Association between transcription factor 7-like 2 C/T polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy risk: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested a close association between transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy (DR) susceptibility. However, the published results were inconsistent. This meta-analysis was conducted to review and examine the relationship between TCF7L2 rs7903146 C/T polymorphism and DR risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Online databases were searched and the related studies were identified in this meta-analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to examine the statistical power. Moreover, heterogeneity test, sensitivity accumulative analysis and publication bias were conducted to measure the statistical effect. RESULT: 6 studies involving 12,982 subjects were included in this meta-analysis to assess the association between rs7903146 C/T polymorphism and DR susceptibility. The synthetic results indicated that the mutation of rs7903146 C/T polymorphism maybe accompany with an increased risk for DR (T vs. C: OR=1.26, 95%CI=1.00-1.60, P=0.05, I2=83.5%; TT vs. CC: OR=1.79 95%CI=1.12-2.86, P=0.02, I2=80.2%; TT vs. CC+CT: OR=1.62, 95%CI=1.38-1.92, P<0.01, I2=32.3%). Moreover, the subgroup analysis also demonstrated an increasing risk for DR with T mutations in Caucasian descendants. CONCLUSION: The current evidences meta-analysis suggested that the TCF7L2 rs7903146 C/T polymorphism might be play an important role in DR susceptibility.

Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Alginate Lyase from Paenibacillus sp. LJ-23.

As a low molecular weight alginate, alginate oligosaccharides (AOS) exhibit improved water solubility, better bioavailability, and comprehensive health benefits. In addition, their biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxicity, non-immunogenicity, and gelling capability make them an excellent biomaterial with a dual curative effect when applied in a drug delivery system. In this paper, a novel alginate lyase, Algpt, was cloned and characterized from a marine bacterium, Paenibacillus sp. LJ-23. The purified enzyme was composed of 387 amino acid residues, and had a molecular weight of 42.8 kDa. The optimal pH of Algpt was 7.0 and the optimal temperature was 45 °C. The analysis of the conserved domain and the prediction of the three-dimensional structure indicated that Algpt was a novel alginate lyase. The dominant degradation products of Algpt on alginate were AOS dimer to octamer, depending on the incubation time, which demonstrated that Algpt degraded alginate in an endolytic manner. In addition, Algpt was a salt-independent and thermo-tolerant alginate lyase. Its high stability and wide adaptability endow Algpt with great application potential for the efficient preparation of AOS with different sizes and AOS-based products.

Efficacy of PPV Combined with Air Tamponade for Treatment of Inferior Retinal Breaks.

PURPOSE: To observe the efficacy and safety of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) combined with filtered air tamponade in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) with inferior retinal breaks. METHODS: This retrospective study included 20 patients (20 eyes) with inferior retinal breaks in RRD; all underwent PPV combined with filtered air tamponade. Preoperative examinations included BCVA, IOP, anterior segment, fundus and locations, numbers, and sizes of retinal breaks and ocular B-mode ultrasonography. Postoperative examinations included BCVA, IOP, residual gas volume, retinal reattachment, and complications. RESULTS: After follow-up for 1 year, the primary retinal reattachment rate was 95% and the final reattachment rate was 100%. Pre- and postoperative BCVA averaged 1.51 ± 0.63 and 0.97 ± 0.58 logMAR, respectively; the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Average pre- and postoperative IOP were not statistically different. The average volume of residual gas on the first day after the surgery was 77.5%; the gas was absorbed in all patients within 2 weeks; no significant postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSION: PPV combined with filtered air tamponade is a safe and effective treatment for RRD with inferior retinal breaks. Notably, the retinal reattachment rate is high, gas absorption is rapid, and incidence of complications is low.

Transcriptional responses to low-salinity stress in the gills of adult female Portunus trituberculatus.

The swimming crab (Portunus trituberculatus, Portunus) can tolerate low salinity, but the mechanism of its varied salinity adaptation at the molecular level remains unclear. In this study, we prepared four mRNA and microRNA (miRNA) libraries using the gills collected from four salinity groups and performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) to identify the genes related to the low salinity. We set 25 ppt as the control group. A total of 659 genes were differentially expressed in at least one of the six comparison groups (25 ppt vs. 20 ppt, 25 ppt vs. 15 ppt, 25 ppt vs. 10 ppt, 20 ppt vs. 15 ppt, 20 ppt vs. 10 ppt and 15 ppt vs. 10 ppt). A total of 15 and 9 unigenes were downregulated and upregulated under low salinity compared with that in 25 ppt, respectively. Six genes, namely, aminopeptidase, centromere protein, cytochrome b5 reductase, bone morphogenetic protein, and two carbonic anhydrases, were selected for verification through quantitative real-time PCR. The results were consistent with the RNA-Seq results. Furthermore, 95 conserved miRNAs and 16 novel miRNAs were differentially expressed in at least one of the six comparison groups. Analysis of the miRNA-mRNA interaction showed that miR-2 and miR-317 regulated >50 mRNA targets. In addition, let-7c was downregulated in all groups under low salinity compared with that in the control group. This study helped elucidate the adaptation mechanism of the swimming crab in low-saline environments.