Increased s-BAFF levels in SLE patients are associated with the acute-phase responses, CRP and haemoglobin, but probably not dependent on BAFF genotype or expression. This indicates that s-BAFF production occurs at sites of inflammation.

Background: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) based on either cystatin C or creatinine performs similarly in estimating measured GFR, but associate differently with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. This could be due to confounding by non-GFR-related traits associated with cystatin C and creatinine levels. We investigated non-GFR-related associations between eGFR and two types of nontraditional risk factors for CVD and death: L-arginine/dimethylarginine metabolism and insulin resistance. Methods: GFR was measured via iohexol clearance in a cross-sectional study of 1,624 middle-aged persons from the general population without CVD, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. The dimethylarginines were measured using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSMS). Insulin resistance was determined by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Results: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), the L-arginine/ADMA ratio and insulin resistance were associated with creatinine-based eGFR after accounting for measured GFR in multivariable adjusted analyses. The cystatin C-based eGFR showed a similar residual association with SDMA; an oppositely directed, borderline significant association with ADMA; and a stronger residual association with insulin resistance compared with eGFR based on creatinine. Conclusion: Both creatinine- and cystatin C-based eGFR are influenced by nontraditional risk factors, which may bias risk prediction by eGFR in longitudinal studies.

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Sperm production and sperm swimming speed, which most likely affect fertilization under sperm competition, are modified by proximate mechanisms. In a comprehensive observational study of free-living and reproductively active Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) we examined the possible modulating effects of male social status (including ornamental development), parasite intensities and immunity on novel traits indicative of ejaculate quality (e.g., ATP in sperm cells, levels of immunoglobulines attached to sperm cells, and the degree of DNAfragmentation in sperm cells). A multiple regression model showed no relationship between DNA-fragmentation in sperm cells and abdominal coloration of charr, suggesting that sperm of colourful males are not better protected against oxidative stress. We found, however, that males with traits indicative of high social status had low amounts of ATP in sperm cells and also sperm cells with low swimming speed. Sperm production, on the other hand, was strongly predicted by parasite intensities only, and these associations were mainly positive.Our results suggest that the presence of parasites seems to stimulate sperm production similar to what is observed among males entering subordinate reproductive roles. Thus, if resistance towards parasites is influencing parasite intensities, resistance may also indirectly be important for the "choice" of reproductive role and in turn investment in primary sex traits.

The dose-dependent induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (AMDC) activity in the different lobes of the prostate and the seminal vesicles (SV), 24 hours after administration of testosterone to castrated Wistar rats, has been studied. ODC and AMDC activities were low in all lobes 10 days after castration. A dose of approximately 300 micrograms testosterone/100 g body weight (B.W.) gave an ODC activity of 50 percent of maximum response, and at 600 micrograms/100 g B.W. maximum activity was reached in all the prostatic lobes and the SV. In the lateral and dorsal prostate, and the coagulating gland, the dose of testosterone giving 50% of maximum AMDC activity was reached after administration of between 450 and 600 micrograms/100 g B.W. In the ventral prostate and SV, the dose giving a 50% response was approximately 700 micrograms/100 g B.W. In conclusion, all prostatic lobes showed a clear dose-response relationship concerning the activity of ODC and AMDC following administration of different doses of testosterone. We have found minor differences in androgen responsiveness between the lobes when looking at the dose requirements for induction of AMDC activity. The dose-response curves could possibly be useful as a rapid in vivo bioassay for compounds with anti-androgenic properties in the prostate.

We have studied the activities of ornithine decarboxylase and adenosylmethionine decarboxylase in the 10(6)-m/s2 supernatants of the different lobes of the prostate and the seminal vesicles of castrates, androgen-stimulated castrates, and intact controls. After castration L-ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine decarboxylase (AMDC) activities fell in all tissues examined. The induction of kinetics was followed for 72 h after administration of testosterone propionate to castrated rats. AMDC activities increased more rapidly than ODC activities in every tissue studied. Peak activities were reached more rapidly in the dorsal lobe than in the other tissues. ODC activity of the ventral lobe increased linearly for 48 h after stimulation. In the other tissues studied, ODC activity reached a maximum after 24 h and thereafter leveled off or decreased. In conclusion we have found distinct differences in ODC and AMDC activity in various tissues and major differences between treatment groups, with near extinction of activity at castration. In castrates stimulated with testosterone, the between-group differences prevailed but with different patterns of ODC versus AMDC activity. AMDC is seemingly rate-limiting in polyamine synthesis in stimulated tissues, while ODC controls synthesis in tissues from castrated rats.

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