Associations of genetic variants in ADAM33 and TGF-ß1 genes with childhood asthma risk.

The aim of the present study was to explore the associations of genetic variants in the ADAM33 and TGF-ß1 genes with the risk of childhood asthma. A total of 299 asthmatic children and 311 healthy controls were recruited in the hospital-based case-control study. The asthmatic subjects were further divided into mild and severe groups according to disease severity. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at ADAM33 V4, T2, S2 and T1, and TGF-ß1 C-509T and T869C were selected and detected with PCR-RFLP. The associations of the SNPs with asthma risk and severity were analyzed. The associations between the haplotypes of ADAM33 and TGF-ß1 were also evaluated. Compared with the GG genotype, the GC and CC genotypes at V4 were associated with an increased asthma risk in children and the ORs were 2.92 and 10.56, respectively. Compared with the CC genotype, the CT/TT genotype at C-509T was associated with an increased asthma risk and the OR was 2.26. Subsequent to stratification by asthma severity, compared with the V4 GG genotype, it was found that the CG and CC genotypes were associated with a mild asthma risk and the ORs were 3.00 and 5.99, respectively. The SNP at C-509T (CT/TT vs. CC) was associated with mild asthma (OR=2.34), whereas a marginally significant association was detected between the SNP (CT/TT vs. CC) and severe asthma risk (OR=2.19). The haplotype analysis revealed that, compared with the GGCA haplotype of ADAM33, significant associations of the haplotypes of CGCG, CGGA, GACA, GACG and GAGA with asthma risk were observed, and the ORs were 31.12, 12.24, 4.73, 30.85 and 4.83, respectively. No significant association was detected between the TGF-ß1 haplotypes and asthma risk. The genetic variants at V4 and C-509T had the potential to modify the childhood asthma risk and the associations showed no notable difference with the disease severity. Thus, ADAM33 haplotypes provided more useful information in the prediction of asthma risk.

[Situation and assessment of heavy metal pollution in river and mud in one city in Henan Province].

OBJECTIVE: To study the heavy metal contamination status in river water and mud in the suburb of a city in Henan Province. METHODS: Typical sampling method is used to select a farmland irrigation river of the suburb of a city. Use the atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and measure the heavy metal cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) in the river water samples and mud samples by graphite furnace method and flame method, respectively. The results of water were compared with GB 3838-2002, Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water, and GB 5084-2005, Standards for Irrigation Water Quality. The results of mud were compared with national soil background value. The contents of Cu and Cd in the river samples do not exceed the standard, and that of Pb is 3 to 6 times higher than the standard. According to the single factor pollution index method, the single factor pollution indice of Cu, and Cd in the river are less than 0.2 and are of clean level, while that of Pb reaches 6.84, indicating the Pb pollution in river water is severe. Cu in mud is more than 4 times of the soil background value, and that of Cd is more than 69 times of the soil background value, and that of Pb is more than 2 times of the soil background value. The single item pollution index indicates, in mud, the pollution index of Pb is 2.5, medium level pollution. The pollution indice of Cu and Cd in mud are more than 3, is severe pollution, and the Cd pollution is especially heavy, and the single pollution index reaches 67.76. The comprehensive pollution indice of the river and the mud are 5.346 and 84.115, respectively, indicating that both are at heavy pollution level. The main pollution source of the river originates from Pb, and that of the mud is from Cd and it is required to take measure and control as early as possible.

[Single nucleotide polymorphism of XRCC1 gene in Bouyei and Shui populations].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), the genotype combinations and the allele frequency distributions of the X-ray repair cross-complementing gene 1 (XRCC1) C26304T, G27466A and G28152A in Bouyei and Shui populations. METHODS: Genomic DNA of leukocytes in venous blood was obtained from 192 Bouyei people and 197 Shui people. The SNPs of XRCC1 C26304T, G27466A and G28152A were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction restrained fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: Three SNPs were identified in XRCC1 C26304T, G27466A and G28152A, which were located in the exon 6, 9 and 10 respectively. All of the gene distributions matched the equilibrium law of Hardy-Weinberg. Eight genotype combinations were found in C26304T and G28152A. Seven genotype combinations were found in C26304T and G27466A. Seven genotype combinations were found in G28152A and G27466A. CONCLUSION: This study reveals the features of the SNPs, the genotype combinations and the allele frequency distributions of XRCC1 and provides essential data for future studies regarding the relationship between XRCC1 SNPs, its physiological function and diseases.