Protective Effects of an Obesity-Associated Polymorphism (CDKAL1 rs9356744) on Prediabetes: The Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese (CRC) Study

Background Obesity is strongly associated with insulin resistance and elevated plasma glucose levels. The rs9356744 polymorphism in the CDKAL1 gene is associated with body mass index (BMI) only in East Asians. Here, we examined the effect of the rs9356744 polymorphism on glucose-related traits and prediabetes in Chinese adults.

Methods A total of 2 357 participants were enrolled from the Cardiometabolic Risk in Chinese (CRC) Study, including 499 persons with prediabetes, 204 persons with type 2 diabetes, and 1 654 normoglycemic controls. The rs9356744 polymorphism in CDKAL1 was genotyped and analyzed in all participants.

Results Despite the positive relationship between obesity and glucose traits, the T allele of rs9356744, which is associated with a predisposition to obesity, was correlated with lower levels of 2-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) plasma glucose (2hPG) (β=− 0.2104 and P=0.0233), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (β=− 0.0551 and P=0.0298) and higher levels of homeostasis model of assessment β-cell function (HOMA-B) (β=5.282 and P=0.0424). After further adjustment for BMI, the levels of HOMA-B maintained a similar increased trend across rs9356744 genotype (β=3.277 and P=0.1958). In stratified analyses, the associations of rs9356744 with 2hPG and HbA1c were significant for individuals with a low BMI. Moreover, an antagonism action of BMI and rs9356744 on 2hPG (P for interaction=0.0055) was observed. In addition, we found a protective effect of rs9356744 on prediabetes.

Conclusions The CDKAL1 rs9356744 T allele associated with a predisposition to obesity showed a protective effect on HbA1c, 2hPG, and prediabetes. BMI was mediator of the association between the genetic variant and HbA1c, 2hPG, and prediabetes.

Nosocomial outbreak of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto fungaemia in a neonatal intensive care unit in China

BACKGROUND

Candida parapsilosis is a common agent of fungaemia, but few outbreaks of Candida parapsilosis infection have been reported in China.

AIM

To elaborate an outbreak of nosocomial Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto fungaemia in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a comprehensive hospital in China from July to October 2017.

METHODS

Epidemics and characteristics of fungaemia cases were investigated. Surveillance samples were collected. Vitek 2 Compact System, internal transcribed spacer sequencing, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing were conducted to identify the isolates. Antifungal susceptibility test was performed for all bloodstream isolates.

FINDINGS

Sixteen neonates were diagnosed as Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto fungaemia during this period. Presenting symptoms included leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and respiratory crackles. Fifteen cases were cured whereas one case who suffered from severe concomitant diseases died. The isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, and 5-fluorocytosine. A total of 313 surveillance samples were collected, and Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto was identified from 16 environmental samples and one sample from an ultrasonographer's hand. The colonized locations included wiping cloths, faucets, sinks, operating table, puddles in the bathroom, a ventilator, and an ultrasonic probe. The RAPD patterns of all the Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates from bloodstream and surveillance samples were identical. The outbreak was controlled after a series of infection control measures.

CONCLUSION

Contaminated environment was associated with this outbreak. Close attention to immunocompromised patients, thorough environmental disinfection and hand hygiene should be strengthened in NICU.

Preparation of the rainbow trout bone peptides directed by nutritional properties and flavor analyses

Rainbow trout bone proteins were prepared by heating at 121°C for 30 min, followed by filtration, concentration, and lyophilization. Nutritional properties and flavor analyses of hydrolysates digested by five different enzymes were investigated, respectively. Results showed that the crude protein content of rainbow trout bone was 15.90% and had a well-balanced nutritional value. The content of total amino acids was 983.64 mg/g. The amount of free amino acids of hydrolysates digested by alkaline protease, neutral protease, flavourzyme, papain, and trypsin for 3 hr was 207.83, 224.13, 1,001.59, 283.26, and 303.64 mg/g, respectively. During the hydrolysis, the main flavor compounds were identified by GC-MS to be alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, acids, and alkanes. After hydrolysis, the main molecular weight of peptides was focused on the range of 1,000-3,000 Da in all enzymatic hydrolysates. This study provided a theoretical basis to comprehensive utilization of rainbow trout bone in food industry.

Preliminary study of the homologous recombination repair pathway in mouse spermatogonial stem cells

The present study was designed to detect DNA repair response through the homologous recombination pathway in mouse spermatogonial stem cells. Mouse spermatogonial stem cells (mSSCs) were obtained from the adult DBA/2 mouse testes by MACS sorting. mSSCs and mice animals were divided into four groups (30 min, 2, 24 h, control) and treated with ionizing irradiation while the control group received pseudo-irradiation. Proteins involved in the homologous recombination pathway (γH2AX, ATM, RAD51, CtIP, and RPA2) were assessed in mSSCs both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the non-homologous end-joining or homologous recombination (NHEJ/HR) reporter plasmids were transfected into mSSCs to assess NHEJ/HR pathway activity after DNA double-strand break (DSB). γH2AX, a classical DNA DSB marker, was absent in mSSCs both in vivo and in vitro after DSB repair, but was highly expressed in other tissue stem cells. In addition, ATM and phosphorylated ATM (p-ATM) were involved in DNA damage response (DDR) in mSSCs. p-ATM foci were overexpressed immediately after irradiation (30 min and 2 h), but gradually decreased over the repair time. The HR pathway-related proteins, CtIP and RPA2 were negatively regulated after treatment in Western blot (WB). NHEJ/HR reporter plasmid transfection indicated that the HR pathway played a minor role in mSSCs during DDR, consistent with the WB findings. This study demonstrates that mSSCs may have a unique response to DNA damage since crucial proteins involved in HR pathway were negatively regulated after DSB. In addition, the expression level of p-ATM, but not γH2AX, was increased after DSB, suggesting that DNA damage repair in mSSCs might be a γH2AX-independent response. Furthermore, the HR pathway may play a minor role during DDR in mSSCs.

2-D and 3-D porous structures from tetrakis(4-thyminylmethylphenyl)methane

Using tetraphenylmethane as a scaffold, a potent hub for generation of organic porous networks has been synthesized by introduction of thymine functionalities in all para-positions.

Prompt fission gamma-ray emission spectral data for 239Pu(n,f) using fast directional neutrons from the LICORNE neutron source

Prompt fission gamma-ray spectra (PFGS) have been measured for the 239Pu(n,f) reaction using fast neutrons at Ēn=1.81 MeV produced by the LICORNE directional neutron source. The setup makes use of LaBr3 scintillation detectors and PARIS phoswich detectors to measure the emitted prompt fission gamma rays (PFG). The mean multiplicity, average total energy release per fission and average energy of photons are extracted from the unfolded PFGS. These new measurements provide complementary information to other recent work on thermal neutron induced fission of 239Pu and spontaneous fission of 252Cf.

Studies of fission fragment yields via high-resolution γ-ray spectroscopy

Precise spectroscopic information on the fast neutron induced fission of the 238U(n,f) reaction was recently gained using a new technique which involved coupling of the Miniball high resolution y-ray spectrometer and the LICORNE directional neutron source. The experiment allowed measurement of the isotopic fission yields for around 40 even-even nuclei at an incident neutron energy of around 2 MeV where yield data are very sparse. In addition spectroscopic information on very neutron-rich fission products was obtained. Results were compared to models, both the JEFF-3.1.1 data base and the GEF code, and large discrepancies for the S1 fission mode in the Sn/Mo isotope pair were discovered. This suggests that current models are overestimating the role played by spherical shell effects in fast neutron induced fission. In late 2017 and 2018 the nu-ball hybrid spectrometer will be constructed at the IPN Orsay to perform further experimental investigations with directional neutrons coupled to a powerful hybrid Ge/LaBr3 detector array. This will open up new possibilities for measurements of fission yields for fast-neutron-induced fission using the spectroscopic technique and will be complimentary to other methods being developed.

Birthweight and cardiometabolic risk patterns in multiracial children

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Prenatal growth, which is widely marked by birthweight, may have a pivotal role in affecting the lifelong risk of cardiometabolic disorders; however, comprehensive evaluation of its relations with childhood cardiometabolic risk patterns and the ethnic and gender disparities in national representative populations is still lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between birthweight and comprehensive patterns of cardiometabolic risk in a nationally representative sample of children and adolescents.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Prospective analyses were performed using data from 28 153 children 0 to 15 years in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 through 2014. We defined childhood cardiometabolic disorders using standard definitions for obesity, high blood pressure, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia.

RESULTS

Five birthweight categories <2.5, 2.5-3.0, 3.0-3.5, 3.5-4.2 and ⩾4.2 kg accounted for 8.2%, 17.9%, 35.7%, 27.9% and 10.4% of the population, respectively. In all children, with increasing birthweight, we observed significantly increasing trends of the risk of general and central obesity (P for trend <0.01) and significantly decreasing trends of the risk of high systolic blood pressure (SBP), high HbA1c and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P for trend <0.05). The associations were independent of current body mass index (BMI). In addition, we found that the relations of birthweight with high waist circumference in Black children showed U-shape, as well as high SBP in Mexican and Hispanic children. Moreover, we found that the associations of low birthweight with high SBP and low HDL-C appeared to more prominent significant in boys, whereas the inverse association with high HbA1c was more evident in girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that birthweight is significantly related to childhood cardiometabolic risk, independent of current BMI, and the associations exhibit race and gender-specific patterns.

Toxic effects of ketamine on reproductive system via disrupting hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis

OBJECTIVE

In this paper, we focused on the toxic effect of ketamine on the reproductive system in male rats and its underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Rats were randomly allocated into four groups (n=10), i.e. a control group and 3 ketamine groups (high-dose, mid-dose, low-dose). Animals in the ketamine groups received an intraperitoneal injection of ketamine (20, 40 or 60 mg/kg) every 3 days for 7 times. Control rats were injected with normal saline instead. To investigate the disruption potential on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPG) axis, the relative hormone levels in serum and mRNA expressions for some reproduction-related genes in reproductive organs were evaluated.

RESULTS

Ketamine significantly decreased the serum concentrations of testosterone (T), inhibin B, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Meanwhile, the mRNA expressions of GnRH in the hypothalamus, GnRH receptor, LH-β and FSH-β in the pituitary, and LH receptor and FSH receptor in testes were also significantly inhibited by ketamine compared with the control (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated that the ketamine had a toxic effect on the reproductive system via breaking the HPG equilibrium.

Abstract S5-04: Low-fat dietary pattern and breast cancer overall survival in the women's health initiative dietary modification randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Among 48,835 postmenopausal women randomized in the Women's Health Initiative Dietary Modification (WHI DM) primary prevention trial, 1,767 women were diagnosed with breast cancer during the 8.3 years of dietary intervention. While differences were not statistically significant, there were fewer breast cancers diagnosed in the low fat dietary group women (HR 0.92 95% CI 0.84-1.01, P=0.09) with somewhat lower breast cancer mortality (HR 0.77 95% CI 0.48-1.22) than seen in control group women (JAMA 2006; 295:629). These findings were recently updated, and after 10.9 years (mean) post-diagnosis follow-up, breast cancer overall survival among these 1,767 women measured from diagnosis was greater in the dietary group (10 year survival, 82% vs 78%, 168 (2.24%) versus 319 (2.71%) deaths; HR 0.80 95% CI 0.66-0.97, P=0.02) (AACR Annual Meeting 2016, abstract CT0433, Clinical Trials Plenary Session). We now report low-fat dietary pattern influence on breast cancer overall survival in subgroups defined by breast cancer characteristics.

Methods: The WHI DM trial, conducted at 40 US clinical centers, from1993-1998 enrolled 48,835 postmenopausal women, aged 50-79, without prior breast cancer, with normal mammogram and dietary fat intake &gt;32% of total energy. Participants were randomly assigned to a dietary intervention group (40%, n=19,541) with goals of fat intake reduction to 20% of energy and increased fruits, vegetables and grain intake, or a usual diet control group (60%, n=29,294). As previously reported, the dietary modification program reduced fat intake, increased fruit, vegetable and grain intake and was associated with modest weight loss (all P&lt; 0.001). The current secondary analysis outcome is breast cancer overall survival in subgroups defined by breast cancer characteristics for cases diagnosed during the dietary intervention period. Because of possible selection prior to breast cancer diagnosis, these analyses do not compare randomized outcomes. Therefore, careful attention is paid to control of risk factors for breast cancer in the analysis.

Results: The examined subgroups included histology (ductal, lobular, other), estrogen receptor (ER) status (positive vs. negative by local laboratory), progesterone receptor (PR) status, HER2 status, triple negative (yes/no), stage (local, regional or distant), grade (well, moderately, poorly differentiated), tumor size (&lt;1, 1- 2, &gt;=2 cm), and nodal involvement (none, 1-3, 4+). None of the tests of interaction in subgroups were statistically significant. All subgroup hazard ratios (HR) were less than one except for ER negative cancers, triple negative cancers and those with 4+ positive lymph nodes. The results are suggestive of no influence of the low-fat dietary pattern on triple negative cancers (HR 1.64 95% CI 0.73-3.70 for triple negative vs. HR 0.73 95% CI 0.56-0.95 for other breast cancers, interaction P=0.06).

Conclusion: Compared to a usual diet control group, women randomized to a dietary intervention group providing a low-fat dietary pattern had a significantly increased overall survival following a breast cancer diagnosis with the possible exception of those developing triple negative cancers.

Citation Format: Chlebowski RT, Aragaki AK, Thomson CA, Anderson G, Manson JE, Simon MS, Rohan TE, Snetselar LG, Lane D, Barrington WE, Vitolins M, Womack C, Qi L, Hou L, Thomas F, Prentice RL. Low-fat dietary pattern and breast cancer overall survival in the women's health initiative dietary modification randomized controlled trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2016 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2016 Dec 6-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(4 Suppl):Abstract nr S5-04.

Thyroid hormones and changes in body weight and metabolic parameters in response to weight loss diets: the POUNDS LOST trial

BACKGROUND

The role of thyroid hormones in diet-induced weight loss and subsequent weight regain is largely unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To examine the associations between thyroid hormones and changes in body weight and resting metabolic rate (RMR) in a diet-induced weight loss setting.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Data analysis was conducted among 569 overweight and obese participants aged 30-70 years with normal thyroid function participating in the 2-year Prevention of Obesity Using Novel Dietary Strategies (POUNDS) LOST randomized clinical trial. Changes in body weight and RMR were assessed during the 2-year intervention. Thyroid hormones (free triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxine (T4), total T3, total T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)), anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 months and 24 months.

RESULTS

Participants lost an average of 6.6 kg of body weight during the first 6 months and subsequently regained an average of 2.7 kg of body weight over the remaining period from 6 to 24 months. Baseline free T3 and total T3 were positively associated, whereas free T4 was inversely associated, with baseline body weight, body mass index and RMR. Total T4 and TSH were not associated with these parameters. Higher baseline free T3 and free T4 levels were significantly associated with a greater weight loss during the first 6 months (P<0.05) after multivariate adjustments including dietary intervention groups and baseline body weight. Comparing extreme tertiles, the multivariate-adjusted weight loss±s.e. was -3.87±0.9 vs -5.39±0.9 kg for free T3 (P_trend=0.02) and -4.09±0.9 vs -5.88±0.9 kg for free T4 (P_trend=0.004). The thyroid hormones did not predict weight regain in 6-24 months. A similar pattern of associations was also observed between baseline thyroid hormones and changes in RMR. In addition, changes in free T3 and total T3 levels were positively associated with changes in body weight, RMR, body fat mass, blood pressure, glucose, insulin, triglycerides and leptin at 6 months and 24 months (all P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

In this diet-induced weight loss setting, higher baseline free T3 and free T4 predicted more weight loss, but not weight regain among overweight and obese adults with normal thyroid function. These findings reveal a novel role of thyroid hormones in body weight regulation and may help identify individuals more responsive to weight loss diets.

Gastrointestinal tract development in fattening lambs fed diets with different amylose to amylopectin ratios

Thirty-six, 7-d-old male lambs of similar weights were used in the current study to examine the effects of dietary amylose to amylopectin ratios (amylose/amylopectin) on gastrointestinal development in fattening lambs fed concentrates with different sources of starch (tapioca, wheat, maize, and pea) and amylose/amylopectin (0.12, 0.23, 0.24, and 0.48, respectively). The maize starch (MS) and wheat starch (WS) diets improved weight and volume of gastrointestinal. The pea starch diet significantly increased papillar height (P < 0.001), papillar surface area (P = 0.019), and density of papillae (P = 0.001) in the rumen. Additionally, the pea starch diet significantly enhanced villus height, crypt depth, and villus surface area and villus/crypt ratio (P < 0.05) in small intestine. Expressions of insulin-like growth factors I (IGF-1) and insulin-like growth factors’ receptors (IGF-1R) significantly increased in the duodenum mucosa (P = 0.021, P = 0.006, respectively), jejunum mucosa (P = 0.002, P = 0.005, respectively), and ileum mucosa (P = 0.003, P < 0.01, respectively) in the pea starch diet group. The results of the present study show that MS and WS accelerated physical development of rumen and intestine compartments, whereas pea starch increased development of their some morphological parameters, possibly through enhanced expression of genes such as IGF-1 and IGF-1R in fattening lambs.

Different associations between blood pressure indices and carotid artery damages in a community-based population of China

Different blood pressure (BP) indices had varying associations with carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and plaques in clinical practice. However, insufficient evidence has focused on this issue, especially in Chinese population. Herein we examined associations of different BP indices with cIMT and plaques cross-sectionally in a community-based atherosclerosis cohort. We qualitatively measured cIMT and plaques, and also measured central systolic blood pressure and brachial systolic blood pressure (baSBP), from which pulse pressure (PP), and second PP (PP2) were calculated. Logistic multivariate regression was used to assess the associations with BP indices and carotid artery hypertrophy (increased cIMT) and the extent of atherosclerosis (presence of plaques). Each BP index was significantly and independently associated with increased cIMT and plaques except the association of baSBP with plaques. When every two BP indices were put into one model, brachial pressure indices were associated with increased cIMT independently of central pressures, whereas the association between central pressure indices and plaque presence were stronger than those of brachial pressures. In addition, SBP indices were associated with increased cIMT independently of PP indices, whereas PP indices were more strongly related to plaques. In conclusion, central and PP indices might be associated with plaques; however, brachial and SBP indices might be associated with increased cIMT. Nevertheless, whether these BP indices predict increased cIMT and plaque progression warrants further longitudinal and laboratory studies.

Next-generation sequencing of Chinese stage IV lung cancer patients reveals an association between EGFR mutation status and survival outcome

Large-scale genomic characterization of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has revealed several putative oncogenic driver mutations that may constitute druggable therapeutic targets. However, there are little data to suggest that such gene alterations have clinical relevance. Over 12 consecutive months, tumor biopsy samples from 80 patients with stage IV NSCLC were analyzed for mutations in selected exons of 508 cancer-related genes using next-generation sequencing. From 85 specimens referred for genomic characterization, 80 (94%) specimens were successfully genotyped, and all had identifiable somatic alterations. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and TP53 genes contained the highest frequency of observed mutations (65% and 40%, respectively) in the stage IV NSCLC cases. Notably, patients with EGFR mutations showed a significantly shorter survival time compared with patients expressing wild-type EGFR (p = 0.0053). Moreover, of the 32 patients harboring EGFR mutations, EGFR-L858R mutant patients showed a significantly shorter survival time compared with patients with other EGFR mutations (p = 0.036). In conclusion, tumors from stage IV NSCLC patients harbor characteristic gene alterations, of which EGFR L858R in particular appears to be a poor prognostic factor for overall survival.

Metabonomic analysis of the protective effect of quercetin on the toxicity induced by mixture of organophosphate pesticides in rat urine

The present study aims to investigate the protective effect of quercetin against the joint toxic action induced by the mixture of four organophosphate pesticides (mixture-OPs) (dimethoate, acephate, dichlorvos, and phorate) at their corresponding no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) using metabonomics. Rats were randomly divided into control, quercetin-treated, mixture-OPs-treated, and quercetin plus mixture-OPs-treated groups. Mixture-OPs and quercetin were given to the rats daily through drinking water and intragastric administration, respectively, for 90 days. The metabonomic profiles of rat urine were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS). The 14 metabolites significantly changed in the treatment groups compared with the control group, including the biomarkers of OPs exposure (dimethylphosphate, dimethyldithiophosphate, diethylphosphate) and the metabolites of quercetin (quercetin and isorhamnetina). The intensities of gentisic acid, creatinine, suberic acid, hippuric acid, uric acid, and citric acid significantly decreased, whereas the intensities of 7-methylguanine, estrone sulfate, and cholic acid significantly increased, in the mixture-OPs-treated group compared with the control group ( p < 0.01). The variation tendency of the aforementioned metabolites was significantly ameliorated in the high-dose quercetin (50 mg/(kg bw day)) plus mixture-OPs-treated group compared with the mixture-OPs-treated group ( p < 0.05). However, the intensities of these metabolites in the high-dose quercetin plus mixture-OPs-treated group were still significantly different from those of the control group ( p < 0.05). Results indicated that high dose of quercetin elicits a partial protective effect on the toxicity induced by mixture-OPs, including fatty acid and energy metabolism, antioxidant defense system, DNA damage, and liver and kidney function.

First Evidence of Shape Coexistence in the ^{78}Ni Region: Intruder 0_{2}^{+} State in ^{80}Ge

The N=48 ^{80}Ge nucleus is studied by means of β-delayed electron-conversion spectroscopy at ALTO. The radioactive ^{80}Ga beam is produced through the isotope separation on line photofission technique and collected on a movable tape for the measurement of γ and e^{-} emission following β decay. An electric monopole E0 transition, which points to a 639(1) keV intruder 0_{2}^{+} state, is observed for the first time. This new state is lower than the 2_{1}^{+} level in ^{80}Ge, and provides evidence of shape coexistence close to one of the most neutron-rich doubly magic nuclei discovered so far, ^{78}Ni. This result is compared with theoretical estimates, helping to explain the role of monopole and quadrupole forces in the weakening of the N=50 gap at Z=32. The evolution of intruder 0_{2}^{+} states towards ^{78}Ni is discussed.

Genetic variation of fasting glucose and changes in glycemia in response to 2-year weight-loss diet intervention: the POUNDS LOST trial

Objective

Weight loss intervention through diet modification has been widely used to improve obesity-related hyperglycemia; however, little is known about whether genetic variation modifies the intervention effect. We examined the interaction between weight-loss diets and genetic variation of fasting glucose on changes in glycemic traits in a dietary intervention trial.

Research Design and Methods

The Preventing Overweight Using Novel Dietary Strategies (POUNDS LOST) trial is a randomized, controlled 2-year weight-loss trial. We assessed overall genetic variation of fasting glucose by calculating a genetic risk score (GRS) based on 14 fasting glucose-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms, and examined the progression in fasting glucose and insulin levels, and insulin resistance and insulin sensitivity in 733 adults from this trial.

Results

The GRS was associated with 6-month changes in fasting glucose (P<0.001), fasting insulin (P=0.042), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR, P=0.009) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA-S, P=0.043). We observed significant interaction between the GRS and dietary fat on 6-month changes in fasting glucose, HOMA-IR and HOMA-S after multivariable adjustment (P-interaction=0.007, 0.045, and 0.028, respectively). After further adjustment for weight loss, the interaction remained significant on change in fasting glucose (P=0.015). In the high-fat diet group, participants in the highest GRS tertile showed increased fasting glucose, whereas participants in the lowest tertile showed decreased fasting glucose (P-trend<0.001); in contrast, the genetic association was not significant in the low-fat diet group (P-trend=0.087).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that participants with a higher genetic risk may benefit more by eating a low-fat diet to improve glucose metabolism.

Identification of differentially expressed miRNAs in individual breast cancer patient and application in personalized medicine

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have key roles in breast cancer progression, and their expression levels are heterogeneous across individual breast cancer patients. Traditional methods aim to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in populations rather than in individuals and are affected by the expression intensities of miRNAs in different experimental batches or platforms. Thus it is urgent to conduct miRNA differential expression analysis at an individual level for further personalized medicine research. We proposed a straightforward method to determine the differential expression of each miRNA in an individual patient by utilizing the reversal expression order of miRNA pairs between two conditions (cancer and normal tissue). We applied our method to breast cancer miRNA expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas and two other independent data sets. In total, 292 miRNAs were differentially expressed in individual breast cancer patients. Using the differential expression profile of miRNAs in individual patients, we found that the deregulations of miRNA tend to occur in specific breast cancer subtypes. We investigated the coordination effect between the miRNA and its target, based on the hypothesis that one gene function can be changed by copy number alterations of the corresponding gene or deregulation of the miRNA. We revealed that patients exhibiting an upregulation of hsa-miR-92b and patients with deletions of PTEN did not tend to overlap, and hsa-miR-92b and PTEN coordinately regulated the pathway of 'cell cycle' and so on. Moreover, we discovered a new prognostic signature, hsa-miR-29c, whose downregulation was associated with poor survival of breast cancer patients.