Journal articles on the topic '658.589:620.9'

AbstractBackground:This study aimed to investigate the relationship between daily sitting time and the risk of metabolic syndrome in Korean adolescents.Methods:Data from 486 adolescents aged 12–18 years were obtained from national surveys. Daily sitting time was measured using questionnaires and divided into three intervals: <8 h; 8–12 h; and ≥12 h.Results:The mean daily sitting time and prevalence of positive metabolic components were 620.9±9.9 min/day and 45.5±2.7%, respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, adolescents who sat longer were more likely to have metabolic components (p<0.05), independent of age, sex, area of residence, sleeping time and body mass index.Conclusions:Longer daily sitting time appears to be associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome in adolescents. These findings highlight the need to focus on reducing sitting time for all adolescents, not just for those at risk of obesity.

This paper presents the results of a study undertaken to classify lowland native grassland communities in the Tasmanian Midlands region. Data was collected using the 20 band hyperspectral snapshot PhotonFocus sensor mounted on an unmanned aerial vehicle. The spectral range of the sensor is 600 to 875 nm. Four vegetation classes were identified for analysis including Themeda triandra grassland, Wilsonia rotundifolia, Danthonia/Poa grassland, and Acacia dealbata. In addition to the hyperspectral UAS dataset, a Digital Surface Model (DSM) was derived using a structure-from-motion (SfM). Classification was undertaken using an object-based Random Forest (RF) classification model. Variable importance measures from the training model indicated that the DSM was the most significant variable. Key spectral variables included bands two (620.9 nm), four (651.1 nm), and 11 (763.2 nm) from the hyperspectral UAS imagery. Classification validation was performed using both the reference segments and the two transects. For the reference object validation, mean accuracies were between 70% and 72%. Classification accuracies based on the validation transects achieved a maximum overall classification accuracy of 93.

Academic Information System is a tool to support academic activities in implementing education in institutions effectively and efficiently. Institut Teknologi Telkom Surabaya is an institution that already has an integrated academic information system called I-Gracias. I-Gracias uses a single-user system for all applications. Most users of I-Gracias are students, so student satisfaction with integrated academic information system services can be used as benchmarks in determining I-Gracias improvement plans. One method used for the I-Gracias improvement process is the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method. This method determines the student's desire for I-Gracias using the House of Quality (HOQ) matrix. The result of this research is that the QFD method can prioritize technical responses to the main obstacles for students in using I-Gracias by correlating Voice of Consumer (VOC) and technical response. The highest priority for technical response is coordinating with other units with a technical importance rating of 620.9 and a relative weight value of 21%. Next is to update the module regularly, socialize i-Gracias, meet management targets, receive criticism and suggestions, carry out regular checks and recruit HR if needed as a sequence of improvements to i-Gracias.

630*8:620.95(497.6 Kakanj) 620.9:582.632.2(497.6 Kakanj) Biomass has a huge renewable energy source potential, forest biomass in particular. Forest biomass effectively includes aboveground parts of tree trunk including: stem, treetop with leaves/needles, bark, seeds, and cones. Although it is biomass, stump is not used in natural forests. Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is a dominant tree in the forests of Bosnia and Herzegovina and it is important raw material used in wood assortment production. Once beech assortment is cut down, processing and hauled there is a significant quantity of unused wood biomass which can be effectively used as source of renewable energy. This is way the objective of this paper was to determine overall quantity of beech tree biomass in Compartment 92, Subcompartment „a”, MU „Žuća-Ribnica“, assess quantity of forest biomass (usable timber left after felling and branches - biomass above 7 cm), determine quantity of forest biomass (wood biomass from 3 to 7 cm), and also quantity of bark. The research included 60 beech trees. Volume of tree trunk and trunk bark was determined by sectioning method and branch mass was determined by weighting. Adjusted values of tree trunk and bark volumes were converted in dry matter mass using information provided by. The research findings showed that 73% (1,605.24 tons) of beech wood biomass is used in Compartment 92, Subcompartment „a”, MU „Žuća-Ribnica“, while 27% (582.59 tons) remain unused in the forest. This altogether indicates that a large portion of beech biomass is not used as energy source.

Mann K, Rendl J, Busley R, Sailer B, Seybold S, Hoermann R, Sauerbruch T, Börner W. Systemic iodine absorption during endoscopic application of radiographic contrast agents for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography. Eur J Endocrinol 1994;130:498–501. ISSN 0804–4643 Hyperthyroidism induced by contrast agents is a major problem in patients with pre-existing thyroid disease, particularly in patients with functional thyroid autonomy. The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether contrast media applied during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) may result in a significant increase of serum iodine levels and thus may be associated with the risk of iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. The courses of serum concentrations of total iodine and free iodide, as well as of urinary iodine excretion, were measured in 15 patients before and up to 21 days after ERCP. During ERCP, the non-ionic contrast medium iopamidol was instilled in amounts resulting in a total iodine load of 57.4 ± 22.8 mmol (7.3 ± 2.9 g). In all patients, ERCP resulted in a highly significant increase in serum levels of total iodine from 0.8±0.5 to 85.2 ± 116.9 μmol/l 4 h after application of the contrast agent. In parallel, serum iodide levels were raised from 0.06 ± 0.04 to 5.42 ± 6.09 μmol/l and urinary iodine excretion from 71.1 ± 35.7 μmol/mol creatinine to 621 620.9 ± 636 492.2 μmol/mol creatinine. Peak concentrations of serum iodine are well related to the total amount of iodine applied (p < 0.05). During follow-up, iodine levels returned to preexposure levels within 2–3 weeks. Levels of thyrotropin, free thyroxine, and free triiodothyronine remained unchanged during the follow-up period. In conclusion, endoscopic application of iodinated contrast agents during ERCP leads to significant increases of serum levels of total iodine and free iodide and of urinary iodine excretion. Therefore, patients with underlying thyroid disease may be at risk to develop iodine-induced hyperthyroidism. Klaus Mann, Dept. of Internal Medicine II. Klinikum Grosshadern, Marchionistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany

Abstract The Kholmogory breed of cattle is highly adapted to poor feeding and severe climate conditions of the northern part of European Russia, but a lack of dairy productivity also characterizes it. The study aims to measure the productivity of animals obtained by breeding Kholmogory and Holsteins cattle. Purebred Kholmogory (K1, n = 497), first generation` (K1/2×H1/2, n = 387), and second generation` (K1/4×H3/4, n = 384) hybrids were selected for the analysis. Dairy production for 305 days throughout 1st and 3rd lactations and also lifetime productivity were measured. Statistical processing was conducted using Statistica 10 software. The average milk yield of purebred` 1st lactation was 3501±35 kg with a fat content of 3.66±0.01%. The productivity of hybrids in the 1st lactation was higher by 728 kg (P &lt; 0.001) with a fat content of 3.86±0.02% for K1/2×H1/2 and by 1030 kg (P &lt; 0.001) with a fat content of 4.13±0.02 for the K1/4×H3/4 population. In the 3rd lactation, the productivity of K1 was 3948±51 kg of milk with a 3.73±0.02% of fat. This is 941 kg (P &lt; 0.001) and 0.31% (P &lt; 0.001) less than in K1/2×H1/2. During the same lactation in K1/4×H3/4, the average amount of milk was 5508±77 kg with 4.25±0.04% of fat. The maximum lifetime productivity was obtained from K1/2×H1/2. It made 19850±618 kg of milk and 799.6±25.3 kg of milk fat. In the K1 group, 14642±529 kg of milk and 552.6±20.3 kg of fat were obtained per life, and for K1/4×H3/4 14832±590 kg and 620.9±25.6 kg were obtained. The heterosis effect could explain the high lifetime productivity of first-generation hybrids. This is consistent because the average economic use of K1 animals was 3.53±0.11 calving, while for K1/2×H1/2, it was 4.01±0.11. Further breeding with the Holstein led to a significant decrease in the economical use duration to 2.78±0.09 calving in K1/4×H3/4.

Abstract Abstract 4047 Poster Board III-982 Hepcidin (hep), a 25-amino-acid peptide, is the central regulator of iron homeostasis. Its transcription is upregulated by inflammatory cytokines and iron and is downregulated by iron deficiency, ineffective erythropoiesis, and hypoxia. Also HFE gene mutations are associated with less liver hepcidin messenger RNA. Both inherited (HFE genotype) and treatment-related factors influencing hep expression in patients (pts) with AML prior to and after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) as blood transfusions (BT), body iron and anemia were studied. The impact of chemotherapy, conditioning regimen, and Graft versus Host Disease (GvHD) on serum hep was analysed. Patients and methods 42 consecutive pts (23 male/19 female, median age 57 [range:18-70] years) with AML who underwent allogeneic HCT from February, 2008 - February, 2009 at the University of Leipzig were included. Each patient was assessed 10 days prior to and at a median of 3 (range: 3-5) months after HCT. Donors were matched related in 8 (19%) and matched unrelated (MUD) in 34 (81%) pts. Preparative regimen consisted of 12 Gy TBI/cyclophosphamid 120 mg/kg (ATG was included for unrelated HCT) in 13 (31%) and fludarabin 30 mg/m2/day for 3 days/2 Gy TBI) in 29 (69%) pts. Acute GvHD > grade II was present in 13 (31%) and chronic GvHD in 17 (40%) pts. HFE genotype prior to and after HCT was assessed by PCR technique. Body iron was assessed by serum ferritin (sf) (normal values < 400ng/mL). Serum hep was measured by hepcidin C-ELISA at Intrinsic LifeSciences LLC, La Jolla, CA.(normal values: male 29-254 ng/mL, female: 17-286 ng/mL). Hep levels of 21 age-and gender-matched healthy volunteers (6 m/15 f, median age 57 years) were used as a control. Results Median serum hep was much higher in pts both prior to [median 358 (range:56-1096) ng/ml] and after HCT [median 398 (range:172-941) ng/ml] compared with the control group [median 52 (range:8.3-131) ng/ml] (p<0.0001). Age and gender had no influence on hep values. Similarly, liver function, interval between diagnosis and HCT, number of chemotherapies, conditioning regimen, antibiotic- or antifungal-treatments had no impact on hep level. Iron overload was already seen in all pts prior to HCT with a median sf of 1945 (range: 617-6981) ng/mL after a median number of 22 units BT. Although after HCT the number of BT mounted to a median of 30 units (p<0.0001), sf with a median of 2260 ng/mL remained elevated comparable to the level prior to HCT. Lower hep levels significantly correlated with fewer BT (p=0.001), but surprisingly not with sf values. Hep correlated inversely with the degree of anemia (p=0.002). Mutations in the HFE gene were found in 19 (46%) pts prior to HCT (heterozygosity (het) for H63D, n=11, het C282Y, n=3, het S65C, n=1, and homozygosity (homo) for H63D, n=4) and in 15 (37.5%) pts after HCT reflecting donor genotype (het for H63D,n=12, het C282Y, n=1, compound-het, n=1). Mutations in the HFE gene were not associated with lower hep levels. After HCT, 19 (45%) pts showed a decline in hep level of 155 (range: 394.8-9.5) ng/ml and 23 (55%) pts had an increase in hep levels of 138 (range: 43.3- 620.9) ng/ml compared with pre-transplantaion levels. None of the above mentioned parameters could predict or correlate with these changes in serum hep. Iron overload prior to HCT strongly correlated with later extensive chronic GvHD (p=0.003) and tended to correlate with limited GvHD (p=0.06). On the other hand, hep levels at any time point did not correlate with acute or later chronic GvHD. Conclusions Serum hepcidin is highly elevated in pts with AML prior to as well as after allogeneic HCT compared with healthy controls mainly because of frequent blood transfusions leading to elevated iron stores. This suggests that hepcidin synthesis and upregulation remain intact despite intensive chemotherapy and HCT. Hepcidin normally binds to ferroportin, leading to intracellular retention of iron in macrophages and to a reduction of extracellular serum iron. This may explain why serum hepcidin correlates with blood transfusions but not with serum ferritin values. Actually, overexpression of hepcidin may play an important protective role in this setting as it may prevent an increased ferroportin-mediated iron export from macrophages thereby reducing the severity of parenchymal iron loading and damage. Disclosures: Westerman: INTRINSIC LIFESCIENCES LLC: Consultancy, Employment, Equity Ownership. Hehme:Novartis: Employment. Niederwieser:Novartis: Speakers Bureau. Al-Ali:Novartis: Research Funding.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, conventional 2μ-plasmid based plasmid (pC2μ, such as pRS425) have been widely adopted in pathway engineering for multi-copy overexpression of key genes. However, the loss of partition and copy number control elements of yeast endogenous 2μ plasmid (pE2μ) brings the issues concerning plasmid stability and copy number of pC2μ, especially in long-term fermentation. In this study, we developed a method based on CRISPR/Cas9 to edit pE2μ and built the pE2μ multi-copy system by insertion of the target DNA element and elimination of the original pE2μ plasmid. The resulting plasmid pE2μRAF1 and pE2μREP2 demonstrated higher copy number and slower loss rate than a pC2μ control plasmid pRS425RK, when carrying the same target gene. Then, moving the essential gene TPI1 (encoding triose phosphate isomerase) from chromosome to pE2μRAF1 could increase the plasmid viability to nearly 100% and further increase the plasmid copy number by 73.95%. The expression using pE2μ multi-copy system demonstrated much smaller cell-to-cell variation comparing with pC2μ multi-copy system. With auxotrophic complementation of TPI1, the resulting plasmid pE2μRT could undergo cultivation of 90 generations under non-selective conditions without loss. Applying pE2μ multi-copy system for dihydroartemisinic acid (DHAA) biosynthesis, the production of DHAA was increased to 620.9 mg/L at shake-flask level in non-selective rich medium. This titer was 4.73-fold of the strain constructed based on pC2μ due to the more stable pE2μ plasmid system and with higher plasmid copy number. This study provides an improved expression system in yeast, and set a promising platform to construct biosynthesis pathway for valuable products.

The binding of atrial and brain natriuretic peptides (ANP and BNP) to guanylyl cyclase-A/natriuretic peptide receptor-A (GC-A/NPR-A) produces second messenger cGMP, which lowers blood pressure and prevents cardiovascular events. The objective of the present study was to examine the repressive effect of transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) in the regulation of Npr1 (coding for GC-A/NPRA) gene expression and function. The rat thoracic aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (RTASMC) were cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and treated with TGF-β1. The luciferase assay results showed that TGF-β1 significantly repressed Npr1 promoter activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner by 82% and 85% (2.5 ng/ml, 25.51 ± 2.2 and 24 h, 7.0 ± 0.6 vs. untreated control 70.06 ± 4.6, p < 0.001, respectively). Treatment with TGF-β1 decreased NPRA mRNA and protein levels by 62% (treated, 0.42 ± 0.05 vs. control, 0.9 ± 0.02, p < 0.01) and 55% (treated, 9603 ± 860 vs. untreated, 22211 ± 1449, p < 0.01), respectively. TGF-β1 attenuated ANP-dependent intracellular accumulation of cGMP by 59% (TGF-β1 + ANP-treated, 8.66 ± 0.9 pmol/1x 106 cells vs. ANP-treated cells 23.51 ± 2.2; p < 0.001). Chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that TGF-β1 enhanced the recruitment of transcription factor delta EF1 (δEF1) to form a transcriptional repressor complex with their binding sites in Npr1 promoter. Western blot analysis showed significant increase in δEF1 protein expression by 2.4-fold (treated, 907.9 ± 36.5. vs. untreated, 378.5 ± 10.3; p < 0.001) and phosphorylation of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2/3 (SMAD2/3) proteins by 2.3-fold (treated, 620.9 ± 10.6 vs. untreated, 269 ± 9.7; p < 0.01) in TGF-β1-treated cells. Collectively, the present results demonstrate that TGF-β1 represses Npr1 gene transcription and expression by interactive actions of δEF1 and phosphorylated SMADs. Together, the present results suggest that TGF-β1 and δEF1 inhibit Npr1 gene expression and function, which may be critical in regulating the blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis.