Novel MIP gene mutation causes autosomal-dominant congenital cataract.

AIM: To identify disease-causative mutations in families with congenital cataract. METHODS: Two Chinese families with autosomal-dominant congenital cataract (ADCC) were recruited and underwent comprehensive eye examinations. Gene panel next-generation sequencing of common pathogenic genes of congenital cataract was performed in the proband of each family. Sanger sequencing was used to valid the candidate gene mutations and sequence the other family members for co-segregation analysis. The effect of sequence changes on protein structure and function was predicted through bioinformatics analysis. Major intrinsic protein (MIP)-wildtype and MIP-G29R plasmids were constructed and microinjected into zebrafish single-cell stage embryos. Zebrafish embryonic lens phenotypes were screened using confocal microscopy. RESULTS: A novel heterozygous mutation (c.85G>A; p.G29R) in the MIP gene was identified in the proband of one family. A known heterozygous mutation (c.97C>T; p.R33C; rs864309693) in MIP was found in the proband of another family. In-silico prediction indicated that the novel mutation might affect the MIP protein function. Zebrafish embryonic lens was uniformly transparent in both wild-type PCS2+MIP and mutant PCS2+MIP. CONCLUSION: Two missense mutations in the MIP gene in Chinese cataract families are identified, and one of which is novel. These findings expand the genetic spectrum of MIP mutations associated with cataracts. The functional studies suggest that the novel MIP mutation might not be a gain-of-function but a loss-of-function mutation.

Changes in the Biology and Susceptibility of Weevil (Cylas formicarius) to the Insecticide Spinetoram as a Response to Cadmium Contamination.

The sweet potato weevil Cylas formicarius is a notorious underground pest in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.). However, little is known about the effects of cadmium (Cd) stress on weevil biology and resistance to pesticides and biotic agents. Therefore, we fed sweet potato weevils with Cd-contaminated sweet potato and assessed adult food intake and survival and larval developmental duration and mortality rates, as well as resistance to the insecticide spinetoram and susceptibility to the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. With increasing Cd concentration, the number of adult weevil feeding holes, adult survival and life span, and larval developmental duration decreased significantly, whereas larval mortality rates increased significantly. However, at the lowest Cd concentration (30 mg/L), adult feeding was stimulated. Resistance of adult sweet potato weevils to spinetoram increased at low Cd concentration, whereas Cd contamination did not affect sensitivity to B. bassiana. Thus, Cd contamination affected sweet potato weevil biology and resistance, and further studies will investigate weevil Cd accumulation and detoxification mechanisms.

Ubiquitylomes Analysis of the Whole blood in Postmenopausal Osteoporosis Patients and healthy Postmenopausal Women.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the mechanisms of ubiquitination in postmenopausal osteoporosis and investigate the ubiquitinated spectrum of novel targets between healthy postmenopausal women and postmenopausal osteoporosis patients, we performed ubiquitylome analysis of the whole blood of postmenopausal women and postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. METHODS: To obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the postmenopausal osteoporosis mechanism, we performed a quantitative assessment of the ubiquitylome in whole blood from seven healthy postmenopausal women and seven postmenopausal osteoporosis patients using high-performance liquid chromatography fractionation, affinity enrichment, and liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). To examine the ubiquitylome data, we performed enrichment analysis using an ubiquitylated amino acid motif, Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway. RESULTS: Altogether, 133 ubiquitinated sites and 102 proteins were quantified. A difference of more than 1.2 times is considered significant upregulation and less than 0.83 significant downregulation; 32 ubiquitinated sites on 25 proteins were upregulated and 101 ubiquitinated sites on 77 proteins were downregulated. These quantified proteins, both with differently ubiquitinated sites, participated in various cellular processes, such as cellular processes, biological regulation processes, response to stimulus processes, single-organism and metabolic processes. Ubiquitin conjugating enzyme activity and ubiquitin-like protein conjugating enzyme activity were the most highly enriched in molecular function of upregulated sites with corresponding proteins, but they were not enriched in downregulated in sites with corresponding proteins. The KEGG pathways analysis of quantified proteins with differentiated ubiquitinated sites found 13 kinds of molecular interactions and functional pathways, such as glyoxylate and decarboxylate metabolism, dopaminergic synapse, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, salivary secretion, coagulation and complement cascades, Parkinson's disease, and hippo signaling pathway. In addition, hsa04120 ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis was the most highly enriched in proteins with upregulated sites, hsa04610 complement and coagulation cascades was the most highly enriched in proteins with downregulated ubiquitinated sites, and hsa04114 Oocyte meiosis was the most highly enriched among all differential proteins. CONCLUSION: Our study expands the understanding of the spectrum of novel targets that are differentially ubiquitinated in whole blood from healthy postmenopausal women and postmenopausal osteoporosis patients. The findings will contribute toward our understanding of the underlying proteostasis pathways in postmenopausal osteoporosis and the potential identification of diagnostic biomarkers in whole blood.

Genomic full-length sequence of the HLA-A*24:20:01:01 allele, identified by cloning and sequencing.

Genomic full length sequence of HLA-A*24:20:01:01, was identified by cloning and sequencing from a Chinese donor.

Optic neuropathy and increased retinal glial fibrillary acidic protein due to microbead-induced ocular hypertension in the rabbit.

AIM: To characterize whether a glaucoma model with chronic elevation of the intraocular pressure (IOP) was able to be induced by anterior chamber injection of microbeads in rabbits. METHODS: In order to screen the optimal dose of microbead injection, IOP was measured every 3d for 4wk using handheld applanation tonometer after a single intracameral injection of 10 µL, 25 µL, 50 µL or 100 µL microbeads (5×106 beads/mL; n=6/group) in New Zealand White rabbits. To prolong IOP elevation, two intracameral injections of 50 µL microbeads or phosphate buffer saline (PBS) were made respectively at days 0 and 21 (n=24/group). The fellow eye was not treated. At 5wk after the second injection of microbeads or PBS, bright-field microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to assess the changes in the retina. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the retina was evaluated by immunofluorescence, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot at 5wk after the second injection of microbeads. RESULTS: Following a single intracameral injection of 10 µL, 25 µL, 50 µL or 100 µL microbead, IOP levels showed a gradual increase and a later decrease over a 4wk period after a single injection of microbead into the anterior chamber of rabbits. A peak IOP was observed at day 15 after injection. No significant difference in peak value of IOP was found between 10 µL and 25 µL groups (17.13±1.25 mm Hg vs 17.63±0.74 mm Hg; P=0.346). The peak value of IOP from 50 µL group (23.25±1.16 mm Hg) was significantly higher than 10 µL and 25 µL groups (all P<0.05). Administration of 100 µL microbead solution (23.00±0.93 mm Hg) did not lead to a significant increase in IOP compared to the 50 µL group (P=0.64). A prolonged elevated IOP duration up to 8wk was achieved by administering two injections of 50 µL microbeads (20.48±1.21 mm Hg vs 13.60±0.90 mm Hg in PBS-injected group; P<0.05). The bright-field and TEM were used to assess the changes of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Compared with PBS-injected group, the extended IOP elevation was associated with the degeneration of optic nerve, the reduction of RGC axons (47.16%, P<0.05) and the increased GFAP expression in the retina (4.74±1.10 vs 1.00±0.46, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Two injections of microbeads into the ocular anterior chamber of rabbits lead to a prolonged IOP elevation which results in structural abnormality as well as loss in RGCs and their axons without observable ocular structural damage or inflammatory response. We have therefore established a novel and practical model of experimental glaucoma in rabbits.

[Efficacy and safety of azosemide in patients with edema and ascites].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of azosemide in patients with edema and ascites. METHODS: A multicentral, randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was applied. All 223 patients (cardiac edema 92, hepatogenic edema 63, renal edema 68) were randomized to azoesmide and furosemide group, and all patients were treated for 2 weeks. Patients with cardiac or renal edema took azosemide (30 mg/d) or furosemide (20 mg/d); patients with hepatogenic edema took azosemide (60 mg/d) or furosemide (40 mg/d). The dosage were adjusted to azosemide 60 mg/d (cardiac, renal edema), 90 mg (hepatogeic edema); or furosemide 40 mg/d (cardiac, renal edema), 60 mg (hepatogeic edema), if diuretic effects were not obtained at the end of third day. RESULTS: At the end of the study, the weight changes were (2.87+/-3.10) kg and (2.81 +/-2.84) kg; the total effective rate of edema lessen was 89.19% and 89.81%; the total effective rate of heart function improvement was 64.44% and 66.66%; the 24 h urine output increased (321.85 +/-669.52) ml and (273.80 +/-645.72) ml for azosemide and furosemide, respectively. The total effective rate of ascites lessen (tested by B-ultrasound) was 89.28% and 86.66%; abdominal girth decreased (5.20 +/-3.58) cm and (5.03 +/-3.74) cm for azosemide and furosemide, respectively. The adverse event rate was 23.01% in azosemide group and 21.01% in furosemide group; the main adverse effects were hypokalemia, hyperuricemia, hypertriglyceridemia and thirsty. CONCLUSION: Azosemide could effectively lessen edema, improve heart function and decrease ascitesûit is well tolerated and is particularly useful for the diuretic treatment.