Six novel susceptibility Loci for early-onset androgenetic alopecia and their unexpected association with common diseases

Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a highly heritable condition and the most common form of hair loss in humans. Susceptibility loci have been described on the X chromosome and chromosome 20, but these loci explain a minority of its heritable variance. We conducted a large-scale meta-analysis of seven genome-wide association studies for early-onset AGA in 12,806 individuals of European ancestry. While replicating the two AGA loci on the X chromosome and chromosome 20, six novel susceptibility loci reached genome-wide significance (p = 2.62x10(-)(9)-1.01x10(-)(1)(2)). Unexpectedly, we identified a risk allele at 17q21.31 that was recently associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) at a genome-wide significant level. We then tested the association between early-onset AGA and the risk of PD in a cross-sectional analysis of 568 PD cases and 7,664 controls. Early-onset AGA cases had significantly increased odds of subsequent PD (OR = 1.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.06-1.55, p = 8.9x10(-)(3)). Further, the AGA susceptibility alleles at the 17q21.31 locus are on the H1 haplotype, which is under negative selection in Europeans and has been linked to decreased fertility. Combining the risk alleles of six novel and two established susceptibility loci, we created a genotype risk score and tested its association with AGA in an additional sample. Individuals in the highest risk quartile of a genotype score had an approximately six-fold increased risk of early-onset AGA [odds ratio (OR) = 5.78, p = 1.4x10(-)(8)(8)]. Our results highlight unexpected associations between early-onset AGA, Parkinson's disease, and decreased fertility, providing important insights into the pathophysiology of these conditions.

FTO genotype is associated with phenotypic variability of body mass index

There is evidence across several species for genetic control of phenotypic variation of complex traits1, 2, 3, 4, such that the variance among phenotypes is genotype dependent. Understanding genetic control of variability is important in evolutionary biology, agricultural selection programmes and human medicine, yet for complex traits, no individual genetic variants associated with variance, as opposed to the mean, have been identified. Here we perform a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of phenotypic variation using ~170,000 samples on height and body mass index (BMI) in human populations. We report evidence that the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs7202116 at the FTO gene locus, which is known to be associated with obesity (as measured by mean BMI for each rs7202116 genotype)5, 6, 7, is also associated with phenotypic variability. We show that the results are not due to scale effects or other artefacts, and find no other experiment-wise significant evidence for effects on variability, either at loci other than FTO for BMI or at any locus for height. The difference in variance for BMI among individuals with opposite homozygous genotypes at the FTO locus is approximately 7%, corresponding to a difference of ~0.5 kilograms in the standard deviation of weight. Our results indicate that genetic variants can be discovered that are associated with variability, and that between-person variability in obesity can partly be explained by the genotype at the FTO locus. The results are consistent with reported FTO by environment interactions for BMI8, possibly mediated by DNA methylation9, 10. Our BMI results for other SNPs and our height results for all SNPs suggest that most genetic variants, including those that influence mean height or mean BMI, are not associated with phenotypic variance, or that their effects on variability are too small to detect even with samples sizes greater than 100,000.

Molecular-complexes of metallo tetraphenyl porphyrins with 2,4,5,7-tetranitro fluorenone

The interactions of mesotetraphenyl porphyrin and its metallo derivatives with 2,4,5,7-tetra nitrofluorenone have been studied using spectroscopic methods. The association constants (K) for 1:1 complexes in Ch2Cl2Cl2 follow the order Pd+2>Co+2> Cu+2>VO+2>Ni+2>Zn+2. The values of K are accounted in terms of stereochemistry of MTPPs and the electronic configuration of the metal ions. The magnitude and direction of the proton NMR shifts of the acceptor and donor in the complexes and their ESR parameter furnish information as to the possible structures of these complexes in solution.

Complement system and alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a well recognized and growing health problem worldwide. ALD advances from fatty liver to inflammation, necrosis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. There is accumulating evidence that the innate immune system is involved in alcoholic liver injury. Within the innate and acquired immune systems, the complement system participates in inflammatory reactions and in the elimination of invading foreign, as well as endogenous apoptotic or injured cells. The present study aimed at evaluating the role of the complement system in the development of alcoholic liver injury. First, in order to study the effects of chronic ethanol intake on the complement system, the deposition of complement components in liver and the expression of liver genes associated with complement in animals with alcohol-induced liver injury were examined. It was demonstrated that chronic alcohol exposure leads to hepatic deposition of the complement components C1, C3, C8 and C9 in the livers of rats. Liver gene expression analysis showed that ethanol up-regulated the expression of transcripts for complement factors B, C1qA, C2, C3 and clusterin. In contrast, ethanol down-regulated the expression of the complement regulators factor H, C4bp and factor D and the terminal complement components C6, C8α and C9. Secondly, the role of the terminal complement pathway in the development of ALD was evaluated by using rats genetically deficient in the complement component C6 (C6-/-). It was found that chronic ethanol feeding induced more liver pathology (steatosis and inflammatory changes) in C6-/- rats than in wild type rats. The hepatic triacylglyceride content and plasma alanine aminotransferase activity increased in C6-/- rats, supporting the histopathological findings and elevation of the plasma pro-/anti-inflammatory TNF-/IL-10 ratio was also more marked in C6-/- rats. Third, the role of the alternative pathway in the development of alcoholic liver steatosis was characterized by using C3-/- mice. In C3-/- mice ethanol feeding tended to reduce steatosis and had no further effect on liver triacylglyceride, liver/body weight ratio nor on liver malondialdehyde level and serum alanine aminotransferase activity. In C3-/- mice alcohol-induced liver steatosis was reduced also after an acute alcohol challenge. In both wild type and C3-/- mice ethanol markedly reduced serum cholesterol and ApoA-I levels, phospholipid transfer protein activity and hepatic mRNA levels of fatty acid binding proteins and fatty acid -oxidation enzymes. In contrast, exclusively in C3-/- mice, ethanol treatment increased serum and liver adiponectin levels but down-regulated the expression of transcripts of lipogenic enzymes, adiponectin receptor 2 and adipose differentiation-related protein and up-regulated phospholipase D1. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that the complement system is involved in the development of alcohol-induced liver injury. Chronic alcohol exposure causes local complement activation and induction of mRNA expression of classical and alternative pathway components in the liver. In contrast expression of the terminal pathway components and soluble regulators were decreased. A deficient terminal complement pathway predisposes to alcoholic liver damage and promotes a pro-inflammatory cytokine response. Complement component C3 contributes to the development of alcohol-induced fatty liver and its consequences by affecting regulatory and specific transcription factors of lipid homeostasis.

7-Alkoxy coumarins as fluorescence probes for microenvironments

7-Alkoxy and 4-methyl-7-alkoxy coumarins show solvent-dependent fluorescence emission. The monomeric fluorescence emission of these alkoxy coumarins was exploited as a probe to measure the surface polarity of the micelles formed by ionic (sodium dodecylsulphate and cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide) and non-ionic (Triton X-100) detergents. By comparing the solvent-dependent fluorescence of these alkoxy coumarins in various homogeneous solvents, the polarity of the micelles was determined qualitatively. All three micelles are more polar than hydrocarbon solvents but are less polar than water.

Tombstone of Adolf Molling and his wife Henriette (Henny) nee Meyerhof in the Jewish cemetery An der Strangriede Str. 54. 7; Hannover, Germany. Cemeteries Tombs

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Tombstone of Adolf Molling and his wife Henriette (Henny) nee Meyerhof; Strangriede Cemetery Str.54.7; Hannover Cemeteries Tombs

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Tombstone of David Benjamin; Strangriede Cemetery (R 84.7); Hannover Cemeteries Tombs

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Tombstones of Frederike Benjamin nee Salamon and her husband David Benjamin; Strangriede Cemetery (R 84.6 and R 84.7); Hannover Cemeteries; Tombs

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Fabrication and characterization of RF plasma polymerized thin films from 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol for electronic and biomaterial applications

Poly(linalool) thin films were fabricated using RF plasma polymerisation. All films were found to be smooth, defect-free surfaces with average roughness of 0.44 nm. The FTIR analysis of the polymer showed a notable reduction in –OH moiety and complete dissociation of C=C unsaturation compared to the monomer, and presence of a ketone band absent from the spectrum of the monomer. Poly(linalool) were characterised by chain branching and a large quantity of short polymer chains. Films were optically transparent, with refractive index and extinction coefficient of 1.55 and 0.001 (at 500 nm) respectively, indicating a potential application as an encapsulating (protective) coating for circuit boards. The optical band gap was calculated to be 2.82 eV, which is in the semiconducting energy gap region.

Familial isolated hyperparathyroidism is linked to a 1.7 Mb region on chromosome 2p13.3-14

BACKGROUND: Familial isolated hyperparathyroidism (FIHP) is an autosomal dominantly inherited form of primary hyperparathyroidism. Although comprising only about 1% of cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, identification and functional analysis of a causative gene for FIHP is likely to advance our understanding of parathyroid physiology and pathophysiology. METHODS: A genome-wide screen of DNA from seven pedigrees with FIHP was undertaken in order to identify a region of genetic linkage with the disorder. RESULTS: Multipoint linkage analysis identified a region of suggestive linkage (LOD score 2.68) on chromosome 2. Fine mapping with the addition of three other families revealed significant linkage adjacent to D2S2368 (maximum multipoint LOD score 3.43). Recombination events defined a 1.7 Mb region of linkage between D2S2368 and D2S358 in nine pedigrees. Sequencing of the two most likely candidate genes in this region, however, did not identify a gene for FIHP. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a causative gene for FIHP lies within this interval on chromosome 2. This is a major step towards eventual precise identification of a gene for FIHP, likely to be a key component in the genetic regulation of calcium homeostasis.

Topochemical photo-dimerization of 7-acetoxycoumarin - the acetoxy group as a steering agent

Among the various substituted coumarins investigated only 7-acetoxycoumarin is observed to photodimerize topochemically in the crystalline state and this observation may be of importance in the context of "crystal engineering".

Validation of a partial coherence interferometry method for estimating retinal shape

To validate a simple partial coherence interferometry (PCI) based retinal shape method, estimates of retinal shape were determined in 60 young adults using off-axis PCI, with three stages of modeling using variants of the Le Grand model eye, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Stage 1 and 2 involved a basic model eye without and with surface ray deviation, respectively and Stage 3 used model with individual ocular biometry and ray deviation at surfaces. Considering the theoretical uncertainty of MRI (12-14%), the results of the study indicate good agreement between MRI and all three stages of PCI modeling with <4% and <7% differences in retinal shapes along horizontal and vertical meridians, respectively. Stage 2 and Stage 3 gave slightly different retinal co-ordinates than Stage 1 and we recommend the intermediate Stage 2 as providing a simple and valid method of determining retinal shape from PCI data.

Crystal and molecular structures of alkali- and alkaline-earth-metal complexes of N,N-dimethylformamide

Structures of lithium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium complexes of NJ-dimethylformamide (DMF) have been investigated by X-ray crystallography. Complexes with the formulas LiCl.DMF.1/2H20, NaC104.2DMF, CaC12.2DMF.2H20, and Mg(C104)2.6DMF crystallized in space groups P2]/c, P2/c, Pi, and Ella, respectively, with the following cell dimensions: Li complex, a = 13.022 (7) A, b = 5.978 (4) A, c = 17.028 (10) A, = 105.48 (4)O, Z = 8; Na complex, a = 9.297 (4)A, b = 10.203 (3) A, c = 13.510 (6) A, /3 = 110.08 (4)O, Z = 4; Ca complex, a = 6.293 (4) A, b = 6.944 (2) A, c = 8.853(5) A, a = 110.15 (3)O, /3 = 105.60 (6)", y = 95.34 (5)", Z = 1; Mg complex, a = 20.686 (11) A, b = 10.962 (18) A,c = 14.885 (9) A, /3 = 91.45 (5)O, Z = 4. Lithium is tetrahedrally coordinated while the other three cations are octahedrally coordinated; the observed metal-oxygen distances are within the ranges generally found in oxygen donor complexes of these metals. The lithium and sodium complexes are polymeric, with the amide and the anion forming bridging groups between neighboring cations. The carbonyl distances become longer in the complexes accompanied by a proportionate decrease in the length of the central C-N bond of the amide; the N-C bond of the dimethylamino group also shows some changes in the complexes. The cations do not deviate significantly from the lone-pair direction of the amide carbonyl and remain in the amide plane. Infrared spectra of the complexes reflect the observed changes in the amide bond distances.