Mutation in the beta3 subunit of Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (GNB3) gene is not associated with Type II diabetes mellitus risk: a case–control study of a North Indian population

Context: Genetics play a major role in development and pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective: To asses the association of Guanine nucleotide-binding protein (GNB3) (C825T) gene's polymorphism with T2DM.

Materials and methods: A case–control study including 400 North Indians was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction–Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) approach to analyze genetic polymorphism.

Results: No significant difference was observed in genotype and allele frequencies of GNB3 gene on comparing cases with controls.

Discussion: Our study is in agreement with studies on Polish, Japanese, Hispanic-American and Danish populations who observed no significant association between GNB3 (C825T) polymorphism and T2DM.

Conclusion: GNB3 (C825T) polymorphism is not associated with T2DM.     

Taxonomical notes on Chinese camaenids with description of three new species (Gastropoda: Pulmonata)

The present study deals with four Chinese camaenid species based on museum collections and newly obtained materials. Pseudiberus liuae Wu, n. sp., diagnosed by two long mucous glands and the smallest shell size in the genus and inhabiting bare rock like other congeneric members, is described from southern Gansu. Aegista (Plectotropis) wardi (Preston, 1912) is conchologically re-described and moved out of Aegista Alber, 1860 to Pseudiberus Ancey, 1887 based on the keeled periphery and the absence of hairs, scales or their scars on the teleoconch, which are present in Aegista but partially absent in Pseudiberus. The first Chinese fluorescent snail Bradybaena qixiaensis Wu & Asami n. sp. is reported from Nanjing, Jiangsu. The species shares many characters with the Japanese fluorescent snail Bradybaena pellucida Kuroda & Habe, 1953 but is distinct in the pattern of microsculpture on the internal surface of the penis. Nesiohelix yeni Wu & Asami n. sp., sympatric with N. moreletiana (Heude, 1882), is distinguished from its congener by possession of a bubble-shaped penial caecum.

Pseudiberus liuae Wu in Wu & Asami, In Press

LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:3C9299AA-5089-4E43-9B26-85A0D6C23B66

Bradybaena qixiaensis Wu & Asami, In Press

LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:7991C4D5-5E0B-46DF-8B19-BE26511806CD

Nesiohelix yeni Wu & Asami, In Press

LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:68CFF173-AACC-4DA8-B347-9ABB5CA569A3     

Polymorphisms and expression of IL-32: impact on genetic susceptibility and clinical outcome of lung cancer

Context: Polymorphisms of IL-32 related closely to tumoregenesis.

Materials and methods: Two IL-32 polymorphisms (rs12934561 and rs28372698) and mRNA expression were conducted by SNP genotype assay and real-time PCR in 423 lung cancer patients and 437 controls.

Results: T allele of rs28372698 associated significantly with poor prognosis in moderate and well-differentiated lung cancer patients. TT genotype of rs12934561 related closely to poor survival status in squamous carcinoma. IL-32 mRNA expression decreased in lung cancer.

Discussion and conclusion: Our study indicates the importance of IL-32 polymorphism and mRNA expression in susceptibility and influence of survival status in lung cancer.     

Differential expression of circulating vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in subjects with coronary artery disease and cardiac syndrome X without known diabetes mellitus

Context: Inflammation is one of the mechanisms underlying cardiac syndrome X (CSX).

Objectives: Few studies have compared the expression of inflammatory or adhesion molecules between coronary artery disease (CAD) versus CSX.

Materials and methods: Ninety-two CSX and 145 CAD subjects without known diabetes mellitus underwent coronary angiogram for angina.

Results: Vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 (median, 507 versus 431?ng/ml, p?=?0.001) was significantly higher in the CAD group. In the binary regression, VCAM-1 was a significant differential factor for CAD versus CSX.

Discussion and conclusion: Adhesion molecules might be implicated in the differential expression of macro versus microvascular coronary disease.

Trial registration number: NCT01198730 at https://clinicaltrials.gov     

Blood markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in cardioembolic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis

Context: Various processes including inflammation and endothelial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardioembolic (CE) strokes.

Objective: To review the evidence and investigate the association between immune-inflammatory biomarkers and CE strokes versus other stroke subtypes.

Methods: We systematically reviewed the literature (sources: MEDLINE, web-based register http://stroke-biomarkers.com, reference lists) with quality assessment and meta-analysis of selected articles.

Results: The most consistent association was found between C-reactive protein (CRP) and CE strokes when compared to other stroke subtypes (standardized mean difference 0.223 (0.116, 0.343); p?<?0.001)

Conclusions: Our findings confirm a possible association between selected inflammatory biomarkers and CE stroke.     

Soil depth shapes plant functional diversity in granite outcrops vegetation of Southwestern Australia

Background: The arid and nutrient-poor Southwestern Australia is one of the global biodiversity hotspots. Embedded in this landscape, granite outcrops are considered terrestrial insular habitats supporting habitat heterogeneity when compared to the more homogenous surrounds. Ecology of plant species and communities on granite outcrops has been addressed in numerous studies. However, functional diversity (FD) in context of the environmental heterogeneity remained unexplored.

Aims: We tested whether mesic deep-soil habitats on granite outcrops can sustain larger FD than dry shallow-soil habitats.

Methods: We calculated FD for dominant species for five single traits (leaf dry matter content, foliar δ¹³C, foliar C:N ratio, plant height and specific leaf area) and their combinations. We employed Generalized Additive Mixed Models to quantify the relationship between selected climate and soil depth variables, and FD.

Results: More benign (deep-soil) habitats supported larger FD for foliar C:N, plant height and for multiple traits than did shallow-soil habitats.

Conclusions: We suggest that: (1) functional diversification, likely aimed at avoiding intra- and interspecific competition for light and nutrients acquisition, might be the important factor in deep-soil habitats; (2) deep-soils patches on and around granite outcrops may serve as ecological microrefugia for biota associated with resource-rich environments.     

Similarities in mRNA expression of peripheral blood drug metabolizing enzymes and cancer marker genes with biopsy samples of head and neck cancer patients

Purpose: To develop peripheral blood mRNA expression profiles of drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) as a surrogate to monitor tobacco induced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), attempts were made to investigate (i) similarities in alterations with the cancer marker genes in biopsy samples and (ii) if alterations similar to that seen in biopsy samples are reflected in peripheral blood.

Methods: Total RNA from eight soft gingival tissues and eight biopsy samples of HNSCC patients and total DNA and RNA from blood of healthy controls (n?=?150) and HNSCC patients (n?=?150) was processed for expression and genotyping studies. Blood from patients receiving chemo-radiotherapy was processed for follow-up study.

Results: qRT-PCR revealed significant increase in mRNA expression of DMEs in biopsy and blood samples of HNSCC patients when compared to controls. Similar alterations were observed in cancer marker genes in these samples. Patients with variant genotypes of DMEs showed greater magnitude of alterations in mRNA expression when compared to wild type controls. Responders of chemo-radiotherapy showed significant decline in induction of mRNA expression of DMEs and cancer marker genes

Conclusions: The data suggest that peripheral blood expression profiles could be used to monitor tobacco-induced HNSCC as well as the treatment response.     

Dynamic variation of histone H3 trimethyl Lys4 (H3K4me3) and heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) with employment length in nickel smelting workers

Objective: To investigate the dynamic variation in H3K4me3 and HP1 with employment length in nickel smelting workers.

Methods: Blood samples were collected from 140 nickel smelting workers and 140 age-matched office workers to test for H3K4me3, and HP1 levels.

Results: H3K4me3 was statistically significantly different (p?<?0.05) between the two groups and positively correlated with employment length (r_s?=_?0.267). HP1 was not correlated with employment length (p?=?0.066) but was significantly different between the two groups.

Conclusions: Chronic exposure to nickel can induce oxidative damage, and increase H3K4me3 expression and inhibit HP1 expression.     

Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo feed on larger fish in late winter

Capsule: Great Cormorants Phalacrocorax carbo prey on larger fish in late winter compared to early winter.

Aims: This study aimed to describe Cormorant diet and to discover whether prey size changed during winter.

Methods: The diet of Cormorants was studied using regurgitated pellets collected from roosting places at the upper Elbe River, Czech Republic, during winter (from December to March).

Results: The diet consisted of 24 fish species from 6 fish families. Roach Rutilus rutilus dominated in the diet (over 50% of biomass). Size of fish in the diet increased over time during the whole winter. Except for European Chub Squalius cephalus, the increased size applied for the majority of the most frequently consumed fish species: Roach, European Perch Perca fluviatilis and White Bream Abramis brama. Cormorants consumed mostly fish species of lower commercial and angling value.

Conclusion: Fisheries management should reflect on the fact that competition for larger-sized fish is the highest in late winter and in early spring. For that reason, stocking of potentially vulnerable fish could be delayed to the time when overwintering birds leave the area and recreational fishing could be restricted in late winter.     

Aberrant methylation of nucleotide excision repair genes is associated with chronic arsenic poisoning

Objective: To define whether aberrant methylation of DNA repair genes is associated with chronic arsenic poisoning.

Methods: Hundred and two endemic arsenicosis patients and 36 healthy subjects were recruited. Methylight and bisulfite sequencing (BSP) assays were used to examine the methylation status of ERCC1, ERCC2 and XPC genes in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and skin lesions of arsenicosis patients and NaAsO₂-treated HaCaT cells.

Results: Hypermethylation of ERCC1 and ERCC2 and suppressed gene expression were found in PBLs and skin lesions of arsenicosis patients and was correlated with the level of arsenic exposure. Particularly, the expression of ERCC1 and ERCC2 was associated with the severity of skin lesions. In vitro studies revealed an induction of ERCC2 hypermethylation and decreased mRNA expression in response to NaAsO₂ treatment.

Conclusion: Hypermethylation of ERCC1 and ERCC2 and concomitant suppression of gene expression might be served as the epigenetic marks associated with arsenic exposure and adverse health effects.     

CXCR4 as a prognostic biomarker in gastrointestinal cancer: a meta-analysis

Background: CXCR4 is a member of the C-X-C chemokine receptor family, which is associated with multiple types of cancer. Although it has been widely reported, the prognostic value of CXCR4 expression in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer remains controversial.

Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between CXCR4 and prognosis of patients with GI cancer. Subgroup analysis was also performed according to tumour subtypes and heterogeneity test.

Results: A total of 24 studies including 3637 cases suggested that overexpression of CXCR4 is significantly associated with overall survival (OS) for patients with GI cancer (HR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.45–2.03, p?=?0.000). Subgroup analysis also indicated that high CXCR4 expression in oesophagus, gastric and colorectal cancer all predicted a worse prognosis (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.26–1.84, p?=?0.001 for oesophagus cancer; HR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.10–2.30, p?=?0.015 for gastric cancer; HR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.56–3.14, p?=?0.000 for colorectal cancer).

Conclusions: CXCR4 may serve as a prognostic indicator in GI cancer patients.     

A new species of Maladera from Jordan (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Sericini)

A new Maladera species is described from Jordan: M. schnitteri sp. n. A key to the species of the subgenus Eusericula is given, and the habitus and genitalia are illustrated.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:D41D75B5-D700-4C2B-9058-04D14006C810     

A new species of ant-loving cricket Myrmecophilus Berthold, 1827 from Cyprus (Orthoptera: Myrmecophilidae)

A new species of ant-loving cricket, Myrmecophilus cyprius sp. n., collected in the Republic of Cyprus from the nests of Messor structor (Latreille, 1798) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is described and illustrated. The species belongs to the subgenus Myrmophilina Silvestri, 1912.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B588546E-FC72-4996-A0C2-583BCE46905E     

New species and new records of Apataniidae (Insecta: Trichoptera) from east central China

Three new species of Apataniidae from China, Apatania protracta sp. n., Apatidelia paramartynovi sp. n., and Moropsyche dawuensis sp. n. are described and illustrated. We also report Apatania semicircularis Leng and Yang, 1998 for the first time from Hubei Province.

Apatania protracta: http://zoobank.org/urn:zoobank.org:pub:8317EB90-9316-4F7B-94C6-65938A6F2873

Apatidelia paramartynovi: http://zoobank.org/urn:zoobank.org:pub:8741CE6F-B339-4842-BD8C-04BE8B21A222

Moropsyche dawuensis: http://zoobank.org/urn:zoobank.org:pub:B5CB815D-59B5-401F-9308-9EE24A9BBAF7     

Association between polymorphisms in IL21 gene and risk for sepsis

Context: Sepsis is now the leading cause of death in the noncardiovascular intensive care unit (ICU).

Objective: To investigate whether polymorphisms in IL21 gene contribute to sepsis susceptibility.

Materials and methods: Three single-nucleotide polymorphisms of IL21 (rs907715, rs2055979, rs12508721) were genotyped by TaqMan assay in patients with sepsis and control subjects.

Results: Polymorphisms rs2055979 and rs12508721 in IL21 were more frequent in sepsis patients compared to general population. But allele frequency of rs907715 was not significantly different between sepsis patients and control subjects.

Conclusion: Polymorphisms in IL21 may be associated with sepsis risk.     

Panel of SEREX-defined antigens for breast cancer autoantibodies profile detection

Content: Identification of panel of SEREX-defined antigens for breast cancer autoantibodies profile detection.

Objective: To create panel of antigens that can differentiate breast cancer patients and healthy individuals.

Methods: SEREX (serological analysis of cDNA expression libraries) method, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction).

Results: In large-scale screening of 16 SEREX-antigens by sera of breast cancer patients and healthy donors, a combination of six antigens (RAD50, PARD3, SPP1, SAP30BP, NY-BR-62 and NY-CO-58) was identified, which can differentiate breast cancer patients and healthy donors with 70% sensitivity and 91% specificity. Elevated mRNA expression of SPP1 gene was revealed in breast tumors (2–7-fold) that correlated with SPP1 antigen immunoreactivity in autologous patients’ sera.

Conclusions: The new panel of six SEREX-antigens was proposed, which enables creation of serological assay for breast cancer diagnostics and/or prognosis.     

Plant sex and phenological stage affect interactions with rhizosphere nematode communities

Background: In dioecious plants, females and males associate differently with mycorrhizal fungi, but interactions with other rhizosphere organisms are less well studied.

Aims: We investigated the effect of plant sex on rhizosphere nematode communities associated with Corema album, a dioecious shrub occurring in coastal habitats.

Methods: Rhizosphere samples were collected from males and females in three populations (150 plants), during fruiting and flowering. Nematode communities were characterised and compared between plant sexes through statistical analyses of the abundance of trophic groups, plant parasitic nematode (PPN) genera and ecological indices.

Results: Free-living nematodes showed no statistically significant differences owing to plant sex. Conversely, PPN community composition was significantly different between plant sexes during fruiting but not flowering, suggesting that physiological requirements over the annual phenological cycle of the plant influence ecological interactions with the rhizosphere.

Of the 13 PPN genera identified, the ectoparasitic Criconema and Hemicriconemellawere more abundant in the rhizosphere of males during fruiting, whereas the endoparasitic Meloidogyne associated more frequently with females, suggesting that plant host suitability is related to PPN feeding strategy.

Conclusions: It appears that interactions of individuals of different sexes of C. album with the rhizosphere nematode community vary with phenological stage, especially for PPN.