An integrative description of Pilatobius nuominensis sp. nov. (Tardigrada: Hypsibiidae) from China.

A newly identified tardigrade species from China, Pilatobius nuominensis sp. nov., belongs to the group of species with cuticle of the dorsal and lateral caudal region with evident irregular polygonal sculpture. Nucleotide sequences of two nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragments of the new species are provided, which allows an independent verification of the taxonomic status of the new species. This is the first record of the genus Pilatobius in the Great Hinggan Mountains.

A new species of Diphascon (Tardigrada: Hypsibiidae) from Northern China supported by integrated taxonomy.

Morphological and molecular analyses have determined that there is a new species of Tardigrada found in China. Diphascon wuyingensis sp. nov., has smooth cuticle, pharyngeal apophyses, three rod-shaped macroplacoids (increasing in length from first to third, with the second macroplacoid clearly longer than the first) and lacks microplacoids and septulum. The new species has a very small drop-shaped formation and small claws of the Hypsibius type, but no pseudolunules or other cuticular thickenings. Three individual specimens and a group of four specimens were used for DNA isolation and 18S rRNA and COI sequencing; the p-distances to another three Diphascon species used for comparison varied in ranges of 8.8-10.2% (18S rRNA) and 24.2-26.7% (COI).

9p21 polymorphisms increase the risk of peripheral artery disease in the Han Chinese population.

OBJECTIVE: A case-control study to investigate the association of the 9p21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs10757274 and rs10757278 (known to be associated with coronary artery disease [CAD] risk) with peripheral arterial disease (PAD), in a Han Chinese population. METHODS: The rs10757274 and rs10757278 genotypes of patients with PAD, and age- and sex-matched control subjects, were determined. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression analyses were performed, with adjustments for age, sex, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes and smoking status. RESULTS: The study included 420 patients with PAD and 418 control subjects. Variant forms of both SNPs were associated with increased risk of PAD in the total study population, when excluding patients with CAD or stroke (additive genetic model). The GG haplotype increased the risk of PAD, but this association did not remain significant after further sensitivity analysis. Both SNPs were associated with PAD risk in patients aged <65 years, but not in those aged ≥ 65 years (additive model). CONCLUSIONS: 9p21 is associated with PAD. When stratified according to age, 9p21 increases PAD risk in individuals aged <65 years, but not in those aged ≥ 65 years.