Association of <i>IGF1</i> polymorphism rs6214 with high myopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

<p><i>Purpose</i>: To conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the association of <i>Insulin-like growth factor 1</i> (<i>IGF1</i>) polymorphism rs6214 with high myopia through a systematic review and meta-analysis of candidate genetic association study.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: All case-control association studies on <i>IGF1</i> and high myopia reported up to 15 June 2016 in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Chinese Biomedical Database were retrieved. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated for single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) using fixed and random effects models according to between study heterogeneity. Publication bias analyses were conducted using Begg’s test.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: A total of eight studies from published articles were included in our analysis. The meta-analyses for <i>IGF1</i> rs6214, composed of 4242 high myopia patients and 4430 controls, showed low heterogeneity for the included populations in all the genetic models, except that of the allelic genetic model in the pooled populations. The analyses of all the genetic models in Chinese, Japanese, and overall pooled populations did not identify any significant association between high myopia and <i>IGF1</i> rs6214.</p> <p><i>Conclusions</i>: This meta-analysis showed there was no association detected between <i>IGF1</i> rs6214 and high myopia. Given the limited sample size, further investigations including more ethnic groups are required to validate the association.</p

Highly Conductive and Conformal Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) Thin Films via Oxidative Molecular Layer Deposition

This work introduces oxidative molecular layer deposition (oMLD) as a chemical route to synthesize highly conductive and conformal poly­(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) thin films via sequential vapor exposures of molybdenum­(V) chloride (MoCl₅, oxidant) and ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT, monomer) precursors. The growth temperature strongly affects PEDOT’s crystalline structure and electronic conductivity. Films deposited at ∼150 °C exhibit a highly textured crystalline structure, with {010} planes aligned parallel with the substrate. Electrical conductivity of these textured films is routinely above 1000 S cm^–1, with the most conductive films exceeding 3000 S cm^–1. At lower temperatures (∼100 °C) the films exhibit a random polycrystalline structure and display smaller conductivities. Compared with typical electrochemical, solution-based, and chemical vapor deposition techniques, oMLD PEDOT films achieve high conductivity without the need for additives or postdeposition treatments. Moreover, the sequential-reaction synthesis method produces highly conformal coatings over high aspect ratio structures, making it attractive for many device applications

Evaluation of genome-wide susceptibility loci for high myopia in a Han Chinese population

<p><i>Purpose</i>: High myopia (HM) is a common cause of visual impairment worldwide. Previous genome-wide association studies have reported that seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), including rs1254319, rs3138144, rs12205363, rs17648524, rs7829127, rs1656404, and rs7084402, are associated with HM in Caucasians. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of these SNPs in Han Chinese.</p> <p><i>Methods</i>: SNPs were genotyped by SNaPshot method in a Chinese cohort composed of 830 HM patients and 1140 controls.</p> <p><i>Results</i>: Rs17648524 (C/G) and rs7084402 (A/G) were significantly associated with HM (<i>p</i> = 3.0 × 10⁻³, OR = 0.43; <i>p</i> = 3.7 × 10⁻², OR = 1.25, respectively). The association of rs17648524 was also observed under the heterozygous model (CG vs. GG, <i>p</i> = 7.0 × 10⁻³, OR = 0.43) and the dominant model (CC + CG vs. GG, <i>p</i> = 4.0 × 10⁻³, OR = 0.42). The association of rs7084402 was found under the homozygous model (GG vs. AA, <i>p</i> = 4.0 × 10⁻², OR = 1.56) and the dominant model (GG+ AG vs. AA, <i>p</i> = 3.8 × 10⁻², OR = 1.41). Another SNP, rs7829127 (A/G), was found to be significantly associated with HM under the heterozygous model (AG vs. AA, <i>p</i> = 4.6 × 10⁻², OR = 0.67). Furthermore, the associations of rs17648524 and rs7084402 with HM were gender-specific, with significance observed only in females but not in males. As for the other four SNPs, no associations were detected under these genetic models.</p> <p><i>Conclusions</i>: Our findings suggested rs17648524 (intronic <i>RBFOX1</i> gene) and rs7084402 (7.5kb 5′ of the <i>BICC1</i> gene) showed gender-specific associations with high myopia in the Han Chinese.</p

Relationships between miRNA expression levels (means ± SD) and clinical characteristics of EC patients.

<p>Note:¹W =  whole saliva, S =  saliva supernatant; ²N/A  =  not available due to patients' refusal of further tests or treatments; meanwhile, some patients in stage IV could not undergo operations and resected tumors were not available, so the differentiation of the tumors in these patients could not be determined.</p

The bar charts of gTotalGeneSignal value of the six target miRNAs.

<p>A) With the exception of sample 4, the values of the six EC group samples were higher than those of the three healthy group samples. B) With the exception of sample 2, the values of the six EC group samples were higher than those of the three healthy group samples. C) With the exception of sample 10, the values of the seven EC group samples were higher than those of the two healthy group samples. D) With the exception of sample 10, the values of the seven EC group samples were higher than those of the two healthy group samples. E) All EC group values were lower than the three of the healthy group. F) Several studies have reported that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in cancer tissue and plasma of EC patients; however, the gTotalGeneSignal value of miR-21 did not differ between the EC and healthy groups. However, it was also selected as a target miRNA.</p

Bar charts of expression levels of aberrantly expressed miRNAs.

<p><b>A</b>) whole saliva miR-10b*. <b>B</b>) whole saliva miR-144. <b>C</b>) whole saliva miR-451. <b>D</b>) saliva supernatant miR-10b*. <b>E</b>) saliva supernatant miR-144. <b>F</b>) saliva supernatant miR-21. <b>G</b>) saliva supernatant miR-451. miRNA expression levels were calculated by the 2^−ΔΔCt method. These miRNAs were significantly upregulated in the EC (n = 39) compared with the healthy (n = 19) group.</p

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for esophageal cancer diagnosis.

<p>A) Whole saliva miR-10b*. B)whole saliva miR-144, and C) whole saliva miR-451. D)saliva supernatant miR-10b*. E)saliva supernatant miR-144. F)saliva supernatant miR-21. G) saliva supernatant miR-451.</p

Characteristics of EC patients and healthy controls.

<p>Note: 1. High temperature: >60°C. 2. According to the standard of mainland China, the definition of an alcoholic is as follows: male, ≥40 g/d; female, ≥20 g/d; consumption of alcohol (g)  =  volume of alcohol (mL) × concentration of alcohol (%) ×0.8.</p

Number of miRNAs detected in each sample.

<p>Note: EC, esophageal cancer; NC, normal control.</p

Iodine and GPXs involved in Thyroid Hormones Biosynthesis.

<p>The serum sodium iodide is transported into the thyrocyte and then iodine is incorporated into the thyroglobulin molecule (Tg) in a reaction catalyzed by the hemoprotein thyroid peroxidase (TPO). In this reaction, H₂O₂ generated by the NADPH-dependent thyroxidase (ThOx) is required as substrate by TPO for the iodination and coupling of tyrosyl residues in Tg. Then, thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) are released into the bloodstream. H₂O₂ used in this reaction decreases the amount of H₂O₂ that would otherwise be available for damaging oxidation reactions. Selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase 1 (<i>GPX 1</i>) and other GPX s remove H₂O₂ from the tissues, also decreasing oxidative damage. (Modified from: J. Köhrle <i>et al</i>. Selenium, the thyroid, and the endocrine system. Endocrine Reviews, December 2005, 26(7):944–984; Lyn Patrick, ND. Iodine: deficiency and therapeutic considerations. Alternative Medicine Review, 2008, 13(2):116–127).</p