Causal effects of socioeconomic traits on frailty: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: The relationship between socioeconomic status and frailty has been extensively investigated in the literature, but it remains unclear whether a causal relationship exists. Our goal is to evaluate the causal relationship between six socioeconomic traits and the frailty index using summary-level data for single nucleotide polymorphisms from large genome-wide association studies with individuals of European ancestry.

Methods: A two-sample MR was performed.

The IFT80/Hedgehog Pathway Regulates the Osteogenic-adipogenic Differentiation of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells.

Background: Steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH) is a typical refractory disease that often progresses irreversibly and has a high disability rate. Numerous studies have confirmed that abnormal osteogenic-adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) is one of the major factors of SANFH. However, the mechanism remains to be elucidated.

Causal association between adiposity and hemorrhoids: a Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Hemorrhoids are a very common anorectal disorder affecting a large number of individuals throughout the world. This study aimed to evaluate the causal effects of four adiposity traits including body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio on hemorrhoids by Mendelian randomization (MR).

Methods: We used summary statistics of BMI ( = 461,460), body fat percentage ( = 454,633), waist circumference ( = 462,166), waist-to-hip ratio ( = 212,244), and hemorrhoids ( = 337,199) from large-scale genome wide association studies of European ancestry.

Investigating the association of atopic dermatitis with ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease: A mendelian randomization study.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic skin inflammatory disease. Prior observational studies have reported inconsistent results on the association of AD with ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease. In this study, we applied two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) to evaluate the causal effect of AD on ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease.

Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases Associated Sites of Tobacco Repression of Shoot Growth Regulates Its Localization in Plant Cells.

Plant defense and growth rely on multiple transcriptional factors (TFs). Repression of shoot growth (RSG) is a TF belonging to a bZIP family in tobacco, known to be involved in plant gibberellin feedback regulation by inducing the expression of key genes. The tobacco calcium-dependent protein kinase CDPK1 was reported to interact with RSG and manipulate its intracellular localization by phosphorylating Ser-114 of RSG previously.

Magnetic-targeted capacitive heterostructure of polypyrrole for hypoxia-tolerant synergistic photodynamic/photothermal therapy under near infrared excitation.

Dual/Multi-modal photonanomedicines with the maximized antitumor efficacy has attracted extensive concerning. In this contribution, through photovoltaic engineering of photothermal conjugated polymer, a facile magnetic-targeted capacitive heterostructure of polypyrrole (upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs)@SiO-FeO @polypyrrole (USFP)), capable of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) upon near infrared (NIR) excitation is purposefully developed. Owing to the optimized regulation of photoreaction pathway via photoinduced capacitance effect, the yield of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including O in polypyrrole can be significantly promoted.

Population genomics provides insights into the genetic basis of adaptive evolution in the mushroom-forming fungus .

Introduction: Mushroom-forming fungi comprise diverse species that develop complex multicellular structures. In cultivated species, both ecological adaptation and artificial selection have driven genome evolution. However, little is known about the connections among genotype, phenotype and adaptation in mushroom-forming fungi.

5-Amino-4-Imidazolecarboxamide Ribonucleotide Transformylase/IMP Cyclohydrolase Polymorphisms Affect the Susceptibility to Multiple Myeloma.

Objective: The upregulation of 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase/IMP cyclohydrolase (ATIC) may affect tumorigenesis and multiple myeloma (MM) development.

Materials And Methods: A total of 97 patients with MM and 102 healthy control patients were included in the study. The SNaPshot technique was used to detect the ATIC gene polymorphisms.

Induced Systemic Resistance for Improving Plant Immunity by Beneficial Microbes.

Plant beneficial microorganisms improve the health and growth of the associated plants. Application of beneficial microbes triggers an enhanced resistance state, also termed as induced systemic resistance (ISR), in the host, against a broad range of pathogens. Upon the activation of ISR, plants employ long-distance systemic signaling to provide protection for distal tissue, inducing rapid and strong immune responses against pathogens invasions.

MiR-137 inhibits cervical cancer progression via down-modulating Notch1 and inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) is frequently diagnosed, and accounts for a large proportion of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Therefore, it is an urgent need to explore the mechanisms of CC progression and seek new therapeutic targets. We know that microRNA-137 (miR-137) is involved in CC progression; however, it's mechanism in CC has not yet been clarified.

Association of the SNP rs112369934 near Gene with POAG Endophenotypes in African Americans.

We investigated the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs112369934 near the gene with qualitative and quantitative phenotypes of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in African Americans (AA). AA subjects over 35 years old were recruited for the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study in Philadelphia, PA. Glaucoma cases were evaluated for phenotypes associated with POAG pathogenesis, and the associations between rs112369934 and phenotypes were investigated by logistic regression analysis and in gender-stratified case cohorts: The SNP rs112369934 was found to have a suggestive association with retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) in 1087 male AA POAG cases, individuals with the TC genotype having thinner RNFL (95% CI 0.

Locus Associated with Low-Risk Baseline Glaucomatous Features in the POAAGG Study.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and has been associated with multiple genetic risk factors. The gene is a genetic susceptibility factor for POAG, and several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were shown to be associated with POAG in our own prior Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study genome-wide association study (GWAS). This study evaluated the association of the locus with baseline optic disc and clinical phenotypic characteristics of glaucoma patients from our African American cohort.

RNA-Seq-based high-resolution linkage map reveals the genetic architecture of fruiting body development in shiitake mushroom, .

Fruiting body development (FBD) of mushroom-forming fungi has attracted tremendous interest. However, the genetic and molecular basis of FBD is poorly known. Here, using (shiitake) as a model, we deciphered the genetic architecture underlying fruiting body-related traits (FBRTs) by combined genomic, genetic and phenotypic data.

The Role of Genetic Ancestry as a Risk Factor for Primary Open-angle Glaucoma in African Americans.

Purpose: POAG is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in African Americans. In this study, we quantitatively assess the association of autosomal ancestry with POAG risk in a large cohort of self-identified African Americans.

Methods: Subjects recruited to the Primary Open-Angle African American Glaucoma Genetics (POAAGG) study were classified as glaucoma cases or controls by fellowship-trained glaucoma specialists.

Novel SERPINC1 missense mutation (Cys462Tyr) causes disruption of the 279Cys-462Cys disulfide bond and leads to type Ⅰ hereditary antithrombin deficiency.

Background: Antithrombin (AT) is the primary physiological anticoagulant of normal hemostasis. Hereditary AT deficiency, an autosomal dominant thrombotic disease caused by mutations in the AT gene (SERPINC1), is associated with venous thromboembolism.

Objective: We investigated the phenotypes, genotypes, and pathogenesis of hereditary AT deficiency in a 12-year-old boy (proband) who developed a pulmonary embolism and a subsequent deep vein thrombosis.

Plant Root Exudates Are Involved in AR156 Mediated Biocontrol Against .

The biological control process mediated by microbes relies on multiple interactions among plants, pathogens and biocontrol agents (BCAs). One such efficient BCA is AR156, a bacterial strain that controls a broad spectrum of plant diseases and potentially works as a microbe elicitor of plant immune reactions. It remains unclear, however, whether the interaction between plants and AR156 may facilitate composition changes of plant root exudates and whether these changes directly affect the growth of both plant pathogens and AR156 itself.

Prognostic value of Notch receptors in postsurgical patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies and a major cause of cancer involved death worldwide. Prognosis remains poor because of high recurrence rates and lack of effective relapse prevention strategies. Notch pathway plays an important role in tumor progression and metastasis, and it is associated with the prognosis of cancer.

ATXN7 Gene Variants and Expression Predict Post-Operative Clinical Outcomes in Hepatitis B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a lethal disease with nearly equal morbidity and mortality. Thus, the discovery and application of more useful predictive biomarkers for improving therapeutic effects and prediction of clinical outcomes is of crucial significance.

Methods: A total of 475 HBV-related HCC patients were enrolled.

EGFR and SYNE2 are associated with p21 expression and SYNE2 variants predict post-operative clinical outcomes in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma.

This study was to explore the association between gene variants and p21 expression and investigate the TP53-independent p21 regulation in hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients from Guangxi by genome-wide association study. 426 HBV-related HCC patients were enrolled. Results showed that, after quality control, a total of 21,643 SNPs were identified in 107 p21 positive and 298 p21 negative patients.

Phosphate, fibroblast growth factor 23 and retinopathy in chronic kidney disease: the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study.

Background: Elevated circulating concentrations of phosphate and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Retinopathy is a common manifestation of microvascular disease in CKD, but its associations with phosphate and FGF23 have not been studied. We tested the hypothesis that higher serum phosphate is associated with more severe retinopathy in individuals with CKD, independent of FGF23 and known risk factors for retinopathy.

[Preliminary study on transgenic cell sheet with cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein].

Objective: To construct a transgenic cell sheet of cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein 1 (CDMP1) by adenovirus vector in vitro and to identify its biological activity.

Methods: The bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were isolated from bone marrow of 1-month-old rabbit, and cultured in vitro. The 3rd-6th generation of BMSCs were used for experiment.

Effects of extrusion cooking on physicochemical properties of white and red ginseng (powder).

A systematic comparison of the physicochemical properties of white ginseng (WG), extruded white ginseng (EWG), red ginseng (RG), and extruded red ginseng (ERG) was performed. The aim of the present study was to identify the effects of the physicochemical properties of ginseng by extrusion cooking. The highest value of the water absorption index (WAI) was 3.

The effect of extrusion conditions on the acidic polysaccharide, ginsenoside contents and antioxidant properties of extruded Korean red ginseng.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of extrusion conditions (moisture content 20% and 30%, screw speed 200 and 250 rpm, barrel temperature 115℃ and 130℃) on the acidic polysaccharide, ginsenoside contents and antioxidant properties of extruded Korean red ginseng (KRG). Extruded KRGs showed relatively higher amounts of acidic polysaccharide (6.80% to 9.