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This paper reviews the genetic and non-genetic factors that provided predictions of, or were associated with, weight loss and other metabolic changes in the POUNDS Lost clinical trial of weight loss. This trial randomized 811 individuals who were overweight or obese to one of four diets that contained either 15% or 25% protein and 20% or 40% fat in a 2 × 2 factorial design. A standard behavioral weight loss program was available for all participants who were followed for 2 years with an 80% completion rate. Nineteen genes and five genetic risk scores were used along with demographic, behavioral, endocrine, and metabolic measurements. Genetic variations in most of the genes were associated with weight loss, but this association often varied with the dietary assignment. A number of demographic and behavioral factors, including attendance at behavioral sessions and food cravings were predictive of weight changes. A high baseline level of free triiodothyronine or free thyroxine predicted the magnitude of weight loss. Several perfluoroakyl compounds predicted more rapid weight regain. Genetic evidence from POUNDS Lost provides guidance toward selection of a personalized weight loss diet and improvement in metabolic profile. There is still room for additional research into the predictors of weight loss.

The molecular marker-assisted breeding is one of the important methods to cultivate excellent germplasms of Chinese medicinal materials by combining modern molecular biology with traditional genetic breeding. The main target of breeding is to make the biological characters of Chinese medicinal materials stable and the yield and medicinal component of it controllable, and ensure that the medicinal materials produced have the characteristics ofquot;excellent shape, high quality and high effectquot;. Compared with traditional breeding that prefers to the selection of phenotypic traits, the molecular marker-assisted breeding also emphasizes genotype screening. It mainly includes five fields, namely the construction of genetic linkage maps, the positioning of quantitative trait locus(QTL), the analysis of genetic diversities, the identification of varieties and hybrid germplasm purity, and the application of molecular marker-assisted selection. At present, SCoT, ISSR, SSR and SNP are the main DNA markers used in the studies of marker-assisted breeding of Chinese medicinal materials. With the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing technology, genome-wide association(GWAS) and molecular design breeding will become the hotspots of Chinese medicinal materials breeding in the future. In this paper, we review current studies excellent germplasm selection of Chinese medicinal materials using molecular marker-assisted breeding and future development prospects. It is suggested to accelerate the breeding of traditional Chinese medicinal materials using molecular pharmacognosy theory and methods, in order to provide theoretical guidance for breeding, protection and sustainable utilization of traditional Chinese medicinal materials.

Chronic diseases, including obesity, are major causes of morbidity and mortality in most countries. The adverse impacts of obesity and associated comorbidities on health remain a major concern due to the lack of effective interventions for prevention and management. Precision nutrition is an emerging therapeutic approach that takes into account an individual's genetic and epigenetic information, as well as age, gender, or particular physiopathological status. Advances in genomic sciences are contributing to a better understanding of the role of genetic variants and epigenetic signatures as well as gene expression patterns in the development of diverse chronic conditions, and how they may modify therapeutic responses. This knowledge has led to the search for genetic and epigenetic biomarkers to predict the risk of developing chronic diseases and personalizing their prevention and treatment. Additionally, original nutritional interventions based on nutrients and bioactive dietary compounds that can modify epigenetic marks and gene expression have been implemented. Although caution must be exercised, these scientific insights are paving the way for the design of innovative strategies for the control of chronic diseases accompanying obesity. This document provides a number of examples of the huge potential of understanding nutrigenetic, nutrigenomic, and nutriepigenetic roles in precision nutrition.

The subtribe Orchidinae, distributed predominantly in Eastern Asia and the Mediterranean, presents some of the most intricate taxonomic problems in the family Orchidaceae with respect to generic delimitation. Based on three DNA markers (plastid matK, rbcL, and nuclear ITS), morphological characters, and a broad sampling of Orchidinae and selected Habenariinae mainly from Asia (a total of 153 accessions of 145 species in 31 genera), generic delimitation and phylogenetic relationships within the subtribe Orchidinae and Habenariinae from Asia were assessed. Orchidinae and Asian Habenariinae are monophyletic, and Orchidinae is divided into distinct superclades. Many genera, such as Amitostigma, Habenaria, Hemipilia, Herminium, Platanthera, Peristylus and Ponerorchis, are not monophyletic. Habenaria is subdivided into two distantly related groups, while Platanthera is subdivided into three even more disparate groups. Many previously undetected phylogenetic relationships, such as clades formed by the Amitostigma-Neottianthe-Ponerorchis complex, Platanthera latilabris group, Ponerorchis chrysea, Sirindhornia, and Tsaiorchis, are well supported by both molecular and morphological evidence. We propose to combine Hemipiliopsis with Hemipilia, Amitostigma and Neottian the with Ponerorchis, Smithorchis with Platanthera, and Aceratorchis and Neolindleya with Galearis, and to establish a new genus to accommodate Ponerorchis chrysea. Tsaiorchis and Sirindhornia are two distinctive genera supported by both molecular data and morphological characters. A new genus, Hsenhsua, and 41 new combinations are proposed based on these findings. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Increasing seed oil content has become one of the most important breeding criteria in rapeseed (Brassica napus). However, oil content is a complex quantitative trait. QTL mapping in a double haploid population (SG population) emerging from a cross between a German (Sollux) and Chinese (Gaoyou) cultivars revealed one QTL for oil content on linkage group A1 (OilA1), which was mapped to a 17 cM genetic interval. To further validate and characterize the OilA1, we constructed a high-resolution map using B. rapa sequence resources and developed a set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) by employing a DH line SG-DH267 as donor and Chinese parent Gaoyou as recurrent background. The results showed highly conserved synteny order between B. rapa and B. napus within the linkage group A1 and revealed a possible centromere region between two markers ZAASA1-38 and NTP3 (2.5 cM). OilA1 was firstly validated by 250 BC5F2 plants and was confirmed in a 10.6 cM interval between the markers ZAASA1-47 and ZAASA1-77. Further substitution mapping was conducted by using two generations of QTL-NILs, 283 lines from eight BC5F3:4 families and 428 plants from six BC5F4 sub-NILs and thus narrowed the OilA1 interval to 6.9 cM and 4.3 cM (1.4 Mb), respectively. Field investigations with two replications using homozygous BC5F3:4 sister sub-NILs indicated that NILs, which carry a Sollux chromosome segment across the target region showed significant higher oil content (1.26 %, p

Large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified over 40 genomic regions significantly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, GWAS results are not always straightforward to interpret, and linking these loci to meaningful disease etiology is often difficult without extensive follow-up studies. The authors expanded on previously reported type 2 diabetes mellitus GWAS from the nested case-control studies of 2 prospective US cohorts by incorporating expression single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) information and applying SNP set enrichment analysis to identify sets of SNPs associated with genes that could provide further biologic insight to traditional genome-wide analysis. Using data collected between 1989 and 1994 in these previous studies to form a nested case-control study, the authors found that 3 of the most significantly associated SNPs to type 2 diabetes mellitus in their study are expression SNPs to the lymphocyte antigen 75 gene (LY75), the ubiquitin-specific peptidase 36 gene (USP36), and the phosphatidylinositol transfer protein, cytoplasmic 1 gene (PITPNC1). SNP set enrichment analysis of the GWAS results identified enrichment for expression SNPs to the macrophage-enriched module and the Gene Ontology (GO) biologic process fat cell differentiation human, which includes the transcription factor 7-like 2 gene (TCF7L2), as well as other type 2 diabetes mellitus-associated genes. Integrating genome-wide association, gene expression, and gene set analysis may provide valuable biologic support for potential type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility loci and may be useful in identifying new targets or pathways of interest for the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

A less favorable cardiovascular risk factor profile but paradoxically lower cardiovascular morbidity and mortality have been observed in Hispanics--a pattern often referred to as the Hispanic paradox. It has been proposed that the specific genetic susceptibility of this admixed population and gene-environment interactions may partly explain the paradox. During the past few years, there have been major advances in the identification of genetic risk factors using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for cardiovascular disease, especially in Caucasians. However, no GWAS of cardiovascular disease have been reported in Hispanics. In the Costa Rican Heart Study, we reported both the consistency and disparity of genetic effects on risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) between Hispanics and other ethnic groups. We demonstrated that the improvement in the identified genetic markers on discrimination of CHD in Hispanics was modest. Future genetic research on Hispanics should consider the diversity in genetic structure, lifestyle, and socioeconomics among various subpopulations and comprehensively evaluate potential gene-environment interactions in relation to cardiovascular risk.

Based on the current shortage of genuine/false authentication and quality evaluation in the molecular identification, and the weak functional gene research in the establishment of two-dimensional molecular markering methods for Chinese materia medica, the authors proposed a new method, the bimolecular marking methods (BIMM) for Chinese materia medica, combining DNA marker and metabolomics marker, that could simultaneously research the species and quality differences at the molecular level at the present stage. The authors introduced the concept, principle, methods, and technical process of BIMM, and summarized the technical advantages in this paper. Meanwhile, the application of BIMM in the identification of multiple sources of Chinese materia medica, years-identification, different locations, elite germplasm research, discovery of new drugs resources, protection of new varieties was also discussed. As a supplement of two-dimensional molecular markering method for Chinese materia medica, BIMM would not only expand connotation of identification of Chinese materia medica but also provide another effective way for quality evaluating.

The author introduces the basic concepts of microsatellite and population genetics and its characteristics, expounds the application of these theories for population genetic structure and genetic diversity, gene flow and evolutionary significant unit ESU division research. This paper discuss its applicationin study of genetic causes, origin of cultivation, different regional origins of geoherbs, aiming at providing a new theory and method for geoherbs.

Accurate and fast identification of Chinese medicine materials has been more difficult work during production and trade. However the molecular identification at present was only used in the laboratory, and difficult to scene application in producing area, market and pharmacy that limited its usage greatly. There are two important technologic bottlenecks for scene application: DNA rapid extraction and fast detection of DNA markers. This study developed a module system for the scene application of molecular identification in Chinese medicine materials.

Background: TCF7L2 is the strongest type 2 diabetes (T2D) locus identified to date, and evidence suggests it plays an important role in insulin synthesis, processing, and secretion. Dietary factors that increase the insulin demand might enhance the risk of T2D associated with TCF7L2 variants. Objective: The objective was to determine whether the risk of T2D associated with TCF7L2 is modified by the glycemic load (GL), glycemic index (GI), cereal fiber content, and total carbohydrate content of the diet. Design: T2D cases (n = 1140) and controls (n = 1915) from the Nurses' Health Study were genotyped for TCF7L2 (rs12255372). Dietary intake was assessed with a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Results: Significant differences in odds ratios (ORs) of T2D associated with the TCF7L2 genotype between high and low strata of GL (P = 0.03) and GI (P = 0.05) were suggested. Compared with the GG genotype, multivariate-adjusted ORs (95% CI) of T2D associated with the TT genotype were 2.71 (1.64, 4.46) and 2.69 (1.64, 4.43) among individuals in the highest tertile of GL and GI, respectively. Corresponding ORs (95% CIs) among individuals in the lowest tertiles of GL and GI were 1.66 (0.95, 2.88) and 1.82 (1.11, 3.01). The risk of T2D associated with the TCF7L2 single nucleotide polymorphism did not significantly differ by cereal fiber or carbohydrate intake. Conclusion: Carbohydrate quality and quantity modified risk of T2D associated with TCF7L2, which suggests that changes in risk attributable to the TCF7L2 variant are magnified under conditions of increased insulin demand.

Searching and identifying SNP in Panax species and using multiplex allele-specific PCR (MAS-PCR) to authenticate P. ginseng and P. quenquefolium.Based on genbank database of Panax species, using DNAMAN to align the sequences, identify SNP of P. ginseng and P. quenquefolium. Design allele-specific primers for P. ginseng and P. quenquefolium, optimize the PCR reaction system including the usage amount of Taq, dNTP, primer, etc. Optimized system was performed with the total DNA of 20 different sources of P. ginseng and P. quenquefolium.When the annealing temperature was 66 'C, the template DNA of P. ginseng could be amplified 249 bp band whereas P. quenquefolium amplified 1 049 bp band.The MAS-PCR have the advantages of highly specific, good reproducibility and could be identify P. ginseng and P. quenquefolium in the same PCR tube. It was a potential method to use in the molecular identification of other meteria medica.