MAD1L1 and TSNARE gene polymorphisms are associated with schizophrenia susceptibility in the Han Chinese population

Background Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a severe mental illness with high heritability. This study aimed to explore the correlation between MAD1L1, TSNARE polymorphisms and SCZ susceptibility. Methods A total of 493 SCZ patients and 493 healthy controls were included. The genotypes of MAD1L1 and TSNARE polymorphisms were identified by Agena MassARRAY platform. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were tested via logistic regression analysis in multiple genetic models and different subgroups. Results We observed that AG genotype of rs1107592, AG genotype of rs4976976, and CA genotype of rs67756423 decreased the susceptibility to SCZ (p < 0.05). Age stratification analysis showed that the TC genotype of rs12666575, AG genotype of rs1107592, and AG genotype of rs4976976 decreased the risk of SCZ individuals older than 36 years (p < 0.05). In addition, the AG and AA genotype of rs4976976, the CA genotype of rs67756423 were associated with a lower risk of SCZ in males (p < 0.05). In females, the TT genotype of rs12666575 in recessive model, the AG and AA-AG genotype of rs1107592 in heterozygote and dominant model, could reduce the susceptibility to SCZ (p < 0.05). However, no significant association was found after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions Our results suggest that MAD1L1 and TSNARE genetic polymorphisms exert a protective role in the risk of SCZ. These findings provide evidence that MAD1L1 and TSNARE may serve as potential biomarkers of SCZ. However, a replication experiment in a cohort with large sample size are required to confirm our findings. Trial registration Not applicable.

Association of MACC1 expression with lymphatic metastasis in colorectal cancer: A nested case-control study

MACC1 gene is a newly discovered gene and plays an important role in the metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). The objective of this study was to investigate whether MACC1 is an independent factor associated with lymphatic metastasis in CRC patients. We analyzed the association between MACC1 expression and lymphatic metastasis in a nested case-control study including 99 cases and 198 matched controls in CRC patients, assessed from August 2001 to March 2015. Cases were defined as lymphatic metastasis and non-lymphatic metastasis according to AJCC TNM stages; for each case, two age-matched control without lymphatic and distant metastasis was randomly selected from the study participants. Demographic, variables about metastasis and MACC1 expression were collected. In multivariate analysis, the OR (95% CI) of MACC1 expression was 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) in patients with lymphatic metastasis versus non-lymphatic metastasis after adjusting all variables. After adjustment for all variables and age stratification, MACC1 expression was found to be an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis in the middle-aged group (OR 2.1, 95%CI 1.1–4.0). A nonlinear relationship between MACC1 expression and 64–75 age group was observed. The probability of metastasis slightly increased with the MACC1 level lower than turning point 1.4. At the same time, the probability of lymphatic metastasis was obviously increased even after adjusting all variables when MACC1 level higher than 1.4 (OR 11.2, 95% CI 1.5–81.5; p = 0.017) in the middle age group. The expression of MACC1 was not associated with lymphatic metastasis in populations younger than 64 or older than 75. The results demonstrates that increased MACC1 level in 64–75 age group might be associated with lymphatic metastasis in CRC patients.

OpenABM-Covid19—An agent-based model for non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 including contact tracing

SARS-CoV-2 has spread across the world, causing high mortality and unprecedented restrictions on social and economic activity. Policymakers are assessing how best to navigate through the ongoing epidemic, with computational models being used to predict the spread of infection and assess the impact of public health measures. Here, we present OpenABM-Covid19: an agent-based simulation of the epidemic including detailed age-stratification and realistic social networks. By default the model is parameterised to UK demographics and calibrated to the UK epidemic, however, it can easily be re-parameterised for other countries. OpenABM-Covid19 can evaluate non-pharmaceutical interventions, including both manual and digital contact tracing, and vaccination programmes. It can simulate a population of 1 million people in seconds per day, allowing parameter sweeps and formal statistical model-based inference. The code is open-source and has been developed by teams both inside and outside academia, with an emphasis on formal testing, documentation, modularity and transparency. A key feature of OpenABM-Covid19 are its Python and R interfaces, which has allowed scientists and policymakers to simulate dynamic packages of interventions and help compare options to suppress the COVID-19 epidemic.

Hyperuricemia Is an Independent Risk Factor of the Erectile Dysfunction: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background and Aims: Serum uric acid can affect endothelial function, and hyperuricemia-induced endothelial dysfunction is involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. As endothelial dysfunction is also a main pathogenic mechanism of erectile dysfunction (ED), the present study aims to evaluate the relationship between hyperuricemia and ED via systemic review and meta-analysis.Methods: Five cohort studies and five cross-sectional studies on hyperuricemia and ED, including a total of 454256 participants, were recruited. Odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were adopted to estimate the relationship between hyperuricemia and ED. Overall risk were effects of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) analyzed. In addition, subgroup analyses on study design, populations, age stratification and the object were conducted.Results: In the patients with hyperuricemia, the risk of ED was 1.55-fold higher than (pooled OR=1.55, 95%CI (1.24,1.94)) the non-hyperuricemia counterparts. urate-lowing therapy (ULT) in these hyperuricemia patients reduced the risk of ED by 27% (OR=1.27, 95%CI (1.14,1.41)). After subgroup analysis and meta-regression, the association between hyperuricemia and ED remained significant apart from in the ≥55y subgroup.Conclusions: Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor of ED, while ULT can reduce the risk of ED in hyperuricemia. This study suggests that hyperuricemia-associated endothelial dysfunction may also underlie the pathogenesis of ED in these patients.

The association between polymorphisms in long non-coding RNA and lung cancer in non-smoking women

Background The relationship between long non-coding RNA and lung cancer has become a research hotspot. Methods Four polymorphisms, including rs10188946, rs11246867, rs2288947, and rs8105637 were evaluated in 556 patients with lung cancer and 395 age-matched controls in the present study. Results This study showed that the associations of the four polymorphisms of long non-coding RNA with the risks of lung cancer were not statistically significant. In the age stratification study, AG of rs2288947 was associated with the reduce risk of both lung cancer and adenocarcinoma (OR = 0.597,P = 0.017 and OR = 0.506, P = 0.005,respectively), and AG of rs8105637 was also protected both lung cancer and adenocarcinoma (OR = 0.636,P = 0.037and OR = 0.577, P = 0.023,respectively). We found that when the risk genotypes of the three SNPs rs10188946, rs11246867, rs2288947 and oil exposure worked together, the risk of lung cancer was higher than either of these two risk factors acted alone. Conclusions Four polymorphisms (including rs10188946, rs11246867, rs2288947, and rs8105637) were not associated with lung cancer risks in the present study. After age stratification, rs2288947 and rs8105637 were associated with the risks of lung cancer and adenocarcinoma among the individuals older than 60.

ELDERLY WOMAN IN KARELIAN TRADITIONAL CULTURE: AGE BOUNDARIES AND SOCIOCULTURAL STATUS

To a larger extend than in case of a man the transition of a woman from one socio-age status to another in traditional culture was connected with her physiological changes. Stages of growing-up and ageing which were similar in many societies were regulated by the means of local tradition. It included complex of rights and obligations, restrictions and opportunities, which were determined by a combination of climatic, socioeconomic, cultural, religious, ethnic and other factors. The focus of the paper is to identify the universal and the ethnically specific traits in the scenarios of women aging in Karelian culture. Research purposes included consideration of issues about the old age limits, the field of female socio- age stratification terminology, the matter of sociocultural status, limitations and opportunities for Karelian women within and outside the family. The study observes the period of the late XIX - early XX century. The territorial framework is outlined by the boundaries of the Karelian population dwelling in the Olonets and Arkhangelsk provinces (the part of the Republic of Karelia in present). The authors conclude that late maturity was an important milestone in the life of Karelian woman. Normative role was growing, hierarchical relations in the family were redefined. However, the life of an elderly woman was not limited to family affairs. Participation in life cycle ceremonies, religious and missionary activities was a symbolic resource of the Karelian women in rural society and could be converted into revenue.