The development of any organism is a complex dynamic process that is controlled by a network of genes as well as by environmental factors. Traditional mapping approaches for analysing phenotypic data measured at a single time point are too simple to reveal the genetic control of developmental processes. A general statistical mapping framework, called functional mapping, has been proposed to characterize, in a single step, the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) or nucleotides (QTNs) that underlie a complex dynamic trait. Functional mapping estimates mathematical parameters that describe the developmental mechanisms of trait formation and expression for each QTL or QTN. The approach provides a useful quantitative and testable framework for assessing the interplay between gene actions or interactions and developmental changes.

Patients with BP are more likely to have various neurological diseases, schizophrenia and psoriasis prior to the diagnosis of BP, supporting associations found in other studies. Further research is required to elucidate the tentative causal association with BP.

Background-There are limited contemporary data comparing long-term outcomes after cardiac catheterization for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI). Methods and Results-We studied patients undergoing cardiac catheterization for STEMI (nϭ2413) and NSTEMI (nϭ1974) between 1999 and 2005 with at least 1 significant coronary lesion Ն75%. We compared adjusted mortality rates over restricted time intervals and the differential impact of early revascularization on mortality stratified by ST-elevation status. Between 1999Between and 2007Between , 1274 patients died, with a median follow-up of 4 years. A piece-wise analysis showed a higher adjusted mortality risk for STEMI during the first 2 months (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.45 to 2.38) and a lower adjusted mortality risk for STEMI after 2 months (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% confidence interval, 0.59 to 0.83). Compared with late or no revascularization, early revascularization was associated with a lower adjusted risk of mortality for both STEMI (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.58 to 0.90) and NSTEMI (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.76; 95% confidence interval, 0.65 to 0.89) (P for interactionϭ0.22). Conclusions-Among a contemporary cohort of acute MI patients with significant coronary disease during cardiac catheterization, STEMI was associated with a higher risk of short-term mortality, but NSTEMI was associated with a higher risk of long-term mortality. Early revascularization was associated with a similar improvement in long-term outcomes for both STEMI and NSTEMI. These data suggest that in clinical investigations of early revascularization among patients with NSTEMI, extended follow-up may be necessary to demonstrate treatment benefit. (Circulation. 2009;119:3110-3117.)Key Words: acute coronary syndrome Ⅲ angioplasty Ⅲ catheterization Ⅲ coronary disease Ⅲ electrocardiography Ⅲ myocardial infarction Ⅲ revascularization M yocardial infarction (MI) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. 1 ST-elevation MI (STEMI) is associated with a higher incidence of persistent and total coronary occlusion, whereas non-STEMI (NSTEMI) is associated with a greater severity and burden of coronary artery disease (CAD). 2 The contemporary definition of MI, introduced in 1999 3 and revised in 2007 4 , focused on circulating biomarkers, predominantly troponin, that detect myocardial necrosis with high sensitivity. However, most of the prior studies that investigated long-term outcomes on the basis of MI classification focused on non-Q-wave MI versus Q-wave MI comparisons, 5-20 whereas fewer contemporary studies have used the newer troponin-based MI definition and classification system (STEMI versus NSTEMI). [21][22][23][24] Clinical Perspective on p 3117Several other potential differences exist between patients in current practice and those in historical studies. In contemporary practice, the diagnosis is often based on a history of chest pain and elevated biomarkers rather than ECG finding...