Endothelial NO Synthase Gene Polymorphisms and Risk of Ischemic Stroke in Asian Population: A Meta-Analysis

<div><p>Background</p><p>The association between polymorphism 4b/a, T-786C and G894T in endothelial NO synthase gene (eNOS) and ischemic stroke (IS) remains controversial in Asian. A meta-analysis was performed to better clarify the association between eNOS gene and IS risk.</p> <p>Methods</p><p>Based on the search of PubMed, Web of Science (ISI), CNKI (National Knowledge Infrastructure), Wan Fang Med Online and CBM (Chinese Biology Medical Literature Database) databases, all eligible case-control or cohort studies were identified. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from fixed and random effect models were calculated. Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using the I². Meta-regression was used to explore the potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. Begg's test was used to estimate publication bias.</p> <p>Results</p><p>Our study included 27 articles, contained 28 independent case–control studies, involved a total of 3,742 cases and 3,691 controls about 4b/a, 1,800 cases and 1,751 controls about T-786C and 2,747 cases and 2,872 controls about G894T. A significant association of 4a allele with increased risk of IS was found in dominant (FEM: OR = 1.498, 95% CI = 1.329–1.689), recessive (FEM: OR = 2.132, 95% CI = 1.383–3.286) and codominant (REM: OR = 1.456, 95% CI = 1.235–1.716) models. For T-786C and G894T, there were significant associations with dominant and codominant genetic models, but not with recessive genetic model.</p> <p>Conclusions</p><p>The meta-analysis indicated that eNOS gene 4b/a, T-786C, G894T polymorphism might be associated with IS.</p> </div

Characteristics of eNOS gene 4b/a polymorphism genotype distributions in studies included in this meta-analysis.

*<p>Studies deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium</p

Characteristics of eNOS gene T-786C polymorphism genotype distributions in studies included in this meta-analysis.

<p>Characteristics of eNOS gene T-786C polymorphism genotype distributions in studies included in this meta-analysis.</p

Flow chart of meta-analysis for exclusion/inclusion of studies.

<p>Flow chart of meta-analysis for exclusion/inclusion of studies.</p

Pooled measures on the relationship of eNOS gene 4b/a, T-786C and G894T polymorphism with ischemic stroke.

<p>DHWE: deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in controls.</p>a<p>Two articles (Kim et al. Meng et al.) in 4b/a and T-786C and one article (Di et al.) in G894T for recessive model were not sufficient to calculated pooled OR.</p>b<p>One article (Meng et al.) in 4b/a and T-786C and one article (Di et al.) in G894T for recessive model were not sufficient to calculated pooled OR.</p>c<p>p-values was for observed pooled odds ratios. when I²≤50%, it was for FEM, otherwise it was for REM.</p>*<p>Pooled ORs were not calculated for only two articles left sufficient to calculate pooled ORs after excluding articles with OR>3.0.</p><p>FEM, fixed effect model; REM, random effect model</p><p>Dominant model: aa + ba vs. bb for 4b/a, CC + TC vs. TT for T-786C, and TT + GT vs. GG for G894T.</p><p>Recessive model: aa vs. ba + bb for 4b/a, CC vs. TC + TT for T-786C, and TT vs. GT + GG for G894T.</p><p>Codominant model: a vs. b for 4b/a, C vs. T for T-786C, and for T vs. G for G894T.</p

Characteristics of eNOS gene G894T polymorphism genotype distributions in studies included in this meta-analysis.

<p>Na: not available.</p

Meta-analysis for IS risk depending on the G894T polymorphism in the eNOS gene.

<p>Forest plots of relationship between eNOS gene G894T polymorphism and IS risk in dominant model in Asian. White diamond denotes the pooled OR. Black squares indicate the OR in each study, with square sizes inversely proportional to the standard error of the OR. Horizontal lines represent 95% CIs.</p

Meta-analysis for IS risk depending on the T-786C polymorphism in the eNOS gene.

<p>Forest plots of relationship between eNOS gene T-786C polymorphism and IS risk in codominant model in Asian. White diamond denotes the pooled OR. Black squares indicate the OR in each study, with square sizes inversely proportional to the standard error of the OR. Horizontal lines represent 95% CIs.</p

Phosphorus Cation Doping: A New Strategy for Boosting Photoelectrochemical Performance on TiO₂ Nanotube Photonic Crystals

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising technique for sustainable hydrogen generation. However, PEC performance on current semiconductors needs further improvement. Herein, a phosphorus cation doping strategy is proposed to fundamentally boost PEC performance on TiO₂ nanotube photonic crystal (TiO₂ NTPC) photoelectrodes in both the visible-light region and full solar-light illumination. The self-supported P-TiO₂ NTPC photoelectrodes are fabricated by a facile two-step electrochemical anodization method and subsequent phosphidation treatment. The Ti⁴⁺ is partially replaced by P cations (P⁵⁺) from the crystal lattice, which narrows the band gap of TiO₂ and induces charge imbalance by the formation of Ti–O–P bonds. We believe the combination of unique photonic nanostructures of TiO₂ NTPCs and P cation doping strategy will open up a new opportunity for enhancing PEC performance of TiO₂-based photoelectrodes

DataSheet_1_Comprehensive resistance evaluation of 15 blueberry cultivars under high soil pH stress based on growth phenotype and physiological traits.docx

High soil pH is one of the main abiotic factors that negatively affects blueberry growth and cultivation. However, no comprehensive evaluation of the high soil pH tolerance of different blueberry cultivars has been conducted. Herein, 16 phenotypic and physiological indices of 15 blueberry cultivars were measured through pot experiments, and the high-pH soil tolerance coefficient (HSTC) was calculated based on these indices to comprehensively evaluate the high-soil-pH tolerance of plants. The results demonstrated that high soil pH stress inhibited blueberry 77.growth, and MDA, soluble sugar (SS), and soluble protein (SP) levels increased in leaves. Moreover, in all cultivars, CAT activity in the antioxidant system was enhanced, whereas SOD activity was reduced, and the relative expression levels of the antioxidant enzyme genes SOD and CAT showed similar changes. In addition, the leaf chlorophyll relative content (SPAD), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (E), and stomatal conductance (Gs) decreased, while changes in the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) were noted in different cultivars. Finally, according to the comprehensive evaluation value D obtained from the combination of principal component analysis (PCA) and membership function (MF), the 15 blueberry cultivars can be divided into 4 categories: high soil pH-tolerant type [‘Briteblue’ (highest D value 0.815)], intermediate tolerance type (‘Zhaixuan 9’, ‘Zhaixuan 7’, ‘Emerald’, ‘Primadonna’, ‘Powderblue’ and ‘Chandler’), low high soil pH-tolerant type (‘Brightwell’, ‘Gardenblue’, ‘Plolific’ and ‘Sharpblue’) and high soil pH-sensitive type [‘Legacy’, ‘Bluegold’, ‘Baldwin’ and ‘Anna’ (lowest D value 0.166)]. Stepwise linear regression analysis revealed that plant height, SS, E, leaf length, Ci, SOD, and SPAD could be used to predict and evaluate the high soil pH tolerance of blueberry cultivars.</p