To explore the impact of traumatic birth experiences on midwives' experience of empathy: A qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the experiences of Chinese midwives during traumatic birth experiences and their impact. By doing so, we hope to develop effective empathetic educational strategies and provide valuable insights to improve the midwifery support system in China. METHODS: This study adopted Colaizzi's phenomenological approach, which aimed to understand and explore human experiences from the standpoint of the participants. A purposive sampling method was used to select 16 midwives for semi-structured interviews. The Colaizzi 7-step method was used to analyze the interview data. FINDINGS: Three themes and eight sub-themes were developed by analyzing and integrating the interview data. These included intertwined negative experiences (self-blame and guilt, regurgitated disturbances, intense and persistent physical and psychological discomfort, and low confidence in midwifery decision-making behaviours), the coexistence of positive effects (increased ability to tolerate life uncertainty, increased sense of control in coping with traumatic birth experiences), and needs and expectations (confiding in co-workers, an expectation of professional psychological support interventions). CONCLUSIONS: The experiences of midwives in showing empathy during traumatic birth experiences are complex and multifaceted. It is crucial to recognize and address negative empathic experiences, provide coping strategies, and enhance positive empathic experiences. Midwives' grief counselling competence education should be strengthened, as should their psychological well-being and the midwifery support system.

Tandem Mass Tag-Based Proteomic Analysis of Normal and Degenerated Human Intervertebral Discs.

Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is the main cause of low back pain (LBP), but the specific regulatory factors, pathways and specific molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Methods: We identified and quantitatively analyzed Pfirrmann Grade II (n=3) and Pfirrmann Grade IV (n=3) pulposus samples via MRI. The differential abundance of proteins in the samples was determined and quantitatively analyzed by relative and absolute quantitative analysis of the isotope marker levels combined with the liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC‒MSMS/MS). Results: A total of 70 proteins (30 significantly increased proteins (> 1.2-fold change) and 40 significantly decreased proteins (< 0.8-fold change)) showed different levels among the groups. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses and Western blot analysis showed that CYCS, RAC1, and PSMD14 may play important roles in IVDD and that Epstein‒Barr virus infection, viral myocarditis, colorectal cancer, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are the main pathways involved in IVDD. Conclusion: CYCS, RAC1 and PSMD14 may play important roles in IVDD, and Epstein‒Barr virus infection, viral myocarditis, colorectal cancer, NAFLD and ALS may be the main pathways involved in IVDD.

Anti-deadzone adaptive fuzzy dynamic surface control for planar space robot with elastic base and flexible links.

In order to combat the impact of the dead zone and reduce vibration of the space robot's elastic base and flexible links, the trajectory tracking and vibration suppression of a multi-flexible-link free-floating space robot system are addressed. First, the elastic connection between the base and the link is considered as a linear spring. Then the assumed mode approach is used to derive the dynamic model of the flexible system. Secondly, a slow subsystem characterizing the rigid motion and a fast subsystem relating to vibration of the elastic base and multiple flexible links are generated utilizing two-time scale hypotheses of singular perturbation. For the slow subsystem with a dead zone in joint input torque, a dynamic surface control method with adaptive fuzzy approximator is designed. Dynamic surface control scheme is adopted to avoid calculation expansion and to simplify calculation. The fuzzy logic function is applied to approximate uncertain terms of the dynamic equation including the dead zone errors. For the fast subsystem, an optimal linear quadratic regulator controller is used to suppress the vibration of the multiple flexible links and elastic base, ensuring the stability and tracking accuracy of the system. Lastly, the simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.

LPS induces SGPP2 to participate metabolic reprogramming in endothelial cells.

Sepsis often causes organ dysfunction and is manifested in increased endothelial cell permeability in blood vessels. Early-stage inflammation is accompanied by metabolic changes, but it is unclear how the metabolic alterations in the endothelial cells following lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation affect endothelial cell function. In this study, the effects of 1 µg/ml of LPS on the metabolism of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were investigated, and the metabolic changes after LPS stimulation were explained from the perspective of mRNA expression, chromatin openness and metabolic flux. We found changes in the central metabolism of endothelial cells after LPS stimulation, such as enhanced glycolysis function, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Sphingolipid metabolic pathways change at the transcriptome level, and sphingosine-1-phosphatase 2 (SGPP2) was upregulated in LPS-stimulated endothelial cells and zebrafish models. Overexpression of SGPP2 improved cell barrier function, enhanced mitochondrial respiration capacity, but also produced oxidative respiration chain uncoupling. In addition, SGPP2 overexpression inhibited the degradation of HIF-1α protein. The molecular and biochemical processes identified in this study are not only beneficial for understanding the metabolic-related mechanisms of LPS-induced endothelial injury, but also for the discovery of general therapeutic targets for inflammation and inflammation-related diseases.

Upregulation of miR-181a-5p and miR-125b-2-3p in the Maternal Circulation of Fetuses with Rh-Negative Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and Newborn Could Be Related to Dysfunction of Placental Function.

The transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies to the fetus is a critical mechanism for infant protection and perinatal disease. Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is a representative fetal disease caused by transplacental transfer of maternal IgG antibodies. However, it is unclear whether placental-related miRNAs are expressed in Rh-HDFN. Through the investigation of the miR-181a-5p and miR-125b-2-3p levels in maternal plasma using qPCR, we found that both miR-181a-5p and miR-125b-2-3p were highly expressed in maternal plasma of newborns with Rh-HDFN compared with healthy controls, indicating the potential roles of these two miRNAs in Rh-HDFN. To demonstrate whether dysregulation of miR-125b-2-3p and miR-181a-5p contributes to Rh-HDFN development, we analyze the placental miRNA-/mRNA sequencing data (GSE73714) using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA), miRNA target predictive databases, and DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery). The results showed that miR-125b-2-3p and miR-181a-5p could regulate several biological processes including cytoplasmic microtubule organization and angiogenesis. Moreover, core promoter sequence-specific DNA binding and protein binding were highly enriched molecular functions, indicating the potential roles of transcriptional regulation. Further pathway enrichment showed that miR-181a-5p and miR-125b-2-3p could regulate several biological pathways that were closely related to placental function, including the FoxO signaling pathway, focal adhesion, mTOR signaling pathway, and central carbon metabolism in cancer. In conclusion, the present results first revealed miRNA expression in the maternal circulation of newborns with Rh-HDFN, which could be caused by dysfunction of the placenta.

Variation in Global Spinal Sagittal Parameters in Asymptomatic Adults with 11 Thoracic Vertebrae, four Lumbar Vertebrae, and six Lumbar Vertebrae.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of 11 thoracic vertebrae (TVs), four lumbar vertebrae (LVs) and six LVs among asymptomatic Chinese volunteers, and the influence of spine variations on the global spinal sagittal parameters. METHODS: A total of 389 asymptomatic Chinese volunteers were recruited. Each subject underwent a full-spine X-ray examination with measurement of global spinal sagittal parameters. The radiographs were examined by a spine surgeon and a radiologist to determine the variation in the number of vertebrae. These parameters were used to compare individuals with five LVs to those with 11 TVs, four LVs, and six LVs. RESULTS: The study population included 12 individuals (3.1%) with seven cervical vertebrae (C) + 11 thoracic vertebrae (T) + five lumbar vertebrae (L), 8 (2.1%) with 7C + 11T + 6L, 8 (2.1%) with 7C + 12T + 4L, and 15 (3.9%) with 7C + 12T + 6L. Compared to the 7C + 12T + 5L individuals, those with 7C + 11T + 5L had significantly lower C6 -T5 Cobb values (P < 0.05); 7C + 12T + 4L individuals had significantly greater thoracic inlet angles (P < 0.05) and significantly lower pelvic tilt (P < 0.05); individuals with 7C + 12T + 6L had significantly greater sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, and L1-5 Cobb values (all P < 0.05), but significantly lower thoracic inlet angle (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in any of the parameters examined between the 7C + 11T + 6L group and the 7C + 12T + 5L group. CONCLUSIONS: Asymptomatic adults with 7C + 12T + 6L, 7C + 12T + 4L, and 7C + 11T + 5L presented with different spinal sagittal alignment compared to those with 7C + 12T + 5L. Compared to variation in the number of LVs, the variation in the number of TVs had less effect on global spinal sagittal parameters. Spinal surgeons and researchers should be aware of the effects of variation in numbers of TVs and LVs on global spinal parameters and sagittal balance.

The electrochemiluminescence coreactant accelerator of metal-organic frameworks grafted with N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) for the ultrasensitive detection of chloramphenicol.

In this work, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are utilized as effective ECL coreactant accelerator to enhance the ECL responses of N-(aminobutyl)-N-(ethylisoluminol) (ABEI). Zn-based MOFs (MOF-Zn-1) were prepared by chelating Zn ions with melamine and thiophenedicarboxylic acid (TPDA), which observably accelerated the electrocatalytic oxidation of tripropylamine (TPA). Then, ABEI-MOF-Zn-1 as a high-performance ECL emitter was synthesized via an amide reaction between ABEI and mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) modified MOF-Zn-1. Strikingly, the ABEI-MOF-Zn-1 showed the 18-fold increase in the ECL signals relative to pure ABEI by using TPA as a coreactant. Moreover, ferrocene (Fc) as a quencher was first linked with capture DNA (cDNA), and then used to modify the ABEI-MOF-Zn-1, thereby constructing a label-free ECL biosensor. After the linkage between chloramphenicol (CAP) and aptamer DNA (aptDNA), the ECL response was definitely recovered by releasing L-DNA from double-stranded DNA (dsDNA, hybridization of aptDNA and L-DNA). The resultant sensor showed a wide linear range of 1.00 nM-0.10 mM (R2 = 0.99) and a low limit of detection (LOD) down to 0.11 nM for detecting CAP. This work developed a novel pattern to design an efficient ECL enhanced emitter, coupled by expanding its potential applications in clinical diagnosis.

Construction of efficient "on-off-on" fluorescence aptasensor for ultrasensitive detection of prostate specific antigen via covalent energy transfer between g-C3N4 quantum dots and palladium triangular plates.

Development of ultra-sensitive and high specific aptasensors is important for early diagnosis of prostate cancer. Herein, ultrasensitive detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA) aptasensor was realized based on the "on-off-on" model via fluorescence (FL) covalent energy transfer between g-C3N4 quantum dot (g-CNQDs) and palladium triangular plates (Pd TPs). Specifically, the Pd TPs were primarily linked with PSA aptamer (PA) as the reporter probe, followed by attaching them onto the g-CNQDs surfaces, causing the highly enlarged FL quenching rate (ca. 75%). After the introduction of PSA, the FL intensities recovered again because of the distinctively stronger affinity of PA to PSA than that of g-CNQDs. The bond of pyridine N with Pd was identified as efficient energy transfer pathway through the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and FL measurements. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments certified the remarkably different affinity of PA towards g-CNQDs and PSA. The as-constructed FL aptasensor can accurately quantify PSA with wide linear range of 10 pg mL-1-50 ng mL-1 and ultra-low limit of detection (LOD, 4.2 pg mL-1), indicating the promising applications in clinical assay and biological detection.

A 5-year molecular epidemiology survey of human enterovirus 71 before vaccine application in Yunnan Province, China.

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection is known to cause hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). Last year, an inactivated EV-A71 whole virus vaccine was used to prevent this disease in Yunnan, China. To obtain a viral genetic background for evaluating vaccine protection and monitor the adaptive evolution of the virus after the vaccination, a 5-year molecular epidemiology survey was performed before the vaccination. Twenty-six EV-A71 strains were separated from 561 stool specimens of patients with serious HFMD. The whole-genomic sequences of these strains were sequenced. Phylogenetic trees were constructed, and the mutation spectra were analyzed based on these viral sequences. There was no obvious mutation for the circular EV-A71 strains of the same year. Pathogenic EV-A71 strains may arise from a "subgroup" randomly each year. Whole-genomic analyses showed that a hotspot nonsynonymous substitution potentially affecting the immunogenicity of vaccines was found in the 2A gene, but not in genes of the viral capsid proteins, and the genetic diversity of whole viral genomes associated with the incidence of HFMD. Therefore, it will be valuable to monitor the genome-wide changes of EV-A71 to detect the adaptive mutations affecting immunogenicity or perform investigations using genetic diversity as a parameter.

[Difference of the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere of soybean and oilseed rape based on high-throughput pyrosequencing analysis.] / åŸºäºŽé«˜é€šé‡æµ‹åºåˆ†æžå¤§è±†å’Œæ²¹èœæ ¹é™ å¾®ç”Ÿç‰©ç¾¤è½ç»“æž„çš„å·®å¼‚.

Clubroot, caused by the soil-borne obligate pathogen Plasmodiophora brassicae, is one of the most severe disease in cruciferous crops. Previous studies showed that when oilseed rape was planted after soybean (namely soybean-oilseed rotation), the incidence and severity of clubroot of oilseed rape could be significantly reduced, compared with that with oilseed rape-oilseed rape conti-nuous cropping. Therefore, the soybean-oilseed rape rotation is a good way to suppress clubroot of oilseed rape. In this study, we compared the rhizosphere microbiome of soybean and oilseed rape rhizosphere soil collected from the field by 16S rRNA (for identification of prokaryotes) and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) (for identification of fungi) sequencing. The results showed that both soybean and oilseed rape rhizosphere soils had Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Ascomycota, Zygomycota, Basidiomycota and Chytridiomycota. Many microbial genera (e.g., Flavobacterium, Sphingomonas, Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, Trichoderma and Coniothyrium) with activities of biological control and plant growth promotion were more abundant in soybean rhizosphere soil than in the oilseed rape rhizosphere soil. The abundance of plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi was higher in the oilseed rape rhizosphere soil than in the soybean rhizosphere soil. Moreover, the soybean rhizosphere soil was enriched with Rhizobium, Bradyrhizobium (both for nitrogen fixation), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (Glomus). These results indicated that soybean rhizosphere soil could promote the growth and proliferation of beneficial microorga-nisms, but inhibit that of plant pathogens. Our results provide evidence for explanation of the effectiveness of soybean-oilseed rape rotation to control clubroot of oilseed rape and provide potential bio-control resources for clubroot prevention.

One-Pot Strategy to Bi2S3/BiOCl Heterojunction with Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity.

Bi2S3/BiOCl (denoted as BS-BC) heterojunction photocatalyst has been reported to be able to increase light absorption, promote charge separation and consequently enhance photocatalytic efficiency in comparison with single BiOCl. However, the heterojunction was usually prepared by a two-step method, i.e., BiOCl was firstly prepared and then to BS-BC heterojunction through an ion exchange strategy. In this work, BS-BC was prepared by a one-pot room temperature route, where Bi(NO3)3 dissolved in aqueous urea solution could homogeneously react with a mixture solution of NaCl and thiacetamide (TAA) to form BS-BC heterojunction. The urea could prohibit the hydrolysis of Bi(NO3)3 and accelerate the decomposition of TAA to release S2-, and as a consequence, the heterojunction photocatalyst with small size and large interfacial area could be prepared in several hours. The resulted heterojunction exhibited better visible-light photocatalytic activity for RhB degradation than individual BiOCl or that prepared by a two-step route due to close contact between Bi2S3 and BiOCl, modified band structures and effective interfacial charge transfer.

Strong association of SLC1A1 and DPF3 gene variants with idiopathic male infertility in Han Chinese.

Male infertility is a multifactorial syndrome encompassing a wide variety of disorders. In recent years, several genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) association studies (GWAS) have been performed on azoospermia and/or oligozoospermia in different populations including two GWAS on nonobstructive azoospermia in China; however, the association of SNPs with idiopathic male infertility, especially asthenozoospermia and oligozoospermia, and their correlation with semen parameters are still not clear. To investigate genetic variants associated with idiopathic male infertility (asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, and oligoasthenozoospermia) in Chinese Han people, 20 candidate SNPs were selected from GWAS results and genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY assay. A total of 136 subfertile men and 456 healthy fertile men were recruited. rs6476866 in SLC1A1 (P = 1.919E-4, OR = 0.5905, 95% CI: 0.447-0.78) and rs10129954 in DPF3 (P = 0.0023, OR = 2.199, 95% CI: 1.311-3.689) were strongly associated with idiopathic male infertility. In addition, positive associations were observed between asthenozoospermia and rs215702 in LSM5 (P = 0.0016, OR = 1.479, 95% CI: 1.075-2.033) and between oligoasthenozoospermia and rs2477686 in PEX10 (P = 0.0011, OR = 2.935, 95% CI: 1.492-5.775). In addition, six SNPs (rs215702 in LSM5, rs6476866 in SLC1A1, rs10129954 in DPF3, rs1801133 in MTHFR, rs2477686 in PEX10, and rs10841496 in PED3A) were significantly correlated with semen quality alterations. Our results suggest that idiopathic male infertility in different ethnic groups may share the same mechanism or pathway. Cohort expansion and further mechanistic studies on the role of genetic factors that influence spermatogenesis and sperm progressive motility are suggested.

[Association study of telomere length with idiopathic male infertility].

Telomeres are evolutionary conserved, multifunctional DNA-protein complexes located at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomeres maintain chromosome stability and genome integrity and also play an important role in meiosis which aid in synapsis, homologous recombination, and segregation. Sperm telomere has been reported to play an important role in fertilization and embryo development. Nowadays, the association between telomere and reproduction is one of the major areas of interest, however whether sperm telomere associated with male infertility is not clear. In this study, in order to find out the association between Chinese idiopathic infertility and sperm telomere length, we analyzed the difference of sperm telomere length between idiopathic infertile men and normal fertile men, as well as the correlations between sperm telomere length and human semen characteristics. We analyzed 126 Chinese idiopathic infertile men and 138 normal fertile men for sperm telomere length by using quantitative PCR. We found that the relative sperm mean telomere length of infertile men was significantly shorter than that of fertile men (2.894 ± 0.115 vs. 4.016 ± 0.603, P=5.097 x 10⁻5). Both sperm count and semen progressive motility are related with telomere length. Our results suggest that sperm telomere length is associated with idiopathic male infertility of China and we proposed the possibility that shorter telomeres in sperm chromosome will reduce spermatogenesis and sperm functions, which finally affected the fertility of male.

Functional properties and structure changes of soybean protein isolate after subcritical water treatment.

Subcritical water is an emerging method in food industry. In this study, soybean protein isolate (SPI) was treated by subcritical water (SBW) at various temperatures (0, 120, 160, 200 °C) for 20 min. The changes in the appearances, physicochemical properties and structural changes were investigated. After SBW treatment, the color of SPI solution modified turned to be yellow. The mean particle size and turbidity of SPI had similar behaviors. The mean particle size was decreased from 263.7 nm to 116.8 nm at 120 °C and then reached the maximum at 160 °C (1446.1 nm) due to the aggregation of protein. Then it was decreased to 722.9 nm at 200 °C caused by the protein degradation. SBW treatment could significantly enhance the solubility, emulsifying and foaming properties of SPI. With increasing temperature, the crystalline structure of protein was gradually collapsed. The degradation of the protein advanced structure occurred, especially at 200 °C revealed by ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry. Better functional properties exhibited in hydrolysis products indicating that SBW treatment could be used as a good method to modify the properties of soy proteins isolate for specific purposes under appropriate treatment condition.

Rhizosphere Inhibition of Cucumber Fusarium Wilt by Different Surfactin- excreting Strains of Bacillus subtilis.

Bacillus subtilis B006 strain effectively suppresses the cucumber fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (Foc). The population dynamics of Foc, strain B006 and its surfactin over-producing mutant B841 and surfactin-deficient mutant B1020, in the rhizosphere were determined under greenhouse conditions to elucidate the importance of the lipopeptides excreted by these strains in suppressing Foc. Results showed that B. subtilis strain B006 effectively suppressed the disease in natural soil by 42.9%, five weeks after transplanting, whereas B841 and B1020 suppressed the disease by only 22.6% and 7.1%, respectively. Quantitative PCR assays showed that effective colonization of strain B006 in the rhizosphere suppressed Foc propagation by more than 10 times both in nursery substrate and in field-infected soil. Reduction of Foc population at the cucumber stems in a range of 0.96 log10 ng/g to 2.39 log10 ng/g was attained at the third and the fifth weeks of B006 treatment in nursery substrate. In field-infected soil, all three treatments with B. subtilis suppressed Foc infection, indicated by the reduction of Foc population at a range of 2.91 log10 ng/g to 3.36 log10 ng/g at the stem base, one week after transplanting. This study reveals that the suppression of fusarium wilt disease is affected by the effective colonization of the surfactin-producing B. subtilis strain in the rhizosphere. These results improved our understanding of the biocontrol mechanism of the B. subtilis strain B006 in the natural soil and facilitate its application as biocontrol agent in the field.

Physico-chemical properties of gelatin from bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) scales by ultrasound-assisted extraction.

In this study, gelatin was extracted from bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) scales by water bath (WB) and ultrasound bath (UB) at 60 °C for 1 h, 3 h and 5 h, named WB1, WB3, WB5, UB1, UB3 and UB5, respectively. The physicochemical properties of gelatin were investigated. The result indicated that gelatin extracted from bighead carp scales had a high protein content (84.15 ~ 91.85 %) with moisture (7.11 ~ 13.65 %), low ash content (0.31 ~ 0.97 %). All extracted gelatin contained α-and ß-chains as the predominant components. Gelatin extracted by UB obtained much higher yield (30.94-46.67 %) than that of WB (19.15-36.39 %). More voids and less sheets of gelatin structure were observed, when the gelatin was extracted by UB for longer time. Gelatin of UB-assisted extraction normally exhibited lower gel strength and melting points than that of WB, which may be resulted from the protein degradation reflected by the FTIR spectra and higher free amino group content. However, there was no significant difference between WB1 and UB1. Therefore, the ultrasound assisted extraction in a short time was a promising method to enhance the yield and obtain gelatin with high quality.

Microwave heating enhances antioxidant and emulsifying activities of ovalbumin glycated with glucose in solid-state.

The aim of this study was to characterize the properties of ovalbumin (OVA) after glycated with glucose under microwave heating. For this purpose, microwave at 480 and 640 W power levels were used for heating the OVA-glucose system in solid-state for 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min, respectively. The results indicated that the protein molecular weight was increased after glycated with glucose under microwave treatment, the pH of the system was decreased with the increase of microwave treatment power and time, while the UV absorbance, browning intensity, antioxidant activities as well as the emulsifying activity and emulsion stability of the Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were increased in according with the raise of microwave treatment power and time. The reaction time of microwave treatment is much shorter than those using traditional methods, suggesting that microwave irradiation is a novel and efficient approach to promote Maillard reaction (MR) in dry state and improve protein antioxidant and functional properties.

MRAS Genetic Variation Is Associated with Atherothrombotic Stroke in the Han Chinese Population.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Atherothrombotic cerebral infarction [atherothrombotic stroke (ATS)] shares common risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms with coronary artery disease (CAD), and both diseases appear to have common susceptibility loci. The muscle RAS oncogene homolog gene (MRAS) has been identified as a susceptibility locus for CAD and is implicated in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes of MRAS are associated with increased risk of ATS in a population of Han Chinese. METHODS: A case-controlled association study was conducted in which only patients with ATS (identified as a major subtype in the Korean modification of the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment classification) were enrolled. Subgroup analyses were carried out to determine whether the effect of the MRAS polymorphism was specific to age and gender among the subjects. RESULTS: In total, 194 ATS and 186 control subjects were included in the present study. Two tagging SNPs were identified in MRAS (rs40593 and rs3755751). A multivariate regression analysis revealed a positive association between rs40593 and ATS under dominant and additive models after adjustment for covariates. Subgroup analyses revealed that there were no gender differences with respect to allele or genotype frequencies between the groups. The AG genotype for rs40593 (p=0.028), the CT genotype for rs3755751 (p=0.036), and G-allele carriers (AG plus GG) for rs40593 (p=0.015) exhibited a significant protective effect among those aged ≥45 years. For the haplotype analysis, ATS subjects aged ≥45 years had a higher frequency of the ACAC haplotype (76.0%) than the controls (68.1%; p<0.05); that haplotype was associated with an increased risk of ATS. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained data suggest a positive association between MRAS and ATS among the Han Chinese. Further studies should be performed with larger sample and among different ethnic populations, and gene-gene or gene-environment interactions should be considered.