Inflammatory cytokine responses to progressive resistance training and supplementation with fortified milk in men aged 50+ years : an 18-month randomized controlled trial

We examined the effects of progressive resistance training (PRT) and supplementation with calcium-vitamin D(3) fortified milk on markers of systemic inflammation, and the relationship between inflammation and changes in muscle mass, size and strength. Healthy men aged 50-79 years (n = 180) participated in this 18-month randomized controlled trial that comprised a factorial 2 x 2 design. Participants were randomized to (1) PRT + fortified milk supplement, (2) PRT, (3) fortified milk supplement, or (4) a control group. Participants assigned to PRT trained 3 days per week, while those in the supplement groups consumed 400 ml day(-1) of milk containing 1,000 mg calcium plus 800 IU vitamin D(3). We collected venous blood samples at baseline, 12 and 18 months to measure the serum concentrations of IL-6, TNF-alpha and hs-CRP. There were no exercise x supplement interactions, but serum IL-6 was 29% lower (95% CI, -62, 0) in the PRT group compared with the control group after 12 months. Conversely, IL-6 was 31% higher (95% CI, -2, 65) in the supplement group compared with the non-supplemented groups after 12 and 18 months. These between-group differences did not persist after adjusting for changes in fat mass. In the PRT group, mid-tibia muscle cross-sectional area increased less in men with higher pre-training inflammation compared with those men with lower inflammation (net difference similar to 2.5%, p < 0.05). In conclusion, serum IL-6 concentration decreased following PRT, whereas it increased after supplementation with fortified milk concomitant with changes in fat mass. Furthermore, low-grade inflammation at baseline restricted muscle hypertrophy following PRT.

Partitioning of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) between human serum and breast milk : a literature review

The literature was reviewed to assess the relationship between the lipid adjusted concentration in human serum and breast milk (expressed as the serum/milk ratio) of a broad range of POPs in paired samples. Thirteen studies were identified, including seven studies that reported serum/milk ratios for polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs), ten for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), five for polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and five for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs). Mean serum/milk ratios ranged between 0.7 and 25 depending on the compound and congener. For PCDD/Fs, PCBs and PBDEs, a clear trend of increasing mean serum/milk ratio by increasing molar volume, hydrophobicity and number of halogen substitutes was observed. The mean serum/milk ratios reported by the 13 studies summarized here will aid comparison between human POPs exposure studies using either serum or milk samples. More studies are needed to allow a valid comparison between data obtained from analysis of breast milk and serum samples for a broader range of POPs. Furthermore such studies may shed light on compound specific factors as well as other determinants that may affect the partitioning and partition kinetics of POPs between serum and breast milk.

Human milk xanthine oxidase and neonatal salivary nucleotide precursors generate hydrogen peroxide; a novel pathway with potential role in regulating oral microflora

Background: Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a complex molybdeno-flavoprotein occurring with high activity in the milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) in all mammalian milk and is involved in the final stage of degradation of purine nucleotides. It catalyzes the sequential oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and uric acid, accompanied by production of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion. Human saliva has been extensively described for its composition of proteins, electrolytes, cortisol, melatonin and some metabolites such as amino acids, but little is known about nucleotide metabolites. Method: Saliva was collected with swabs from babies; at full-term 1-4 days, 6-weeks, 6-months and 12-months. Unstimulated fasting (morning) saliva samples were collected directly from 77 adults. Breast milk was collected from 24 new mothers. Saliva was extracted from swabs and ultra-filtered. Nucleotide metabolites were analyzed by RP-HPLC with UV-photodiode array and ESI-MS/MS. XO activity was measured as peroxide production from hypoxanthine. Bacterial inhibition over time was assessed using CFU/mL or OD. Results: Median concentrations (μmol/L) of salivary nucleobases and nucleosides for neonates/6-weeks/6-months/12-months/adult respectively were: uracil 5.3/0.8/1.4/0.7/0.8, hypoxanthine 27/7.0/1.1/0.8/2.0, xanthine 19/7.0/2.0/2.0/2.0, adenosine 12/7.0/0.9/0.8/0.1, inosine 11/5.0/0.3/0.4/0.2, guanosine 7.0/6.0/0.5/0.4/0.1, uridine 12/0.8/0.3/0.9/0.4. Deoxynucleosides and dihydropyrimidines concentrations were essentially negligible. XO activity (Vmax:mean ± SD) in breast milk was 8.9 ± 6.2 μmol/min/L and endogenous peroxide was 27 ± 12 μmol/L; mixing breast milk with neonate saliva generated ~40 μmol/L peroxide,which inhibited Staphylococcus aureus. Conclusions: Salivary metabolites, particularly xanthine/hypoxanthine, are high in neonates, transitioning to low adult levels between 6-weeks to 6-months (p < 0.001). Peroxide occurs in breast milk and is boosted during suckling as an antibacterial system.

Hairpin RNAs derived from RNA polymerase II and polymerase III promoter-directed transgenes are processed differently in plants

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) as well as Pol II (35S) promoters are able to drive hairpin RNA (hpRNA) expression and induce target gene silencing in plants. siRNAs of 21 nt are the predominant species in a 35S Pol II line, whereas 24- and/or 22-nucleotide (nt) siRNAs are produced by a Pol III line. The 35S line accumulated the loop of the hpRNA, in contrast to full-length hpRNA in the Pol III line. These suggest that Pol II and Pol III-transcribed hpRNAs are processed by different pathways. One Pol III transgene produced only 24-nt siRNAs but silenced the target gene efficiently, indicating that the 24-nt siRNAs can direct mRNA degradation; specific cleavage was confirmed by 59 rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). Both Pol II- and Pol III-directed hpRNA transgenes induced cytosine methylation in the target DNA. The extent of methylation is not correlated with the level of 21-nt siRNAs, suggesting that they are not effective inducers of DNA methylation. The promoter of a U6 transgene was significantly methylated, whereas the promoter of the endogenous U6 gene was almost free of cytosine methylation, suggesting that endogenous sequences are more resistant to de novo DNA methylation than are transgene constructs. Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press. Copyright © 2008 RNA Society.

The M(r) 43K major capsid protein of rice ragged stunt oryzavirus is a post-translationally processed product of a M(r) 67 348 polypeptide encoded by genome segment 8

The nucleotide sequence of DNA complementary to rice ragged stunt oryzavirus (RRSV) genome segment 8 (S8) of an isolate from Thailand was determined. RRSV S8 is 1 914 bp in size and contains a single large open reading frame (ORF) spanning nucleotides 23 to 1 810 which is capable of encoding a protein of M(r) 67 348. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of a ~43K virion polypeptide matched to that inferred for an internal region of the S8 coding sequence. These data suggest that the 43K protein is encoded by S8 and is derived by a proteolytic cleavage. Predicted polypeptide sizes from this possible cleavage of S8 protein are 26K and 42K. Polyclonal antibodies raised against a maltose binding protein (MBP)-S8 fusion polypeptide (expressed in Escherichia coli) recognised four RRSV particle associated polypeptides of M(r) 67K, 46K, 43K and 26K and all except the 26K polypeptide were also highly immunoreactive to polyclonal antibodies raised against purified RRSV particles. Cleavage of the MBP-S8 fusion polypeptide with protease Factor X produced the expected 40K MBP and two polypeptides of apparent M(r) 46K and 26K. Antibodies to purified RRSV particles reacted strongly with the intact fusion protein and the 46K cleavage product but weakly to the 26K product. Furthermore, in vitro transcription and translation of the S8 coding region revealed a post-translational self cleavage of the 67K polypeptide to 46K and 26K products. These data indicate that S8 encodes a structural polypeptide, the majority of which is auto- catalytically cleaved to 26K and 46K proteins. The data also suggest that the 26K protein is the self cleaving protease and that the 46K product is further processed or undergoes stable conformational changes to a ~43K major capsid protein.

Solution-processed dual-gate polymer field-effect transistors for display applications

We describe the advantages of dual-gate thin-film transistors (TFTs) for display applications. We show that in TFTs with active semiconductor layers composed of diketopyrrolopyrrole-naphthalene copolymer, the on-current is increased, the off-current is reduced, and the sub-threshold swing is improved compared to single-gate devices. Charge transport measurements in steady-state and under non-quasi-static conditions reveal the reasons for this improved performance. We show that in dual-gate devices, a much smaller fraction of charge carriers move in slow trap states. We also compare the activation energies for charge transport in the top-gate and bottom-gate configurations.

Annealing-free high-mobility diketopyrrolopyrrole-quaterthiophene copolymer for solution-processed organic thin film transistors

A donor-acceptor polymer semiconductor, PDQT, comprising diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and β-unsubstituted quaterthiophene (QT) for organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) is reported. This polymer forms ordered layer-by-layer lamellar packing with an edge-on orientation in thin films even without thermal annealing. The strong intermolecular interactions arising from the fused aromatic DPP moiety and the DPP-QT donor-acceptor interaction facilitate the spontaneous self-assembly of the polymer chains into close proximity and form a large π-π overlap, which are favorable for intermolecular charge hopping. The well-interconnected crystalline grains form efficient intergranular charge transport pathways. The desirable chemical, electronic, and morphological structures of PDQT bring about high hole mobility of up to 0.97 cm2/(V·s) in OTFTs with polymer thin films annealed at a mild temperature of 100 °C and similarly high mobility of 0.89 cm2/(V·s) for polymer thin films even without thermal annealing.

Valuing the influence of underlying attitudes and the demand for organic milk in Japan

Subjective perceptions about a product affect consumer choice. Accordingly, acquiring the underlying demand characteristics that consumers find desirable is vital for firms planning future marketing strategies. However, the extent to which product-specific perceptions affect consumer choice is poorly understood. New agricultural standards for organic livestock were introduced in Japan in November 2005 and are expected to influence the market significantly. Choice modeling (CM) is used to explore how consumers evaluate the latent demands and conventional attributes (or tangible values) of organic milk. The results suggest that latent demands, along with socioeconomic characteristics and conventional attributes, provide strong incentives for consumers to move from the purchase of conventional milk to organic milk. The analysis indicates that latent demands reflecting the safeness of organic milk, the better taste of organic milk, the image of environmental friendliness in the production process, and the image of the health and comfort of the cows are important factors that influence consumers' purchasing decisions. However, each specific factor has a corresponding conventional tangible attribute that needs to be targeted in marketing strategy.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the Australian population: Levels in human milk

This study arose out of the 2002 Review of the PCB Management Plan by the Scheduled Waste Management Network (SWMN) and the National Advisory Body (NAB). The Review indicated it would be beneficial to obtain some data on the levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the Australian population. In 2002, the Environment Protection and Heritage Standing Committee (EPHSC) agreed and noted that the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) would commission a study using the same samples from the National Dioxins Program (NDP) breast milk study collected in 2002- 03. The study, however, was also broadened to include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs).

Comparison of stool microbiota compositions, stool alpha1-antitrypsin and calprotectin concentrations, and diarrhoeal morbidity of Indonesian infants fed breast milk or probiotic/prebiotic-supplemented formula

Aim The composition of faecal microbiota of babies is known to be influenced by diet. Faecal calprotectin and α1-antitrypsin concentrations may be associated with mucosal permeability and inflammation. We aimed to assess whether there was any difference after consumption of a probiotic/prebiotic formula on faecal microbiota composition, calprotectin and α1-antitrypsin levels, and diarrhoea in comparison with breast milk-fed Indonesian infants. Methods One hundred sixty infants, 2 to 6 weeks old, were recruited to the study. They were either breastfed or formula fed (80 per group). Faecal samples were collected at recruitment and 3 months later. Bacterial groups characteristic of the human faecal microbiota were quantified in faeces by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Calprotectin and α1-antitrypsin concentrations were measured using commercial kits. Details of diarrhoeal morbidity were documented and rated for severity. Results The compositions of the faecal microbiota of formula-fed compared with breast milk-fed children were similar except that the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactisâ€...DR10 was more abundant after 3 months consumption of the formula. Alpha1-antitrypsin levels were higher in breastfed compared with formula-fed infants. The occurrence of diarrhoea did not differ between the groups of babies. Conclusion Feeding Indonesian babies with a probiotic/prebiotic formula did not produce marked differences in the composition of the faecal microbiota in comparison with breast milk. Detrimental effects of formula feeding on biomarkers of mucosal health were not observed.