Association and Interaction Effect between VEGF Receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) Gene Polymorphisms and Dietary Pattern on Blood Lipids in Malaysian Adults

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and diet are related to blood lipid health. Gene-diet interaction studies can identify the risks. The objectives are to determine associations, and interaction effects between VEGFR-2 gene polymorphisms (rs1870377 and rs2071559) and dietary patterns on blood lipids in multi-ethnic Malaysian adults. Methods: Dietary intakes of 509 (153 Malay, 179 Chinese, and 177 Indian) Malaysians were obtained from food frequency questionnaire for the construction of dietary patterns using factor analysis. Anthropometric measurements: body mass index and blood pressure; and biomarkers: glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio were determined. Genotyping of rs1870377 and rs2071559 was performed by real-time PCR using Taqman probes. Results: Two major dietary patterns were extracted from all subjects: "Vegetables, fruits, and soy diet" (VFSD), and ‘Rice, egg, and fish diet' (REFD). There were significant genetic associations for rs2071559 with TG (p=0.048) in Malays, and in Chinese for rs1870377 with TC (p=0.001) and LDL-C (p=0.007), and rs2071559 on LDL-C (p=0.048). The interaction effects of VEGFR-2 gene polymorphisms and dietary patterns were significant in Malays between rs2071559 and REFD on TG (p=0.005); and in Chinese between VFSD and rs1870377 on LDL-C (p=0.028) after adjusting for potential confounders. There were no significant genetic or dietary associations on blood lipids in Indians (p>0.05). Conclusion: The significant associations and gene-diet interaction effects between VEGFR-2 gene polymorphisms and dietary patterns on blood lipids may pose hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia risks in Malay and Chinese Malaysians

139^{139}La-NMR study of spin-dynamics coupled with hole mobility in TT*-type La0.86_{0.86}Eu0.86_{0.86}Sr0.28_{0.28}CuO4−δ_{4-\delta}

In $T$*-type cuprate oxides with five oxygen coordination, little is known about the relationship between the spin correlations and dope carriers. We performed $^{139}$La-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electrical resistivity measurements on an as-sintered (AS) and oxidation annealed (OA) polycrystalline $T$*-type La$_{0.86}$Eu$_{0.86}$S$_{0.28}$CuO$_4$ (LESCO) to investigate its magnetic and superconducting (SC) properties. Upon cooling, the NMR spectrum of AS LESCO broadened below 3 K, at which the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate $1/T_1$ against the temperature exhibited a maximum, thereby indicating the appearance of static magnetism. The temperature dependence of $1/T_1$ between 3 K and 20 K was similar to that of the resistivity displaying the semiconducting behavior. Furthermore, the energy scale of the transport gap and spin-dynamics estimated was found to be comparable. These results suggest a close connection between the mobility of the doped carriers and low-energy spin-dynamics, as reported for lightly doped $T$-type La$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$CuO$_4$. In the OA SC sample, we confirmed the absence of a magnetic order and the Korringa relation above 10 K. Therefore, in the $T$*-type LESCO with $x$ = 0.28, the magnetic state coupled with holes drastically turns to the weakly correlated metallic state by oxidation annealing.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Development of a mugineic acid family phytosiderophore analog as an iron fertilizer

Iron (Fe) is an essential nutrient, but is poorly bioavailable because of its low solubility in alkaline soils; this leads to reduced agricultural productivity. To overcome this problem, we first showed that the soil application of synthetic 2′-deoxymugineic acid, a natural phytosiderophore from the Poaceae, can recover Fe deficiency in rice grown in calcareous soil. However, the high cost and poor stability of synthetic 2′-deoxymugineic acid preclude its agricultural use. In this work, we develop a more stable and less expensive analog, proline-2′-deoxymugineic acid, and demonstrate its practical synthesis and transport of its Fe-chelated form across the plasma membrane by Fe(III)•2’-deoxymugineic acid transporters. Possibility of its use as an iron fertilizer on alkaline soils is supported by promotion of rice growth in a calcareous soil by soil application of metal free proline-2’-deoxymugineic acid

Feasibility study on on-board magnetoencephalography with optically pumped magnetometers

In this study, the theoretical feasibility of utilizing optically pumped magnetometers for on-board magnetoencephalography measurements was explored. Simulations were conducted to generate steady-state visually evoked response (SSVER) signals that incorporate vehicle noise, and a noise reduction strategy specifically designed for on-board applications is proposed. Upon engine activation, the magnetic field vibration of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle measured in an urban environment was found to be approximately seven times greater in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction. The maximum signal-to-noise ratio of the SSVER in an automotive environment was simulated to be −110 dB. A 350-mm side-length, 20-turn active compensation coil can achieve an attenuation rate of approximately 28 dB at a target frequency of 24 Hz for measurements inside the vehicle cabin. Therefore, an increase in the number of coil turns would result in a higher attenuation rate. Further noise attenuation to the level inside a magnetically shielded room requires approximately 80 dB

Anisotropic deformation of thin films comprised of helical nanosprings

AbstractWe investigate the mechanical anisotropy of thin films that consist of tantalum oxide (Ta2O5) helical nanosprings fabricated by dynamic oblique deposition. Not only the vertical but also the lateral stiffness of thin films is evaluated using specimens in which nanosprings are sandwiched between solid Ta2O5 layers. Lateral or vertical force is applied to the upper solid layer by a diamond tip built into an AFM. In particular, the lateral stiffness of a nanospring has never been reported before. Apparent shear and Young’s moduli, G′ and E′, of the thin films are 2–3 orders smaller than those of solid Ta2O5 film. Ratio E′/G′ of the two different nanosprings is 3.4 and 6.2, and about 2.5 for the solid film. The thin films show strong characteristic anisotropy that the solid one could hardly attain. The stiffness and its anisotropy strongly depend on nanospring shape

Surface receive coil dedicated for rat kidney with high sensitivity magnetic resonance imaging

We propose a novel method based on an inverse problem to design a single channel radio frequency (RF) receive coil for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with an optimized signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for imaging the rat kidney. We identified a dedicated curved-surface coil design for use on the rat body surface utilizing inverse problem analysis using direct current calculation and quantitatively evaluated the indicators of coil performance using alternating current calculation. The proposed coil achieved increased SNR and signal intensity responses that were respectively 1.05- and 2-fold higher than those of conventional surface coils. In the future, we will fabricate a prototype coil and perform the MRI of the rat kidney to diagnose kidney diseases

Association and Interaction Effect of AGTR1 and AGTR2 Gene Polymorphisms with Dietary Pattern on Metabolic Risk Factors of Cardiovascular Disease in Malaysian Adults

Gene-diet interaction using a multifactorial approach is preferred to study the multiple risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study examined the association and gene-diet interaction effects of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) gene (rs5186), and type 2 receptor (AGTR2) gene (rs1403543) polymorphisms on metabolic risk factors of CVD in Malaysian adults. CVD parameters (BMI, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and TC/HDL-C ratio), and constructed dietary patterns “vegetables, fruits, and soy diet” (VFSD), and “rice, egg, and fish diet” (REFD) were obtained from previous studies. Genotyping analysis was performed by real-time PCR using Taqman probes. The subjects were 507 adults (151 Malays; 179 Chinese; and 177 Indians). Significant genetic associations were obtained on blood lipids for rs5186 in Malays and Chinese, and rs1403543 in Chinese females. The significant gene-diet interaction effects after adjusting for potential confounders were: rs5186 × VFSD on blood pressure in Malays (p = 0.016), and in Chinese on blood lipids for rs5186 × REFD (p = 0.009–0.023), and rs1403543 × VFSD in female subjects (p = 0.001–0.011). Malays and Chinese showed higher risk for blood pressure and/or lipids involving rs5186 and rs1403543 SNPs together with gene-diet interactions, but not Indians