Background. Functional dependence and the risks of disability increase with age. The loss of independence is thought to be partially due to a decrease in physical activity. However, in populations, accurate measurement of physical activity is challenging and may not provide information on functional impairment.

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Occurrence of hypoxia in estuarine waters is increasing, and recovery of impacted estuaries is slow. Detection of early effects of hypoxia is needed for timely remedial action to be taken. Here we examine the use of hypoxia-responsive gene and protein expression profiles in the blue crab Callinectes sapidus as early indicators of impacts of hypoxia. We cloned 23 potential hypoxiaresponsive genes, which were used to construct gene macroarrays. Crabs exposed to chronic hypoxia (2.5 ppm dissolved oxygen [DO]) for 15 d showed significant (p < 0.05) changes in gene expression of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), copper metallothionein (CuMt3), cytosolic MnSOD (cyt-MnSOD) and ribosomal proteins S15 and L23. In all cases except for CuMt3, gene expression decreased after 5 d exposure to hypoxia. Expression of Hsp70, CuMt3 and cyt-MnSOD also increased (p < 0.05) in normoxic crabs held for 15 d, suggesting confounding effects from confinement stress. Hemocyanin protein concentrations changed significantly (p = 0.005) across the 15 d chronic hypoxia exposure. Hemocyanin in crabs exposed to 10 d intermittent hypoxia (2.5 to 8 ppm DO over a 24 h cycle) did not change, but cyt-MnSOD gene expression increased significantly (p = 0.037), whereas cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (ccox1) showed a 2.2-fold downregulation. Blue crabs collected from Pensacola Bay, Florida, showed significant (p < 0.006) downregulation of ccox1 and cyt-MnSOD gene expression as well as hemocyanin protein levels at a diurnally hypoxic marsh site. Several hypoxiaresponsive genes (elongation factor 2, cryptocyanin, hemocyanin) were also significantly elevated (p < 0.006) in intermolt versus premolt normoxic crabs. The identification of hypoxia-responsive genes and proteins in the blue crab is a promising first step towards the development of sensitive molecular tools for the detection of sublethal effects of hypoxia in estuarine-resident species.KEY WORDS: Dissolved oxygen · Hypoxia · Crustacea · Molecular biomarker · Gene arrays Resale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher

Objectives: Age is associated with deterioration in physical function (PF) and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Methods:We examined sex differences in the association between PF and HRQL among older adults. One hundred eight adults (ages 60 to 98 years) completed the Continuous Scale-Physical Function Performance test (CS-PFP10), Functional Status Index (FSI), and SF-36. Effects of sex and fitness group on SF-36 scores were examined by using linear and nonparametric techniques. Regression techniques were used to model HRQL indexes with CS-PFP10 and FSI scores.Results: Males had better PF as indicated by higher CS-PFP10 scores and lower FSI scores. CS-PFP scores were positively associated with several SF-36 scores in both males and females, but the strength of the association appeared greatest in males. The residual scores for the females were directly related to self-reported pain.Conclusions: These data are consistent with reports indicating that females report symptoms more often than males and rely more on feelings of discomfort during physical activity in reporting HRQL as compared with males. Thus, researchers designing interventions to enhance health-related quality of life among older adults should be aware of these potential sex differences and aim to improve actual physical functioning in males and the discomforts associated with performance of physical activities in females.