ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We conducted a meta-analysis aiming to evaluate the relationship between a common polymorphism (rs2511989 G>A) in the SERPING1 gene and the risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: The PubMed, CISCOM, CINAHL, Web of Science, Google Scholar, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and CBM databases were searched for relevant articles published before November 1, 2013, without any language restrictions. A meta-analysis was conducted using STATA 12.0 software. We calculated a crude odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to evaluate the relationships under five genetic models. RESULTS: Seven case-control studies with a total of 7,159 patients with AMD and 5,797 healthy subjects met the inclusion criteria. The results of our meta-analysis showed that the SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism might be correlated with an increased risk of AMD (G allele versus A allele: OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.03-1.15, p = 0.020; GG + GA versus AA: OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.03-1.26, p = 0.014; GG versus GA+AA: OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.02-1.19, p = 0.012; GG versus AA: OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.07-1.34, p = 0.002; respectively). Results of subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed positive correlations between the SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism and risk of AMD among Caucasians under five genetic models (all p<0.05), but not among Asians (all p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The current meta-analysis shows that the SERPING1 rs2511989 polymorphism may have a positive effect on the risk of AMD, especially among Caucasians.
Subject(s)
Complement C1 Inactivator Proteins/genetics , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Macular Degeneration/genetics , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Alleles , Asian People , Case-Control Studies , Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein , Female , Humans , Macular Degeneration/ethnology , Macular Degeneration/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Genetic , Odds Ratio , Risk Factors , White PeopleABSTRACT
The vertical distributions of methane-oxidizing bacteria (MOBs) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRBs) in the marine sediment core of DH-CL14 from the Dongsha region, the South China Sea, were investigated. To enumerate MOBs and SRBs, their specific genes of pmoA and apsA were quantified by a culture-independent molecular biological technique, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The result shows that the pmoA gene copies per gram of sediments reached the maximum of 1,118,679 at the depth of 140-160 cm. Overall considering the detection precision, sample amount, measurement cost, and sensitivity to the seepage of methane from the oil/gas reservoirs or gas hydrates, we suggest that the depth of 140-160 cm may be the optimal sampling position for the marine microbial exploration of oils, gases, and gas hydrates in the Dongsha region. The data of the pmoA and apsA gene copies exhibit an evident coupling relation between MOBs and SRBs as illustrated in their vertical distributions in this sediment core, which may well be interpreted by a high sulfate concentration inhibiting methane production and further leading to the reduction of MOBs. In comparison with the numbers of the pmoA and apsA copies at the same sediment depth, we find out that there were two methane-oxidizing mechanisms of aerobic and anaerobic oxidation in this sediment core, i.e., the aerobic oxidation with free oxygen dominantly occurred above the depth of 210-230 cm, while the anaerobic oxidation with the other electron acceptors such as sulfates and manganese-iron oxides happened below the depth of 210-230 cm.
Subject(s)
Bacteria/growth & development , Bacteria/metabolism , Geologic Sediments/microbiology , Methane/metabolism , Sulfates/metabolism , Bacterial Load , China , DNA, Bacterial/chemistry , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Genes, Bacterial , Molecular Sequence Data , Oxidation-Reduction , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sequence Analysis, DNAABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) can penetrate the blood-ocular barrier after orally administration of Fel Ursi. METHODS: 56 rabbits were divided into two groups, 48 rabbits were used in experimental group, and other 8 rabbits were served as control. 100 mg/ml Fel Ursi were a fused into rabbits stomach. 2 ml blood from vein of auris-edge, aqueous humor from left eye and vitreous sample from right eye were obtained at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0 and 8.0 h after Fel Ursi administration. Concentration of TUDCA from all of samples was determined by HPLC. RESULTS: TUDCA Concentrations were (999.1 +/- 17.2) - (1300.6 +/- 78.2) microg/ml, (12.7 +/- 1.4) - (47.8 +/- 4.7) microg/ml, and (10.8 +/- 2.9) - (57.9 +/- 7.9) microg/ml in blood, aqueous humor and vitreous respectively. There was no significant differences in the concentration of TUDCA in samples of aqueous humor and vitreous (P > 0.05). However the concentration of TUDCA in rabbit blood was much higher compared with that in aqueous humor and vitreous (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Fel Ursi can reach intraocular tissue through penetrating blood-aqueous barrier and blood-vitreous barrier after orally application.
Subject(s)
Blood-Aqueous Barrier/drug effects , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Taurochenodeoxycholic Acid/pharmacology , Animals , Eye/drug effects , Permeability , RabbitsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) on the expression of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cultured human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. METHODS: Cultured human trabecular cells were transfected with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specific for the human SPARC gene. Protein and mRNA expressions of fibronectin (FN) and the α1chains of collagen I and collagen III were quantified. RESULTS: After silencing of the SPARC gene by transfection of cells with SPARC siRNA, the expression of COL1A1 and COL3A1 mRNAs and proteins was significantly enhanced, as compared to that in the control group (all, p < 0.001). In contrast, SPARC siRNA significantly reduced the expression of FN and SPARC mRNAs and FN protein, as compared to that in the control group (all, p < 0.001.). CONCLUSIONS: SPARC modulates the expression of several ECM genes in cultured human TM cells.
Subject(s)
Collagen Type III/genetics , Collagen Type I/genetics , Fibronectins/genetics , Gene Expression Regulation/physiology , Trabecular Meshwork/metabolism , Tumor Suppressor Proteins/genetics , Blotting, Western , Cells, Cultured , Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain , Gene Silencing/physiology , Humans , Osteonectin , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction , TransfectionABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of eye-needling combined with medication for treatment of ophthalmoplegia and explore the possible mechanism. METHODS: One hundred and twenty cases were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group. According to etiological factors, the control group were treated with medication and the treatment group with the medication plus eye-acupuncture at main point ocular muscles. Changes of the rima oculi, the range of ocular movement and the dialopia angle after treatment were recorded and statistically analyzed in the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate was 93.4% and the cured rate was 54.1% in the treatment group, and 74.6% and 18.6% in the control group, with significant difference between the two groups (P < 0. 01). CONCLUSION: Eye-needling combined with medication has an obvious therapeutic effect which is better than simple medication for ophthalmoplegia.