Association between five common polymorphisms in microRNA genes and the risk of gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent disease with a high mortality rate, especially in developing countries. Accumulating evidence suggests that single nucleotide polymorphisms in microRNA (miRNA) genes might influence the susceptibility to GC; such sequence variation might contribute to the development of disease by altering crucial cellular pathways. In this study, we assessed the correlation between the miR-146a G>C, miR-196a-2 C>T, miR-499 T>C, miRNA-27a A>G, and miRNA-149 T>C polymorphisms and the susceptibility to GC. A comprehensive literature search for relevant studies published prior to August 2014 was conducted using PubMed/Medline, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases along with Google Scholar. Meta-analysis was performed using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as effect measures, incorporating 19 studies encompassing 8285 patients and 10,716 controls. Allelic, dominant, recessive, homozygous, and heterozygous genetic models were examined. Pooled results showed that none of the five polymorphisms studied were statistically related to GC. Stratified analyses by ethnicity and source of controls were conducted for miR- 146a G>C and miR-196a-2 C>T. Subgroup analysis suggested that the miR-146a G allele might increase the risk of GC in hospital-based case-control (HCC) but not in population-based case-control studies (HCC: recessive model: OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 1.10-1.37, P < 0.001; heterozygous model: OR = 1.19, 95%CI = 1.06-1.34, P = 0.004). Overall, this meta-analysis failed to detect an association between five common miR-146a gene polymorphisms and GC susceptibility. However, this does not necessarily completely rule out a correlation between miRNA polymorphisms and GC susceptibility.

Intrinsic functional plasticity of the sensorimotor network in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: evidence from a centrality analysis

Background and Purpose

Advanced MRI studies have revealed regional alterations in the sensorimotor cortex of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). However, the organizational features underlying the relapsing phase and the subsequent remitting phase have not been directly shown at the functional network or the connectome level. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize MS-related centrality disturbances of the sensorimotor network (SMN) and to assess network integrity and connectedness.

Methods

Thirty-four patients with clinically definite RRMS and well-matched healthy controls participated in the study. Twenty-three patients in the remitting phase underwent one resting-state functional MRI, and 11 patients in the relapsing-remitting phase underwent two different MRIs. We measured voxel-wise centrality metrics to determine direct (degree centrality, DC) and global (eigenvector centrality, EC) functional relationships across the entire SMN.

Results

In the relapsing phase, DC was significantly decreased in the bilateral primary motor and somatosensory cortex (M1/S1), left dorsal premotor (PMd), and operculum-integrated regions. However, DC was increased in the peripheral SMN areas. The decrease in DC in the bilateral M1/S1 was associated with the expanded disability status scale (EDSS) and total white matter lesion loads (TWMLLs), suggesting that this adaptive response is related to the extent of brain damage in the rapid-onset attack stage. During the remission process, these alterations in centrality were restored in the bilateral M1/S1 and peripheral SMN areas. In the remitting phase, DC was reduced in the premotor, supplementary motor, and operculum-integrated regions, reflecting an adaptive response due to brain atrophy. However, DC was enhanced in the right M1 and left parietal-integrated regions, indicating chronic reorganization. In both the relapsing and remitting phases, the changes in EC and DC were similar.

Conclusions

The alterations in centrality within the SMN indicate rapid plasticity and chronic reorganization with a biased impairment of specific functional areas in RRMS patients.

Characterizing Thalamocortical Disturbances in Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy: Revealed by Functional Connectivity under Two Slow Frequency Bands

Background and Purpose

Recent advanced MRI studies on cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) revealed alterations of sensorimotor cortex, but the disturbances of large-scale thalamocortical systems remains elusive. The purpose of this study was to characterizing the CSM-related thalamocortical disturbances, which were associated with spinal cord structural injury, and clinical measures.

Methods

A total of 17 patients with degenerative CSM and well-matched control subjects participated. Thalamocortical disturbances were quantified using thalamus seed-based functional connectivity in two distinct low frequencies bands (slow-5 and slow-4), with different neural manifestations. The clinical measures were evaluated by Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score system and Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaires.

Results

Decreased functional connectivity was found in the thalamo-motor, -somatosensory, and -temporal circuits in the slow-5 band, indicating impairment of thalamo-cortical circuit degeneration or axon/synaptic impairment. By contrast, increased functional connectivity between thalami and the bilateral primary motor (M1), primary and secondary somatosensory (S1/S2), premotor cortex (PMC), and right temporal cortex was detected in the slow-4 band, and were associated with higher fractional anisotropy values in the cervical cord, corresponding to mild spinal cord structural injury.

Conclusions

These thalamocortical disturbances revealed by two slow frequency bands inform basic understanding and vital clues about the sensorimotor dysfunction in CSM. Further work is needed to evaluate its contribution in central functional reorganization during spinal cord degeneration.

[Surgical treatment of inferior pole comminuted fractures of patella with new type tension band]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effectiveness of inferior pole fracture of patella treating by the new tension band.

METHODS

From Dec. 2011 to Dec. 2013, 21 patients with inferior pole fracture of patella were treated with the new tension band which consisted of cannulated screw, titanium cable and shims. There were 21 patients[10 males, 11 females, the average age was 54 years(21 to 79)],of whom,all were "fell on knees".

RESULTS

The average operation time was 89 min (57-197 min),the follow-up visits were done from 7-31 months (average 18 months), the bone healing time was from 8-12 weeks (average 10.5 weeks). The post operation assessment was done by Bostman score, from 20-30 (average 27),10 excellent,and 11 good. No complication occurred.

CONCLUSION

The new tension band is the effective treatment for inferior pole fracture of patella. The internal fixation is reliable, it is simple to operate, and patients can take exercises as early as possible. Therefore, the new tension band has a better clinical value.

Frequency-dependent changes of local resting oscillations in sleep-deprived brain

Sleep deprivation (SD) adversely affects brain function and is accompanied by frequency dependent changes in EEG. Recent studies have suggested that BOLD fluctuations pertain to a spatiotemporal organization with different frequencies. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency-dependent SD-related brain oscillatory activity by using the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) analysis. The ALFF changes were measured across different frequencies (Slow-4: 0.027–0.073 Hz; Slow-5: 0.01–0.027 Hz; and Typical band: 0.01–0.08 Hz) in 24 h SD as compared to rested wakeful during resting-state fMRI. Sixteen volunteers underwent two fMRI sessions, once during rested wakefulness and once after 24 h of SD. SD showed prominently decreased ALFF in the right inferior parietal lobule (IPL), bilateral orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), while increased ALFF in the visual cortex, left sensorimotor cortex and fusiform gyrus. Across the Slow-4 and Slow-5, results differed significantly in the OFC, DLPFC, thalamus and caudate in comparison to typical frequency band; and Slow-4 showed greater differences. In addition, negative correlations of behavior performance and ALFF patterns were found mainly in the right IPL across the typical frequency band. These observations provided novel insights about the physiological responses of SD, identified how it disturbs the brain rhythms, and linked SD with frequency-dependent alterations in amplitude patterns.

The adverse effects of long-term l-carnitine supplementation on liver and kidney function in rats

Levo-Carnitine (l-carnitine) is widely used in health and food. This study was to focus on the adverse effects of 8-week oral supplementation of l-carnitine (0.3 and 0.6 g/kg) in female and male Sprague Dawley rats. l-carnitine reduced body and fat weights, as well as serum, liver, and kidney lipid levels in rats. Simultaneously, hepatic fatty acid β-oxidation and lipid synthesis were disturbed in l-carnitine-fed rats. Moreover, l-carnitine accelerated reactive oxygen species production in serum and liver, thereby triggering hepatic NOD-like receptor 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation to elevate serum interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18 levels in rats. Alteration of serum alkaline phosphatase levels further confirmed liver dysfunction in l-carnitine-fed rats. Additionally, l-carnitine may potentially disturb kidney function by altering renal protein levels of rat organic ion transporters. These observations may provide the caution information for the safety of long-term l-carnitine supplementation.

Immunotherapy using lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bone marrow-derived dendritic cells to treat experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) produced by Gram-negative bacteria induces tolerance and suppresses inflammatory responses in vivo; however, the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study we show that LPS induces apoptosis of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and modulates phenotypes of DCs. LPS treatment up-regulates expression of tolerance-associated molecules such as CD205 and galectin-1, but down-regulates expression of Gr-1 and B220 on CD11c(+) DCs. Moreover, LPS treatment regulates the numbers of CD11c(+) CD8(+) , CD11c(+) CD11b(low) and CD11c(+) CD11b(hi) DCs, which perform different immune functions in vivo. Our data also demonstrated that intravenous transfer of LPS-treated DCs blocks experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) development and down-regulates expression of retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t (ROR-γt), interleukin (IL)-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22 and interferon (IFN)-γ in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-primed CD4(+) T cells in the peripheral environment. These results suggest that LPS-induced apoptotic DCs may lead to generation of tolerogenic DCs and suppress the activity of MOG-stimulated effector CD4(+) T cells, thus inhibiting the development of EAE in vivo. Our results imply a potential mechanism of LPS-induced tolerance mediated by DCs and the possible use of LPS-induced apoptotic DCs to treat autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

Production of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] 7 TeV

The production of the strange and double-strange baryon resonances ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) has been measured at mid-rapidity ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]) in proton-proton collisions at [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 7 TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. Transverse momentum spectra for inelastic collisions are compared to QCD-inspired models, which in general underpredict the data. A search for the [Formula: see text] pentaquark, decaying in the [Formula: see text] channel, has been carried out but no evidence is seen.

Disturbed spontaneous brain activity pattern in patients with primary angle-closure glaucoma using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation: a fMRI study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to use amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) as a method to explore the local features of spontaneous brain activity in patients with primary angle -closure glaucoma (PACG) and ALFFs relationship with the behavioral performances.

METHODS

A total of twenty one patients with PACG (eight males and 13 females), and twenty one healthy subjects (nine males and twelve females) closely matched in age, sex, and education, each underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan. The ALFF method was used to assess the local features of spontaneous brain activity. The correlation analysis was used to explore the relationships between the observed mean ALFF signal values of the different areas in PACG patients and the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL).

RESULTS

Compared with the healthy subjects, patients with PACG had significant lower ALFF areas in the left precentral gyrus, bilateral middle frontal gyrus, bilateral superior frontal gyrus, right precuneus, and right angular gyrus, and higher areas in the right precentral gyrus. In the PACG group, there were significant negative correlations between the mean ALFF signal value of the right middle frontal gyrus and the left mean RNFL thickness (r=-0.487, P=0.033), and between the mean ALFF signal value of the left middle frontal gyrus and the right mean RNFL thickness (r=-0.504, P=0.020).

CONCLUSION

PACG mainly involved in the dysfunction in the frontal lobe, which may reflect the underlying pathologic mechanism of PACG.

Disconnection of the hippocampus and amygdala associated with lesion load in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a structural and functional connectivity study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Little is known about the functional and structural connectivity (FC and SC) of the hippocampus and amygdala, which are two important structures involved in cognitive processes, or their involvement in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). In this study, we aimed to examine the connectivity of white-matter (WM) tracts and the synchrony of intrinsic neuronal activity in outer regions connected with the hippocampus or amygdala in RRMS patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-three RRMS patients and 23 healthy subjects participated in this study. Diffusion tensor probabilistic tractography was used to examine the SC, the FC correlation coefficient (FC-CC) and combined FC strength (FCS), which was derived from the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging used to examine the FC, of the connection between the hippocampus or the amygdala and other regions, and the correlations of these connections with clinical markers.

RESULTS

Compared with healthy subjects, the RRMS patients showed significantly decreased SC and increased FCS of the bilateral hippocampus, and left amygdala. Their slightly increased FC-CC was positively correlated with WM tract damage in the right hippocampus (ρ=0.57, P=0.005); an increased FCS was also positively correlated with WM tract damage in the right amygdala. A relationship was observed between the WM lesion load and SC alterations, including the lg(N tracts) of the right hippocampus (ρ=-0.68, P<0.05), lg(N tracts) (ρ=-0.69, P<0.05), and fractional anisotropy (ρ=-0.68, P<0.05) and radial diffusivity of the left hippocampus (ρ=0.45, P<0.05). A relationship between WM lesion load and FCS of the left amygdale was also observed.

CONCLUSION

The concurrent increased functional connections and demyelination-related structural disconnectivity between the hippocampus or amygdala and other regions in RRMS suggest that the functional-structural relationships require further investigation.

Regulating the hydrothermal synthesis of ZnO nanorods to optimize the performance of spirally hierarchical structure-based glucose sensors

Synthesizing parameters of ZnO nanorods significantly affect the surface morphologies and further the performance of spirally hierarchical structure-based glucose sensors.

The contribution of TGF-β in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT): Down-regulation of E-cadherin via snail

TGF-β plays a central role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is a highly conserved and reversible process that governs tumor development, invasion and metastasis. Through this transition, the epithelial cell acquires a migratory behavior which allows it to move away from the cell community and to integrate into the surrounding tissue. The cells lost epithelial phenotypes including the change of cell polarity and the loss of specialized cell-cell contacts, which related with the shortage of E-cadherin directly. The increasing reports indicated that TGF-β down-regulated the expression of E-cadherin through snail signaling pathway, which played an important role in the development of EMT. In this review, we summarized the contribution of TGF-β in EMT and discussed the molecular mechanism of snail signaling participating in the regulation of E-cadherin triggered by TGF-β.

KEYWORDS

TGF-β, Epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), snail family, E-cadherin.

Exclusive J/ψ photoproduction off protons in ultraperipheral p-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV

We present the first measurement at the LHC of exclusive J/ψ photoproduction off protons, in ultraperipheral proton-lead collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. Events are selected with a dimuon pair produced either in the rapidity interval, in the laboratory frame, 2.5<y<4 (p-Pb) or -3.6<y<-2.6 (Pb-p), and no other particles observed in the ALICE acceptance. The measured cross sections σ(γ+p→J/ψ+p) are 33.2±2.2(stat)±3.2(syst)±0.7(theor)  nb in p-Pb and 284±36(stat)_{-32}^{+27}(syst)±26(theor)  nb in Pb-p collisions. We measure this process up to about 700 GeV in the γp center of mass, which is a factor of two larger than the highest energy studied at HERA. The data are consistent with a power law dependence of the J/ψ photoproduction cross section in γp energies from about 20 to 700 GeV, or equivalently, from Bjorken x scaling variable between ∼2×10^{-2} and ∼2×10^{-5}, thus indicating no significant change in the gluon density behavior of the proton between HERA and LHC energies.

Measurement of prompt D-meson production in p-Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV

The p_{T}-differential production cross sections of the prompt charmed mesons D^{0}, D^{+}, D^{*+}, and D_{s}^{+} and their charge conjugate in the rapidity interval -0.96<y_{cms}<0.04 were measured in p-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The nuclear modification factor R_{pPb}, quantifying the D-meson yield in p-Pb collisions relative to the yield in pp collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, is compatible within the 15%-20% uncertainties with unity in the transverse momentum interval 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. No significant difference among the R_{pPb} of the four D-meson species is observed. The results are described within uncertainties by theoretical calculations that include initial-state effects. The measurement adds experimental evidence that the modification of the momentum spectrum of D mesons observed in Pb-Pb collisions with respect to pp collisions is due to strong final-state effects induced by hot partonic matter.

Correlation between DQB1 genetic polymorphism and genetic susceptibility in patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea

We examined patients of Han nationality diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (IBS-D) in Guangdong, China, to analyze the correlation between DQB1 allele polymorphisms and the genetic susceptibility to IBS-D. A total of 120 IBS-D patients of Han nationality in Guangdong, China, and 60 healthy control volunteers were included. DQB1 allele polymorphisms were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. Subjects' serum interleukin (IL)-10 level, colonic permeability, and tight junction marker zonula occludens 1 (ZO1) mRNA level were also investigated. Our data showed that the DQB1*02 allele frequency was significantly higher in IBS-D patients, while the DQB1*0603 frequency was lower than in healthy volunteers. The DQB1*03, DQB1*04, DQB1*05, DQB1*0601, DQB1*0602, and DQB1*0604 alleles did not show significant differences between IBS-D patients and healthy controls. Furthermore, patients with DQB1*03- positive and DQB1*0603-negative alleles showed more severe colonic permeability and lower serum IL-10 level and ZO1 level compared to healthy controls or even IBS-D patients with other genotypes. The present study indicated the DQB1*02 or DQB1*0603 alleles are related to IBS-D occurrence in Guangdong, China, and the mechanism of the disease may be related to reduced serum IL-10 levels.

Association of polymorphisms of angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 with retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus among Chinese individuals

AIMS

To examine the association of Angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) gene polymorphisms and retinopathy in a Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cohort.

METHODS

A total of 743 T2DM participants were involved in this study including 408 female and 335 male cases. Female cases were divided into two groups: diabetes without retinopathy (DNR group, n=171) and with retinopathy (DR group, n=237), the latter was further subclassified into nonproliferative DR (NPDR group, n=121) and proliferative DR (PDR group, n=116). Male cases were assigned to DNR group (n=153) and DR group (n=182) which was further grouped into NPDR group (n=86) and PDR group (n=96). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs2074192 and rs714205) in ACE2 gene were genotyped.

RESULTS

In female cases, the frequency of genotypes TT in rs2074192 and CC in rs714205 were higher in DR and PDR group than in DNR group (P<0.05). The frequency of alleles T in SNP rs2074192 and C in SNP rs714205 was higher in DR group (P<0.05) and PDR group (P<0.05) than in DNR group. The frequency of allele T in SNP rs2074192 was higher in PDR group (P=0.04) than in NPDR group. The frequency of haplotype TC and CG was higher in DR and PDR groups, respectively (P<0.05). No positive results were found in male cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results revealed that SNPs rs2074192 and rs714205 in ACE2 gene were associated with the susceptibility of DR and PDR.

High statistics measurement of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays of 0.5-500 GeV with the alpha magnetic spectrometer on the international space station

A precision measurement by AMS of the positron fraction in primary cosmic rays in the energy range from 0.5 to 500 GeV based on 10.9 million positron and electron events is presented. This measurement extends the energy range of our previous observation and increases its precision. The new results show, for the first time, that above ∼200  GeV the positron fraction no longer exhibits an increase with energy.