The renin¡Vangiotensin system (RAS) plays a role in the pathogenesis of obesity. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), the component of the RAS system, has recently been found to be completely expressed in human adipose tissue. Angiotensin II, the active component of RAS, may affect adipogenesis and adipocyte metabolism. Among ACE polymorphism, the gene DD genotype has shown to be regulated with a higher agiotensin- converting enzyme level in plasma. Hence, the purpose of this research is to investigate the correlation of ACE gene polymorphism to body mass index (BMI) between aborigines and Han non-aborigines. The relationship of race and ACE insertion (I)/ deletion (D) polymorphism was also analyzed.The results showed a higher value of ACE DD genotype appeared in aborigines (35.7 %) than that in Han population (10.8 %)(p < 0.0001). BMI in aborigines was 26.4¡Ó4.6 kg/m2, while in Han population was 24.4¡Ó3.6 kg/m2 (P<0.0001). A higher waist circumference value was also found among females aborigines than that found among female in Han population (86.9¡Ó10.7 vs 84.3¡Ó9.7 cm, P<0.0001). Simple and multiple linear regression analyses showed that both race and ACE gene polymorphism are closely correlated to BMI in all subjects. By discussion on the cases for the Han and aborigines population separately, it was found that the ACE gene polymorphism is associated with BMI in Han population it is not significant in aborigines. In aborigines, life style in culture is associated with BMI. In conclusion, ACE gene polymorphism and race were independent factors correlated to BMI, but differences could be found between race and ACE gene polymorphism.

Previous studies show that coronary artery disease (CAD) is a multi-factors and chronic inflammatory disease, and is associated with lipid metabolism. IL-1ra is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory molecules that block the action of IL-1. However, little is known about the imbalance between IL-1ra and inflammatory mediators in CAD. We attempted to investigate the relationships between inflammatory mediators and serum IL-1ra levels in patients with CAD. In 95 patients with angiographically defined CAD, and 70 healthy controls were studied in a case-control manner. Serum levels of cytokines and the risk factor of CAD were examined. Polymorphisms for IL-1ra gene were detected by PCR, and genotypes and allelic frequencies in both groups were compared. Our major finding include: (1) The risk factors such as elevated BMI, systolic BP, smoking, hypertension, blood glucose, and TG was more frequently found in the CAD group than the control group ( p < 0.001). However, the HDL-C and bilirubin were significantly higher in control group than the CAD group. (2) The relative risk of those in the highest quartile of ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C, TC to HDL-C, and TG to HDL-C were significantly elevated. ( OR = 2.98, p < 0.01; OR = 5.31, p <0.001; OR = 8.43, p < 0.001 respectively) (3) Five different inflammatory markers were significantly elevated including IL-1ra, hs-CRP, IL-6, leukocyte count, and neutrophil percentage between healthy controls and CAD patients. ( p < 0.01) (4) Levels of IL-1ra and other variables such as blood glucose, BMI, TG, IL-6, hs-CRP, and leukocyte count has significantly correlated, and were inversed correlation in bilirubin, and HDL-C in all study subjects. ( p < 0.01) (5) In the multiple logistic regression analysis, adjustment was made for variables. The relative risk of CAD for the highest quartile of IL-1ra, as compared with the lowest quartile, had an Odds ratio 2.57 ( 95% confidence intervals, 1.12 - 5.91, p = 0.026 ) increase in risk for CAD. (6) Similar results were obtained hs-CRP, IL-6 in the highest quartile were increase risk for future CAD. ( OR = 5.86 and 5.79 respectively; p < 0.001) (7) The join effect cytokines of hs-CRP, IL-6, IL-1ra concentrations may play important role in CAD risk. ( OR = 10.19, p < 0.001 ) (8) In addition, IL-1ra allele 2 genotype and allelic frequencies were no significant association with increase in IL-1ra with CAD. In conclusion, we find a significant association of elevated IL-1ra levels in the patients with CAD. Thus, these results support the hypothesis that inflammation, anti-inflammation cytokines and lipoprotein metabolism provide a useful marker for predicting the development of CAD events.

Simultaneous differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small-angle (SAXS) and wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS) measurements were adopted for more precise determination of the equilibrium melting temperatures (Tm*) of a and b phases in bulk-crystallized syndiotactic polystyrene. On the basis of Kratky-Porod approximation, a new method for determining crystalline lamellar thickness from SAXS profiles obtained at high temperatures where there are only limited number of discrete crystalline lamellae dispersed in the melt matrix was developed. This method is shown to be reliable as it gave comparable results obtained from the conventional 1D correlation function method for SAXS profiles obtained at lower temperatures where lamellae are closely stacked. Results of the subsequent Gibbs-Thomson analysis indicated that the trigonal a phase is the entropically favored high temperature phase with Tm* = 355 oC whereas the b phase is enthalpically favored at lower temperatures, with Tm* = 314 oC. Compared to previous held contention in the temperature-dependent phase stability of these two phases, the current phase stability assignment is more consistent with both the density and the symmetry of the corresponding crystal structures. It also explains various observations reported previously on the competition between the two polymorphs during crystallization and during melting.

No description available.

No description available.

Cette thèse est une contribution à l'étude du polymorphisme du soufre à l'état solide et à l'état liquide avec, en particulier un examen des transitions liquide-liquide. <br /><br />Une introduction sur le polymorphisme dans les matériaux simples conduit à faire le choix d'étudier le soufre et on présente l'état des connaissances actuelles sur le diagramme P T du soufre. Puis on décrit les dispositifs haute pression; enclume diamant et presse à grand volume, mis en place à l'ESRF pour réaliser des études structurales ou dynamiques in situ, ainsi que les techniques d'étude de la structure et de la dynamique ; diffraction X, diffusion Raman, diffusion X inélastique utilisés pour ce travail. <br /><br />La partie suivante expose les résultats obtenus sur la structure des différents allotropes du soufre. Grâce à la possibilité de mesures in situ avec un flux intense et à l'utilisation conjointe de la diffraction X et de la diffusion Raman il a été possible de caractériser la structure de phases à l'équilibre et de construire d'un nouveau diagramme de phases du soufre en pression et température. <br /><br />La dernière partie concerne les résultats obtenus sur la dynamique du soufre liquide autour de la transition de polymérisation. On caractérise ainsi, aux basses températures, un liquide moléculaire classique dont la dynamique est celle des molécules S8. Aux plus hautes températures une solution de polymères présente encore le mode à haute fréquence correspondant aux molécules S8 mais aussi un autre, à basse fréquence, qui correspond à des fragments de chaînes interconnectes.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-83).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, Committee on Genetics, August 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 105-118).

Genomic data facilitate opportunities to track complex population histories of divergence and gene flow. We used 47,506 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to investigate cattle population history. Cattle are descendants of two independently domesticated lineages, taurine and indicine, that diverged 200,000 or more years ago. We found that New World cattle breeds, as well as many related breeds of cattle in southern Europe, exhibit ancestry from both the taurine and indicine lineages. Although European cattle are largely descended from the taurine lineage, gene flow from African cattle (partially of indicine origin) contributed substantial genomic components to both southern European cattle breeds and their New World descendants. We extended these analyses to compare timing of admixture in several breeds of taurine-indicine hybrid origin. We developed a metric, scaled block size (SBS), that uses the unrecombined block size of introgressed regions of chromosomes to differentiate between recent and ancient admixture. By comparing test individuals to standards with known recent hybrid ancestry, we were able to differentiate individuals of recent hybrid origin from other admixed individuals using the SBS metric. We genotyped SNP loci using the bovine 50K SNP panel. The selection of sites to include in SNP analyses can influence inferences from the data, especially when particular populations are used to select the array of polymorphic sites. To test the impact of this bias on the inference of population genetic parameters, we used empirical and simulated data representing the three major continental groups of cattle: European, African, and Indian. We compared the inference of population histories for simulated data sets across different ascertainment conditions using F[subscript ST] and principal components analysis (PCA). Ascertainment bias that results in an over-representation of within-group polymorphism decreases estimates of F[subscript ST] between groups. Geographically biased selection of polymorphic SNPs changes the weighting of principal component axes and can bias inferences about proportions of admixture and population histories using PCA. By combining empirical and simulated data, we were able to both test methods for inferring population histories from genomic SNP data and apply these methods to practical problems. / text