Arsenic Accumulation and Translocation in Mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum L.) Grown in Arsenic Contaminated Soils.

Mangrove wetlands serve as both a sink and source for arsenic (As), as mangrove plants are able to uptake and accumulate As. The present study used pot experiments to evaluate As accumulation and translocation in mangrove (Aegiceras corniculatum L.) seedlings grown in As contaminated soils. Results indicated that A. corniculatum seedlings grew normally under As stress with minute growth inhibition and biomass reduction at different As treatment concentrations in a range of 0-150 mg·kg(-1). As concentrations in roots, stems and leaves were increased with increasing As treatment concentrations, but As accumulated mainly in roots, with accumulation rates of 74.54%-89.26% of the total As accumulation. In particular, relatively high bioconcentration factor (BCF) in root (2.12-1.79), low BCF in stem (0.44-0.14) and leaf (0.06-0.01), and thereby a low translocation factor (TF) in stem/root (0.21-0.08) and leaf/root (0.02-0.008) were observed. These results demonstrated that A. corniculatum is an As excluder with the innate capacity to tolerate As stress and root tissues may be employed as a bio-indicator of As in polluted sediments. Additionally, A. corniculatum is a potential candidate mangrove species for As phytostabilization in tropical and subtropical estuarine wetlands.

Association Between Thyroid Hormones, Lipids and Oxidative Stress Markers in Subclinical Hypothyroidism.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. It is recognized in overt hypothyroidism while its existence in subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is not well established. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was increased oxidation of lipids and proteins in SCH, and examine their association with lipids and thyroid hormones. METHODS: Male adults (35-59 years) with SCH (n=467) and euthyroid controls (n=190) were studied. Anthropometric measurements, plasma lipids, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), lipid peroxidation products, malondialdehyde (MDA), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and dityrosine concentrations were measured. RESULTS: Plasma concentrations of MDA were significantly higher (p<0.05) in SCH (8.11±1.39 nmol/mL) compared with euthyroid controls (7.34±1.31 nmol/mL) while AOPP, dityrosine and T-AOC levels were not different. MDA was not associated with TSH (ß=-0.019, P=0.759), FT4 (ß=-0.062, P=0.323) and FT3 (ß=-0.018, P=0.780) in SCH while levels increased with elevated total cholesterol (ß=0.229, P=0.001), LDL (ß=0.203, P=0.009) and triglycerides (ß=0.159, P=0.036) after adjustment for age and body mass index. T-AOC reduced (ß=-0.327, P=0.030) with increased MDA in euthyroid controls and not in SCH (ß=-0.068, P=0.349), while levels increased with elevated triglycerides in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative stress was increased in subclinical hypothyroidism as evidenced by the elevated lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde, while protein oxidation was absent. Thus, reduction of oxidative stress may be beneficial in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism.

Elevated plasma dityrosine in patients with hyperlipidemia compared to healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: Dityrosine, the modification of tyrosine residues, may contribute to metabolic disorders. This study was undertaken to investigate plasma dityrosine concentrations in patients with hyperlipidemia and to examine the correlation between dityrosine and lipid profiles. METHODS: Fluorescence spectrophotometry was used to measure dityrosine in the plasma of healthy subjects (n = 203) and dyslipidemic subjects, which included patients with mild hyperlipidemia (n = 246) and hyperlipidemia (n = 179). Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were also assayed in all subjects. RESULTS: Dityrosine levels were higher by 9.3 and 22.9% in mildly hyperlipidemic and hyperlipidemic patients, respectively, compared to controls after adjustment for age, gender, and BMI. AOPP and MDA levels showed similar trends. The levels of dityrosine related positively (p < 0.05) to total cholesterol (r = 0.362), triglycerides (r = 0.449), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.359). Moreover, plasma dityrosine (r = 0.408), AOPP (r = 0.488), and MDA (r = 0.181) levels were elevated with an increase in the atherosclerosis index in the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that dityrosine formation may be an early event in the pathological process of hyperlipidemia. Dityrosine as a biomarker detected by fluorescence spectrophotometry might be a useful tool to evaluate the plasma redox state in hyperlipidemia.

Disparities in the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and its Components Among University Employees by Age, Gender and Occupation.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic Syndrome (MS), a known risk factor for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and type II diabetes is an emerging epidemic in China. Studies carried out on the general population indicate a varied clustering of cardiovascular risks in many parts of the country. However, there is limited data on its prevalence in the working population. Workplace can serve as an important place for prevention, control and management of CVD risks. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MS and its components among University workers, and determine how the prevalence varied according to sex and occupation. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 2,428 University employees (22-60 years) who received an annual clinical examination at the University hospital. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), and lipid profiles were measured. MS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment panel III modified criteria. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of MS was 6.1%, higher in males (5.1%) than females (1.1%), and increased with age. The most prevalent MS components in all workers were hypertension (37.9%) and hypertryglyceridemia (20.8%), corresponding rates in males were 28.3% and 16.1% while females had a prevalence of 9.6% and 4.7%. After adjustment for age, administrative work was associated (p<0.05) with increased hypertension (odds ratio (OR) =1.474; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.146-1.896) and hyperglycemia (OR=1.469; 95% CI, 1.082-1.993) in male workers, and with hypertension (OR=1.492; 95% CI, 1.071-2.080) in females. However, prevalence of hypertryglyceridemia was lower (OR=0.390; 95% CI, 0.204-0.746) in female administrators compared to those in academics. Obesity, MS and reduced High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol prevalence was not different (p>0.05) between the two occupations in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of MS and its components was higher in male workers than in females, increased with age, and were more common in administrative workers. The findings support the need for gender and occupation specific health interventions to prevent CVDs and type II diabetes in the workplace.

Poly[aqua-[µ(3)-N'-(carboxy-meth-yl)ethyl-ene-diamine-N,N,N'-triacetato]samarium(III)].

In the title coordination polymer, [Sm(C(10)H(13)N(2)O(8))(H(2)O)](n), each samarium(III) centre is nine-coordinated by six O and two N atoms from three N'-(carboxy-meth-yl)ethyl-enediamine-N,N,N'-triacetate ligands and one O atom of a water mol-ecule, forming polymeric chains running parallel to the a axis. The packing is governed by inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter-actions.

[Aerodynamic characteristics of crewman's arms during windblast].

OBJECTIVE: To study the aerodynamic characteristics of crewman's arms with or without protective devices in the status with raised legs or not. METHOD: The experiments were performed in an FL-24 transonic and supersonic wind tunnel, over Mach number range of 0.4-2.0, with 5 degrees-30 degrees angles of attack, 0 degrees - 90 degrees sideslip angles and Re number of (0.93-3.1) x 10(6). The test model was a 1/5-scale crewman/ejection seat combination. The aerodynamic characteristics of the various sections of crewman's arms were studied and analyzed. RESULT: The results showed that 1) The effect of raised leg on the aerodynamic characteristics of the crewman's arms was very evident, and was related to the status of leg raising; 2) The sideslip considerably increased aerodynamic loads on the crewman's arms, in particular when beta=50 degrees the loads was severe in the test; 3) The tested protective devices was valid, the effectiveness of wind deflector in protecting crewman's arms was evident; 4) A formula for calculating aerodynamic force acting on crewman's arms was presented. CONCLUSION: 1)The tested protective devices was valid, and the effectiveness of wind deflector in protecting crewman's arms was evident; 2) An aerodynamic basis for the development of crewman windblast protective device was presented; 3)The calculation formula presented is useful in estimating aerodynamic forces of crewman's arms.

The role of endothelin in oxygen-induced contraction of the ductus arteriosus in rabbit and rat fetuses.

The role of endothelin in oxygen-induced contraction remains controversial. The present study was designed to investigate the role of endothelin in O2-induced contraction in the isolated ductal preparation of rabbit and rat, using the endothelin receptor antagonists, bosentan (antagonist for both ET-A and ET-B receptors) and BQ 485 (an ET-A selective antagonist). The ductus was isolated from fetal rabbits at 30 days of gestation (term 31 days) and fetal rats at 21 days of gestation (term 22 days). In the rabbit ductus with intact endothelium, 13% of the O2-induced contraction was inhibited by bosentan and 14% by BQ 485. In the rabbit ductus without endothelium, bosentan did not cause significant inhibition of the oxygen-induced contraction. In the rat ductus with intact endothelium, about 44% of the O2-induced contraction was inhibited by bosentan. In the rat ductus without endothelium, O2-induced contraction was 20% less than that in the ductus with intact endothelium. In the rat ductus without endothelium, bosentan further decreased the oxygen-induced contraction by about 24%. These data suggest that (1) endothelin plays a significant role in O2-induced contraction in the isolated ductus arteriosus, (2) there is a species difference in the degree of contribution of endothelin to the O2-induced ductal contraction, and (3) there is a species difference in the degree of contribution of the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cells to the release of endothelin from the ductus arteriosus.