Coagulation factor V gene 1691G>A polymorphism as an indicator for risk and prognosis of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis in Chinese Han population.

The purpose of this study was to explore the negative influence coagulation factor V (FV) 1691G>A polymorphism had on the risk and prognosis of lower extremity deep venous thrombosis (LDVT) in Chinese Han population.A total of 348 patients with LDVT (LDVT group) and 398 healthy individuals (control group) were selected to further this study. A polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used to analyze the FV gene 1691G>A polymorphism; coagulation and anticoagulation indexes of patients with LDVT were detected as a result. A 3-year follow-up and logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine the corresponding correlations between FV gene and LDVT.In comparison with the control group, the frequencies of GA and AA genotypes and A allele of 1691G>A polymorphism significantly increased in the LDVT group. Also, in comparison with patients with LDVT carrying GG genotype of FV gene 1691G>A polymorphism, the following activities reduced significantly: prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen, protein C, and protein S, while activated protein C resistance and lupus anticoagulant positive rate increased in patients carrying A allele (GA + AA). Logistic regression analysis indicated that FV gene 1691G>A polymorphism, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and LDVT family histories were all closely related with LDVT and were subsequent independent risk factors for LDVT. Moreover, patients with LDVT carrying A allele (GA + AA) had both higher patency and recurrence rates than those carrying GG genotype.FV gene 1691G>A polymorphism may be associated with both the risk and prognosis of LDVT, potentially being a useful index for monitoring LDVT prognosis and risk.

Haplotypes Phased from Population Transcriptomes Detecting Selection in the Initial Adaptation of Miscanthus lutarioriparius to Stressful Environments.

Adaptation is a characteristic that enhances the survival or reproduction of organisms; selection is the critical process leading to adaptive evolution. Therefore, detecting selection is important in studying evolutionary biology. Changes in allele frequency are fundamental to adaptive evolution. The allele frequency of entire genes at the genomic scale is more intensive and precise for analyzing selection effects, compared with simple sequence repeat and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) alleles from nuclear gene fragments. Here, we analyzed 29,094 SNPs derived from 80 individuals of 14 L. Liou ex S.L. Chen & Renvoize populations planted near their native habitat (Jiangxia, Hubei Province, JH) and a stressful environment (Qingyang, Gansu Province, QG) to detect selection during initial adaptation. The nucleotide diversity of over 60% of genes was decreased in QG compared with JH, suggesting that most genes were undergoing selection in the stressful environment. We explored a new approach based on haplotype data inferred from RNA-seq data to analyze the change in frequency between two sites and to detect selection signals. In total, 402 and 51 genes were found to be targets of positive and negative selection, respectively. Among these candidate genes, the enrichment of abiotic stress-response genes and photosynthesis-related genes might have been responsible for establishment in the stressful environment. This is the first study assessing the change in allele frequency at the genomic level during adaptation. The method in which allele frequency detects selection during initial adaptation using population RNA-seq data would be useful for developing evolutionary biology.

Comparison of Efficacy of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Versus Open Surgical Repair in Middle/High-Risk Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

To explore the efficacy of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) compared with traditional open surgical repair (OSR) in the treatment of middle/high-risk patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). With a retrospective method, we analyzed the clinical data of 57 patients with middle/high-risk AAA admitted to Linyi People's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University from January 2010 to January 2014. Twenty-eight of the 57 patients received EVAR and 29 others received OSR. Statistical analysis was conducted by the design of spreadsheet according to preoperative, intraoperative, perioperative, and postoperative follow-up relevant information. Our study showed that the difference in baseline characteristics of different therapies in middle/high-risk AAA patients was not statistically significant in preoperative period (P > 0.05). In intraoperative period, the efficacy of middle/high-risk AAA patients in EVAR group was significantly superior to OSR group in terms of blood loss, blood transfusion, and general anesthesia rate (all P < 0.01). In perioperative period, the ICU observation time and the average fasting time of middle/high-risk AAA patients in EVAR group were remarkably lower than OSR group (all P < 0.01), but the average hospital stay and the operation cost of middle/high-risk AAA patients in EVAR group were notably higher than OSR group. In postoperative follow-up period, OSR group was identified with a lower incidence of surgery-related complications than EVAR group (P < 0.05), but EVAR group was demonstrated with a higher survival rate than OSR group (P < 0.05); after 12 months of follow-up, SF-36 scale scores in OSR group were higher than EVAR group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, EVAR may have a better short-term effect, whereas OSR may have a better long-term effect in the treatment of middle/high-risk AAA patients.

Effects of magnolol on impairment of learning and memory abilities induced by scopolamine in mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD), one of the most common forms of dementia, is primarily ascribed to the cholinergic deficits and neuronal dysfunction. Magnolol (Mag), a bioactivator extracted from Magnolia officinalis, has protective effects on cholinergic neurons, but the specific mechanism remains unknown. To further evaluate the therapeutic effects of Mag on the learning and memory impairment in a scopolamine (Scop)-induced mouse model, the passive avoidance and the Morris water maze tests, the measurement of the ratio of brain/hippocampus to body weight, activities of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total nitric oxide synthase (total NOS) and the content of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) in hippocampus homogenate as well as the immunefluorescence staining of the AChE positive nerve fibers were performed. Therapeutically treated with Mag, the impaired abilities of learning and memory of the Scop-induced mice were almost restored to the native levels. The restored AChE, total NOS and SOD activities and the MDA level were observed, with a relatively normal density of AChE positive nerve fibers in hippocampus CA3 molecular layer. The improving efficacy of Mag on learning and memory impairment induced by Scop is dose-dependent, indicating that Mag has potential neuroprotective effects against neuronal impairment and memory dysfunction induced by Scop in mice. The underlying mechanisms may be associated with the anti-oxidative effects of Mag and its protective effects on hippocampus cholinergic neurons.

[A deletion mutant of plasminogen kringle 5 inhibits retinal capillary endothelial cell proliferation].

OBJECTIVE: To obtain purified deletion mutant of plasminogen kringle 5 (K5) using gene mutation and genetic recombination methods and assess its anti-angiogenic activity in vitro. METHODS: A deletion mutant of K5 was obtained by deleting 15 amino acids from K5 while retaining all the 3 disulfide bonds. This K5 mutant (Mut1) was expressed in E. coli and affinity purified. The inhibition effect of K5 Mut1 on primary retinal capillary endothelial cells and pericytes from the same origin was assessed by MTT assay. RESULTS: The K5 Mut1 inhibited the proliferation of primary retinal capillary endothelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with an apparent half-inhibition concentration (EC(50)) of approximately 35 nmol/L, which was 2-fold more potent than intact K5. In the same concentration range, this peptide did not inhibit pericytes from the same origin, suggesting an endothelial cell-specific inhibition. CONCLUSION: This K5 deletion mutant is a more potent angiogenic inhibitor than K5 and may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of such disorders with abnormal neovascularization as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration and solid tumor.

[High-dose glucose induces human retinal endothelial cell apoptosis].

OBJECTIVE: To examine the direct effect of high glucose levels on primary cultured human retinal capillary endothelial cells (HRCEC). METHODS: HRCECs were isolated from donated eyes and cultured for 6 days in the media containing 5 or 25 mmol/L glucose. The cell viability was determined by trypan blue exclusion assay and cell cycle analyzed by flow cytometry, with the cell apoptosis assayed by TUNEL method. RESULTS: The cell viability was significantly decreased after exposure to 25 mmol/L glucose, and the number of apoptotic cells determined by flow cytometry and TUNEL was significantly increased in response to high-dose glucose treatment. CONCLUSION: High-dose glucose induces apoptosis in HRCEC, which may contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy.