Larval settlement and metamorphosis of the mussel Mytilus coruscus in response to natural biofilms

Settlement and metamorphosis of pediveliger larvae of Mytilus coruscus in response to natural biofilms was investigated in the laboratory. Pediveliger larvae settled and metamorphosed in response to biofilms and post-larval settlement and metamorphosis increased with biofilm age. The activity of the biofilm was positively correlated with biofilm age, dry weight, bacterial density and diatom density, but had no apparent relationship with chlorophyll a concentration. The change in bacterial community composition corresponding to biofilm age may explain differences in the age-dependent inducing activities of biofilms, which in turn may play an important role in larval settlement in this species.     

Associations between common variants in <Emphasis Type="Italic">GC</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">DHCR7</Emphasis>/<Emphasis Type="Italic">NADSYN1</Emphasis> and vitamin D concentration in Chinese Hans

Recent studies have identified common variants in or near GC, CYP2R1 and NADSYN1/DHCR7 to be associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in European populations. We aimed to examine whether these variants also influence 25(OH)D levels in Chinese. Seven common variants were successfully genotyped and tested for associations with plasma 25(OH)D levels in a population-based cohort of 3,210 Chinese Hans from Beijing and Shanghai. Six common variants at GC (rs4588, rs7041, rs2282679 and rs1155563) and NADSYN1/DHCR7 (rs3829251 and rs1790349) loci were all significantly associated with lower plasma 25(OH)D levels (−0.036 ≤ β ≤ −0.076 per risk-allele, P ≤ 5.7 × 10⁻⁵), while CYP2R1-rs2060793 showed a trend toward association with 25(OH)D levels in the Shanghai subpopulation (P = 0.08), but not in the Beijing subpopulation (P = 0.82). Haplotype-based association analyses of the four GC variants showed that only the haplotype that contained all risk-alleles (TACC) was significantly associated with lower plasma 25(OH)D levels (β = −0.085, P = 2.3 × 10⁻⁹), while the haplotype containing the risk-alleles of rs4588 and rs2282679 (TATC) was marginally associated with lower 25(OH)D levels (β = −0.054, P = 0.0562) when compared with GCTA haplotype carrying the four protective alleles. Most notably, conditional analyses showed that only GC-rs4588 and GC-rs2282679 (r ² = 0.97) remained significantly associated with 25(OH)D concentrations (P ≤ 1.9 × 10⁻⁵) after adjusting for the other two SNPs in GC. In conclusion, GC and NADSYN1/DHCR7 loci individually and collectively contribute to variation in plasma vitamin D levels in Chinese Hans.     

HLA-DRB1*1501 and HLA-DQB1*0301 alleles are positively associated with HPV16 infection–related Kazakh esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Xinjiang China

Multiple determinant factors are involved in the occurrence and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Human papillomavirus (HPV) and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism were identified as important factors. This study examined the associations between the development of Kazakh ESCC and the determinant factors including HLA-DRB1*0901, 1501; DQB1*0301, 0602; high-risk HPV infection in the area of Xinjiang, China. 200 Kazakh patients with ESCC and 150 controls were recruited, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect HLA-DRB1*0901, 1501 and DQB1*0301,0602 using sequence-specific primers (SSPs). HPV16 was detected in esophageal specimens using PCR. HPV16 infection rate in Kazakh ESCC case group was 41 %, significantly higher than that of control group 14 % (OR = 3.62; 95 % CI, 2.15–6.09; P < 0.001). A positive association between ESCC and HLA-DRB1*1501 (OR = 2.46, P < 0.0125) or HLA-DQB1*0301 (OR = 3.34, P < 0.0125) alleles was observed. Similar tendencies were observed for HLA-DRB1*1501 (OR = 3.095, P < 0.0125) and HLA-DQB1*0301 (OR = 2.410, P < 0.0125) alleles with HPV16-positive ESCC. HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DQB1*0301 and DQB1*0602 were significantly associated with ESCC when the age was ≥55 years (P < 0.0125 for all), whereas only HLA-DQB1*0301 was significantly associated with ESCC when the age was <55 years (P < 0.0125). HLA-DRB1*1501 and HLA-DQB1*0301 were significantly associated with an increase in ESCC occurrence in females (P < 0.0125), whereas only HLA-DQB1*0301 was significantly associated with ESCC in males. Moreover, the occurrence of HLA-DQB1*0602 gene in poorly differentiated ESCC group (68.8 %) was slightly higher than that of well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma group (31.2 %). The difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.0125). The study suggests that HLA-DRB1*1501 and HLA-DQB1*0301 may influence the immune response to specific tumor and HPV-encoded epitopes and affect the risk of Kazakh ESCC in XinJiang, China.     

How NaCl raises blood pressure: a new paradigm for the pathogenesis of salt-dependent hypertension

Excess dietary salt is a major cause of hypertension. Nevertheless, the specific mechanisms by which salt increases arterial constriction and peripheral vascular resistance, and thereby raises blood pressure (BP), are poorly understood. Here we summarize recent evidence that defines specific molecular links between Na(+) and the elevated vascular resistance that directly produces high BP. In this new paradigm, high dietary salt raises cerebrospinal fluid [Na(+)]. This leads, via the Na(+)-sensing circumventricular organs of the brain, to increased sympathetic nerve activity (SNA), a major trigger of vasoconstriction. Plasma levels of endogenous ouabain (EO), the Na(+) pump ligand, also become elevated. Remarkably, high cerebrospinal fluid [Na(+)]-evoked, locally secreted (hypothalamic) EO participates in a pathway that mediates the sustained increase in SNA. This hypothalamic signaling chain includes aldosterone, epithelial Na(+) channels, EO, ouabain-sensitive α(2) Na(+) pumps, and angiotensin II (ANG II). The EO increases (e.g.) hypothalamic ANG-II type-1 receptor and NADPH oxidase and decreases neuronal nitric oxide synthase protein expression. The aldosterone-epithelial Na(+) channel-EO-α(2) Na(+) pump-ANG-II pathway modulates the activity of brain cardiovascular control centers that regulate the BP set point and induce sustained changes in SNA. In the periphery, the EO secreted by the adrenal cortex directly enhances vasoconstriction via an EO-α(2) Na(+) pump-Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger-Ca(2+) signaling pathway. Circulating EO also activates an EO-α(2) Na(+) pump-Src kinase signaling cascade. This increases the expression of the Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger-transient receptor potential cation channel Ca(2+) signaling pathway in arterial smooth muscle but decreases the expression of endothelial vasodilator mechanisms. Additionally, EO is a growth factor and may directly participate in the arterial structural remodeling and lumen narrowing that is frequently observed in established hypertension. These several central and peripheral mechanisms are coordinated, in part by EO, to effect and maintain the salt-induced elevation of BP.     

Ginsennoside Rd Attenuates Cognitive Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer??s disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the production of ??-amyloid proteins and hyperphosphorylation of tau protein. Inflammation and apoptotic severity were highly correlated with earlier age at onset of Alzheimer??s disease and were also associated with cognitive decline. This study aims to examine whether the traditional Chinese medicine ginsennoside Rd could prevent cognitive deficit and take neuroprotective effects in ??-amyloid peptide 1?C40-induced rat model of Alzheimer??s disease. To produce Alzheimer??s disease animal model, aggregated ??-amyloid peptide 1?C40 injected into hippocampus bilaterally. Ginsennoside Rd protected their cognitive impairment and improved their memory function by daily intraperitoneal injection for 30?days consecutively. In addition, ginsennoside Rd alleviated the inflammation induced by ??-amyloid peptide 1?C40. Furthermore, ginsennoside Rd played a role in the down-regulation of caspase-3 proteins and reduced the apoptosis that normally followed ??-amyloid peptide 1?C40 injection. The results of this study showed that the pretreatment of ginsennoside Rd had neuroprotective effects in ??-amyloid peptide 1?C40-induced AD model rat.     

Detection of truncated dystrophin lacking the C-terminal domain in a Chinese pedigree by next-generation sequencing

Dystrophin (DMD) gene is the largest gene containing 79 exons involving various mutation types and regions, and targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) was employed in detecting DMD gene mutation in the present study. A literature-annotated disease nonsense mutation (c.10141C>T, NM_004006.1) in exon 70 that has been reported as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD)-causing mutation was found in our two patients, the proband and his cousin. In the present study two main methods were used, the next-generation sequencing and the classic Sanger sequencing. The exon capture followed by HiSeq2000 sequencing was specifically used in this study. Combined applications of the next-generation sequencing platform and bioinformatics are proved to be effective methods for DMD diagnosis.     

Expression of apoptosis-related genes in the endometrium of polycystic ovary syndrome patients during the window of implantation

The present study investigated the expression of the apoptosis-related genes fas-associated via death domain (FADD) and Bcl-2 in the endometrium during the window of implantation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients. The aim was to explore the role of cell apoptosis in endometrial receptivity during this period. The subjects were divided into experimental and control group. The experimental group comprised 12 infertile women with PCOS, and the control group comprised 12 women who were infertile because of tubal pathological factors but had normal menstrual cycles. Endometria were collected by biopsy 7d after ovulation. Six samples from each group were randomly selected and subjected to gene chip analyses. The expression of endometrial FADD and Bcl-2 was determined by immunohistochemistry, and cell apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL method. Compared with the control group, 194 differentially expressed genes were found in the PCOS group, 102 of which were upregulated and 92 were downregulated. The differentially expressed genes were divided into 15 types according to function. Among the nine genes related to cell apoptosis, five (including Bcl-2) were upregulated and four were downregulated (including FADD). Bcl-2 expression during the window of implantation in the PCOS group increased compared with the control group, showing a significant difference (P<0.05). FADD expression in the PCOS group notably decreased compared with that in the control group, which also showed a significant difference (P<0.05). Cell apoptosis analysis showed a significant difference between the average apoptotic indices in the PCOS and control groups (P<0.05). Significant differences were observed between the endometrial gene expression in the PCOS and control groups. The decrease in cell apoptosis during the window of implantation in PCOS patients may be one of the causes of the reduced endometrial receptivity.     

The failure to express a protein disulphide isomerase-like protein results in a floury endosperm and an endoplasmic reticulum stress response in rice

The rice somaclonal mutant T3612 produces small grains with a floury endosperm, caused by the loose packing of starch granules. The positional cloning of the mutation revealed a deletion in a gene encoding a protein disulphide isomerase-like enzyme (PDIL1-1). In the wild type, PDIL1-1 was expressed throughout the plant, but most intensely in the developing grain. In T3612, its expression was abolished, resulting in a decrease in the activity of plastidial phosphorylase and pullulanase, and an increase in that of soluble starch synthase I and ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase. The amylopectin in the T3612 endosperm showed an increase in chains with a degree of polymerization 8-13 compared with the wild type. The expression in the mutant's endosperm of certain endoplasmic reticulum stress-responsive genes was noticeably elevated. PDIL1-1 appears to play an important role in starch synthesis. Its absence is associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress in the endosperm, which is likely to underlie the formation of the floury endosperm in the T3612 mutant.