Human leukocyte antigen-G 14 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism contributes to preeclampsia risk in Asian population: A systematic review and meta­analysis.

Preeclampsia remains enigmatic and responsible for vast maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Our objective was to assess the strength of the effect of the 14 bp deletion/insertion polymorphism in exon 8 of the 3'UTR region of the human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) gene on preeclampsia risk across different populations. A systematic review by a meta-analysis was performed to summarize the scattered epidemiologic evidence, which remains inconclusive and controversial. A systematic literature search according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted to screen relevant publications. Odds ratio and corresponding 95% confidence interval were estimated to measure the magnitude of the association between this polymorphism and preeclampsia onset. Thirty studies comprising 9402 subjects were eligible. Pooled estimates suggested that both fetal and paternal insertion variants were significantly associated with increased odds of this disease. Nevertheless, the presence of the 14 bp insertion sequence in mothers does not seem to increase the risk of preeclampsia. Moreover, the results of subgroup analysis suggested that the fetal, maternal, and paternal polymorphism has a significant deleterious impact on the preeclampsia risk in the Asian population. In addition, the significant association between the paternal polymorphism and preeclampsia in primigravida was observed in the pooled estimation with a small sample size. By summarizing the amount of significant evidence, our study nominated this polymorphism as a potential biomarker for early risk stratification for Asians. Further large-scale validation is needed to establish fully solid and conclusive evidence for the impact of the insertion polymorphism on preeclampsia risk.

Later Growth Cessation and Increased Freezing Tolerance Potentially Result in Later Dormancy in Evergreen Iris Compared with Deciduous Iris.

Winter dormancy is a protective survival strategy for plants to resist harsh natural environments. In the context of global warming, the progression of dormancy has been significantly affected in perennials, which requires further research. Here, a systematic study was performed to compare the induction of dormancy in two closely related iris species with an ecodormancy-only process, the evergreen Iris japonica Thunb. and the deciduous Iris tectorum Maxim. under artificial conditions. Firstly, morphological and physiological observations were evaluated to ensure the developmental status of the two iris species. Furthermore, the expression patterns of the genes involved in key pathways related to plant winter dormancy were determined, and correlation analyses with dormancy marker genes were conducted. We found that deciduous iris entered dormancy earlier than evergreen iris under artificial dormancy induction conditions. Phytohormones and carbohydrates play roles in coordinating growth and stress responses during dormancy induction in both iris species. Moreover, dormancy-related MADS-box genes and SnRKs (Snf1-related protein kinase) might represent a bridge between carbohydrate and phytohormone interaction during iris dormancy. These findings provide a hypothetical model explaining the later dormancy in evergreen iris compared with deciduous iris under artificial dormancy induction conditions and reveal some candidate genes. The findings of this study could provide new insights into the research of dormancy in perennial plants with an ecodormancy-only process and contribute to effectively managing iris production, postharvest storage, and shipping.

Influence of M-EMS on Fluid Flow and Initial Solidification in Slab Continuous Casting.

A mathematical model coupled with electromagnetic field has been developed to simulate the transient turbulence flow and initial solidification in a slab continuous casting mold under different electromagnetic stirring (EMS) currents and casting speeds. Through comparing the magnetic flux density, flow field with measured results, the reliability of the mathematical model is proved. The uniform index of solidified shell thickness has been introduced to judge the uniformity of the solidified shell. The results show that a horizonal recirculation flow has been generated when EMS is applied, and either accelerated or decelerated regions of flow field are formed in the liquid pool. Large EMS current and low casting speed may cause the plug flow near the mold narrow face and a suitable EMS current can benefit to the uniform growth of solidified shell. Meanwhile, an industrial test exhibits that EMS can weaken the level fluctuation and number density of inclusion. Overall, a rational EMS current range is gained, when the casting speed is 1.2 m/min, the rational EMS current is 500-600 A.