The Allele 2 of the VNTR Polymorphism in the Gene That Encodes a Natural Inhibitor of IL-1β, IL-1RA Is Favorably Associated With Chronic Otitis Media

Maja Živković,Ivana Kolić,Snežana Jesić,Ana Jotić,Aleksandra Stanković 대한이비인후과학회 2018 Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology Vol.11 No.2

Objectives. Chronic otitis media (COM) is followed by irreversible tissue damage and destruction of the middle ear structures, with the possibility of complications under the maintenance of inflammation. Inflammatory mediators such as cytokines play a crucial role in the initial stage of inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of the polymorphisms in two innate immunity/inflammation cascade genes from interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene cluster with COM with regard to cholesteatoma. Methods. In the cross-sectional case-control study, DNA samples were collected from 189 patients with COM and 119 controls from a population of Serbia. The +3953 C/T (rs1143634), TaqI polymorphism in interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) gene and 86 bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR, rs2234663) polymorphism in the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. Results. The IL-1β TaqI polymorphism was not significantly different in patients compared with the control group. The significant difference between patients and controls was observed for both, genotype and allele frequencies of IL-1RA VNTR polymorphism (chi-square P<0.01). We found that carriers of IL-1RA allele 2 (odds ratio, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.29 to 0.76; P=0.004) have a favorable association with COM, using multivariate logistic analysis that included both polymorphisms, age and sex. The IL-1RA allele frequency distribution was significantly different with regard to cholesteatoma. Conclusion. The carriers of allele 2 of VNTR IL-1RA polymorphism had a decreased odds ratio for COM, which is in agreement with findings in other inflammatory disease and its previous association with higher IL-1RA levels. Possible down-regulation of IL-1 mediated proinflammatory signaling pathways via IL-1RA in COM as well as results of our study should be further investigated and replicated.

The Dynamic Relationship Between FDI, ICT, Trade Openness, and Economic Growth: Evidence from BRICS Countries

Ahmed Nawaz SOOMRO,Jai KUMAR,Joti KUMARI 한국유통과학회 2022 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.9 No.2

Information and communication technology (ICT) is one of the primary zones that stimulates economic development in today’s globalized world. It promotes technological developments in worldwide communication and manufacturing systems, as well as economic growth and development. Many economic activities, such as international trade and foreign direct investment, rely heavily on contemporary information and communications technologies (FDI). The goal of this study is to look at the dynamic relationship between FDI, ICT, trade openness, and economic growth in the context of BRICS countries from 2000 to 2018, with Gross Domestic Product as the dependent variable and Telephone subscriptions, Mobile subscriptions, Broadband subscriptions, Internet subscribers, Secure internet servers, Trade, and Foreign direct investment as the independent variables.Two variables are used as proxies to manage the macroeconomic environment, while five variables are used as proxies for ICT infrastructures. The outcomes of this study are analyzed using Generalized Methods of Movements (GMM). According to this study, ICT has a positive impact on the economic growth of a few countries. Trade openness and foreign direct investment, on the other hand, have a negative impact on economic growth. As growing countries, the BRICS must participate in economic reform and liberalization measures. This report suggests policy proposals for improving ICT standards, focusing especially on economic growth, trade openness, and increasing foreign investment in the BRICS countries.

Revisiting the Nexus of Foreign Direct Investment, Financial Development, and Economic Growth: The Case of Emerging Economies

Jai KUMAR,Ahmed Nawaz SOOMRO,Joti KUMARI 한국유통과학회 2022 The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Busine Vol.9 No.1

Foreign direct investment (FDI) has increased at an exponential rate during the last two decades. It is now a feature of emerging market economies as well. Foreign direct investment and financial development are important factors in an economy’s growth. Various studies have examined the impact of foreign direct investment and financial development on economic growth in different countries and areas. However, the findings are currently inconclusive. Using updated data from 1970 to 2020, this study will examine the relationships between FDI, financial development, and economic growth in 30 rising economies.GDP is the dependent variable, while FDI, financial development, trade openness, infrastructure, exchange rate, and GDP growth are the independent factors. To estimate the panel data, we used the most recent econometric models. The study’s major findings suggest that FDI and financial development are critical determinants in emerging economies’ economic progress. Furthermore, multiple robustness checks supported the study’s empirical findings. The results of this study include various practical recommendations for investors, governments, and policymakers, given the increased interest in global economic integration and member states’ reliance on FDI as a critical aspect of sustaining prosperity.

A network-biology approach for identification of key genes and pathways involved in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

Mahfuz, A.M.U.B.,Zubair-Bin-Mahfuj, A.M.,Podder, Dibya Joti Korea Genome Organization 2021 Genomics & informatics Vol.19 No.2

Even in the current age of advanced medicine, the prognosis of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) remains abysmal. Molecular mechanisms responsible for the initiation and progression of MPM are still largely not understood. Adopting an integrated bioinformatics approach, this study aims to identify the key genes and pathways responsible for MPM. Genes that are differentially expressed in MPM in comparison with the peritoneum of healthy controls have been identified by analyzing a microarray gene expression dataset. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses of these differentially expressed genes (DEG) were conducted to gain a better insight. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the proteins encoded by the DEGs was constructed using STRING and hub genes were detected analyzing this network. Next, the transcription factors and miRNAs that have possible regulatory roles on the hub genes were detected. Finally, survival analyses based on the hub genes were conducted using the GEPIA2 web server. Six hundred six genes were found to be differentially expressed in MPM; 133 are upregulated and 473 are downregulated. Analyzing the STRING generated PPI network, six dense modules and 12 hub genes were identified. Fifteen transcription factors and 10 miRNAs were identified to have the most extensive regulatory functions on the DEGs. Through bioinformatics analyses, this work provides an insight into the potential genes and pathways involved in MPM.

Redox-coupled proton transfer mechanism in nitrite reductase revealed by femtosecond crystallography

Fukuda, Yohta,Tse, Ka Man,Nakane, Takanori,Nakatsu, Toru,Suzuki, Mamoru,Sugahara, Michihiro,Inoue, Shigeyuki,Masuda, Tetsuya,Yumoto, Fumiaki,Matsugaki, Naohiro,Nango, Eriko,Tono, Kensuke,Joti, Yasumas National Academy of Sciences 2016 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF Vol.113 No.11

<P>Proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), a ubiquitous phenomenon in biological systems, plays an essential role in copper nitrite reductase (CuNiR), the key metalloenzyme in microbial denitrification of the global nitrogen cycle. Analyses of the nitrite reduction mechanism in CuNiR with conventional synchrotron radiation crystallography (SRX) have been faced with difficulties, because X-ray photoreduction changes the native structures of metal centers and the enzyme-substrate complex. Using serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX), we determined the intact structures of CuNiR in the resting state and the nitrite complex (NC) state at 2.03- and 1.60-angstrom resolution, respectively. Furthermore, the SRX NC structure representing a transient state in the catalytic cycle was determined at 1.30-angstrom resolution. Comparison between SRX and SFX structures revealed that photoreduction changes the coordination manner of the substrate and that catalytically important His255 can switch hydrogen bond partners between the backbone carbonyl oxygen of nearby Glu279 and the side-chain hydroxyl group of Thr280. These findings, which SRX has failed to uncover, propose a redox-coupled proton switch for PCET. This concept can explain how proton transfer to the substrate is involved in intramolecular electron transfer and why substrate binding accelerates PCET. Our study demonstrates the potential of SFX as a powerful tool to study redox processes in metalloenzymes.</P>