Association of Apolipoprotein C3 Genetic Polymorphisms with the Risk of Ischemic Stroke in the Northern Chinese Han Population

<div><p>The apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3) gene, which is a member of the APOA1/C3/A4/A5 gene cluster, plays a crucial role in lipid metabolism. Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for ischemic stroke. In the present study, we performed a hospital-based case—control study of 895 ischemic stroke patients and 883 control subjects to examine the effects of four APOC3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs2854116, rs2854117, rs4520 and rs5128) on the risk of ischemic stroke in a northern Chinese Han population. The SNaPshot Multiplex sequencing assay was used for SNP genotyping, and the potential association of genotype distributions and allele frequencies with ischemic stroke was analyzed statistically. Compared with the GG genotype, the CC+GC genotype of rs5128 was significantly associated with an increased risk in females (adjusted OR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.82–6.28, P <0.01) after all of the risk factors were adjusted for with logistic regression analyses. A similar relationship was found between the rs4520 polymorphism and ischemic stroke risk in Han Chinese women. Under a recessive genetic model, the TT+TC genotypes of this variant increased ischemic stroke risk (adjusted OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.28–3.29; P <0.01). Haplotype analysis revealed that in males, the T-C-T-C haplotype of rs2854116-rs2854117-rs4520-rs5128 was significantly more frequent in the ischemic stroke group than in the control group (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.18–1.87, P<0.01). The results of our study indicate that the APOC3 polymorphisms contribute to ischemic stroke susceptibility in females in the northern Chinese Han population.</p></div

Allele and genotype frequencies of genetic polymorphisms among cases and controls as well as their main effects on stroke risk in the male population.

<p>Allele and genotype frequencies of genetic polymorphisms among cases and controls as well as their main effects on stroke risk in the male population.</p

Characteristics and risk factors for stroke.

<p>Characteristics and risk factors for stroke.</p

Plasma lipid levels among different individuals with various rs5128 genotypes and rs4520 genotypes.

<p>Plasma lipid levels among different individuals with various rs5128 genotypes and rs4520 genotypes.</p

Designing a Novel Photothermal Material of Hierarchical Microstructured Copper Phosphate for Solar Evaporation Enhancement

Hierarchical microstructured copper phosphate (HCuPO), which could accelerate water evaporation was well designed based on d–d transition of 3d electrons in Cu²⁺ and fabricated via a solvothermal method. A very strong vis–NIR absorption with the maximum at 808 nm was observed for the HCuPO. Upon irradiation of 808 nm NIR laser light, the HCuPO generated heat with a light-to-heat converting efficiency of 41.8%. The reason for this high efficiency was investigated and assigned to a high probability of nonradiative relaxation, which released the energy in form of heat, happened to the excited 3d electrons of Cu²⁺. The proposed photothermal mechanism was quite different from the surface–plasmon mechanism of other Cu-based photothermal materials. By adding HCuPO into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), HCuPO–PDMS composite sheets were fabricated. Due to the intrinsic hydrophobicity of PDMS matrix, the sheets were floatable on water surface and the heat generated by HCuPO was confined within water–air interface region. A much sharper temperature gradient and more rapid increase of surface temperature were observed compared with the HCuPO–water dispersion in which the HCuPO particles were dispersed in water. Porous HCuPO–PDMS sheets were fabricated in order to further accelerate water evaporation. Under 808 nm laser irradiation with power density of 1000–2000 W·m^–2, water evaporation rate of salt water (3.5 wt %) was measured to be 1.13–1.85 kg·m^–2·h^–1 for porous floating HCuPO–PDMS, which was 2.2–3.6 times of that measured for ordinary salt water without HCuPO. By using a solar simulator as a light source, a very high solar thermal conversion efficiency of 63.6% was obtained with a power density of 1000 W·m^–2, indicating that solar evaporation of salt water could be greatly enhanced by the well-designed HCuPO