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(Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94−y(V1−xPx)AlyO4:0.06Eu3+(0 ≤ x≤ 1.0 and 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.02) phosphors are synthesized by the solution combustion process. In this study, structural and photoluminescence properties of the (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94−y(V1−xPx)AlyO4:0.06Eu3+phosphors are reported. The emission characteristics of the (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94VO4:0.06Eu3+phosphor under vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) excitation are greatly improved with the incorporation of Al3+ions and partial substitution of P5+for V5+. The red emission intensity of the (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.925(V0.25P0.75)Al0.015O4:0.06Eu3+phosphor is 151% stronger than that of the (Y0.5Gd0.5)0.94(V0.25P0.75)O4:0.06Eu3+phosphor.

Background/Objectives:: The relationship between obesity and circulating levels of antioxidants is poorly understood. Most studies that have examined the association of adiposity with blood or tissue concentrations of antioxidant micronutrients have been cross-sectional, and few have compared the associations for indices of overall obesity and central obesity. Our aim was to prospectively examine the longitudinal association of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist circumference-height ratio (WCHtR) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) with major serum antioxidants in a population of postmenopausal women. Subjects/Methods:: We used a subsample of participants in the Women’s Health Initiative aged 50–79 years at entry with available fasting blood samples and anthropometric measurements obtained at multiple time points over 12.8 years of follow-up (N=2672). Blood samples were used to measure α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein+zeaxanthin, α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol and retinol at baseline, and at years 1, 3 and 6. We used mixed-effects linear regression analyses to examine associations between anthropometric measures and serum antioxidants at baseline and over time, controlling for covariates. Results:: In longitudinal analyses, carotenoids, and particularly β-carotene, were strongly and inversely associated with BMI, WC and WCHtR and less so with WHR. α-Tocopherol showed a strong positive association with WHR but not with other anthropometric measures, whereas γ-tocopherol was positively and strongly associated with BMI, WC, WCHtR and less so with WHR. Retinol was positively associated with WHR. The inverse association of several carotenoids with anthropometric measures was stronger in never and former smokers compared with current smokers and in women without the metabolic syndrome. The inverse association of carotenoids with obesity measures may reflect reduced micronutrient concentrations owing to inflammation associated with obesity. Conclusions:: In the present study, the strongest observed associations between anthropometric variables and micronutrients were an inverse association of WC with serum β-carotene and a positive association of WC with γ-tocopherol.

The specificity of antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the mRNA breakpoint region of the Bcr-Abl oncogene, found in leukaemic cells from patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia, remains controversial due to non-specific effects. To prevent protein binding of oligonucleotides we designed and tested a methylphosphonate oligonucleotide with an attached 3′ soluble phosphodiester tail. Growth of chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) cell lines BV173, KCL-22 and cells of CML patients tested was inhibited by the b2a2 type antisense Bcr-Abl oligonucleotide and not with controls. Also the growth of control CD34+ cells of two healthy donors, control cell lines and cells from AML patients was only moderately affected or not affected. Bcr-Abl protein studies in combination with growth-determination experiments indicated that the antisense methylphosphonate Bcr-Abl oligonucleotide tested is a potent inhibitor of the growth of CML cells but works in a non-antisense manner.

Evaluates the decline in total body potassium (TBK) with age. Sex and racial differences in the rate of change in TBK with age; Age cutoffs when TBK values begin to decline; Racial-ethnic patterns for expected mean TBK.

Presents findings of a research which identified the odds ratios (OR) for cardiovascular disease and diabetes risk factors that corresponds to body mass index of several men and women. Identification of Waist Circumference (WC) that have the same OR for these risk factors as to the BMI thresholds; Comparison of the WC- and BMI-based cutoffs for identifying obesity-associated risks; Conclusion that WC in white subjects provides important health-related information as does BMI in the evaluation of overweight adults.