The Prevalence and Influence Factors of Inter-Ankle Systolic Blood Pressure Difference in Community Population

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of interankle systolic blood pressure difference (sIAND) and its influencing factors in community population.

Methods

This study included 2849 (65.1±9.4 y) subjects. Blood pressure (BPs) of four limbs was simultaneously measured with 4 electronic sphygmomanometers after 10 min rest in supine position. The difference of systolic BP (SBP) between two ankles was calculated as DETASBP. The criterion for abnormal sIAND was ≥10 mmHg of absolute DeltaSBP, in which the criterion for 1o sIAND was 10–19 mmHg and for 2o sIAND was ≥20 mmHg. Age, gender, smoking, hypertension, family histories of hypertension and diabetes were recorded. Fasting blood glucose and lipids, circumference of hip and waist, and body mass index (BMI) were measured.

Results

The SBP was higher in the right ankle than in the left ankle (158.9±21.8 vs 157.3±21.6 mmHg, P<0.05) and mean DeltaSBP was 6.08±6.26 mmHg. Similar difference was found in both genders. The prevalence of abnormal was 18.5%, in which, the prevalence 1o sIAND was 15.3% and that of 2o sIAND was 3.1%. Multivariate regression analysis showed that age, waist circumference and blood glucose level were the positive factors for DeltaSBP. The normal upper limit for DeltaSBP was 16.7 mmHg in this population, the prevalence of sIAND by≥16 mmHg was 5.8%.

Conclusion

Aging, hypertension, obesity and abnormal glucose metabolism are positive factors for inter-ankle SBP difference.     

Association between Tumor Necrosis Factor-α 308G/A Gene Polymorphism and Silicosis Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis

Background

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) 308 G/A gene polymorphism has been reported to be associated with susceptibility to silicosis. However, the relevant study results are still inconsistent.

Objective and Methods

A meta-analysis was performed in order to drive a more precise estimation of the relationship between TNF-α-308 G/A gene polymorphism and susceptibility to silicosis. Electronic databases were searched and nine separate studies were included. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence internal (CI) were calculated by a fixed effect model.

Results

A total of 1267 cases and 1214 controls were included. In the overall analysis, significantly increased silicosis risk was found (for GA+AA vs. GG OR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.20-1.760, P=1.58E4; for GA vs. GG: OR=1.53, 95%CI=1.25-1.86, P=3.11E5; for A allele vs. G allele: OR=1.27, 95%CI=1.08-1.50, P= 0.004). In the subgroup analysis, significantly increased silicosis risk was also found among Asians (for GA+AA vs. GG: OR=1.63, 95%CI=1.27-2.08, P=1.01E4), for GA vs. GG: OR=1.71, 95%CI=1.33-2.20, P=3.44E5), for A allele vs. G allele: OR=1.45, 95%CI=1.17-1.80, P=0.001). However, no significantly increased risk was found among non-Asians for all genetic models.

Conclusions

TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism might lead to an increased risk of silicosis susceptibility, especially for Asians. However, further studies with large sample sizes should be conducted to confirm the association.     

Polymorphism of ORM1 Is Associated with the Pharmacokinetics of Telmisartan

Background

The pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics (PDs) of telmisartan varies among the individuals, and the main causes remain unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of ORM1, as well as ABCC2, ABCB1, ABCG2 and SLCO1B3 polymorphisms, on the disposition of the drug and BP change after taking 40 mg telmisartan in 48 healthy Chinese males.

Method

A total of 48 healthy males were included in this trial. Every volunteer ingested a single dose of 40 mg telmisartan, and the plasma drug concentration and blood pressure (BP) were measured up to 48 h.

Result

In this study, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) in the heterozygotes of ORM1 113AG was higher than that in the wild-type homozygotes, AUC_(0–48) (113AA vs. 113AG, 1,549.18±859.84 ng·h/ml vs. 2,313.54±1,257.71 ng·h/ml, P = 0.033), AUC_(0–∞) (113AA vs. 113AG, 1,753.13±1,060.60 ng·h/ml vs. 2,686.90±1,401.87 ng·h/ml, P = 0.016), and the change(%) of the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) from the baseline BP value also showed a significant difference between the ORM1 113AG and 113AA genotypes at 5 h after taking telmisartan (P = 0.026). This study also showed that the allele of ABCC2 C3972T would affected the disposition of telmsiartan and the DBP change significantly after taking the drug. However, the common SNPs of ABCG2 C421, ABCB1 C3435T, and SLCO1B3 T334G showed no impacts on the PKs of telmisartan or BP change(%) in our trial.

Conclusion

The ORM1 A113G polymorphism was associated with the PKs variability after taking telmsiartan, as well as ABCC2 C3972T. The heterozygotes of ORM1 113AG showed a larger AUC and a notable BP change(%) from the baseline compared with the wild-type.

Trial Registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR-TNC-10000898     

A Bayesian Meta-Analysis on Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Chinese Volunteer Blood Donors

Background

Although transfusion-transmitted infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) threatens the blood safety of China, the nationwide circumstance of HBV infection among blood donors is still unclear.

Objectives

To comprehensively estimate the prevalence of HBsAg positive and HBV occult infection (OBI) among Chinese volunteer blood donors through bayesian meta-analysis.

Methods

We performed an electronic search in Pub-Med, Web of Knowledge, Medline, Wanfang Data and CNKI, complemented by a hand search of relevant reference lists. Two authors independently extracted data from the eligible studies. Then two bayesian random-effect meta-analyses were performed, followed by bayesian meta-regressions.

Results

5957412 and 571227 donors were identified in HBsAg group and OBI group, respectively. The pooled prevalence of HBsAg group and OBI group among donors is 1.085% (95% credible interval [CI] 0.859%∼1.398%) and 0.094% (95% CI 0.0578%∼0.1655%). For HBsAg group, subgroup analysis shows the more developed area has a lower prevalence than the less developed area; meta-regression indicates there is a significant decreasing trend in HBsAg positive prevalence with sampling year (beta = −0.1202, 95% −0.2081∼−0.0312).

Conclusion

Blood safety against HBV infection in China is suffering serious threats and the government should take effective measures to improve this situation.     

Analyzing the action of evolutionarily conserved modules on HMW-GS 1Ax1 promoter activity

Key message

The specific and high-level expression of 1Ax1 is determined by different promoter regions. HMW-GS synthesis occurs in aleurone layer cells. Heterologous proteins can be stored in protein bodies.

Abstract

High-molecular-weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) is highly expressed in the endosperm of wheat and relative species, where their expression level and allelic variation affect the bread-making quality and nutrient quality of flour. However, the mechanism regulating HMW-GS expression remains elusive. In this study, we analyzed the distribution of cis-acting elements in the 2659-bp promoter region of the HMW-GS gene 1Ax1, which can be divided into five element-enriched regions. Fragments derived from progressive 5′ deletions were used to drive GUS gene expression in transgenic wheat, which was confirmed in aleurone layer cells, inner starchy endosperm cells, starchy endosperm transfer cells, and aleurone transfer cells by histochemical staining. The promoter region ranging from ??297 to ??1 was responsible for tissue-specific expression, while fragments from ??1724 to ??618 and from ??618 to ??297 were responsible for high-level expression. Under the control of the 1Ax1 promoter, heterologous protein could be stored in the form of protein bodies in inner starchy endosperm cells, even without a special location signal. Our findings not only deepen our understanding of glutenin expression regulation, trafficking, and accumulation but also provide a strategy for the utilization of wheat endosperm as a bioreactor for the production of nutrients and metabolic products.

     

Transcriptome and weighted correlation network analyses provide insights into inflorescence stem straightness in Paeonia lactiflora

Plant Molecular Biology - Lack of structural components results in inflorescence stem bending. Differentially expressed genes involved in lignin and hemicellulose biosynthesis are vital; genes...     

七鳃鳗Lja-SHP2分子鉴定、重组表达及免疫学研究

高等脊椎动物的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶SHP2(SH2 domain-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase-2)由ptpn11基因编码,催化酪氨酸残基去磷酸化,与其他能催化酪氨酸磷酸化的蛋白酪氨酸激酶共同调节机体内多种信号通路的信号传导。以往研究表明,SHP2在高等脊椎动物T细胞和B细胞的激活与信号转导过程中起着重要作用。为了研究无颌类脊椎动物日本七鳃鳗(Lampetra japonica)中与SHP2同源的分子——Lja-SHP2在免疫应答反应中的作用,本研究通过PCR扩增获取其Lja-SHP2开放阅读框序列,并构建到原核表达载体pET-32a中,成功在大肠杆菌中实现重组蛋白表达并制备了其兔源多克隆抗体。用混合菌免疫刺激日本七鳃鳗后,通过实时荧光定量PCR和免疫印迹方法检测了Lja-SHP2在日本七鳃鳗免疫相关组织中mRNA和蛋白水平表达谱。结果显示,混合菌免疫刺激后,Lja-SHP2 mRNA和蛋白表达在外周血白细胞和髓样小体中无显著变化,而在鳃组织中显著性上调(P<0.05),说明Lja-SHP2在混合菌刺激后主要参与了鳃组织的免疫应答反应。为了进一步探究Lja-SHP2与淋巴细胞亚群免疫应答反应的相关性,本研究分别使用B细胞有丝分裂原脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)和T细胞的有丝分裂原植物凝集素(phytohemagglutinin,PHA)免疫刺激日本七鳃鳗。经LPS免疫刺激后,与对照组相比,白细胞中Lja-SHP2蛋白表达显著上调,鳃组织和髓样小体没有显著性差异表达;但经PHA免疫刺激后,与对照组相比,白细胞、鳃组织和髓样小体3种组织中Lja-SHP2均有上调,尤其在白细胞中上调最为显著,大约是对照组的2.5倍,说明Lja-SHP2参与了日本七鳃鳗由PHA介导的免疫应答反应。由于PHA能刺激日本七鳃鳗鳃组织中VLRA+淋巴细胞的活化,这表明Lja-SHP2可能参与了PHA介导的VLRA+淋巴细胞亚群的免疫应答反应。上述研究结果为进一步探索Lja-SHP2在七鳃鳗免疫应答过程中的功能奠定了基础,也为揭示SHP2分子家族的系统发生及探索高等脊椎动物适应性免疫系统的早期发生及其进化历程提供一定的线索。     

High expression of NEK2 promotes lung cancer progression and drug resistance and is regulated by mutant EGFR

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - An increasing amount of research showed that endothelial cells (ECs) play crucial role in vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis (AS). LncRNA OIP5-AS1 and...