Hyperspectral imaging technology distinguishes between Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Lobatae Caulis / 中国中药杂志

Puerariae Lobatae Radix, the dried root of Pueraria lobata, is a traditional Chinese medicine with a long history. Puerariae Lobatae Caulis as an adulterant is always mixed into Puerariae Lobatae Radix for sales in the market. This study employed hyperspectral imaging(HSI) to distinguish between the two products. VNIR lens(spectral scope of 410-990 nm) and SWIR lens(spectral scope of 950-2 500 nm) were used for image acquiring. Multi-layer perceptron(MLP), partial least squares discriminant analysis(PLS-DA), and support vector machine(SVM) were employed to establish the full-waveband models and select the effective wavelengths for the distinguishing between Puerariae Lobatae Caulis and Puerariae Lobatae Radix, which provided technical and data support for the development of quick inspection equipment based on HSI. The results showed that MLP model outperformed PLS-DA and SVM models in the accuracy of discrimination with full wavebands in VNIR, SWIR, and VNIR+SWIR lens, which were 95.26%, 99.11%, and 99.05%, respectively. The discriminative band selection(DBS) algorithm was employed to select the effective wavelengths, and the discrimination accuracy was 93.05%, 98.05%, and 98.74% in the three different spectral scopes, respectively. On this basis, the MLP model combined with the effective wavelengths within the range of 2 100-2 400 nm can achieve the accuracy of 97.74%, which was close to that obtained with the full waveband. This waveband can be used to develop quick inspection devices based on HSI for the rapid and non-destructive distinguishing between Puerariae Lobatae Radix and Puerariae Lobatae Caulis.

Acoustic and Magnetic Stimuli-Based Three-Dimensional Cell Culture Platform for Tissue Engineering

In a conventional two-dimensional (2D) culture method, cells are attached to the bottom of the culture dish and grow into a monolayer. These 2D culture methods are easy to handle, cost-effective, reproducible, and adaptable to growing many different types of cells. However, monolayer 2D cell culture conditions are far from those of natural tissue, indicating the need for a threedimensional (3D) culture system. Various methods, such as hanging drop, scaffolds, hydrogels, microfluid systems, and bioreactor systems, have been utilized for 3D cell culture. Recently, external physical stimulation-based 3D cell culture platforms, such as acoustic and magnetic forces, were introduced. Acoustic waves can establish acoustic radiation force, which can induce suspended objects to gather in the pressure node region and aggregate to form clusters. Magnetic targeting consists of two components, a magnetically responsive carrier and a magnetic field gradient source. In a magnetic-based 3D cell culture platform, cells are aggregated by changing the magnetic force. Magnetic fields can manipulate cells through two different methods: positive magnetophoresis and negative magnetophoresis. Positive magnetophoresis is a way of imparting magnetic properties to cells by labeling them with magnetic nanoparticles. Negative magnetophoresis is a label-free principle-based method. 3D cell structures, such as spheroids, 3D network structures, and cell sheets, have been successfully fabricated using this acoustic and magnetic stimuli-based 3D cell culture platform. Additionally, fabricated 3D cell structures showed enhanced cell behavior, such as differentiation potential and tissue regeneration. Therefore, physical stimuli-based 3D cell culture platforms could be promising tools for tissue engineering.

Dysregulation of NCAPG, KNL1, miR-148a-3p, miR-193b-3p, and miR-1179 may contribute to the progression of gastric cancer

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicate that miRNAs play an important role on gastric cancer (GC) progression via regulating several downstream targets, but it is still partially uncovered. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of GC by comprehensive analysis of mRNAs and miRNA expression profiles. METHODS: The mRNA and miRNA expression profiles of GSE79973 and GSE67354 downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus were used to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and DE-miRNAs among GC tissues and normal tissues. Then, targets genes of DE-miRNAs were predicted and the DE-miRNA-DEG regulatory network was constructed. Next, function enrichment analysis of the overlapped genes between the predicted DE-miRNAs targets and DEGs was performed and a protein-protein interactions network of overlapped genes was constructed. Finally, RT-PCR analysis was performed to detect the expression levels of several key DEGs and DE-miRNAs. RESULTS: A set of 703 upregulated and 600 downregulated DEGs, as well as 8 upregulated DE-miRNAs and 27 downregulated DE-miRNAs were identified in GC tissue. hsa-miR-193b-3p and hsa-miR-148a-3p, which targeted most DEGs, were highlighted in the DE-miRNA-DEG regulatory network, as well as hsa-miR-1179, which targeted KNL1, was newly predicted to be associated with GC. In addition, NCAPG, which is targeted by miR-193b-3p, and KNL1, which is targeted by hsa-miR-1179, had higher degrees in the PPI network. RT-qPCR results showed that hsa-miR-148a-3p, hsa-miR-193b-3p, and hsa-miR-1179 were downregulated, and NCAPG and KNL1 were upregulated in GC tissues; this is consistent with our bioinformatics-predicted results. CONCLUSIONS: The downregulation of miR-193b-3p might contribute to GC cell proliferation by mediating the upregulation of NCAPG; as additionally, the downregulation of miR-193b-3p might contribute to the mitotic nuclear division of GC cells by mediating the upregulation of KNL1.

Sox2 function as a negative regulator to control HAMP expression

BACKGROUND: Hepcidin, encoding by HAMP gene, is the pivotal regulator of iron metabolism, controlling the systemic absorption and transportation of irons from intracellular stores. Abnormal levels of HAMP expression alter plasma iron parameters and lead to iron metabolism disorders. Therefore,itis animportant goal to understand the mechanisms controlling HAMP gene expression. RESULTS: Overexpression of Sox2 decrease basal expression of HAMP or induced by IL-6 or BMP-2, whereas, knockdown of Sox2 can increase HAMP expression, furthermore, two potential Sox2-binding sites were identified within the human HAMP promoter. Indeed, luciferase experiments demonstrated that deletion of any Sox2-binding site impaired the negative regulation of Sox2 on HAMP promoter transcriptional activity in basal conditions. ChIP experiments showed that Sox2 could directly bind to these sites. Finally, we verified the role of Sox2 to negatively regulate HAMP expression in human primary hepatocytes. CONCLUSION: We found that Sox2 as a novel factor to bind with HAMP promoter to negatively regulate HAMP expression, which may be further implicated as a therapeutic option for the amelioration of HAMP-overexpression-related diseases, including iron deficiency anemia.

Comparison of primary coronary percutaneous coronary intervention between diabetic men and women with acute myocardial infarction

This study aimed to explore the short-term efficacy and safety of primary percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI] in female diabetic patients complicated with acute myocardial infarction [AMI]. A total of 169 diabetic patients with AMI who underwent primary PCI were selected and divided into group A [52 females] and group B [117 males]. The clinical data, characteristics of coronary artery lesions, lengths of hospital stay, and incidences of complications were then compared between two groups. The average age, history of hyperlipidemia, double branch lesions, triple branch lesions, and left main lesions were significantly higher in group A than in group B [P < 0.05]. Smoking history, PCI history, and pre-infarction angina were distinctly lower in group A than in group B [P < 0.05]. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 3 [TIMI3] flow and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 3 [TMPG3] after PCI were markedly lower in group A than in group B [P < 0.001]. Group A had a higher incidence of complications, such as severe arrhythmia, cardiac function Killip III/IV, cardiogenic shock, major, moderate and mild bleed event, as well as a 30-day mortality rate, compared with group B [P < 0.05]. In summary, our study demonstrated that female diabetic patients with AMI had lower TIMI3 flow and TMPG3 following PCI than male patients, while there was higher incidence of complications and 30-day mortality rate. Therefore, more attention should be paid to the therapy of diabetic women with acute myocardial infarction as well as the control of risk factors

Overexpression of p-Stat3 and Mcl-1, and their correlation with differentiation and apoptotic resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the expression of phosphorylated-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-Stat3) and myeloid leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) as well as their correlation, and to investigate the functional role of Stat3 and Mcl-1 in the pathogenesis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Stat3 activity in ESCC cells was inhibited with JAK/Stat3 inhibitors (AG490 or JSI-124). Specific siRNA was used to inhibit the Stat3 expression. Cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Expression of Mcl-1 protein was determined by Western blotting. Expression of phospho-Stat3 (Tyr705) and myeloid leukemia-1 (Mcl-1) proteins in ESCC tissues was detected by tissue microarray and immunohistochemistry. The relationship between p-Stat3 or Mcl-1 aberrant expression and clinicopatholohical features of ESCC was analyzed. The correlation of their expression was also analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Suppression of the Stat3 signaling activation in ESCC cells led to marked apoptosis, and dramatic reduction of Mcl-1 protein. The positive rate of phospho-Stat3 (Tyr705) expression was 45.0% in 50/111 of the ESCC tissue samples. The lower the degree of tumor differentiation, the higher the positive rate of phospho-Stat3 (Tyr705), showing a significant difference (P = 0.018). The positive rate of Mcl-1 protein expression was 72.1% (80/111), and the lower the degree of tumor differentiation was, the higher there was the positive rate of Mcl-1, with a significant difference (P = 0.026). There was a positive correlation between the expressions of p-Stat3 and Mcl-1 proteins (P = 0.012).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In a subset of ESCC tissues, p-Stat3 (Tyr705) and Mcl-1 are overexpressed and positively correlated with each other, and both are correlated with tumor differentiation. Persistent activation of Stat3 contributes to apoptotic resistance in ESCC cells, and may be at least partly mediated through upregulation of Mcl-1.</p>

Inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor-β(1) on oral squamous cell carcinoma brain metastasis Tb cell line / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the inhibitory effect of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β₁ on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) Tb cell line.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cell counting method was used to examine the inhibitory effect of TGF-β₁ on Tb cell and flow cytometry (FCM) assay performed to measure the changes of cell cycle. Superarray was used to screen the changing expression of genes in TGF-β₁/Smads signaling pathway.RT-PCR method was used to detect the results of Superarray.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TGF-β₁ showed significant inhibiting effect on OSCC Tb cell line. TGF-β₁ blocked the cell cycle at G₁ phase. The expression level of activin receptor-like kinase-1 (ACVRL-1), anti-mullerian hirmine (AMH), cyclim-dependent kinase inhibitor-2B (CDKN-2B) and transforming growth factor-beta-indnced factor (TGIF) was higer in the cells treated with TGF-β₁ than in control, while TDGF-1 expression was down-regulated. ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B gene expression was consistent with the results of Superarray.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TGF-β₁ can inhibit the growth of OSCC Tb cell line. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of cell cycle and the expression of ACVRL-1 and CDKN-2B in TGF-β₁-Smads signaling pathway.</p>

Functional significance of TGF-beta1 signal transduction pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and its signaling pathway molecules in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and analyze the association between these factors and genesis and metastasis of OSCC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The express of TGF-beta1, TbetaRI, TbetaRII and Smad4, a pivotal downstream molecule of its signaling, in 10 normal oral mucosa tissues and 108 OSCC was detected by SP immunohistochemistry, and thier correlation with genesis and metastasis of OSCC were assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of TbetaRII and Smad4 were lower in the tumors (34.3%, 38.9%) than those in the normal oral epithelium (80.0%, 100.0%, P < 0.05). The positive expression rates of TGF-beta1 and TbetaRI in the normal oral epithelium and OSCC were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There was an inverse correlation between TGF-beta1, Smad4, TbetaRII, TbetaRI expression and clinical stages (P < 0.01). The expression of TGF-beta1 was related with histological differentiation and tumor localization (P < 0.05). There was a relationship beteween Smad4 expression and histological differentiation and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). The expression of TbetaRII in the samples with lymph node metastasis was less than that in the ones without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), although there was no association between expression of TbetaRII and lymph node metastasis status.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>There is an important relationship between the abnormal TGF-beta1/Smad4 signal pathway and genesis and development of OSCC, while the low expressed Smad4 and TbetaRII may promote the metastasis of OSCC.</p>

Gene mapping of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa in a Chinese family / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The autosomal dominant form of retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) can be caused by mutations in 14 genes and further loci remains to be identified. This study was intended to identify mutations in a Chinese pedigree with ADRP.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A large Chinese family with retinitis pigmentosa was collected. The genetic analysis of the family suggested an autosomal dominant pattern. Microsatellite (STR) markers tightly linked to genes known to be responsible for ADRP were selected for linkage analysis. Exons along with adjacent splice junctions of PRPF31 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and screened by direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The caused gene of ADRP was mapped to 19q13.4 between markers D19S572 and D19S877, with a maximum LOD score of 3.01 at marker D19S418 (recombination fraction = 0).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The affected gene linked to the 19q13.4 in a Chinese family with ADRP, which is different from other mutations at the same loci in other Chinese families.</p>

Genetic polymorphism of 9 STR loci in Korean population of Mudanjiang / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the genetic polymorphism of 9 short tandem repeats (STR) gene loci, namely CSFIPO, TPOX, TH01, D16S539, D7S820, D13S317, F13A01, FESFPS and vWA in Chinese Korean population in Mudajiang area.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Amplified fragment length polymorphism (Amp-FLP) method was used to get the allele frequency distribution.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype distributions of the 9 STR loci are conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium by chi(2) test analysis. The total accord frequency, the accumulated total discrimination power and the the accumulative excluding probability of paternity were calculated.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The result suggested that all 9 gene loci have high power of excluding probability of paternity and individual identification. They can be used in paternity testing and individual identification for forensic medicine. The gene frequencies of CSFIPO, TPOX and TP01 gene loci have significant differences between the Korean population in Mudanjiang area and those in Yanji area, but there is no difference in gene loci of D7S820, D17S317 and vWA.</p>

Effects of cloned tumstatin-related and angiogenesis-inhibitory peptides on proliferation and apoptosis of endothelial cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Tumstatin is a recently developed endogenous vascular endothelial growth inhibitor that can be applied as an anti-angiogenesis and antineoplastic agent. The study aimed to design and synthesize the small molecular angiogenesis inhibition-related peptide (peptide 21), to replicate the structural and functional features of the active zone of angiogenesis inhibition using tumstatin and to prove that synthesized peptide 21 has a similar activity: specifically inhibiting tumor angiogenesis like tumstatin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peptide 21 was designed and synthesized using biological engineering technology. To determine its biological action, the human umbilical vein endothelial cell line ECV304, the human ovarian cancer cell line SKOV-3 and the mouse embryo-derived NIH3T3 fibroblasts were used in in vitro experiments to determine the effect of peptide 21 on proliferation of the three cell lines using the MTT test and growth curves. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and flow cytometry (FCM) were applied to analyze the peptide 21-induced apoptosis of the three cell lines qualitatively and quantitatively. In animal experiments, tumor models in nude mice subcutaneously grafted with SKOV-3 were used to observe the effects of peptide 21 on tumor weight, size and microvessel density (MVD). To initially investigate the role of peptide 21, the effect of peptide 21 on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) by tumor tissue was semi-quantitatively analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The in vitro MTT test and growth curves all indicated that cloned peptide 21 could specifically inhibit ECV304 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.01); TEM and FCM showed that peptide 21 could specifically induce ECV304 apoptosis (P < 0.01). Results of in vivo experiments showed that tumors in the peptide 21 group grew more slowly. The weight and size of the tumors after 21 days of treatment were smaller than those in the control group (P < 0.05), with a mean tumor inhibition rate of 67.86%; MVD of the tumor tissue in the peptide 21 group was significantly lower than in the control group (P < 0.05); the number of cells positive for VEGF in the peptide 21 group was significantly fewer than in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Similar to the activity of tumstatin in specifically inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, peptide 21 may specifically inhibit tumor endothelial cell proliferation and induce their apoptosis, thereby suppressing tumor angiogenesis and indirectly inhibit the growth, infiltration and metastasis of tumors. Peptide 21 may exert its effect through down-regulating the VEGF expression of tumor cells and vascular endothelial cells.</p>

Inhibitory effect of recombinant anti-angiogenic peptide of tumstatin on growth and metastasis of human ovarian cancer transplanted in nude mice / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the anti-angiogenic activity of peptide 21 obtained by modification of tumstatin, and its inhibitory effect on the growth and metastasis of human ovarian cancer transplanted in nude mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The peptide 21 was purified by affinity chromatography. Human ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells were inoculated in nude mice and the transplanted tumor was treated with the peptide 21 to observe the tumor growth and metastasis. The microvessel density (MVD) and immunohistochemical staining index of PCNA, VEGF and MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were performed to assess the inhibitory effect of the peptide 21.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the nude mice at 21 days after peptide 21 treatment, the inhibition rate of tumor growth was 53.17%, the tumor microvessel density was significantly reduced (P <0.05), the expression of PCNA, VEGF and MMP-2 were significantly lower (P <0.01), and TIMP-2 expression was significantly higher (P <0.01) in comparison with that of control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The peptide 21 generated in this study has a significant anti-angiogenetic activity, showing significant inhibitory effect on the growth of human ovarian cancer transplanted in nude mice. The mechanism of its inhibitory action on ovarian cancer growth may be mediated by reduction of neovascularization and reduction of expression of angiogenetic factors.</p>

Effects of chronic trimetazidine treatment on atrial energy metabolism in a canine model of chronic atrial fibrillation / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chronic trimetazidine treatment on atrial energy metabolism and endothelial function in a canine model of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighteen canines were randomly divided into sham-operated group (n = 6), atrial pacing group (n = 6), and trimetazidine group (n = 6). In atrial pacing group and trimetazidine group, dogs were atrial paced at 400 beats per minutes for 6 weeks. Trimetazidine at 5 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1) was given one day before rapid atrial pacing for 6 weeks. Creatine phosphate (CrP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine monophosphate (AMP) in atrial tissue were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Total adenosine (TAN) was calculated. The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in atrial tissue was determined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. In addition, plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (vWF) was quantified with enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) (NOx) was determined by nitrate reductase method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Atrial CrP (P < 0.01) and CrP/ATP were significantly decreased in paced atrium compared to atrium from sham-operated group (P < 0.05) while ATP, ADP, AMP and TAN remained unchanged (all P > 0.05). Plasma vWF was significantly increased and plasma NOx significantly decreased in paced animals compared to sham-operated animals. Atrial expression of eNOS was also significantly reduced in paced animals (P < 0.01). Trimetazidine treatment did not alter the contents of CrP, ATP, ADP, AMP and TAN, but significantly increased atrial eNOS expression (P < 0.05), decreased plasma vWF (P < 0.01) and increased plasma NOx concentration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Trimetazidine treatment affect chronic AF induced disturbance in energy metabolism but may improve endothelial function through a NOx depended manner.</p>

Multiple risk factor clustering and risk of hypertension in the Mongolian ethnic population of China / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate whether the clustering of risk factors, both environmental and genetic, increases the risk of essential hypertension (EH) and the accumulation of risk factors influences the blood pressure level in normotensives.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>On the basis of a prevalence survey, 501 subjects of Mongolian ethnicity (243 hypertensives and 258 normotensives) who were not related to each other were selected to conduct a case-control study. All subjects were interviewed with questionnaires and their blood specimens were collected. Renin gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, a new genetic marker, was genotyped with PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overweight, alcohol consumption, and renin gene I/D polymorphism were significant risk factors of EH (P<0.05). The odds ratios (OR) for the number of risk factors were 2.39 (95%CI: 0.98-6.74) for one risk factor, 5.03 (95%CI: 2.06-14.18) for two, and 6.09 (95%CI: 1.85-22.38) for three respectively after adjusting for age and sex. In normotensives, age- and sex-adjusted mean blood pressures increased with more accumulation of risk factors. However, there were no significant differences among the different blood pressure levels according to the number of risk factors (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overweight, alcohol consumption, and renin gene I/D polymorphism are risk factors of EH in the Mongolian ethnic population of China. The accumulation of the risk factors causes a sharp increase of the risk of EH.</p>

Impact of trichostatin A on gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901 / 中华胃肠外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of trichostatin A(TSA) on SGC- 7901 cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cytotoxicity and cell viability of gastric cancer cell line SGC- 7901 were assayed by MTT method. Morphologic assessment of apoptosis was performed with fluorescence microscope. Cell cycle and apoptosis rate were analyzed by flow cytometry. Histone H3 acetylation was detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TSA showed apparently cytotoxicity in SGC- 7901 cells. The growth curve showed the growth ratio decreased with the increase of TSA concentration. Apoptosis rate were significantly different between TSA treated group(75 ng/ml for 72 h)and control group (P < 0.05). Morphologic changes of apoptosis including nuclear chromatin condensation and fluorescence strength were observed with fluorescence microscope.TSA treatment (75 ng/ml for 72 h) sensitively induced apoptosis in the cell,which was demonstrated by the migration of many cells to the sub- G1 phase,the reduction of G1- phase cells and the increment of apoptosis rate (29.54%) in flow cytometric analysis. The expression of acetylated histone H3 was increased in TSA group(75 ng/ml) for 48 h compared with control group by Western blot.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>TSA can induce SGC- 7901 cell apoptosis. The expression of acetylated histone H3 may contribute to the apoptosis.</p>

The effect of As2O3 on induction of apoptosis and inhibition of telomerase activity in colon cancer LS-174T cells / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the impact of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) on human colorectal carcinoma LS-174T cells and their activity of telomerase.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>LS-174T cells and xenograft model of nude mice were treated with As2O3. The inhibitory effect of As2O3 on survival of LS-174T cells was determined by MTT assay. Apoptosis was determined by electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Cell cycle was assessed by flow cytometry. Telomerase activity in LS-174T cells was determined by PCR-ELISA kit.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With the increasing concentration of As2O3, the ratio of living cells to dead cells decreased significantly, and the IC50 value was 5.23 micromol/L. Apoptosis curve appeared after 24 h and cells turned to apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. As2O3 inhibited the telomerase activity in cell extraction, obviously in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. Inhibitiory effect of As2O3 on xenograft model of nude mice was observed by tumor volume and weight measurement, showing a significant difference between As2O3 and control groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Both the experiments in vitro and in vivo showed an inhibitory effect of As2O3 on colonrectal cancer S-174T cell growth, probably by induction of apoptosis and inhibition of telomerase activity.</p>

Polymorphism of DYS287 on Y chromosome in 28 ethnic populations of China / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the polymorphism of DYS287 among 28 ethnic populations in 9 provinces of China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>YAP element was detected by Touchdown PCR amplification and 2% agarose gel electrophoresis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>YAP+ frequencies in these ethnic populations were as follows: Zang 36.7%, Tu 23.8%, Yi 18.4%, Pumi 11.3%, Tajik 7.4%, Bai 6.7%, Jino 5.1%, Shandong Han 4%, Mulao 2.7%, and Maonan 1.3%. The rest ethnic populations in our study, including Gansu Han, Yunnan Han, Zhuangzu, Daizu, Lizu, Nuzu, Lisu, Naxi, Lahu, Dulong, Hani, Shezu, Weiwuer, Sala, Kerkizi, Dongxiang, Vazu, and Korea didn't carry YAP + element.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Zangzu, Tuzu, Yizu, Pumi, Jino, and Baizu, which belong to Sino-Tibetan language family, carry a high YAP + frequency. Sala, Tuzu, and Tajik, regarded as Central Asia by origin in history and linguistics, also have a high YAP + frequency. Mulao and Maonan, which origin from "Baiyue" ancient ethnic groups, also have a considerable YAP + frequency.</p>

The cloning and expression of apoptosis associated gene ANNEXIN A2 induced by p53 gene / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the relationship between p53-dependent apoptosis associated genes and tumor metastasis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>mRNA differential display (mRNA DD) was adopted for gene cloning after the different metastatic potential lung cancer cell lines were infected by Adv-p53 (a reconstructed adenovirus encoding wild type p53 gene). RT-PCR, Northern blot and Western blot assays were used to confirm the result from mRNA DD.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After induction by p53 gene, the ANNEXIN A2 gene had differential expression in the cell lines; its level was down regulated in all the cells infected by Adv-p53 gene, especially in the Anip973 cell lines with high metastatic potential. RT-PCR, Northern blot and Western blot assays confirmed the consequence.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The experimental data suggest that the ANNEXIN A2 gene may relate to cellular apoptosis induced by p53 gene. The affirmative relationship between ANNEXIN A2 gene and p53 needs further investigation.</p>

Population genetic analysis of Y-chromosomal single nucleotide polymorphism in six Chinese populations / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the genetic polymorphism of 15 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci on the nonrecombining portion of the Y chromosome in 6 populations in China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Allelic specific polymerase chain reaction and 2% agarose gel electrophoresis and 6% PAGE were used to analyze the genetic polymorphism of 343 unrelated males, representing 6 populations in China, including Fujian Hans, Sichuan Hans, Mongolian, Hezhen, Sibo and Hui from the South, Northeast and Northwest.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty haplogroups were observed, and 3 of them (H15, H16, H18) were seen in all of the six populations. Although the heterozygosity levels of the Hezhen, Mongolian, Sibo populations are similar and those of the other 3 populations (Fujian Hans, Sichuan Hans, Hui) are similar, the pairwise differences among haplogroups are significant. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) and principal component (PC) analysis of the haplogroup distributions suggested highly different allele diversity between group I including Hezhen, Mongolian, Sibo and group II including Hui, Fujian Hans, Sichuan Hans.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The above analyses show more significant variance components in Northeast/South populations and clearly reveal the geographic genetic relationship among the six populations in the Northeast/Northwest/South. These results confirm the complexity of the genetic structure of Chinese populations and make a significant contribution for constructing the contemporary human gene pool and tracing genetic dispersal trail from Chinese populations.</p>

Peptide nucleic acids arrest the growth of gastric cancer cells SGC7901 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) has many characteristics useful in molecular biology. This paper described an effective way to raise the cell ingestion rate of PNA so as to kill gastric cancer cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Heteroduplexes of PNAs and oligonucleotides, wrapped by Lipofectamine 2000, were used to infect SGC7901 cells. The inhibitive effect of heteroduplexes was evaluated by analyzing cell clone forming and cell growth rate. Telomerase activity of SGC7901 cells was detected by polymerase chain reaction enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (PCR-ELISA) and silver staining assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>PNAs showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation. The percentage of proliferation inhibition was 99.4% after 7 days; the rate of cloning inhibition was 98.2% after 8 days; whereas for oligonucleotide groups, at the same concentration, the percentages were 50.1% and 67.5% respectively. Antisense PNA-DNA-Lipofectamine 2000 group (AP-D-L group) exhibited significantly different percentages from the control groups (P < 0.05). The test result indicated that telomerase activity of the AP-D-L group was inhibited (P < 0.05). At the same time, the impact on cell morphology was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The results showed that PNAs are potent antisense reagents. The telomerase-associated therapies are very promising for the treatment of malignant tumours.</p>