Genetic architecture of the APM1 gene and its influence on adiponectin plasma levels and parameters of the metabolic syndrome in 1,727 healthy Caucasians

Copyright: Copyright 2008 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.The associations of the adiponectin (APM1) gene with parameters of the metabolic syndrome are inconsistent. We performed a systematic investigation based on fine-mapped single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) highlighting the genetic architecture and their role in modulating adiponectin plasma concentrations in a particularly healthy population of 1,727 Caucasians avoiding secondary effects from disease processes. Genotyping 53 SNPs (average spacing of 0.7 kb) in the APM1 gene region in 81 Caucasians revealed a two-block linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure and enabled comprehensive tag SNP selection. We found particularly strong associations with adiponectin concentrations for 11 of the 15 tag SNPs in the 1,727 subjects (five P values <0.0001). Haplotype analysis provided a thorough differentiation of adiponectin concentrations with 9 of 17 haplotypes showing significant associations (three P values <0.0001). No significant association was found for any SNP with the parameters of the metabolic syndrome. We observed a two-block LD structure of APM1 pointing toward at least two independent association signals, one including the promoter SNPs and a second spanning the relevant exons. Our data on a large number of healthy subjects suggest a clear modulation of adiponectin concentrations by variants of APM1, which are not merely a concomitant effect in the course of type 2 diabetes or coronary artery disease.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Metabolically Favorable Remodeling of Human Adipose Tissue by Human Adenovirus Type 36

OBJECTIVE—Experimental infection of rats with human adenovirus type 36 (Ad-36) promotes adipogenesis and improves insulin sensitivity in a manner reminiscent of the pharmacologic effect of thiozolinediones. To exploit the potential of the viral proteins as a therapeutic target for treating insulin resistance, this study investigated the ability of Ad-36 to induce metabolically favorable changes in human adipose tissue

Foetal haemoglobin, blood transfusion, and retinopathy of prematurity in very preterm infants:A pilot prospective cohort study

Purpose To identify if there is an association between foetal haemoglobin (HbF) concentration and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in very preterm infants. Patients and methods Prospective cohort study. Infants born <32 weeks’ gestational age or <1501 g in two tertiary neonatal units between January 2012 and May 2013 (n=42) were enrolled. HbF and adult haemoglobin (HbA) concentrations were measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography from blood samples sent as part of routine neonatal care once routinely requested laboratory tests had been performed. Clinical data were obtained from case notes. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) to quantify the relationship between initial and mean %HbF with ROP severity (none, stages 1–3). Results A total of 42 infants were recruited: mean gestation 28.0 weeks (SD 1.91); mean birth weight 1042 g (SD 264). Six infants died before ROP screening; 14/36 developed ROP (39%); and 22/36 (61%) did not. Infants who developed ROP had similar initial %HbF (83.3 vs 92.3%, P=0.06), but significantly lower mean %HbF (61.75 vs 91.9%, P=0.0001) during their inpatient stay than those who did not develop ROP. In ordinal logistic regression models adjusted for birth weight, gestation and transfusion volume, mean post-natal %HbF was negatively associated with ROP severity: adjusted OR 0.94 (0.90–0.99), while initial %HbF at birth was not: adjusted OR 1.05 (0.97–1.16). Conclusion Replacing HbF by HbA during transfusion may promote ROP development by rapidly increasing oxygen availability to the retina. Conversely, maintaining a higher %HbF may be a protective factor against ROP

Blue-Emitting Butterfly-Shaped 1,3,5,9-Tetraarylpyrenes: Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Photophysical Properties

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Organic Letters (copyright © American Chemical Society) after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ol400265

Modelling of the Leakage Induction Field Through Notches at Saturation

The magnetic induction B at a point P of the space containing a ferromagnetic body is the vectorial sum of the induction Bfree, effect of the “free currents” in the space and of the induction Bound, effect of the “bound currents”.</p

The effect of blood transfusion on the hemoglobin oxygen dissociation curve of very early preterm infants during the first week of life

A study was conducted during the first week of life to determine the changes in P50 (PO2 required to achieve a saturation of 50% at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C) and the proportions of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and adult hemoglobin (HbA) prior to and after transfusion in very early preterm infants. Eleven infants with a gestational age &lt; or = 27 weeks have been included in study. The hemoglobin dissociation curve and the P50 was determined by Hemox-analyser. Liquid chromatography was also performed to determine the proportions of HbF and HbA. The mean gestational age of the 11 infants was 25.1 weeks (+/- 1 weeks) and their mean birth weight was 736 g (+/- 125 g). They received 26.9 mL/kg of packed red cells. The mean P50 prior and after transfusion was 18.5 +/- 0.8 and 21.0 +/- 1 mm Hg (P = .0003) while the mean percentage of HbF was 92.9 +/- 1.1 and 42.6 +/- 5.7%, respectively. The data of this study show a decrease of hemoglobin oxygen affinity as a result of blood transfusion in very early preterm infants prone to O2 toxicity. The shift in HbO2 curve after transfusion should be taken into consideration when oxygen therapy is being regulated for these infants

Long term NIV in an infant with Hallermann-Streiff syndrome: A case report and overview of respiratory morbidity.

Hallermann-Streiff syndrome (HSS) is a rare congenital syndrome with different anomalies including midface hypoplasia, beak nose and micrognathia. The upper airways narrowness can lead to severe respiratory complications such as obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS), particularly in infancy. The management of these severe OSAS is difficult and poorly documented in literature. We report the case of an infant with HSS complicated by severe and early OSAS successfully managed with non-invasive ventilation (NIV), provide an overview of respiratory morbidities and discuss treatment options for HSS-related OSAS

1,3,6,8-tetraphenylpyrene derivatives: Towards fluorescent liquid-crystalline columns?

Tetraphenylpyrene has been selected as a discotic core to promote liquid-crystalline fluorescent columns in view of its high fluorescence quantum yield in solution and ease of substitution by flexible lateral side chains. The synthesis and characterization of ten new derivatives of pyrene have been carried out; the pyrene core has been substituted at the 1,3,6,8-positions by phenylene rings bearing alkoxy, ester, thioether, or tris(alkoxy)benzoate groups on the para position; the compounds have been characterized by mass spectrometry and H-1 NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies. In order to generate liquid-crystalline phases, the nature, number. and size of the side chains as well as the degree of polarity around the tetraphenylpyrene core have been varied. However, the desired liquid-crystal line behavior has not been observed. The supramolecular order together with the absorption and emission properties in solution and the solid state are discussed and compared to theoretical predictions. Quantum-chemical calculations rationalize the high solid-state fluorescence of a tetraphenylpyrene derivative for which the crystal structure has been determined