Are glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1) associated with primary open angle glaucoma? A meta-analysis

Background

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) variants have been considered as risk factors for the pathogenesis of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). However, the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and the risk for POAG.

Methods

Published literature from PubMed and EMBASE databases was retrieved. All studies evaluating the association between GSTM1/GSTT1 variants and POAG were included. Pooled odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using fixed- or random-effects model.

Results

14 studies (1711 POAG cases and 1537 controls) were included in the meta-analysis of GSTM1 genotypes and 10 studies (1306 POAG cases and 1114 controls) were included in the meta-analysis of GSTT1 genotypes. The overall result showed that the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes and risk for POAG was not statistically significant (GSTM1: OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 0.82–1.73, p = 0.361; GSTT1: OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.77–2.06, p = 0.365). The results by ethnicity showed that the association between the GSTM1 null genotype and risk for POAG is statistically significant in East Asians (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.04–1.90, p = 0.026), but not in Caucasians (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.69–1.84, p = 0.638) and Latin-American (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.62–1.92, p = 0.767). In addition, there was no significant association of GSTT1 null genotype with risk for POAG in either ethnic population.

Conclusions

The present meta-analysis suggested that there might be a significant association of GSTM1 null genotype with POAG risk in East Asians.     

Production of influenza H1N1 vaccine from MDCK cells using a novel disposable packed-bed bioreactor

A process for human influenza H1N1 virus vaccine production from Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells using a novel packed-bed bioreactor is described in this report. The mini-bioreactor was used to study the relationship between cell density and glucose consumption rate and to optimize the infection parameters of the influenza H1N1 virus (A/New Caledonia/20/99). The MDCK cell culture and virus infection were then monitored in a disposable perfusion bioreactor (AmProtein Current Perfusion Bioreactor) with proportional–integral–derivative control of pH, dissolved O₂ (DO), agitation, and temperature. During 6 days of culture, the total cell number increased from 2.0?×?10⁹ to 3.2?×?10¹⁰ cells. The maximum virus titers of 768 hemagglutinin units/100 μL and 7.8?×?10⁷ 50 % tissue culture infectious doses/mL were obtained 3 days after infection. These results demonstrate that using a disposable perfusion bioreactor for large-scale cultivation of MDCK cells, which allows for the control of DO, pH, and other conditions, is a convenient and stable platform for industrial-scale production of influenza vaccines.     

白顶鹀(Emberiza stewarti)——中国鸟类新纪录

白顶鹀(Emberiza stewarti)为中亚特有物种,比较罕见。2013年5月12日,喀什地区观鸟爱好者与户外摄影人在新疆乌恰县境内膘尔托阔依乡(39°20'N和75°05'E,海拔2 100 m)帕米尔东麓拍摄到一只雄性白顶鹀照片,经过查阅文献,确认是中国鸟类新纪录。     

喀斯特季节性雨林蚬木种群的增长模型

蚬木是喀斯特季节性雨林的优势种和特征种,研究蚬木种群的增长过程将为深入理解喀斯特季节性雨林动态提供基础。根据一个15hm2固定样地的调查数据,采用logistic模型及其4种改进模型对蚬木种群的增长过程进行了拟合,用残差平方和、决定系数和AIC准则对拟合的模型进行评价。结果表明:李新运模型和刘金福模型的拟合效果较好,但综合考虑模型的拟合效果和模型的简洁性,logistic模型和S形增长过程模型为较优模型。用logistic模型对蚬木种群的增长过程进行深入分析发现,种群增长最快的时期为50a左右,而在150a后,种群逐渐进入增长饱和期。种群目前接近增长饱和期,所以应加强保护,以维持蚬木群落的稳定发展。     

砀山酥梨不同程度缺铁叶片生长素抑制蛋白基因表达分析

以‘砀山酥梨’为材料,采用酶联免疫分析法(ELISA),测定叶片中内源IAA的含量.依据已构建的缺铁叶片SSH文库中生长素抑制蛋白(ARP)基因片段的序列信息,应用RACE技术克隆其cDNA全长,通过实时荧光定量(qRT-PCR)技术,分析ARP基因的相对表达量.结果表明:(1)ARP基因cDNA全长为707 bp,其中开放阅读框为351 bp,编码116个氨基酸,推测的蛋白质分子量为12.82 kD;该蛋白可能定位于微体,属于非分泌型、非跨膜蛋白类,并具有ARP基因家族的保守结构域.(2)在不同程度缺铁叶片中ARP基因的表达量存在差异,随着缺铁程度的增加,表达量显著升高,同时叶片中内源IAA含量逐渐降低.据此推测,ARP基因可能负反馈调节缺铁黄化叶片中IAA的水平,从而调控叶片的生长发育.     

油松天然群体的种实性状表型多样性研究

为了揭示油松天然种群在不同地理环境条件下表型变异的程度和规律,在油松整个天然分布范围内选择了12个具有代表性的居群作为研究对象,对其球果、种子、种翅等12个种实性状的变异程度及其与环境因子间关系进行了比较分析。结果显示:(1)各个性状在居群内和居群间均存在较大的变异(CV>12%)。其中千山(QS),曾家镇(ZJ)和互助(HZ)3个居群表现出了较高的变异(CV>20%),而球果干重(CDW)和种子长(CL)是所有表型性状中变异幅度最大的(CV分别为31%和21%),但种翅性状与其他性状相比具有较高的稳定性。(2)巢式设计方差分析表明,在居群内表型分化系数(Vst)变化在3.18%~89.86%之间,而群体间的Vst为38.97%;与其他针叶树种相比,油松拥有较高的表型分化系数,且居群内的变异程度远高于居群间的变异,尤其是千山(QS)、曾家镇(ZJ)和互助(HZ)3个居群,这说明油松具有较高的环境异质性适应能力或恶劣环境耐受能力。(3)相关性分析表明,该研究的各形态特征与潜在蒸发量均为负相关,且大部分形态指标间及它们与潜在蒸发量间存在显著相关性,表明潜在蒸发量是油松形态特征变化的最重要环境影响因子,预示油松最适宜生长于温暖潮湿的环境中;并表明因各形态特征间相互紧密关联,所以它们受环境条件影响而共变。     

种群生存力分析在濒危动物保护与管理中的应用

种群生存力分析(population viability analysis,PVA)是濒危物种保护研究的主要方法之一。自PVA提出之后,主要应用于预测濒危物种的灭绝概率。随着PVA软件的产生,其应用范围进一步扩展,甚至出现滥用和误用之例,使其准确性受到质疑。目前,PVA主要应用于濒危物种的保护与管理。本文从保护管理对策的制定与评估、再引入计划的评估和自然保护区设计与管理有效性评估三个方面进行综述;对PVA使用时的数据收集,以及模型的选择、建立和应用等需要注意的问题加以总结;从遗传数据的使用、基于个体的种群模型的发展、近交衰退和降低入侵物种的威胁等方面对PVA的应用提出展望。     

Role of mitochondrial quality control in exercise-induced health adaptation

Long-term endurance training or physical activity has been confirmed not only to improve physical performance, but to bring about an obvious beneficial effect on human health; however, the mechanism of this effect is not clear. The most studied health adaptations in skeletal muscle response to endurance exercise are increased muscle glycogen level and insulin sensitivity, fiber type transformation toward oxi- dative myofibers, and increased mitochondrial content/function. Mitochondria are dynamic organelles in eukaryotic cells critical in physical performance and disease occurrence. The mitochondrial life cycle spans biogenesis, maintenance, and clearance. Exercise training may promote each of these processes and confer positive impacts on skeletal muscle contractile and metabolic functions. This review focused on the regula- tion of these processes by endurance exercise and discussed its potential benefits in health and disease. We presented evidence suggesting that exercise training potentiates not only the biogenesis of mitochondria but also the removal of old and unhealthy mitochondria through mitochondrial quality control.     

云南省2006～2010年非脊灰肠道病毒分子流行病学特征分析

为了解云南省非脊髓灰质炎(脊灰)肠道病毒(NPEV)的基因型分布及分子进化特征,对2006～2010年间从急性迟缓性麻痹(AFP)病例中分离到的105株NPEVs进行VP1区部分核苷酸扩增和序列测定。所获得的云南地方株基因序列与各基因型原型株进行核苷酸与氨基酸同源性比较,并与GenBank中选取的代表株构建基因进化关系树。结果分析显示:105株NPEVs分别属于HEV-A、HEV-B、HEV-C,其中HEV-A 18株(7个血清型)所占比例为17.1%;HEV-B 77株(22个血清型)所占比例为73.3%,表明云南省AFP病例中流行的NPEV还是以HEV-B为主;HEV-C 10株(4个血清型)所占比例为9.5%;没有分离到HEV-D组肠道病毒;基因进化树中各种血清型病毒与对应原型株及代表株聚集一起,除CA2、EV90和EV76外,云南地方株与原型株位于不同分支。相同型别的毒株在5年的流行过程中变异程度亦不同,亲缘关系远近不一,表明这些病毒在云南省存在不同的传播链。     

稳定干扰核糖体蛋白RPS7基因表达的宫颈癌HeLa细胞株的建立

目的建立稳定抑制RPS7基因表达的宫颈癌HeLa细胞株。方法设计并合成靶向人RPS7基因的shRNA寡核苷酸片段,克隆到逆转录病毒载体pSIREN中,构建重组质粒pSIREN-RPS7-shRNA,转染293T细胞,将包装产生的重组逆转录病毒感染宫颈癌HeLa细胞,经嘌呤霉素筛选获得稳定的细胞克隆,用real-timePCR和Western印迹检测细胞中RPS7mRNA和蛋白表达水平。结果获得了经测序鉴定正确的重组逆转录病毒质粒,逆转录病毒感染HeLa细胞后用嘌呤霉素筛选出的稳定细胞中,RPS7mRNA和蛋白水平均显著低于干扰对照细胞。结论成功构建了靶向人RPS7基因的shRNA逆转录病毒载体,建立了稳定抑制RPS7基因表达的宫颈癌HeLa细胞株．为进一步研究RPS7在宫颈癌中的生物学功能和作用机制提供了可靠的细胞模型。