Relationship between G1287A of the NET Gene Polymorphisms and Brain Volume in Major Depressive Disorder: A Voxel-Based MRI Study

Background

Earlier studies implicated norepinephrine transporter (NET) gene (SLC6A2) polymorphisms in the etiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). Recently, two single nucleotide SLC6A2 polymorphisms, G1287A in exon 9 and T-182C in the promoter region, were found to be associated with MDD in different populations. We investigated the relationship between the brain volume and these two polymorphisms of the SLC6A2 in MDD patients.

Methods

We obtained 3D high-resolution T1-weighted images of 30 first-episode MDD patients and 48 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects (HS). All were divided into 4 groups based on polymorphism of either the G1287A or the T-182C genotype. VBM analysis examined the effects of diagnosis, genotype, and genotype-diagnosis interactions.

Results

Diagnosis effects on the brain morphology were found in the left superior temporal cortex. No significant genotype effects were found in the T-182C and the G1287A. A significant genotype (G1287A)–diagnosis interaction was found in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. No significant genotype (T-182C)–diagnosis interaction effects were observed in any brain region.

Conclusions

In MDD patients there seems to be a relationship between the volume of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and polymorphism of the SLC6A2 G1287A gene.     

Pathogenicity of Genetically Similar,H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus Strains in Chicken and the Differences in Sensitivity among Different Chicken Breeds

Differences in the pathogenicity of genetically closely related H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) were evaluated in White Leghorn chickens. These viruses varied in the clinical symptoms they induced, including lethality, virus shedding, and replication in host tissues. A comparison of the host responses in the lung, brain, and spleen suggested that the differences in viral replication efficiency were related to the host cytokine response at the early phase of infection, especially variations in the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. Based on these findings, we inoculated the virus that showed the mildest pathogenicity among the five tested, A/pigeon/Thailand/VSMU-7-NPT/2004, into four breeds of Thai indigenous chicken, Phadu-Hung-Dang (PHD), Chee, Dang, and Luang-Hung-Khao (LHK), to explore effects of genetic background on host response. Among these breeds, Chee, Dang, and LHK showed significantly longer survival times than White Leghorns. Virus shedding from dead Thai indigenous chickens was significantly lower than that from White Leghorns. Although polymorphisms were observed in the Mx and MHC class I genes, there was no significant association between the polymorphisms in these loci and resistance to HPAIV.     

Renal Function Outcomes and Risk Factors for Risk Factors for Stage 3B Chronic Kidney Disease after Urinary Diversion in Patients with Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

ObjectivesTo assess the effects of urinary diversion on renal function, we retrospectively investigated renal function over 5 years after urinary diversion using a propensity score matching strategy.MethodsBetween May 1996 and November 2013, 345 consecutive adult patients underwent radical cystectomy and urinary diversion in our hospital; one hundred and fifteen patients with more than a 5-year follow-up were enrolled. Propensity scores were calculated using logistic analysis, and the data used in the analyses included age, gender, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG-PS), clinical tumor stage, presence of cardiovascular disease; hypertension; and type 2 diabetes and preoperative eGFR at the initial visit. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to assess the risk factors for stage 3B chronic kidney disease (CKD) after the different types of urinary diversion.ResultsContinent and incontinent diversion were performed in 68 and 47 patients, respectively. The mean preoperative eGFR was significantly lower in the incontinent than in the continent group (P < 0.001). In propensity score-matched patients (n = 34 each), no significant differences were observed in pre- and postoperative eGFR and 5-year eGFR decrease rates between the groups. In the incontinent group, the number of postoperative stage 3B CKD patients was significantly increased than the continent group. Using multivariate analysis, independent risk factors significantly associated with stage 3B CKD at 5 years after surgery were older age, eGFR before surgery, incontinent diversion (cutaneous ureterostomy), and postoperative hydronephrosis.ConclusionsThe types of urinary diversion had no significant impact on renal function decline, whereas older age, preexisting impaired renal function, postoperative hydronephrosis, and cutaneous ureterostomy were independent risk factors for stage 3B CKD at 5 years after radical cystectomy.     

Expression of a putative dioxygenase gene adjacent to an insertion mutation is involved in the short internodes of columnar apples (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Malus</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">domestica</Emphasis>)

Determining the molecular mechanism of fruit tree architecture is important for tree management and fruit production. An apple mutant ‘McIntosh Wijcik’, which was discovered as a bud mutation from ‘McIntosh’, exhibits a columnar growth phenotype that is controlled by a single dominant gene, Co. In this study, the mutation and the Co gene were analyzed. Fine mapping narrowed the Co region to a 101 kb region. Sequence analysis of the Co region and the original wild-type co region identified an insertion mutation of an 8202 bp long terminal repeat (LTR) retroposon in the Co region. Segregation analysis using a DNA marker based on the insertion polymorphism showed that the LTR retroposon was closely associated with the columnar growth phenotype. RNA-seq and RT-PCR analysis identified a promising Co candidate gene (91071-gene) within the Co region that is specifically expressed in ‘McIntosh Wijcik’ but not in ‘McIntosh’. The 91071-gene was located approximately 16 kb downstream of the insertion mutation and is predicted to encode a 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase involved in an unknown reaction. Overexpression of the 91071-gene in transgenic tobaccos and apples resulted in phenotypes with short internodes, like columnar apples. These data suggested that the 8202 bp retroposon insertion in ‘McIntosh Wijcik’ is associated with the short internodes of the columnar growth phenotype via upregulated expression of the adjacent 91071-gene. Furthermore, the DNA marker based on the insertion polymorphism could be useful for the marker-assisted selection of columnar apples.     

Growth and nodulation in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus sieboldiana</Emphasis> in response to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Frankia</Emphasis> inoculation and nitrogen treatments

Key message

We investigated a Frankia – Alnus sieboldiana symbiosis, including the minimum inoculum dose for constant nodulation, the period of time to nodulation after inoculation, and the effects of N on nodulation.

Abstract

Frankia is a nitrogen-fixing actinomycete that forms root nodules in some dicotyledonous plants, which are called actinorhizal. We studied nodule formation in Alnus sieboldiana, an actinorhizal plant, after inoculation with a Frankia isolate to establish techniques for Frankia inoculation and the cultivation of inoculated plants. Root nodules formed on seedlings of A. sieboldiana by 2 weeks after inoculation, and N₂ fixation measured by acetylene reduction activity started 3 weeks after inoculation. Nodulation was observed after inoculation with a Frankia isolate at 0.001 μL packed cell volume (pcv). The number of nodules formed on the seedlings inoculated with Frankia at more than 0.05 μL pcv was not significantly different. Nodule development and N₂ fixation were reduced when inoculated seedlings were treated weekly with 15 mM NH₄NO₃-N. In contrast, treatment with 3.75 or 0.9375 mM NH₄NO₃-N did not inhibit nodule development or N₂ fixation of inoculated seedlings by 15 weeks of N treatment.