中国科学院遗传与发育生物学研究所李巍课题组日前发现，位于人类6号染色体长臂D6S1009位点旁侧的SLC35D3基因是人类肥胖症和代谢综合征的致病基因。
流行病学调查显示，约三分之一的美国人和10%至25%的欧洲人患有肥胖症。肥胖症发生率在我国也呈逐年上升的趋势，已超过10%。肥胖症的发生一般认为是遗传与环境的相互作用所引起，主要因饮食摄取和运动消耗热量的平衡被打破所导致，其中遗传因素的贡献约占三分之二。
此前有研究表明，位于人类6号染色体长臂的D6S1009位点与体重指数BMI紧密相关。李巍课题组通过对位于该位点旁侧的SLC35D3基因缺陷的小鼠进行观察，发现该小鼠从2月鼠龄(与人成年期相当)开始表现出进行性肥胖和代谢综合征的特征。课题组进一步研究发现，该基因所编码蛋白的缺陷，可导致运动量减少和能量消耗少，从而引发肥胖症的发生。研究结果表明，SLC35D3基因是人类肥胖症和代谢综合征的致病基因。
长期以来，对于肥胖症的治疗或缓解措施强调“管住嘴、迈开腿”。但这项研究发现提示了遗传因素在“懒得运动”这一不良行为中的作用，表明药物可在一定程度纠正这种行为异常。同时，这一发现也可在今后用于肥胖症人群该基因突变的筛查，对于个体化治疗具有重要意义。
The Research and Development to Glasses to See the Cancer Cells
Cancer cells are notoriously difficult to see, even under high-powered magnification（放大）. The glasses are designed to make it easier for surgeons to distinguish cancer cells from healthy cells, helping to ensure that no stray tumor cells are left behind during surgery."We're in the early stages of this technology, and more development and testing will be done, but we're certainly encouraged by the potential benefits to patients," said breast surgeon Julie Margenthaler, MD, an associate professor of surgery at Washington University, who performed today's operation. "Imagine what it would mean if these glasses eliminated the need for follow-up surgery and the associated pain, inconvenience and anxiety."Current standard of care requires surgeons to remove the tumor and some neighboring tissue that may or may not include cancer cells. The samples are sent to a pathology lab and viewed under a microscope. If cancer cells are found in neighboring tissue, a second surgery often is recommended to remove additional tissue that also is checked for the presence of cancer.The glasses could reduce the need for additional surgical procedures and subsequent stress on patients, as well as time and expense.
