Objective: To investigate the causal relationship between antioxidant nutrients and pregnancy complications, so as to provide the reference for the prevention and treatment of pregnancy complications. Methods: Data of seven antioxidant nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, copper and iron were collected from genome-wide association study (GWAS) Catalog database, and data of four pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes mellitus, pre-eclampsia, spontaneous abortion and preterm birth were collected from the Finland database. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data were collected, and 27 SNPS strongly correlated with seven antioxidant nutrients were selected as instrumental variables. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method with seven antioxidant nutrients as exposures factors and four pregnancy complications as outcome variables. The heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran's Q test, the horizontal pleiotropy was assessed using the MR-PRESSO test and MR-Egger regression, and the robustness of the results was verified with the leave-one-out. Results: Cochran's Q test showed heterogeneity of MR results between vitamin C and gestational diabetes mellitus, preeclampsia and preterm birth, between vitamin E and iron and gestational diabetes (all P<0.05), and a random effect model was employed. There was no heterogeneity in other results (all P>0.05), and a fixed effect model was employed. MR analysis results showed that there was no causal association between seven antioxidant nutrients and the risk of four pregnancy complications (all P>0.05). MR-PRESSO test and the MR-Egger regression identified no horizontal pleiotropy of instrumental variables (both P>0.05). Conclusion This study did not find genetically predicted associations of antioxidant nutrients with pregnancy complications.

Objective To investigate the effect of resveratrol on miRNA-106b in Alzheimer′s disease ( AD ) animal model.Methods Fifty Kunming male mice were divided into five groups by completely randomized block sampling.The five groups included three dosage resveratrol groups , an AD model group and a control group.The AD models were established in one month prior to treatments. Subsequently, from the 31st day various doses of resveratrol were provided intragastricly for 60 days.Then the memory function was observed by the step-down test.Meanwhile, the varying expressions of APP , P62, ApoA1, miRNA-106b, ABCA1 were tested in each group to determine whether there is the binding site for miRNA-106b in APP 3′UTR sequence.Results Compared with the control group by step-down test, the memory function of the AD model group mice decreased in different degree , which in the drug treatment group was higher than that in the model group (P<0.05).Compared with the AD group, the expression of APP (1.131 ±0.035) in the drug treatment group was higher than that in the model group (0.652 ± 0.026), while the P62 (0.412 ±0.022) and ApoA1 (0.534 ±0.032) were lower than the model group ( all P<0.05 ).High and medium dose groups of resveratrol treatment reduced varying degrees of APP (0.733 ±0.018,0.929 ±0.019,F=177.733) levels, and increased P62(0.954 ±0.035,0.633 ±0.015, F=434.5 ) and ApoA1 ( 1.042 ±0.051, 0.824 ±0.034, F=286.582 ) levels ( all P<0.05 ).The expression of miRNA-106b (0.464 ±0.313) and ABCA1(0.293 ±0.042) in the model group was lower than that in the control group (miRNA-106b 1.064 ±0.032, F=238.159; ABCA1 0.781 ±0.027,F=341.61;both P<0.05).The miRNA-106b (0.843 ±0.034, 0.601 ±0.012) and ABCA1 (0.882 ± 0.025, 0.624 ±0.036) levels in the high, medium dose resveratrol treatment groups increased to different extent ( both P<0.05 ).After the drug treatment , luciferase reporter vector experiments showed that the APP 3′UTR sequence contains the binding site of miRNA-106b.Conclusions APP is one of the target genes of miRNA-106b.Resveratrol is capable of improving AD by enhancing the expression of miRNA-106b and down-regulating the target genes including APP , P62 and ApoA1.This provides a new theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of AD.

OBJECTIVE: To rapidly identify the two morphologies and chemical properties of similar herbal medicines, Blumea riparia and B. megacephala as the basis for chemical constituent analysis. METHODS: UPLC-Q-Exactive-MS/MS was utilized for profiling and identification of the constituents in B. riparia and B. megacephala. Chemical pattern recognition (CPR) was further used to compare and distinguish the two herbs and to identify their potential characteristic markers. Then, an HPLC method was established for quality evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 93 constituents are identified, including 54 phenolic acids, 35 flavonoids, two saccharides, one phenolic acid glycoside, and one other constituent, of which 67 were identified in B. riparia and B. megacephala for the first time. CPR indicates that B. riparia and B. megacephala samples can be distinguished from each other based on the LC-MS data. The isochlorogenic acid A to cryptochlorogenic acid peak area ratio calculated from the HPLC chromatograms was proposed as a differentiation index for distinguishing and quality control of B. riparia and B. megacephala. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates significant differences between B. riparia and B. megacephala in terms of chemical composition. The results provide a rapid and simple strategy for the comparison and evaluation of the quality of B. riparia and B. megacephala.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association between the two single nucleotide polymorphisms located in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)in Han population in Guangdong province.

METHODSTwo tagSNPs (rs4646312 and rs4680) were picked out from COMT gene. Using the SNPscan(TM) Kit, SNP genotyping was then performed, in two cohorts, including 595 cases and 725 controls. Finally, Chi-square test, logistic regression model and other methods were employed for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe frequencies of TT, CT and CC of rs4646312 appeared to be 304(51.1%), 234(39.3%)and 57 (8.6%) in cases, 323 (44.6%), 319 (44.0%) and 83(11.4%)in controls, respectively. The frequencies of GG,GA and AA of rs4680 were 311(52.4%), 236 (39.8%) and 46(7.8%)in cases, 417(57.7%), 265 (36.6%) and 41 (5.7%) in controls, respectively.

RESULTSshowed that SNP rs4646312 was significantly associated with T2DM both in allelic association analysis (P = 0.020,OR = 1.26, 95%CI:1.04-1.53)and in recessive model (P = 0.022, OR = 1.35, 95% CI:1.05-1.74)after adjustment for sex,BMI and TG. The association between rs4680 and T2DM was not significant, but BMI was remarkably different among the three genotypes of rs4680 after controlling for other factors.

CONCLUSIONSNP rs4646312 of COMT gene was associated with the increased risk of T2DM in Han population in Guangdong province. However, rs4680 was not significantly associated with T2DM.

Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; etiology ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide