Resumo: O mecanismo de promoção da germinação de sementes de trigo por Bacillus subtilis tem sido bastante estudado. A taxa de germinação e a atividade de α-amilase de sementes de trigo foram significativamente aumentadas após a germinação com Bacillus subtilis QM3 neste estudo. Um inibidor e um promotor de α-amilase foram utilizados para estudar a relação entre bactérias e α-amilase. Em comparação com o grupo inibidor (10 mmol.L-1 EDTA), a atividade da α-amilase das sementes tratadas com B. subtilis QM3 (106 CFU.mL-1) aumentou 19,8%, indicando que a inibição foi reduzida. Da mesma forma, a atividade da α-amilase do grupo co-tratado (2 mmol.L-1 CaCl2 e 106 UFC.mL-1 B. subtilis QM3) foi superior à do promotor sozinho, chegando a 14,9%. Além disso, os resultados da eletroforese da isoenzima α-amilase mostraram que havia três tipos de isoenzimas nos géis, e a expressão da isoenzima α-amilase foi significativamente aumentada após o tratamento com B. subtilis QM3 (106 UFC.mL-1), o que se refletiu principalmente na largura e brilho das bandas, especialmente Cα. Além disso, a taxa de germinação, atividade de α-amilase e eletroforese de isoenzimas de outros três tipos de sementes de trigo também foram testados e resultados semelhantes foram obtidos. Portanto, um dos possíveis mecanismos pelos quais B. subtilis QM3 promove a germinação de sementes é como um potencial fator exógeno que pode aumentar a atividade e a expressão da α-amilase.

Abstract: The mechanism of promoting wheat seed germination by Bacillus subtilis has been paid great attention by many scholars. The germination rate and α-amylase activity of wheat seeds were significantly increased after germinating with Bacillus subtilis QM3 in this paper. Inhibitor and promoter of α-amylase were used to study relationship between bacteria and α-amylase. Compared with inhibitor group (10 mmol.L-1 EDTA), α-amylase activity of seeds treated by B. subtilis QM3 (106 CFU.mL-1) increased by 19.8%. It indicates that the inhibition has been alleviated. Similarly, α-amylase activity of co-treated group (2 mmol.L-1 CaCl2 and 106 CFU.mL-1 B. subtilis QM3) was higher than that of the promoter alone, reaching 14.9%. Furthermore, the results of α-amylase isozyme electrophoresis showed that there were three isozyme types in the gels, and the expression of α-amylase isoenzyme was significantly increased after treatment with B. subtilis QM3 (106 CFUmL.-1), which was reflected in the width and brightness of band mainly, especially band Cα. In addition, germination rate, α-amylase activity and isozyme electrophoresis of other three kinds of wheat seeds were also tested and similar results were obtained. Therefore, one of the possible mechanisms by which B. subtilis QM3 promotes seed germination is as a potential exogenous factor that can enhance activity and expression of α-amylase.

Abstract Cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40), the receptor for CD154, is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily. Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of the CD40 rs1883832 polymorphism on atherosclerotic disease in different population; however, inconsistent results were obtained. In this study, we investigated the association of four polymorphisms (rs1883832, rs13040307, rs752118 and rs3765459) of CD40 gene and their effect on CD40 expression with the risk of ischemic stroke (IS) in a Chinese population. Three hundred and eighty patients with IS and 450 control subjects were included in the study. The CD40 polymorphisms were discriminated by Snapshot SNP genotyping assay. Serum soluble CD40 (sCD40) levels were detected by ELISA. We found that the rs1883832CT and rs1883832TT genotypes were associated with an increased risk of IS compared with the rs1883832CC genotype (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.03–1.95, p = 0.030 and OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.29–2.82, P = 0.001, respectively), and the rs1883832T allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of IS compared with rs1883832C allele (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15–1.70, P = 0.001). Elevated serum sCD40 levels were observed in patients with IS compared with the control gropu (P < 0.01). Individuals carrying the rs1883832TT or rs1883832CT genotypes showed significantly higher sCD40 levels compared with the rs1883832CC genotype in the IS group [(64.8 ± 25.4 pg/mL, TT = 94); (63.9 ± 24.3 pg/mL, CT = 185) vs (53.3 ± 22.5 pg/mL, CC = 101), P < 0.01]. The TCCA haplotype was associated with an increased risk of IS compared with the control group (OR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.23–3.58, p = 0.005). However, we did not find a significant association between the other three polymorphisms and IS risk. In conclusion, after a comprehensive comparison with other studies, we confirmed that the rs1883832T allele but not the rs1883832C allele is associated with an increased risk of IS. The rs1883832 polymorphism may exert influences on abnormal CD40 expression in IS patients among the Chinese population.

The objective of this study was to construct three-dimensional (3D) images of premolars to measure the length, surface area and volume of crown and root and to analyze the mathematical relation among crown-to-root ratios in terms of length, surface area and volume. Twenty-five premolars were scanned using micro-computed tomography (micro CT) in vitro to build 3D models. The long axis and enamelo-cemental junction of each tooth were determined with the help of Geomagic Studio software, and the length, surface and volume of crown and root were measured. The crown-to-root ratios in terms of length, surface and volume were calculated and the relationship among length, surface area and volume of crown and root as well their ratios were analyzed using SPSS software. The interrelationship among crown length (x), surface area (y) and volume (z) could be expressed as z= -808.2 0+ 124.80x +3.35y -5.59x2-0.14xy+3.47y 2*10-4 (R2 = 0.99) and that of root length (x1), surface area (y1) and volume (z1), as z1= -207.50 +13.87x1+1.75y1 + 5.03x12*10-2-8.05x 1y1 *10-2+ 2.58*10-3y12 (R2 = 0.93) . The correlation among crown-to-root ratio in length(x2), crown-to-root ratio in surface area (y2) and crown-to-root ratio in volume (z2) could be expressed in z2= -4.48*10-2 -1.25x2*10-2+1.20y2 + 3.29x22-5.05x2y2 + 2.00y22 (R2 = 0.96). The length, surface area and volume of crown and root of premolars share a close relationship, while, a definite mathematical relation could be observed amongst their ratios. Crown to root ratio in terms of length, surface and volume, may provide a novel multi-criterion method for evaluating tooth function.

El objetivo de este estudio fue construir imágenes tridimensionales (3D) de los dientes premolares para medir la longitud, superficie y volumen de la corona y raíz, junto con analizar la relación matemática entre las proporciones de la corona a la raíz en términos de longitud, superficie y volumen. Veinticinco premolares fueron escaneados mediante microtomografía computadorizada (microTC) in vitro para construir modelos en 3D. Con el software Geomagic se determinaron el eje y la unión amelo-cementaria de cada diente, y se midieron la longitud, superficie y volumen de la corona y la raíz de los dientes premolares. Con el programa SPSS se calcularon y analizaron las proporciones de la corona a la raíz en términos de longitud, superficie y volumen y la relación entre la longitud, superficie y volumen de la corona y de la raíz. La interrelación entre la longitud de la corona (x), superficie (y) y el volumen (z) puede ser expresado como z= -808,2 0+ 124,80x + 3,35y -5,59x2-0,14xy + 3.47y2*10-4 (R2= 0,99) y la de longitud de la raíz (x1), área de superficie (y1) y el volumen (z1), como z1= -207,50 + 13.87x1 + 1.75y1 + 5.03x12 * 10-2-8.05x1y1 * 10-2 + 2,58 * 10-3y12 (R2= 0,93). La correlación entre la relación de corona a raíz en longitud (x2), la relación corona a raíz en superficie (y2) y la relación corona a raíz en volumen (Z2) podría expresarse en z2 = -4,48 * 10-2 * 10-2 -1.25x2 + 1.20y2 3.29x22-5.05x2y2 + 2.00y22 (R2= 0,96). La longitud, superficie y volumen de la corona y la raíz de los dientes premolares comparten una estrecha relación, mientras que, una relación matemática definida se pudo observar entre sus proporciones. La relación entre la corona y raíz en términos de longitud, superficie y volumen, puede proporcionar un nuevo método multi-criterio para evaluar la función de los dientes.

Transcription factor 7-like 2 has been shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in multiple ethnic groups in recent years. In the Chinese Han population in particular, numerous studies have evaluated the association between the rs11196218A/G polymorphism of the transcription factor 7-like 2 gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the results have been inconsistent, so we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval values were calculated using a random-effects model or a fixed-effects model based on heterogeneity analysis. The quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on conformity with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control group as well as on other variables, such as age, sex and body mass index. Sensitivity analysis was also performed to detect heterogeneity and to assess the stability of the results. In total, 10 case-control studies comprising 7,491 cases and 12,968 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The combined analysis indicated that the rs11196218A/G polymorphism was not associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (G vs. A, OR=1.04, 95% CI=0.97–1.13, p=0.28). The subgroup analyses also did not show any association between the rs11196218A/G polymorphism and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, the results of the subgroup analyses indicated that the absence of an association was not influenced by age, sex or body mass index. The results of the sensitivity analysis verified the reliability and stability of this meta-analysis. In conclusion, this study indicated that there is no significant association between the rs11196218A/G polymorphism and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Chinese Han population.