Polymorphisms in MicroRNA Target Sites of TGF-β Signaling Pathway Genes and Susceptibility to Allergic Rhinitis.

Background: The polymorphisms inside microRNA target sites locating in the 3'-UTR region may introduce the micro-RNA-binding changes, which may regulate the gene expression and correlate with the potential diseases.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate whether the polymorphisms in microRNA target sites of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway genes are associated with the susceptibility of mite-sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR) in a Han Chinese population.

Methods: In this case-control study, 454 AR patients and 448 healthy controls were recruited.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D inversely associated with blood eosinophils in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis.

Objective: The relationship between vitamin D and allergic rhinitis (AR) remains unclear. The present study investigated their association by examining serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels, blood eosinophils, and the expression of vitamin D receptors (VDR) on nasal mucosa in patients with AR.

Methods: A total of 32 patients with persistent AR and 25 controls were enrolled in this study.

The role of vitamin D in allergic rhinitis.

Recent studies suggest that vitamin D is related to allergic rhinitis (AR). In this review, we first discuss the physiology and metabolism of vitamin D, then we review the function of vitamin D in the immune system, and above all, we highlight the current research regarding the role of vitamin D in AR. Finally, we find that there are both experimental and clinical studies showing that vitamin D is associated with AR, although the results are not consistent and even conflicting.

Association of VDR and CYP2R1 Polymorphisms with Mite-Sensitized Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in a Chinese Population.

Unlabelled: As recent studies have described an association between vitamin D and allergic rhinitis, we hypothesized that vitamin D pathway-related genes may be candidate genes for susceptibility to allergic rhinitis. Thus, we sought to evaluate whether polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) and CYP2R1 genes are associated with mite-sensitized persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) in a Han Chinese population. A hospital-based case-control study consisting of 519 patients with mite-sensitized PER and 447 healthy controls was conducted.

Effects of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α on bone conduction impairment in otitis media with effusion.

Conclusion: Elevated levels of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in middle ear effusion may play an important role in the pathogenesis of bone conduction impairment associated with otitis media with effusion (OME). The mechanism may be related to the up-regulation of nitric oxide (NO) expression.

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the role of HIF-1α in the pathogenesis of sensorineural hearing loss associated with OME.

Transvenous treatment of complex cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulae with Onyx and coils.

Transvenous embolization has become the treatment of choice for such lesions We evaluated Onxy for patients with cavernous dural arteriovenous fistulae (CDAVFs) who underwent transvenous embolization via different transvenous approaches. Case records of six patients with symptomatic CDAVFs, treated between October 2006 and November 2007 were reviewed. A total of seven transvenous procedures were performed in the six patients with CDAVFs.

Expression of a truncated ripening inhibitor (RIN) protein from tomato and production of an anti-RIN antibody.

The tomato ripening mutant, ripening inhibitor (rin), whose fruits fails to ripen, has been identified and widely studied. The RIN gene has been cloned. Here we present the expression of a truncated form of the RIN protein from tomato and the preparation of a polyclonal antibody against it.

[Detection of total nitrogen and organic matter in rhizosphere of transgenic cotton by near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy].

With the rapid development of the transgenic biotechnology, more and more transgenic plants have been poured into the market, and scientists have paid much attention to transgenic plants' ecological safety. To analysize the content of organic matter and total nitrogen in rhizosphere of transgenic cottons and their parents, the dried soil were scanned by continuous wave of near infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy ranging from 12,000 to 4 000 cm(-1) with a resolution of 4 cm(-1) and scanning for 64 times. Bruker OPUS software was applied for quantification.

[Epidemiologic study on hearing impairment and ear diseases in old people].

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of hearing impairment and ear diseases in old people and provide scientific data for drawing up the prevention and treatment strategies.

Methods: Using the probability proportion to size (PPS) method, 1261 people over 60 years were investigated in 40 clusters in Jiangsu Province with the WHO protocol.

Results: The prevalence of hearing impairment was 58.

[Mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene A827G in two pedigrees with nonsyndromic deafness].

Objective: To investigate the relationship of associating mitochondrial DNA 12S rRNA gene mutations with non-syndromic and aminoglycoside-induced hearing loss happening to Chinese families.

Methods: The diagnosis was validated by hearing tests. Blood samples were collected from 20 family members (13 subjects from pedigree A and 7 from pedigree B) and 32 sporadic deafness cases.

[Relationship between ethylene and polygalacturonase in tomato fruits].

Ethylene and PG (polygalacturonase) are both key plant growth regulators in fruit ripening process. The expression of PG was markedly inhibited in either antisense ACS tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum cv. Lichun) where endogenous ethylene synthesis was suppressed, or in Nr mutant in which ethylene perception was severely damaged.