Aims: The aims of this paper were to examine the association between gene polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) A66G with levels of plasma folate and tHcy. Methods:Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained from 143 pregnant women, who had been fasted for more than 10 hours. Plasma tHcy and folate concentrations were measured in plasma specimens. The genotypes for polymorphisms were identified by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Results:Our results demonstrated that MTHFR 677T allele was the predictors of plasma folate levels in pregnant women. While MTHFR 677TT genotype and MTRR 66G allele were the predictors of plasma tHcy concentrations. Plasma folate levels were negatively correlated with tHcy concentrations (Pearson's correlation coefficient r=-0.358, p=0.000012). With the increase of gestational weeks, the levels of plasma folate was first risen and then fall, whereas, there was a downtrend between gestational weeks and tHcy levels. Conclusion:Plasma folate status and total homocysteine level associated with MTHFR C677T and MTRR A66G gene polymorphisms in pregnant women. According to our study, the pregnant women of homozygous mutation of MTHFR 677TT and/or MTRR 66GG genes generally have lower levels of folate. Therefore, we recommend that pregnant women with 677TT and 66GG genotypes should supplement the appropriate dosage of folic acid based on their genotypes.

A self-assembled ZnO tail-like cluster (TC) had been successfully synthesized by a simple chemical vapor deposition method. Scanning electron microscopy observations show that ZnO TC is composed of bushy ZnO microwires with flower-shaped cross sections. Long and narrow furrows can be clearly observed on the surface of the ZnO TC. A possible growth model is proposed to discuss the formation mechanism. The analytical result indicates that the flower-shaped ZnO microwires are formed by the lateral coalescence of ZnO wires at high temperature. The room temperature PL spectrum shows a prominent UV emission band around 380 nm, and no green emission is found, implying that the unique flower-shaped ZnO microwires have high optical quality. This controlled growth of ZnO TC may have implication for potential applications in novel optoelectronic micro/nanodevices in the near future.