Advances in susceptibility genetics of intervertebral degenerative disc disease

The traditional view that the etiology of lumbar disc herniation is primarily due to age, gender, occupation, smoking and exposure to vehicular vibration dominated much of the last century. Recent research indicates that heredity may be largely responsible for the degeneration as well as herniation of intervertebral discs. Since 1998, genetic influences have been confirmed by the identification of several genes forms associated with disc degeneration. These researches are paving the way for a better understanding of the biologic mechanisms. Now, many researchers unanimously agree that lumbar disc herniation appears to be similar to other complex diseases, whose etiology has both environmental and hereditary influence, each with a part of contribution and relative risk. Then addressing the etiological of lumbar disc herniation, it is important to integrate heredity with the environment factors. For the purpose of this review, we have limited our discussion to several susceptibility genes associated with disc degeneration.     

参与木葡聚糖合成的糖基转移酶基因研究进展

半纤维素多糖木葡聚糖(XyG)存在于大多数植物的初生细胞壁中, 对细胞壁的结构组织和生长发育具有重要的调控作用。XyG在植物进化中存在结构的多样性。该文概述了参与XyG合成的糖基转移酶的最新研究进展, XyG合成需要多种糖基转移酶参与, 这些酶类很可能以蛋白酶复合体的形式存在并发挥作用, XyG的结构和组成的改变对植物的生长发育也产生影响。     

Greatwall kinase: a nuclear protein required for proper chromosome condensation and mitotic progression in Drosophila

Mutations in the Drosophila gene greatwall cause improper chromosome condensation and delay cell cycle progression in larval neuroblasts. Chromosomes are highly undercondensed, particularly in the euchromatin, but nevertheless contain phosphorylated histone H3, condensin, and topoisomerase II. Cells take much longer to transit the period of chromosome condensation from late G2 through nuclear envelope breakdown. Mutant cells are also subsequently delayed at metaphase, due to spindle checkpoint activity. These mutant phenotypes are not caused by spindle aberrations, by global defects in chromosome replication, or by activation of a caffeine-sensitive checkpoint. The Greatwall proteins in insects and vertebrates are located in the nucleus and belong to the AGC family of serine/threonine protein kinases; the kinase domain of Greatwall is interrupted by a long stretch of unrelated amino acids.     

Spontaneous Growth of 3D Framework Carbon from Sodium Citrate for High Energy‐ and Power‐Density and Long‐Life Sodium‐Ion Hybrid Capacitors

Carbon sheets with 3D architectures, large graphitic interlayer spacing, and high electrical conductivity are highly expected to be an ideal anode material for sodium‐ion hybrid capacitors (SIHCs). Pursuing a simple synthesis methodology and advancing it from the laboratory to industry is of great importance. In this study, a new approach is presented to prepare 3D framework carbon (3DFC) with the above integrated advantages by a direct calcination of sodium citrate without aid of any additional carbon source, template, or catalyst. The first‐principle calculations verify that the large interlayer spacing and the curvature structure of 3DFC facilitate the sodium ion insertion/extraction. As a consequence, the optimal 3DFC sample exhibits high reversible capacity as well as excellent rate and cycling performance. On this basis, a dual‐carbon SIHC is fabricated by employing 3DFC as battery‐type anode and 3DFC‐derived nanoporous carbon as capacitor‐type cathode. It is able to deliver high energy‐ and power‐density feature as well as outstanding long‐term cycling stability in the potential range of 0–4.0 V. This study may open an avenue for developing high‐performance carbon electrode materials and pushes the practical applications of SIHCs a decisive step forward.     

Influence of CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and MDR-1 polymorphisms on tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and early renal dysfunction in liver transplant recipients

Objectives

Tacrolimus is a widely used immunosuppressive drug in organ transplantation. The oral bioavailability of tacrolimus varies greatly between individuals and depends largely on the activity of both the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) subfamily and P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The possible influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CYP3A subfamily and P-gp (MDR-1) in liver transplant recipients has recently been indicated as one of the most important variables affecting the pharmacokinetics of tacrolimus and the renal injury induced by tacrolimus.

Methods

A total of 216 liver transplant recipients were enrolled in this study. The recipients' mean follow-up time was 52 mo (range from 16 to 96 mo). All liver transplant recipients were all in a stable stage with normal serum creatinine (SCr). All liver transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus were genotyped for CYP3A5 (6986A>G), CYP3A4 intron 6 (CYP3A4*22), MDR-1 exon 26 (3435C>T) and exon 12 (1236 C>T) SNPs by HRM analysis (high-resolution melting curve analysis). Recipients were defined as the early renal injury by the elevation of different microproteins in the urine including microalbumin (MA), urine immunoglobulin G (IGU), urine transferrin (TRU) and α1-microglobulin (A1M).

Results

The daily dose of tacrolimus was higher for recipients with CYP3A5*1/*1 (AA) genotype than those with CYP3A5*3/*3 (GG) genotype [3.0 (2.0–4.0) versus 2.0 (1.5–2.5) mg/d, P < 0.05]. The concentration/dose ratio of recipients with CYP3A5*1 homozygotes was lowest compared to recipients with CYP3A5*3/*3 and CYP3A5*1/*3 genotypes. Furthermore, the recipients carrying CYP3A5*3 allele were associated with increased risk of early renal glomerular injury compared to the recipients carrying CYP3A5*1 allele (P = 0.01). MDR-1 polymorphisms were not related with tacrolimus pharmacokinetics and early renal injury.

Conclusion

CYP3A5 6986A>G genetic polymorphism affected daily dose requirements, concentration and nephrotoxicity of tacrolimus. Screening for this single nucleotide polymorphism before the transplantation might be helpful for the selection of adequate initial daily dose and to achieve the desired immunosuppression outcome.     

Biomass Partitioning and Its Relationship with the Environmental Factors at the Alpine Steppe in Northern Tibet

Alpine steppe is considered to be the largest grassland type on the Tibetan Plateau. This grassland contributes to the global carbon cycle and is sensitive to climate changes. The allocation of biomass in an ecosystem affects plant growth and the overall functioning of the ecosystem. However, the mechanism by which plant biomass is allocated on the alpine steppe remains unclear. In this study, biomass allocation and its relationship to environmental factors on the alpine grassland were studied by a meta-analysis of 32 field sites across the alpine steppe of the northern Tibetan Plateau. We found that there is less above-ground biomass (M_A) and below-ground biomass (M_B) in the alpine steppe than there is in alpine meadows and temperate grasslands. By contrast, the root-to-shoot ratio (R:S) in the alpine steppe is higher than it is in alpine meadows and temperate grasslands. Although temperature maintained the biomass in the alpine steppe, precipitation was found to considerably influence M_A, M_B, and R:S, as shown by ordination space partitioning. After standardized major axis (SMA) analysis, we found that allocation of biomass on the alpine steppe is supported by the allometric biomass partitioning hypothesis rather than the isometric allocation hypothesis. Based on these results, we believe that M_A and M_B will decrease as a result of the increased aridity expected to occur in the future, which will reduce the landscape’s capacity for carbon storage.     

Tunable Extraordinary THz Transmission Using Liquid Metal-Based Devices

In this paper, we report novel designs of tunable THz plasmonic devices based on liquid metals. The designed devices will be able to dynamically control and change the spectrum responses of extraordinary THz wave transmissions. Different THz device configurations are investigated, and numerical simulations have been conducted to theoretically verify the performance of the proposed structures. Moreover, an equivalent circuit model has been developed to describe the operating principle of the proposed THz devices. Good agreement has been achieved between the theoretical models and the numerical results. These new THz devices are expected to be applied in various areas of sensing, communication, and imaging.     

Microbial communities in semi-consolidated carbonate sediments of the Southwest Indian Ridge

White semi-consolidated carbonate sediments attached to black ferromanganese oxide films were collected approximately 50 km west of a newly discovered hydrothermal field near the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). The biodiversity of the prokaryotic communities within the field was examined using clone library-based culture-independent analysis of the exterior black oxides and the interior white carbonates. Subsequent 16S rRNA gene analysis suggested that Gamma-proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Thaumarchaeota members dominated the bacterial and archaeal clone libraries. To further characterize the metabolic processes within the microbial community, analyses of the amoA (coding the alpha subunit of the ammonia monooxygenase for Archaea) and aprA (coding the alpha subunit of the dissimilatory adenosine-5′-phosphosulfate reductase for the sulfate-reducing and sulfur-oxidizing prokaryotes) functional genes were conducted. The functional gene analysis results suggested that Thaumarchaeota and Alphaproteobacteria members were the potential players that participated in N and S cycles in this marine carbonate sedimentary environment. This paper is the first to describe the microbial communities and their potential metabolic pathways within the semi-consolidated carbonate sediments of the SWIR.     

Effect of exogenous nitric oxide on sperm motility in vitro

Background

Nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to be important in sperm function, and the concentration of NO appears to determine these effects. Studies have demonstrated both positive and negative effects of NO on sperm function, but have not been able to provide a clear link between NO concentration and the extent of exposure to NO. To study the relationship between nitric oxide and sperm capacitation in vitro, and to provide a theoretical basis for the use of NO-related preparations in improving sperm motility for in vitro fertilization, we investigated the effects of NO concentration and time duration at these concentrations on in vitro sperm capacitation in both normal and abnormal sperm groups. We manipulated NO concentrations and the time duration of these concentrations using sodium nitroprusside (an NO donor) and NG-monomethyl-L-argenine (an NO synthase inhibitor).

Results

Compared to the normal sperm group, the abnormal sperm group had a longer basal time to reach the appropriate concentration of NO (p < 0.001), and the duration of time at this concentration was longer for the abnormal sperm group (p < 0.001). Both the basal time and the duration of time were significantly correlated with sperm viability and percentage of progressive sperm (p < 0.001). The experimental group had a significantly higher percentage of progressive sperm than the control group (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

We hypothesize that there is a certain regularity to both NO concentration and its duration of time in regards to sperm capacitation, and that an adequate duration of time at the appropriate NO concentration is beneficial to sperm motility.     

The Role of Mitochondria in T-2 Toxin-Induced Human Chondrocytes Apoptosis

T-2 toxin, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, has been shown to cause diverse toxic effects in animals and is also a possible pathogenic factor of Kashin–Beck disease (KBD). The role of mitochondria in KBD is recognized in our recent research. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of mitochondria in T-2 toxin-induced human chondrocytes apoptosis to understand the pathogenesis of KBD. T-2 toxin decreased chondrocytes viabilities in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Exposure to T-2 toxin can reduce activities of mitochondrial complexes III, IV and V, ΔΨm and the cellular ATP, while intracellular ROS increased following treatment with T-2 toxin. Furthermore, mitochondrial cytochrome c release, caspase-9 and 3 activation and chondrocytes apoptosis were also obviously observed. Interestingly, Selenium (Se) can partly block T-2 toxin -induced mitochondria dysfunction, oxidative damage and chondrocytes apoptosis. These results suggest that the effect of T-2 toxin on human chondrocytes apoptosis may be mediated by a mitochondrial pathway, which is highly consistent with the chondrocytes changes in KBD.