UK Biobank is an extensive biomedical database and research resource. It contains in-depth genetic and health information from 500 000 UK subjects, comprising a wealth of basic structured data, high-throughput genomic and genetic data, and multimodal imaging data. However, difficulties in accessing the large amount of data mean that the database has not been widely used in China. We first introduced the health-related structural data, genetic data, and imaging data in the UK Biobank. We then described methods for using different types of data downloaded from UK Biobank, and explored recent research based on these data. We also discussed classic research focusing on applying artificial intelligence technology to UK Biobank data. Finally, we predicted future research trends in the utilization of UK Biobank data in areas such as anatomy, physiology, genetic variation, and phenotypic characteristics.
With the development of life sciences and informatics, bioinformatics is developing as an interdisciplinary subject. Its main application is the relationship between genes and proteins and their expression. With the help of genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, researchers introduce bioinformatics research methods into fundus disease research. A series of gratifying research results have been achieved including the screening of genetic susceptibility genes, the screening of diagnostic markers, and the exploration of pathogenesis. Genomics has the characteristics of high efficiency and accuracy. It has been used to detect new mutation sites in retinoblastoma and retinal pigment degeneration research, which helps to further improve the pathogenesis of retinal genetic diseases. Transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics have high throughput characteristics. They are used to analyze changes in the expression profiles of RNA, proteins, and metabolites in intraocular fluid or isolated cells in disease states, which help to screen biomarkers and further elucidate the pathogenesis. With the advancement of technology, bioinformatics will provide new ideas for the study of ocular fundus diseases.
現已認識到免疫反應、轉錄因子核因子κB( NF-κB) 的激活、細胞因子、中性粒細胞的激活和肺泡滲入、凝血級聯反應、腎素-血管緊張素系統等多種因素構成的復雜網絡參與急性肺損傷/急性呼吸窘迫綜合征( ALI/ARDS) 的發病過程[ 1-5] 。雖然膿毒癥、創傷、肺炎等ALI/ARDS誘發因素很常見, 但僅有部分病人發生ALI/ARDS, 并且具有相似臨床特征的ALI/ARDS病人可有截然不同的結果, 這種異質性引起研究者對影響ALI/ARDS 易感性和預后的遺傳因子進行鑒別的濃厚興趣[ 6] 。由于數量龐大的表現型變異, 不完全的基因外顯率、復雜的基因-環境相互作用及高度可能的基因座不均一性而使ALI 遺傳學的研究受到挑戰[ 7] 。近年來基因組學技術被應用于ALI/ARDS 發病機制的研究, 加深了人們對ALI/ARDS的認識并有可能發展出新的治療策略以降低其發病率和病死率。