The epidemiology of dental caries in relation to environmental trace elements

Summary This paper reviews the influence of the geochemical environment on the epidemiology of human dental caries. The best documented association is that between water borne fluoride and reduced caries prevalence. The influence of fluoride was first reported during the early decades of this century in Colorado, USA, and led to the fluoridation of some public water supplies in several countries. In all cases, fluoridation has been followed by significant improvements in dental health and no adverse effects in general health. Other trace elements in food and water have now been linked with dental caries. Molybdenum has been associated with reduced caries prevalence whereas selenium and lead appear to have adverse effects. Cavity formation in teeth probably involves a localised dissolution of the enamel surface by the products of bacterial activity. It is possible that the incorporation of trace metals into the apatite microcrystals of enamel may alter their physical properties, especially solubility, and hence their susceptibility to degradation.     

硼的生物效应及健康影响研究进展

硼是动物所必需的一种微量元素，硼缺乏和硼过量都会产生不利的影响。通过动物试验，硼污染问题已经开始引起人们的重视。美国已将硼列入环境雌激素重点研究化学品之一。已有的三项针对硼作业人群的生殖健康影响研究结果不一致。有的研究表明缺硼或硼污染对人体健康均有害。本文对近30年来有关硼的生物效应及其对人体健康影响的研究进展进行了总结，并对今后研究方向提出了建议。     

无赎回权的住房反向抵押贷款逆向选择困境与治理路径选择

住房反向抵押贷款中存在着严重的信息不完全和信息不对称，借款人往往会利用其身体健康状况信息优势进行逆向选择，从而给该业务的发展带来巨大风险和破坏性作用。文章从博弈的视角对逆向选择困境的形成和不利后果进行了分析，并根据信号传递模型设计出相应的信号机制对上述风险进行防范。结果表明，贷款机构根据借款人的身体健康状况评测报告进行筛选的信号机制，对逆向选择困境的治理效果明显。     

The human selenoproteome: recent insights into functions and regulation

Selenium (Se) is a nutritional trace mineral essential for various aspects of human health that exerts its effects mainly through its incorporation into selenoproteins as the amino acid, selenocysteine. Twenty-five selenoprotein genes have been identified in humans and several selenoproteins are broadly classified as antioxidant enzymes. As progress is made on characterizing the individual members of this protein family, however, it is becoming clear that their properties and functions are quite diverse. This review summarizes recent insights into properties of individual selenoproteins such as tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and regulation of expression. Also discussed are potential roles the different selenoproteins play in human health and disease.     

饮用水源水质评价的模糊聚类模型的研究

考虑到饮用水源样本并没有严格的属性,以及它们在形态和类属方面存在看中介性,确定了对人类生理健康影响较大的高锰酸盐指数、生化需氧量、总氮、氨氮、氟化物、总磷、溶解氧等9项评价因子;将特征空间中一组没有类别标记的矢量按某种相似性准则划分到若干个子集中,实现每个子集代表整个样本集的某个或者某些特征和性质;建立起基于模糊聚类法的饮用水源水质评价模型。最后,将所建模型应用到阜新市目前饮用水源地水质评价中,应用效果表明：所建模型既能有效地判断饮用水源水质类别,又能确定水体中主要污染物和主要污染源,通过不同评价方法结果的比较分析,体现了所建模型的良好有效性和适用性。     

Odontogenesis, organogenetic model in teratomas: crown formation]

Using the technique of 3 dimensional reconstruction, the various steps involved in the formation and growth of the crown of a tooth primordium observed in a complex ovarian teratoma have been compared with that occurring in dermoid cysts and in the normal dental system. Inside dermoid cysts, the characteristic form of the tooth is established during the production of the dentine and enamel and the process is often similar to that occurring during normal tooth development. In teratomas, however, organogenesis and morphogenesis take place within a system undergoing multidirectional development. They are dissociated during both the embryonic stage and that of a structural formation. Morphogenesis is the most disturbed and the role of the environment is presumably therefore very important.     

Application of the ion-thinning methods to the high-resolution study of human dental enamel crystals]

Ion thinning technique applied to high resolution T.E.M. study of human dental enamel crystallites makes it possible to visualize a great number of dislocations. Dislocations proved not to be due to artifacts induced by the ultramicrotome diamond knife. They are related to the crystal apartite structure.     

Inhibition of phosphatase by open-chain nucleoside analogues in insects

(S)-9-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl) adenine (DHPA), D-eritadenine and some other open-chain nucleoside analogues, which exhibit adverse biological effects in microorganisms, plants and animals, cause pronounced inhibition of intestinal phosphatases in the hemipteran insect Pyrrhocoris apterus. The rate of p-nitrophenylphosphate hydrolysis by homogenates from intestinal epithelium and Malpighian tubules was inhibited up to 94% by 2-10 millimolar concentrations of these drugs. This effect is stronger than that of sodium fluoride, which is recognized as a common inhibitor of phosphatase. We conclude that inhibition of phosphatase activity in the digestive and excretory organs may be responsible for the previously reported massive excretion of phosphorylated derivatives of the nucleoside analogues after their oral administration to insects.     

Mylip makes an Idol turn into regulation of LDL receptor

High blood low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is a serious health problem among an increased number of patients in the Western world. Statins and other cholesterol lowering drugs have proven to be beneficial as therapy but are not optimal and show adverse effects in some patients. The LDL receptor is a crucial determinant of cholesterol metabolism in the body and amenable for drug interventions. Novel insights into the physiology of this receptor come from studies on the ubiquitination and degradation of LDL receptor by the ubiquitin ligase Mylip/Idol that is induced in cells by the nuclear receptor, LXR. This may open up new possibilities in the future to influence LDL receptor levels and cholesterol metabolism pharmacologically in various diseases.     

Evaluating the fate of genetically modified microorganisms in the environment: Are they inherently less fit?

Genetically modified microorganisms hold great promise for environmental applications. Nonetheless, some may have unintended adverse effects. Of particular concern for risk assessment is the simple fact that microorganisms are self-replicating entities, so that it may be impossible to control an adverse effect simply by discontinuing further releases of the organism. It has been suggested, however, that genetically modified microorganisms will be poor competitors and therefore unable to persist in the wild due to energetic inefficiency, disruption of genomic coadaptation, or domestication. Many studies support the hypothesis that genetically modified microorganisms are less fit than their progenitors, but there are a few noteworthy counter-examples in which genetic modifications unexpectedly enhance competitive fitness. Furthermore, subsequent evolution may eliminate the maladaptive effects of some genes, increasing the likelihood that a modified organism or its engineered genes will persist. Evaluating the likelihood that a genetically modified microorganism or its engineered genes will persist is a complex ecological and evolutionary problem. Therefore, an efficient regulatory framework would require such evaluations only when there are plausible scenarios for significant adverse environmental effects.     

Molecular dialogue between the human gut microbiota and the host: a Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium perspective

The human gut represents a highly complex ecosystem, which is densely colonized by a myriad of microorganisms that influence the physiology, immune function and health status of the host. Among the many members of the human gut microbiota, there are microorganisms that have co-evolved with their host and that are believed to exert health-promoting or probiotic effects. Probiotic bacteria isolated from the gut and other environments are commercially exploited, and although there is a growing list of health benefits provided by the consumption of such probiotics, their precise mechanisms of action have essentially remained elusive. Genomics approaches have provided exciting new opportunities for the identification of probiotic effector molecules that elicit specific responses to influence the physiology and immune function of their human host. In this review, we describe the current understanding of the intriguing relationships that exist between the human gut and key members of the gut microbiota such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli, discussed here as prototypical groups of probiotic microorganisms.     

Physiological and nutritional importance of selenium

Summary The essential trace element selenium has recently attracted attention because of its potentialities in the maintenance of human health. Selenium forms part of the active site of the peroxide-destroying enzyme glutathione peroxidase, and it also has other functions, for example in biotransformation, detoxification and the immune response. Functional and clinical consequences of selenium deficiency states have been described, and the selenium requirement, which is influenced by the usual selenium exposure, has been discussed. Wide variations have been found in selenium status in different parts of the world, and populations or groups of patients exposed to marginal deficiency are more numerous than was previously thought.Current research activities in the field of human medicine and nutrition are devoted to the possibilities of using selenium for the prevention or treatment of degenerative or free radical diseases such as neurological disorders, inflammatory diseases or cancer. Pharmacological selenium doses are also recommended as an adjuvant in some treatments.     

Social environmental effects on gene regulation

Social environmental conditions, particularly the experience of social adversity, have long been connected with health and mortality in humans and other social mammals. Efforts to identify the physiological basis for these effects have historically focused on their neurological, endocrinological, and immunological consequences. Recently, this search has been extended to understanding the role of gene regulation in sensing, mediating, and determining susceptibility to social environmental variation. Studies in laboratory rodents, captive primates, and human populations have revealed correlations between social conditions and the regulation of a large number of genes, some of which are likely causal. Gene expression responses to the social environment are, in turn, mediated by a set of underlying regulatory mechanisms, of which epigenetic marks are the best studied to date. Importantly, a number of genes involved in the response to the social environment are also associated with susceptibility to other external stressors, as well as certain diseases. Hence, gene regulatory studies are a promising avenue for understanding, and potentially developing strategies to address, the effects of social adversity on health.     

The physiological and nutritional importance of dietary fibre

Summary Fibrous material is an integral part of the daily diet, and it exerts direct physiological effects throughout the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to affecting metabolic activities more indirectly. The interplay of these effects is responsible for the presumed desirable influence of fibre on weight regulation, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and on colon function. Numerous mechanisms of action have been identified which are related to the type and the physicochemical nature of the fibre. This review concentrates mainly on the serum cholesterol-lowering effect of dietary fibre, its colonic fermentation, and finally on some possible adverse effects that one should be aware of when consuming high amounts of dietary fibre.     

The physiological and nutritional importance of dietary fibre.

Fibrous material is an integral part of the daily diet, and it exerts direct physiological effects throughout the gastrointestinal tract, in addition to affecting metabolic activities more indirectly. The interplay of these effects is responsible for the presumed desirable influence of fibre on weight regulation, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and on colon function. Numerous mechanisms of action have been identified which are related to the type and the physicochemical nature of the fibre. This review concentrates mainly on the serum cholesterol-lowering effect of dietary fibre, its colonic fermentation, and finally on some possible adverse effects that one should be aware of when consuming high amounts of dietary fibre.     

Effect of taurine administration on liver lipids in guinea pig

The oral administration of 0.4% taurine in drinking water for 14 consecutive days showed the following hepatic effects in male guinea pig. The percentage of tauro-conjugated biliary bile acids was increased from 17.2-54.2%; the ratio liver weight/body weight was increased, and fatty change was induced. Liver triglyceride concentration was accordingly increased; diglyceride and phosphatidylcholine concentrations were reduced by the treatment, while phosphatidylethanolamine level was not affected. These changes suggest an adverse effect of taurine administration on phosphatidylcholine hepatic synthesis.     

General mechanisms of drought response and their application in drought resistance improvement in plants

Plants often encounter unfavorable environmental conditions because of their sessile lifestyle. These adverse factors greatly affect the geographic distribution of plants, as well as their growth and productivity. Drought stress is one of the premier limitations to global agricultural production due to the complexity of the water-limiting environment and changing climate. Plants have evolved a series of mechanisms at the morphological, physiological, biochemical, cellular, and molecular levels to overcome water deficit or drought stress conditions. The drought resistance of plants can be divided into four basic types-drought avoidance, drought tolerance, drought escape, and drought recovery. Various drought-related traits, including root traits, leaf traits, osmotic adjustment capabilities, water potential, ABA content, and stability of the cell membrane, have been used as indicators to evaluate the drought resistance of plants. In the last decade, scientists have investigated the genetic and molecular mechanisms of drought resistance to enhance the drought resistance of various crops, and significant progress has been made with regard to drought avoidance and drought tolerance. With increasing knowledge to comprehensively decipher the complicated mechanisms of drought resistance in model plants, it still remains an enormous challenge to develop water-saving and drought-resistant crops to cope with the water shortage and increasing demand for food production in the future.     

Effect of taurine administration on liver lipids in guinea pig

Summary The oral administration of 0.4% taurine in drinking water for 14 consecutive days showed the following hepatic effects in male guinea pig. The percentage of tauro-conjugated biliary bile acids was increased from 17.2–54.2%; the ratio liver weight/body weight was increased, and fatty change was induced. Liver triglyceride concentration was accordingly increased; diglyceride and phosphatidylcholine concentrations were reduced by the treatment, while phosphatidylethanolamine level was not affected. These changes suggest an adverse effect of taurine administration on phosphatidylcholine hepatic synthesis.     

The role of neuropeptides in adverse myocardial remodeling and heart failure

In addition to traditional neurotransmitters of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, the heart also contains numerous neuropeptides. These neuropeptides not only modulate the effects of neurotransmitters, but also have independent effects on cardiac function. While in most cases the physiological actions of these neuropeptides are well defined, their contributions to cardiac pathology are less appreciated. Some neuropeptides are cardioprotective, some promote adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure, and in the case of others their functions are unclear. Some have both cardioprotective and adverse effects depending on the specific cardiac pathology and progression of that pathology. In this review, we briefly describe the actions of several neuropeptides on normal cardiac physiology, before describing in more detail their role in adverse cardiac remodeling and heart failure. It is our goal to bring more focus toward understanding the contribution of neuropeptides to the pathogenesis of heart failure, and to consider them as potential therapeutic targets.     

The dental amalgam issue. A review

Summary Using an interdisciplinary approach, the current position in the dental amalgam controversy and the potential impact of amalgam mercury on human health are reviewed. Aspects of materials science, corrosion, mercury exposure, toxicology, neurology and immunology are included.New data on mercury exposure from corroded amalgam fillings in vivo are presented. The exposure can reach levels considerably over known threshold limit values. Also, measurements of mercury absorption from intraoral air are presented. The vital importance of avoiding a galvanic amalgam-gold coupling is emphasized. The symptomatology of a disabled patient, who recovered after amalgam removal, has been included.It is concluded that discussion of the dental amalgam issue has suffered from the lack of an interdisciplinary approach. It would be wise to learn from the lesson of acrodynia, and consider amalgam mercury among other possible factors in neurological and immunological diseases of unclear etiology.