多巴胺D4受体基因与注意缺损多动障碍

为探讨注意缺损多动障碍（ADHD）与多巴胺D4受体基因（dopamine D4 receptor gene,DRD4)间的关系,采用Amp-FLP的方法检测了上海地区汉族人群中68例ADHD患及其父母DRD4的多态性,数据采用基于单体型的单体型相对风险（HHRR）及传递不平衡检验（TDT）进行遗传关联分析。结果表明HHRR分析和复等位基因的TDT检验,均未显示出与ADHD的遗传关联性（P＞0．05）。提示上海地区人群中DRD4基因与ADHD无显性关联。     

注意缺损多动障碍关联于DXS7位点 Association of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the DXS7 Locus

采用单体型相对风险和传递/不平衡检验方法,在中国人群中对注意缺损多动障碍（ADHD）与DXS7位点进行了遗传关联分析。结果表明,以父母双亲为对照,DXS7位点157bp等位基因与ADHD具有显著关联(χ2=9.10, P<0.05)并连锁(χ2=9.53, P<0.05)。提示,ADHD关联和连锁于DXS7位点。 Abstract　The present study was designed to assess the genetic association between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder(ADHD) and DXD7 locus polymorphism in Chinese population, with haplotype-based haplotype relative risk(HHRR) and the transmission/disequilibrium test(TDT) analysis. We found significant association(χ2=9.10, P<0.05) and linkage (χ2=9.53, P<0.05) between the 157bp DXS7 allele and DSM-Ⅲ-R-diagnosed ADHD(N=54) in trios composed of father, mother and affected offspring. Our results suggest that ADHD was associated and in linkage with DXS7 locus.     

广州地区106例汉族人群MICA和MICB微卫星基因座 单体型研究 The Study on the Haplotype of MICA and MICB Microsatellite Locus In Guangzhou Han Population

利用聚合酶链反应和荧光（6－FAM）自动化检测技术对广东地区汉族106例无亲缘关系样本进行MICA基因外显子5和MICB基因内含子1微卫星基因座多态性及其单体型分布调查。根据群体资料估算两者间的单体型频率、连锁不平衡参数、相对连锁不平衡参数。结果显示，广州地区汉族人群MICA和MICB微卫星基因座基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡法则，共检出MICA微卫星基因座 5个等位基因， MICB微卫星基因座14个等位基因。其中MICA A5基因频率最高（0.2877），A4基因频率最低（0.1321）。MICB CA14等位基因频率最高（0.3255），CA19、CA28等位基因频率最低（0.0047），未检出CA27。21种MICA－MICB单体型频率大于1%(连锁不平衡参数>0), 其中单体型A5－CA14 (16.73%), A5.1－CA18 (8.75%), A4－CA26(3.76%)，A9－CA15(3.66%)和A6－CA21(2.61%)为强连锁常见单体型（χ2>3.84, P<0.05）。广州地区汉族人群MICA和MICB微卫星基因座多态性和单体型分布有其自身特点，MICA和MICB微卫星基因座适合做为遗传标志，用于人类学、遗传疾病基因连锁分析、法医学亲子鉴定和个体识别等研究领域。Abstract: This study is to investigate genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes of microsatellite locus in the exon 5 of the MICA gene and intron 1 of the MICB gene based on 106 samples of Guangzhou Han Population by polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent technique (6-FAM). The corresponding haplotype frequencies, linkage disequilibria values and relative linkage disequilibria values were estimated based on population data. The results show that the genotype distributions of MICA and MICB microsatellite meet Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in Guangdong Han population. In total, 5 alleles of MICA microsatellite locus and 14 alleles of MICB microsatellite locus were observed. MICA A5 was the most common allele (0.2877), whereas A4 was the least popular one (0.1321). MICB CA14 was the most common allele (0.3255), and CA19 and CA28 were the least popular ones (0.0047). CA27 was not observed. Twenty-one kinds of MICA-MICB haplotypes occurred at frequencies of more than 1% (linkage disequilibria value>0). The common MICA-MICB haplotypes were A5-CA14（16.73％）, A5.1- CA18 (8.75%), A4- CA26(3.76%)，A9-CA15(3.66%) and A6-CA21(2.61%)（χ2>3.84, P<0.05）, and they were strong linkage disequilibria. The polymorphisms and haplotypes distributions of MICA and MICB microsatellite locus in Guangzhou Han population have their own genetic characteristics. The microsatellite locus of the exon5 of the MICA gene and intron 1 of the MICB gene could be used as the genetic markers in the studies of anthropology, linkage analysis of genetic disease genes, individual identification and paternity test in forensic medicine.     

广州地区106例汉族人群MICA和MICB微卫星基因座 单体型研究

利用聚合酶链反应和荧光（6－FAM）自动化检测技术对广东地区汉族106例无亲缘关系样本进行MICA基因外显子5和MICB基因内含子1微卫星基因座多态性及其单体型分布调查。根据群体资料估算两者间的单体型频率、连锁不平衡参数、相对连锁不平衡参数。结果显示,广州地区汉族人群MICA和MICB微卫星基因座基因型分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡法则,共检出MICA微卫星基因座 5个等位基因, MICB微卫星基因座14个等位基因。其中MICA A5基因频率最高（0.2877）,A4基因频率最低（0.1321）。MICB CA14等位基因频率最高（0.3255）,CA19、CA28等位基因频率最低（0.0047）,未检出CA27。21种MICA－MICB单体型频率大于1%(连锁不平衡参数>0), 其中单体型A5－CA14 (16.73%), A5.1－CA18 (8.75%), A4－CA26(3.76%),A9－CA15(3.66%)和A6－CA21(2.61%)为强连锁常见单体型（χ2>3.84, P<0.05）。广州地区汉族人群MICA和MICB微卫星基因座多态性和单体型分布有其自身特点,MICA和MICB微卫星基因座适合做为遗传标志,用于人类学、遗传疾病基因连锁分析、法医学亲子鉴定和个体识别等研究领域。Abstract: This study is to investigate genetic polymorphisms and haplotypes of microsatellite locus in the exon 5 of the MICA gene and intron 1 of the MICB gene based on 106 samples of Guangzhou Han Population by polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent technique (6-FAM). The corresponding haplotype frequencies, linkage disequilibria values and relative linkage disequilibria values were estimated based on population data. The results show that the genotype distributions of MICA and MICB microsatellite meet Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in Guangdong Han population. In total, 5 alleles of MICA microsatellite locus and 14 alleles of MICB microsatellite locus were observed. MICA A5 was the most common allele (0.2877), whereas A4 was the least popular one (0.1321). MICB CA14 was the most common allele (0.3255), and CA19 and CA28 were the least popular ones (0.0047). CA27 was not observed. Twenty-one kinds of MICA-MICB haplotypes occurred at frequencies of more than 1% (linkage disequilibria value>0). The common MICA-MICB haplotypes were A5-CA14（16.73％）, A5.1- CA18 (8.75%), A4- CA26(3.76%),A9-CA15(3.66%) and A6-CA21(2.61%)（χ2>3.84, P<0.05）, and they were strong linkage disequilibria. The polymorphisms and haplotypes distributions of MICA and MICB microsatellite locus in Guangzhou Han population have their own genetic characteristics. The microsatellite locus of the exon5 of the MICA gene and intron 1 of the MICB gene could be used as the genetic markers in the studies of anthropology, linkage analysis of genetic disease genes, individual identification and paternity test in forensic medicine.     

Habitat productivity is a poor predictor of body size in rodents

The"resource availability hypothesis"predicts occurrence of larger rodents in more productive habitats.This prediction was tested in a dataset of 1,301 rodent species.We used adult body mass as a measure of body size and normalized difference vegetation index(NDVI)as a measure of habitat productivity.We utilized a cross-species approach to investigate the association between these variables.This was done at both the order level(Rodentia)and at narrower taxonomic scales.We applied phylogenetic generalized least squares(PGLS)to correct for phylogenetic relationships.The relationship between body mas and NDVI was also investigated across rodent assemblages.We controlled for spatial autocorrelation using generalized least squares(GLS)analysis.The cross-species approach found extremely low support for the resource availability hypothesis.This was reflected by a weak positive association between body mass and NDVI at the order level.We find a positive association in only a minority of rodent subtaxa.The best fit GLS model detected no significant association between body mass and NDVI across assemblages.Thus,our results do not support the view that resource availability plays a major role in explaining geographic variation in rodent body size.     

Association Between rs1344706 of ZNF804A and Schizophrenia:A Meta-analysis

Schizophrenia is one of the most serious mental diseases found in humans. Previous studies indicated that the single nucleotide polymorphism（SNP） rs1344706 in the gene ZNF804 A encoding zinc finger protein 804 A was associated with schizophrenia in Caucasian population but not in Chinese Han population. However, current results are conflicting in Asian population. In the present study, a meta-analysis was performed to revisit the association between rs1344706 and the risk of schizophrenia in Asian, Caucasian and other populations. Electronic search of Pub Med database identified 25 case–control studies with available genotype frequencies of rs1344706 for the meta-analysis,involving a total of 15,788 cases and 22,654 controls. A pooled odds ratio（OR） with 95% confidence interval（CI） was used to assess the association. The current meta-analysis showed an association between rs1344706 and schizophrenia in Caucasian populations（P = 0.028, OR = 1.138, 95% CI：1.014–1.278; P = 0.004 for heterogeneity） and Asian populations（P = 0.008, OR = 1.092, 95%CI： 1.023–1.165; P = 0.001 for heterogeneity）, but not in other populations（P = 0.286,OR = 1.209, 95% CI： 0.853–1.714, P = 0.120 for heterogeneity）. Egger’s test（P 〉 0.05） and Begg’s test（P 〉 0.05） are both suggestive of the lack of publication bias for the included studies. Thus, the absence of association in other populations suggests a genetic heterogeneity in the susceptibility of schizophrenia and demonstrates the difficulties in replicating genome-wide association study findings regarding schizophrenia across different ethnic populations. To validate the association between rs1344706 and schizophrenia, further studies with larger participant populations worldwide are needed.     

ACE基因I/D多态与冠心病的遗传流行病学研究——表型不一致同胞对分析和传递不平衡检验

用表型不一致同胞对分析(DSP)和传递不平衡检验(TDT),在冠心病家系中探讨血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)基因内含子16中的插入/缺失(I/D)多态是否为冠心病的遗传易患因素。方法：1998年10月～1999年2月期间收集先证者一级亲属中至少有1例冠心病患者的家系45个,其中完整核心家系、父母一方、双方基因型缺失家系分别为21、2与22个,调查对象212人。PCR-RFLP方法鉴定ACE基因I/D多态性基因座基因型。条件Logistic回归进行DSP分析,TDT-STDT 1.1程序进行TDT、STDT检验。结果表明,45个冠心病家系共组成106对DSP,单变量条件Logistic回归及调整传统危险因素后的多变量条件logistic回归均未发现II、ID和DD基因型在表型不一致同胞对中的分布存在差别。对13个满足要求的核心家系进行TDT检验,杂合子父母传递给患病子代的D等位基因频率未显著偏离50％(P>0.05);24个满足要求的同胞组进行STDT检验亦未发现受累子代与非受累子代D等位基因分布有显著差异(P>0.05)。结论:在冠心病家系中未发现ACE基因I/D多态与冠心病存在关联或与疾病基因座存在连锁,说明该基因座可能不是国人冠心病的遗传易患基因。 Abstract:To investigate whether the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the human angiotensin I converting enzyme gene increased the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in CHD pedigrees,discordant sib pair analysis (DSP) and transmission/disequilibrium test (TDT) were used.Forty-five CHD pedigrees with at least one CHD patient in the first degree relatives of probands were recruited during Oct.1998 to Feb.1999,of which parental genotype known,one or both parental genotype missing was 21,2 and 22 respectively.ACE genotype was measured by PCR technique.Conditional Logistic regression was used to analyze the DSP,and TDT-STDT program 1.1 was used for TDT and STDT.Univariable conditional Logistic regression did not find significant difference of the distribution of three different ACE genotypes in the 106 discordant sib pairs obtained from the 45 pedigrees.After adjusting effects of traditional risk factors of CHD,no significant difference of the distribution was found by multiple Logistic regression model.Neither the TDT for 13 nuclear families or STDT(sib transmission/disequilibrium test) for 24 sibships showed significant difference between the transmitted and untransmitted ACE gene D allele distributions.Our results show that the insertion/deletion polymorphism of ACE gene is not associated or linked with CHD in Chinese population.     

Differences in Variation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Sequences from Henan and Shanghai Regions of China

Illegally paid blood donation was a risk factor for HIV acquisition exclusively in Henan and Hubei Provinces of China,and not in Shanghai.Nucleotide sequences in the gag and env genes of HIV-1 were compared between isolates from Henan and Shanghai regions of China to test whether an expected higher degree of a common source of infections from this unique blood donation transmission risk would be evident as decreased variation among Henan isolates in an exploratory cross-sectional analysis.Among 38 isolates studied,23 of 23(100%)from Henan and 8 of 15(54%)from Shanghai were subtype B.In addition,fewer sequence differences were found in gp41 of subtype B isolates from Henan than from Shanghai isolates.Further studies with additional controls are therefore warranted to confirm the role of the degree of a common source of infections in differences in HIV variation across populations.     

Aldosterone may induce visfatin expression via the GR-ERK1/2 signal pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The main function of aldosterone is to regulate blood pressure and electrolytic balance;however,recent studies have also focused on the effect of aldosterone on glucose metabolism especially in adipose tissue.Aldosterone was found to inhibit insulin-induced glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes [1] and aldosterone deficiency was found to prevent high-fat-feeding-induced hyperglycemia and adipocyte dysfunction in mice [2].Visfatin,an adipokine discovered by the team of Fukuhara,is mainly released by adipose tissue [3].Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and L6 myocytes with visfatin increased basal glucose uptake,and glucose release was suppressed in H4IIEC3 hepatocytes after visfatin treatment [3].It has also been suggested that visfatin may act as a proinflammatory cytokine [4] and produce chronic inflammation in adipocytes [5].Eyileten et al.[6] reported that treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor,which can reduce plasma aldosterone concentration,decreased circulating visfatin level in diabetic nephropathy patients.These findings suggest a possible interaction between the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system(RAAS)and visfatin.Considering the important roles of aldosterone and visfatin and the association between RAAS and visfatin,we hypothesize that there may be a direct regulatory interaction between aldosterone and visfatin.To test this hypothesis,3T3-L1 adipocytes were used as the cell model and the expression of visfatin was measured by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis.     

Improve survival prediction using principal components of gene expression data

The purpose of many microarray studies is to find the association between gene expression and sample characteristics such as treatment type or sample phenotype. There has been a surge of efforts developing different methods for delineating the association. Aside from the high dimensionality of microarray data, one well recognized challenge is the fact that genes could be complicatedly inter-related, thus making many statistical methods inappropriate to use directly on the expression data. Multivariate methods such as principal component analysis （PCA） and clustering are often used as a part of the effort to capture the gene correlation, and the derived components or clusters are used to describe the association between gene expression and sample phenotype. We propose a method for patient population dichotomization using maximally selected test statistics in combination with the PCA method, which shows favorable results. The proposed method is compared with a currently well-recognized method.