Machine learning and bioinformatics to identify 8 autophagy-related biomarkers and construct gene regulatory networks in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a condition of impaired ventricular remodeling and systolic diastole that is often complicated by arrhythmias and heart failure with a poor prognosis. This study attempted to identify autophagy-related genes (ARGs) with diagnostic biomarkers of DCM using machine learning and bioinformatics approaches. Differential analysis of whole gene microarray data of DCM from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was performed using the NetworkAnalyst 3.0 platform. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) matching (|log2FoldChange ≥ 0.8, p value < 0.05|) were obtained in the GSE4172 dataset by merging ARGs from the autophagy gene libraries, HADb and HAMdb, to obtain autophagy-related differentially expressed genes (AR-DEGs) in DCM. The correlation analysis of AR-DEGs and their visualization were performed using R language. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and combined multi-database pathway analysis were served by the Enrichr online enrichment analysis platform. We used machine learning to screen the diagnostic biomarkers of DCM. The transcription factors gene regulatory network was constructed by the JASPAR database of the NetworkAnalyst 3.0 platform. We also used the drug Signatures database (DSigDB) drug database of the Enrichr platform to screen the gene target drugs for DCM. Finally, we used the DisGeNET database to analyze the comorbidities associated with DCM. In the present study, we identified 23 AR-DEGs of DCM. Eight (PLEKHF1, HSPG2, HSF1, TRIM65, DICER1, VDAC1, BAD, TFEB) molecular markers of DCM were obtained by two machine learning algorithms. Transcription factors gene regulatory network was established. Finally, 10 gene-targeted drugs and complications for DCM were identified.

[Analysis of the correlation of prevalence in allergic rhinitis and other allergic diseases].

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR) in different regions of northern China, to analyze the correlation and interaction between AR and bronchial asthma (BA) or atopic dermatitis (AD), and to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of allergic diseases such as AR. METHODS: To obtain the indexes including age, occupation, atopic physical fitness, smoking, alcohol, lifestyle and so on. To explore the correlation between AR and BA or AD. From April 2007 to May 2010, the serum specific IgE (sIgE) was investigated in different regions (rural areas of Qingxian, Hebei; coastal fishing village of Bohai Bay, Huanghua; area of Wuling Mountain, Chengde; urban areas of Tianjin) by randomly multi-stage and cluster sampling, with total population of 1524. RESULTS: The prevalence of AR, BA and AD were 9.1%, 5.4% and 6.0%. The prevalence of BA and AD were 30.9% and 29.5% in AR patients, but were 2.9% and 3.7% in non-AR, and the differences were of statistical significance (χ(2) values were 192.97 and 148.40, respectively, all P < 0.01). The risk of people with BA suffering from AR was as 8.619 times as those free from BA, the risk of people with AD suffering from AR was as 1.817 times as those free from AD and, the risk of workers suffering from AR was as 2.320 times as farmers in terms of working factor by analysis of Logistic regression for AR and BA, AD, age, occupation, atopic physical fitness and other factors. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of AR are correlated with BA and AD. It is greater between BA and AR than AD and AR in the strength of correlation.

[Distribution of allergens in patients with allergic rhinitis in Hebei villagers and Tianjin citizens].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiology of allergic rhinitis (AR) and the distribution of allergens in villagers who lived in Hebei Province (Hebei villagers) and the citizens who lived in the city of Tianjin (Tianjin citizens). METHODS: From April 2007 to May 2010, face to face investigation and serum specific IgE (sIgE) examination were conducted among Hebei villagers and Tianjin citizens by randomly multi-stage and cluster sampling, and the results were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1524 cases were investigated, among them, 1024 cases in Hebei and 500 cases in Tianjin, the prevalence of the sIgE test was 27.2% (279/1024) and 21.2% (106/500), and the difference was of statistical significance (χ(2) = 7.13, P < 0.01). The prevalence of AR was 9.2% (94/1024) and 9.0% (45/500), the difference was of no statistical significance (χ(2) = 0.01, P > 0.05). The most common allergens were dog epithelium and cat epithelium, the next were dust mites, house dust mites, birch and forage grasses in rural areas of Hebei Province. The most common allergens in Tianjin city were dust mites and house dust mites, the next were dog epithelium, cat epithelium, birch and forage grasses. The prevalence of allergens between Hebei villagers and Tianjin citizens had significant difference, which from high to low were house dust mites, dust mites and dog epithelium (χ(2) value were 11.36, 9.14, 5.28, all P < 0.05). The incidence of AR caused by dog epithelium in Hebei was higher than that in Tianjin, however, the dust mites in Tianjin was higher than that in Hebei. CONCLUSIONS: Allergen plays an important role in the prevalence of AR. The allergens have differences not only in areas but also in urban and village. The key factor is contact with allergens frequently.

[Research on prevalence and related factors in allergic rhinitis].

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the prevalence and related factors in allergic rhinitis (AR) and other allergic diseases in rural area in China through epidemiological investigation with large sample and multi-faceted survey data. METHODS: Face to face survey was conducted in different regions (rural areas of Cangzhou, Hebei, coastal fishing village of Bohai Bay, area of Wuling Mountain, Chengde, urban areas of Tianjin) from April 2007 to May 2009. In the same time, serum specific IgE (sIgE) was detected in the digits of every 0, 1or 5 in them. SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Five thousand and ten cases were investigated. There were 823 cases with the symptoms or signs of AR (16.4%). Four hundred and two cases were found to have positive serum sIgE antibody in 1576 detected cases (25.5%). One hundred and fourty-six cases with nasal allergic symptoms or signs were diagnosed as AR. The incidence of AR was 9.3% (146/1576). The occurrence of allergic symptoms or signs had a significant statistical difference with factors such as age, occupation, atopic constitution (χ(2) value were 7.96, 9.73, 16.53, 8.95 respectively, all P < 0.05), and it was closely related to lower respiratory tract allergies (ß = 2.544, P < 0.01). The most common allergens were dog and cat epithelium in rural areas and dust mites in city. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of AR is higher whether in urban or rural areas, it should be taken seriously as the impact on human health. The occurrence is closely related to physical characteristics and environmental factors.