Detection of a novel HLA-A*30 variant, A*30:109, in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide substitution at residue 488 of HLA-A*30:01:02 results in a novel allele, HLA-A*30:109.

A novel HLA allele, HLA-C*15:02:01:04, identified in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide substitution at residue 1924 of HLA-C*15:02:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-C*15:02:01:04.

Risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea among women with polycystic ovarian syndrome: a nationwide longitudinal follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Previous cross-sectional studies have suggested a comorbid relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the temporal association between these two distinct diseases has not yet been investigated.

METHODS

Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 4595 women with PCOS and 4595 (1:1) age-/sex-matched controls were enrolled into the present study between 1998 and 2009, and followed to the end of 2011. Those who developed OSA during the follow-up were identified.

RESULTS

Women with PCOS had a greater incidence of developing OSA (1.71 vs 0.63 1000 person-years, p < 0.001) than those without PCOS. The Cox regression analysis after adjusting for demographic data and medical comorbidities showed that women with PCOS had an elevated likelihood of subsequent OSA (hazard ratio: 2.63, 95% CI 1.57-4.04) during the follow-up compared to the controls.

DISCUSSION

Women with PCOS were associated with an increased risk of developing OSA in later life. Further studies would be required to investigate the underlying pathophysiology between PCOS and OSA, and to clarify whether prompt intervention for PCOS would reduce the risk of OSA.

Identification of a novel HLA-A*02:01:01 variant, HLA-A*02:01:01:09, in a Taiwanese bone marrow donor

An intronic mutation in intron 3 of A*02:01:01:01 leads to the formation of A*02:01:01:09.

HLA-A*11:256Q, a novel HLA-A*11 variant, detected in a Taiwanese individual

Nucleotide deletions from residues 409 to 417 of HLA-A*11:02:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-A*11:256Q.

Detection of a novel HLA-C*03 variant, HLA-C*03:227, in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide substitution at residue 19 of HLA-C*03:03:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-C*03:227.

The novel HLA-DRB1*15:140 allele discovered in a Taiwanese unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donor

One nucleotide substitution at residue 91 of HLA-DRB1*15:02:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA-DRB1*15:140.

HLA-C*07:566, a novel HLA-C*07 variant, detected in a Taiwanese hematopoietic stem cell donor

One nucleotide replacement in codon 334 of HLA-C*07:02:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-C*07:566.

Identification of a novel HLA-C allele, HLA-C*15:134, in a Taiwanese hematopoietic stem cell donor

One nucleotide substitution in codon 17 of HLA-C*15:02:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-C*15:134.

Detection of a novel HLA-A*11 variant, A*11:255, in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide substitution at residue 532 of HLA-A*11:02:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-A*11:255.

HLA-B*15:414, a novel variant of HLA-B*15, discovered in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide replacement at residue 221 of HLA-B*15:18:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA-B*15:414.

A dispermic chimerism detected in a Taiwanese potential unrelated hematopoietic stem cell donor

Chimerism is defined as the presence of 2 or more than 1 genetically distinct cell populations in an organism. Dispermic chimeras are derived from the fertilization of 1 or 2 matured nuclei by 2 sperms. We here report detection of a healthy and phenotypically normal female with normal ABO red blood cell typing in whom dispermic chimerism was suspected after 3 alleles were identified at multiple human leukocyte antigen (HLA) loci using molecular HLA analysis. Molecular HLA typing showed the donor to have 3 HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQB1 and -DPB1 alleles in blood, saliva and nail samples. In addition, 3 of her 9 short tandem repeat loci also showed to have 3 distinct alleles in blood, nail and saliva specimens. In all investigations, the third alleles were attributed to a dual paternal contribution. This case represents a dispermic chimerism, with 2 paternal and 1 maternal haplotypes variably distributed throughout body tissues in a healthy and phenotypically normal female without abnormalities in erythrocyte ABO blood group. The origin of this chimerism is probably due to the fertilization of a single egg and its polar body, or a parthenogenetic egg, by 2 sperms.

Biosynthesis of Antroquinonol and 4-Acetylantroquinonol B via a Polyketide Pathway Using Orsellinic Acid as a Ring Precursor in Antrodia cinnamomea

Antroquinonol (AQ) and 4-acetylantroquinonol B (4-AAQB), isolated from the mycelium of Antrodia cinnamomea, have a similar chemical backbone to coenzyme Q (CoQ). Based on the postulation that biosynthesis of both AQ and 4-AAQB in A. cinnamomea starts from the polyketide pathway, we cultivated this fungus in a culture medium containing [U-¹³C]oleic acid, and then we analyzed the crude extracts of the mycelium using UHPLC-MS. We found that AQ and 4-AAQB follow similar biosynthetic sequences as CoQ. Obvious [¹³C₂] fragments on the ring backbone were detected in the mass spectrum for [¹³C₂]AQ, [¹³C₂]4-AAQB, and their [¹³C₂] intermediates found in this study. The orsellinic acid, formed from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA via the polyketide pathway, was found to be a novel benzoquinone ring precursor for AQ and 4-AAQB. The identification of endogenously synthesized farnesylated intermediates allows us to postulate the routes of AQ and 4-AAQB biosynthesis in A. cinnamomea.

HLA-C*07:544, a novel HLA-C*07 variant, detected in a Taiwanese bone marrow donor

One nucleotide exchange at residue 768 of the HLA-C*07:02:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-C*07:544.

Identification of a novel HLA-B*07 variant, B*07:269, by sequence-based typing in a Taiwanese bone marrow stem cell donor

One nucleotide replacement at residue 559 of HLA-B*07:05:01:01 or B*07:06:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-B*07:269.

HLA-B*15:388, a novel variant of HLA-B*15, discovered in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide replacement at residue 47 of HLA-B*15:18:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA-B*15:388.

Detection of a novel HLA-B*46:01 variant, HLA-B*46:01:22, in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide replacement at residue 606 of HLA-B*46:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA-B*46:01:22.

Identification of a novel HLA-A*02 variant, HLA-A*02:621, in a Taiwanese bone marrow donor

One nucleotide replacement at residue 169 of HLA-A*02:01:01:01 results in a new allele, HLA-A*02:621.

Discovery of HLA-B*58:80, a novel HLA-B*58 variant, in a Taiwanese bone marrow donor

One nucleotide substitution at residue 133 of HLA-B*58:01:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-B*58:80.

Discovery of a novel HLA-DRB1*09 variant, HLA-DRB1*09:28, in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide substitution at residue 332 of HLA-DRB1*09:01:02 results in a novel allele, HLA-DRB1*09:28.

Alterations in brain metabolism and function following administration of low-dose codeine phosphate: 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging studies

The aim of the present study was to identify alterations in brain function following administration of a single, low-dose of codeine phosphate in healthy volunteers using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). In addition, the metabolic changes in the two sides of the frontal lobe were identified using ¹H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-MRS). A total of 20 right-handed healthy participants (10 males, 10 females) were evaluated, and a Signa HDx 1.5T MRI scanner was used for data acquisition. An echo planar imaging sequence was used for resting-state fMRI, whereas a point resolved spectroscopy sequence was used for ¹H-MRS. Regional Saturation Technique, Data Processing Assistant for Resting-State fMRI, and Statistical Parameter Mapping 8 were used to analyze the fMRI data. The ¹H-MRS data were analyzed using LCModel software. At 1 h after oral administration of codeine phosphate (1.0 mg/kg), the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity were altered in different brain areas. The choline content was significantly increased in the right and left frontal lobes following codeine phosphate administration (P=0.02 and P=0.03, respectively), whereas the inositol content was significantly decreased in the left frontal lobe (P=0.02). There was no change in the glutamic acid content in the frontal lobes. In conclusion, the functions of different brain regions can be affected by a single, low-dose administration of codeine phosphate. The alterations in metabolite content in the two frontal lobes may be associated with changes in brain function, whereas the ALFF in the globus pallidus may have an effect on codeine phosphate addiction. Finally, glutamic acid may be useful in the estimation of codeine dependence.

A novel HLA-B*38 variant, B*38:15, detected in a Taiwanese individual

One nucleotide substitution at residue 346 of HLA-B*38:02:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-B*38:15.

Recognition of a novel HLA-A*11 variant, HLA-A*11:196, in a Taiwanese unrelated bone marrow stem cell donor

One nucleotide substitution at residue 484 of HLA-A*11:01:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-A*11:196.

HLA-A*11:235Q, a novel HLA-A*11 variant, detected in a Taiwanese individual

Nucleotide deletions from residue 120 to 125 of HLA-A*11:01:01:01 result in a novel allele, HLA-A*11:235Q.

Discovery of a novel HLA-B*13:01 variant, HLA-B*13:01:12, in a Taiwanese bone marrow stem cell donor

One nucleotide substitution at codon 189 of HLA-B*13:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA-B*13:01:12.