Association between age of first spermatorrhea and physical activity or sleeping time in boys / 上海交通大学学报（医学版）

Objective · To understand boys' pubertal timing in school in two urban districts of Chongqing and explore the relationship between pubertal timing and physical activity or sleeping time. Methods · Using a stratified random cluster sampling, 3403 boy students (10-18 year-old) were selected and completed the physical examination and questionnaire survey. 1282 participants experiencing first spermatorrhea were chosen as research objects. According to age of first spermatorrhea, the objects were divided into on-time group (964 cases) and later group (318 cases). Results · The composition of weekly high (χ2=11.488, P=0.009), medium (χ2=7.829, P=0.050) physical activity and daily sleeping time (χ2=17.803, P=0.000) in two groups were significantly different. Controlling covariates (age, height and weight), compared with boys in on-time group, later group boys were less likely to engage in 5-7 days (OR=0.596, 95% CI: 0.367-0.967) and 3-4 days (OR=0.590, 95% CI: 0.370-0.941) high physical activity every week, and 9-11 h (OR=0.207, 95% CI: 0.088-0.489) sleep every day. Conclusion · The age of first spermatorrhea in boys might be associated with the intensity of weekly physical activity and daily sleeping time.

Study on the expression of IkappaB-alpha protein in TNF-alpha induced apoptosis of U937 cells / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the TNF-alpha induced apoptosis of U937 cells, the expression, degradation and subcellular localization of IkappaB-alpha, and its degradation mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Changes and subcellular loca-lization of IkappaB-alpha were observed by fluorescence microscopy, expression and degradation of IkappaB-alpha protein with N-tosyl-L-phenylalanylchloromethyl ketone (TPCK protease inhibitor) blocking test and apoptosis of U937 cell by flow cytometry.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) immunolfluorescence assay showed that IkappaB-alpha localized in cytoplasm only. (2) The level of IkappaB-alpha protein was downregulated after TNF-alpha stimulation, flow cytometry also confirmed the downregulation. (3) The downregulation of IkappaB-alpha protein levels in TNF-alpha induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by TPCK. (4) The apoptosis rate of U937 cells induced by TNF-alpha was (60.73 +/- 1.61)%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>(1) Degradation of IkappaB-alpha protein during TNF-alpha induced apoptosis of U937 cells suggested the activation of NF-kappaB. (2) TPCK sensitive protease plays an important role in the degradation of IkappaB-alpha protein. (3) TPCK sensitive protease also involved in the apoptosis of U937 cells induced by TNF-alpha.</p>