Y-Chromosome Evidence for Common Ancestry of Three Chinese Populations with a High Risk of Esophageal Cancer

High rates of esophageal cancer (EC) are found in people of the Henan Taihang Mountain, Fujian Minnan, and Chaoshan regions of China. Historical records describe great waves of populations migrating from north-central China (the Henan and Shanxi Hans) through coastal Fujian Province to the Chaoshan plain. Although these regions are geographically distant, we hypothesized that EC high-risk populations in these three areas could share a common ancestry. Accordingly, we used 16 East Asian-specific Y-chromosome biallelic markers (single nucleotide polymorphisms; Y-SNPs) and six Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) loci to infer the origin of the EC high-risk Chaoshan population (CSP) and the genetic relationship between the CSP and the EC high-risk Henan Taihang Mountain population (HTMP) and Fujian population (FJP). The predominant haplogroups in these three populations are O3*, O3e*, and O3e1, with no significant difference between the populations in the frequency of these genotypes. Frequency distribution and principal component analysis revealed that the CSP is closely related to the HTMP and FJP, even though the former is geographically nearer to other populations (Guangfu and Hakka clans). The FJP is between the CSP and HTMP in the principal component plot. The CSP, FJP and HTMP are more closely related to Chinese Hans than to minorities, except Manchu Chinese, and are descendants of Sino-Tibetans, not Baiyues. Correlation analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and phylogenetic analysis (neighbor-joining tree) all support close genetic relatedness among the CSP, FJP and HTMP. The network for haplogroup O3 (including O3*, O3e* and O3e1) showed that the HTMP have highest STR haplotype diversity, suggesting that the HTMP may be a progenitor population for the CSP and FJP. These findings support the potentially important role of shared ancestry in understanding more about the genetic susceptibility in EC etiology in high-risk populations and have implications for determining the molecular basis of this disease

Molecular Characterization of a Strawberry FaASR Gene in Relation to Fruit Ripening

BACKGROUND: ABA-, stress- and ripening-induced (ASR) proteins have been reported to act as a downstream component involved in ABA signal transduction. Although much attention has been paid to the roles of ASR in plant development and stress responses, the mechanisms by which ABA regulate fruit ripening at the molecular level are not fully understood. In the present work, a strawberry ASR gene was isolated and characterized (FaASR), and a polyclonal antibody against FaASR protein was prepared. Furthermore, the effects of ABA, applied to two different developmental stages of strawberry, on fruit ripening and the expression of FaASR at transcriptional and translational levels were investigated. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: FaASR, localized in the cytoplasm and nucleus, contained 193 amino acids and shared common features with other plant ASRs. It also functioned as a transcriptional activator in yeast with trans-activation activity in the N-terminus. During strawberry fruit development, endogenous ABA content, levels of FaASR mRNA and protein increased significantly at the initiation of ripening at a white (W) fruit developmental stage. More importantly, application of exogenous ABA to large green (LG) fruit and W fruit markedly increased endogenous ABA content, accelerated fruit ripening, and greatly enhanced the expression of FaASR transcripts and the accumulation of FaASR protein simultaneously. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that FaASR may be involved in strawberry fruit ripening. The observed increase in endogenous ABA content, and enhanced FaASR expression at transcriptional and translational levels in response to ABA treatment might partially contribute to the acceleration of strawberry fruit ripening

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in tropical and low and middle income countries: a systematic review and meta-regression

Objective: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP), the commonest opportunistic infection in HIV-infected patients in the developed world, is less commonly described in tropical and low and middle income countries (LMIC). We sought to investigate predictors of PCP in these settings. Design Systematic review and meta-regression. METHODS: Meta-regression of predictors of PCP diagnosis (33 studies). Qualitative and quantitative assessment of recorded CD4 counts, receipt of prophylaxis and antiretrovirals, sensitivity and specificity of clinical signs and symptoms for PCP, co-infection with other pathogens, and case fatality (117 studies). RESULTS: The most significant predictor of PCP was per capita Gross Domestic Product, which showed strong linear association with odds of PCP diagnosis (p30%; treatment was largely appropriate. Prophylaxis appeared to reduce the risk for development of PCP, however 24% of children with PCP were receiving prophylaxis. CD4 counts at presentation with PCP were usually <200×10 3/ ml. CONCLUSIONS: There is a positive relationship between GDP and risk of PCP diagnosis. Although failure to diagnose infection in poorer countries may contribute to this, we also hypothesise that poverty exposes at-risk patients to a wide range of infections and that the relatively non-pathogenic P. jirovecii is therefore under-represented. As LMIC develop economically they eliminate the conditions underlying transmission of virulent infection: P. jirovecii , ubiquitous in all settings, then becomes a greater relative threat

The chemistry of phosphinoamides and related compounds

This review commences with a survey of the general synthetic routes leading to aminophosphines containing the P-NH subgroup. Recent examples involving functionalised and chiral aminophosphines are included. The synthesis and structural properties of deprotonated aminophosphines, namely the phosphinoamides, are then described in detail. The reaction of phosphinoamides with main group elements/compounds and transition metal and lanthanide complexes, leading to the formation of inorganic chains, rings and phosphinoamido complexes is then discussed. The application of phosphinoamido complexes in olefin polymerisation catalysis is also covered. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Influence of the functional group on the synthesis of aminophosphines, diphosphinoamines and iminobiphosphines

The reaction of the anilines RNH2 [R = C6H4(o-CN), C6H4(p-CN), C6H4(m-CN), C6H4(o-C6H5), C6F5 and C6H4(o-CF3)] with Ph2PCl and inorganic or organic bases in differing stoichiometry and in different solvents has been studied. The electronic properties and steric effects of the substituent groups, the base employed, the stoichiometry and the solvent all influence the outcome of the reaction and a series of aminophosphines, diphosphinoamines and iminobiphosphines have been isolated and characterised. The structures of three diphosphinoamines and three iminobiphosphines have been established using single-crystal X-ray diffraction

Understanding structure does not always explain reactivity: A phosphinoamide anion reacts as an iminophosphide anion

The aminophosphine C6H4(o-CN)NHPPh2, 1, containing an electron-withdrawing nitrile group, was prepared from the lithiation of 2-aminobenzonitrile followed by addition of Ph2PCl. Lithiation of 1 using (BuLi)-Bu-n affords the anion [Ph2PN(Li)C6H4(o-CN)(thf)](2), 2. Compound 2 reacts with Ph2PCl or Mel to afford C6H4(o-CN)N=PPh2-PPh2, 3, and [C6H4(o-CN)N=PPh2(CH3)(Lil)(C2H5O)](2), 4, respectively, In these products new P-P and P-C bonds have been formed rather than N-P and N-C bonds. The structures of 1-4 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, and the synthetic results are discussed in terms of the structural data and NMR spectroscopic studies