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1.
Camilla Noelle Rathcke Johan Holmkvist Lise Lotte N. Husmoen Torben Hansen Oluf Pedersen Henrik Vestergaard Allan Linneberg 《PloS one》2009,4(7)
Background
YKL-40 is a chitinase-like glycoprotein encoded by the chitinase 3-like 1 gene, CHI3L1, localized at chromosome 1q32.1. Increased levels of serum YKL-40 have been reported to be a biomarker for asthma and a reduced lung function. Interestingly, the C-allele of the -131 C→G (rs4950928) polymorphism of CHI3L1 has been shown to associate with bronchial hyperresponsiveness and reduced lung function suggesting that variations in CHI3L1 may influence risk of asthma. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association of common variation in the CHI3L1 locus with asthma, atopy and lung function in a large population-based sample of adults.Methods/Principal Findings
Eleven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CHI3L1 including rs4950928 were genotyped in 6514 individuals. Asthma was defined as self-reported history of physician-diagnosed asthma. Total IgE and specific IgE to inhalant allergens were measured on serum samples. Lung function was measured by spirometry. Homozygosity of the rs4950928 G allele as compared to homozygosity of the C allele was associated with self-reported physician diagnosed asthma (OR 1.5 (95% CI, 1.00–2.26)) and with prevalence of atopic asthma (OR 1.93 (95% CI, 1.21–3.07)) after adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, socio-economic class and BMI. Carriers of rs883125 G allele had a significantly lower prevalence of atopy (OR 0.82 (CI, 0.72; 0.94)) as compared to homozygosity of the C allele. None of the SNPs examined were significantly associated with FEV1. However, two SNPs (rs10399931and rs4950930) appeared to be significantly associated with FEV1/FVC-ratio. Subgroup analyses of never-smokers did not consistently influence the associations in an either positively og negatively way.Conclusions
In contrast to previous studies, the rs4950928 G allele, and not the C allele, was found to be associated with asthma. A few other SNPs of the CHI3L1 was found to be significantly associated with atopy and FEV1/FVC ratio, respectively. Thus, more studies seem warranted to establish the role of CHI3L1 gene in asthma and atopy. 相似文献2.
In clinical neurology, a comprehensive understanding of consciousness has been regarded as an abstract concept - best left
to philosophers. However, times are changing and the need to clinically assess consciousness is increasingly becoming a real-world,
practical challenge. Current methods for evaluating altered levels of consciousness are highly reliant on either behavioural
measures or anatomical imaging. While these methods have some utility, estimates of misdiagnosis are worrisome (as high as
43%) - clearly this is a major clinical problem. The solution must involve objective, physiologically based measures that
do not rely on behaviour. This paper reviews recent advances in physiologically based measures that enable better evaluation
of consciousness states (coma, vegetative state, minimally conscious state, and locked in syndrome). Based on the evidence
to-date, electroencephalographic and neuroimaging based assessments of consciousness provide valuable information for evaluation
of residual function, formation of differential diagnoses, and estimation of prognosis. 相似文献
3.
4.
Variation in heat-shock proteins among species of desert fishes (Poeciliidae, Poeciliopsis) 总被引:4,自引:0,他引:4
Analysis of the heat-shock proteins (hsps) of six closely related species
of Poeciliopsis demonstrated the existence of biochemical diversity in the
hsp100, hsp70, hsp60, and hsp30 protein families among species. Each
species expressed five to seven hsp70-related isoforms. Constitutive 70-kD
isoforms were identical among species, but four different patterns of
heat-inducible isoforms were seen in these six species. Members of the
hsp70 family of molecular chaperones are included among the most highly
conserved proteins known, and the possibility of variation in hsp70 among
closely related species has rarely been addressed. The hsp30 family is
known to be less conserved than the hsp70 family, and, as expected, the
Poeciliopsis hsp30 patterns showed more variation. Most of the hsp30
isoforms characteristic of a particular species were unique to that
species. Hsp100 and hsp60 were identical in five of the species, but
alternate isoforms were found in P. monacha. The small size and limited
geographical distribution of the P. monacha population have probably
contributed to the uniqueness of the monacha pattern. Two of the species
were shown to acquire thermotolerance, the ability to withstand normally
lethal temperatures when subjected to a gradual temperature increase.
Rapid-heating protocols commonly used to establish critical thermal maxima
of organisms do not include this inducible component of thermoresistance
and therefore do not adequately assess an organism's capacity to withstand
thermal stress.
相似文献
5.
Rathcke BJ 《American journal of botany》2003,90(9):1328-1332
Floral longevity is assumed to reflect a balance between the benefit of increased pollination success and the cost of flower maintenance. Flowers of Kalmia latifolia (Ericaceae), mountain laurel, have a long duration and can remain viable up to 21 d if unpollinated. I experimentally tested whether this long duration increases pollination success by clipping stigmas to reduce functional floral longevity to 3-4 d. Clipping stigmas decreased fruit set from 65% to only 10%. Flowers with natural life spans were not pollination-limited, demonstrating that long floral duration ensured female reproductive success. The long floral duration of K. latifolia was unique in this site (the Great Swamp, Rhode Island, USA). Coflowering shrubs in summer had a mean floral life span of 3.4 d. Spring-flowering species had significantly longer mean floral durations (7.2 d). These duration differences may reflect seasonal variation in pollinator availability. However, K. latifolia flowers in summer, when its bumble bee pollinators are abundant but it is a poor competitor for bees because its flowers produce little nectar. The long floral duration allows K. latifolia to outlast coflowering competitors and attract sufficient pollinators. I hypothesize that the long floral duration of K. latifolia functions as a mechanism for competitive avoidance and reproductive assurance. 相似文献
6.
Elizabeth A. DeMattia Beverly J. Rathcke Lisa M. Curran Reinaldo Aguilar Orlando Vargas 《Biotropica》2006,38(2):196-202
We examined whether the experimental exclusion of large mammalian and small rodent seed predators had differing effects on seedling recruitment under natural seed rain conditions. In both primary and late‐successional secondary forested areas, exclosure experiments using natural seed densities were designed to assess seedling recruitment. To assess the differences in seedling recruitment, we monitored three exclosure treatments (1.2 m radius/1.5 m height) in two forest types (primary vs. late‐successional secondary forest): (1) fenced exclosures that excluded large mammals; (2) fenced exclosures that excluded both large and small mammals; and (3) open controls. Within each exclosure treatment, we marked and identified all seedlings at the beginning of the experiment (February 2001), followed the marked seedlings' fate for a year, and then marked and identified all new seedlings after a year. Two preliminary findings were generated from these data: for some tree species, small rodents and large mammals have differential effects on seedling recruitment, and the effect of excluding mammals did not differ with habitat type (primary vs. late‐successional secondary forest). These preliminary results highlight the need to examine further how the effects of small rodent and large mammal exclusion may affect species‐specific seed predation and seedling recruitment in a variety of habitat/land use types (e.g., primary forest, late‐successional forest, and early‐successional forest). 相似文献
7.
Huiming Xu Kam Sze Tsang Yonghui Wang Juliana CN Chan Gang Xu Wei-Qiang Gao 《The Journal of biological chemistry》2014,289(38):26290-26301
Tremendous efforts have been made to elucidate the molecular mechanisms that control the specification of definitive endoderm cell fate in gene knockout mouse models and ES cell (ESC) differentiation models. However, the impact of the unfolded protein response (UPR), because of the stress of the endoplasmic reticulum on endodermal specification, is not well addressed. We employed UPR-inducing agents, thapsigargin and tunicamycin, in vitro to induce endodermal differentiation of mouse ESCs. Apart from the endodermal specification of ESCs, Western blotting demonstrated the enhanced phosphorylation of Smad2 and nuclear translocation of β-catenin in ESC-derived cells. The inclusion of the endoplasmic reticulum stress inhibitor tauroursodeoxycholic acid to the induction cultures prevented the differentiation of ESCs into definitive endodermal cells even when Activin A was supplemented. Also, the addition of the TGF-β inhibitor SB431542 and the Wnt/β-catenin antagonist IWP-2 negated the endodermal differentiation of ESCs mediated by thapsigargin and tunicamycin. These data suggest that the activation of the UPR appears to orchestrate the induction of the definitive endodermal cell fate of ESCs via both the Smad2 and β-catenin signaling pathways. The prospective regulatory machinery may be helpful for directing ESCs to differentiate into definitive endodermal cells for cellular therapy in the future. 相似文献
8.
MR Scrochi CN Zanuzzi N Fuentealba F Nishida ME Bravi ME Pacheco 《Biotechnic & histochemistry》2017,92(8):560-568
Many viruses alter different stages of apoptosis of infected cells as a strategy for successful infection. Few studies have addressed mechanisms of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) strain-induced cell death. We investigated the effect of an abortigenic strain (AR8 strain) on heterologous Madin–Darby bovine kidney cells and homologous equine dermis (ED) cells cell lines. We compared morphologic and biochemical features of early and late apoptosis at different postinfection times. We investigated translocation of phosphatidylserine to the cell surface, nuclear fragmentation and changes in the cytoskeleton using flow cytometry and annexin V/propidium iodide staining, DNA laddering, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase UTP nick-end labeling assay and immunofluorescence staining of cytokeratin 18 cleavage. AR8 EVH-1 strain interfered with apoptosis in both cell lines, particularly during the middle stage of the replication cycle; this was more evident in ED cells. Although this antiapoptotic effect has been reported for other alpha herpesviruses, our findings may help elucidate how EHV-1 improves its infectivity during its cycle. 相似文献
9.
Background
Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) can detect myocardial perfusion abnormalities but many examinations are without pathological findings. This study examines whether circulating biomarkers can be used as screening modality prior to MPI.Methodology/Principal Findings
243 patients with an intermediate risk of CAD or with known CAD with renewed suspicion of ischemia were referred to MPI. Blood samples were analyzed for N-terminal fragment of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), YKL-40, IL-6, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Patients with myocardial perfusion defects had elevated levels of NT-proBNP (p<0.0001), YKL-40 (p = 0.03) and IL-6 (p = 0.03) but not of hsCRP (p = 0.58) nor of MMP-9 (p = 0.14). The NT-proBNP increase was observed in both genders (p<0.0001), whereas YKL-40 (p = 0.005) and IL-6 (p = 0.02) were elevated only in men. A NT-proBNP cut off-concentration at 25 ng/l predicted a normal MPI with a negative predictive value >95% regardless of existing CAD.Conclusions
20-25% of patients suspected of CAD could have been spared a MPI by using a NT-proBNP cut-off concentration at 25 ng/l with a negative predictive value >95%. NT-proBNP has the potential use of being a screening marker of CAD before referral of the patient to MPI. 相似文献10.
Beverly J. Rathcke 《Biotropica》2001,33(2):330-338
Hurricanes have been assumed to reduce the reproduction of plants, either directly by leaf stripping and stress or indirectly by reducing pollinators. I examined the pollination and fruit set of a common shrub, Bourreria succulenta, after hurricanes on San Salvador island, Bahamas. Contrary to the assumption of resource limitation, B. succulenta showed unusually prolific flowering after Hurricane Lili stripped leaves from most of the plants in October 1996. I predicted that the abundant flowering would saturate pollinators and that fruit set would be pollination‐limited. Fruit set was strongly pollination‐limited by 71 percent. Butterflies are probably the major pollinators and were present at the site, but they rarely visited B. succulenta flowers even though flowers were brimming with nectar. Nectarivorous birds (Bananaquits and Bahama Wbodstars) visit B. succulenta flowers, but their populations were decimated by Hurricane Lili and they rarely visited flowers during this time. Fruit set was also severely predation‐limited; a moth caterpillar (Gelechiidae) was extremely abundant and ate buds, flowers, and fruits, causing a further 68 percent reduction in fruit set. Together, pollination limitation and predation limitation reduced fruit set to only 7 percent or less. Predation was also intense in 1999 after Hurricane Floyd and resulted in 11 percent fruit set or less. Whether or not hurricanes were the cause of limited pollinators or abundant predators, the resulting low fruit set could have population effects because hurricanes can provide opportunities for the recruitment of new plants. These results emphasize that understanding plant–animal interactions may be necessary for predicting the effects of hurricanes on plant reproductive success, which may affect subsequent recruitment. Species on small islands like San Salvador (150 km2) with relatively few species may be especially vulnerable to environmental disturbances such as hurricanes. 相似文献