Identify potential treatments of COVID-19 from Tibetan medicine Hippophae Fructus using a network pharmacological approach / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in December 2019, the search for a potential treatment for COVID-19 has been a constant focus. Therefore, we identified potential treatments for COVID-19 from Hippophae Fructus, a Tibetan medicine that may act on COVID-19, using a network pharmacology approach. METHODS We collected the chemical constituents and corresponding targets of Hippophae Fructus from traditional Chinese medicine system pharmacology (TCMSP). COVID-19 related genes were predicted in pubmed-Gene, OMIM and GeneCards databases. Then, protein-protein interactions (PPIs) of key genes were analyzed by STRING database. Compound-target-diseases network was constructed using Cytoscape software. The potential pathways were deter?mined by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Additionally, molecular docking was used to verify the binding effect between the active component and the target. RESULTS A total of 33 components and 192 corresponding targets in Hippophae Fructus were found. 50 genes were obtained from the intersection of component targets and disease targets. These genes include IL-6, TNF, MAPK8 and PTGS2, which regu?late several pathways associated with COVID-19, involving Hepatitis B, Influenza A, TNF signaling pathway and Tuber?culosis. More importantly, high-node compounds such as quercetin and beta-sitosterol can well bind to key targets. CONCLUSION Some components in Hippophae Fructus can act on COVID-19 related genes and regulate multiple pathways. Perhaps Hippophae Fructus has the effect in treating COVID-19.

Genetic polymorphisms of pharmacogenomic very important pharmacogenes variants in Chinese Lisu population / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE The specificity of drug therapy in individuals and races has promoted the development and improvement of pharmacogenomics and precision medicine. While there is a few cognition on the minorities in China, especially in Lisu nationality from the Yunnan province. Therefore, we performed the research to improve the role of pharmacogenomics in the Lisu population from the Yunnan province of China. METHODS 54 variants of very important pharmacogenes selected from the PharmGKB database were genotyped in 199 unrelated and healthy Lisu adults from the Yunnan province of China, and then, genotyping data wtihχ2 test were analyzed. RESULTS We compared our data with those of other 26 populations from the 1000 Genomes Project, and acquired that the Lisu ethnicity is similar with the CDX (Chinese Dai in Xishuangbanna, China) and CHS (Southern Han Chinese, China). Furthermore, rs776746 (CYP3A5), rs1805123 (KCNH2), rs4291 (ACE), rs1051298 (SLC19A1) and rs1065852 (CYP2D6) were deemed as the most varying loci. The MAF of"G"at rs1805123 (KCNH2) in the Lisu population was the largest with the value of 51.0％. CONCLUSION There are significant differences in single nucleotide polymorphism loci, supplementing the phar?macogenomic information of the Lisu population in Yunnan province, China, and can provide a theoretical basis for indi?vidualized medication in the future.

Association of visual system homeobox gene polymorphisms with the risk of sporadic keratoconus / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Keratoconus is a bilateral,noninflammatory,gradually progressive corneal disorder characterized by progressive thinning and steepening of the central cornea.It is significant to investigate keratoconusrelated pathogenic gene for elaborating the pathogenesis and establishing early diagnosis standard and taking clinical measurement.Objective The aim of the study was to explore the relationship of visual system homeobox gene (VSX1) polymorphism and the risk of sporadic keratoconus.Methods This study was approved by Ethic Commission of First Hospital of Xi' an.Written informed consent was obtained from each subject prior to enrollment.A case-controlled study was conducted.One hundred and one Han nationality patients with sporadic keratoconus were included in this study.These keratoconus patients were clinically diagnosed by slit lamp examination and corneal tomography.Single nucleolide polymorphism (SNP) of VSX1 gene was assayed and classified using the MassARRAY SNP technique.Demography and relevant risk factors were collected from each subject by questionnaire.Eighty healthy volunteers served as controls.Chi-square test and Binary logistic regression were used to evaluate the difference in the distribution of allele frequency and genotype frequency and to analyze the association with keratoconus risks.Results SNP of two genes was found in the Chinese Han population (rs743018 (c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T)).There were no significant differences in the genotype frequency and allele frequency of the SNP of two genes in the keratoconus group in comparison with the normal control group (P＞0.05).After adjustment by age and sex,SNP of two genes was not significantly associated with the risk of keratoconus (regression model:rs743018 (C＞T) adjusted:P=0.35,OR=0.72,95％ CI:0.37-1.43 ;rs6138482 (C＞T) adjusted:P =0.48,OR=0.76,95％ CI:0.35-1.64).Conclusions Gene polymorphisms of rs743018(c.843+140 C＞T) and rs6138482(R217H C＞T) in the Chinese Han population is not associated with the risk of keratoconus.Due to the racial difference in genotype and allele frequency,the role of the VSX1 gene in the pathogenesis of keratoconus still remains controversial,and further study needs to be developed.

Genetic relationships between Ewenki minority in Inner Mongolia and other 14 groups / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To study the STR genetic structure of an Ewenki Ethnic minority Group of Inner Mongolia, and analyze the genetic relationship among Ewenki and other 14 groups.@*METHODS@#Genetic distribution for 9 STR loci (D3S1358, vWA, FGA, TH01, TPOX, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317, and D7S820) were determined based on gene scan marked by fluorescence. Principle component analysis was performed using SPSS.@*RESULTS@#Sixty-four alleles and 158 genotypes were observed in 90 unrelated Ewenki individuals. The corresponding gene frequency and genotype frequency was 0.0056 to 0.4722 and 0.0111 to 0.3, respectively. The expected and observed genotype frequency of the 9 STR loci were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05). The principle component analysis showed that Ewenki clustered with groups of Mongolian and Tujue language branch.@*CONCLUSION@#Nine of the STR genetic structure of an Ewenki Ethnic minority Group of Inner Mongolia were obtained. Those ethnic groups in subfamilies of Altaic language family clustered as their geographical location and those with close genetic relationships use similar language.

Genetic polymorphisms and application of 9 STR loci of 5 ethnic groups in Gansu and Qinghai / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To examine the genetic polymorphism of 9 STR loci in 5 ethnic groups (including Tu, Sala, Dongxiang, Baoan and Yugu) in Gansu and Qinghai, and to evaluate its application.@*METHODS@#Nine STR loci (D3S1358, FGA, TH01, D7S820, VWA, CSF1PO, D5S818, D13S317 and TPOX) were selected as genetic markers. With STR compound amplification and genescan methods, in which STR loci were marked by fluorescence, the genotype of 5 ethnic groups were examined in 606 unrelated individuals by ABI 377 sequencer. These parameters, such as polymorphism information content (PIC), heterozygosity (H), discrimination power (DP) and probability of paternity exclusion (PPE) were calculated.@*RESULTS@#The genotype frequencies of the 9 STR loci were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. PIC was within 0.6054 - 0.8735, H was within 0.6158 - 0.8736, DP was within 0.7964 - 0.9691, and PPE was within 0.4610 - 0.8838. Cluster analysis based on allele frequencies in genesis showed Tu, Sala, Dongxiang and Baoan ethnic groups were very close, but Yugu was a little bit far. There were obvious gene exchanges among the populations in north and south of China.@*CONCLUSION@#All the 9 STR loci are highly polymorphic in the 5 ethnic groups, which can be useful genetic markers in forensic medicine and population genetics.

Genetic polymorphisms of 10 X chromosome STR loci in a Chinese Tibetan population / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the alleles and genotypes frequency of 10 short tandem repeat (STR) loci on the X chromosome(DXS7423, DXS8378, DXS6799, DXS7424, DXS7130, DXS7132, DXS6789, DXS101, DXS6804, DXS7133) of Tibetan individuals living in Xizang Autonomous Region, Southwest China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The 10 X-chromosomal STR loci were analyzed with PCR, followed by polyacylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among unrelated Tibetan individuals, the numbers of alleles in the 10 X-STR loci(DXS7423, DXS8378, DXS6799, DXS7424, DXS7130, DXS7132, DXS6789, DXS101, DXS6804, DXS7133) were 5, 5, 5, 9, 7, 7, 11, 9, 5 and 4, respectively. The genotype frequencies in females were in accordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The 10 X-chromosomal STRs loci are appropriate for individual identification, for paternity testing involving a female child, and for studies on related disease.</p>

The genetic polymorphism of 9 short tandem repeat loci in Yi ethnic group of Yunnan in China / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the short teadem repeat(STR) genetics structure of a Chinese Yunnan Yi racial group.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genetic distributions for nine STR loci were determined based on STR gene scan marked by fluorescence.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Sixty-nine alleles and 164 kinds of genotypes were detected and identified from 84 unrelated Yi racial individuals. The corresponding gene and genotype frequencies were in 0.0060-0.5060 or 0.0119-0.4167 respectively. The expected and observed genotype frequencies of nine STR loci were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium(P>0.05). The statistical analyses of nine STR loci showed that PIC was distributed in 0.5804-0.8777, H was in 0.6507-0.8002, DP was in 0.7976-0.9558, EPP was in 0.5207-0.8386, except TPOX and THO1 loci.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Above research data enrich the Chinese genetic database, and play an important role in Chinese genetic study and in forensic application.</p>