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UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 glucuronidates bilirubin, estrogens, and xenobiotic compounds. The UGT1A1*28 polymorphism results in lower promoter activity due to 7 thymine-adenine (TA) repeats rather than the more common 6 TA repeats. Previously, we showed that serum bilirubin, a marker of UGT1A1 activity, was lower among individuals homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism (7/7) when randomized to a high fruit and vegetable (F&V) diet, whereas there was no effect in individuals with the wild-type (6/6) and heterozygous (6/7) genotypes. Our objective here was to determine if we could detect genotype x diet interactions on bilirubin concentrations in an observational study. Healthy nonsmoking men (n = 146) and women (n = 147), recruited from the Seattle area, provided blood samples for genotyping and bilirubin measurements. We used multiple linear regression to assess the relationships among UGT1A1 genotype, bilirubin concentrations, and consumption of specific F&V [cruciferous vegetables, citrus fruits, and soy foods (n = 268)] based on FFQ and F&V from 6 botanical families [Cruciferae, Rosaceae, Rutaceae, Umbelliferae, Solanaceae, and Leguminosae (n = 261)] based on 3-d food records. We observed a significant interaction of UGTIA1 genotype and citrus consumption among women. Women with the 7/7 genotype who consumed [greater than or equal to] 0.5 daily servings of citrus fruit or foods from the Rutaceae botanical family had ~30% lower serum bilirubin than those with the same genotype who consumed less, whereas 6/6 and 6/7 genotypes dial not differ by consumption (P for interaction = 0.006 and 0.03, respectively). These results suggest that citrus consumption may increase UGT1A1 activity among women with the 7/7 genotype.

This study models a virtual experiment environment (VEE) by adopting the Petri net theory. Petri net-based VEE can record the experimental activity processes of students and evaluate the students' learning abilities. Petri nets can be used as visual-communication aids, and are similar to flow charts, block diagrams, and networks. Consequently, the experimental steps can be easily transferred to the Petri net model. Analysis of the collected data with the Petri net model indicates that errors made by students during experiments can be categorized into two major types, namely, measuring and procedural errors. This work implements a Petri net-based VEE for physics experiments. A total of 72 third-year junior high school students participated in this research. Both pretesting and posttesting are performed to ensure that the Petri net-enhanced VEE is useful. Index Terms--Learning control systems, learning diagnosis, Petri nets, student experiments.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 glucuronidates bilirubin, estrogens, and exogenous compounds, including dietary carcinogens. The UGT1A1 *28 polymorphism, characterized by variation in the number of thymine-adenine repeats in the promoter region, modulates UGT1A1 transcription. Observational and in vitro studies suggest that certain phytochemicals may increase UGT activity. We investigated, in a randomized, controlled, crossover feeding trial, whether ~10 servings/d (doses adjusted for body weight) of crucifers, soy, and citrus for 2 wk compared with a fruit- and vegetable-free basal diet affected UGT1A1 activity as measured by serum bilirubin concentrations and whether effects were modulated by the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism. Healthy men (n = 32) and women in = 31), aged 20-40 y, enrolled based on UGTIA1 genotype, completed the study. We measured bilirubin in blood collected at d 8 and d 15 of each feeding period. Overall, fruit and vegetables (F&V) did not affect serum bilirubin; however, among 7/7individuals, d 8 total (P = 0.057) and indirect (unconjugated) (P = 0.051 ) bilirubin tended to be lower when individuals consumed the F&V diet (28.97 [+ or -] 2.36 [micro]mol/L and 25.97 [+ or -] 2.15 [micro]mol/L) compared with the basal diet (32.46 [+ or -] 2.63 [micro]mol/L and 29.31 [+ or -] 2.43 [micro]mol/L). We no longer detected this difference at d 15, by which time bilirubin had also decreased when participants consumed the basal diet. Additionally, intervention effects on bilirubin were restricted to women with 7/7 genotype (P = 0.002). These results suggest that serum bilirubin glucuronidation is modulated by dietary intervention, but factors such as UGT1A1 genotype and sex may affect the response to diet. J. Nutr. 137: 890-897, 2007.

Although rugby is a popular contact sport and the isokinetic muscle torque assessment has recently found widespread application in the field of sports medicine, little research has examined the factors associated with the performance of game-specific skills directly by using the isokinetic-type rugby scrimmaging machine. This study is designed to (a) measure and observe the differences in the maximum individual pushing forward force produced by scrimmaging in different body postures (3 body heights x 2 foot positions) with a self-developed rugby scrimmaging machine and (b) observe the variations in hip, knee, and ankle angles at different body postures and explore the relationship between these angle values and the individual maximum pushing force. Ten national rugby players were invited to participate in the examination. The experimental equipment included a self-developed rugby scrimmaging machine and a 3-dimensional motion analysis system. Our results showed that the foot positions (parallel and nonparallel foot positions) do not affect the maximum pushing force; however, the maximum pushing force was significantly lower in posture I (36% body height) than in posture II (38%) and posture III (40%). The maximum forward force in posture III (40% body height) was also slightly greater than for the scrum in posture II (38% body height). In addition, it was determined that hip, knee, and ankle angles under parallel feet positioning are factors that are closely negatively related in terms of affecting maximum pushing force in scrimmaging. In cross-feet postures, there was a positive correlation between individual forward force and hip angle of the rear leg. From our results, we can conclude that if the player stands in an appropriate starting position at the early stage of scrimmaging, it will benefit the forward force production. KEY WORDS. scrum, isokinetic, posture