[Effects of 2-chlorophenol-acclimation on microbial community structure in anaerobic granular sludge].

The microbial community structure in 2-chlorophenol-acclimated anaerobic granular sludge and inoculating sludge were analyzed by 16S rDNA-based approach. Total DNA was extracted directly from the inoculating sludge and 2-CP-acclimated anaerobic sludge, and then amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique with the specific primer pair ARC21F/ARC958R for Archaea and 31F/907R for Acidobacteria respectively. The positive PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The sequences analysis shows that there exist common Archaea in both sludge, including Methanothrix soehngenii, Methanosaeta concilii and uncultured euryarchaeote etc. Some special Archaea appear in the 2-CP-acclimated sludge, such as Methanobacterium aarhusense, Methanobacterium curvum and Methanobacterium beijingense etc. Others originally existed in the inoculating sludge disappear after acclimation. Common Acidobacteria are found in both sludge, including uncultured bacterium, uncultured Acidobacterium and unknown Actinomycete (MC 9). Some special microbes originally existed in the inoculating sludge, such as Desulfotomaculum sp. 176, uncultured Deltaproteobacterium n8d and uncultured hydrocarbon seep bacterium etc. disappear after acclimation, and uncultured Holophaga/Acidobacterium, uncultured Acidobacteria bacterium and unidentified Acidobacterium are found after 2-CP-acclimation.

[Analysis on the association between two polymorphism haplotypes of lipoprotein lipase gene and serum lipids in twins of China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between haplotypes of S447X and Hind III polymorphisms of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene and serum lipids in a population-based twin cohort study in China. METHODS: Twin subjects were collected based on the twin registry system of China. All twins were investigated by a standard questionnaire and physical examinations. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect the genotypes of S447X and Hind III polymorphisms. Linkage disequilibrium test and haplotypes were estimated between two polymorphisms. RESULTS: Nine hundred and eighty-seven pairs of twins were eligible for analysis. The two polymorphisms of LPL gene were significantly linkage disequilibrium. In female twins, the H- allele of Hind III polymorphism was significantly related to lower levels of triglycerides(TG) and lower risk of high TG dislipidemia, but those associations disappeared after adjusting the polymorphism of S447X. The H- X haplotype of those two polymorphisms was significantly related to lower TG and TG/HDL (decreasing 12.9% and 14.9% respectively), as well as significantly to lower risk of high TG dislipidemia (OR = 0.40). CONCLUSION: The haplotypes of S447X and Hind III polymorphisms were significantly related to the favorable effect of lipids,but this effect was mostly determined by the polymorphism of S447X, while the effect of Hind III polymorphism was indirectly influenced by the linkage disequilibrium with S447X polymorphism.

[Effects of heavy metallic ions on electron transport system activity of anaerobic sludge].

The influence of Ni2+, Cd2+ and Cu2+ on electron transport system (ETS) activity of anaerobic 2-chlorophenon degradation sludge, as well as the effect of acclimation on microbial resistance to metallic toxicity, was investigated. The inhibitive effect of heavy metals on ETS activities acted within 0.25 h, and metallic toxicity aggravated with the increasing amount of metallic ions. The relative strength of inhibition was Ni2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+ and was mainly dependent on the metallic ion concentration in solution. Acclimation with metals of low concentration was proved to be a good way to improve the microbial resistance to heavy metals. After domestication, the toxicity of Cu2+ decreased 10%, and the maximum decreasing percentage of Cd2+ inhibition was more than 40%, while the effect of Ni2+ transferred to be in favor of ETS activity with the optimal concentration of 70 mg/L. The particularly active effect of Ni2+ was probably due to the capability of Ni2+ to form regular tetrahedron chelate compounds. The relative amelioration of microbial resistance was Ni2+ > Cd2+ > Cu2+.

[Association and linkage analysis between the S447X polymorphism of LPL gene and serum lipids, blood pressures in twins].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association and linkage between the S447X polymorphism of LPL gene and serum lipids, blood pressures in the general population-based twin cohort of China. METHODS: The twin subjects were collected based on the twin registry system of China. All twins were investigated by a standard questionnaire and physical examinations. PCR-RFLP method was used to detect the genotypes of S447X. Stratified by gender, the associations of S447X polymorphism with the serum lipids (TG, HDL), blood pressures (SBP, DBP) and their abnormalities were analyzed by univariate and multivariate methods. The Halesman-Elston regression based nonjparameter linkage analysis was applied in the DZ twins. RESULTS: A total of 962 adult twin pairs were analyzed and the frequency of 447X allele was 8.6%. The heritabilities of TG, HDL, SBP and DBP were 57%, 68%, 46% and 44%, respectively. In female twins, univariate and multivariate association analyses showed that the 447X allele was associated with the 12.9% decrease of TG and 2.7 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) decrease of SBP, 1.8 mm Hg decrease of DBP. Also in female twins, 447X allele was associated with the lower risks of high TG dyslipidaemia, low HDL dyslipidaemia and hypertension, with the odds ratios 0.38 (95%CI: 0.20-0.76), 0.49 (95%CI: 0.29-0.81) and 0.47(95%CI: 0.25-0.86), respectively. CONCLUSION: This study showed significant associations between the S447X polymorphism of LPL gene and the improved serum lipids, decreased blood pressures in the female twins. But no associations were observed in male twins, and no linkage evidences were found between the locus site of S447X polymorphism and the trait loci of serum lipids, blood pressures. So the associations maybe caused by the other functional SNPs within or near LPL gene, which might be in significant linkage disequilibrium with 447X mutation.

[Influence of alcohol consumption on effectiveness of antihypertensive in male patients with essential hypertension].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the influence of alcohol consumption during ACEI (Benazepril) therapy on effectiveness of antihypertensive in male patients with essential hypertension. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was made and multiple linear regression and multiple logistic regression models were applied to data analysis. RESULTS: After 15 days ACEI therapy, the decrease in systolic blood pressure (deltaSBP) and diastolic blood pressure (deltaDBP) in alcohol-drinking groups was clearly smaller than that of non-drinking group. An inverse dose-response relation between alcohol drinking and (deltaSBP) as well as (deltaDBP) was observed either. To the non-alcohol-drinking group, subjects with alcohol-drinking more than 50 ml per day showed 5.26 mmHg (0.70 kPa) (P = 0.0116) and 3.32 mmHg (0.44kPa) (P = 0.0349) decreased in NSBP and DDBP, respectively. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the alcohol-drinking group's effect rate of antihypertensive were 45% lower (P = 0.0493) in SBP drop and 76% lower (P = 0.4750) in DBP drop respectively compared with non-and alcohol-drinking groups. CONCLUSION: Alcohol drinking during ACEI therapy can lower the effectiveness of antihypertensive in male patients with essential hypertension.

Significant associations of the alpha-adducin gene Gly460Trp polymorphism with serum bilirubin concentrations in Chinese essential hypertension patients.

We investigated associations of the Gly460Trp polymorphism of the alpha-adducin gene and concentrations of serum total bilirubin, serum direct bilirubin and serum unconjugated bilirubin in patients with essential hypertension from Anhui, China from September 2000 to January 2001. Compared to women with the Gly/Gly genotype and after adjustment for important covariates, women with the Trp/Trp genotype had lower mean concentrations of serum total bilirubin (beta = -1.2 micromol/L; P = 0.01), serum direct bilirubin (beta = - 0.4 micromol/L; P = 0.02) and serum unconjugated bilirubin (P = -0.8 micromol/L; P = 0.03). Among women in either the upper or lower quartiles of serum total bilirubin, serum direct bilirubin and serum unconjugated bilirubin and compared to those with the Gly/Gly genotype, women with the Trp/Trp genotype had higher odds of being in the lower quartile of concentrations of serum total bilirubin (odds ratio = 4.0; 95 percent confidence interval: 1.6 - 10.2; P < 0.01), serum direct bilirubin (odds ratio = 4.0; 95 percent confidence: 1.6 - 9.7; P < 0.01) and serum unconjugated bilirubin (odds ratio = 2.7; 95 percent confidence interval: 1.1 - 6.7; P = 0.03) after adjustment for important covariates. We did not observe any significant associations in these models for men. We concluded that the Trp/Trp genotype of alpha-adducin Gly460Trp was associated with lower serum bilirubin concentrations in this group of Chinese women with essential hypertension. Women with the Trp/Trp genotype of alpha-adducin Gly460Trp might have increased risk for cardiovascular diseases due to lower concentrations of serum bilirubin.

Polymorphism K469E of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene and restenosis after coronary stenting in Chinese patients.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a major cause of restenosis after coronary stenting. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is an important adhesion molecule that plays a key role in the tight adhesion between leukocytes and vascular endothelium. The object of this study was to investigate the association between the K469E polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene and restenosis after coronary stenting in North Chinese population. METHODS: The ICAM-1 K469E polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method in 124 patients who had undergone coronary stenting and coronary angiography at least 3 months earlier. Information on clinical risk factors and procedure-related data were also collected. RESULTS: Of 124 enrolled patients in total, there were 72 cases of in-stent restenosis. The restenosis rate in this population was 58.1%. The frequencies of the three possible genotypes of the ICAM-1 K469E polymorphism were: KK genotype 50.8%, EE genotype 41.9%, and EK genotype 41.9%. Among restenosis patients, the frequency of the KK genotype was 58.3% and the frequency of E allele carriers was 41.7%. Among non-restenosis patients, the frequency of the KK genotype was 40.4%, and the frequency of E allele carriers was 59.6%. The distribution of these two genotype groups between restenosis and non-restenosis patients was significantly different (P = 0.049). Using multivariate logistic regression, the difference between the two groups was more apparent. The odds ratio of KK homozygotes vs E allele carriers was 2.6, with 95% confidence interval 1.2 - 5.8 (P = 0.018). After grading of risk factors, we found that the KK genotype was a stronger predictor of in-stent restenosis in obesity or hyperlipemia patients, with an odds ratio of 9.3 and 3.7, respectively (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In our study population, KK homozygotes of the ICAM-1 codon 469 mutation had a higher risk of restenosis after coronary stenting, especially in the case of obese or hyperlipemia patients.