Biomarker Changes during 20 Years Preceding Alzheimer's Disease.

BACKGROUND: Biomarker changes that occur in the period between normal cognition and the diagnosis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease have not been extensively investigated in longitudinal studies. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, nested case-control study of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cognitively normal participants who were enrolled in the China Cognition and Aging Study from January 2000 through December 2020. A subgroup of these participants underwent testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), cognitive assessments, and brain imaging at 2-year-to-3-year intervals. A total of 648 participants in whom Alzheimer's disease developed were matched with 648 participants who had normal cognition, and the temporal trajectories of CSF biochemical marker concentrations, cognitive testing, and imaging were analyzed in the two groups. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 19.9 years (interquartile range, 19.5 to 20.2). CSF and imaging biomarkers in the Alzheimer's disease group diverged from those in the cognitively normal group at the following estimated number of years before diagnosis: amyloid-beta (Aß)42, 18 years; the ratio of Aß42 to Aß40, 14 years; phosphorylated tau 181, 11 years; total tau, 10 years; neurofilament light chain, 9 years; hippocampal volume, 8 years; and cognitive decline, 6 years. As cognitive impairment progressed, the changes in CSF biomarker levels in the Alzheimer's disease group initially accelerated and then slowed. CONCLUSIONS: In this study involving Chinese participants during the 20 years preceding clinical diagnosis of sporadic Alzheimer's disease, we observed the time courses of CSF biomarkers, the times before diagnosis at which they diverged from the biomarkers from a matched group of participants who remained cognitively normal, and the temporal order in which the biomarkers became abnormal. (Funded by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03653156.).

MiR-141-3p promotes malignant progression in prostate cancer through AlkB homolog 5-mediated m6A modification of protein arginine methyltransferase 6.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in males worldwide and exploring more reliable biomarkers for PCa is essential for the diagnosis and therapeutics for the disease. Although the functions of miR-141-3p and AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5) were identified in some cancers, whether they were involved in the development of PCa remains unclear. In this study, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction unveiled that the expression of ALKBH5 was reduced in PCa tissues and was negatively correlated with miR-141-3p. ALKBH5 attenuated the malignant development of PCa through suppressing the growth, migration, invasion, and sphere formation abilities of PCa cells. In addition, the luciferase activity assay identified that ALKBH5 was corroborated as a downstream target of miR-141-3p. Moreover, miR-141-3p expression was boosted in PCa tissues and cells and inhibition of miR-141-3p suppressed the tumor growth of PCa in vivo. Moreover, ALKBH5 was confirmed to suppress protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) expression through N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. We further identified that miR-141-3p-modulated PRMT6 level through mediating ALKBH5. Furthermore, PRMT6 level was positively correlated with miR-141-3p level and negatively associated with ALKBH5 level. Finally, rescue assays also uncovered that miR-141-3p aggravated PCa development by regulating PRMT6. In conclusion, miR-141-3p accelerated the malignant progression of PCa through ALKBH5-mediated m6A modification of PRMT6, which might offer a novel insight into the role of miR-141-3p and ALKBH5 in the treatments of PCa patients.

Evaluating the Feasibility and Efficacy of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Diary.

As the progress of critical care medicine has improved the survival rate of critically ill patients, comorbidities and long-term health care have attracted people's attention. The terms "post-intensive care syndrome" (PICS) and "PICS-family" (PICS-F) have been used in non-neurocritical care populations, which are characterized by the cognitive, psychiatric, and physical sequelae associated with intensive care hospitalization of survivors and their families. An intensive care unit (ICU) diary authored by the patient's family members may alleviate the psychological distress of the patient and his or her family. This quality improvement project focused on the development and implementation of the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) diary in the pediatric critical care setting. The project aims to evaluate the feasibility and the potential efficacy of the PICU diary, measured through parental acceptance and satisfaction. Seventeen families of critically ill children admitted to the PICU received the PICU diary during the implementation period. Twenty-four parents completed the weekly follow-up, and 15 subsequently completed the diary entry evaluation. The use of the diary in the PICU setting is feasible and considered beneficial by families of critically ill children.

Comparison of super-mini-PCNL and flexible ureteroscopy for the management of upper urinary tract calculus (1-2 cm) in children.

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of super-mini percutaneous nephrolithotomy (SMP) and retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) for children with upper urinary tract calculus (1-2 cm). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Children with upper urinary tract calculus (1-2 cm) who underwent the SMP or RIRS were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups: group SMP, 36 patients; and group RIRS, 25 patients. Patients were evaluated with KUB radiography or CT after 1 month. The collected data were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean stone size was 14.18 mm in group SMP, and 14.00 mm in group RIRS (p = 0.812). Group RIRS compared to group SMP showed longer operating time [76.3 vs 53.9 min (p = 0.002)], and postoperative hospital stay [4.2 vs 2.9 days (p = 0.011)]. The overall stone-free rate (SFR) was 94.4% for group SMP, and 60.0% for group RIRS in 1 month after operation (p = 0.001). The re-treatment rate was significantly higher in group RIRS compared to group SMP [20.0% vs 0.0% (p = 0.009)]. The complication rate was 5.6%, and 24.0% for groups SMP, and RIRS, respectively (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: SMP was more effective than RIRS to obtain a better SFR, less re-treatment rate, and complication rate in children with upper urinary tract calculus (1-2 cm).

Characterization of Bioactivities and Biosynthesis of Angucycline/Angucyclinone Derivatives Derived from Gephyromycinifex aptenodytis gen. nov., sp. nov.

Strain NJES-13T is the type strain and currently the only species of the newly established actinobacteria genera Aptenodytes in the family Dermatophilaceae isolated from the gut microbiota of the Antarctic emperor penguin. This strain demonstrated excellent bioflocculation activity with bacteria-derived exopolysaccharides (EPSs). Moreover, it produced bioactive angucycline/angucyclinone derivatives (ADs) and contained one type III polyketide synthase (T3PKS), thus demonstrating great potential to produce novel bioactive compounds. However, the low productivity of the potential new AD metabolite was the main obstacle for its chemical structure elucidation. In this study, to increase the concentration of targeted metabolites, the influence of cellular morphology on AD metabolism in strain NJES-13T was determined using glass bead-enhanced fermentation. Based on the cellular ultra-structural observation driven by bacterial EPSs, and quantitative analysis of the targeted metabolites, the successful increasing of the productivity of three AD metabolites was achieved. Afterward, a new frigocyclinone analogue was isolated and then identified as 2-hydroxy-frigocyclinone, as well as two other known ADs named 2-hydroxy-tetrangomycin (2-HT) and gephyromycin (GPM). Three AD metabolites were found to demonstrate different bioactivities. Both C-2 hydroxyl substitutes, 2-hydroxy-tetrangomycin and 2-hydroxy-frigocyclinone, exhibited variable inhibitory activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis and Candida albicans. Moreover, the newly identified 2-hydroxy-frigocyclinone also showed significant cytotoxicity against three tested human-derived cancerous cell lines (HL-60, Bel-7402 and A549), with all obtained IC50 values less than 10 µM. Based on the genetic analysis after genomic mining, the plausible biogenetic pathway of the three bioactive ADs in strain NJES-13T was also proposed.

Self-intumescent polyelectrolyte for flame retardant poly (lactic acid) nonwovens.

The demand for eco-friendly poly (lactic acid) (PLA) nonwovens grows at a high rate in the past several decades, however, only a little attention has been received for flame retardant PLA nonwoven fabrics. In this work, a novel halogen-free self-intumescent polyelectrolyte tris (hydroxymethyl)-aminomethane polyphosphate (APTris) was synthesized by reacting ammonium polyphosphate with tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane, and was then used to improve the fire resistance of PLA nonwovens via a dip-nip process. The flammability characterization indicated the limiting oxygen index value was increased to 30.0% from 18.3%, and the damaged area in the vertical burning test was reduced by about 87.0% by the presence of APTris. The cone calorimeter test results revealed that the peak heat release rate and total heat release of the treated sample were decreased by 41.0% and 28.2% respectively compared with that of the control PLA nonwoven sample. The char residue was increased to 12.3 from 1.7 wt % at 800 °C. It is suggested that the dense char barrier formed at the presence of APTris prevents heat, smoke, and gas transfer, and hence enhance thermal dilatability and flame retardancy of PLA nonwovens. This simple sustainable halogen-free treatment has great potential to produce cleaner commercialized flame-retardant PLA nonwovens.

EDNRB inhibits the growth and migration of prostate cancer cells by activating the cGMP-PKG pathway.

Prostate cancer (PCa) represents a substantial global health concern and a prominent contributor to male cancer-related mortality. The aim of this study is to explore the role of B-type endothelin receptor (EDNRB) in PCa and evaluate its therapeutic potential. The investigation employed predictive methodologies encompassing data acquisition from the GEO and TCGA databases, gene screening, enrichment analysis, in vitro experiments involving PCR, Western blotting, wound healing, and Transwell assays, as well as animal experiments. Analysis revealed a significant downregulation of EDNRB expression in PCa cells. Overexpression of EDNRB demonstrated inhibitory effects on tumor cell growth, migration, and invasion, likely mediated through activation of the cGMP-Protein Kinase G pathway. In vivo experiments further confirmed the tumor-suppressive properties of EDNRB overexpression. These findings underscore the prospect of EDNRB as a therapeutic target for PCa, offering novel avenues for PCa treatment strategies.

A three-dimensionally architected electronic skin mimicking human mechanosensation.

Human skin sensing of mechanical stimuli originates from transduction of mechanoreceptors that converts external forces into electrical signals. Although imitating the spatial distribution of those mechanoreceptors can enable developments of electronic skins capable of decoupled sensing of normal/shear forces and strains, it remains elusive. We report a three-dimensionally (3D) architected electronic skin (denoted as 3DAE-Skin) with force and strain sensing components arranged in a 3D layout that mimics that of Merkel cells and Ruffini endings in human skin. This 3DAE-Skin shows excellent decoupled sensing performances of normal force, shear force, and strain and enables development of a tactile system for simultaneous modulus/curvature measurements of an object through touch. Demonstrations include rapid modulus measurements of fruits, bread, and cake with various shapes and degrees of freshness.

Cerebrospinal fluid α-synuclein adds the risk of cognitive decline and is associated with tau pathology among non-demented older adults.

BACKGROUND: The role of α-synuclein in dementia has been recognized, yet its exact influence on cognitive decline in non-demented older adults is still not fully understood. METHODS: A total of 331 non-demented individuals were included in the study from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Participants were divided into two distinct groups based on their α-synuclein levels: one with lower levels (α-synuclein-L) and another with higher levels (α-synuclein-H). Measurements included neuropsychiatric scales, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers, and blood transcriptomics. The linear mixed-effects model investigated the longitudinal changes in cognition. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were utilized to evaluate the effects of different levels of α-synuclein on dementia. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was utilized to investigate the biological pathways related to cognitive impairment. Pearson correlation, multiple linear regression models, and mediation analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between α-synuclein and neurodegenerative biomarkers, and their potential mechanisms affecting cognition. RESULTS: Higher CSF α-synuclein levels were associated with increased risk of cognitive decline and progression to dementia. Enrichment analysis highlighted the activation of tau-associated and immune response pathways in the α-synuclein-H group. Further correlation and regression analysis indicated that the CSF α-synuclein levels were positively correlated with CSF total tau (t-tau), phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 181, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Mediation analysis further elucidated that the detrimental effects of CSF α-synuclein on cognition were primarily mediated through CSF t-tau and p-tau. Additionally, it was observed that CSF α-synuclein influenced CSF t-tau and p-tau181 levels via inflammatory pathways involving CSF TNFR1 and ICAM-1. CONCLUSIONS: These findings elucidate a significant connection between elevated levels of CSF α-synuclein and the progression of cognitive decline, highlighting the critical roles of activated inflammatory pathways and tau pathology in this association. They underscore the importance of monitoring CSF α-synuclein levels as a promising biomarker for identifying individuals at increased risk of cognitive deterioration and developing dementia.

Flexible Impact-Resistant Composites with Bioinspired Three-Dimensional Solid-Liquid Lattice Designs.

The ubiquitous solid-liquid systems in nature usually present an interesting mechanical property, the rate-dependent stiffness, which could be exploited for impact protection in flexible systems. Herein, a typical natural system, the durian peel, has been systematically characterized and studied, showing a solid-liquid dual-phase cellular structure. A bioinspired design of flexible impact-resistant composites is then proposed by combining 3D lattices and shear thickening fluids. The resulting dual-phase composites offer, simultaneously, low moduli (e.g., 71.9 kPa, lower than those of many reported soft composites) under quasi-static conditions and excellent energy absorption (e.g., 425.4 kJ/m3, which is close to those of metallic and glass-based lattices) upon dynamic impact. Numerical simulations based on finite element analyses were carried out to understand the enhanced buffering of the developed composites, unveiling a lattice-guided fluid-structure interaction mechanism. Such biomimetic lattice-based flexible impact-resistant composites hold promising potential for the development of next-generation flexible protection systems that can be used in wearable electronics and robotic systems.

Contrasting effects of different light regimes on the photoreactivities of allochthonous and autochthonous chromophoric dissolved organic matter.

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) plays an important role in ultraviolet (UV) light absorption in the ocean. CDOM is known to originate from either an allochthonous or autochthonous source and has varying compositions and levels of reactivity; however, the effects of individual radiation treatments and the combined effects of UVA and UVB on allochthonous and autochthonous CDOM remain poorly understood. Thus, here, we measured changes in the common optical properties of CDOM collected from China's marginal seas and the Northwest Pacific, using full-spectrum, UVA (315-400 nm), and UVB (280-315 nm) irradiation to induce photodegradation over the same time period (60 h). Excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) combined with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) identified four components: marine humic-like C1, terrestrial humic-like C2, soil fulvic-like C3, and tryptophan-like C4. Although the behaviours of these components during full-spectrum irradiation exhibited similar decreasing tendencies, three components (C1, C3, and C4) underwent direct photodegradation under UVB exposure, whereas C2 was more susceptible to UVA degradation. The diverse photoreactivities of the source-dependent components to different light treatments led to differing photochemical behaviours of other optical indices [aCDOM(355), aCDOM(254), SR, HIX, and BIX]. The results indicate that irradiation preferentially reduced the high humification degree or humic substance content of allochthonous DOM, and promoted the transformation from the allochthonous humic DOM components to recently produced components. Although values for the samples from different sources overlapped frequently, principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that the overall optical signatures could be linked to the original CDOM source features. The degradation of CDOM humification, aromaticity, molecular weight, and autochthonous fractions under exposure can drive the CDOM biogeochemical cycle in marine environments. These findings can aid in a better understanding of the effects of different combinations of light treatments and CDOM characteristics on CDOM photochemical processes.

Chitosan/sodium polyborate based micro-nano coating with high flame retardancy and superhydrophobicity for cotton fabric.

In this work, a sustainable flame retardant and superhydrophobic cotton fabric was prepared by a two-step process: the cotton fabric was firstly treated with a chitosan/sodium polyborate polyelectrolyte complex water solution to obtain a flame retardant layer, and then treated with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) tetrahydrofuran solution to construct a superhydrophobic layer. The phase-separated chitosan with a micro-nano roughness structure was covered by PDMS, which synergistically improved the hydrophobicity of the cotton fabric. The flammability evaluation indicated that the limiting oxygen index value of the treated fabric was increased to 40.0% from 18.2%, the peak of heat release rate was reduced by 63.8%, and the total heat release was reduced by 57.6% compared with that of the control sample. The enhanced flame retardancy was attributed to the excellent charring ability in the condensed phase. The treated fabric also showed anti-sticking, self-cleaning, and oil/water-separating properties. This coating treatment without any F, Cl, Br, P elements involved is regarded as a clean methodology for producing flame retardant and superhydrophobic cotton fabrics.

Enhancing the flame retardancy and UV resistance of polyamide 6 by introducing ternary supramolecular aggregates.

An integrated multi-functional additive was fabricated by successively grafting melamine (MEL) and phytic acid (PhA) on multiwalled carbon-nanotubes (MWNCTs), and was then applied in PA6 to improve the flame retardancy and light aging resistance of the composite. The limit oxygen index of PA6 composite containing 7 wt% PhA-MEL-MWCNTs was increased to 26.4 from 21.0. The smoke and CO release were significantly reduced by 48% and 88% respectively, and the severe melt dripping of PA6 in burning was eliminated. It is proved that PhA-MEL-MWCNTs can absorb ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and hence significantly reduces the mechanical property loss of the PA6 composite after UV aging. The tensile strength of the aged PA6/7 wt%PhA-MEL-MWCNTs composite sample only decreased by 18.1%, which was significantly lower than the loss rate of the control aged PA6 sample (62.5%). This protocol provides a new opportunity for fabricating long-life flame retardant polyamide composites.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy for intraoperative brain mapping.

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a relatively new seizure-free technique and its value for intraoperative brain mapping is unknown. We examine the feasibility of fNIRS for intraoperative functional brain mapping. A 1 × 1 cm 2 density fNIRS probe specially designed for intraoperative use was used to map brain function in adult patients undergoing awake brain surgery and performing motor and/or language tasks. The ability of fNIRS for functional mapping was compared with direct cortical stimulation (DCS) and regression was used to determine if mean blood pressure (MBP) and blood hemoglobin influenced fNIRS measurements. Eighteen patients underwent awake craniotomy and performed 19 language- and 17 motor-related tasks. fNIRS mapping was highly correlated with DCS for 10 language- and 7 motor-related tasks. fNIRS was able to detect functional language ( p < 0.001 ) and motor areas ( p = 0.002 ). Compared to DCS, fNIRS was less accurate in determining both functional language (at least 22.64%, p < 0.001 ) and motor areas (at least 32.74%, p < 0.001 ). Higher MBP and blood hemoglobin were associated with better fNIRS results ( p = 0.045 and 0.007, respectively). No seizures or other complications occurred during fNIRS measurement. fNIRS is a promising seizure-free technique for intraoperative brain mapping. The accuracy of current technology needs further development for clinical use.

Association between the functional polymorphism in the matrix metalloproteinase-7 promoter and susceptibility to adult astrocytoma.

To study the association between the A to G transition at the -181-bp position in the promoter of matrix metalloproteinase-7 gene (MMP-7-181A/G) and susceptibility to adult astrocytoma, the MMP-7-181A/G polymorphism was genotyped by PCR-RFLP analysis among 221 adult astrocytoma patients and 366 healthy controls in a population of northern China. The result showed that the overall distribution of the MMP-7 genotypes among astrocytoma patients and healthy controls was significantly different (P<0.001). Compared with the A/A genotype, the G/G genotype significantly increased the risk to the development of astrocytoma (age and gender adjusted OR=2.77, 95% CI=1.27-6.02), while the MMP-7 A/G genotype only marginally increased the risk of developing this cancer (age and gender adjusted OR=1.66, 95% CI=0.99-2.84). Stratification analysis showed that the G/G genotype significantly increased the risk of astrocytoma only among male subjects (age adjusted OR=3.24, 95% CI=1.12-9.41) and individuals younger than 45 years (age and gender adjusted OR=3.16, 95% CI=1.09-9.16). When stratified by histological grades, a significant higher risk for developing grade II astrocytoma was observed among individuals harboring the A/G genotype (age and gender adjusted OR=2.06, 95% CI=1.05-4.05), while an about 3-fold elevation of risk to develop grades II, III, and IV astrocytomas was observed among individuals with the G/G genotype. The present result, for the first time, suggested that the MMP-7-181A/G polymorphism might be associated with the susceptibility to adult astrocytoma.

Effects of adrenomedullin on aldosterone-induced cell proliferation in rat cardiac fibroblasts.

Aldosterone induces cardiac remodeling in cardiovascular diseases by stimulating the proliferation, production and secretion of collagen in fibroblasts. It also stimulates vascular smooth muscle cells to produce and secrete adrenomedullin (ADM), which has a cytoprotective effect against cardiovascular damage. We examined the effect of aldosterone on ADM production and secretion in rat cardiac fibroblasts, and the effect of ADM on aldosterone-stimulated fibroblast proliferation to observe the interaction between endogenous ADM and aldosterone. We detected ADM produced and secreted from cultured cardiac fibroblasts and the intracellular cAMP level by radioimmunoassay; evaluated cell proliferation by the level of [3H]-thymine incorporation; measured preproADM gene expression by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); and monitored extracellular signal related kinase (ERK) activity by the phosphorylation of myelin basic protein in the presence of [gamma-32P] ATP. Our results showed that aldosterone-stimulated secretion of ADM and its mRNA expression were concentration-dependent, which could be inhibited by the specific antagonist of mineralocorticoid receptor, spironolactone. In contrast, ADM inhibited aldosterone-induced fibroblast proliferation and ERK activity. Treatment with ADM24-50 (a new antagonist of specific ADM receptors) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)8-37 (the antagonist of CGRP receptor type 1), to attenuate the action of endogenous ADM, reinforced the aldosterone-induced proliferation and inhibited the intracellular cAMP production stimulated by aldosterone. Thiorphan, an inhibitor of ADM degradation, inhibited the [3H]-thymine incorporation and reinforced the intracellular cAMP level induced by aldosterone. We reach the conclusion that aldosterone stimulates rat cardiac fibroblasts to produce and secrete ADM, which in turn regulates the proliferation-induced effects of aldosterone in these cells.

Salusins promote cardiomyocyte growth but does not affect cardiac function in rats.

Salusin-alpha and -beta are newly found polypeptides that stimulate proliferation, hypotension and bradycardia in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and fibroblasts. Propresalusin mRNA is widespread, and positive stains for salusins have been observed in many human tissues such as endothelium and ventricular tissue. To investigate the bio-effect of salusins on cardiovascular function, 20 nmol/kg salusin-alpha or 2 nmol/kg salusin-beta was intravenously (i.v.) injected into rats, and isolated rat hearts were perfused with 10(-12) to 10(-7) mol/l salusin-alpha or -beta. (45)Ca(2+) uptake and (3)H-Leucine incorporation were determined in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Neither salusin-a nor -beta affected cardiac function in vivo or in vitro but salusin-beta decreased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). The polypeptides' stimulation of (45)Ca(2+) uptake and (3)H-Leucine incorporation was concentration-dependent, and the incorporation was inhibited by nicardipine (Nic) and FK-506 [FK; an inhibitor of calcineurin (CaN)]. PD(98059) [PD; inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)] and chelerythrine [inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC)] inhibited salusin-stimulated (3)H-Leucine incorporation. Endothelin-1 (ET) synergistically increased salusin-induced (45)Ca(2+) uptake. Our results suggest that salusin-alpha and -beta did not directly affect cardiac function in the rat heart but that they improved calcium uptake and protein synthesis in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes through the calcium, calcineurin, MAPK and PKC signal pathways. Salusins may be regulatory factors for myocardial growth and hypertrophy.

[An observation of taurine transport alterations in calcification of myocardial cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the alterations of taurine transport, taurine transporter (TAUT) and cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD) mRNA in the calcification of myocardial cells in vitro. METHODS: 3H-taurine measured the amount of taurine uptake. TAUT and CSD mRNA consents were measured using competitive quantitative RT-PCR in cultured and calcified myocardial cells. RESULTS: In calcification of myocardial cells, taurine concentration was decreased by 27% (P < 0.05), taurine uptake was markedly reduced, Vmax reduced by 39% (P < 0.01), there were no statistical significance of Km values between the two groups. TAUT mRNA decreased by 45% (P < 0.01), but CSD mRNA increased by 25% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that there were impediment of taurine transport in calcification of myocardial cells, as TAUT mRNA level was decreased, but CSD mRNA concentration was improved.

Polymorphisms in the matrix metalloproteinase-1, 3, and 9 promoters and susceptibility to adult astrocytoma in northern China.

The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) genes may influence tumor occurrence and progression via modifying mRNA transcription and protein expression. The study aims to explore the association of the SNPs in MMP-1, 3 and MMP-9 promoters with susceptibility to adult brain astrocytoma in northern China. Genotyping for the MMP-1 -1607 2G/1G, MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A, and MMP-9 -1562 C/T SNPs were performed by PCR-RFLP methods among 236 adult astrocytoma patients and 366 healthy controls. The results showed that the overall distribution of the MMP-1 allelotype and genotype among astrocytoma patients and healthy controls was significantly different (P = 0.002 and P < 0.001, respectively). Compared with the 2G/2G genotype, the 1G/1G genotype significantly decreased the risk of astrocytoma development (adjusted OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.42-0.79). The similar results were obtained when stratified by gender and age at tumor diagnosis (< or =45 or >45 years). The association between MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A or MMP-9 -1562 C/T SNPs and susceptibility to astrocytoma was not observed in this study. However, MMP-1 1G-MMP-3 6A haplotype significantly reduced the risk of astrocytoma development when using MMP-1 2G-MMP-3 6A haplotype as a reference (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.29-0.67). The present study suggested that, the MMP-1 -1607 1G/1G genotype and MMP-1 1G-MMP-3 6A haplotype may play protective role in the development of adult astrocytoma in northern Chinese, whereas the MMP-3 -1171 5A/6A and MMP-9 -1562 C/T polymorphisms may not be independent factors to influence susceptibility to adult astrocytoma in this population.