Association between a Functional HLA-G 14-bp Insertion/deletion Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Autoimmune Diseases: A Meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to determine whether a functional human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) 14-bp insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between an HLA-G 14-bp I/D polymorphism and autoimmune diseases using 1) allele contrast, as well as 2) recessive, 3) dominant, and 4) codominant models. Sixteen articles that included 20 comparative studies with 3,555 patients and 5,225 controls were included in the meta-analysis. These studies were performed on nine Caucasian, six South American, three Asian, one Arab, and one African population samples. Our meta-analysis revealed no association between autoimmune diseases and the HLA-G 14-bp I/D polymorphism [odds ratio (OR) for allele I = 1.055; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.963-1.156; p = 0.251)]. However, meta-analysis according to autoimmune disease type revealed an association between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the II+ID genotype of the HLA-G 14-bp I/D polymorphism (OR = 1.205; 95% CI = 1.036-1.403; p = 0.016). Furthermore, analysis using a codominant model revealed an association between this polymorphism and SLE (OR for ID vs. DD = 1.203; 95% CI = 1.024-1.413; p = 0.024). In contrast, our meta-analysis revealed no association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA), multiple sclerosis (MS), or Crohn's disease (CD) and the HLA-G 14-bp I/D polymorphism. This meta-analysis showed that the HLA-G 14-bp I/D polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to a subgroup of autoimmune diseases such as SLE, but not RA, MS, or CD. These results support the existence of an association between the HLA-G gene and a subgroup of autoimmune diseases.

Meta-analysis of the association between functional MICA-TM polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A transmembrane (MICA-TM) polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS

A meta-analysis was conducted to establish the association between MICA-TM polymorphisms and SLE, RA and AS in the overall study population, as well as in each ethnic group.

RESULTS

A total of 13 comparison studies, including five SLE (1601 patients; 1846 controls), four RA (701 patients; 887 controls) and four AS (346 patients; 356 controls) studies were considered in the meta-analysis. An association between the MICA-TM A5.1 allele and SLE was demonstrated in Europeans but not in Asians: odds ratio (OR) = 1.699, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.123-2.569, p = 0.012 and OR = 0.949, 95 % CI = 0.502-1.793, p = 0.871, respectively. However, no association was found in Europeans after Bonferroni correction (pcorrected = 0.060). An association was found between the MICA-TM A9 allele and RA in Asians (OR = 0.527, 95 % CI = 0.408-0.681, p = 8.9 × 10(-7)) but not in Europeans; the association in Asians remained significant after Bonferroni correction (pcorrected = 4.5 × 10(-6)). An association between the MICA-TM A4 phenotype and AS was observed in European and Asian populations (OR = 12.87, 95 % CI = 6.747-24.58, p < 1.0 × 10(-9) and OR = 9.461, 95 % CI = 5.754-15.55, p < 1.0 × 10(-9), respectively). Meta-analysis stratified by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 status revealed an association between the MICA-TM A4 phenotype and HLA-B27 positivity AS in Asians, but not in Europeans (OR = 0.318, 95 % CI = 0.102-0.995, p = 0.049 and OR = 2.080, 95 % CI = 0.422-10.25, p = 0.368, respectively). However, the association in Asians was not significant after Bonferroni correction (pcorrected = 0.245).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrated that there was no association between MICA-TM polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility, but that the MICA-TM A9 allele was associated with an RA risk in Asians. Moreover, the association between the MICA-TM A4 phenotype and AS was HLA-B27-dependent.

Effect of Feeding a Mixed Microbial Culture Fortified with Trace Minerals on the Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Late-fattening Hanwoo Steers: A Field Study

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding a trace minerals-fortified microbial culture (TMC) on the performance and carcass characteristics of late-fattening Hanwoo steers. A mixture of microbes (0.6% [v/w] of Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp., Lactobacillus sp., and Saccharomyces sp.) was cultured with 99% feedstuff for ensiling and 0.4% trace minerals (zinc, selenium, copper, and cobalt). Sixteen late-fattening steers (mean age, 21.8 months) were allocated to two diets: a control diet (concentrate mix and rice straw) and a treated diet (control diet+3.3% TMC). At a mean age of 31.1 months, all the steers were slaughtered. The addition of TMC to the diet did not affect the average daily weight gain of the late fattening steers, compared with that of control steers. Moreover, consuming the TMC-supplemented diet did not affect cold carcass weight, yield traits such as back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, yield index or yield grade, or quality traits such as meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, marbling score, or quality grade. However, consumption of a TMC-supplemented diet increased the concentrations of zinc, selenium, and sulfur (p<0.05) in the longissimus muscle. With respect to amino acids, animals consuming TMC showed increased (p<0.05) concentrations of lysine, leucine, and valine among essential amino acids and a decreased (p<0.05) concentration of proline among non-essential amino acids. In conclusion, the consumption of a TMC-supplemented diet during the late-fattening period elevated the concentrations of certain trace minerals and essential amino acids in the longissimus muscle, without any deleterious effects on performance and other carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers.

Surgical treatment of acute distal radioulnar joint instability associated with distal radius fractures

This study investigates the question of whether open repair of acute distal radioulnar joint instability at the time of volar plating of distal radius fractures would enable early mobilization of the wrist without the risk of distal radioulnar joint instability. We evaluated 29 patients of mean age 53 years with a distal radius fracture and acute distal radioulnar joint instability who underwent volar plating of the radius combined with surgical repair of the triangular fibrocartilage complex or an ulnar styloid base fracture, followed by active motion exercise of the wrist at 1 week after surgery. At 1 year after treatment, all patients had a stable distal radioulnar joint and grip strength averaged 90% of the normal side. This study demonstrates that surgical repair of the triangular fibrocartilage complex or ulnar styloid fracture followed by early mobilization did not result in distal radioulnar joint instability, and suggests that the surgical treatment of distal radioulnar joint instability may permit early mobilization of the wrist in patients who are considered suitable for rapid rehabilitation after surgery. Type of study: Therapeutic Level IV.

Associations between tumor necrosis factor-α polymorphisms and susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis: meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to determine whether tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in different ethnic populations. MEDLINE and Embase databases and manual searches were employed to identify articles in which TNF-α polymorphisms were determined in patients with PTB and controls. A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations of the TNF-α -308A/G, -238A/G, and -857T/C polymorphisms with PTB susceptibility. A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria, including 12, 6, and 4 studies on TNF-α -308A/G, -238A/G, and -857T/C polymorphisms, respectively. Meta-analysis showed no association between the TNF-α -308A allele and PTB susceptibility in all study subjects (odds ratio, OR = 1.182, 95%CI = 0.989-1.411, P = 0.066). After stratification by ethnicity, TNF-α -308A was not found to be associated with PTB in the European, Asian, or Middle East populations. No association was identified between PTB susceptibility and the TNF-α -238A allele in all study subjects (OR = 1.031, 95%CI = 0.741-1.436, P = 0.855), or in the European and Asian populations. However, TNF-α -857T was significantly associated with PTB susceptibility specifically in Asians (OR = 0.682, 95%CI = 0.550-0.846, P = 4.8 x 10(-5)). Meta-analysis using the dominant model, recessive model, or homozygote contrast showed the same pattern of results as for the TNF-α -857T allele. Overall, no correlation was noted between the TNF-α -308A/G and -238A/G polymorphisms and PTB susceptibility. However, the TNF-α -857T/C polymorphism was found to be associated with PTB susceptibility in the Asian population.

Relative efficacy and safety of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and cyclophosphamide as induction therapy for lupus nephritis: a Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

AIMS

This study aimed to assess the relative efficacy and safety of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and cyclophosphamide (CYC) as induction therapy for lupus nephritis.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus, MMF and CYC for induction therapy in patients with lupus nephritis were included. We performed a Bayesian random-effects network meta-analysis to combine direct and indirect evidence from the RCTs.

RESULTS

Nine RCTs including 972 patients met the inclusion criteria and pair-wise comparisons were performed, including 11 direct comparisons. Tacrolimus showed a significantly higher overall response rate (complete remission plus partial remission) than CYC (OR 2.35, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-5.45), and was more efficacious than MMF (OR 1.60, 95% CI 0.70-3.57). MMF was superior to CYC in terms of overall response (OR 1.45, 95% CI 0.96-2.42). Ranking probability based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) indicated that tacrolimus had the highest probability of being the best treatment for achieving the overall response (SUCRA = 0.9321), followed by MMF (SUCRA = 0.5385) and CYC (SUCRA = 0.0294). In terms of safety, tacrolimus showed the highest probability of decreasing the risk of serious infections (SUCRA = 0.9253), followed by MMF (SUCRA = 0.4027) and CYC (SUCRA = 0.1720).

CONCLUSIONS

Tacrolimus was the most efficacious induction treatment for patients with lupus nephritis, and had the highest probability of decreasing the risk of serious infections. Higher remission rates combined with a more favorable safety profile suggest that MMF is superior to CYC as induction treatment in these patients.

Chemokine receptor 5 Δ32 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculitis, and primary Sjogren's syndrome. Meta-analysis of possible associations

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether the functional chemokine receptor 5 delta32 (CCR5-Δ32) polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), vasculitis, and primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS).

RESULTS

A total of 12 studies were analyzed, including 5 on SLE, 5 on vasculitis, and 2 on pSS, encompassing 1881 patients and 2391 controls. Meta-analysis indicated no association between SLE and the CCR5-Δ32 allele (OR 0.842, 95 % CI 0.793-1.804, p = 0.657), and no association between the CCR5-Δ32 allele and SLE in Europeans (OR 0.647, 95 % CI 0.306-1.368, p = 0.255). Meta-analysis of the CCR5-Δ32 allele and the Δ32Δ32 + Δ32 W genotype showed no association with lupus nephritis (LN; OR 1.771, 95 % CI 0.475-6.595, p = 0.395; OR 2.192, 95 % CI 0.182-26.42, p = 0.537, respectively). In addition, meta-analysis revealed no association between the CCR5-Δ32 allele and vasculitis in all study subjects and in Europeans (OR 1.241, 95 % CI 0.951-1.620, p = 0.111; OR 1.359, 95 % CI 0.803-2.303, p = 0.254, respectively). However, the overall OR for the CCR5-Δ32 allele was significantly higher in Kawasaki disease (KD; OR 1.746, 95 % CI 1.003-2.955, p = 0.038) and the meta-analysis of the Δ32Δ32 + Δ32 W genotype showed a trend indicating an association with KD (OR 1.683, 95 % CI 0.921-3.077, p = 0.091). No association was found between the CCR5-Δ32 polymorphism and pSS.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrates that the CCR5-Δ32 polymorphism is associated with KD, but does not facilitate susceptibility to SLE, LN, or pSS.

PPARγ Pro12Ala and His447His polymorphisms and susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease: a meta-analysis

We investigated whether Pro12Ala (C→G) and His447His (C→T) polymorphisms of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) gene are associated with susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We conducted a meta-analysis of the associations between the PPARγ Pro12Ala and His447His polymorphisms and AD in subjects. The meta-analysis was performed according to the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ɛ4 allele status. A total of eight studies were considered in our meta-analysis, comprising 2948 patients with AD and 3753 controls. Meta-analysis showed no association between AD and the PPARγ Pro12Ala G allele in any of the study subjects [odds ratio (OR) = 1.013, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 0.906-1.132, P = 0.821] or in the European and Asian populations (OR = 0.997, 95%CI = 0.890-1.118, P = 0.965; OR = 1.409, 95%CI = 0.832-2.387, P = 0.202, respectively). We tested whether the APOE ɛ4 allele affects the association between the PPARγ Pro12Ala polymorphism and AD. Meta-analysis showed no association between AD and the PPARγ G allele in any of the study subjects with or without the APOE ɛ4 allele. Meta-analysis showed no association between AD and the PPARγ His447His T allele in the European population (OR for T allele = 0.912, 95%CI = 0.732-1.136, P = 0.409). This meta-analysis has shown that there is a lack of association between the PPARγ Pro12Ala and His447His polymorphisms and AD risk.

Tumour volume changes assessed with high-quality KVCT in lung cancer patients undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated tumour volume changes in patients with lung cancer undergoing concurrent chemoradiotherapy using image-guided radiotherapy (RT).

METHODS

The kilovoltage image was obtained using CT on rail at every five fractions. The gross tumour volumes (GTVs), including the primary tumour and lymph nodes (LNs), were contoured to analyse the time and degree of tumour regression.

RESULTS

46 patients [32, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and 14, small-cell lung cancer (SCLC)] were included in this study. In total, 281 CT scans and 82 sites of GTVs were evaluated. Significant volume changes occurred in both the NSCLC and SCLC groups (p < 0.001 and 0.002), and the average GTV change compared with baseline was 49.85 ± 3.65 [standard error (SE)]% and 65.95 ± 4.60 (SE)% for the NSCLC and SCLC groups, respectively. A significant difference in the degree of volume reduction between the primary tumour and LNs was observed in only the NSCLC group (p < 0.0001) but not in the SCLC group (p = 0.735). The greatest volume regression compared with the volume before the five fractions occurred between the 15 and 20 fractions in the NSCLC group and between the 5 and 10 fractions in the SCLC group.

CONCLUSION

Both primary tumour and LNs were well defined using CT on rail. Significant volume changes occurred during RT, and there was a difference in volume reduction between the NSCLC and SCLC groups, regarding the degree and timing of the tumour reduction in the primary tumour and LNs.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

NSCLC and SCLC groups showed differences in the degree and timing of volume reduction. The primary tumour and LNs in NSCLC regressed differently.

Hong Kong domestic health spending: financial years 1989/90 to 2011/12

This report presents the latest estimates of Hong Kong domestic health spending for financial years 1989/90 to 2011/12, cross-stratified and categorized by financing source, provider, and function. Total expenditure on health (TEH) was HK$101 985 million in financial year 2011/12, which represents an increase of HK$8580 million or 9.2% over the preceding year. TEH grew faster relative to gross domestic product (GDP) leading to a rise in TEH as a percentage of GDP from 5.1% in 2010/11 to 5.2% in 2011/12. During the period 1989/90 to 2011/12, total health spending per capita (at constant 2012 prices) grew at an average annual rate of 4.8%, which was faster than the average annual growth rate of per capita GDP by 1.8 percentage points. In 2011/12, public and private expenditure on health increased by 8.3% and 10.0% when compared with 2010/11, reaching HK$49,262 million and HK$52,723 million respectively. Consequently, public share of total health expenditure dropped slightly from 48.7% to 48.3% over the year. Of private spending, the most important source of health financing was out-of-pocket payments by households (34.9% of TEH), followed by employer-provided group medical benefits (7.5%) and private insurance (7.4%). It is worth noting that private insurance will likely take over employers as the second largest private payer if the insurance market continues to expand at the current rate. Of the HK$101,985 million total health expenditure in 2011/12, current expenditure comprised HK$96,572 million (94.7%), whereas HK$5413 million (5.3%) was for capital expenses (ie investment in medical facilities). Analysed by health care function, services of curative care accounted for the largest share of total health spending (65.2%), which was made up of ambulatory services (33.6%), in-patient curative care (26.9%), day patient hospital services (4.1%), and home care (0.5%). Notwithstanding its small share, the total spending for day patient hospital services shows an increasing trend over the period 1989/90 to 2011/12, likely as a result of policy directives to shift the emphasis from in-patient to day patient care. Hospitals accounted for an increasing share of total spending, from 28.2% in 1989/90 to 46.8% in 2002/03 and then dropped slightly to 42% to 44% during the period 2005/06 to 2011/12, which was primarily driven by reduced expenditure of Hospital Authority. As a result of the epidemics which are of public health importance (eg avian flu, SARS, swine flu) and the expansion of private health insurance market in the last two decades, spending on provision and administration of public health programmes, and general health administration and insurance accounted for increasing, though less significant, shares of total health spending over the period. Without taking into account capital expenses (ie investment in medical facilities), public current expenditure on health amounted to HK$45,321 million (46.9% of total current expenditure) in 2011/12 with the remaining HK$51,251 million made up of private sources of funds. Public current expenditure was mostly incurred at hospitals (74.1%), whereas private current expenditure was mostly incurred at providers of ambulatory health care (51.2%). Although both public and private spending were mostly expended on personal health care services and goods (91.1% of total current spending), the distributional patterns among functional categories differed. Public expenditure was targeted at in-patient care (47.3%) and substantially less on out-patient care (27.4%). In comparison, private spending was mostly concentrated on out-patient care (42.7%), whereas in-patient care (24.7%) and medical goods outside the patient care setting (19.9%) comprised the majority of the remaining share. Compared to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, Hong Kong has devoted a relatively low percentage of GDP to health care in the last decade. As a share of total spending, public funding (either general government revenue or social security funds) was also lower than those in most economies with comparable economic development and public revenue collection base. Nonetheless, Hong Kong health care system achieved service quality and health outcome that fared well by global standards, indicating cost efficiency and effectiveness.

Meta-analysis of functional MBL polymorphisms. Associations with rheumatoid arthritis and primary Sjögren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine whether functional mannose-binding lectin gene (MBL) polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

METHODS

A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the potential association of RA or pSS with MBL polymorphisms, including the codon 54 (allele B), codon 57 (allele C), and codon 52 (allele D) variants of exon 1, and the - 550 (allele L) and - 221 (allele X) promoter variants.

RESULTS

A total of 12 comparative studies, including eight RA (1623 patients and 1671 controls) and four pSS (280 patients and 516 controls) studies, were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed no association between the MBL B allele and RA in the overall study population (odds ratio [OR] 0.991, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.726-1.355, p = 0.957). However, the meta-analysis showed significant associations between the MBL D, H, and X alleles and RA in the overall population (OR 1.708, 95 % CI 1.077-2.707, p = 0.023; OR 1.936, 95 % CI 1.218-3.078, p = 0.005; OR 1.582, 95 % CI 1.216-2.057, p = 0.001, respectively). An association was found between the MBL B allele and pSS in the overall study population (OR 0.691, 95 % CI 0.541-0.917, p = 0.010). Stratification by ethnicity indicated a trend toward an association between the B allele and pSS in European populations, but no association in Asian populations (OR 0.689, 95 % CI 0.465-1.021, p = 0.063; OR 0.896, 95 % CI 0.311-2.562, p = 0.838, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrated an association between the MBL D, L, and X alleles and the risk of RA. It also demonstrated an association between the MBL B allele and the susceptibility to pSS, suggesting a protective role of the MBL B allele against the development of pSS.

TNF-α -308 A/G and -238 A/G polymorphisms and susceptibility to glaucoma: a meta-analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine whether tu-mor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) -308 A/G and -238 A/G polymorphisms confer susceptibility to glaucoma. A meta-analysis was conducted ex-amining the association between TNF-α -308 A/G and -238 A/G poly-morphisms and glaucoma. A total of 13 studies on TNF-α -308 A/G and 238 A/G polymorphisms were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed no association between the TNF-α -308 A al-lele and glaucoma [odds ratio (OR) = 1.403, 95% confidence inter-val (CI) = 0.784-2.513, P = 0.254]. Subgroup analysis by disease type revealed no association between the TNF-α -308 A allele and glau-coma. The meta-analysis revealed no significant association between the TNF-α -238 A allele and glaucoma (OR = 1.120, 95%CI = 0.708-1.773, P = 0.628). This meta-analysis showed no association between the A alleles of the TNF-α -308 A/G or -238 A/G polymorphisms and glaucoma.

Associations between the functional CD40 rs4810485 G/T polymorphism and susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine whether the functional CD40 rs4810485 G/T polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

A series of meta-analyses were conducted to test for association between the CD40 rs4810485 G/T polymorphism and RA or SLE.

Results

A total of 21 comparisons involving 15,095 patients and 27,050 controls for RA, and 1353 patients and 2342 controls for SLE were considered. Meta-analysis showed a significant association between the CD40 rs4810485 T allele and RA in all subjects (odds ratio (OR) 0.890, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.846–0.936, p = 5.5 × 10−7). After stratification by ethnicity, the CD40 T allele was found to be significantly associated with RA in Europeans (OR 0.879, 95% CI 0.848–0.901, p = 3.0 × 10−9). A similar pattern of association was observed between the CD40 T allele and RA when the analysis was performed using the recessive, dominant, and additive models. Meta-analysis also showed a significant association between the CD40 polymorphism and SLE in Europeans (OR for the T allele 0.715, 95% CI 0.641–0.832, p = 1.4 × 10−6).

Conclusions

Our meta-analyses confirm that the CD40 rs4810485 G/T polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to RA and SLE in Europeans.

The effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine1a receptor agonist, buspirone on the gastric fundus accommodation in an animal model using guinea pigs

BACKGROUND

To date, few animal experiments have been conducted to examine the effects and mechanisms of buspirone in inducing the relaxation of the gastric fundus. The aim of this study is to examine the effects and mechanisms of buspirone, 5-HT(1a) receptor agonist, in the accommodation of gastric fundus muscle in an animal experimental model using guinea pigs.

METHODS

In the current study, we performed an immunohistochemistry for 5-HT(1a) receptors in the tissue samples collected from the stomach of guinea pig, an ex vivo experiment to examine the electrical field stimulation (EFS)-induced relaxation of the circular muscle in the gastric fundus in guinea pigs and an in vivo experiment to measure the intragastric pressure through the insertion of the balloon catheter in the fundus.

KEY RESULTS

Immunohistochemical stains for 5-HT(1a) receptor could confirm the expression of 5-HT(1a) receptor in guinea pig stomach. There was a significant dose-dependent inhibition of the EFS-induced relaxation of fundic muscle strips following the treatment with WAY-100635 (5-HT(1a) antagonist), but this was significantly improved following the treatment with buspirone. An in vivo measurement of the gastric fundic tone showed that there was a significant decrease in the intragastric pressure at same volume by pretreatment with buspirone as compared with the vehicle control, but this could be prevented with the treatment with WAY-100635.

CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES

Based on our results, it can be concluded that buspirone is effective in relaxing the gastric fundus via 5-HT(1a) receptor pathway in both in vitro and in vivo experimental models using guinea pigs.

Effect of By-product Feed-based Silage Feeding on the Performance, Blood Metabolites, and Carcass Characteristics of Hanwoo Steers (a Field Study)

This study was conducted to determine the effects of feeding by-product feed (BF)-based silage on the performance, blood metabolite parameters, and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. The BF-based silage was composed of 50% spent mushroom substrate, 21% recycled poultry bedding, 15% cut ryegrass straw, 10.8% rice bran, 2% molasses, 0.6% bentonite, and 0.6% microbial additive (on a wet basis), and ensiled for over 5 d. Fifteen steers were allocated to three diets during the growing and fattening periods (3.1 and 9.8 months, respectively): a control diet (concentrate mix and free access to rice straw), a 50% BF-based silage diet (control diet+50% of maximum BF-based silage intake), and a 100% BF-based silage diet (the same amount of concentrate mix and ad libitum BF-based silage). The BF-based silage was fed during the growing and fattening periods, and was replaced with larger particles of rice straw during the finishing period. After 19.6 months of the whole period all the steers were slaughtered. Compared with feeding rice straw, feeding BF-based silage tended (p = 0.10) to increase the average daily gain (27%) and feed efficiency (18%) of the growing steers, caused by increased voluntary feed intake. Feeding BF-based silage had little effect on serum constituents, electrolytes, enzymes, or the blood cell profiles of fattening steers, except for low serum Ca and high blood urea concentrations (p<0.05). Feeding BF-based silage did not affect cold carcass weight, yield traits such as back fat thickness, longissimus muscle area, yield index or yield grade, or quality traits such as meat color, fat color, texture, maturity, marbling score, or quality grade. However, it improved good quality grade (1⁺ and 1⁺⁺) appearance rates (60% for the control group vs 100% for the BF-based silage-fed groups). In conclusion, cheap BF-based silage could be successfully used as a good quality roughage source for beef cattle.

Is gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) originating from the rectovaginal septum GIST or extra-GIST (EGIST)? A case report with literature review

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract that arise from primitive mesenchymal cells. Extragastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs) are extremely rare tumors that show the features of GISTs outside the GI tract. Their most common locations are the omentum, mesentery, and retroperitoneum. The authors report herein a case of a 54-year-old woman with GIST in rectovaginal septum. The patient underwent low anterior resection of the rectum, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and partial resection of the posterior vagina. She received adjuvant therapy with an oral tyrosine-kinase inhibitor. She is presently healthy without any evidence of recurrence at 26 months after surgery. For GISTs arising in the rectovaginal septum, it is difficult to ascertain whether the tumor origin site is the rectum, rectovaginal septum, or vagina. In other words, it is difficult to classify these tumors as GISTs or EGISTs. More consideration for the exact origin should be given to the GIST in the rectovaginal septum for the precise diagnosis (GIST or EGIST) and risk classification in future.

Genome-wide pathway analysis in glioma

The aim of this study was to identify candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may play a role in the susceptibility to glioma, to elucidate their potential mechanisms, and to generate SNP-to-gene-to-pathway hypotheses.A genome-wide association study (GWAS) dataset of glioma including 509,345 SNPs from 1,856 glioma patients and 4,955 control subjects of European descent was used in this study. Identify candidate Causal SNPs and Pathways (ICSNPathway) analysis was applied to the GWAS dataset.ICSNPathway analysis identified 6 candidate SNPs, 5 genes, and 9 pathways, which revealed 5 hypothetical biological mechanisms. The hypothetical mechanisms, beginning with the strongest, are summarized as follows: (i) rs667128 alters the role of taste receptor, type 2, member 8 (TAS2R8) in taste receptor activity and taste transduction pathways (p < 0.001, false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.001; p = 0.001, FDR = 0.012, respectively), (ii) rs619381 modulates the effect of taste receptor, type 2, member 7 (TAS2R7) on taste receptor activity and taste transduction (p < 0.001, FDR < 0.001; p = 0.001, FDR = 0.012), (iii) rs1033583 modulates delta-like protein 1 (DLL1), regulating cell adhesion and segment specification (p < 0.001, FDR = 0.011; p = 0.001, FDR = 0.032), (iv) rs2232580 affects the role of lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) in the response to lipopolysaccharide, positive regulation of interleukin-6 production, acute inflammatory response, and in macrophage activation (0.002 ≤ p ≤ 0.013; 0.012 ≤ FDR ≤ 0.030), and (v) rs4644 and rs4652 regulate lectin, galactoside-binding, soluble, 3 (LGALS3), affecting immunoglobulin binding (p = 0.010; FDR = 0.040).Using the ICSNPathway to analyze glioma GWAS data, 6 candidate SNPs, 5 genes (TAS2R8, TAS2R7, DLL1, LBP, and LGALS3), and 9 pathways that may contribute to the susceptibility of glioma were identified.

KEYWORDS

glioma, genome-wide association study, pathway-based analysis.

The characterization of Co-nanoparticles supported on graphene

Cobalt nanoclusters on graphene spontaneously form CoO at very low thickness, which is converted to Co[OH]₂ when layers are formed.

Overexpression of the Brassica rapa transcription factor WRKY12 results in reduced soft rot symptoms caused by Pectobacterium carotovorum in Arabidopsis and Chinese cabbage

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis), an important vegetable crop, can succumb to diseases such as bacterial soft rot, resulting in significant loss of crop productivity and quality. Pectobacterium carotovorum ssp. carotovorum (Pcc) causes soft rot disease in various plants, including Chinese cabbage. To overcome crop loss caused by bacterial soft rot, a gene from Chinese cabbage was isolated and characterised in this study. We isolated the BrWRKY12 gene from Chinese cabbage, which is a group II member of the WRKY transcription factor superfamily. The 645-bp coding sequence of BrWRKY12 translates to a protein with a molecular mass of approximately 24.4 kDa, and BrWRKY12 was exclusively localised in the nucleus. Transcripts of BrWRKY12 were induced by Pcc infection in Brassica. Heterologous expression of BrWRKY12 resulted in reduced susceptibility to Pcc but not to Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato in Arabidopsis. Defence-associated genes, such as AtPDF1.2 and AtPGIP2, were constitutively expressed in transgenic lines overexpressing BrWRKY12. The expression of AtWKRY12, which is the closest orthologue of BrWRKY12, was down-regulated by Pcc in Arabidopsis. However, the Atwrky12-2 mutants did not show any difference in response to Pcc, pointing to a difference in function of WRKY12 in Brassica and Arabidopsis. Furthermore, BrWRKY12 in Chinese cabbage also exhibited enhanced resistance to bacterial soft rot and increased the expression of defence-associated genes. In summary, BrWRKY12 confers enhanced resistance to Pcc through transcriptional activation of defence-related genes.