The prevalence of hyperuricemia in China: a meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence of hyperuricemia varied in different populations and it appeared to be increasing in the past decades. Recent studies suggest that hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However, there has not yet been a systematic analysis of the prevalence of hyperuricemia in China.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Epidemiological investigations on hyperuricemia in China published in journals were identified manually and on-line by using CBMDISC, Chongqing VIP database and CNKI database. Those Reported in English journals were identified using MEDLINE database. Selected studies had to describe an original study defined by strict screening and diagnostic criteria. The fixed effects model or random effects model was employed according to statistical test for homogeneity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifty-nine studies were selected, the statistical information of which was collected for systematic analysis. The results showed that the pooled prevalence of hyperuricemia in male was 21.6% (95%CI: 18.9%-24.6%), but it was only 8.6% (95%CI: 8.2%-10.2%) in female. It was found that thirty years was the risk point age in male and it was fifty years in female.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence of hyperuricemia is different as the period of age and it increases after 30 years in male and 50 in female. Interventions are necessary to change the risk factors before the key age which is 30 years in male and 50 in female.</p

A case of mistaken identity: HSPs are no DAMPs but DAMPERs

Until recently, the immune system was seen solely as a defense system with its primary task being the elimination of unwanted microbial invaders. Currently, however, the functional significance of the immune system has obtained a much wider perspective, to include among others the maintenance and restoration of homeostasis following tissue damage. In this latter aspect, there is a growing interest in the identification of molecules involved, such as the so-called danger or damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), also called alarmins. Since heat shock proteins are archetypical molecules produced under stressful conditions, such as tissue damage or inflammation, they are frequently mentioned as prime examples of DAMPs (Bianchi, J Leukoc Biol 81:1–5, 2007; Kono and Rock, Nat Rev Immunol 8:279–289, 2008; Martin-Murphy et al., Toxicol Lett 192:387–394, 2010). See for instance also a recent review (Chen and Nunez, Science 298:1395–1401, 2010). Contrary to this description, we recently presented some of the arguments against a role of heat shock protein as DAMPs (Broere et al., Nat Rev Immunol 11:565-c1, 2011). With this perspective and reflection article, we hope to elaborate on this debate and provide additional thoughts to further ignite this discussion on this critical and evolving issue

Berry Flesh and Skin Ripening Features in Vitis vinifera as Assessed by Transcriptional Profiling

Background Ripening of fleshy fruit is a complex developmental process involving the differentiation of tissues with separate functions. During grapevine berry ripening important processes contributing to table and wine grape quality take place, some of them flesh- or skin-specific. In this study, transcriptional profiles throughout flesh and skin ripening were followed during two different seasons in a table grape cultivar ‘Muscat Hamburg’ to determine tissue-specific as well as common developmental programs. Methodology/Principal Findings Using an updated GrapeGen Affymetrix GeneChip® annotation based on grapevine 12×v1 gene predictions, 2188 differentially accumulated transcripts between flesh and skin and 2839 transcripts differentially accumulated throughout ripening in the same manner in both tissues were identified. Transcriptional profiles were dominated by changes at the beginning of veraison which affect both pericarp tissues, although frequently delayed or with lower intensity in the skin than in the flesh. Functional enrichment analysis identified the decay on biosynthetic processes, photosynthesis and transport as a major part of the program delayed in the skin. In addition, a higher number of functional categories, including several related to macromolecule transport and phenylpropanoid and lipid biosynthesis, were over-represented in transcripts accumulated to higher levels in the skin. Functional enrichment also indicated auxin, gibberellins and bHLH transcription factors to take part in the regulation of pre-veraison processes in the pericarp, whereas WRKY and C2H2 family transcription factors seems to more specifically participate in the regulation of skin and flesh ripening, respectively. Conclusions/Significance A transcriptomic analysis indicates that a large part of the ripening program is shared by both pericarp tissues despite some components are delayed in the skin. In addition, important tissue differences are present from early stages prior to the ripening onset including tissue-specific regulators. Altogether, these findings provide key elements to understand berry ripening and its differential regulation in flesh and skin.This study was financially supported by GrapeGen Project funded by Genoma España within a collaborative agreement with Genome Canada. The authors also thank The Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion for project BIO2008-03892 and a bilateral collaborative grant with Argentina (AR2009-0021). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Peer reviewe

A saturated map of common genetic variants associated with human height

Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are predicted to collectively explain 40-50% of phenotypic variation in human height, but identifying the specific variants and associated regions requires huge sample sizes(1). Here, using data from a genome-wide association study of 5.4 million individuals of diverse ancestries, we show that 12,111 independent SNPs that are significantly associated with height account for nearly all of the common SNP-based heritability. These SNPs are clustered within 7,209 non-overlapping genomic segments with a mean size of around 90 kb, covering about 21% of the genome. The density of independent associations varies across the genome and the regions of increased density are enriched for biologically relevant genes. In out-of-sample estimation and prediction, the 12,111 SNPs (or all SNPs in the HapMap 3 panel(2)) account for 40% (45%) of phenotypic variance in populations of European ancestry but only around 10-20% (14-24%) in populations of other ancestries. Effect sizes, associated regions and gene prioritization are similar across ancestries, indicating that reduced prediction accuracy is likely to be explained by linkage disequilibrium and differences in allele frequency within associated regions. Finally, we show that the relevant biological pathways are detectable with smaller sample sizes than are needed to implicate causal genes and variants. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive map of specific genomic regions that contain the vast majority of common height-associated variants. Although this map is saturated for populations of European ancestry, further research is needed to achieve equivalent saturation in other ancestries.A large genome-wide association study of more than 5 million individuals reveals that 12,111 single-nucleotide polymorphisms account for nearly all the heritability of height attributable to common genetic variants

ASSESSING THE ACCURACY OF SRTM DEM AND ASTER GDEM DATASETS FOR THE COASTAL ZONE OF SHANDONG PROVINCE, EASTERN CHINA

This study assessed the performance of recently released 3 arc second SRTM DEM version 4.1 by CSI-CGIAR and 1 arc second ASTER GDEM version 1 and version 2 by METI-NASA in comparison with ground control points from 1:50000 digital line graphs for the coastal zone of Shandong Province, Easter China. The vertical accuracy of SRTM DEM is 13.74 m root mean square error (RMSE), and GDEM version 1 reaches 24.11 m RMSE. Version 2 of ASTER GDEM shows better performance than version 1 and SRTM DEM with a RMSE of 12.12 m. A strong correlation of the magnitude of elevation error with slope and elevation is identified, with lager error magnitudes in the steeper slopes and higher elevations. Taking into account slope and elevation has the potential to considerably improve the accuracy of the SRTM DEM and GDEM version 1 products. However, this improvement for GDEM version 2 can be negligible due to their limited explanatory power for the DEM elevation errors.This study assessed the performance of recently released 3 arc second SRTM DEM version 4.1 by CSI-CGIAR and 1 arc second ASTER GDEM version 1 and version 2 by METI-NASA in comparison with ground control points from 1:50000 digital line graphs for the coastal zone of Shandong Province, Easter China. The vertical accuracy of SRTM DEM is 13.74 m root mean square error (RMSE), and GDEM version 1 reaches 24.11 m RMSE. Version 2 of ASTER GDEM shows better performance than version 1 and SRTM DEM with a RMSE of 12.12 m. A strong correlation of the magnitude of elevation error with slope and elevation is identified, with lager error magnitudes in the steeper slopes and higher elevations. Taking into account slope and elevation has the potential to considerably improve the accuracy of the SRTM DEM and GDEM version 1 products. However, this improvement for GDEM version 2 can be negligible due to their limited explanatory power for the DEM elevation errors

A Rare Case of Acute Infectious Purpura Fulminans Caused by Klebsiella Pneumoniae and Human Herpesvirus Type 5

Xiao-Lan Li,1 Chun-Yan Luan,1 Ying-Jun Fan,2 Xiao-Ying Lin,1 Dong Jiang,1 Mei-Xian Su,3 Gang Wang,4 Xu Yang5 1Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Rheumatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Emergency Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, People’s Republic of China; 5Laboratory Bacteria Room, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiao-Lan Li, Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 374 of Dian-Mian Avenue, Wu-Hua District, Kunming, 650101, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 871 63402212, Fax +86 871 65334416, Email [email protected]: Purpura fulminans (PF), a rare, life-threatening disorder, is a hematological emergency in which there is skin necrosis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), and protein C deficiency. In PF, the skin necrosis and DIC are secondary to protein C deficiency. This may progress rapidly to multiorgan failure caused by the thrombotic occlusion of small- and medium-sized blood vessels.Case Report: This article presents the case of a 22-year-old male with fever as well as necrotic and purpuric skin lesions. The ultrasound and computed tomography scans revealed infections in the skin wounds as well as venous microthrombosis and thrombosis in multiple intracranial and pulmonary vessels. The laboratory tests showed signs of sepsis, thrombocytopenia, an abnormal decrease in protein C and antithrombin III, DIC, multiple organ and system failures, gastric varices, and gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The blood, sputum, and secretions under the skin lesions were cultured and were positive for Klebsiella pneumoniae. The results of the high-throughput genetic testing of the pathogenic microorganism DNA were consistent. In addition, human herpesvirus type 5 was detected. The histopathological examination of the skin lesions revealed pathological features consistent with PF. After successful treatment by the departments of Dermatology, Emergency Critical Care Medicine, and the Intensive Care Unit, the patient was discharged after 67 days of hospitalization.Conclusion: Adults with acquired protein C and/or S deficiency states, including certain bacterial and viral infections, who drink alcohol and take varieties of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory analgesics at the same time, may develop acute infectious PF. Clinicians should be aware of this for early diagnosis and treatment.Keywords: acute infectious purpura fulminans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, human herpesvirus type 5, disseminated intravascular coagulation, multiple organ and system failure