BACKGROUND: The molecular mechanisms of heart failure (HF) are still poorly understood. Circular RNA (circRNA) has been discovered in the heart in increasing numbers of studies. The goal of this research is to learn more about the potential roles of circRNAs in HF. METHODS & RESULTS: We used RNA sequencing data to identify the characteristics of circRNAs expressed in the heart and discovered that the majority of circRNAs screened were less than 2000 nt. Additionally, chromosomes One and Y had the most and least number of circRNAs, respectively. After excluding duplicate host genes and intergenic circRNAs, a total of 238 differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) and 203 host genes were discovered. However, only four of the 203 host genes of DECs were examined in HF differentially expressed genes. Another study used Gene Oncology analysis of DECs host genes to elucidate the underlying pathogenesis of HF, and it found that binding and catalytic activity accounted for a large portion of DECs. Immune system, metabolism, and signal transduction pathways were significantly enriched. Furthermore, 1052 potentially regulated miRNAs from the top 40 DECs were collected to build a circRNA-miRNA network, and it was discovered that 470 miRNAs can be regulated by multiple circRNAs, while others are regulated by a single circRNA. In addition, a comparison of the top 10 mRNAs in HF and their targeted miRNAs revealed that DDX3Y and UTY were regulated by the most and least circRNA, respectively. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrated circRNAs have species and tissue specific expression patterns; while circRNA expression is independent on host genes, the same types of genes in DECs and DEGs worked in HF. Our findings would contribute to a better understanding of the critical roles of circRNAs and lay the groundwork for future studies of HF molecular functions.

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hypertension among adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and to provide clues for exploring the role of genetic and environmental factors on hypertension. Methods: A total of 69 220 (34 610 pairs) of twins aged 18 and above with hypertension information were selected from CNTR registered from 2010 to 2018. Random effect models were used to describe the population and regional distribution of hypertension in twins. To estimate the heritability, the concordance rates of hypertension were calculated and compared between monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ). Results: The age of all participants was (34.1±12.4) years. The overall self-reported prevalence of hypertension was 3.8%(2 610/69 220). Twin pairs who were older, living in urban areas, married, overweight or obese, current smokers or ex-smokers, and current drinkers or abstainers had a higher self-reported prevalence of hypertension (P<0.05). Analysis within the same-sex twin pairs found that the concordance rate of hypertension was 43.2% in MZ and 27.0% in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The heritability of hypertension was 22.1% (95%CI: 16.3%- 28.0%). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hypertension in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. The heritability of hypertension was higher in female participants. Conclusions: There were differences in the distribution of hypertension among twins with different demographic and regional characteristics. It is indicated that genetic factors play a crucial role in hypertension in different genders, ages, and regions, while the magnitude of genetic effects may vary.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Alcohol Drinking ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Hypertension/genetics* ; Twins, Dizygotic/genetics* ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of hyperlipidemia in adult twins in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and explore the effect of genetic and environmental factors on hyperlipidemia. Methods: Twins recruited from the CNTR in 11 project areas across China were included in the study. A total of 69 130 (34 565 pairs) of adult twins with complete information on hyperlipidemia were selected for analysis. The random effect model was used to characterize the population and regional distribution of hyperlipidemia among twins. The concordance rates of hyperlipidemia were calculated in monozygotic twins (MZ) and dizygotic twins (DZ), respectively, to estimate the heritability. Results: The age of all participants was (34.2±12.4) years. This study's prevalence of hyperlipidemia was 1.3% (895/69 130). Twin pairs who were men, older, living in urban areas, married,had junior college degree or above, overweight, obese, insufficient physical activity, current smokers, ex-smokers, current drinkers, and ex-drinkers had a higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (P<0.05). In within-pair analysis, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia was 29.1% (118/405) in MZ and 18.1% (57/315) in DZ, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Stratified by gender, age, and region, the concordance rate of hyperlipidemia in MZ was still higher than that in DZ. Further, in within-same-sex twin pair analyses, the heritability of hyperlipidemia was 13.04% (95%CI: 2.61%-23.47%) in the northern group and 18.59% (95%CI: 4.43%-32.74%) in the female group, respectively. Conclusions: Adult twins were included in this study and were found to have a lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia than in the general population study, with population and regional differences. Genetic factors influence hyperlipidemia, but the genetic effect may vary with gender and area.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Hyperlipidemias/genetics* ; Metabolic Diseases ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed at investigating the carrier rate of, and molecular variation in, α- and β-globin gene mutations in Hunan Province. METHODS: We recruited 25,946 individuals attending premarital screening from 42 districts and counties in all 14 cities of Hunan Province. Hematological screening was performed, and molecular parameters were assessed. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of thalassemia was 7.1%, including 4.83% for α-thalassemia, 2.15% for β-thalassemia, and 0.12% for both α- and β-thalassemia. The highest carrier rate of thalassemia was in Yongzhou (14.57%). The most abundant genotype of α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia was -α ^3.7/αα (50.23%) and β ^IVS-II-654/β ^N (28.23%), respectively. Four α-globin mutations [CD108 (ACC>AAC), CAP +29 (G>C), Hb Agrinio and Hb Cervantes] and six β-globin mutations [CAP +8 (C>T), IVS-II-848 (C>T), -56 (G>C), beta nt-77 (G>C), codon 20/21 (-TGGA) and Hb Knossos] had not previously been identified in China. Furthermore, this study provides the first report of the carrier rates of abnormal hemoglobin variants and α-globin triplication in Hunan Province, which were 0.49% and 1.99%, respectively. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the high complexity and diversity of thalassemia gene mutations in the Hunan population. The results should facilitate genetic counselling and the prevention of severe thalassemia in this region.
Humans ; beta-Thalassemia/genetics* ; alpha-Thalassemia/genetics* ; Hemoglobinopathies/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of tea consumption in adult twins recruited in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR) and provide clues to genetic and environmental influences on tea consumption. Methods: Enrolled in CNTR during 2010-2018, 25 264 twin pairs aged 18 years and above were included in subsequent analysis. Random effect models were used to estimate tea consumption in the population and regional distribution characteristics. The concordance rate of the behavior and difference in consumption volume of tea within pairs were also described. Results: The mean age of all subjects was (35.38±12.45) years old. The weekly tea consumers accounted for 17.0%, with an average tea consumption of (3.36±2.44) cups per day. The proportion of weekly tea consumers was higher among males, 50-59 years old, southern, urban, educated, and the first-born in the twin pair (P<0.05), and lower among unmarried individuals (P<0.001). Within-pair analysis showed that the concordance rate of tea consumption of monozygotic (MZ) twins was higher than that of dizygotic (DZ) twins and the overall heritability of tea consumption was 13.45% (11.38%-15.51%). Stratified by the characteristics mentioned above, only in males, the concordance rate of MZ showed a tendency to be greater than that of DZ (all P<0.05). The differences in consumption volume of tea within twin pairs were minor in MZ among males (P<0.05), while the differences were not significant in female twins. Conclusion: There were discrepancies in the distribution of tea consumption among twins of different demographic and regional characteristics. Tea consumption was mainly influenced by environmental factors and slightly influenced by genetic factors. The size of genetic factors varied with gender, age, and region, and gender was a potential modified factor.
Adult ; China ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tea ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic ; Young Adult

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of type 2 diabetes in twins in Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR), provide clues and evidence for revealing the influence of genetic and environmental factors for type 2 diabetes. Methods: Of all twins registered in the CNTR during 2010-2018, a total 18 855 twin pairs aged ≥30 years with complete registration information were included in the analysis. The random effect model was used to describe the population and area distribution characteristics and concordance of type 2 diabetes in twin pairs. Results: The mean age of the subjects was (42.8±10.2) years, the study subjects included 10 339 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and 8 516 dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs. The self-reported prevalence rate of type 2 diabetes was 2.2% in total population and there was no sighificant difference between MZ and DZ. Intra-twin pairs analysis showed that the concordance rate of type 2 diabetes was 38.2% in MZ twin pairs, and 16.0% in DZ twin pairs, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The concordance rate of type 2 diabetes in MZ twin parts was higher than that in DZ twin pairs in both men and women, in different age groups and in different areas (P<0.05). Further stratified analysis showed that in northern China, only MZ twin pairs less than 60 years old were found to have a higher concordance rate of type 2 diabetes compared with DZ twin pairs (P<0.05). In southern China, the co-prevalence rate in male MZ twin pairs aged ≥60 years was still higher than that in DZ twin pairs (P<0.05). Conclusion: The twin pairs in this study had a lower self-reported prevalence of type 2 diabetes than the general population. The study results suggested that genetic factors play a role in type 2 diabetes prevalence in both men and women, in different age groups and in different areas, however, the effect might vary.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics* ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Registries ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

Objective: To describe the distribution characteristics of coronary heart disease in adult twins recruited from Chinese Twin Registry (CNTR), and provide clues and evidence for the effect of genetic and environmental influences on coronary heart disease. Methods: By using the data of CNTR during 2010-2018, a total of 34 583 twin pairs aged ≥18 years who completed questionnaire survey and had related information were included in the current study to analyze the population and area distribution characteristics of coronary heart disease. Random effect models were used to compare the differences between groups. The concordane rate of coronary heart disease were calculated respectively in monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs and dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs to estimate the heritability. Results: The twin pairs included in this analysis were aged (34.2±12.4) years. The overall prevalence rate of coronary heart disease in twin pairs was 0.7%. Twin pairs who were women, older, obese and lived in northern China had higher prevalence of coronary heart disease (P<0.05). Intra-pair analysis in the same-sex twin pairs found that the concordane rate of coronary heart disease was higher in MZ twin pairs (25.3%) than in DZ twins (7.4%), and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). The overall heritability of coronary heart disease was 19.3% (95%CI: 11.8%-26.8%). Stratified by gender, age and area, the concordane rate was still higher in MZ twin pairs than in DZ pairs. Participants who were women, aged 18-30 years or ≥60 years and lived in northern China had a higher heritability of coronary heart disease. Conclusion: The distribution of coronary heart disease in twin pairs differed in populations and areas. The prevalence of coronary heart disease was affected by genetic factors, but the effect varied with age, gender and area.
Adolescent ; Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Coronary Disease/genetics* ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic/genetics*

Objective: To explore the gene-lifestyle interaction on coronary heart disease (CHD) in adult twins of China. Methods: Participants were selected from twin pairs registered in the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR). Univariate interaction model was used to estimate the interaction, via exploring the moderation effect of lifestyle on the genetic variance of CHD. Results: A total of 20 477 same-sex twin pairs aged ≥25 years were recruited, including 395 CHD cases, and 66 twin pairs both had CHD. After adjustment for age and sex, no moderation effects of lifestyles, including current smoking, current drinking, physical activity, intake of vegetable and fruit, on the genetic variance of CHD were found (P>0.05), suggesting no significant interactions. Conclusion: There was no evidence suggesting statistically significant gene-lifestyle interaction on CHD in adult twins of China.
Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Coronary Disease/genetics* ; Diseases in Twins/genetics* ; Humans ; Life Style ; Twins/genetics* ; Twins, Dizygotic ; Twins, Monozygotic

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of protein kinase B （Akt） overexpression in the inhibition of human bladder cancer 5637 cell proliferation by erianin and related mechanisms. MethodThe 5637 cells stably over-expressing Akt were induced using the lentivirus vector. The 5637 cells infected with the empty vector were classified into blank group. Then the Akt group， empty vector combined with erianin （62.5 μg·L^-1） group， and Akt combined with erianin （62.5 μg·L^-1） group were set up. The cell viability was detected by cell counting kit-8 （CCK-8） assay， and the clone formation of 5637 cells in each group was determined in the clone formation experiment. The cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot was used to assay the protein expression levels of phosphorylated （p）-Akt， Akt， p21. The glycolysis of 5637 cells was determined in glucose uptake and lactate secretion assays. ResultCompared with the blank group， erianin inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Overexpression of Akt partially reversed the inhibitory effect of erianin on the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Clone formation assay showed that erianin inhibited the clone formation of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）， which was partially reversed by the overexpressed Akt （P<0.05）. As revealed by comparison with the blank group， erianin arrested the bladder cancer 5637 cells in G₁ phase （P<0.05）， which was also reversed by the overexpressed Akt （P<0.05）. Western bolt showed that erianin promoted the expression of p21 but suppressed the expression of p-Akt and Akt （P<0.05）. By contrast， the overexpression of Akt down-regulated the elevated p21 protein expression induced by erianin （P<0.05）. Compared with the blank group， erianin inhibited the glucose uptake and lactate secretion of bladder cancer 5637 cells （P<0.05）. Overexpression of Akt weakened the inhibitory effect of erianin against the glycolysis of 5637 cells （P<0.05）. ConclusionErianin is able to inhibit the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells， promote the expression of p21， and inhibit the expression of p-Akt. Overexpressed Akt reduces the inhibitory effect of erianin on the proliferation of bladder cancer 5637 cells， suggesting that Akt plays an important role in the inhibition of 5637 cell proliferation by erianin， which has provided a new target for the application of erianin in the treatment of bladder cancer.

Objective: Prior pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) on chest X-ray (CXR) was commonly found in infertile patients receiving examinations before Method: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 14,254 infertile patients who had received IVF-ET at Peking University Third Hospital in 2017. Prior PTB was defined as the presence of signs suggestive of old or inactive PTB on CXR, with or without a clinical TB history. Patients who had prior PTB on CXR but had not received a clinical diagnosis and anti-TB therapy were included for analysis. Live birth, clinical pregnancy, and miscarriage rates were compared between the untreated PTB and non-PTB groups. Results: The untreated PTB group had significantly lower clinical pregnancy (31.7% Conclusions Untreated PTB was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes after IVF-ET, especially in patients with unexplained infertility, highlighting the clinical significance of PTB in this specific patient population.
Abortion, Spontaneous/epidemiology* ; Adult ; China/epidemiology* ; Embryo Transfer/statistics & numerical data* ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro/statistics & numerical data* ; Humans ; Infertility, Female/etiology* ; Live Birth/epidemiology* ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/epidemiology* ; Pregnancy Outcome/epidemiology* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/epidemiology* ; Young Adult