AIM: To investigate a possible role for a recently identified polymorphism in the gene of cytochrome P450 2E1, the presence of which is associated with high activity of the enzyme. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-nine...AIM: To investigate a possible role for a recently identified polymorphism in the gene of cytochrome P450 2E1, the presence of which is associated with high activity of the enzyme. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-nine alcohol consumers, ICD 10.1/.2 (ALC), and 208 normal controls were studied. PCR amplification of the CYP2E1 gene region was performed to assess polymorphic variation. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the data.RESULTS: Twelve normal controls (5.8%) possessed the insertion. Five ALC (2.1%) had the insertion; of these 2 of 144 with,alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis, none of 28 with alcoholic liver disease and 3 of 67 without endorgan disease had the polymorphism. A significantly Lower frequency of subjects possessed the insertion than normal controls [P = 0.049 (genotype analysis P = 0.03)]. To further assess, if there was a relationship to alcohol problems per se or end-organ disease, we compared patients with alcohol induced end-organ disease vs alcoholic controls without end-organ disease vs normal controls which again showed a significant difference [P = 0.045 (genotype analysis,P = 0.011)], further sub-group analysis did not identify which group(s) accounted for these differences.CONCLUSION: We have shown the frequencies of this high-activity polymorphism in alcohol related patient groups for the first time. The frequency is significantly less in alcoholics than normal controls, as with high activity polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase. The biological significance, and whether the relevance is solely for alcoholism or is there a relationship to end-organ disease,would benefit from the assessment in the populations with a greater frequency of this polymorphism.展开更多
Understanding the occurrence of multiple distinct phenotypes in a population of a species,i.e.,polymorphism,is one of the challenges encountered in evolutionary biology.Egg color polymorphism in birds is one example o...Understanding the occurrence of multiple distinct phenotypes in a population of a species,i.e.,polymorphism,is one of the challenges encountered in evolutionary biology.Egg color polymorphism in birds is one example of morphological polymorphism and disruptive selection has been proposed as a hypothetical mechanism to explain its occurrence.We studied how polymorphic egg colors(immaculate blue and white) occur in Korean populations of the Vinous-throated Parrotbill(Paradoxornis webbianus).Egg color ratios(the proportion of nests with blue eggs in a population) were monitored over a large spatial scale and egg colors were quanti ed using a spectrophotometer.We found egg color ratios to vary spatially among populations.Interestingly,there was a latitudinal morph-ratio cline in egg color ratios.e proportion of nests with blue eggs increased considerably with the latitude declined towards the southern part of the Korean peninsula.ere were some quantitative variations in egg colors among populations.However,the pattern of variations was not consistent with those of the population egg color ratios.Based on these results,we discuss a potential scenario for the evolution of egg color polymorphism in the Vinous-throated Parrotbill.展开更多
文摘AIM: To investigate a possible role for a recently identified polymorphism in the gene of cytochrome P450 2E1, the presence of which is associated with high activity of the enzyme. METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-nine alcohol consumers, ICD 10.1/.2 (ALC), and 208 normal controls were studied. PCR amplification of the CYP2E1 gene region was performed to assess polymorphic variation. Fisher's exact test was used to assess the data.RESULTS: Twelve normal controls (5.8%) possessed the insertion. Five ALC (2.1%) had the insertion; of these 2 of 144 with,alcohol induced chronic pancreatitis, none of 28 with alcoholic liver disease and 3 of 67 without endorgan disease had the polymorphism. A significantly Lower frequency of subjects possessed the insertion than normal controls [P = 0.049 (genotype analysis P = 0.03)]. To further assess, if there was a relationship to alcohol problems per se or end-organ disease, we compared patients with alcohol induced end-organ disease vs alcoholic controls without end-organ disease vs normal controls which again showed a significant difference [P = 0.045 (genotype analysis,P = 0.011)], further sub-group analysis did not identify which group(s) accounted for these differences.CONCLUSION: We have shown the frequencies of this high-activity polymorphism in alcohol related patient groups for the first time. The frequency is significantly less in alcoholics than normal controls, as with high activity polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase. The biological significance, and whether the relevance is solely for alcoholism or is there a relationship to end-organ disease,would benefit from the assessment in the populations with a greater frequency of this polymorphism.
文摘Understanding the occurrence of multiple distinct phenotypes in a population of a species,i.e.,polymorphism,is one of the challenges encountered in evolutionary biology.Egg color polymorphism in birds is one example of morphological polymorphism and disruptive selection has been proposed as a hypothetical mechanism to explain its occurrence.We studied how polymorphic egg colors(immaculate blue and white) occur in Korean populations of the Vinous-throated Parrotbill(Paradoxornis webbianus).Egg color ratios(the proportion of nests with blue eggs in a population) were monitored over a large spatial scale and egg colors were quanti ed using a spectrophotometer.We found egg color ratios to vary spatially among populations.Interestingly,there was a latitudinal morph-ratio cline in egg color ratios.e proportion of nests with blue eggs increased considerably with the latitude declined towards the southern part of the Korean peninsula.ere were some quantitative variations in egg colors among populations.However,the pattern of variations was not consistent with those of the population egg color ratios.Based on these results,we discuss a potential scenario for the evolution of egg color polymorphism in the Vinous-throated Parrotbill.