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Summary: Objective: IRX3 expression has been functionally associated in obesity‐associated long‐distance susceptibility loci, but the effect of the IRX3 genetic variants on human obesity and obesity‐related metabolism remains uncertain. Methods: To determine the genetic role of IRX3, we conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis using three haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs8053360, rs3751723 and rs12445085) and one nonsynonymous SNP (rs1126960) at the IRX3 locus in 333 junior and senior high school students from a northeast Chinese population. Results: We identified significant associations between IRX3 SNPs and birth weight, body mass index (BMI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST/ALT ratio. The rs8053360 CC and rs1126960 GG genotypes were associated with increased birth weight and BMI, especially in females. Individuals with the rs12445085 TT genotype had significantly higher levels of AST and ALT, whereas individuals with the rs1126960 GG genotype had a significantly lower AST/ALT ratio than did individuals with other genotypes. However, no significant relationships were found between any of the IRX3 SNPs and metabolic syndrome or diabetes. Conclusions: IRX3 genetic variants associate with birth weight, BMI and AST/ALT‐related transaminase metabolism, supporting the role of IRX3 as an obesity‐associated susceptibility gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of corn flour and millet flour on color, cooking properties and texture of yellow alkaline noodle (YAN). Corn flour and millet flour were added to wheat flour at different level viz. 0, 5, 10, 20, 30% (w/w), respectively. The color, cooking properties, texture and sensory value of these sample noodles were tested. The results showed that corn flour and millet flour almost had same effect on qualities of YAN. The L* value of fresh noodle declined slightly as the addition level of corn and millet flour were increased. The yellow index b* value increased with addition level of corn or millet flour, maximal at 30%. The ratio of broken-down noodle, water uptake and cooking lose increased with increase in the addition level of corn and millet flour. The ratio of broken-down noodle exceeds 10% when the addition level was beyond 10% (w/w). Total sensory score and noodle adhesiveness, firmness and tensile declined as the addition level was increased. On the basis of color, textural and sensory characteristics, the addition level at 5-10% (w/w) was found to be acceptance for the preparation of corn or millet blending flour YAN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competing Interests: The authors of this article and the planning committee members and staff have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Biological outcomes are governed by multiple genetic and environmental factors that act in concert. Determining multifactor interactions is the primary topic of interest in recent genetics studies but presents enormous statistical and mathematical challenges. The computationally efficient multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) approach has emerged as a promising tool for meeting these challenges. On the other hand, complex traits are expressed in various forms and have different data generation mechanisms that cannot be appropriately modeled by a dichotomous model; the subjects in a study may be recruited according to its own analytical goals, research strategies and resources available, not only consisting of homogeneous unrelated individuals. Although several modifications and extensions of MDR have in part addressed the practical problems, they are still limited in statistical analyses of diverse phenotypes, multivariate phenotypes and correlated observations, correcting for potential population stratification and unifying both unrelated and family samples into a more powerful analysis. I propose a comprehensive statistical framework, referred as to unified generalized MDR (UGMDR), for systematic extension of MDR. The proposed approach is quite versatile, not only allowing for covariate adjustment, being suitable for analyzing almost any trait type, for example, binary, count, continuous, polytomous, ordinal, time-to-onset, multivariate and others, as well as combinations of those, but also being applicable to various study designs, including homogeneous and admixed unrelated-subject and family as well as mixtures of them. The proposed UGMDR offers an important addition to the arsenal of analytical tools for identifying nonlinear multifactor interactions and unraveling the genetic architecture of complex traits.

To clarify the Sertoli cell and Leydig cell function in hypogonadic male patients with myotonic dystrophy (DM), serum concentrations of inhibin, total testosterone (TT), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were measured by radioimmunoassay in 6 male DM patients (41 to 56 years old, 47.7 +/- 5.05 years old) and compared with those in normal adult men. In 116 healthy men aged from 24 to 92 years, serum inhibin and TT levels decreased and serum FSH and LH concentrations increased with advancing age. There was an inverse correlation between serum inhibin and FSH. These results support the concept of negative feedback regulation system of FSH secretion by inhibin. Male DM patients showed significantly lower serum TT and higher concentrations of FSH and LH, compared with the age-matched 39 normal adult men (49-59 years old, 48.2 +/- 6.14 years old). However, there was no significant difference in serum inhibin levels between the patients and normal counterparts. These results indicate that the Sertoli cell function is reserved in male DM patient, although the Leydig cell function is impaired. It is also suggested that in these patients a negative feedback control system between inhibin and FSH may be disordered to some extent.