The CC genotype of the delta-sarcoglycan gene polymorphism rs13170573 is associated with obstructive sleep apnea in the Chinese population.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly heterogeneous sleep disorder, and increasing evidence suggests that genetic factors play a role in the etiology of OSA. Airway muscle dysfunction might promote pharyngeal collapsibility, mutations or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the delta-sarcoglycan (SCGD) gene associated with muscle dysfunction. To evaluate if SCGD gene SNPs are associated with OSA, 101 individuals without OSA and 97 OSA patients were recruited randomly. The genotype distributions of SNPs (rs157350, rs7715464, rs32076, rs13170573 and rs1835919) in case and control populations were evaluated. The GG, GC and CC genotypes of rs13170573 in control and OSA groups were 51.5% and 37.1%, 36.6% and 35.1%, and 11.9% and 27.8%, respectively. Significantly fewer OSA patients possessed the GG genotype and significantly more possessed the CC genotype compared with controls. Further multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the CC genotype was an independent risk factor for OSA, with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.17 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19-6.01). Other factors, such as age ≥ 50 years, male gender, body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m(2), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level ≥ 3.33 mg/dL, smoking and hypertension, were also independent risk factors for OSA in our multivariate logistic regression model

Identification the Pathogens Causing Rot Disease in Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) in China and the Antifungal Activity of Aqueous Garlic Extract

Rot disease is a serious disease in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) plantations in China. This disease usually weakens tree vigor, and seriously reduces the ornamental value, fruit yield, and quality. A better understanding of the pathogen that causes a disease is important for its control. Thus, the aims of this study were to isolate and identify the pathogen causing rot disease and to explore substances for its biological control. In this study, the morphology of the hyphae and spores of the pathogens was observed, and the pathogens were identified by morphological characteristics and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of their rDNA. Furthermore, the activity of an aqueous garlic extract as antifungal treatment for the identified pathogens was assessed. The results showed that the pathogens causing soft rot and dry rot in ‘Xinjiang Big Seed’ pomegranate were most probably Aspergillus niger and Botryosphaeria dothidea, respectively. In addition, the pathogenicity of A. niger was stronger than that of B. dothidea. The aqueous garlic extract had a strong antifungal effect on both pathogens by inhibiting mycelium growth in vitro, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations against A. niger and B. dothidea were 7.5 mg/mL and 10 mg/mL, respectively

Platelet-Derived Growth Factor and Transforming Growth Factor β1 Regulate ARDS-Associated Lung Fibrosis Through Distinct Signaling Pathways

Background/Aims: Severe acute lung injury (ALI) often develops into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Previous studies have shown that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) participate in the pathogenesis of ARDS by stimulation of fibroblast proliferation, leading to the development of pulmonary fibrosis. However, the exact pathways downstream of PDGF and TGFβ receptor signaling have not been completely elucidated. Method: We treated human lung fibroblasts (HLF) with PDGF, or TGFβ1, or combined, and examined the activation of p38 MAPK, p42/p44 MAPK and SMAD3. We used a specific inhibitor PD98059 to antagonize phosphorylation of p42/p44 MAPK, or used a specific inhibitor SN203580 to antagonize phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, or used a specific inhibitor SIS3 to antagonize phosphorylation of SMAD3. We then examined the effects of these inhibitors on the activation of collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) induced by PDGF or TGFβ1 stimulation. Results: PDGF activated p38 MAPK and p42/p44 MAPK, but not SMAD3 in HLF cells. TGFβ1 activated p38 MAPK and SMAD3, but not p42/p44 MAPK in HLF cells. Activation of p38 MAPK by either PDGF or TGFβ1 induced α-SMA but not collagen I in HLF cells, while activation of p42/p44 MAPK by PDGF induced collagen I but not α-SMA in HLF cells. Activation of SMAD3 by TGFβ1 did not affect either collagen I or α-SMA in HLF cells. Conclusion: PDGF and TGFβ1 regulate ARDS-associated lung fibrosis through distinct signaling pathway-mediated activation of fibrosis-related proteins. Treatments with both PDGF and TGFβ1 antagonists may result in a better anti-fibrotic outcome for ALI-induced lung fibrosis

Candidate SNPs in the SGCD gene.

<p>All candidate SNPs included in this study met the following criteria: 1) reportedly associated with a certain phenotype; 2) valid in the NCBI database; and 3) have a definite location.</p><p>Candidate SNPs in the SGCD gene.</p

Factors associated with OSA in our multivariate analysis.

<p>LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; BMI, body mass index; OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.</p><p>Factors associated with OSA in our multivariate analysis.</p

Baseline data of the study groups.

<p>Skewed data are presented as medians (interquartile range) and categorical data as numbers (percentage). Differences in baseline characteristics were determined using Student’s t-tests, Fisher’s exact tests or χ² tests according to the data distribution characteristics.</p><p>Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WHR, waist circumference/hip circumference ratio; TG, triglyceride; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; apoE, apolipoprotein E; AHI, apnea-hypopnea index.</p><p>Baseline data of the study groups.</p

Gender Differences in the Symptoms, Signs, Disease History, Lesion Position and Pathophysiology in Patients with Pulmonary Embolism.

Advances in research relating to pulmonary embolisms (PE) can assist physicians in selecting the best management strategies for PE patients. However, the symptoms, signs, disease history, lesion position and pathophysiology linked to different genders in patients with PE have rarely been evaluated. One hundred and forty-nine PE patients (73 males and 76 females) were sequentially recruited to this study over the last five years whilst attending our Emergency Department. Data relating to the symptoms, signs, disease history, biochemical testing, cardiac electrophysiology, imaging detection, treatment and outcome were collected and the gender differences were analyzed. We found that embolisms occurred significantly more frequently in the right lung (89.7%) than in the left lung (42.6%). The presence of dyspnea, the number of patients presenting with tumors, the number of patients with chronic pulmonary disease, those with emboli in the right pulmonary artery and emboli in the right lung, as well as the average systolic and diastolic blood pressure were: 78.1%, 15.1%, 31.5%, 32.9%, 94.5%, 129.9+20.0 and 75.0+11.2 in the male patients and 59.2%, 1.3%, 14.5%, 17.1%, 69.7%, 125.1+14.6 and 69.3+11.0 in the female patients. These indicators were found to be significantly higher in male patients. In contrast, the rate of V1-V4 T-wave inversion and level of D-dimer in the blood were significantly lower in males than in females. No significant difference was observed in the remaining observational indicators. Gender differences regarding the symptoms, signs, disease history, lesion position and pathophysiology exist in patients with PE and should be considered in clinical practice

Mesenchymal stem cell exosomes reverse acute lung injury through Nrf-2/ARE and NF-κB signaling pathways

Acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with histopathological diffuse alveolar damage. The potential role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of various clinical disorders have been widely documented, such as those for ALI. Recent evidence has demonstrated that exosomes from endothelial progenitor cells can improve outcomes of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. However, there has been no research on the potential role of MSC-exosomes in the treatment of sepsis-induced ALI, which is worth further exploration. Thus, the objective of our study was to identify whether the MSC-exosomes could reverse ALI. The ALI model induced by LPS was established in this study. MTT assay was performed to test cell proliferation. Expression of inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) in the LPS-treated type II alveolar epithelial cells (AECs) (MLE-12) was detected by ELISA. After co-culture of MSC-exosomes with LPS-treated MLE-12 cells, we found that the cell proliferation of MLE-12 cells gradually increased. Furthermore, we selected five of the Nrf-2/ARE- and NF-κB signaling pathway-related genes to explore if MSC-exosomes could reverse LPS-induced ALI through Nrf-2/ARE and NF-κB signaling pathways. QRT-PCR and western blot experiment results showed that the expression of these five genes were significantly regulated after stimulation with high-concentration LPS and exosome intervention. Taken together, these findings highlighted the fact that MSC-exosomes could reverse ALI through the Nrf-2/ARE and NF-κB signaling pathways. The MSC-exosome may be the potential future therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ALI

Factors associated with OSA severity upon multiple linear regression models stratified by age.

<p>Male and female subjects were stratified into four and three groups in terms of centralized covariant tendencies between age and OSA severity determined by restricted cubic spline analysis, the risk factors assciated with OSA severity (AHI) were screened by using multiple linear regression models for each age group. The impact of each factor was expressed as an unstandardized partial regression coefficient (B) with 95% confidence interval. The B for Age or BMI indicates the unstandardized partial regression coefficient for 1 unit increased. The B for WHR indicates the unstandardized partial regression coefficient for 0.1 unit increased.</p><p>Abbreviations: BMI, Body mass index; WHR, waist circumference/hip circumference ratio; AHI, apnea-hypopnea index.</p><p>Factors associated with OSA severity upon multiple linear regression models stratified by age.</p