Mapping the Genetic Variation of Regional Brain Volumes as Explained by All Common SNPs from the ADNI Study

Typically twin studies are used to investigate the aggregate effects of genetic and environmental influences on brain phenotypic measures. Although some phenotypic measures are highly heritable in twin studies, SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) account for only a small fraction of the heritability of these measures. We mapped the genetic variation (the proportion of phenotypic variance explained by variation among SNPs) of volumes of pre-defined regions across the whole brain, as explained by 512,905 SNPs genotyped on 747 adult participants from the Alzheimer''s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). We found that 85% of the variance of intracranial volume (ICV) (p = 0.04) was explained by considering all SNPs simultaneously, and after adjusting for ICV, total grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes had genetic variation estimates near zero (p = 0.5). We found varying estimates of genetic variation across 93 non-overlapping regions, with asymmetry in estimates between the left and right cerebral hemispheres. Several regions reported in previous studies to be related to Alzheimer''s disease progression were estimated to have a large proportion of volumetric variance explained by the SNPs.     

An Integrative Meta-analysis of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

We aimed to shed new light on the roles of microRNAs （miRNAs） in liver cancer using an integrative in silico bioinformatics analysis. A new protocol for target prediction and functional analysis is presented and applied to the 26 highly differentially deregulated miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma. This framework comprises： （1） the overlap of prediction results by four out of five target prediction tools, including TargetScan, PicTar, miRanda, DIANA-microT and miRDB （combining machine-learning, alignment, interaction energy and statistical tests in order to minimize false positives）, （2） evidence from previous microarray analysis on the expression of these targets, （3） gene ontology （GO） and pathway enrichment analysis of the miRNA targets and their pathways and （4） linking these results to oncogenesis and cancer hallmarks. This yielded new insights into the roles of miRNAs in cancer hallmarks. Here we presented several key targets and hundreds of new targets that are significantly enriched in many new cancer-related hallmarks. In addition, we also revealed some known and new oncogenic pathways for liver cancer. These included the famous MAPK, TGFβ and cell cycle pathways. New insights were also provided into Wnt signaling, prostate cancer, axon guidance and oocyte meiosis pathways. These signaling and developmental pathways crosstalk to regulate stem cell transformation and implicate a role of miRNAs in hepatic stem cell deregulation and cancer development. By analyzing their complete interactome, we proposed new categorization for some of these miRNAs as either tumor-suppressors or oncomiRs with dual roles. Therefore some of these miRNAs may be addressed as therapeutic targets or used as therapeutic agents. Such dual roles thus expand the view of miRNAs as active maintainers of cellular homeostasis.     

Optimization of parameters for improvement of phenol degradation by Rhodococcus UKMP-5M using response surface methodology

Phenol is a toxic compound and is one of the major pollutants contained in the waste water from petroleum and its downstream industries. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize medium composition and culture condition for enhancement of growth of Rhodococcus UKMP-5M and phenol degradation rate in shake flask cultures. Phenol and (NH₄)₂SO₄ concentrations as well as temperature were the most significant factors that influenced growth and phenol degradation. Central composite design (CCD) was used for optimization of these parameters with growth, and degradation rates were used as the responses. Cultivation with 0.5 g/L phenol and 0.3 g/L (NH₄)₂SO₄ and incubation at 36 °C greatly enhanced growth of Rhodococcus UKMP-5M, where the final cell concentration increased from 0.117 g/L to 0.376 g/L. On the other hand, the degradation rate was greatly increased in cultivation with 0.7 g/L phenol and 0.4 g/L (NH₄)₂SO₄ and incubation at 37 °C. In this cultivation, the time taken to degrade 1 g/L phenol in the culture was reduced from 48 h to 27 h. The model for both responses was found significant and the predicted values were found to be in a good agreement with experimental values and subsequently validated. Increases in phenol degradation rate during Rhodococcus UKMP-5M cultivation corresponded well with increasing phenol hydroxylase activity.     

Plasma Reflectarrays

This paper investigates the design of four different configurations of plasma reflectarrays. The results provide insight into different radiation characteristics of plasma reflectarrays. The proposed unit cell consists of a cubic glass box filled with argon gas energized with applied AC voltage. The reflectarray reflection coefficient phase variation is achieved by varying the plasma frequency of the energized gas. Four plasma reflectarrays for satellite applications at 12 GHz are proposed (centre feed centre beam, centre feed offset beam, offset feed centre beam, and finally, offset feed offset beam). The finite integration technique is used to analyse the plasma reflectarray.     

Intake of Farmed Atlantic Salmon Fed Soybean Oil Increases Insulin Resistance and Hepatic Lipid Accumulation in Mice

Background

To ensure sustainable aquaculture, fish derived raw materials are replaced by vegetable ingredients. Fatty acid composition and contaminant status of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) are affected by the use of plant ingredients and a spillover effect on consumers is thus expected. Here we aimed to compare the effects of intake of Atlantic salmon fed fish oil (FO) with intake of Atlantic salmon fed a high proportion of vegetable oils (VOs) on development of insulin resistance and obesity in mice.

Methodology/principal findings

Atlantic salmon were fed diets where FO was partly (80%) replaced with three different VOs; rapeseed oil (RO), olive oil (OO) or soy bean oil (SO). Fillets from Atlantic salmon were subsequently used to prepare Western diets (WD) for a mouse feeding trial. Partial replacement of FO with VOs reduced the levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and dichloro-diphenyl-tricloroethanes (DDT) with more than 50% in salmon fillets, in WDs containing the fillets, and in white adipose tissue from mice consuming the WDs. Replacement with VOs, SO in particular, lowered the n−3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content and increased n−6 PUFA levels in the salmon fillets, in the prepared WDs, and in red blood cells collected from mice consuming the WDs. Replacing FO with VO did not influence obesity development in the mice, but replacement of FO with RO improved glucose tolerance. Compared with WD-FO fed mice, feeding mice WD-SO containing lower PCB and DDT levels but high levels of linoleic acid (LA), exaggerated insulin resistance and increased accumulation of fat in the liver.

Conclusion/Significance

Replacement of FO with VOs in aqua feed for farmed salmon had markedly different spillover effects on metabolism in mice. Our results suggest that the content of LA in VOs may be a matter of concern that warrants further investigation.     

<i>Trichoderma</i>-Induced Improvement in Growth,Photosynthetic Pigments,Proline, and Glutathione Levels in <i>Cucurbita pepo</i> Seedlings under Salt Stress

Salt stress is one of the major abiotic stress in plants. However, traditional approaches are not always efficient in conferring salt tolerance. Experiments were conducted to understand the role of Trichoderma spp. (T. harzianum and T. viride) in growth, chlorophyll (Chl) synthesis, and proline accumulation of C. pepo exposed to salinity stress. There were three salt stress (50, 100, and 150 mM NaCl) lavels and three different Trichoderma inoculation viz. T. harzianum, T. viride, and T. harzianum + T. viride. Salt stress significantly declined the growth in terms of the shoot and root lengths; however, it was improved by the inoculation of Trichoderma spp. C. pepo inoculated with Trichoderma exhibited increased synthesis of pigments like chl a, chl b, carotenoids, and anthocyanins under normal conditions. It was interesting to observe that such positive effects were maintained under salt-stressed conditions, as reflected by the amelioration of the salinity-mediated decline in growth, physiology and antioxidant defense. The inoculation of Trichoderma spp. enhanced the synthesis of proline, glutathione, proteins and increased the relative water content. In addition, Trichoderma inoculation increased membrane stability and reduced the generation of hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, Trichoderma spp. can be exploited either individually or in combination to enhance the growth and physiology of C. pepo under saline conditions.     

MicroRNA signature in hepatocellular carcinoma patients: identification of potential markers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in liver pathologies and they are potential biomarkers for diagnosis of liver diseases progression. Changes in miRNA sera expression can be used as non-invasive biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the study was to identify the miRNome profiling of HCC and its diagnostic value in distinguishing HCC from healthy individuals. Expression profiles of miRNAs in serum samples of 20 HCC patients and 10 healthy controls were detected. Whole miRNome profiling was done using next generation sequencing. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed to assess the diagnostic performance of the deregulated miRNAs for discriminating HCC cases from healthy controls. MiRNA 142 was highly expressed in HCC (P value?=?0.023) while miRNAs 191, 22, and 126 were higher in the controls (P value?=?0.005, 0.034, 0.010 respectively). We have identified 5 novel miRNAs and they were highly expressed in HCC than controls. Analysis of ROC curve demonstrated that these deregulated miRNAs can be used as a reliable biomarker for detection of HCC with high diagnostic accuracy (AUC?=?0.93). We have detected a panel of serum miRNAs that can be used as a reliable noninvasive screening biomarker of HCC. The study recommends further research to shed light on a possible role of the newly discovered novel miRNAs in HCC pathogenesis.

     

Biochemical study on modifying role of variants of leptin gene and its receptor on serum leptin levels in breast cancer

Molecular Biology Reports - The leptin is discharged from breast adipose tissue and is overexpressed in breast cancer (BC). Conflicting relation of leptin with BC was reported. We investigated this...