Analysis of human triallelic SNPs by next-generation sequencing.

Although single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have become extremely useful in the study of geneticvariation, triallelic SNPs are still not fully understood. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is a promising approach to identify triallelic sites in large populations. In this study, we explored exome sequencing data from 221 Chinese individuals, with an average depth of 70-fold.

Suppression of neurite outgrowth of primary cultured hippocampal neurons is involved in impairment of glutamate metabolism and NMDA receptor function caused by nanoparticulate TiO2.

Numerous studies have indicated that nano-titanium dioxide (TiO2) can induce neurotoxicity in vitro and in vivo, however, it is unclear whether nano-TiO2 affects neurite outgrowth of hippocampal neurons. In order to investigate the mechanism of neurotoxicity, rat primary cultured hippocampal neurons on the fourth day of culture were exposed to 5, 15, and 30 μg/mL nano-TiO2 for 24 h, and nano-TiO2 internalization, dendritic growth, glutamate metabolism, expression of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits (NR1, NR2A and NR2B), calcium homeostasis, sodium current (INa) and potassium current (IK) were examined. Our findings demonstrated that nano-TiO2 crossed the membrane into the cytoplasm or nucleus, and significantly suppressed dendritic growth of primary cultured hippocampal neurons in a concentration-dependent manner.

Increased chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 expression and its correlation with osteopontin in Graves' disease.

Graves' disease (GD) is a chronic autoimmune process characterized by the production of auto-antibodies that presumably consequent to the lymphocytic infiltrates in the thyroid. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21) is important for the circulation of CC-chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7)-expressing cells. Meanwhile, osteopontin (OPN) enhances the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines through NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways in GD.

Monitoring the environmental effects of CeO2 and ZnO nanoparticles through the life cycle of corn (Zea mays) plants and in situ μ-XRF mapping of nutrients in kernels.

Information about changes in physiological and agronomic parameters through the life cycle of plants exposed to engineered nanoparticles (NPs) is scarce. In this study, corn (Zea mays) plants were cultivated to full maturity in soil amended with either nCeO2 or nZnO at 0, 400, and 800 mg/kg. Gas exchange was monitored every 10 days, and at harvest, bioaccumulation of Ce and Zn in tissues was determined by ICP-OES/MS.

Chronic exposure to nanoparticulate TiO2 causes renal fibrosis involving activation of the Wnt pathway in mouse kidney.

Chronic exposure to nano-TiO2 may induce renal fibrosis, and the mechanism of this process is not well understood. Therefore, in this study, mice were administered nano-TiO2 by intragastric feeding for 9 months, and the urinary levels of nephrotoxicity biomarkers, activation of the Wnt pathway, and markers of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the kidneys were investigated. The findings suggested that exposure to nano-TiO2 increased the level of renal titanium accumulation, urinary levels of kidney injury molecule-1 (1.

Nanoparticulate TiO2 protection of midgut damage in the silkworm (Bombyx mori) following phoxim exposure.

Bombyx mori (B. mori) is often subjected to phoxim poisoning in China due to phoxim exposure, which leads to a decrease in silk production. Nanoparticulate (NP) titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2) has been shown to attenuate damages in B.

Elevated circulating microRNA-122 is associated with obesity and insulin resistance in young adults.

Objective: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of adiposity, but functional studies have yielded inconclusive results. Examining the associations of circulating miRNAs levels with obesity and insulin sensitivity in humans may lead to improved insights.

Design And Methods: Serum samples collected from 112 obese and control subjects (50.

Free triiodothyronine concentrations are inversely associated with microalbuminuria.

Thyroid function and microalbuminuria are both associated with vascular disease and endothelial damage. However, whether thyroid function is associated with microalbuminuria is not well established. The objective was to explore the relationship between thyroid hormones and microalbuminuria in Chinese population.

Toxic effects of copper-based nanoparticles or compounds to lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa).

The increased production and use of nanoparticles (NPs) has generated concerns about their impact on living organisms. In this study, nCu, bulk Cu, nCuO, bulk CuO, Cu(OH)2 (CuPRO 2005, Kocide 3000), and CuCl2 were exposed for 15 days to 10 days-old hydroponically grown lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Each compound was applied at 0, 5, 10, and 20 mg L(-1).

Meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of adult height in East Asians identifies 17 novel loci.

Human height is associated with risk of multiple diseases and is profoundly determined by an individual's genetic makeup and shows a high degree of ethnic heterogeneity. Large-scale genome-wide association (GWA) analyses of adult height in Europeans have identified nearly 180 genetic loci. A recent study showed high replicability of results from Europeans-based GWA studies in Asians; however, population-specific loci may exist due to distinct linkage disequilibrium patterns.

Postprandial glucose, insulin and incretin responses to different carbohydrate tolerance tests.

Background: Few studies have focused on postprandial incretin responses to different carbohydrate meals. Therefore, we designed a study to compare the different effects of two carbohydrates (75 g oral glucose, a monosaccharide and 100 g standard noodle, a polysaccharide, with 75 g carbohydrates equivalently) on postprandial glucose, insulin and incretin responses in different glucose tolerance groups.

Methods: This study was an open-label, randomized, two-way crossover clinical trial.

[Chemical constituents of Juncus setchuensis].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Juncus setchuensis.

Methods: Column chromatography was used in the isolation procedure. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectral data.

SFRP5 acts as a mature adipocyte marker but not as a regulator in adipogenesis.

WNT/β-catenin signalling is involved in regulating adipogenesis, and its dysregulation occurs in obesity. Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) is a WNT protein inhibitor; however, its role in adipogenesis and obesity is controversial. In this study, we observed that SFRP5 mRNA levels were increased in the fat tissues of obese humans and mice.

MiR-194 deregulation contributes to colorectal carcinogenesis via targeting AKT2 pathway.

Recent studies have increasingly linked microRNAs to colorectal cancer (CRC). MiR-194 has been reported deregulated in different tumor types, whereas the function of miR-194 in CRC largely remains unexplored. Here we investigated the biological effects, mechanisms and clinical significance of miR-194.

Long noncoding RNA GAPLINC regulates CD44-dependent cell invasiveness and associates with poor prognosis of gastric cancer.

It is increasingly evident that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) have causative roles in carcinogenesis. In this study, we report findings implicating a novel lncRNA in gastric cancer, termed GAPLINC (gastric adenocarcinoma predictive long intergenic noncoding RNA), based on the use of global microarray and in situ hybridization (ISH) analyses to identify aberrantly expressed lncRNA in human gastric cancer specimens. GAPLINC is a 924-bp-long lncRNA that is highly expressed in gastric cancer tissues.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles impact yield and modify nutritional parameters in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

The implications of engineered nanomaterials on crop productivity and food quality are not yet well understood. The impact of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2) on growth and yield attributes and nutritional composition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was examined.

Mechanisms of nanosized titanium dioxide-induced testicular oxidative stress and apoptosis in male mice.

Background: Due to the increased application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂ NPs) in the food industry and daily life, their potential toxic effects in humans and animals have been investigated. However, very few studies have focused on testicular oxidative stress and/or apoptosis.

Methods: In order to understand the possible molecular mechanisms of testicular lesions following exposure to TiO₂ NPs, male mice were exposed to 2.

Long non-coding RNAs expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and lncRNA BC008363 an independent prognostic factor in PDAC.

Background: Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a novel class of mRNA-like transcripts with no protein coding capacity, but with a variety of functions including roles in epigenetics and gene regulation. In recent reports, the aberrant expression of lncRNAs has been associated with human cancers, suggesting a critical role in tumorigenesis.

Method: In the present study, we analyzed mRNA and lncRNA expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by microarray platform, and analyzed lncRNA expression from 30 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by real-time PCR.

Changes of serum parameters of TiO₂ nanoparticle-induced atherosclerosis in mice.

The evaluation of toxicological effects of nanoparticulate matter is increasingly important due to their growing occupational use and presence as compounds in consumer products. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to nanosized particles lead to systemic inflammation in experimental animals, but whether long-term exposure to nanosized particles induces atherogenesis is rarely evaluated. In the current study, mice were continuously exposed to TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) at 1.

MiR-198 represses tumor growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer by targeting fucosyl transferase 8.

In this study we investigated the biological role and mechanism of miR-198 in colorectal carcinoma (CRC). MiR-198 expression was shown to exhibit a strongly negative correlation with lymph node invasion, distant metastasis and patient survival in examinations of colorectal cancer tissues and paired normal colorectal mucosa tissues. fucosyl transferase 8 (FUT8) was identified as a potential target of miR-198 in bioinformatics analysis and luciferase reporter assays.

The short-term effects of exercise on intraocular pressure, choroidal thickness and axial length.

Purpose: To explore ocular changes in healthy people after exercise.

Methods: Twenty five volunteers underwent exercise for 15 minutes on a treadmill. Measurements of choroidal thickness, intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular biometry, and blood pressure were taken before and after exercise.

Genetic predisposition to obesity and risk of subclinical atherosclerosis.

Obesity has been associated with increased common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT), a measure of subclinical atherosclerosis. We assessed the association between genetic predisposition to obesity and CCA IMT. The study included 428 young Chinese adults with CCA IMT measured using a high-resolution B-mode tomographic ultrasound system.

Mechanism of TiO2 nanoparticle-induced neurotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) has been used historically for evaluating the toxicity of environmental and aqueous toxicants, and there is an emerging literature reporting toxic effects of manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) in zebrafish embryos. Few researches, however, are focused on the neurotoxicity on adult zebrafish after subchronic exposure to TiO2 NPs. This study was designed to evaluate the morphological changes, alterations of neurochemical contents, and expressions of memory behavior-related genes in zebrafish brains caused by exposures to 5, 10, 20, and 40 μg/L TiO2 NPs for 45 consecutive days.