[Physical fitness and its regional distribution of Chinese students aged 13 to 18 in 2014].

Objective: To evaluate the physical fitness and its regional distribution of students aged 13-18 years in China, using the National Standards for Students' Physical Fitness (revised in 2014). Methods: We recruited 105 834 students aged 13 to 18 years from the Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health project in 2014. Related total scores, rates for qualified and for excellence (the proportions of individuals whose total score greater than or equal to 60.0 or 90.0) of these students were gathered. T test was applied to compare means of total score in different groups. χ(2) test was used to compare the differences of qualified or excellence rates between different groups while Pearson correlation method was applied to test the relation of each index with per capita GDP. Results: The average score was (70.1±10.7) among students aged 13 to 18 years in China. 88 805 (83.9%) students whose score exceeded 60.0 while 1 734 (1.6%) exceeded 90.0. Average score, rates of both qualified or excellence of students aged 13 to 15 appeared higher than those aged 16 to 18 but lower in males than in females. However, the rate of excellence was much higher in male students. Students living in urban areas showed both lower average score and qualified rate but higher rate of excellence than those living in rural areas. Both qualified and Excellent rates decreased with the increase of age in both sexes. We also noticed that both higher physical fitness and health status appeared in students from the east coast. Pearson correlation coefficient of each index (average score, qualified or Excellent rate) on per capital GDP appeared as 0.56, 0.43 and 0.65, respectively. Conclusion: In 2014, the physical fitness of Chinese students aged 13 to 18 was not satisfactory, with older students and those living in underdeveloped areas, in particular.

[Analysis on the current situation of insufficient sleep and its association with physical exercise among Chinese Han students aged 9-18 years, in 2014].

Objective: To describe the situation of insufficient sleep and the association between insufficient sleep and physical exercise, among Chinese Han students aged 9-18 years. Methods: We selected 172 197 Chinese Han students aged 9-18 years from the project 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health. The average sleep duration per day of less than 9 h for children aged 9-12 years and of less than 8 h for adolescents aged 13-18 years, were defined as insufficient sleep. We described the distribution of sleep duration and the prevalence rates of insufficient sleep for each subgroup. Logistic regression models were established to assess the association between insufficient sleep and physical exercise. Results: In 2014, 6.6%, 30.8%, 26.3%, 20.8%, 13.8% and 1.8% of the Chinese Han students self-reported sleep duration were <6, 6-, 7-, 8- and ≥10 h, respectively. The overall prevalence rate of insufficient sleep was 77.2%, with 75.8% for boys and 78.6% for girls. No gender disparity was found at each 9-11 age groups. However, in the 12-18 age groups, the prevalence rates for girls were significantly higher than that for boys. The prevalence rates of insufficient sleep for primary school, middle school and high school students were66.6%, 74.1% and 93.8%, respectively. Rates were increasing with age for children aged 9-12 years and adolescents aged 13-18 years respectively. The three provinces with the lowest prevalence rates of insufficient sleep were Zhejiang (68.8%), Jiangsu (66.7%) and Shaanxi (65.2%). Data from the logistic regression models revealed that, when comparing to those students with only exercise of <0.5 h per day, the exercise hours of 0.5-1 h (OR=0.72, 95%CI: 0.69-0.74) or ≥1 h (OR=0.46, 95%CI: 0.44-0.47) per day seemed as protective factors for insufficient sleep. When compared with physical exercise frequency <2 times per week, the 2 times (OR=0.82, 95%CI: 0.78-0.86) or >2 times (OR=0.65, 95%CI: 0.62-0.68) frequencies also appeared as protective. Conclusions: The prevalence rate of insufficient sleep prevailing among students aged 9-18 years was high, in China. Our data called for setting up effective measures to deal with this situation.

Protective effect of ulinastatin combined with dexmedetomidine on lung injury after cold ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the protective effect of ulinastatin combined with dexmedetomidine on lung injury after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 60 healthy and clean male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into the blank control group (group O), the model control group (group K), the ulinastatin and dexmedetomidine group (group F) according to random number table with 20 rats in each group. RESULTS: The plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and malondialdehyde (MDA) at T1, T2 and T3 time points in rats of the three groups were significantly higher than those of the T0 time point (p<0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the plasma of rats of the three groups was significantly lower at T1, T2 and T3 time point when compared with that of T0 (p<0.05). The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8 and MDA in group K at T1, T2 and T3 moments were significantly higher than those of group O (p<0.05). However, the concentrations of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and MDA in group F at T1, T2, T3 were significantly lower than those of group K (p<0.05). The activities of SOD in group K at T1, T2, T3 were all significantly higher than those of group O (p<0.05). Meanwhile, the activities of SOD in group F at T1, T2, T3 were significantly higher than those of group K (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Ulinastatin combined with dexmedetomidine can reduce the inflammatory response and inhibit lipid peroxidation, eventually alleviating acute lung injury after hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in rats.

[The change in mortality and major causes of death among Chinese adolescents from 1990 to 2016].

Objective: To analyze the change in mortality and major causes of death among Chinese adolescents aged 10-19 years from 1990 to 2016. Methods: Data of death for Chinese adolescents aged 10-19 years were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (GBD 2016). The data was used to describe the change in mortality of Chinese adolescents from 1990 to 2016.Top 15 causes of death were compared between 1990 and 2016. Results: From 1990 to 2016, the all-cause mortality of Chinese adolescents aged 10-19 years old dropped from 102.5/100 000 to 41.2/100 000, reaching about a half of the global average (78.6/100 000) but still almost twice as high as the average of high-income countries (24.3/100 000) by 2016; the reduction in mortality was higher among females than that among males (decreased 68.7% vs. 54.7%), and among adolescents aged 10-14 years than that among those aged 15-19 years (decreased 62.1% vs. 57.1%). During the 26-year period, the cause-specific mortality of all top 15 causes saw sharp decreases. Among them, communicable, maternal, and nutritional diseases saw the most significant decrease (78.1%), and its proportion in all adolescent deaths fell from 11.1% to 6.1%. Meanwhile, non-communicable diseases and injuries saw relatively small decreases (58.2% and 57.3% respectively), and their proportions rose from 33.4% and 55.6% to 34.8% and 59.1%, respectively. The top 5 causes of death changed from drowning (17.39/100 000 in mortality, 17.0% in proportion), road injuries (14.77/100 000, 14.4%), self-harm (11.44/100 000, 11.2%), leukemia (5.48/100 000, 5.4%) and interpersonal violence (3.12/100 000, 3.0%) in1990 into road injuries (9.27/100 000, 22.5%), drowning (6.83/100 000, 16.6%), leukemia(2.73/100 000, 6.6%), self-harm (2.53/100 000, 6.2%) and congenital birth defects (1.76/100 000, 4.3%) in 2016, and tuberculosis, poisonings and rheumatic heart disease had dropped out of the top 15 in 2016. Conclusion: The mortality of Chinese adolescents aged 10-19 years has decreased significantly, but still higher than developed countries. Since 1990, injuries,especially for road injuries and drowning, have always been the leading causes of death among Chinese adolescents aged 10-19 years, followed by non-communicable diseases.

[Analysis on prevalence of physical fitness and related influencing factors among Chinese Han students aged 13-18 years in 2014].

Objective: To analyze the prevalence of physical fitness among Chinese Han students aged 13-18 years in 2014, and explore related influencing factors. Methods: This study recruited 106 881 Han students aged 13-18 years who had taken physical fitness test from Chinese National Survey on Students' Constitution and Health in 2014. After the exclusion of 1 047 students without complete records of physical fitness test, 105 834 students were included in the final analysis. According to the National Student Physical Health Standard modified in 2014, seven indicators including body mass index, vital capacity, 50-m run, sit-and-reach, standing broad jump, pull-ups/curl-ups and endurance run were tested to calculate the total score of students' physical fitness. Students with score ≥60 were regarded as qualified students. Multivariate non-conditional logistic regression model was used to analyze influencing factors of physical fitness. Results: Among Chinese Han students aged 13-18 years, the total score was 70.1±10.7 and the qualified rate was 83.9% (n=88 813). Boys (83.5% (44 197/52 910)) had a lower qualified rate of physical fitness than girls (84.3% (44 616/52 924)) (P<0.001), and 13-15 age group (86.5% (46 255/53 465)) was higher than the 16-18 age group (81.3% (42 558/52 369)) (P<0.001). Except for 16-18-year-old boys from central region, normal body mass index, eastern region, good socioeconomic status, enough PE class, exercise time ≥1 h/d, homework time ≥2 h/d, TV time <1 h/d were all related to high qualified rates of physical fitness (P<0.05). Conclusion: Chinese Han students aged 13-18 years were in good physical condition. The qualified rates of physical fitness were significantly different by gender and age groups. Nutritional status, region, socioeconomic status, PE class, exercise time per day, homework time per day, and TV time per day were related factors of physical fitness.

[Study on the disease burden of Chinese adolescent in 2015].

Objective: To discuss the main causes and risk factors of disability and death among current Chinese adolescents. Methods: Subnational data of China from Global Burden of Disease Study 2015 (GBD 2015) was used to rank the causes and risk factors leading to death and disability adjusted life years (DALY) in Chinese adolescents aged between 10 and 19 years old, and thereby to analyze the main cauese and risk factors of death and DALY among Chinese adolescents in different genders. Results: In 2015, among Chinese adolescents aged 10-19 years old, the total DALY was 13 million 490 thousand years, and the total number of deaths was 63 258 cases. The top 3 causes of DALY were skin and subcutaneous diseases, iron-deficiency anemia and road injuries, resulting in DALY (constituent ratio) of 1 411 (10.5%), 1 094 (8.1%) and 1 029 (7.6%) thousand years respectively. The top 3 causes of death were road injuries, drowning and leukemia, causing 13 881 (21.9%), 9 895 (15.6%) and 4 620 (7.3%) deaths (constituent ratio) respectively. The top 3 risk factors of DALY were iron deficiency, alcohol use and drug use, causing 1 094 (8.1%), 487 (3.6%) and 220 thousand years (1.6%) DALY (constituent ratio) respectively. The top 3 risk factors of death were alcohol use, occupational injuries and drug use, causing 5 957 (9.4%), 1 523 (2.4%) and 810 (1.3%) deaths respectively. Conclusion: Unintentional injury was the top cause of DALY and death in Chinese adolescents, followed by skin and subcutaneous diseases and iron-deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency and alcohol use were the top two risk factors of DALY and death.

[Prevalence of myopia and increase trend in children and adolescents aged 7-18 years in Han ethnic group in China, 2005-2014].

Objective: To understand and evaluate the prevalence of myopia and its trend in children and adolescents aged 7-18 years in Han ethnic group in China from 2005 to 2014, and provide evidence for the prevention of myopia. Methods: The data of 2005, 2010 and 2014 Chinese National Students Constitution and Health Surveys were collected. The children and adolescents with complete detection data of binoculus were selected as study subjects. The sample size of three studies were 233 108, 215 319 and 212 743, respectively. The method of curve fitting was used to simulate the myopia detection increase model and analyze the gender and area specific myopia detection increase trends and characteristics from 2005 to 2014. Results: The overall myopia detection rate increased gradually in the children and adolescents aged 7 to 18, which was 47.5% in 2005, 55.5% in 2010 and 57.1% in 2014, respectively. The increase slowed in 2014. A"parabola" shape of myopia detection increase rate was observed. Myopia detection rate increased with age before puberty and decreased with age after puberty gradually. A"cross phenomenon" of myopia detection increase was observed in boys and girls between urban and rural areas. The increase of myopia detection was mainly in urban students before puberty and in rural students after puberty. The age of myopia prevalence peak has become earlier constantly in children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from 2005 to 2014, which was 13 years old in 2005, 12 years old in 2010 and 11 years old in 2014. The increase rate was about 7%. During 2005-2014, the increase rate of myopia detection gradually increased in younger students and tended to zero in older students. Conclusion: The detection rate of myopia was still high in children and adolescents in China. The age of myopia prevalence peak has become earlier gradually.

Joint effect of maternal plasma homocysteine and prepregnancy obesity on child blood pressure: a prospective birth cohort study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) is a known cardiovascular risk factor. However, its role in intergenerational cardiometabolic risk is unknown. We hypothesized that maternal elevated Hcy can act alone or in combination with maternal prepregnancy obesity to increase child systolic blood pressure (SBP). METHODS: This study included 1279 mother-child pairs who were enrolled at birth and followed prospectively up to age 9 years from 2003 to 2014 at the Boston Medical Center. Child SBP percentile was calculated according to US reference data and elevated SBP was defined as SBP⩾75th percentile. RESULTS: A U-shaped relationship between maternal Hcy and her child SBP was observed. The risk for child elevated SBP was higher among those in the lowest quartile (Q1, odds ratio (OR): 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.94-1.72), and highest quartile (Q4, OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.00-1.81) as compared with those in quartiles 2 and 3. The highest risk of child elevated SBP was found among children born to obese mothers with Hcy in Q4 (OR: 2.22; 95%CI: 1.35-3.64), compared with children of non-obese mothers with Hcy in Q2-Q3. This association was independent from maternal folate and vitamin B12 status, and was not mediated by gestational age or size at birth. CONCLUSIONS: In this prospective birth cohort, we observed a U-shaped association between maternal Hcy levels and child elevated SBP. Maternal high Hcy (Q4) and prepregnancy obesity jointly increased the risk of child elevated SBP by more than two-fold.

[The epidemic status and secular trends of myopia prevalence for Chinese children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from 2005 to 2014].

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of geographic distribution and change trend of myopia prevalence for children and adolescents aged 7-18 years old from 2005 to 2014, which provides the basis for the prevention of myopia. Methods: Research material was selected from the data of 2005, 2010, and 2014 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health, including 31 provinces (with the exception of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan). The complete detection data of binoculus in children and adolescents aged 7-18 years old were selected as our research objects. The research objects of three studies were 233 505, 216 474, and 215 160, respectively. We analyzed the characteristics of geographic distribution and change trend of myopia prevalence for children and adolescents aged 7-18 years old in 31 provinces from 2005 to 2014. Results: The overall myopia detection rates in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7 to 18 years old in 31 provinces were 47.4% (111 707/235 505), 55.6% (120 456/216 474), and 57.2% (122 965/215 160) in 2005, 2010 and 2014, respectively. The growth range in this two phases were 8.0 percentage points, and 1.6 percentage points, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The detection rate of Myopia was growing quickly from 2005 to 2010 and only three provinces were in the situation of decline state including Tianjin, Hainan, and Ningxia. 90.3 percent (28/31) of provinces were in the situation of growth state and the growth range was 1.3%-22.3%. The growth of myopia was in the situation of slowdown from 2010 to 2014, and 38.7 percent (12/31) of the provinces were in negative growth districts including Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Zhejiang, Fujian, Shandong, Hubei, Guangxi, Guizhou, Tibet, Qianghai, and Xinjiang. The growth range in other provinces was 0.4%-24.7%. Conclusion: The myopia detection rate was at a higher level and growing constantly in China. There was large difference for myopia of children and adolescents among the 31 provinces. However, the overall growth rate of myopia in children and adolescents was in the situation of a relatively low level form 2010 to 2014.

[Association between cesarean birth and the risk of obesity in 6-17 year-olds].

Objective: To explore the association between cesarean section and obesity in child and adolescent. Methods: In this study, a total number of 42 758 primary and middle school students aged between 6 and 17 were selected, using the stratified cluster sampling method in 93 primary and middle schools in Hunan, Ningxia, Tianjin, Chongqing, Liaoning, Shanghai and Guangdong provinces and autonomous regions. Log-Binomial regression model was used to analyze the association between cesarean section and obesity in childhood or adolescent. Results: Mean age of the subjects was (10.5±3.2) years. The overall rate of cesarean section among subjects attending primary or secondary schools was 42.3%, with 55.9% in boys and, 40.6% in girls respectively and with difference statistically significant (P<0.001). The rate on obesity among those that received cesarean section (17.6%) was significantly higher than those who experienced vaginal delivery (10.2%) (P<0.001). Results from the log-binomial regression model showed that cesarean section significantly increased the risk of obesity in child and adolescent (OR=1.72, 95%CI: 1.63-1.82; P<0.001). After adjusting for factors as sex, residential areas (urban or rural), feeding patterns, frequencies of milk-feeding, eating high-energy foods, eating fried foods and the levels of parental education, family income, parental obesity, physical activity levels, gestational age and birth weight etc., the differences were still statistically significant (OR=1.48, 95%CI: 1.39-1.57; P<0.001). Conclusion: The rate of cesarean section among pregnant women in China appeared high which may significantly increase the risk of obesity in child or adolescent.

Effect of pesticide 1-[6-chloro-3-methyl-pyridyl-8-nitro-7-methyl-1 2 3 5 6 7-hexahydro imidazo (1,2a)]-pyridine when responding to a wheat plant's antioxidant defense system.

The purpose of this research was to establish an analytical method for analysing the 1-[6-chloro-3-methyl-pyridyl-8-nitro-7-methyl-1 2 3 5 6 7-hexahydro imidazo-(1,2a)]-pyridine (IPP) residue levels and to evaluate the difference in plant growth and its physical condition. A high performance liquid chromatography connected to a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) was also employed. The results showed that the content of protein and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) treated by IPP were initially higher with a significant delayed decrease. The biomarker response showed, even at a lower dose rate, exposure to the IPP caused stress effects and modified the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), guaiacol peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO). Different patterns of biomarker responses were observed by an increase in SOD and malondialdehyde (MDA), and differential effects for antioxidant enzymes with a decrease in CAT, POD and PPO. The conclusions show that this profile of biomarker variation could represent a useful method to characterise exposure to IPP in a wheat plant.

Multi-residue method for determination of seven neonicotinoid insecticides in grains using dispersive solid-phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction by high performance liquid chromatography.

A method using dispersive solid-phase extraction and dispersive liquid-liquid micro-extraction cleanup followed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been established for determination of seven neonicotinoid insecticides residues in grains including brown rice, maize, millet and oat. Based on an appraisal of the characteristics of HPLC, validation experiments were conducted for seven neonicotinoid insecticides. In the method, dispersive solid-phase extraction was carried out using PSA and bonded C18 coupled with graphitised carbon black with acetonitrile as the eluted solvent. In the linear range of each pesticide, the correlation coefficient was R(2) ≥ 0.99. At the low, medium and high three fortification levels of 0.05-0.8 mg kg(-1), recoveries fell within 76-123%. The relative standard deviation was between 0.9% and 12.6% for seven neonicotinoid pesticides. Low limits of detection (0.002-0.005 mg kg(-1)) and quantification (0.007-0.018 mg kg(-1)) were readily achieved with this method for all tested pesticides.

The expression of ADAM12 (meltrin alpha) in human giant cell tumours of bone.

AIMS: To examine the expression of ADAM12 (meltrin alpha), a member of the disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family, in human giant cell tumours of the bone, skeletal muscle tissue from human embryos, and human adult skeletal muscle tissue. METHODS: ADAM12 mRNA was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridisation. RESULTS: ADAM12 mRNA was detected in 14 of the 20 giant cell tumours of bone and in three of the six tumour cell cultures. The expression of ADAM12 in cells cultured from the tumour was linked to the presence of multinucleated giant cells. ADAM12 mRNA could not be detected in the five adult skeletal muscle tissue samples, although it was found in the two embryonic skeletal muscle tissue samples. ADAM12 mRNA was localised to the cytoplasm of multinucleated giant cells and some mononuclear stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that multinucleated giant cells are formed by the cell fusion of mononuclear stromal cells in giant cell tumours of bone and that ADAM12 is involved in the cell fusion process.

[Effects of glutamic acid and acetylcholine on induction of heat shock proteins 70 mRNA in PC12 cells].

The heat shock response has been found in many strains of bacteria to human beings. Besides heat stimuli, many kinds of factors could also induce the synthesis of heat shock proteins (hsp). It is still unknown whether neurotransmitter could induce the increase of hsp expression in mammalian cells. In the present study, the effects of glutamic acid and acetylcholine (ACh) on the induction of hsp70 mRNA in PC12 cells were studied by Northern blot method. The probe used is specific for inducible hsp70 mRNA. Our results showed that the glutamic acid under limited conditions (such as at 50-500 mumol/L and action time 5-30 min) could induce the expression of hsp70 mRNA, which was partly mediated by NMDA receptors. On the other hand, ACh (0.1-1,000 mumol/L) could not induce the expression of hsp 70 mRNA.

[A study on expression of the heat shock suppressed gene in distal organs of rats after scalding].

In order to address the question whether stress in intact higher animals may induce cellular heat shock response in distal organs, the inhibition of normal gene expression was studied on the basis of our previous findings about the induction of heat shock proteins in liver and brain of rats after scalding. Male SD rats were scalded on the back, 10-240 min thereafter decapitated, and the heat shock suppressed gene-1 was quantitated by dot blotting. The results showed that gene-1 decreased rapidly after scalding in both the organs, and did not recover to control levels even 240 min after scalding. The decrease of gene-1 went parallell with the severity of scalding. Thus it may be concluded that stress may induce heat shock response of distant organs in intact animals. Possible pathological significance of these findings was discussed.

[Modulation mechanism of IL-1 in hemorrhagic shock in relation to endotoxin].

The modulation mechanism of IL-1 in relation to endotoxin (ET) was investigated in hemorrhangic shock rat. It was found that within 4 h after hemorrhagic shock, SD rat showed a significant increase in both ET and IL-1, the latter taking place earlier than the former. While SD rat reared in germ free condition showed an obvious increas in IL-1 but without marked change in ET, no matter whether the rats reared in different condition were pretreated with lactuolsc or anti-ET. Within 5 d after reinfusion of lost blood to the ordinary shock rat, IL-1 and ET changed in a parallel manner. When shock rats were treated with lactulose or anti-ET, both IL-1 and ET showed significant decrease as compared with the control. It is suggested from the above observation that ET is not an important factor in enhancing IL-1 activity in the early stage of hemorrhagic shock, but does contribute to the increased IL-1 activity in the later phase of hemorrhagic shock. The ET comes mainly from the gut in hemorrhagic state.

[Induction of HSP70 mRNA in the brain and liver of rats after scalding].

Induction of hsp70 mRNA in rats after scalding was analysed using 32P labeled hsp70 cDNA. The results showed that the expression of hsp70 mRNA in brain and liver was induced markedly after scalding. Time course of the increase showed that induction took place within 5 min and subsided 24 h after scalding. In the liver, induction took place still earlier, i.e. within 1 min and lasted for more than 24 h. The induction of hsp70 mRNA in rats after scalding did not seem to be due to elevation of core temprature since the increase of temperature of rat brain and liver after scalding was not more than 1 degree C. Western blot anlyses further showed that the induction of hsp70 occured within 5 min and lasted for more than 3 h in the brain of rats after scalding. The above results demonstrated that the hsp expression in internal organs could be induced by local injuries and was not necessarily dependent upon the direct effect of stimuli in intact animals.

Binding characteristics of glucocorticoid receptor in synaptic plasma membrane from rat brain.

The study was carried out to identify the specific glucocorticoid membrane binding site (GCMB) on synaptic plasma membrane (SPM), and to investigate the ligand binding properties and physico-chemical characteristics of GCMB. The radioligand binding assay showed that tritiated corticosterone ([3H]B) could bind to GCMB specifically with positive cooperativity. For SPM, the binding capacity (R(zero)) was 46.67 +/- 4.62 fmol/mg protein; the dissociation constant (Kd), 97.48 +/- 18.85 nmol/L, and the Hill coefficient, 1.633 +/- 0.082. Various steroids bound with GCMB in the following rank order: RU26752, aldosterone > corticosterone, cortisol > RU26988, progesterone, R5020, triamcinolone acetonide > testosterone, estradiol > RU38486 > dexamethasone. GCMB, which could be solubilized by detergent Triton X-100, showed thermal stability, although it was susceptible to hydrolysis by trypsin and to the reducing agent, mercaptoethanol. The addition of divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) was beneficial to the ligand binding. The results strongly indicate that GCMB, fulfilling the basic criteria for a receptor, constitutes a novel type of glucocorticoid receptor on neuronal membrane which is significantly different from the cytosolic glucocorticoid receptors.