No association between the vitamin D pathway gene polymorphisms and bone biomarkers response to calcium and low dose calcitriol supplementation in postmenopausal Chinese women: a one-year prospective study

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the study was to explore the association between the vitamin D pathway gene variations and the bone biomarkers response to calcium and low dose calcitriol supplementation in postmenopausal Chinese women.

Methods: A total of 110 healthy postmenopausal Chinese women (61.51?±?6.93?years) were enrolled. The participants were supplemented with calcium (600?mg/d) and calcitriol (0.25?μg/d), for 1?year. Four biomarkers, serum levels of beta C-terminal cross-linked telopeptides of type I collagen (β-CTX), amino-terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] were measured at baseline and 12-month follow-up. Multivariate regression models were established to explore the statistical association between the change rate of the four biomarkers and 15?key genes within the vitamin D metabolic pathway.

Results: This exclusion process left 98 participants for analysis. Serum levels of P1NP, β-CTX and PTH were significantly decreased at the 12-month follow-up (all p?<?0.05). Serum 25(OH)D level had no significant change (p?>?0.05). No association was found between the vitamin D pathway gene polymorphisms and bone biomarkers response to calcium and low dose calcitriol supplementation.

Conclusions: Genetic background of postmenopausal Chinese women might not influence supplemental response of the biomarkers to calcium and low dose calcitriol.     

Identification of drug repurposing candidates based on a miRNA-mediated drug and pathway network for cardiac hypertrophy and acute myocardial infarction

Background

Cardiac hypertrophy and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are two common heart diseases worldwide. However, research is needed into the exact pathogenesis and effective treatment strategies for these diseases. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been suggested to regulate the pathological pathways of heart disease, indicating a potential role in novel treatments.

Results

In our study, we constructed a miRNA-gene-drug network and analyzed its topological features. We also identified some significantly dysregulated miRNA-gene-drug triplets (MGDTs) in cardiac hypertrophy and AMI using a computational method. Then, we characterized the activity score profile features for MGDTs in cardiac hypertrophy and AMI. The functional analyses suggested that the genes in the network held special functions. We extracted an insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor-related subnetwork in cardiac hypertrophy and a vascular endothelial growth factor A-related subnetwork in AMI. Finally, we considered insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor A as two candidate drug targets by utilizing the cardiac hypertrophy and AMI pathways.

Conclusion

These results provide novel insights into the mechanisms and treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and AMI.

     

A potential strategy for treating atherosclerosis: improving endothelial function via AMP-activated protein kinase

Endothelial dysfunction is caused by many factors, such as dyslipidemia, endoplasmic reticulum(ER) stress, and inflammation.It has been demonstrated that endothelial dysfunction is the initial process of atherosclerosis. AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK) is an important metabolic switch that plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, recent evidence indicates that AMPK could be a target for atherosclerosis by improving endothelial function. For instance, activation of AMPK inhibits the production of reactive oxygen species induced by mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, and NADPH oxidase. Moreover, activation of AMPK inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory factors induced by dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia and restrains production of perivascular adipose tissue-released adipokines. AMPK activation prevents endothelial dysfunction by increasing the bioavailability of nitric oxide. Therefore, we focused on the primary risk factors involved in endothelial dysfunction, and summarize the features of AMPK in the protection of endothelial function, by providing signaling pathways thought to be important in the pathological progress of risk factors.     

宽叶韭种内分化的同工酶及可溶性蛋白的研究

采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（ＰＡＧＥ）对宽叶韭的３个代表居群内不同植株间的过氧化物酶、酯酶和１６个居群间的酯酶（ＥＳＴ）、过氧化物酶（ＰＯＸ）、葡萄糖－６－磷酸脱氢酶（Ｇ６ＰＤＨ）、苹果酸酶（ＭＥ）、苹果酸脱氢酶（ＭＤＨ）、天冬氨酸转移酶（ＡＡＴ）、腺苷三磷酸酶（ＡＴＰａｓｅ）、乳酸脱氢酶（ＬＤＨ）８种同工酶系统以及可溶性蛋白进行了分析。结果发现：居群内不同植株的酶谱无差异;居群间的酶谱存在多态性,酶谱差异明显,且各居群均有其特征酶谱。采用“排序”方法和聚类分析,对宽叶韭１６个居群酶谱的相似系数和酶谱距离进行了研究。同工酶谱表型差异彼此显著的３个代表居群的可溶性蛋白双向电泳图谱也表现出明显差异,印证了同工酶的分析结果。结合细胞学的最新核型证据,从生物化学角度确定了这１６个居群间的亲缘关系和彼此的分化程度。结果表明：宽叶韭明显分为两大类,即冬季不倒苗和冬季倒苗两类,在同一类型中各居群之间彼此近缘,且冬季不倒苗的类型分化程度较高。本研究首次将多种同工酶的综合分析与聚类分析及可溶性蛋白双向电泳用于葱属植物的种内分化研究,为植物分子进化和系统学研究提供了科学依据     

Two novel bocaparvovirus species identified in wild Himalayan marmots

Bocaparvovirus (BOV) is a genetically diverse group of DNA viruses and a possible cause of respiratory, enteric, and neurological diseases in humans and animals. Here, two highly divergent BOVs (tentatively named as Himalayan marmot BOV, HMBOV1 and HMBOV2) were identified in the livers and feces of wild Himalayan marmots in China, by viral metagenomic analysis. Five of 300 liver samples from Himalayan marmots were positive for HMBOV1 and five of 99 fecal samples from these animals for HMBOV2. Their nearly complete genome sequences are 4,672 and 4,887 nucleotides long, respectively, with a standard genomic organization and containing protein-coding motifs typical for BOVs. Based on their NS1, NP1, and VP1, HMBOV1 and HMBOV2 are most closely related to porcine BOV SX/1-2 (approximately 77.0%/50.0%, 50.0%/53.0%, and 79.0%/54.0% amino acid identity, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis of these three proteins showed that HMBOV1 and HMBOV2 formed two distinctly independent branches in BOVs. According to these results, HMBOV1 and HMBOV2 are two different novel species in the Bocaparvovirus genus. Their identification expands our knowledge of the genetic diversity and evolution of BOVs. Further studies are needed to investigate their potential pathogenicity and their impact on Himalayan marmots and humans.     

Phylogeny of Chinese Allium (Liliaceae) using PCR-RFLP analysis

Eighteen representative species were selected from all the nine sections of Chinese Allium on the basis of the classification of morphology and cytotaxonomy. The trnK and rpL16 gene fragments of chloroplast DNA were amplified from 18 species by PCR method. The two cpDNA fragments were digested by 26 restriction enzymes, and 303 polymorphic restriction sites were found, of which 163 were informative. The restriction site data were analyzed with PAUP (version 3.1.1) and MEGA (version 1.01) as well as PHYLIP. As a result, the genus Allium could be classified into six subgenera. The recognition of Sect. Anguinum in the Flora of China is reasonable, Sect. Rhizirideum, Sect. Haplostemon and Sect. Cepa are not monophyletic. The infrageneric system of this genus was also discussed.     

Phylogeny of Chinese Allium (Liliaceae) using PCR-RFLP analysis

Eighteen representative species were selected from all the nine sections of Chinese Allium on the basis of the classification of morphology and cytotaxonomy. The trnK and rpL16 gene fragments of chloroplast DNA were amplified from 18 species by PCR method. The two cpDNA fragments were digested by 26 restriction enzymes, and 303 polymorphic restriction sites were found, of which 163 were informative. The restriction site data were analyzed with PAUP (version 3.1.1) and MEGA (version 1.01) as well as PHYLIP. As a result, the genus Allium could be classified into six subgenera. The recognition of Sect. Anguinum in the Flora of China is reasonable, Sect. Rhizirideum, Sect. Haplostemon and Sect. Cepa are not monophyletic. The infrageneric system of this genus was also discussed.     

High-Frequency rTMS Improves Cognitive Function by Regulating Synaptic Plasticity in Cerebral Ischemic Rats

Neurochemical Research - Poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is one of the most severe sequelae of stroke and lacks effective treatment. Previous studies have shown that high-frequency...     

Hippo通路与肿瘤相关性研究进展

Hippo通路对控制组织器官大小以及细胞增殖、凋亡有着重要的调节作用。研究表明,Yes相关蛋白作为Hippo通路转录共激活因子,参与了肿瘤的发生发展过程,其过表达可促进细胞的恶性转化。研究Hippo通路在癌症发生发展中的作用及机制将为肿瘤的预防和治疗提供新的思路。