KCNQ1 rs2237895 gene polymorphism increases susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus in Asian populations

BACKGROUND The association of single nucleotide polymorphism of KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is currently controversial.It is unknown whether this association can be gene realized across different populations.AIM To determine the association of KCNQ1 rs2237895 with T2DM and provide reliable evidence for genetic susceptibility to T2DM.METHODS We searched PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,Medline,Baidu Academic,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,China Biomedical Literature Database,and Wanfang to investigate the association between KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 and the risk of T2DM up to January 12,2022.Review Manager 5.4 was used to analyze the association of the KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 polymorphism with T2DM and to evaluate the publication bias of the selected literature.RESULTS Twelve case–control studies(including 11273 cases and 11654 controls)met our inclusion criteria.In the full population,allelic model[odds ratio(OR):1.19;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.09–1.29;P<0.0001],recessive model(OR:1.20;95%CI:1.11–1.29;P<0.0001),dominant model(OR:1.27.95%CI:1.14–1.42;P<0.0001),and codominant model(OR:1.36;95%CI:1.15–1.60;P=0.0003)(OR:1.22;95%CI:1.10–1.36;P=0.0002)indicated that the KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 polymorphism was significantly correlated with susceptibility to T2DM.In stratified analysis,this association was confirmed in Asian populations:allelic model(OR:1.25;95%CI:1.13–1.37;P<0.0001),recessive model(OR:1.29;95%CI:1.11–1.49;P=0.0007),dominant model(OR:1.35;95%CI:1.20–1.52;P<0.0001),codominant model(OR:1.49;95%CI:1.22–1.81;P<0.0001)(OR:1.26;95%CI:1.16–1.36;P<0.0001).In non-Asian populations,this association was not significant:Allelic model(OR:1.06,95%CI:0.98–1.14;P=0.12),recessive model(OR:1.04;95%CI:0.75–1.42;P=0.83),dominant model(OR:1.06;95%CI:0.98–1.15;P=0.15),codominant model(OR:1.08;95%CI:0.82–1.42;P=0.60.OR:1.15;95%CI:0.95–1.39;P=0.14).CONCLUSION KCNQ1 gene rs2237895 was significantly associated with susceptibility to T2DM in an Asian population.Carriers of the C allele had a higher risk of T2DM.This association was not significant in non-Asian populations.

Influences of polymorphism of packed particles on bulk characterizations in fluidization realm

The characterization of a particle ensemble(rather than a single particle) is of paramount significance to various particle technologies and has long been a fundamental subject in the fluidization realm. However, many of such bulk characterizations as loosely-packed density(ρbl), minimum fluidization velocity(Umf), sphericity(φ), discharge rate through orifice(q), angle of repose(β), and segregation index(S),were found to be poorly reproducible, making the reported results seldom comparable. Since these bulk characterizations started from the packed state of particles, such poor reproducibility was ascribed to the polymorphism of packed particles in this work. We observed that in the fluidized bed, the settled/packed state of particles varied monotonously with the settling rate(a) from complete fluidization to zero. This phenomenon confirmed the polymorphic characteristic of packed particles and further enabled us to systematically disclose/clarify its influences on the aforementioned bulk characterizations. Such influences could be comprehensively and intuitively reflected by the impacts induced by a. With the decrease of a, ρbl, φ and q first increased, then decreased, and finally leveled off while Umfand β showed an opposite trend. On the other hand, S first increased and then remained invariant. As per these findings and definitions of these bulk characterizations, benchmarks were indicated to unify the selection of settled state among future scholars and further make their outcomes become fairly comparable. Additionally, most packed states of the particle ensemble were proved to be metastable with their formation and behavior being identical to those of the amorphous state.

Nucleotide excision repair gene polymorphisms and hepatoblastoma susceptibility in Eastern Chinese children:A five-center case-control study

Objective:Nucleotide excision repair(NER)plays a vital role in maintaining genome stability,and the effect of NER gene polymorphisms on hepatoblastoma susceptibility is still under investigation.This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between NER gene polymorphisms and the risk of hepatoblastoma in Eastern Chinese Han children.Methods:In this five-center case-control study,we enrolled 966 subjects from East China(193 hepatoblastoma patients and 773 healthy controls).The TaqMan method was used to genotype 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)in NER pathway genes,including ERCC1,XPA,XPC,XPD,XPF,and XPG.Then,multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed,and odds ratios(ORs)and 95%confidence intervals(95%CIs)were utilized to assess the strength of associations.Results:Three SNPs were related to hepatoblastoma risk.XPC rs2229090 and XPD rs3810366 significantly contributed to hepatoblastoma risk according to the dominant model(adjusted OR=1.49,95%CI=1.07−2.08,P=0.019;adjusted OR=1.66,95%CI=1.12−2.45,P=0.012,respectively).However,XPD rs238406 conferred a significantly decreased risk of hepatoblastoma under the dominant model(adjusted OR=0.68,95%CI=0.49−0.95;P=0.024).Stratified analysis demonstrated that these significant associations were more prominent in certain subgroups.Moreover,there was evidence of functional implications of these significant SNPs suggested by online expression quantitative trait loci(eQTLs)and splicing quantitative trait loci(sQTLs)analysis.Conclusions:In summary,NER pathway gene polymorphisms(XPC rs2229090,XPD rs3810366,and XPD rs238406)are significantly associated with hepatoblastoma risk,and further research is required to verify these findings.

Single nucleotide polymorphism within chromosome 8q24 is associated with prostate cancer development in Saudi Arabia

Objective: Genome-wide association studies have demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are important risk factors for the development of prostate cancer (PCa). Preliminary studies have suggested that the incidence of PCa in Saudi males is low but is probably familial or genetically related.Methods: To identify any possible association of SNP with PCa development in Saudi patients, we investigated a group of SNPs in Saudi PCa patients (n=85) and compared the outcomes to healthy normal controls (n=115) and nodular hyperplasia patients (n=120). DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded formalin fixed tissue or whole blood from both patients’ groups and healthy control group. A total of thirteen SNPs were genotyped using TaqMan® minor groove binder polymerase chain reaction assay.Results: The rs16901979A, s629242T and rs1447295A alleles were found at significantly higher frequency in PCa patients than controls (p< 0.05). The rs16901979 CA genotype was found at significantly greater frequency in PCa patients than in healthy controls (43% vs. 14%, odds ratio=4.6, p=0.0001) and benign hyperplasia group (43% vs. 25%, odds ratio=2.2, p=0.009).Conclusion: Our study has highlighted the association of rs16901979 SNP with PCa in Saudi males. Such findings have important implications in the PCa diagnosis and in screening unaffected family members of Saudi patients.

Theoretical Framework for a Polymorphic Network Environment

The question of whether an ideal network exists with global scalability in its full life cycle has always been a first-principles problem in the research of network systems and architectures.Thus far,it has not been possible to scientifically practice the design criteria of an ideal network in a unimorphic network system,making it difficult to adapt to known services with clear application scenarios while supporting the ever-growing future services with unexpected characteristics.Here,we theoretically prove that no unimorphic network system can simultaneously meet the scalability requirement in a full cycle in three dimensions—the service-level agreement(S),multiplexity(M),and variousness(V)—which we name as the“impossible SMV triangle”dilemma.It is only by transforming the current network development paradigm that the contradiction between global scalability and a unified network infrastructure can be resolved from the perspectives of thinking,methodology,and practice norms.In this paper,we propose a theoretical framework called the polymorphic network environment(PNE),the first principle of which is to separate or decouple application network systems from the infrastructure environment and,under the given resource conditions,use core technologies such as the elementization of network baselines,the dynamic aggregation of resources,and collaborative software and hardware arrangements to generate the capability of the“network of networks.”This makes it possible to construct an ideal network system that is designed for change and capable of symbiosis and coexistence with the generative network morpha in the spatiotemporal dimensions.An environment test for principle verification shows that the generated representative application network modalities can not only coexist without mutual influence but also independently match well-defined multimedia services or custom services under the constraints of technical and economic indicators.

Evaluation of angiotensin converting enzyme insertion/deletion, alpha adducin (ADD1) G460W, and IL-10 gene polymorphisms, and determination of prognostic effects in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

Objective:The aim of this study was to examine angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE)insertion/deletion,alpha adducin,and interleukin-10(IL-10)gene polymorphisms(GPs)in terms of both idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss(ISSNHL)risk and their potential prognostic effects.Methods:The study group consisted of 70 patients and the control group consisted of 50 patients.Venous blood samples were analyzed for relevant GPs via kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction.Age,sex,affected side,tinnitus,and vertiginous symptom status,number of days between symptom onset and hospital admission,pure tone audiometry results at admission and after treatment were included in the study.Data were compared statistically.Results:The D allele of ACE insertion/deletion GP was significantly more frequent in patients with ISSNHL than in the control group(p=0.032).II genotype was associated with a reduced risk of ISSNHL(p=0.036).The amount of hearing loss was significantly higher in patients with the TT genotype(p=0.027)and T allele of the IL-10 GP(p=0.035)than in the patients without this allele.Severe hearing loss was a poor prognostic factor(p=0.008).Conclusions:The D allele of ACE insertion/deletion GP may be involved in the ISSNHL etiology.Due to the association of this allele with occlusive vascular pathologies,ischemia is believed to be a common pathway in the etiopathogenesis of ISSNHL.

AGTR1 A1166C gene polymorphism is associated with the effectiveness of valsartan monotherapy in Chinese patients with essential hypertension:A retrospective analysis

Objective:To investigate whether angiotensinⅡtype 1 receptor(AGTR1 A1166C)gene polymorphism was associated with the effectiveness of valsartan monotherapy in Chinese patients with essential hypertension.Methods:This retrospective analysis included 198 patients(≥18 years of age)who received valsartan monotherapy(80 mg/day)for newly developed essential hypertension at the authors’center between January 1,2020 and December 31,2023.Genotyping for AGTR1 A1166C gene polymorphism was done by polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-melting curve analysis of genomic DNA from peripheral blood samples.A dominant genetic model for AGTR1 A1166C(AA genotype versus AC+CC genotype)was used.Multivariate regression analysis of baseline variables and AGTR1 polymorphism was conducted to identify predictors of target blood pressure attainment(<140/90 mmHg)at the 4-week follow-up.Results:The median age of the 198 patients was(53.7±13.5)years,and 58%were men.Genotyping assays showed that 164 patients had the AA genotype,and 34 patients were of the AC/CC genotype,including 30 with the AC genotype and 4 with the CC genotype.Allele distribution was consistent with Hardy Weinberg equilibrium.109 Patients(55.1%)attained the blood pressure target.Multivariate analysis showed that smoking(versus no smoking,HR 0.314,95%CI 0.159-0.619,P=0.001)and AGTR1 A1166C AA genotype(versus AC/CC,HR 2.927,95%CI 1.296-6.611,P=0.023)were significant and independent predictors of target attainment.25 Patients(73.5%)with AGTR1 A1166C AC/CC genotype attained the target versus 51.2%(51/164)of patients with AGTR1 A1166C AA genotype(P=0.017).Patients with AGTR1 A1166C AC/CC genotype had a significantly greater reduction in systolic blood pressure[(33.1±10.8)mmHg versus(29.2±11.7)mmHg in AA carriers;(P=0.029)].Conclusions:Hypertensive patients carrying one or two C alleles of the AGTR1 A1166C gene were more responsive to valsartan treatment.

Association between Gene Polymorphisms and SNP-SNP Interactions of the Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 Signaling Pathway and the Risk of Vascular Senescence

Objective This study aimed to explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)in the matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP-2)signaling pathway and the risk of vascular senescence(VS).Methods In this cross-sectional study,between May and November 2022,peripheral venous blood of151 VS patients(case group)and 233 volunteers(control group)were collected.Fourteen SNPs were identified in five genes encoding the components of the MMP-2 signaling pathway,assessed through carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity(cf PWV),and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression.The multigene influence on the risk of VS was assessed using multifactor dimensionality reduction(MDR)and generalized multifactor dimensionality regression(GMDR)modeling.Results Within the multivariate logistic regression models,four SNPs were screened to have significant associations with VS:chemokine(C-C motif)ligand 2(CCL2)rs4586,MMP2 rs14070,MMP2rs7201,and MMP2 rs1053605.Carriers of the T/C genotype of MMP2 rs14070 had a 2.17-fold increased risk of developing VS compared with those of the C/C genotype,and those of the T/T genotype had a19.375-fold increased risk.CCL2 rs4586 and MMP-2 rs14070 exhibited the most significant interactions.Conclusion CCL2 rs4586,MMP-2 rs14070,MMP-2 rs7201,and MMP-2 rs1053605 polymorphisms were significantly associated with the risk of VS.

Distribution of gene polymorphisms associated with aspirin antiplatelet in the Han NSTEMI population

Objective:To analyze the genotype and allele distribution characteristics of GPⅢa PLA2(rs5918),PEAR1(rs12041331),and PTGS1(rs10306114)genes related to the antiplatelet pharmacological effects of aspirin,providing reference for individualized treatment of Chinese Han NSTEMI patients.Methods:A total of 107 Han patients with NSTEMI in Beijing Luhe Hospital affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2016 to December 2022 were selected as the research subjects.The genotypes of GPⅢa PLA2(rs5918),PEAR1(rs12041331)and PTGS1(rs10306114)were detected by fluorescence staining in situ hybridization.The frequency distribution and allele distribution of genotype were analyzed.The results were analyzed whether there were statistical differences in the distribution of related alleles between the Han NSTEMI population and some populations in the 1000 Genomes database.Results:In the Han NSTEMI population,the genotype frequencies of GPⅢa PLA2(rs5918)locus were TT 97.20%,TC 2.80%and CC 0%,the allele frequencies were T 98.60%and C 1.40%.The genotype frequencies of PEAR1(rs12041331)locus were GG 42.06%,GA 44.86%and AA 13.08%,the allele frequencies were G 64.49%and A 35.51%.The genotypes at the PTGS1(rs10306114)locus were all AA(100%),no AG or GG genotype was found.Conclusion:In the NSTEMI population of Han nationality,the mutation at GPⅢa PLA2(rs5918)site related to aspirin antiplatelet pharmacology is rare,and there is no mutation at PTGS1(rs10306114)site.Wild homozygotes are dominant in these two gene loci,while mutations in PEAR1(rs12041331)are more common.Some of the findings in this study are similar to those in previous reports or other populations included in the relevant database;however,some results differ from previous reports or other populations。

Relationship between the rs2241766 ADIPOQ Polymorphism in a Black African Population and the Occurrence of Type 2 Diabetes

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease, characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. This pathology is linked to various genes whose interaction with the environment promotes its development. The aim of this work was to determine the relationship between the rs2241766 (T/G) polymorphism of the ADIPOQ gene with type 2 diabetes in the black population. Material and Methods: This work was a case-control study, involving type 2 diabetics subjects (n = 94) and controls (n = 82). The study took place from September 2022 to September 2023. Patients were recruited in the Endocrinology Department of the Libreville University Hospital Center. Analysis was performed in the Biochemistry laboratory of the University of Health Sciences in Libreville and at the Research Institute of Health Sciences of Bobodioulasso. Genomic DNA was extracted using the protocol Qiagen kit and the PCR-RFLP method was used to determine the rs2241766 (T/G) polymorphism of the ADIPOQ gene. Results: Only 2 genotypes were found in this population, the TT genotype and the GT genotype. The proportions were not different between the two groups (p = 0.1095) neither the distribution of G and T alleles (p = 0.1095). On the other hand, the HDL hypocholesterolemia was frequent in subjects with the GT genotype compared to TT heterozygous (51.1% vs 48.9%, p = 0.0280;OR = 0.55 [0.30 - 1.01]). Conclusion: There was no association between the rs2241766 (T/G) variant of the ADIPOQ gene and the occurrence of type 2 diabetes in this population. On the other hand, a relationship between HDL hypocholesterolemia and the GT genotype has been established.

Interaction between catechol-O-methyltransferase Val/Met polymorphism and cognitive reserve for negative symptoms in schizophrenia

BACKGROUND Cognitive reserve(CR)and the catechol-O-methyltransferase(COMT)Val/Met polymorphism are reportedly linked to negative symptoms in schizophrenia.However,the regulatory effect of the COMT genotype on the relationship between CR and negative symptoms is still unexamined.AIM To investigate whether the relationship between CR and negative symptoms could be regulated by the COMT Val/Met polymorphism.METHODS In a cross-sectional study,54 clinically stable patients with schizophrenia underwent assessments for the COMT genotype,CR,and negative symptoms.CR was estimated using scores in the information and similarities subtests of a short form of the Chinese version of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.RESULTS COMT Met-carriers exhibited fewer negative symptoms than Val homozygotes.In the total sample,significant negative correlations were found between negative symptoms and information,similarities.Associations between information,similarities and negative symptoms were observed in Val homozygotes only,with information and similarities showing interaction effects with the COMT genotype in relation to negative symptoms(information,β=-0.282,95%CI:-0.552 to-0.011,P=0.042;similarities,β=-0.250,95%CI:-0.495 to-0.004,P=0.046).CONCLUSION This study provides initial evidence that the association between negative symptoms and CR is under the regulation of the COMT genotype in schizophrenia.

Association between 5-HTR1A gene C-1019G polymorphism and antidepressant response in patients with major depressive disorder:A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder(MDD)is a substantial global health concern,and its treatment is complicated by the variability in individual response to antide-pressants.AIM To consolidate research and clarify the impact of genetic variation on MDD treatment outcomes.METHODS Adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines,a systematic search across PubMed,EMBASE,Web of Science,and the Cochrane Library was conducted without date restrictions,utilizing key terms related to MDD,serotonin 1A receptor polymorphism(5-HTR1A),C-1019G polymorphism,and antidepressant response.Studies meeting inclusion criteria were thoroughly screened,and quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.Statistical analyses,includingχ2 and I²values,were used to evaluate heterogeneity and fixed-effect or random-effect models were applied accordingly.RESULTS The initial search yielded 1216 articles,with 11 studies meeting criteria for inclusion.Analysis of various genetic models showed no significant association between the 5-HTR1A C-1019G polymorphism and antidepressant efficacy.The heterogeneity was low to moderate,and no publication bias was detected through funnel plot symmetry and Egger's and Begg's tests.CONCLUSION This meta-analysis does not support a significant association between the 5-HTR1A C-1019G polymorphism and the efficacy of antidepressant treatment in MDD.The findings call for further research with larger cohorts to substantiate these results and enhance the understanding of antidepressant pharmacogenetics.

Toll-like receptors 2 polymorphism is associated with psoriasis: A case-control study in the northern Chinese population

Background:Psoriasis is a disease caused by genetics and immune system dysfunction,affecting the skin and joints.Toll-like receptors(TLRs)play an important role in triggering the innate immune response and controlling adaptive immunity.The role of TLR2 in the progression of psoriasis is not well understood.Methods:A case-control study was conducted on a northern Chinese Han population,consisting of psoriasis patients and healthy control subjects.Genotyping was performed using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction(ARMS-PCR),and allele and genotype frequencies of four SNPs in TLR2 were analyzed in 270 psoriasis patients and 246 healthy controls.Results:Four TLR2 SNPs(rs11938228,rs4696480,rs3804099,rs5743699)were genotyped and found to be in linkage disequilibrium.The genotype distributions of rs11938228 and rs4696480 in two groups were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and statistically significant except for the overdominance model.The haplotypes ATTC and ATCC were found to be protective against psoriasis.Conclusion:Our study found a correlation between TLR2 genetic variations and the likelihood of psoriasis in northern China.

Research on the Correlation Between rs2110385 Polymorphisms of the Visfatin Gene and Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Objective:To investigate the association between rs2110385 polymorphisms of the visfatin gene and the risk of type 2 diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods:172 Han subjects were selected from Xi’an Shaanxi Province;140 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)and 32 normal controls(NC)were selected from our hospital.Patients with diabetes were divided into a non-DR group(T2DM)(n=69)and a nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy Group(DR)(n=71)after dilated fundus photography and fundus fluorescein angiography.rs2110385/AluⅠgenotypes were detected by standardized polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP),and the differences in the detection rates of different genotypes in the above populations were compared.Results:1)The visfatin level in the DR Group was significantly higher than that in the NC and T2DM groups(P<0.05).2)The frequency of GG genotype and G allele of rs2110385 in the DR Group were higher than those in the T2DM and NC groups(80.3,69.6,50.0,86.6,79,65.6,P<0.05).3)There were significant differences in allele frequency and genotype frequency distribution of rs2110385 between the DR Group and the NC group(P<0.01).Conclusion:Visfatin increased in the nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy group and could be a potential indicator for the clinical prediction of DR.The G allele of the rs2110385 polymorphic site may be related to the risk of DR.

端粒长度与10种常见肌肉骨骼疾病的关系孟德尔随机化分析

背景:多项观察性研究表明,端粒长度与肌肉骨骼疾病之间存在潜在的关联,然而它们之间的潜在机制仍不清楚。目的:利用两样本孟德尔随机化分析来探索端粒长度与肌肉骨骼疾病之间的遗传因果关系。方法:从英国生物银行中获得端粒长度的全基因组关联研究汇总数据。从FinnGen财团中获得了关于10种常见肌肉骨骼疾病(骨坏死、骨髓炎、骨质疏松、类风湿关节炎、腰痛、椎管狭窄、痛风、肩周炎、强直性脊柱炎和下肢深静脉血栓)的全基因组关联研究汇总数据。使用逆方差加权、孟德尔随机化-Egger和加权中位数方法评估端粒长度与10种肌肉骨骼疾病的因果关系,逆方差加权作为主要的孟德尔随机化分析方法,并进行敏感性分析探讨结果稳健性。结果与结论:①逆方差加权法结果表明,遗传预测的端粒长度与类风湿关节炎(OR=0.78,95%CI:0.64-0.95,P=0.015)和骨坏死(OR=0.56,95%CI:0.36-0.90,P=0.016)风险之间存在负向因果关系,但未发现端粒长度与其他8种肌肉骨骼疾病之间存在因果关系(P均>0.05)。②敏感性分析结果表明因果关系稳健,孟德尔随机化-Egger截距分析未检测到潜在的水平多效性(P均>0.05)。③此项孟德尔随机化研究支持端粒长度对类风湿关节炎和骨坏死的保护作用的结论,然而,未来将需要更多的基础和临床研究来验证。

Association of Polymorphisms of Leptin Gene with Body Weight and Body Sizes Indexes in Chinese Indigenous Cattle

PCR-SSCP was used to analyze the polymorphism of leptin gene in 539 samples of six cattle breeds, namely Nanyang （NY）, Qinchuan （QC）, Jiaxianred （JXR）, Xizhen （XZ）, Luxi （LX）, and Holstein cow （HOL） breeds. PCR products with a 330 bp were amplified and sequenced. The results showed that the frequencies of alleles A/B of NY, QC, JXR, XZ, LX, and HOL breeds were 0.558/0.442, 0.492/0.508, 0.571/0.429, 0.658/0.342, 0.591/0.409, and 0.615/0.385, respectively. The association of variations of leptin gene with growth traits in NY, QC, JXR breeds was analyzed. Some indexes of the individuals with genotype BB were higher than that with genotype AA and AB in NY breed, such as the indexes of body length, heart length, body weight, hucklebone width, body height, and average day gain. The height at hip cross of the individuals with genotype BB was higher than that of those with genotype AA and AB in QC breed （P 〈 0.05）. So leptin gene may be one of the candidate genes for growth traits with height at hip cross, but not for body weight, heart length, and body length trait. However, the height at hip cross and hucklebone width of the individuals with genotype AB and BB were higher than that of those with genotype AA in JXR breed （P 〈 0.05）, but the difference was not statistically significant in body weight and body sizes （body height, body length, and heart length）. And the polymorphisms in leptin gene were caused by G→T transversion at the 66th bp position, A→C transversion at the 67th bp position and G→T transversion at the 299th bp position. These results may be applied to marker-assisted selection of Chinese cattle breeds.

Genetic Polymorphism of Eighteen Lycium barbarum Resources Based on nrDNA ITS Sequence

[Objective] The study aimed to investigate the genetic polymorphism of eighteen Lycium barbarum resources via nrDNA ITS sequencing. [Method] The genomic DNAs from Lycium barbarum leaves were isolated by modified CTAB method for PCR amplification on the nrDNA ITS region using specifically synthesized primers; the amplified fragments were cloned and sequenced, then the sequencing results were clustered. [Result] nrDNA ITS sequences of the tested eighteen Lycium barbarum were firstly obtained in the present study. For all eighteen tested materials, the variation range of whole ITS region was 559-634 bp, with an average of 612 bp; alignment analyses showed that the whole length of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1+ITS2) was 480 bp, within which there are 194 variation sites (accounting for 40.4%) and 286 conserved sites (accounting for 59.6%). The cluster results showed that the eighteen tested materials could be grouped into three classes. [Conclusion] Analysis of nrDNA ITS sequence may avail to identify the Lycium barbarum germplasm resources.

Studies on Transferrin and Posttremsferr Polymorphism and Their Relationship with Performances in Red Steppe

[Objective] The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between blood protein polymorphism of red steppe and its performance.[Method]Two blood protein polymorphic loci were detected in transferring(Tf)and posttremsferr(Ptf)from thirteen red steppes and eighteen hybrid of limousin and red steppe by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.[Result]Tf and Ptf were controlled by three and two alleles respectively.[Conclusion]The variance analysis of blood protein polymorphic loci and its performance indicates that two protein loci have a positive or negative correlation with some traits of red steppe and the improved limousin cattle population.

Cooling rate dependence of polymorph selection during rapid solidification of liquid metal zinc

The polymorph selection during rapid solidification of zinc melt was investigated by molecular dynamics simulation. Several methods including g（r）, energy, CNS, basic cluster and visualization were used to analyze the results. The results reveal that the cooling rate has no observable effect on the microstructure as TTc（Tc is the onset temperature of crystallization）; and at the first stage of crystallization, although microstructures are different, the morphologies of nucleus are similar, which are composed of HCP and FCC layers; the polymorph selection of cooling rate finally takes place at the second stage of crystallization： at a high cooling rate, the rapid increase of FCC atoms leads to a FCC crystal mixed with less HCP structures; while at a low cooling rate, HCP atoms grow at the expense of FCC atoms, resulting in an almost perfect HCP phase. The results reveal that the cooling rate is one of the important factors for polymorph selection.

肠道菌群与骨质疏松性骨折

背景:骨质疏松性骨折是骨质疏松症最严重的并发症,既往的研究已经证实了肠道菌群对骨骼组织具有调节作用,肠道菌群与骨质疏松性骨折有着重要关系,但是二者之间的因果关系尚不清楚。目的:使用孟德尔随机化(MR)方法探索肠道菌群与骨质疏松性骨折之间的因果关系。方法:从IEU Open GWAS数据库和芬兰数据库R9中分别获得了肠道菌群和骨质疏松性骨折的GWAS数据集,以肠道菌群作为暴露因素,骨质疏松性骨折作为结局变量,采用随机效应逆方差加权法、MR-Egger回归、加权中位数法、简单模型法以及加权模型法进行孟德尔随机化分析来评估肠道菌群与骨质疏松性骨折之间是否存在因果关系,通过敏感性分析来检验结果的可靠性和稳健性,并进行反向孟德尔随机化分析来进一步验证正向孟德尔随机化分析中确定的因果关系。结果与结论:①此孟德尔随机化分析结果表明,肠道菌群与骨质疏松性骨折之间存在因果关系。放线菌目(OR=1.562,95%CI:1.027-2.375,P=0.037)、放线菌科(OR=1.561,95%CI:1.027-2.374,P=0.037)、放线菌属(OR=1.544,95%CI:1.130-2.110,P=0.006)、丁酸球菌属(OR=1.781,95%CI:1.194-2.657,P=0.005)、粪球菌属-2(OR=1.550,95%CI:1.068-2.251,P=0.021)、Family ⅩⅢ UCG-001属(OR=1.473,95%CI:1.001-2.168,P=0.049)、产甲烷短杆菌属(OR=1.274,95%CI:1.001-1.621,P=0.049)、罗氏菌属(OR=1.429,95%CI:1.015-2.013,P=0.041)的丰度升高,会增加患者骨质疏松性骨折的风险;②拟杆菌纲(OR=0.660,95%CI:0.455-0.959,P=0.029)、拟杆菌目(OR=0.660,95%CI:0.455-0.959,P=0.029)、克里斯滕森氏菌科(OR=0.725,95%CI:0.529-0.995,P=0.047)、瘤胃球菌科(OR=0.643,95%CI:0.443-0.933,P=0.020)、肠杆菌属(OR=0.558,95%CI:0.395-0.788,P=0.001)、直肠真杆菌属(OR=0.631,95%CI:0.435-0.916,P=0.016)、毛螺菌科-UCG008(OR=0.738,95%CI:0.546-0.998,P=0.048)、瘤胃梭菌属-9(OR=0.492,95%CI:0.324-0.746,P=0.001)的丰度升高,会降低患者骨质疏松性骨折的风险。③文章通过孟德尔随机化方法发现了16种与骨质疏松性骨折相关的肠道菌群,即以肠道菌群为暴露因素,骨质疏松性骨折为结局变量,8种肠道菌群与骨质疏松性骨折呈正向因果关联,另外8种肠道菌群与骨质疏松性骨折呈负向因果关联。④此研究结果不仅为临床上骨质疏松性骨折的早期预测及潜在治疗靶点确定了新的生物标志物,还为骨组织工程中研究通过肠道菌群改善骨质疏松性骨折的发生与预后提供了实验基础和理论依据。