Genetic Variants in Meiotic Program Initiation Pathway Genes Are Associated with Spermatogenic Impairment in a Han Chinese Population

Background

The meiotic program initiation pathway genes (CYP26B1, NANOS1 and STRA8) have been proposed to play key roles in spermatogenesis.

Objective

To elucidate the exact role of the genetic variants of the meiosis initiation genes in spermatogenesis, we genotyped the potential functional genetic variants of CYP26B1, NANOS1 and STRA8 genes, and evaluated their effects on spermatogenesis in our study population.

Design, Setting, and Participants

In this study, all subjects were volunteers from the affiliated hospitals of Nanjing Medical University between March 2004 and July 2009 (NJMU Infertile Study). Total 719 idiopathic infertile cases were recruited and divided into three groups according to WHO semen parameters: 201 azoospermia patients (no sperm in the ejaculate even after centrifugation), 155 oligozoospermia patients (sperm counts <20×10⁶/ml) and 363 infertility/normozoospermia subjects (sperm counts >20×10⁶/ml). The control group consisted of 383 subjects with normal semen parameters, all of which had fathered at least one child without assisted reproductive technologies.

Measurements

Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CYP26B1, NANOS1 and STRA8 genes were determined by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay in 719 idiopathic infertile men and 383 healthy controls.

Results and Limitations

The genetic variant rs10269148 of STRA8 gene showed higher risk of spermatogenic impairment in the groups of abnormospermia (including azoospermia subgroup and oligozoospermia subgroup) and azoospermia than the controls with odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 2.52 (1.29–4.94) and 2.92 (1.41–6.06), respectively (P = 0.006, 0.002 respective). Notably, larger sample size studies and in vivo or in vitro functional studies are needed to substantiate the biological roles of these variants.

Conclusions

Our results provided epidemiological evidence supporting the involvement of genetic polymorphisms of the meiotic program initiation genes in modifying the risk of azoospermia and oligozoospermia in a Han-Chinese population.     

视觉和嗅觉信号对果蝇食物搜寻行为的协同作用

为了探索视觉和嗅觉信号在昆虫食物搜寻过程中的作用, 本研究利用杨梅和橘子为引诱物, 在实验室条件下测定了嗅觉和视觉信号诱集到的黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster数量, 分析了嗅觉经历对果蝇嗅觉和视觉食物搜寻的影响。发现同源性嗅觉和视觉信号存在的杨梅诱集到的果蝇数量显著大于单一的视觉信号和嗅觉信号, 但异源性嗅觉和视觉信号组合诱集到的果蝇数量和单独的嗅觉信号相似。嗅觉信号预处理不仅能够显著增加嗅觉信号诱集到的果蝇数量, 其中杨梅嗅觉信号对杨梅预处理果蝇的吸引能力与视觉和嗅觉信号存在的杨梅相似, 而且异源性嗅觉和视觉信号组合诱集到的预处理果蝇数量也不低于视觉和嗅觉信号存在的杨梅。另外杨梅嗅觉信号预处理也能够显著增强杨梅视觉信号诱集到的果蝇数量。但嗅觉预处理并不会改变同源性视觉和嗅觉信号组合诱集到的果蝇数量。本研究表明, 果蝇同时利用视觉和嗅觉信号进行食物搜寻, 因此同源性视觉和嗅觉信号在果蝇诱集过程中具有协同作用。另外果蝇具有较强的记忆和学习能力, 能够将记忆中的嗅觉信号应用于食物搜寻。本研究结果不仅有利于我们了解果蝇在自然状态下的食物搜寻机制, 而且有利于开发更有效的果蝇新型诱捕器。     

军医大学学员坚毅性评价的内隐效应及脑电特征研究

目的:探寻军医大学学员内隐层面对自我和他人坚毅性评价的特点及脑电特征,为全面、客观的评估个体的坚毅性提供理论依据和客观指标。方法:使用E-Prime2.0参照经典内隐联想范式编制内隐联想-坚毅测验,对100名军医大学学员施测坚毅量表(Grit O),选取高、低坚毅水平被试(各20名)进行内隐联想-坚毅测验,并记录脑电,分析两组被试的内隐效应及主要脑电成分。结果:计算内隐效应D值,t检验显示高坚毅组(0.55±0.36)显著低于低坚毅组(0.87±0.49),t=-2.257,P0.05,Cohen'd=0.74。两组被试均诱发明显的N400和LPP,高坚毅组中N400在任务状态下主效应显著,F(1,17)=8.528,P0.05,η2=0.334,且在电极位置上主效应显著,F(10,170)=8.207,P0.001,η2=0.326。LPP在任务状态下主效应显著,F(1,17)=5.471,P0.05,η2=0.243,且在电极位置上主效应显著,F(10,170)=18.479,P0.001,η2=0.521;低坚毅组中N400在任务状态下主效应显著,F(1,17)=10.051,P0.05,η2=0.372,且在电极位置上主效应显著,F(10,170)=8.223,P0.001,η2=0.326,LPP在任务状态下主效应不显著。结论:1.军医大学学员坚毅性评价的内隐效应显著,即均倾向于认为自我的坚毅性高,他人的坚毅性低,通过问卷法评估坚毅性时应考虑坚毅评价的内隐效应。2.高、低坚毅性军医大学学员坚毅性内隐评价时的主要脑电成分N400、LPP存在差异,N400可作为坚毅性内隐评价符合程度的判断指标。3.内隐效应及N400可以作为对军医大学学员坚毅性评价时的客观指标。     

A Water‐Soluble Cu Complex as Molecular Catalyst for Electrocatalytic CO2 Reduction on Graphene‐Based Electrodes

A structurally simple molecular 1,10‐phenanthroline‐Cu complex on a mesostructured graphene matrix that can be active and selective toward CO₂ reduction over H₂ evolution in an aqueous solution is reported. The active sites consist of Cu(I) center in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry, which enables the adsorption of CO₂ with η¹‐COO‐like configuration to commence the catalysis, with a turnover frequency of ≈45 s^?1 at ?1 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Using in situ infrared spectroelectrochemical investigation, it is demonstrated that the Cu complex can be reversibly heterogenized near the graphene surface via potential control. An increase of electron density in the complex is observed as a result of the interaction from the electric field, which further tunes the electron distribution in the neighboring CO₂. It is also found that the mesostructure of graphene matrix favored CO₂ reduction on the Cu center over hydrogen evolution by limiting mass transport from the bulk solution to the electrode surface.     

建鲤和异育银鲫摄食不同质量饲料时的氮收支和能量收支比较

实验探讨了建鲤和异育银鲫摄食低质和高质饲料时氮和能量的收支情况.低质饲料以豆粕为主要蛋白源,饲料蛋白含量为33.91%,高质饲料以鱼粉为主要蛋白源,饲料蛋白含量为45.59%.55d的生长结果显示,氮收支和能量收支受到饲料质量和鱼类种类的显著影响:摄食低质饲料时,建鲤的生长氮和生长能比例显著低于异育银鲫,排泄氮、排泄能和代谢能比例显著高于异育银鲫;摄食高质饲料时,两种鱼的氮收支和能量收支无显著差异;建鲤的氮收支和能量收支受饲料质量的显著影响,摄食低质饲料时,其生长氮和生长能比例均显著低于摄食高质饲料时,而排泄氮、粪能和代谢能比例均显著高于摄食高质饲料时;异育银鲫的氮收支、生长能和代谢能比例不受饲料质量的显著影响.结果表明,在低质饲料条件下,建鲤利用氮和能量的能力弱于异育银鲫,在高质饲料条件下,两种鱼没有显著差异.与异育银鲫相比,建鲤利用氮和能量的能力受饲料质量的影响更为显著.       

The role of dendritic cells regulated by HMGB1/TLR4 signalling pathway in myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury

Inflammatory response plays an important role in ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI) through a variety of inflammatory cells. Apart from neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes, the role of dendritic cells (DCs) in IRI has been noticed. The study was aimed at investigating whether the high‐mobility group protein box‐1/toll like receptor 4 (HMGB1/TLR4) signalling pathway regulate the migration, adhesion and aggregation of DCs to the myocardium, induce DCs activation and maturation, stimulate the expression of surface costimulatory molecules and participate in myocardial IRI. In vivo, migration, adhesion, and aggregation of DCs was enhanced; the expression of peripheral blood DCs CD80 and CD86, myocardial adhesion molecules were increased; and the infarct size was increased during myocardial ischaemia reperfusion injury myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). These responses induced by MI/RI were significantly inhibited by HMGB1 specific neutralizing antibody treatment. Cellular experiments confirmed that HMGB1 promoted the release of inflammatory cytokines through TLR4/MyD88/NF‐κB, upregulated CD80 and CD86 expression, mediated the damage of cardiomyocytes and accelerated the apoptosis. Our results indicate that DCs activation and maturation, stimulate the expression of surface costimulatory molecules by promoting the release of inflammatory factors through NF‐κB pathway and participate in myocardial IRI.     

Responses of plant 15N natural abundance and isotopic fractionation to N addition reflect the N status of a temperate steppe in China

Aims Elevated anthropogenic nitrogen (N) deposition could alter N status in temperate steppe. However, threshold observations of N status change from N limit to N saturation by far are not conclusive in these ecosystems. Research on the natural abundance of¹⁵N (δ¹⁵N) could greatly help provide integrated information about ecosystem N status. The goal of this study was to investigate the suitability of measurements of δ¹⁵N of major ecosystem N pools and several key species, plant¹⁵N fractionation, together with key vegetation and soil indicators in response to N fertilization as a tool to identify the N status in a temperate steppe in Inner Mongolia.     

Loss of Core 1-derived O-Glycans Decreases Breast Cancer Development in Mice

Mucin-type core 1-derived O-glycans, one of the major types of O-glycans, are highly expressed in mammary gland epithelium. Abnormal O-glycans such as Tn antigen are found in over 90% of breast cancers; however, the in vivo role of these aberrant O-glycans in the etiology of breast cancer is unclear. We generated mice with mammary epithelial specific deletion of core 1-derived O-glycans. By crossing with two spontaneous mouse breast cancer models, we determined that loss of core 1-derived O-glycans delays the onset and progression of breast cancer development. Deficiency of core 1 O-glycosylation impaired the localization of Muc1, a major O-glycoprotein, on the apical surfaces of mammary epithelium. Signaling mediated by Muc1, which is critical for breast cancer development, was also defective in the absence of core 1 O-glycans. This study reveals an unexpected role of core 1-derived O-glycans in breast cancer development in mice.