Epidemiology of Klebsiella michiganensis Carrying Multidrug-Resistant IncHI5 Plasmids in the Southeast Coastal Area of China.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the genomic characterization of multidrug-resistant IncHI5-carrying Klebsiella michiganensis strains and detailed genomic dissection of the IncHI5 plasmids. Materials and Methods: Through whole-genome sequencing, the IncHI5 plasmid pK92-qnrS was obtained from a single clinical K. michiganensis isolate K92. All complete genomes of K. michiganensis strains from the Genome database of NCBI were collected and used to construct a maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree. The epidemiology and geographic distribution of all the K. michiganensis strains were conducted. An extensive comparison of the seven IncHI5 plasmids of K. michiganensis (one from this study, six from GenBank) was applied. Results: This study revealed that all K. michiganensis strains carrying IncHI5 plasmids from different clonal groups were located in the southeast coastal area of China. The backbone regions of IncHI5 plasmids were composed of replicon (repHI5B and repFIB), partition (parABC), and conjugal transfer (tra1/tra2). The main accessory resistant regions of IncHI5 could be divided into two categories, Tn1696-related region and Tn6535-related region. These seven IncHI5 plasmids carried multiple drug-resistance genes which were all mediated by the mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Conclusion: Data presented here help to provide an overall in-depth understanding of epidemiology and geographic distribution of IncHI5-carrying K. michiganensis and the structure and evolutionary history of IncHI5 plasmids.

Association between fat mass- and obesity-associated (FTO) gene polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis.

AIMS: Many studies have investigated the relationship between FTO gene polymorphism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) susceptibility but revealed mixed results. In this study, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis to clarify this association. METHODS: Published literature from PubMed, Embase and CNKI was retrieved. Meta-analysis was performed to calculate pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random- or fix- effects model. RESULTS: A total of 5 studies (4778 cases and 4272 controls) were included in our meta-analysis. The results suggested that FTO rs9939609 polymorphism (or its proxy) was marginally associated with PCOS risk after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.02-1.55). However, the marginal association was not stable after sensitivity analysis. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, the association was significant in East Asians (OR = 1.43, 95%CI = 1.30-1.59) but not in Caucasians (OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 0.85-1.29). CONCLUSIONS: Our present meta-analysis indicated that FTO rs9939609 polymorphism (or its proxy) might not be associated with risk of PCOS in overall population. However, in East Asians, there might be a direct association between FTO variant and PCOS risk, which is independent of BMI (adiposity).

FTO gene variant and risk of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) polymorphisms have been implicated in the susceptibility of overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. However, the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the association of FTO gene polymorphisms with overweight/obesity risk among children and adolescents. METHODS: PubMed and Embase were used to search for eligible published literatures. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effect models. RESULTS: A total of 21 articles containing 23 studies (11208cases and 35015controls) were included in our analysis. The results indicated that variant in FTO gene was significantly associated with increased risk of overweight/obesity in children and adolescents (OR=1.35; 95%CI: 1.27-1.44; P<0.001). The overall pooled ORs for risk obesity and overweight were 1.34 (95%CI: 1.21-1.48) and 1.35 (95%CI: 1.25-1.47), respectively. Subgroup analyses also showed similar trends in most subgroups of adjustment for covariates and unadjustment, different ethnicities (Caucasians, Asians, and Amerindians), and each of three investigated polymorphisms (rs9939609, rs1421085, and rs1558902). CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis suggested a positive association between FTO gene polymorphism and overweight/obesity risk among children and adolescents. Further prospective studies should be recommended to confirm the observed association, and underlying mechanism should be investigated to clarify the association of FTO gene polymorphism with overweight/obesity.

The FTO gene rs9939609 polymorphism predicts risk of cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Genome-wide association studies have shown that variance in the fat mass- and obesity- associated gene (FTO) is associated with risk of obesity in Europeans and Asians. Since obesity is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), several studies have investigated the association between variant in the FTO gene and CVD risk, with inconsistent results. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the association of rs9939609 variant (or its proxies [r (2)>0.90]) in the FTO gene with CVD risk. METHODS: Published literature from PubMed and Embase was retrieved. Pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were calculated using the fixed- or random- effects model. RESULTS: A total of 10 studies (comprising 19,153 CVD cases and 103,720 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the rs9939609 variant was significantly associated with CVD risk (odds ratio = 1.18, 95% confidence interval = 1.07-1.30, p = 0.001 [Z test], I (2) = 80.6%, p<0.001 [heterogeneity]), and there was an insignificant change after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and other conventional CVD risk factors (odds ratio = 1.16, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.27, p = 0.003 [Z test], I (2) = 75.4%, p<0.001 [heterogeneity]). CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis confirmed the significant association of the rs9939609 variant in the FTO gene with CVD risk, which was independent of BMI and other conventional CVD risk factors.

STK39 polymorphism is associated with essential hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: A recent genome-wide association study identified STK39as a candidate gene for blood pressure (BP) in Europeans. Subsequently, several studies have attempted to replicate the association across different ethnic populations. However, the results have been inconsistent. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis to elucidate the association between the STK39 rs3754777 polymorphism (or proxy) and hypertension. Published literature from PubMed and Embase databases were retrieved and pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated using fixed- or random-effects model. RESULTS: Using appropriate inclusion/exclusion criteria, we identified 10 studies that included 21, 863 hypertensive cases and 24, 480 controls from different ethnicities. The meta-analysis showed a significant association of STK39 rs3754777 variant with hypertension (OR = 1.10, 95%CI = 1.06-1.15, p = 7.95 × 10(-6)). Further subgroup analysis by ethnicity suggested that the association was significant in Europeans (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 1.03-1.14, p = 0.002) and in East Asians (OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.07-1.25, p = 4.34 × 10(-4)), but not in Africans (OR = 1.01, 95%CI 0.80-1.27, p = 0.932). We further confirmed the positive association by sensitivity analysis. No publication bias was detected (Begg's test, p = 0.721; Egger's test, p = 0.744). CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis confirms the significant association of STK39 polymorphism with susceptibility to hypertension in Europeans and East Asians. Future studies should include gene-gene and gene-environment interactions to investigate the identified association.

Polymorphisms of excision repair gene XPD Lys751Gln and hOGG1 Ser326Cys might not be associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis.

The xeroderma pigmentosum group D (XPD) and human 8-oxoguanine glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) genes have been suggested to play an important role in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the results have been inconsistent. In this study, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the associations of polymorphisms of XPD and hOGG1 genes with HCC risk. Published literature from PubMed, EMBASE, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were retrieved. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95 % confidence interval (CI) was calculated using a fixed- or random-effects model. Seven studies (1,955 HCC cases and 2,023 controls) for XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism and six studies (1,470 HCC cases and 1,541 controls) for hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism were included in the final meta-analysis. For XPD Lys751Gln polymorphism, no significant association was found under all genetic models (Gln/Gln vs Lys/Lys OR = 1.09, 95 % CI = 0.28-4.18; Gln/Lys vs Lys/Lys OR = 1.41, 95 % CI = 0.81-2.44; dominant model OR = 1.40, 95 % CI = 0.77-2.57; recessive model OR = 1.02, 95 % CI = 0.33-3.23). For hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism, there was a significant association of this polymorphism with HCC risk under heterogeneous codominant model (OR = 1.38, 95 % CI = 1.01-1.88) and dominant model (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI = 1.14-2.16). The sensitivity analysis indicated that the significant association between hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and HCC risk was not robust. The present meta-analysis has limited evidence to support the association of XPD Lys751Gln and hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphisms with HCC risk. Further, large-scale studies with the consideration for gene-gene/gene-environment interactions should be conducted to investigate the association.

SELDI-TOF MS combined with magnetic beads for detecting serum protein biomarkers and establishment of a boosting decision tree model for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

AIM: New technologies for the early detection of pancreatic cancer (PC) are urgently needed. The aim of the present study was to screen for the potential protein biomarkers in serum using proteomic fingerprint technology. METHODS: Magnetic beads combined with surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) TOF MS were used to profile and compare the protein spectra of serum samples from 85 patients with pancreatic cancer, 50 patients with acute-on-chronic pancreatitis and 98 healthy blood donors. Proteomic patterns associated with pancreatic cancer were identified with Biomarker Patterns Software. RESULTS: A total of 37 differential m/z peaks were identified that were related to PC (P<0.01). A tree model of biomarkers was constructed with the software based on the three biomarkers (7762 Da, 8560 Da, 11654 Da), this showing excellent separation between pancreatic cancer and non-cancer., with a sensitivity of 93.3% and a specificity of 95.6%. Blind test data showed a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 91.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that serum biomarkers for pancreatic cancer can be detected using SELDI-TOF-MS combined with magnetic beads. Application of combined biomarkers may provide a powerful and reliable diagnostic method for pancreatic cancer with a high sensitivity and specificity.

MALDI-TOF MS combined with magnetic beads for detecting serum protein biomarkers and establishment of boosting decision tree model for diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

No single biologic marker is used in the routine diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We screened for potential biomarkers in 142 samples, including samples from 60 patients with HCC, 36 patients with hepatic disease other than HCC, and 46 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Pretreated samples were analyzed using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) combined with weak cationic exchange magnetic beads. The diagnostic pattern with a panel of 4 potential protein biomarkers of a mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio of 4,471, 8,936, 11,670, and 13,752 could accurately recognize 56 of 60 patients with HCC, 34 of 36 patients with hepatic disease, and 44 of 46 healthy people. The preliminary data suggest a potential application of MALDI-TOF MS combined with magnetic beads as an effective technology to profile serum proteome, and, with pattern analysis, a diagnostic model comprising 4 potential biomarkers was indicated to differentiate people with hepatic disease and healthy control subjects rapidly and precisely.