physiological equivalent temperature of Hong Kong

Lai P-C, Choi CCY, Wong PPY, et al. Spatial analytical methods for deriving a historical map of physiological equivalent temperature of Hong Kong. Building and Environment. 2015;99:22-28

Identifying the Technology Position on Patent Acquisition of Cardiovascular Stent by Complementarity and Supplementary Knowledge

[[abstract]]The most common way for an organization to expand its innovation capability is to acquire technological patent. Consequently, it is an important issue for firms to identify and estimate the target patent. Before acquiring, firms also have to make sure whether the target patents is matching the strategic purpose, and whether the target patent is suitable for the adopting after acquiring. And the result of patent citation analysis can be referred for estimating target patent as the result reveals the technology relationship between firms, the market value of technologies and the technology development strategy. Moreover, technology network analysis can visualize the overall social structure of actors in the technology network and illuminate their relationships and roles. However, few scholars have examined the relative positions of firms in technology networks from the viewpoint of individual social networks. This research uses the idea of the "ego-network", defining the firm's core technology patent portfolio as "ego" while patents which directly cite core patents are defined as the "neighborhood. The purpose of this research is to understand how the firm, through patent transfers, alters its technology position and performs inductive analysis as a reference for future changes in its patent portfolio strategies. The results of this research demonstrate that irrespective of patent transfer strategy, the relative position of firms in the technology network is displaced by patent transfers. By dividing the trajectory of displacement into quadrants the data set may be named as pioneers, leaders, followers, and laggards. And the result shows firms may exit markets, reduce internal subdivisions, carry out cost control, or sell off patents, moving their position to the left or downward and making them followers or laggards. By the same token, when firms enter a new technology area or market, increase their technological capabilities, or acquire technology patents, their position shits to the right or downward, and they become leaders or pioneers.[[notice]]補正完

EphrinB2 induces pelvic-urethra reflex potentiation via Src kinase-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B

Wu HC, Chang CH, Peng HY, Chen GD, Lai CY, Hsieh MC, Lin TB. EphrinB2 induces pelvic-urethra reflex potentiation via Src kinase-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2B. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 300: F403-F411, 2011. First published December 8, 2010; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00520.2010.-Recently, the role of EphB receptor (EphBR) tyrosine kinase and their ephrinB ligands in pain-related neural plasticity at the spinal cord level have been identified. To test whether Src-family tyrosine kinase-dependent glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B subunit phosphorylation underlies lumbosacral spinal EphBR activation to mediate pelvic-urethra reflex potentiation, we recorded external urethra sphincter electromyogram reflex activity and analyzed protein expression in the lumbosacral (L(6)-S(2)) dorsal horn in response to intrathecal ephrinB2 injections. When compared with vehicle solution, exogenous ephrinB2 (5 mu g/rat it)-induced reflex potentiation, in associated with phosphorylation of EphB1/2, Src-family kinase, NR2B Y1336 and Y1472 tyrosine residues. Both intrathecal EphB1 and EphB2 immunoglobulin fusion protein (both 10 mu g/rat it) prevented ephrinB2-dependent reflex potentiation, as well as protein phosphorylation. Pretreatment with PP2 (50 mu M, 10 mu l it), an Src-family kinase antagonist, reversed the reflex potentiation, as well as Src kinase and NR2B phosphorylation. Together, these results suggest the ephrinB2-dependent EphBR activation, which subsequently provokes Src kinase-mediated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR2B phosphorylation in the lumbosacral dorsal horn, is crucial for the induction of spinal reflex potentiation contributing to the development of visceral pain and/or hyperalgesia in the pelvic area

Disrupted murine gut-to-human liver signaling alters bile acid homeostasis in humanized mouse liver models

The humanized liver mouse model is being exploited increasingly for human drug metabolism studies. However, its model stability, intercommunication between human hepatocytes and mouse nonparenchymal cells in liver and murine intestine, and changes in extrahepatic transporter and enzyme expressions have not been investigated. We examined these issues in FRGN [fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (Fah2/2), recombination activating gene 2 (Rag22/2), and interleukin 2 receptor subunit gamma (IL-2rg 2/2) triple knockout] on nonobese diabetic (NOD) background] and chimeric mice: mFRGN and hFRGN (repopulated withmouse or human hepatocytes, respectively). hFRGN mice showed markedly higher levels of liver cholesterol, biliary bilirubin, and bile acids (liver, bile, and plasma; mainly human forms, but also murine bile acids) but lower transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGFBR2) mRNA expression levels (10%) in human hepatocytes and other proliferative markers in mouse nonparenchymal cells (Tgf-1) and cholangiocytes [plasma membrane-bound, G protein-coupled receptor for bile acids (Tgr5)], suggestive of irregular regeneration processes in hFRGN livers. Changes in gene expression in murine intestine, kidney, and brain of hFRGN mice, in particular, induction of intestinal farnesoid X receptor (Fxr) genes: fibroblast growth factor 15 (Fgf15), mouse ileal bile acid binding protein (Ibabp), small heterodimer partner (Shp), and the organic solute transporter alpha (Osta), were observed. Proteomics revealed persistence of remnant murine proteins (cyotchrome P450 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) and other enzymes and transporters) in hFRGN livers and suggest the likelihood ofmouse activity.When comparedwith normal human liver tissue, hFRGN livers showed lower SHP mRNA and higher CYP7A1 (300%) protein expression, consequences of tb- and ta-muricholic acid-mediated inhibition of the FXR-SHP cascade and miscommunication between intestinal Fgf15 and human liver fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4), as confirmed by the unchanged hepatic pERK/total ERK ratio. Dysregulation of hepatocyte proliferation and bile acid homeostasis in hFRGN livers led to hepatotoxicity, gallbladder distension, liver deformity, and other extrahepatic changes, making questionable the use of the preparation for drug metabolism studies

Glial activation involvement in neuronal death by Japanese encephalitis virus infection

Japanese encephalitis is characterized by profound neuronal destruction/dysfunction and concomitant microgliosis/astrogliosis. Although substantial activation of glia is observed in Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)-induced Japanese encephalitis, the inflammatory responses and consequences of astrocytes and microglial activation after JEV infection are not fully understood. In this study, infection of cultured neurons/glia with JEV caused neuronal death and glial activation, as evidenced by morphological transformation, increased cell proliferation and elevated tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6 and RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) production. Replication-competent JEV caused all glial responses and neurotoxicity. However, replication-incompetent JEV lost these abilities, except for the ability to change microglial morphology. The bystander damage caused by activated glia also contributed to JEV-associated neurotoxicity. Microglia underwent morphological changes, increased cell proliferation and elevated TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and RANTES expression in response to JEV infection. In contrast, IL-6 and RANTES expression, but no apparent morphological changes, proliferation or TNF-alpha/IL-1 beta expression, was demonstrated in JEV-infected astrocytes. Supernatants of JEV-infected microglia, but not JEV-infected astrocytes, induced glial activation and triggered neuronal death. Antibody neutralization studies revealed that TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta, but not RANTES or IL-6, released by activated microglia appeared to play roles in JEV-associated neurotoxicity. In conclusion, following JEV infection, neuronal death was accompanied by concomitant microgliosis and astrogliosis, and neurotoxic mediators released by JEV-activated microglia, rather than by JEV-activated astrocytes, had the ability to amplify the microglial response and cause neuronal death