Association of VEGF Genetic Polymorphisms with Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion Risk: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background

Studies of the associations between the genetic polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene and recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) have revealed conflicting results. The present meta-analysis was performed to provide a more precise estimation of these relationships and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity that may have influenced the reported disparities.

Methods

An extensive literature search for relevant studies was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and The Cochrane Library through June 6, 2014. Crude odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated.

Results

10 case-control studies including 1,832 RSA patients and 2,271 healthy controls were identified. Meta-analysis indicated that rs1570360, rs3025039, rs2010963, and rs3025020 polymorphisms in the VEGF gene correlated with elevated RSA risk. The rs1570360 variant was statistically significantly relevant to RSA risk among non-Asian populations. Interestingly, the rs3025039 variant was statistically significantly relevant to RSA risk among Asian populations.

Conclusions

The current meta-analysis indicates that rs1570360, rs3025039, rs2010963, and rs3025020 polymorphisms increase RSA susceptibility. Moreover, rs1570360 and rs3025039 polymorphisms may play various roles in RSA susceptibility in various geographic groups.     

基于参数优化的人工灌丛生态系统碳水通量模拟

荒漠草原是陆地生态系统中最为脆弱且受人类干扰较为严重的生态类型之一,精准模拟其碳水通量及对人为干扰的响应,不仅能够揭示其复杂的生态学过程,而且还可为人为生态修复和保护提供决策依据。生态模型能够有效地模拟陆地生态系统的碳水循环过程,但模型众多的参数及其取值的合理性限制了其普遍应用,故探索参数优化是提升生态模型应用的有效途径。利用PEST参数优化方法和涡度相关观测数据对Biome-BGC模型的生理生态参数进行优化,在评估参数优化效果的基础上模拟了1986-2018年宁夏盐池荒漠草原区人工灌丛生态系统的总初级生产力（Gross primary productivity,GPP）和蒸散（Evapotranspiration,ET）。结果表明：（1）参数优化可以改善Biome-BGC模型对荒漠草原区人工灌丛生态系统GPP和ET的模拟效果,参数优化后模拟的GPP和ET均更接近于观测值,其中月尺度的模拟效果更佳;（2）基于PEST的Biome-BGC模型参数优化方法具有较强的普适性,优化后的参数可推广应用于荒漠草原区人工灌丛生态系统长时间序列的GPP和ET模拟;（3）宁夏盐池荒漠草原区人工灌丛生态系统的GPP在1986-2018年呈缓慢上升趋势,增幅为1.47 g C m^-2 a^-1,但ET的年际变化率较大,且无显著变化趋势。     

陕北黄土高原柠条灌丛穿透雨特征与影响因素

穿透雨是降雨再分配的主要组分,对干旱半干旱区的土壤水分补给和植被生长具有关键作用。灌丛穿透雨的影响机制特别是植被特征对穿透雨的影响需要进一步的定量研究,且目前对穿透雨空间异质性与聚集效应的研究相对较少。以陕北黄土高原典型灌丛—柠条为研究对象,于2016年对六道沟小流域柠条冠层下8个方位的穿透雨以及降雨和植被因子进行系统观测,分析穿透雨量、穿透雨率、穿透雨空间变异和聚集效应的变化特征,辨识影响穿透雨的主要降雨和植被因子,并建立相应的定量关系。结果表明:次降雨下柠条的穿透雨量、穿透雨率和空间变异系数平均值分别为11.88 mm、75.71%和21.80%。穿透雨量主要由降雨量决定,随降雨量增加而线性增加(R~2=0.99)。穿透雨率和空间变异系数主要受降雨量和降雨强度影响,穿透雨率随降雨量和I_30增加而呈对数增加(R~2=0.71和0.54),渐进值约为95%,而穿透雨空间变异系数则随降雨量和I_30增加而呈幂函数递减(R~2=0.71和0.60),稳定值约为10%。冠层厚度和枝倾角是影响穿透雨的主要植被因子,并分别呈显著的线性负相关和正相关(P0.05)。柠条穿透雨具有一定的聚集效应,平均发生频率为8.53%,且聚集效应在大雨量、高雨强和长历时降雨事件中更加明显。     

Synthesis and anthelmintic activity of 7-substituted 3,4a-dimethyl-4a,5a,8a,8b-tetrahydro-6H-pyrrolo[3',4':4,5]furo[3,2-b]pyridine-6,8(7H)-diones

The racemic 7-substituted 3,4a-dimethyl-4a,5a,8a,8b-tetrahydro-6H-pyrrolo[3',4':4,5]furo[3,2-b]pyridine-6,8(7H)-diones represent novel tricyclic compounds with strong in vivo efficacy against the parasitic nematode Haemonchus contortus Rudolphi in sheep. Here we report on the synthesis of tricyclic endo-2,3-dihydro[3,2-b]pyridine-type cycloadducts and describe the separation of the racemic 3,4a-dimethyl-7-ethyl-4a,5a,8a,8b-tetrahydro-6H-pyrrolo[3',4':4,5]furo[3,2]pyridine-6,8(7H)-dione into the enantiomers by HPLC. The absolute configuration of the most anthelmintically active (4aS,5aS,8aS,8bR)-enantiomer was determined by single crystal X-ray analysis using its stable (4aS,5aS,8aS,8bR)-enantiomer-CuCl2 (2:1)-complex.     

Phosphorylation of CREB Ser142 regulates light-induced phase shifts of the circadian clock

Biological rhythms are driven in mammals by a central circadian clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). Light-induced phase shifting of this clock is correlated with phosphorylation of CREB at Ser133 in the SCN. Here, we characterize phosphorylation of CREB at Ser142 and describe its contribution to the entrainment of the clock. In the SCN, light and glutamate strongly induce CREB Ser142 phosphorylation. To determine the physiological relevance of phosphorylation at Ser142, we generated a mouse mutant, CREB(S142A), lacking this phosphorylation site. Light-induced phase shifts of locomotion and expression of c-Fos and mPer1 in the SCN are significantly attenuated in CREB(S142A) mutants. Our findings provide genetic evidence that CREB Ser142 phosphorylation is involved in the entrainment of the mammalian clock and reveal a novel phosphorylation-dependent regulation of CREB activity.     

Molecular characterization and expression analysis of Triticum aestivum squamosa-promoter binding protein-box genes involved in ear development

Wheat(Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important crops in the world. Squamosa-promoter binding protein(SBP)-box genes play a critical role in regulating flower and fruit development. In this study, 10 novel SBP-box genes(TaSPL genes) were isolated from wheat((Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Yanzhan 4110). Phylogenetic analysis classified the TaSPL genes into five groups(G1–G5). The motif combinations and expression patterns of the TaSPL genes varied among the five groups with each having own distinctive characteristics: TaSPL20/21 in G1 and TaSPL17 in G2 mainly expressed in the shoot apical meristem and the young ear, and their expression levels responded to development of the ear; TaSPL6/15 belonging to G3 were upregulated and TaSPL1/23 in G4 were downregulated during grain development; the gene in G5(TaSPL3) expressed constitutively. Thus, the consistency of the phylogenetic analysis, motif compositions, and expression patterns of the TaSPL genes revealed specific gene structures and functions.On the other hand, the diverse gene structures and different expression patterns suggested that wheat SBP-box genes have a wide range of functions. The results also suggest a potential role for wheat SBP-box genes in ear development.This study provides a significant beginning of functional analysis of SBP-box genes in wheat.     

Combined effects of FLT3 and NF-κB selective inhibitors on acute myeloid leukemia in vivo

FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) is an independent poor prognostic marker of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and strategies that specifically target FLT3 are therefore of substantial interest. However, previous studies with FLT3 inhibitors as single agents in patients with AML showed few clinical responses. In the present study, combined effects of FLT3 selective inhibitor (SC-203048) and NF-κB selective inhibitor (Parthenolide, PTL) on AML xenograft tumor growth in vivo were examined, and the possible antitumor mechanisms by which SC-203048 and PTL affect AML xenograft tumor growth were also detected. Results showed that the tumor growth was strongly inhibited, and increased cell apoptosis was also observed after treatments, especially in the combination group; meanwhile, the expressions of FLT3, p65, cyclin D1, and Bc1-2 decreased significantly, and the expression of nuclear Silencing mediator for retinoic acid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT) increased notably. All results indicate that synergism exists between FLT3 and NF-κB inhibitors, and inhibitors combination treatment may be a potential strategy for AML.     

Overexpression of a wheat MYB transcription factor gene, TaMYB56-B, enhances tolerances to freezing and salt stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis

The MYB proteins play central roles in the stress response in plants. Our previous works identified a cold stress-related gene, TaMYB56, which encodes a MYB protein in wheat. In this study, we isolated the sequences of TaMYB56 genes, and mapped them to the wheat chromosomes 3B and 3D. The expression levels of TaMYB56-B and TaMYB56-D were strongly induced by cold stress, but slightly induced by salt stress in wheat. The detailed characterization of the Arabidopsis transgenic plants that overexpress TaMYB56-B revealed that TaMYB56-B is possibly involved in the responses of plant to freezing and salt stresses. The expression of some cold stress-responsive genes, such as DREB1A/CBF3 and COR15a, were found to be elevated in the TaMYB56-B-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants compared to wild-type. These results indicate that TaMYB56-B may act as a regulator in plant stress response.     

Hemolysis and hyperhomocysteinemia caused by cobalamin deficiency: three case reports and review of the literature

Background

Molecular characterisation of normal karyotype acute myeloid leukemia (NK-AML) allows prognostic stratification and potentially can alter treatment choices and pathways. Approximately 45–60% of patients with NK-AML carry NPM1 gene mutations and are associated with a favourable clinical outcome when FLT3-internal tandem duplications (ITD) are absent. High resolution melting (HRM) is a novel screening method that enables rapid identification of mutation positive DNA samples.

Results

We developed HRM assays to detect NPM1 mutations and FLT3-ITD and tested diagnostic samples from 44 NK-AML patients. Eight were NPM1 mutation positive only, 4 were both NPM1 mutation and FLT3-ITD positive and 4 were FLT3-ITD positive only. A novel point mutation Y572C (c.1715A>G) in exon 14 of FLT3 was also detected. In the group with de novo NK-AML, 40% (12/29) were NPM1 mutation positive whereas NPM1 mutations were observed in 20% (3/15) of secondary NK-AML cases. Sequencing was performed and demonstrated 100% concordance with the HRM results.

Conclusion

HRM is a rapid and efficient method of screening NK-AML samples for both novel and known NPM1 and FLT3 mutations. NPM1 mutations can be observed in both primary and secondary NK-AML cases.     

Design of a Single-Polarization Single-Mode Photonic Crystal Fiber Filter Based on Surface Plasmon Resonance

We design a single-polarization single-mode photonic crystal fiber filter based on surface plasmon resonance. The finite element method is employed to evaluate the characteristics of the filter. The proposed fiber is devised such that there is a great discrepant confinement loss between two polarizations of x and y by varying two air holes in the cladding region, which is composed of hexagonal structural air holes in pure silica selectively filling with gold wires. Numerical simulations show that single-polarization single-mode operation waveband can be tuned by adjusting the parameters of the photonic crystal fiber. The confinement losses of the unwanted polarization can reach to 126.10 and 326.30 dB/cm in the wavelengths of 1.31 and 1.55 μm, while the corresponding confinement losses of the wanted polarized mode are only 0.08 and 1.20 dB/cm, respectively. Furthermore, the crosstalk can come to a maximum of 120.34 and 310.41 dB in the two communication bands. The bandwidths of the fiber designed for 1.31 and 1.55 μm are, respectively, 20 and 60 nm, which may be found useful applications for fiber polarizer.