Chinese and Uighur medicine diagnostic criteria of the evaluation of the Modern drug treatment side-effects in bronchial asthma patients

We studied Chinese and Uighur medicines and create an automated computer diagnostics system according to principals of Uighur medicine for evaluation of bronchial asthma patient′s state.498 patients with bronchial asthma were enrolled the automated computer diagnostic program.304 patients were evaluated in the process of drug and non-drug treatment.Savda asthma type of Uighur medicine do not corresponds with any of the defined clinico-pathogenetic variants of the disease.Thus,prevailing of atopic bronchial asthma with probability of 0.7 is defined with Savda categories with such as 'Lungs energy deficiency','Spleen energy deficiency' and 'Kidneys Yin deficiency'(P<0.01) variants in Chinese Medicine.The combination of infectious-dependent variant of bronchial asthma Abnormal Savda syndrome with atopy with a probability of 0.8 is accompanied by the categories of 'Hot and Full' asthma with such variants as 'Lungs energy deficiency' 'Spleen energy deficiency','Kidneys Yin deficiency'(P<0.01).Patients with an easier case of Abnormal Savda syndrome bronchial asthma in 71% of cases have prevailing diagnostic categories of 'External,Full and Cold' asthma.Patients with a harder case of Abnormal Savda in 74% of cases belongs to the categories of 'Internal,Empty and Hot' asthma.So,hormone dependency of the disease in 69% of cases is accompanied by the 'Kidneys Yin deficiency' variant and,if there is an aspirin component in the pathogenesis of mixed asthma,in 83% of cases 'Kidneys Yin deficiency' and 'Kidneys Yang deficiency' variants are defined.

Expressions of Toll-like receptors 3,4,7,and 9 in cervical lesions and their correlation with HPV16 infection in Uighur women

Recent findings show that Toll-like receptors(TLRs) expressed in immune cells play a crucial role in the innate immune response and the subsequent induction of adaptive immune responses against microbial infection on tissue injury.Furthermore,expression of TLRs in cancer cells is associated with tumor proliferation and invasion.To explore the role of TLRs expression in cervical carcinogenesis in Uighur women,we detected the expressions of TLR3,TLR4,TLR7,and TLR9 in 25 normal cervical tissues,64 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) tissues,and 63 cervical squamous cell carcinoma(CSCC) tissues using immunohistochemical staining,as well as human papillomavirus type 16(HPV16) infection using PCR.All samples used in this study were from Xinjiang Uighur women.We found the expression levels of TLR4,TLR7,and TLR9 were significantly higher in CIN and CSCC than in normal controls(P < 0.05).Up-regulation of TLR4 and TLR7 were correlated with tumor differentiation but not FIGO stage or lymph node metastasis(P > 0.05).Up-regulation of TLR9 was correlated with lymph node metastasis(P < 0.05) but not tumor differentiation or FIGO stage(P > 0.05).We also analyzed the correlation between the expressions of TLRs and HPV16 infection and found that the expressions of TLR4 and TLR9 significantly correlated with HPV16 infection in CIN(r = 7.434,P = 0.006;r = 7.123,P = 0.008) and CSCC(r = 6.423,P = 0.001;r = 8.478,P = 0.004),whereas the expression of TLR3 was not significantly different in any of the three groups and had no significant correlation with HPV16 infection.Our results suggest that high expression of TLR4,TLR7,and TLR9 may play important roles in the development and progression of CIN and CSCC in Uighur women,and the expressions of TLR4 and TLR9 can be up-regulated by HPV16 infection.

Analyses and identification of the chemical constituents of the Uighur formulation Baixuan Xiatare using three-stage infrared spectroscopy

OBJECTIVE:To identify,rapidly and accurately,the chemical composition of the traditional Uighur formulation Baixuan Xiatare(BXXTR-FU).METHODS:We investigated if application of three-stage infrared(IR)spectroscopy enabled identification of the main chemical constituents(and their origins)in BXXTR-FU.RESULTS:The characteristic peaks of herbal material(s)and BXXTR-FU were assigned.In Fourier transform-IR(FT-IR)spectroscopy of BXXTR-FU,peaks at1616 and 1605 cm-1 of BXXTR-FU were considered to denote anthraquinones and their derivatives;1066 cm-1 was regarded as the characteristic absorption peak of resin glycosides.In second-derivative IR(SD-IR)spectroscopy,the main carbonyl types of BXXTR-FU in the range 1743-1636 cm-1 were assigned:1651 cm-1 belonged to the carbonyl stretching vibrations of flavonoids and chromones;1717 cm-1 belonged to tannins;1699 cm-1 belonged to carboxylic acids;1636 cm-1 belonged to anthraquinones and their derivatives.SD-IR spectroscopy further confirmed that the characteristicabsorption peaks at 1636,1618 and 1603 cm-1 could be used as markers that BXXTR-FU contained anthraquinones and their derivatives.Synchronous2 D-IR correlation spectra of chemical groups further confirmed the results of FT-IR and SD-IR spectroscopy.CONCLUSION:Our study strongly supported the necessity and importance of three-stage IR spectroscopy owing to its rapid and accurate identification of herbal formulations.

Haplotype and Genetic Analysis of 41 Y-STR Loci in the Wuwei Han Population from Gansu Province,China

Objective Y-Chromosomal short tandem repeat polymorphism(Y-STR)analysis plays an indispensable role in the identification of male individuals,population genetics,and biogeographic research.While profiles of many populations based on Y-STR markers in human genomes are ample,haplotype data for the Wuwei Han are still scarce.Methods In this study,2180 unrelated Wuwei Han male individuals residing in Gansu Province,China were collected and genotyped using the novel Microreader™40Y Plus ID system.Phylogenetic relationship reconstructions,multidimensional scaling(MDS),and heatmap analysis were performed based on the genetic distance(Rst)values between our studied population and other populations of the Ymax module in the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database(YHRD).Results A total of 2129 unique haplotypes were obtained,and the haplotype diversity(HD)and discrimination capacity(DC)for the Wuwei Han were 0.9999 and 0.9931,respectively.Conclusion Our results demonstrate that the Wuwei Han population had intimate genetic relationships with East Asians,especially the geographically close Han populations.Overall,this Y-Chromosomal assay gives valuable information about paternal lineages in male individual tracking and genealogical database construction.

Comparative study of type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated gut microbiota between the Dai and Han populations

BACKGROUND The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is increasing.T2DM is associated with alterations of the gut microbiota,which can be affected by age,illness,and genetics.Previous studies revealed that there are discriminating microbiota compositions between the Dai and the Han populations.However,the specific gut microbiota differences between the two populations have not been elucidated.AIM To compare the gut microbiota differences in subjects with and without T2DM in the Dai and Han populations.METHODS A total of 35 subjects of the Han population(including 15 healthy children,8 adult healthy controls,and 12 adult T2DM patients)and 32 subjects of the Dai population(including 10 healthy children,10 adult healthy controls,and 12 adult T2DM patients)were enrolled in this study.Fasting venous blood samples were collected from all the subjects for biochemical analysis.Fecal samples were collected from all the subjects for DNA extraction and 16S rRNA sequencing,which was followed by analyses of the gut microbiota composition.RESULTS No significant difference in alpha diversity was observed between healthy children and adults.The diversity of gut microbiota was decreased in T2DM patients compared to the healthy adults in both the Dai and Han populations. There was a significant difference in gut microbiota between healthy children and healthy adults in the Hanpopulation with an increased abundance of Bacteroidetes and decreased Firmicutes in children. However, thisdifference was less in the Dai population. Significant increases in Bacteroidetes in the Han population and Proteobacteriain the Dai population and decreases in Firmicutes in both the Han and Dai population were observed inT2DM patients compared to healthy adults. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size analysis also showed that thegut microbiota was different between the Han and Dai populations in heathy children, adults, and T2DM patients.Four bacteria were consistently increased and two consistently decreased in the Han population compared to theDai population.CONCLUSION Differences in gut microbiota were found between the Han and Dai populations. A significant increase inBacteroidetes was related to the occurrence of T2DM in the Han population, while a significant increase in Proteobacteriawas related to the occurrence of T2DM in the Dai population.

Comparison Research on the Differences of Uighur Han Chinese Communication Etiquette Customs and Psychological Characteristics under the Cross-cultural Environment

In this paper, we conduct research on differences of Uighur Han Chinese communication etiquette customs and the psychological characteristics under cross-cultural environment. Empathy is the process of cross-cultural communication subject and adapts to each other and good a better means of communication. In cross-cultural communication, we must improve on the sensitivity of the taboo, taboo customs of different peoples and nations. In this way can eliminate communication barriers and conflict, to achieve smooth with the harmonious language communication. This article will use the theory of intercultural communication with the understanding of the Uygur traditional culture as can dissolve the contradictions and obstacles of the communication. This article from two aspects of the language communication, nonverbal communication in the process of cross-cultural communication problems enumerated and analyzed which will be meaningful.

The Kind of Virgin That Keeps a Parrot： Identity, Nature, and Myth in a Painting by Hans Baldung Grien

The 16th-century Protestant Reformation shattered the foundations of faith and art. As traditional theology was both besieged and defended, art had to adapt. Of course, a new theology needed new kinds of pictorial extrapolations. But truly, the most interesting change was hidden in plain sight. Subjects that may have looked familiar were in fact utterly new, because subversive ideas and contexts uprooted older meanings. The painting Madonna with Parrots （1533）, by Hans Baldung Grien demoted the chaste protectress by transforming her into a flawed, even dangerous, human mother. In the painting, an oddly sultry Virgin shows off her breast, her shoulder, and her chest as a parrot nibbles her neck. The complexities of Baldung＇s painting underpin debates about the status of the Virgin during the Reformation and the freedom of an artist to tamper with sacred subject matter.

Blimp-1 protein and Hans classification on prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and their interrelation

Background and Objective:Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), is heterogeneous on molecular and clinical levels, therefore, its prognosis is difficult to predict.This study aimed to evaluate the value of Blimp-1 protein and Hans classification in predicting the prognosis of DLBCL and their interrelation.Methods:The clinical records of 136 patients with DLBCL were reviewed.The patients were followed up for 5-80 months (median, 39 months).Immunohistochemical staining for CD10, MUM1, Bcl-6, and Blimp-1 were performed on paraffin-embedded tumor tissues from the 136 patients.The correlations of Blimp-1 protein and Hans classification in prognosis of DLBCL and their interrelation were analyzed.Results:Blimp-1 was detected in 38 (30.0%) patients, and was associated with a significantly shorter overall survival (OS) (P=0.030).Using the Hans classification based upon the expression of CD10, Bcl-6, and MUM1, 54 patients had germinal center B-cell (GCB) phenotype and 82 had non-GCB phenotype.The 5-year OS rate was 75% in the GCB group and 52% in the non-GCB group (P=0.020).The positive rate of Blimp-1 was 22.2% in the GCB group and 31.7% in the non-GCB group (P=0.329).The Cox regression multivariate analysis showed that international prognosis index (IPI) and Hans classification had independent prognostic significance, whereas Blimp-1 was not an independent prognostic factor.Conclusions:The patients with GCB subtype of DLBCL had better prognosis than the non-GCB subtype.High level of Blimp-1 expression in the patients with DLBCL implies a shorter survival, but it is not associated with Hans classification.

Hans Morgenthau’s Lack of Definition of National Power in the 21st Century:Intelligence

Power is a constantly discussed phenomenon in international relations.In this direction,the definition of“power”has been interpreted differently from past to present.Among these definitions,the theory of realism explained the complex and dynamic international system in the simplest way,especially according to the conditions of the Cold War period.The theory of realism has often helped guide government policy.It also indicated the issues that states should focus on.During the Cold War period,especially the neo-realist approach of Hans Morgenthau,the element of national power formed an important guide for the characteristic policies of states.The elements of national power,which Hans Morgentha diversifies as political uncertainty,economic doubt,science and technology,demography,geography,military as a whole,are all internationally wide-ranging.However,it gives an incomplete answer to the international system of the 21st century.In the 21st century,states have increased their focus on intelligence.Many states,especially America,have examined the intelligence scientifically.Today,it is accepted as a scientific field.The study tries to explain that the lack of Hans Morgenthau’s understanding of power is“intelligence”.

President Lin Songtian holds a video conference with Markus Ferber, president of the Hans-Seidel-Foundation and a member of the European Parliament

On July 8,Lin Songtian,president of the CPAFFC,spoke by video conference with Markus Ferber,president of the Hans-Seidel-Foundation and a member of the European Parliament.Lin expressed his gratitude to Ferber for the support he and the foundation had provided for the Chinese people ’s response to COVID-19.

Serum Esterase Polymorphisms and Their Associations with Prolificacy in Small Tail Han Sheep

[ Objective] The aim of this research was to provide a theoretical basis for the.breeding and identification of multiparous Small Tail Han sheep. [ Method] The polymorphisms of serum esterase （Es） locus in Small Tail Han sheep were detected by vertical discontinuous polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis （PAGE）. According to the statistical analysis of different genotypes and their litter size, the correlation between Es polymor- phisms and litter size was analyzed. [ Result] There were three genotypes in Es locus, and Es^＋- was the dominate genotype. The differences of ewe litter size in the 1 ,t parity among these three genotypes were nonsignificant （ P 〉 0.05）, As far as the 2^nd and 3rd parity was considered, the litter size of genotype Es＋＋ was significantly （P〈0.05） higher than that of Es-- and Es^＋- ; the average litter size of Es＋＋ was extremely significant （ P 〈 0.01 ） higher than that of Es - - and Es ＋ - while there was no significant difference （ P 〉 0.05） between the latter two. [ Conclusion] The Es lo- cus could be regarded as a genetic marker locus for early selection of high-yielding ewes and Es ＋＋ is the high-yielding genotype of Small Tail Han sheep.

On Chinese-English Translation of Disease and Syndrome Terms in Shang Han Lun from the Perspective of Functional Equivalence Theory

Shang Han Lun is one of the most famous and important traditional medical books in China,so many translation versions of it have emerged.Based on the comparison of examples taken from two of these translation versions,Young Jie De ' s Shang Han Lun Explained and Huang Hai s Introduction to Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Disease,the paper points out that Nida s Functional Equivalence Theory provides a new idea for the translation of Disease and Syndrome Terms in TCM that literal translation,liberal translation and transliteration can be adopted appropriately to make readers of translation versions understand TCM accurately and easily.

Relationship between the -455G/A and -148C/T polymorphisms in the beta-fibrinogen gene and cerebral infarction in the Xinjiang Uygur and Han Chinese populations

We sought to investigate the correlation between the -455G/A and -148C/T polymorphisms of the β-fibrinogen gene and plasma fibrinogen levels in patients with cerebral infarction and in healthy subjects among the Xinjiang Uygur and Han Chinese populations, by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction enzyme digestion analysis. Results showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the distributions of the -455G/A genotype and allele frequency between the Uygurs and the Han. Plasma fibrinogen levels in cerebral infarction patients among the Uygurs and the Han were higher than those among healthy subjects. In particular, the frequencies of the -455G/A AA and -148C/T TT genotypes were significantly higher than in healthy subjects. Individuals carrying the A or T allele had a higher incidence of cerebral infarction compared with those carrying the G or C allele. Our experimental findings indicate that the -148C/T and -455G/A polymorphisms are associated with cerebral infarction in Xinjiang Uygur and Han Chinese subjects. The susceptibility- conferring alleles are -148T and -455A, and the susceptibility-conferring genotype is -455G/A ＋ AA.

E670G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene of patients with coronary heart disease among Han population in Hainan and three provinces in the northeast of China

Objective: To investigate the correlation between E670 G polymorphism of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9(PCSK9) gene and coronary heart disease(CHD), and contrastively study the regional differences of E670 G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene between patients with CHD among the Han population in Hainan and three provinces in the northeast of China(TPNC), providing scientific basis for prevention and treatment of patients with CHD in different regions. Methods: A total of 233 cases of patients with CHD were selected from the Han population in Hainan and TPNC as the experimental group(118 cases from Hainan, 115 cases from TPNC), and 239 cases with non-CHD were selected among the Han population also in the two regions as control group(125 cases from Hainan, 114 cases from TPNC). The triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol(TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) levels of plasma were tested and PCR-RFLP method was used to test the E670 G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene. The statistical software package SPSS 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis and P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The levels of systolic pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, TC, TG, and LDL-C of patients in CHD group were significantly higher than those in non-CHD group, while the high density lipoprotein cholesterol level was lower than that in non-CHD group(P<0.05). In CHD group, the frequencies of AG, GG genotypes of PCSK9 gene and G allele were higher than those in non-CHD group(P<0.05), and in CHD group, the frequencies of AG, GG genotypes and G allele of patients both in Hainan and TPNC were higher than those in control group(P<0.05). Among the patients with CHD, the frequencies of GG genotype and G allele of patients in Hainan were lower than those in TPNC(P<0.05), and in CHD group, the levels of TG, TC and LDL-C of GG genotype were higher than those of AA genotype(P<0.05). While in non-CHD group, there were no significant differences between the frequencies of GG genotype and G allele of patients in Hainan and TPNC(P>0.05). Conclusions: There was a close correlation between the E670 G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene and CHD with serum lipid level. Among Han population in Hainan and TPNC, the E670 G polymorphism of PCSK9 gene of patients with CHD exhibited regional differences.

Association between PPARG genetic polymorphisms and ischemic stroke risk in a northern Chinese Han population: a case-control study

Two common polymorphisms of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARG) gene, rs1801282 and rs3856806, may be important candidate gene loci affecting the susceptibility to ischemic stroke. This case-control study sought to identify the relationship between these two single-nucleotide polymorphisms and ischemic stroke risk in a northern Chinese Han population. A total of 910 ischemic stroke participants were recruited from the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China as a case group, of whom 895 completed the study. The 883 healthy controls were recruited from the Health Check Center of the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. All participants or family members provided informed consent. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Hospital of China Medical University, China on February 20, 2012(approval No. 2012-38-1). The protocol was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(registration number: ChiCTR-COC-17013559). Plasma genomic DNA was extracted from all participants and analyzed for rs1801282 and rs3856806 single nucleotide polymorphisms using a SNaPshot Multiplex sequencing assay. Odds ratios(ORs) and 95% confidence intervals(CIs) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression to estimate the association between ischemic stroke and a particular genotype. Results demonstrated that the G allele frequency of the PPARG gene rs1801282 locus was significantly higher in the case group than in the control group(P < 0.001). Individuals carrying the G allele had a 1.844 fold increased risk of ischemic stroke(OR = 1.844, 95% CI: 1.286–2.645, P < 0.001). Individuals carrying the rs3856806 T allele had a 1.366 fold increased risk of ischemic stroke(OR = 1.366, 95% CI: 1.077–1.733, P = 0.010). The distribution frequencies of the PPARG gene haplotypes rs1801282-rs3856806 in the control and case groups were determined. The frequency of distribution in the G-T haplotype case group was significantly higher than that in the control group. The risk of ischemic stroke increased to 2.953 times in individuals carrying the G-T haplotype(OR = 2.953, 95% CI: 2.082–4.190, P < 0.001). The rs1801282 G allele and rs3856806 T allele had a multiplicative interaction(OR = 3.404, 95% CI: 1.631–7.102, P < 0.001) and additive interaction(RERI = 41.705, 95% CI: 14.586–68.824, AP = 0.860;95% CI: 0.779–0.940;S = 8.170, 95% CI: 3.772–17.697) on ischemic stroke risk, showing a synergistic effect. Of all ischemic stroke cases, 86% were attributed to the interaction of the G allele of rs1801282 and the T allele of rs3856806. The effect of the PPARG rs1801282 G allele on ischemic stroke risk was enhanced in the presence of the rs3856806 T allele(OR = 8.001 vs. 1.844). The effect of the rs3856806 T allele on ischemic stroke risk was also enhanced in the presence of the rs1801282 G allele(OR = 2.546 vs. 1.366). Our results confirmed that the G allele of the PPARG gene rs1801282 locus and the T allele of the rs3856806 locus may be independent risk factors for ischemic stroke in the Han population of northern China, with a synergistic effect between the two alleles.

The association analysis polymorphism of CDKAL1 and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese Han population

AIM： To identify the contribution of CDKAL1 to the development of diabetic retinopathy（DR） in Chinese population.·METHODS： A case-control study was performed to investigate the genetic association between DR and polymorphic variants of CDKAL1 in Chinese Han population with type 2 diabetes mellitus（T2DM）. A welldefined population with T2 DM, consisting of 475 controls and 105 DR patients, was recruited. All subjects were genotyped for the genetic variant（rs10946398） of CDKAL1. Genotyping was performed by i PLEX technology. The association between rs10946398 and T2 DM was assessed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression（MLR） analysis.· RESULTS： There were significant differences in C allele frequencies of rs10946398（CDKAL1） between control and DR groups（45.06% versus 55.00%, P 〈0.05）.The rs10946398 of CDKAL1 was found to be associated with the increased risk of DR among patients with diabetes.·CONCLUSION： Our findings suggest that rs10946398 of CDKAL1 is independently associated with DR in a Chinese Han population.

Improving the Local Sheep in Gansu via Crossing with Introduced Sheep Breeds Dorset and Borderdale

In order to improve the meat performance of local sheep in Gansu Province,Dorset and Borderdale were introduced to crossbreed with local sheep which were Tan sheep,Small-tail Han sheep and Mongolia sheep. The offspring under different crossbreeding combinations were sampled randomly at the different growing stage to measure their growth traits so as to select optimize the crossbreeding mode. The results indicated that,for the same crossbreeding mode,the growth rate of progeny was in order F3】 F2】 F1; for the F3 progeny,the combinations Dorset- Borderdale- Small tail Han sheep and Dorset- Borderdale- Mongolia sheep gave a higher growth rate,with a body weight of 1. 57%,3. 17%,8. 23%,1. 15% higher in male and female individuals than the counterparts of Dorset and Tan sheep and Small tail Han sheep; for the F2 progeny,the combinations Dorset- Borderdale- Small tail Han sheep and Dorset- Borderdale- Mongolia sheep also gave a higher growth rate,with a body weight of 2. 15%,4. 53%,9. 21% and 2. 75% higher in male and female individuals than the counterparts of Dorset and Tan sheep and Small tail Han sheep; for the F1 progeny,the combination Borderdale and Small tail Han sheep assumed a higher growth rate,with a body weight of 3. 23%,6. 07%,7. 42% and 8. 66% higher in male and female individuals than the counterparts of Borderdale- Mongolia sheep and Tan sheep- Small tail Han sheep,respectively. Therefore,in the Small-tail Han sheep and Mongolia sheep producing regions,the F2 or F3progeny bred by using Dorset or Borderdale sheep as male parent to cross with local breeds,or the hybrid lambs of Small-tail Han sheep and Borderdale sheep as highly qualified commodity,would produce significant economic benefit. Moreover,the novel breeds obtained by crossing were the valuable genetic resource for breeding meat sheep.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene start codon and the suscepbility to prostate cancer in Han nationality in Hubei, China

Aim: To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene start codon in the Han nationality in Hubei and its relationship to the susceptibility to prostate cancel (PCa). Methods: The VDR genotypes were determined by poly-merase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 80 patients with PCa and 96 normal male controls from the Han nationality in Hubei, using endonuclease Fok. Direct sequencing was done in part of the PCR products. Results: The frequency distribution of Fok I alleles in this cohort all followed the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The distribution of genotypes and alleles had no significant difference between PCa patients and the controls (P>0.05). Conclusion: There was no significant relationship between Fok I polymorphism of VDR gene start codon and PCa in the Han nationality in Hubei.

MAPT as a predisposing gene for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Chinese Han population

A previous study of European Caucasian patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis demonstrated that a polymorphism in the microtubule-associated protein Tau （MAPT） gene was significantly associated with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathogenesis. Here, we tested this association in 107 sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and 100 healthy controls from the Chinese Han population. We screened the mutation-susceptible regions of MAPT- the 3＇ and 5＇ untranslated regions as well as introns 9, 10, 11, and 12 - by direct sequencing, and identified 33 genetic variations. Two of these, 105788 A 〉 G in intron 9 and 123972 T 〉 A in intron 11, were not present in the control group. The age of onset in patients with the 105788 A 〉 G and/or the 123972 T 〉 A variant was younger than that in patients without either genetic variation. Moreover, the pa- tients with a genetic variation were more prone to bulbar palsy and breathing difficulties than those with the wild-type genotype. This led to a shorter survival period in patients with a MAPT genetic variant. Our study suggests that the MAPT gene is a potential risk gene for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Chinese Han population.

Altered expression of mitochondrial related genes in the native Tibetan placents by mitochondrial cDNA array analysis

Objective： To explore the mechanism of native Tibetan fetuses adaptation to hypoxia, we tried to find the different expression genes about mitochondrial function in the native Tibetan placents. Methods： In this study, the placents of native Tibetan and the high-altitude Hart （ha-Hart） were collected. After the total RNA extraction, the finally synthesized cDNAs were hybridized to mitochondrial array to find the altered expression genes between them. Then, the cytochrome c oxidase 17 （Coxl7）, dynactin 2 （DCTN2, also known as p50）, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor （VEGFR, also known as KDR） were chosen from the altered expression genes to further verify the array results using the SYBR Green real-time PCR. Because the altered expression genes （such as Cybb and Cox 17） in the array results related to the activities of COXI and COXIV, the placental mitochondria activities of COXI and COXIV were measured to find their changes in the hypoxia. Results： By a standard of≥1.5 or ≤0.67, there were 24 different expressed genes between the native Tibetan and the ha-Han placents, including 3 up-regulated genes and 21 down-regulated genes. These genes were related to energy metabolism, signal transduction, cell proliferation, electron transport, cell adhesion, nucleotide-excision repair. The array results of Cox17, DCTN2 and KDR were further verified by the real-time RT-PCR. Through the mitochondria respiration measurements, the activity of COXI in the native Tibetan placents were higher than that of ha-Han, there was no difference in COXIV activity between them. Conclusion： The altered mitochondrial related genes in the native Tibetan placents may have a role in the high altitude adaptation for fetuses through changing the activity of mitochondrial COX.