No abstract

A b s t r a c tBackground and aim: Dyslipidaemia is the main risk factor for coronary heart disease (CHD). Plasma lipid levels are conventionally used to predict coronary risk globally, but further studies are required to investigate whether the lipoprotein ratios are superior to conventional lipid parameters as predictors for CHD. Methods:A hospital-based case-control study consisting of 738 CHD patients and 157 control subjects was conducted in a Chinese Han population. Demographic characteristics and plasma lipid or apolipoprotein data were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to examine the relationship between the lipoprotein ratios and CHD risk. Results:The CHD group had significantly higher age, non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], triglyceride (TG)/HDL-C, total cholesterol (TC)/HDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/HDL-C, non-HDL-C/HDL-C, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)/HDL-C, and apolipoprotein B100/apolipoprotein AI (apoB100/apoAI) than the control group (p < 0.05 for all). Moreover, the prevalence of male sex, smoking, and hypertension in the CHD group was significantly higher than in the control group. The results from univariate logistic regression analysis showed that the ratios of TC/HDL-C (OR 1.135, 95% CI 1.019-1.265), LDL-C/HDL-C (OR 1.216, 95% CI 1.033-1.431), non-HDL-C/HDL-C (OR 1.135, 95% CI 1.019-1.265), and apoB100/apoAI (OR 1.966, 95% CI 1.013-3.817) significantly increased the risk for CHD. By multivariate logistic regression analysis, the results were not materially altered and each of the four ratios was independently associated with CHD after adjustment for non-lipid coronary risk factors. ApoB100/apoAI showed the strongest association with CHD in both the univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Conclusions:Our data indicate that the lipoprotein ratios are superior to conventional lipid parameters as predictors for CHD. Of the ratios, apoB100/apoAI is the best to predict CHD risk.

Acer truncatum (purpleblow maple) is a woody tree species that produces seeds with high levels of valuable fatty acids (especially nervonic acid). However, the lack of a complete genome sequence has limited both basic and applied research on A. truncatum. We describe a high-quality draft genome assembly comprising 633.28 Mb (contig N50 = 773.17 kb; scaffold N50 = 46.36 Mb) with at least 28 438 predicted genes. The genome underwent an ancient triplication, similar to the core eudicots, but there have been no recent wholegenome duplication events. Acer yangbiense and A. truncatum are estimated to have diverged about 9.4 million years ago. A combined genomic, transcriptomic, metabonomic, and cell ultrastructural analysis provided new insights into the biosynthesis of very long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids. In addition, three KCS genes were found that may contribute to regulating nervonic acid biosynthesis. The KCS paralogous gene family expanded to 28 members, with 10 genes clustered together and distributed in the 0.27-Mb region of pseudochromosome 4. Our chromosome-scale genomic characterization may facilitate the discovery of agronomically important genes and stimulate functional genetic research on A. truncatum. Furthermore, the data presented also offer important foundations from which to study the molecular mechanisms influencing the production of nervonic acids.

Influenza Influenza viruses are classified as genera A, B, and C, in accordance with the antigenic differences in their nucleoproteins (NP) and matrix 1 (M1) proteins (28). Influenza A (IAV) and B (IBV) viruses can result in severe upper respiratory disease in humans, while influenza C viruses (ICV) cause relatively mild disease (9, 23). Among influenza viruses, IAV and IBV are very similar in terms of genome structure and organization. IBV, along with influenza A(H3N2) and A(H1N1) viruses [including A(H1N1)pdm09 virus], cause seasonal influenza epidemics annually (9, 23). In the United States alone during 1976 to 2007, approximately 3,000 to 49,000 deaths each year have been attributed to these epidemics (42). Some reports indicate that in older children and healthy adults, influenza A(H3N2) virus is responsible for the most severe cases, followed by IBV, while influenza A(H1N1) virus infections tend to manifest as the mildest cases of illness (1,5,23,25). In some seasons, however, IBV may be the predominate strain responsible for influenza activities. This was best exemplified by the 1979-1980 season, in which IBV was the predominant strain circulating in the United States; therefore, it was responsible for influenza outbreaks and excess pneumonia and influenza deaths nationwide (39). Furthermore, IBV has been reported to be associated with central nervous system complications, such as Reye's syndrome and encephalitis in children (1).IBVs continue to circulate worldwide alongside IAVs. Actively circulating IBVs are divided into two genetically and antigenically

Background Acer truncatum (purpleblow maple) is a woody tree species that produces seeds with high levels of valuable fatty acids (especially nervonic acid). The species is admired as a landscape plant with high developmental prospects and scientific research value. The A. truncatum chloroplast genome has recently been reported; however, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) is still unexplored. Results We characterized the A. truncatum mitogenome, which was assembled using reads from PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms, performed a comparative analysis against different species of Acer. The circular mitogenome of A. truncatum has a length of 791,052 bp, with a base composition of 27.11% A, 27.21% T, 22.79% G, and 22.89% C. The A. truncatum mitogenome contains 62 genes, including 35 protein-coding genes, 23 tRNA genes and 4 rRNA genes. We also examined codon usage, sequence repeats, RNA editing and selective pressure in the A. truncatum mitogenome. To determine the evolutionary and taxonomic status of A. truncatum, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on the mitogenomes of A. truncatum and 25 other taxa. In addition, the gene migration from chloroplast and nuclear genomes to the mitogenome were analyzed. Finally, we developed a novel NAD1 intron indel marker for distinguishing several Acer species. Conclusions In this study, we assembled and annotated the mitogenome of A. truncatum, a woody oil-tree species producing nervonic acid. The results of our analyses provide comprehensive information on the A. truncatum mitogenome, which would facilitate evolutionary research and molecular barcoding in Acer.