ROC curves of obesity indicators have a predictive value for children hypertension aged 7-17 years

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the distribution of integrated covariate and its association with blood pressure (BP) among children in Anhui province, China, and assess the predictive value of integrated covariate to children hypertension. Methods: A total of 2,828 subjects (1,588 male and 1,240 female) aged 7-17 years participated in this study. Height, weight, waistline, hipline and BP of all subjects were measured, obesity and overweight were defined by an international standard, specifying the measurement, the reference population, and the age and sex specific cut off points. High BP status was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > 95th percentile for age and gender. Results: Our results revealed that the prevalence of children hypertension was 11.03%, the SBP and DBP of obesity group were significantly higher than that of normal group. Anthropometric obesity indices such as body mass index (BMI) were positively correlated with SBP and DBP. Integrated covariate had a better performance than the single covariate in the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the cut-off value; the sensitivity and the specificity of the integrated covariate were 0.112, 0.577, 0.683, respectively. Conclusion: Integrated covariate is a simple and effective anthropometric index to identify childhood hypertension.

Annual report of the executive committee : with accompanying papers /

Mode of access: Internet.

The development of an algorithm to track blood pressure accurately based on the pulse transit time method

Oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitors are currently used to diagnose hypertension both in home and clinical settings. These monitors take BP measurements once every 15 minutes over a 24 hour period and provide a reliable and accurate system that is minimally invasive. Although intermittent cuff measurements have proven to be a good indicator of BP, a continuous BP monitor is highly desirable for the diagnosis of hypertension and other cardiac diseases. However, no such devices currently exist. A novel algorithm has been developed based on the Pulse Transit Time (PTT) method, which would allow non-invasive and continuous BP measurement. PTT is defined as the time it takes the BP wave to propagate from the heart to a specified point on the body. After an initial BP measurement, PTT algorithms can track BP over short periods of time, known as calibration intervals. After this time has elapsed, a new BP measurement is required to recalibrate the algorithm. Using the PhysioNet database as a basis, the new algorithm was developed and tested using 15 patients, each tested 3 times over a period of 30 minutes. The predicted BP of the algorithm was compared to the arterial BP of each patient. It has been established that this new algorithm is capable of tracking BP over 12 minutes without the need for recalibration, using the BHS standard, a 100% improvement over what has been previously identified. The algorithm was incorporated into a new system based on its requirements and was tested using three volunteers. The results mirrored those previously observed, providing accurate BP measurements when a 12 minute calibration interval was used. This new system provides a significant improvement to the existing method allowing BP to be monitored continuously and non-invasively, on a beat-to-beat basis over 24 hours, adding major clinical and diagnostic value.

The Proceedings of the South Carolina Historical Association

Annually, the association publishes a journal, The Proceedings, which consists of papers presented at the annual meeting. Robert C. Winthrop: Conservative Opponent of Lincoln by Robert J. Moore The New Cambridge Modern History: A Comment by John M. Roberts South Carolina Ratifies the Federal Constitution by George C. Rogers, Jr. Tillman and the South Carolina Dispensary by Jack E. Tuttle The Place of History in a Liberal Arts Curriculum by Charles S. Davis

The Proceedings of the South Carolina Historical Association

Annually, the association publishes a journal, The Proceedings, which consists of papers presented at the annual meeting. Robert C. Winthrop: Conservative Opponent of Lincoln by Robert J. Moore The New Cambridge Modern History: A Comment by John M. Roberts South Carolina Ratifies the Federal Constitution by George C. Rogers, Jr. Tillman and the South Carolina Dispensary by Jack E. Tuttle The Place of History in a Liberal Arts Curriculum by Charles S. Davis

Replicating satellite RNA induces sequence-specific DNA methylation and truncated transcripts in plants

Tobacco plants were transformed with a chimeric transgene comprising sequences encoding β-glucuronidase (GUS) and the satellite RNA (satRNA) of cereal yellow dwarf luteovirus. When transgenic plants were infected with potato leafroll luteovirus (PLRV), which replicated the transgene-derived satRNA to a high level, the satellite sequence of the GUS:Sat transgene became densely methylated. Within the satellite region, all 86 cytosines in the upper strand and 73 of the 75 cytosines in the lower strand were either partially or fully methylated. In contrast, very low levels of DNA methylation were detected in the satellite sequence of the transgene in uninfected plants and in the flanking nonsatellite sequences in both infected and uninfected plants. Substantial amounts of truncated GUS:Sat RNA accumulated in the satRNA-replicating plants, and most of the molecules terminated at nucleotides within the first 60 bp of the satellite sequence. Whereas this RNA truncation was associated with high levels of satRNA replication, it appeared to be independent of the levels of DNA methylation in the satellite sequence, suggesting that it is not caused by methylation. All the sequenced GUS:Sat DNA molecules were hypermethylated in plants with replicating satRNA despite the phloem restriction of the helper PLRV. Also, small, sense and antisense ∼22 nt RNAs, derived from the satRNA, were associated with the replicating satellite. These results suggest that the sequence-specific DNA methylation spread into cells in which no satRNA replication occurred and that this was mediated by the spread of unamplified satRNA and/or its associated 22 nt RNA molecules.

Conceptualizing sustainable retirement villages in Australia

The Australian ageing society with baby boomers reaching retirement age has placed a lot of pressures on housing services. The retirement village is increasingly accepted as a suitable living arrangement for older people. Ecological theory of ageing emphasizes a match between environment and older peoples’ competences. As one response to this, creating village environment in a sustainable way is on the agenda. However, it is not very clear what kinds of sustainable features should be incorporated within the village environment to fit residents’ competences, in particular given that baby boomers who have unique requirements have become the main potential customers. In present paper, a sustainable retirement village framework is proposed by building on ecological theory of ageing and triple bottom line. A two-step inductive reasoning research method is adopted in this conceptualization process. The proposed sustainable retirement village framework contains four domains, including senior-oriented basic settings, financial affordability, age-friendly social environment and environmental sustainability. These four domains are interrelated, and a sustainable retirement village stresses a dynamic balance between different domains. This proposed framework not only gives implications for village developers on creating a suitable village environment to better accommodate residents, but also paves the way for future studies on housing older people in an age-friendly manner.

PTHR1 polymorphisms influence BMD variation through effects on the growing skeleton

We investigated whether polymorphisms in PTHR1 are associated with bone mineral density (BMD), to determine whether the association of this gene with BMD was due to effects on attainment of peak bone mass or effects on subsequent bone loss. The PTHR1 gene, including its 14 exons, their exon-intron boundaries, and 1,500 bp of its promoter region, was screened for polymorphisms by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (dHPLC) and sequencing in 36 osteoporotic cases. Eleven single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), one tetranucleotide repeat, and one tetranucleotide deletion were identified. A cohort of 634 families, including 1,236 men (39%) and 1,926 women (61%) ascertained with probands with low BMD (Z< -2.0) and the Children in Focus subset of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort (785 unrelated individuals, mean age 118 months), were genotyped for the five most informative SNPs (minor allele frequency >5%) and the tetranucleotide repeat. In our osteoporosis families, association was noted between lumbar spine BMD and alleles of a known functional tetranucleotide repeat (U4) in the PTHR1 promoter region (P = 0.042) and between two and three marker haplotypes of PTHR1 polymorphisms with lumbar spine, femoral neck, and total hip BMD (P = 0.021-0.047). This association was restricted to the youngest tertile of the population (age 16-39 years, P = 0.013-0.048). A similar association was found for the ALSPAC cohort: two marker haplotypes of SNPs A48609T and C52813T were associated with height (P = 0.006) and total body less head BMD (P = 0.02), corrected for age and gender, confirming the family findings. These findings suggest a role for PTHR1 variation in determining peak BMD.

Fermi level depinning at the germanium Schottky interface through sulfur passivation

We demonstrate the depinning of Fermi level on both p- and n-type germanium after sulfur passivation by aqueous (NH4)(2)S treatment. Schottky contacts realized using metals with a wide range of work functions produce nearly ideal behavior confirming that the Fermi level is depinned. Examination of the passivated surface using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals bonding between Ge and sulfur.It is shown that good Ohmic contacts to n-type Ge and a hole barrier height (phi(Bp)) of 0.6 eV to p-type Ge can be achieved after this passivation treatment, with Zr Schottky contacts. This is the highest phi(Bp) reported so far.

Distribuição e conservação dos genes que codificam as proteínas VgrG e Hcp em espécies de Aeromonas

Aeromonas spp. são bastonetes Gram negativos amplamente distribuídos nos ambientes aquáticos, com relatos de isolamento em água de abastecimento público e alimentos. Este micro-organismo possui potencial de causar doenças intestinais e extraintestinais cuja patogenicidade está associada a sua virulência multifatorial. Diversos determinantes de virulência de Aeromonas já foram identificados, incluindo sistemas de secreção de proteínas. O sistema de secreção tipo VI (SST6) é o mais recente sistema de secreção de proteínas identificado em bactérias cuja presença em estirpes no gênero Aeromonas pode implicar atividades de citotoxicidade para o hospedeiro, pois esse sistema é capaz de injetar moléculas efetoras dentro da célula, interferindo diretamente nos processos celulares. A fim de determinar a presença e analisar a distribuição dos genes hcp e vgrG codificadores das proteínas efetoras do SST6 em Aeromonas spp. o presente estudo examinou 119 cepas isoladas de diversas origens pela técnica da PCR após o desenho de oligonucleotídeos iniciadores específicos. Objetivamos ainda analisar a variabilidade genética interespecífica dos genes hcp e vgrG a partir de dados de sequenciamento. Os resultados obtidos indicaram a distribuição dos genes vgrG e hcp em 46% das cepas de Aeromonas hydrophila e Aeromonas caviae de diferentes origens. Entre as cepas de A. hydrophila a maior frequência foi observada nas cepas isoladas de humanos, onde todas foram positivas para os iniciadores que amplificaram um produto de 541 pb do gene vgrG e 418 pb do gene hcp. Entre as cepas de A. caviae, a incidência de genes vgrG e hcp foi mais elevada nas cepas isoladas de alface (60%) e peixes (50%). As cepas analisadas de origem ambiental apresentaram índice total de 36% de positividade, apresentando frequência de 60% e 22% em A. hydrophila e A. caviae, respectivamente. Os dados obtidos da análise de cepas de origem alimentar mostraram a presença dos genes vgrG e hcp em 67% (A. hydrophila) e 60% (A. caviae) das cepas isoladas de folhas de alface. Nas cepas isoladas de queijo os genes foram encontrados em 67% e 12,5% das cepas de A. hydrophila e de A. caviae, respectivamente. O alinhamento múltiplo entre as sequências dos segmentos dos genes hcp e vgrG obtidas no sequenciamento indicou grau de identidade nucleotídica de 75 a 100% entre as sequências de hcp e 80 a 100% entre as sequências de vgrG. Em conclusão, nossos resultados indicaram que os iniciadores desenhados foram capazes de detectar suas sequências alvo em cepas de A. caviae e outras espécies de Aeromonas, sugerindo a existência de homologia entre os genes nas diferentes espécies, confirmada após sequenciamento de DNA. Os dados indicaram que esses genes estão distribuídos em várias espécies de Aeromonas e em cepas isoladas de diversas fontes. Ressaltamos a prevalência de cepas de A. hydrophila PCR-positivas em isolados clínicos, sugerindo a participação do SST6 no complexo universo da virulência multifatorial que permeia esse micro-organismo

Mitochondrial DNA control region and cytochrome b sequence variation in the genus Mystacoleucus Gunther (Pisces : Cyprinidae : Barbinae) from China

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable segment I sequences (HVSI, 471 bp) of the control region and partial cytochrome b sequences (Cytb, 403 bp) were analyzed in three tentative species of the genus Mystacoleucus in China (M. chilopterus, M. marginatus, and M. lepturus). Not more than two mutations were found in both the HVSI and Cytb fragments among the samples from M. chilopterus and M. marginatus. However, M. lepturus differed from each of them by at least 25 mutations in Cytb and 51 mutations in HVSI. Moreover, the HVSI sequence variation within M. lepturus was larger than that between M. chilopterus and M. marginatus. Given that M. chilopterus and M. marginatus are very similar in morphology, it is reasonable to consider M. chilopterus and M. marginatus as conspecific. Our results also suggest a recent radiation of M. marginatus from downstream to upstream of the Lancangjiang (Mekong) River.

Metallothionein-2 gene from the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi: cDNA cloning, tissue expression, and immunohistochemical localization

The metallothionein-2 (MT-2) gene was isolated from the mandarin fish, one of the most important industrial aquatic animals in China, by using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The deduced amino acid sequence of MT-2 comprised 60 amino acids and showed approximately 62.3% identity to human metallothionein. Its promoter region was amplified by thermal asymmetric interlaced polymerase chain reaction (TAIL-PCR). The MT-2 gene consists of 3 exons and 2 introns, extending approximately 900 bp of genomic sequence. Phylogenetic analysis clearly demonstrated that MT-2 formed a clade with fish metallothionein. The promoter region contained 5 putative metal-regulatory elements (MREs) and 1 TATA box. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that MT-2 transcripts were significantly increased in the brain and gills and were stable in the muscles, liver, and trunk kidney in Cd2+-stimulated fish. Western blotting analysis demonstrated that the protein of the MT-2 gene was expressed mainly in the gills, liver, heart, trunk kidney, muscle, and intestine; it was weakly detected in the brain and head kidney. Moreover, the MT-2 protein was immunohistochemically detected in the cytoplasm in the liver and trunk kidney. All the above results revealed that the mandarin fish MT-2 would be a useful biomarker for metal pollution. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Morphological and molecular characters reveal differentiation in a Neotropical social bee, Melipona beecheii (Apidae : Meliponini)

Morphometrics and DNA microsatellites were used to analyse the genetic structure of populations of the stingless bee M. beecheii from two extremes of its geographic range. The results showed that populations from Costa Rica and Yucatan exhibit substantial phenotypic and molecular differentiation. Bees from Yucatan were smaller and paler than those from Costa Rica. The value of multilocus F-ST = 0.280 (P <0.001) confirmed that there were significant molecular genetic differences between the two populations. Populations showed significant deviation from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium and the values of FIS (the inbreeding coefficient) were positive for Costa Rica = 0.416 and the Yucatan Peninsula = 0.193, indicating a lack of heterozygotes in both populations possibly due to inbreeding. The DNA sequence of 678 bp of the mitochondrial gene COI differed between populations by 1.2%. The results of this study should be considered in conservation programmes, particularly with regard to the movement of colonies between regions.

14C as a tool to trace terrestrial carbon in a complex lake system: implications for food-web structure and carbon cycling

Globally lakes bury and remineralise significant quantities of terrestrial C, and the associated flux of terrestrial C strongly influences their functioning. Changing deposition chemistry, land use and climate induced impacts on hydrology will affect soil biogeochemistry and terrestrial C export¹ and hence lake ecology with potential feedbacks for regional and global C cycling. C and nitrogen stable isotope analysis (SIA) has identified the terrestrial subsidy of freshwater food webs. The approach relies on different ¹³C fractionation in aquatic and terrestrial primary producers, but also that inorganic C demands of aquatic primary producers are partly met by ¹³C depleted C from respiration of terrestrial C, and ‘old’ C derived from weathering of catchment geology. SIA thus fails to differentiate between the contributions of old and recently fixed terrestrial C. Natural abundance ¹⁴C can be used as an additional biomarker to untangle riverine food webs² where aquatic and terrestrial δ ¹³C overlap, but may also be valuable for examining the age and origin of C in the lake. Primary production in lakes is based on dissolved inorganic C (DIC). DIC in alkaline lakes is partially derived from weathering of carbonaceous bedrock, a proportion of which is¹⁴C-free. The low ¹⁴C activity yields an artificial age offset leading samples to appear hundreds to thousands of years older than their actual age. As such, ¹⁴C can be used to identify the proportion of autochthonous C in the food-web. With terrestrial C inputs likely to increase, the origin and utilisation of ‘fossil’ or ‘recent’ allochthonous C in the food-web can also be determined. Stable isotopes and 14C were measured for biota, particulate organic matter (POM), DIC and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, a humic alkaline lake. Temporal and spatial variation was evident in DIC, DOC and POM C isotopes with implications for the fluctuation in terrestrial export processes. Ramped pyrolysis of lake surface sediment indicates the burial of two C components. ¹⁴C activity (507 ± 30 BP) of sediment combusted at 400˚C was consistent with algal values and younger than bulk sediment values (1097 ± 30 BP). The sample was subsequently combusted at 850˚C, yielding 14C values (1471 ± 30 BP) older than the bulk sediment age, suggesting that fossil terrestrial carbon is also buried in the sediment. Stable isotopes in the food web indicate that terrestrial organic C is also utilised by lake organisms. High winter δ ¹⁵N values in calanoid zooplankton (δ ¹⁵N = 24%¸) relative to phytoplankton and POM (δ ¹⁵N = 6h and 12h respectively) may reflect several microbial trophic levels between terrestrial C and calanoids. Furthermore winter calanoid 14C ages are consistent with DOC from an inflowing river (75 ± 24 BP), not phytoplankton (367 ± 70 BP). Summer calanoid δ ^13C, δ ¹⁵N and ¹⁴C (345 ± 80 BP) indicate greater reliance on phytoplankton.

¹ Monteith, D.T et al., (2007) Dissolved organic carbon trends resulting from changes in atmospheric deposition chemistry. Nature, 450:537-535

² Caraco, N., et al.,(2010) Millennial-aged organic carbon subsidies to a modern river food web. Ecology,91: 2385-2393.