Multi-omics approaches for revealing the etiology of cancer: from genomics, exposomics, metabolomics to system epidemiology / 中华流行病学杂志

Identifying risk factors of the disease are one of the main tasks of epidemiology. With the advancement of omics technologies (e.g., genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and exposome), cancer etiology research has entered the stage of systems epidemiology. Genomic research identifies cancer susceptibility loci and uncovers their biological mechanisms. Exposomic research investigates the impact of environmental factors on biological processes and disease risks. The metabolome is downstream of biological regulatory networks, reflecting the effects of the gene, environment, and their interactions, which can help elucidate the biological mechanisms of genetic and environmental risk factors and identify new biomarkers. Here, we reviewed the applications of genomic, exposomic, and metabolomic studies in the etiologic research on cancer. We summarized the importance of multi-omics approaches and systems epidemiology in cancer etiology research and outlined future perspectives.

Polymorphisms of 19 Autosomal STR Loci in Sichuan Han Population and Their Forensic Application / 法医学杂志

Objective To investigate the allele distribution, population genetics parameters and genetic analysis of neighboring populations of 19 autosomal STR loci in Sichuan Han population, and to evaluate their forensic application value. Methods The Goldeneye?? DNA ID system 20A was used to perform multiplex PCR amplification and allelic gene typing of 19 STR loci in 1 201 unrelated Han individuals from Sichuan Province. Allele frequencies and population genetics parameters were calculated. The Nei's genetic distances between Sichuan Han population and 12 previously reported populations were analyzed. Multidimensional scaling and principal component analysis were carried out and phylogenetic trees were also constructed. Results The heterozygosity of 19 STR loci ranged from 0.617 0 to 0.915 1, their discrimination power ranged from 0.777 4 to 0.986 5, matching probability ranged from 0.013 5 to 0.222 6, polymorphism information content ranged from 0.546 4 to 0.910 5, probability of exclusion ranged from 0.311 8 to 0.826 3 （triplet） and from 0.197 9 to 0.712 1 （biplet）, and no significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were observed. Based on the results of multidimensional scaling, principal component analysis and phylogenetic trees of the genetic distances between Sichuan Han population and the other 12 populations, Sichuan Han population was closest to Hubei Han population and was farthest to Xinjiang Uygur population. Conclusion The 19 autosomal STR loci showed a high polymorphism and discriminating ability in Sichuan Han population, which can provide a data foundation for personal identification, paternity test and population genetics study.

Effect of Strong Light Stress on Growth, Physiological and Biochemical and Gene Expression of Key Enzymes in Atractylodes lancea / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective::To explore the effect of strong light stress on the growth, physiological and biochemical and key enzyme gene expression of the Atractylodes lancea, in order to provide the scientific basis for the standardized cultivation of the A. lancea. Method::The two-year-old A. lancea seedlings were taken as experimental materials. Poplar forest (light transmittance between 18.26%-36.04%) was taken as control group(ck). Different density shading networks were used to simulate different degrees of high light stress (51.10%, 80.73%, 100%) in late July. The growth state of A. lancea was observed. On the 0th, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th days, the physiological and biochemical indexes of malondialdehyde (MDA) content, cell membrane permeability, proline (Pro) content, antioxidant enzyme activity and chlorophyll content in the leaves of A. lancea were measured. The relative expression levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarate monoacyl coenzyme A reductase (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A, HMGR) and farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase gene (farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, FPPS) in leaves of A. lancea under intense light stress were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(Real-time PCR). Result::After strong light stress, the color of the leaves of A. lancea changed from dark green to light green and yellowish green, and the burn of leaves became more and more serious. The contents of MDA, conductivity and Pro showed an upward trend with the increase of transmittance. Peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) tended to increase first and then decrease. The chlorophyll content decreased with the increase of light transmittance. The relative expression of HMGR in leaves of A. lancea decreased with the increase of light transmittance, while FPPS increased first and then decreased. Conclusion::The results showed that A. lanceaa could alleviate the inhibition of strong light stress by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes and regulating the content of osmotic pressure under certain strong light stress. Excessively strong intensity light stress leads to disequilibrium of metabolic mechanism of A. lancea, and seriously inhibits the plant growth.

The prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and hypertension in Deqing rural community / 中华疾病控制杂志

Objective This study aimed to describe the prevalence of both type 2 diabetes (T2D) and hypertension, and to explore possible risk factors. Methods A Cross-sectional study was conducted in eight towns cluster-sampled randomly from Deqing County, Zhejiang Province. Totally. 29 306 subjects aged≥18 years old were recruited into this survey. Information on general information, life styles, health status and family history of chronic diseases was collected. Physical examinations including height, weight, blood pressure, etc. were done. Fasting plasma glucose was also tested. Results The prevalence of only T2DM, only hypertension and both of them was 3.34%, 28.72%, and 2.01%, respectively. Such prevalence of both reached a peak at the age of 70-79 years old.Family history of diabetes mellitus(OR=4.94, 95% CI:3.24-7.54, P<0.001) and having a spouse(OR=2.17, 95% CI: 1.18-4.00, P=0.013) were possible risk factors of diabetes mellitus, body mass index(BMI)<24 kg/m2(OR=0.48, 95% CI: 0.39-0.59, P<0.001) was the possible protective factor of diabetes mellitus, BMI<24 kg/m2(OR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.56-0.64, P<0.001), completing compulsory education(OR=0.54, 95% CI:0.49-0.59, P<0.001) and exercise(OR=0.77, 95% CI: 0.69-0.86, P<0.001) were protective factors of hypertension, drinking(OR=1.18 , 95% CI: 1.08-1.29, P<0.001) was the possible risk factor of hypertension. BMI<24 kg/m2(OR= 0.26, 95% CI: 0.21-0.31, P<0.001), completing compulsory education(OR=0.50, 95% CI: 0.35-0.72, P<0.001) and drinking tea(OR=0.80, 95% CI:0.64-0.99, P=0.045) were protective factors of these two diseases. Farmers(OR=1.35, 95% CI: 1.04-1.76, P=0.024), family history of diabetes(OR=4.21, 95% CI: 2.71-6.57, P<0.001) and family history of hypertension(OR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.31-2.64, P=0.001) were risk factors for the co occurrence of two diseases. Conclusions The prevalence of diabetes among adults in Deqing County was relatively lower than other places. The prevalence of hypertension was close to the level of other regions. Age, overweight, alcohol consumption, family history of diabetes and hypertension were the risk factors of diabetes and hypertension. Diabetes mellitus was a high-risk group of hypertension. Further means should be taken to strengthen the self-management and treatment of this group. Further intervention action should be taken to promote health and quality of life.

Improvement of carbon tetrachloride drug-induced liver injury model in vitro / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish an ideal CCl4 drug-induced liver injury model in vitro.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Traditional method and improved method were adopted for preparing CCl4 injury liquid and drug-induced human liver HepG2 cell injury. Cell morphological change was observed under a bright-field microscope. The level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in supernatant was detected by biochemical method. 4-Methyl-tetrazolium (MTT) chromatometry was adopted for determining cell activity.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The improved method showed better CCl4-induced injury effect than the traditional method. With the increase in the concentration of CCl4 injury liquid, the ALT level significantly increased, whereas the cell activity notably decreased. Particularly, 70% CCl4 injury liquid use for 4 hours could achieve the best injury effect.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The improved method could be used to establish an ideal CCl4 drug-induced liver injury model in vitro, which can lay foundation for further in vitro studies.</p>

Stature estimation based on the length of tibia and fibula measured by digital X-ray in Chinese Han teenagers / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To derive regression formulae for stature estimation using forensic radiography from the tibia and fibula of Chinese Han teenagers in Sichuan Province.@*METHODS@#To construct equations, measurements were conducted on the training sample (412 adults, 201 males and 211 females). The whole length of the fibula and four measurements of tibia were determined using CR radiography, rectified through theoretical magnification. The regression formulae were relatively constructed to the real stature measured in an erect position. Through using the testing sample (40 adults) for the regression formulae, the reliability of the regression formulae was assessed.@*RESULTS@#The range of correlation coefficients of four measurements for tibia was 0.880-0.895 in the sex-unknown group, 0.869-0.893 in the male, and 0.845-0.855 in the female. The five measurements were found to be better correlated with stature in the male than in the female.@*CONCLUSION@#The digital X-ray of the tibia and fibula for stature estimation is proved to be effective in forensic individual identification; therefore, these equations can be of great assistance to the stature estimation of the contemporary Chinese Han teenagers.

Stature estimation of teenagers by limb long bones with computerized radiography / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#Relative parameters of upper limb bones, tibia and fibula were measured with computed radiography and used to establish the mathematical models for stature estimation of teenagers (from 14 to 18 years old) of Han population in Sichuan Province.@*METHODS@#The upper limb bones, tibia and fibula of 194 subjects were taken computerized radiography on normal position and were measured the lengths between relative landmarks. The body height of each subject was recorded. Linear regression equations for stature estimation between body height and the lengths of upper limb bones, tibia and fibula were established.@*RESULTS@#Forty-two single linear regression equations and 4 multiple regression equations were obtained. The coefficients of correlation(r) were 0.689-0.917 and the standard errors of estimate(SE) were between 3.075 and 5.485 cm. All of the equations were statistically tested and diagnosed with good applicability.@*CONCLUSION@#These equations could be used to estimate the body height of Sichuan Han population aged from 14 to 18. The lengths of the upper limb bones, tibia and fibula measured on the CR films could be useful to stature estimation of the adolescence and the forensic personal identification.