Non-synonymous polymorphisms in the P2RX 4 are related to bone mineral density and osteoporosis risk in a cohort of Dutch fracture patients

In the present study we investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P2RX₄, which alter the P2X₄R function, are associated with the development of osteoporosis and whether an interaction between the P2X₄R and P2X₇R confer a synergistic effect of these two receptors on osteoporosis risk. Patients with fracture (690 females and 231 males, aged ≥50 years) were genotyped for three non-synonymous P2X₄R SNPs. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at the total hip, lumbar spine, and femoral neck. Subject carrying the variant allele of the Tyr315Cys polymorphism showed a 2.68-fold (95 % CI, 1.20–6.02) higher risk of osteoporosis compared with wild-type subject. Furthermore, significant lower lumbar spine BMD values were observed in subjects carrying the Cys315 allele as compared with wild-type (0.85 ± 0.17 and 0.93 ± 0.17 g/cm², respectively; p < 0.001). Assuming a recessive model, carriers of the variant allele of the Ser242Gly polymorphism showed increased BMD values at the lumbar spine compare to wild-type subject (1.11 ± 0.35 and 0.92 ± 0.17 g/cm², respectively; p = 0.0045). This is the first study demonstrating an association of non-synonymous polymorphisms in the P2RX₄ and the risk of osteoporosis, suggesting a role of the P2X₄R in the regulation of bone mass.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11302-012-9337-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Adh 1 first intron polymorphisms in Argentinean populations of Ceratitis capitata

DNA size polymorphisms were utilized in a study of 24 natural populations of Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Argentina. The first intron of alcohol dehydrogenase 1 gene (Adh₁) was amplified using exon priming intron crossing‐polymerase chain reaction. Three size variants were detected among the 307 samples analyzed. To better differentiate the size variants, further digestion of PCR products with the EcoRI restriction enzyme was carried out. Complete nucleotide sequences of the three‐allele variants were obtained and single changes, insertions, deletions, and EcoRI recognition sites were located. Population allele frequencies were analyzed and a global mean heterozygosity (He) of 0.33 was obtained. In most populations, observed allelic frequencies conformed to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. Significant differences between provinces and sampling sites within these provinces, and among some populations were found. The average number of insects exchanged among populations (Nm) was estimated and high values were observed between Argentina and populations from two African countries (Morocco and Kenya), Australia, and Hawaii (Kauai). Pest introduction sources and dispersion patterns in Argentina are discussed based on these results as well as on available bibliographical data.     

Characterization of gluten processing streams

Corn gluten meal (CGM) is a major coproduct of corn wet milling; it has value because of high protein. However, variation in composition and high P content reduce market value. Data that characterize gluten streams would be helpful in identifying key processing steps that could be modified to improve the quality of CGM and increase processing efficiency. Few data are published in the literature on the detailed composition of gluten processing streams. The objective was to characterize the gluten process streams in a corn wet milling plant.Samples were obtained from one plant over a six month period and analyzed for dry matter (DM), total N (protein), ash and elements. DM and macroelement content of the streams were increased significantly during processing. Ash, priority pollutant elements and microelement concentrations were low and of little concern. About 38% of the N (protein) in light gluten was not recovered in the CGM; most of this was lost at the gluten thickener step into the gluten thickener overflow. Much of the P also was removed at this step. Modification of the gluten thickener overflow to increase N and reduce P could make CGM a more valuable coproduct and improve processing efficiency.     

A new device for measurement of fibrin clot lysis: application to the Euglobulin Clot Lysis Time

Background  

Determination of clot lysis times on whole blood, diluted whole blood, plasma or plasma fraction has been used for many years to assess the overall activity of the fibrinolytic system. We designed a completely computerised semi-automatic 8-channel device for measurement and determination of fibrin clot lysis. The lysis time is evaluated by a mathematical analysis of the lysis curve and the results are expressed in minute (range: 5 to 9999). We have used this new device for Euglobulin Clot Lysis Time (ECLT) determination, which is the most common test used in laboratories to estimate plasma fibrinolytic capacity.     

Carbon sequestration in peatland: patterns and mechanisms of response to climate change

The response of peatlands to changes in the climatic water budget is crucial to predicting potential feedbacks on the global carbon (C) cycle. To gain insight on the patterns and mechanisms of response, we linked a model of peat accumulation to a model of peatland hydrology, then applied these models to empirical data spanning the past 5000 years for the large mire Store Mosse in southern Sweden. We estimated parameters for C sequestration and height growth by fitting the peat accumulation model to two age profiles. Then, we used independent reconstruction of climate wetness and model reconstruction of bog height to examine changes in peatland hydrology. Reconstructions of C sequestration showed two distinct patterns of behaviour: abrupt increases associated with major transitions in vegetation and dominant Sphagnum species (fuscum, rubellum–fuscum and magellanicum stages), and gradual decreases associated with increasing humification of newly formed peat. Carbon sequestration rate ranged from a minimum of 14 to a maximum of 72 g m^?2 yr^?1, with the most rapid changes occurring in the past 1000 years. Vegetation transitions were associated with periods of increasing climate wetness during which the hydrological requirement for increased seepage loss was met by rise of the water table closer to the peatland surface, with the indirect result of enhancing peat formation. Gradual decline in C sequestration within each vegetation stage resulted from enhanced litter decay losses from the near‐surface layer. In the first two vegetation stages, peatland development (i.e., increasing surface gradient) and decreasing climate wetness drove a gradual increase in thickness of the unsaturated, near‐surface layer, reducing seepage water loss and peat formation. In the most recent vegetation stage, the surface diverged into a mosaic of wet and dry microsites. Despite a steady increase in climate wetness, C sequestration declined rapidly. The complexity of response to climate change cautions against use of past rates to estimate current or to predict future rates of peatland C sequestration. Understanding interactions among hydrology, surface structure and peat formation are essential to predicting potential feedback on the global C cycle.