Choline Dehydrogenase Polymorphism rs12676 Is a Functional Variation and Is Associated with Changes in Human Sperm Cell Function

Approximately 15% of couples are affected by infertility and up to half of these cases arise from male factor infertility. Unidentified genetic aberrations such as chromosomal deletions, translocations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be the underlying cause of many cases of idiopathic male infertility. Deletion of the choline dehydrogenase (Chdh) gene in mice results in decreased male fertility due to diminished sperm motility; sperm from Chdh−/− males have decreased ATP concentrations likely stemming from abnormal sperm mitochondrial morphology and function in these cells. Several SNPs have been identified in the human CHDH gene that may result in altered CHDH enzymatic activity. rs12676 (G233T), a non-synonymous SNP located in the CHDH coding region, is associated with increased susceptibility to dietary choline deficiency and risk of breast cancer. We now report evidence that this SNP is also associated with altered sperm motility patterns and dysmorphic mitochondrial structure in sperm. Sperm produced by men who are GT or TT for rs12676 have 40% and 73% lower ATP concentrations, respectively, in their sperm. rs12676 is associated with decreased CHDH protein in sperm and hepatocytes. A second SNP located in the coding region of IL17BR, rs1025689, is linked to altered sperm motility characteristics and changes in choline metabolite concentrations in sperm

Systematic review of the evidence relating FEV1 decline to giving up smoking

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The rate of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) decline ("beta") is a marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk. The reduction in beta after quitting smoking is an upper limit for the reduction achievable from switching to novel nicotine delivery products. We review available evidence to estimate this reduction and quantify the relationship of smoking to beta.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Studies were identified, in healthy individuals or patients with respiratory disease, that provided data on beta over at least 2 years of follow-up, separately for those who gave up smoking and other smoking groups. Publications to June 2010 were considered. Independent beta estimates were derived for four main smoking groups: never smokers, ex-smokers (before baseline), quitters (during follow-up) and continuing smokers. Unweighted and inverse variance-weighted regression analyses compared betas in the smoking groups, and in continuing smokers by amount smoked, and estimated whether beta or beta differences between smoking groups varied by age, sex and other factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty-seven studies had relevant data, 28 for both sexes and 19 for males. Sixteen studies started before 1970. Mean follow-up was 11 years. On the basis of weighted analysis of 303 betas for the four smoking groups, never smokers had a beta 10.8 mL/yr (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.9 to 12.8) less than continuing smokers. Betas for ex-smokers were 12.4 mL/yr (95% CI, 10.1 to 14.7) less than for continuing smokers, and for quitters, 8.5 mL/yr (95% CI, 5.6 to 11.4) less. These betas were similar to that for never smokers. In continuing smokers, beta increased 0.33 mL/yr per cigarette/day. Beta differences between continuing smokers and those who gave up were greater in patients with respiratory disease or with reduced baseline lung function, but were not clearly related to age or sex.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The available data have numerous limitations, but clearly show that continuing smokers have a beta that is dose-related and over 10 mL/yr greater than in never smokers, ex-smokers or quitters. The greater decline in those with respiratory disease or reduced lung function is consistent with some smokers having a more rapid rate of FEV₁decline. These results help in designing studies comparing continuing smokers of conventional cigarettes and switchers to novel products.</p

Microbial diversity and biogeochemical cycling in soda lakes

Soda lakes contain high concentrations of sodium carbonates resulting in a stable elevated pH, which provide a unique habitat to a rich diversity of haloalkaliphilic bacteria and archaea. Both cultivation-dependent and -independent methods have aided the identification of key processes and genes in the microbially mediated carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur biogeochemical cycles in soda lakes. In order to survive in this extreme environment, haloalkaliphiles have developed various bioenergetic and structural adaptations to maintain pH homeostasis and intracellular osmotic pressure. The cultivation of a handful of strains has led to the isolation of a number of extremozymes, which allow the cell to perform enzymatic reactions at these extreme conditions. These enzymes potentially contribute to biotechnological applications. In addition, microbial species active in the sulfur cycle can be used for sulfur remediation purposes. Future research should combine both innovative culture methods and state-of-the-art ‘meta-omic’ techniques to gain a comprehensive understanding of the microbes that flourish in these extreme environments and the processes they mediate. Coupling the biogeochemical C, N, and S cycles and identifying where each process takes place on a spatial and temporal scale could unravel the interspecies relationships and thereby reveal more about the ecosystem dynamics of these enigmatic extreme environments

Surveillance of zoonotic agents in farm animals

Sinds april 1997 vindt een gestructureerde surveillance van zoonoseverwekkers bij landbouwhuisdieren plaats. In dit rapport zijn de resultaten van het eerste jaar (april 1997 tot en met maart 1998) beschreven. De surveillance vond plaats bij vleeskuikens, legkippen, vleeskalveren en melkkoeien en was hoofdzakelijk gericht op Salmonella en E. coli O157. Koppels vleeskuikens werden tevens onderzocht op het voorkomen van Campylobacter, terwijl een selectie van de koppels werd onderzocht op het voorkomen van verocytotoxine (VT)-producerende E. coli (VTEC) in het algemeen. De surveillance werd uitgevoerd voor schatting van de prevalentie van de doelorganismen op koppelniveau. In totaal werden in het eerste jaar mestmonsters van 591 koppels landbouwhuisdieren verzameld op de boerderij, uit te splitsen naar 100 koppels vleeskuikens, 163 koppels legkippen, 192 koppels vleeskalveren en 136 koppels melkkoeien. Salmonella spp. werden geisoleerd uit 22,0% van de koppels vleeskuikens, uit 15,3% van de koppels legkippen en uit 1,6% van de koppels vleeskalveren. S. Enteritidis werd geisoleerd uit 5,5% van de koppels legkippen. Bij melkkoeien werden geen Salmonella spp. aangetoond. De prevalentie van Campylobacter bij vleeskuikens (n=84 koppels) was 29,8%. E. coli O157 werd geisoleerd uit 4,4% van de onderzochte koppels melkkoeien, 1,6% van de koppels vleeskalveren (n=191) en uit 1 van de koppels legkippen. Alle onderzochte koppels vleeskuikens werden negatief bevonden voor E. coli O157. Van de koppels vleeskalveren bleek 40,5% positief voor VTEC, van de koppels melkkoeien 17,2%, van de koppels legkippen 4,4% en van de koppels vleeskuikens 3,2%. De betekenis voor de volksgezondheid van het grote aantal VTEC-positieve koppels rundvee is niet duidelijk. Hiervoor is meer inzicht vereist in de rol die de verschillende typen VTEC spelen bij het veroorzaken van gezondheidsproblemen bij de mens. Op grond van de resultaten van het eerste jaar van deze studie kan worden gesteld dat pluimvee nog steeds een belangrijk reservoir is van Salmonella spp. en Campylobacter spp. Rundvee moet worden beschouwd als een belangrijk reservoir van E. coli O157 en overige typen VTEC.In order to obtain reliable data on the prevalences and trends of zoonotic agents in farm animals in the Netherlands, a monitoring system based on statistical principles was implemented in April 1997. This report presents the results of the first year of monitoring. The monitoring was focused on the occurrence of Salmonella spp. and E. coli O157 in broilers, laying hens (layers), veal calves and dairy cattle. In addition, broiler braces were examined for the presence of (thermophilic) Campylobacter spp. and a selection of braces from all farm animal categories were examined for the presence of verocytotoxin (VT)-producing E. coli (VTEC) of all serotypes. The prevalences of the zoonotic agents were estimated at brace level. Braces were sampled by randomly collecting fresh faecal droppings on the farms. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 22.0% of the broiler braces (n=100), 15.3% of the layer braces (n=163) and 1.6% of the veal calf herds (n=192). S. Enteritidis was isolated from 5.5% of the layer braces. Salmonella spp. were not isolated from any of the dairy cattle herds (n=136). The prevalence of Campylobacter in broiler braces (n=84) was 29.8%. E. coli O157 was isolated from 4.4% of the dairy cattle herds, from 1.6% of the veal calf herds (n=191) and from one of the layer braces. E. coli O157 was not isolated from any of the broiler braces. Found positive for VTEC were 40.5% and 17.2% for the veal calf and dairy cattle herds, and 4.4% and 3.2% for the layer and broiler braces, respectively. Poultry can therefore be concluded to still be an important reservoir of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. Cattle should be considered as an important reservoir of E. coli O157 and other VTEC serotypes.Inspectie GWV