Androgens have potent anabolic effects on skeletal muscle and decline with age in parallel to losses in muscle mass and strength. This loss of muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia, is the central event in dev...Androgens have potent anabolic effects on skeletal muscle and decline with age in parallel to losses in muscle mass and strength. This loss of muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia, is the central event in development of frailty, the vulnerable health status that presages adverse outcomes and rapid functional decline in older adults. The potential role of falling androgen levels in the development of frailty and their utility as function promoting therapies in older men has therefore attracted considerable attention. This review summarizes current concepts and definitions in muscle ageing, sarcopenia and frailty, and evaluates recent developments in the study of androgens and frailty. Current evidence from observational and interventional studies strongly supports an effect of androgens on muscle mass in ageing men, but effects on muscle strength and particularly physical function have been less clear. Androgen treatment has been generally well-tolerated in studies of older men, but concerns remain over higher dose treatments and use in populations with high cardiovascular risk. The first trials of selective androgen receptor modulators （SARMs） suggest similar effects on muscle mass and function to traditional androgen therapies in older adults. Important future directions include the use of these agents in combination with exercise training to promote functional ability across different populations of older adults, as well as more focus on the relationships between concurrent changes in hormone levels, body composition and physical function in observational studies.展开更多
Androgens have important effects on .multiple organ systems, which play critical roles in the regulation of a myriad of male sexual, somatic, and behavioral functions critical to lifelong health. Androgen deficiency i...Androgens have important effects on .multiple organ systems, which play critical roles in the regulation of a myriad of male sexual, somatic, and behavioral functions critical to lifelong health. Androgen deficiency is a multisystem syndrome, presenting with typical clinical features in association with a confirmed low serum testosterone level. The clinical presentation of androgen deficiency is modified by age and other patient-specific characteristics such as comorbidities, genetic, environmental, and sociocultural factors.展开更多
Amis is the largest aboriginal population in Taiwan. The previous dermatoglyphic studies of the Amis only reported limited data. In this study, we collected and analyzed the dermatoglyphs of 200 Amis in-dividuals, and...Amis is the largest aboriginal population in Taiwan. The previous dermatoglyphic studies of the Amis only reported limited data. In this study, we collected and analyzed the dermatoglyphs of 200 Amis in-dividuals, and we reported a wide range of dermatoglyphic variables including total finger ridge count, a-b ridge count, atd angle, axial triradius percent distance, and frequencies of fingerprint pattern, pal-mar thenar pattern, palmar interdigital pattern, and simian line. This study is the first comprehensive dermatoglyphic research of Amis since 1960s, and its dermatoglyphic data will be useful for future re-search in anthropology, genetics and medicine.展开更多
Decidual natural killer （dNK） cells express an array of activation receptors to regulate placental immunity and development during early pregnancy. We investigated the functional character of human dNK cells during ...Decidual natural killer （dNK） cells express an array of activation receptors to regulate placental immunity and development during early pregnancy. We investigated the functional character of human dNK cells during the first and second trimester of gestation and the interaction between dNK and trophoblast cells. Although the frequency of CD56＋CD16-dNK among the total CD45＋ leukocytes did not change over this period, the expression of the activating receptors, NKp80 and NKG2D, was greatly upregulated. We observed a significantly higher number of extravillous trophoblast cells in proximity to the dNK cells in the first trimester in comparison with the second trimester decidua. NKG2D expression by first trimester dNK cells was decreased when co-cultured with the HTR-8 trophoblast cell line. In the second trimester, functional markers of dNK activation, i.e., angiogenic factor production （e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8, interferon-gamma）, remained stable despite an increase in NKp80 or NKG2D surface expression. Furthermore, the degranulation capacity of dNK cells, as assessed by CD107a, was decreased in the second trimester. We suggest that in the first trimester, trophoblast-dNK interactions generate a population of dNK cells with a suppressed activating phenotype. In the second trimester, the loss of trophoblast-dNK interactions led to the inhibition of dNK cell function, although their activating receptor expression was increased. We speculate that during pregnancy, two mechanisms operate to modulate the dNK cell activation：suppression of activating receptor levels in the first trimester by trophoblasts and disengagement of receptor-ligand coupling in the second trimester.展开更多
The essay deals with regional disparities in the average educational expenditure of every ordinary senior secondary student,including budget funds for education,the proportion appropriated to the ordinary senior high ...The essay deals with regional disparities in the average educational expenditure of every ordinary senior secondary student,including budget funds for education,the proportion appropriated to the ordinary senior high school by the government,tuition fee per student and the proportion of tuition fees of the total educational expenditure.By analyzing the relevant educational and economic indicators,we find that the average educational expenditure and tuition of every student in the western area are lower than those in the eastern and the middle area while the proportion of funds allocated by the government is the highest.However,in the middle area,both of the government appropriation of education funds for every student and its proportion of the total educational expenditure are the lowest in China,but on the other hand the proportion of tuition fee of the total educational expenditure and the income of the rural residents are the highest.Therefore,the aim of this essay is to look at the reasons why there are such differences.展开更多
文摘Androgens have potent anabolic effects on skeletal muscle and decline with age in parallel to losses in muscle mass and strength. This loss of muscle mass and function, known as sarcopenia, is the central event in development of frailty, the vulnerable health status that presages adverse outcomes and rapid functional decline in older adults. The potential role of falling androgen levels in the development of frailty and their utility as function promoting therapies in older men has therefore attracted considerable attention. This review summarizes current concepts and definitions in muscle ageing, sarcopenia and frailty, and evaluates recent developments in the study of androgens and frailty. Current evidence from observational and interventional studies strongly supports an effect of androgens on muscle mass in ageing men, but effects on muscle strength and particularly physical function have been less clear. Androgen treatment has been generally well-tolerated in studies of older men, but concerns remain over higher dose treatments and use in populations with high cardiovascular risk. The first trials of selective androgen receptor modulators （SARMs） suggest similar effects on muscle mass and function to traditional androgen therapies in older adults. Important future directions include the use of these agents in combination with exercise training to promote functional ability across different populations of older adults, as well as more focus on the relationships between concurrent changes in hormone levels, body composition and physical function in observational studies.
文摘Androgens have important effects on .multiple organ systems, which play critical roles in the regulation of a myriad of male sexual, somatic, and behavioral functions critical to lifelong health. Androgen deficiency is a multisystem syndrome, presenting with typical clinical features in association with a confirmed low serum testosterone level. The clinical presentation of androgen deficiency is modified by age and other patient-specific characteristics such as comorbidities, genetic, environmental, and sociocultural factors.
文摘Amis is the largest aboriginal population in Taiwan. The previous dermatoglyphic studies of the Amis only reported limited data. In this study, we collected and analyzed the dermatoglyphs of 200 Amis in-dividuals, and we reported a wide range of dermatoglyphic variables including total finger ridge count, a-b ridge count, atd angle, axial triradius percent distance, and frequencies of fingerprint pattern, pal-mar thenar pattern, palmar interdigital pattern, and simian line. This study is the first comprehensive dermatoglyphic research of Amis since 1960s, and its dermatoglyphic data will be useful for future re-search in anthropology, genetics and medicine.
文摘Decidual natural killer （dNK） cells express an array of activation receptors to regulate placental immunity and development during early pregnancy. We investigated the functional character of human dNK cells during the first and second trimester of gestation and the interaction between dNK and trophoblast cells. Although the frequency of CD56＋CD16-dNK among the total CD45＋ leukocytes did not change over this period, the expression of the activating receptors, NKp80 and NKG2D, was greatly upregulated. We observed a significantly higher number of extravillous trophoblast cells in proximity to the dNK cells in the first trimester in comparison with the second trimester decidua. NKG2D expression by first trimester dNK cells was decreased when co-cultured with the HTR-8 trophoblast cell line. In the second trimester, functional markers of dNK activation, i.e., angiogenic factor production （e.g., vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8, interferon-gamma）, remained stable despite an increase in NKp80 or NKG2D surface expression. Furthermore, the degranulation capacity of dNK cells, as assessed by CD107a, was decreased in the second trimester. We suggest that in the first trimester, trophoblast-dNK interactions generate a population of dNK cells with a suppressed activating phenotype. In the second trimester, the loss of trophoblast-dNK interactions led to the inhibition of dNK cell function, although their activating receptor expression was increased. We speculate that during pregnancy, two mechanisms operate to modulate the dNK cell activation：suppression of activating receptor levels in the first trimester by trophoblasts and disengagement of receptor-ligand coupling in the second trimester.
文摘The essay deals with regional disparities in the average educational expenditure of every ordinary senior secondary student,including budget funds for education,the proportion appropriated to the ordinary senior high school by the government,tuition fee per student and the proportion of tuition fees of the total educational expenditure.By analyzing the relevant educational and economic indicators,we find that the average educational expenditure and tuition of every student in the western area are lower than those in the eastern and the middle area while the proportion of funds allocated by the government is the highest.However,in the middle area,both of the government appropriation of education funds for every student and its proportion of the total educational expenditure are the lowest in China,but on the other hand the proportion of tuition fee of the total educational expenditure and the income of the rural residents are the highest.Therefore,the aim of this essay is to look at the reasons why there are such differences.
