Rapid and high-throughput multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification for diagnosis of chromosome aneuploidy / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the diagnostic value of multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) for detection of common chromosome aneuploidy in amniotic fluid (AF) cells in order to obtain an accurate, rapid, cost-effective and high-throughput method in routine prenatal clinical practice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The MLPA test was performed on 500 AF samples by using kit P095 and the results were obtained by using analysis software RH-MLPA-v511. The results were compared with that from fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and traditional karyotyping (TK). The technical critical issues were analyzed in routine diagnostic application.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The absolute specificity and sensitivity of the MLPA test to detect the aneuploidy were 100%. For the 500 AF samples, the success rate of the MLPA tests was 97%. Among them 92% were finished within three working days and 5% required more days for repeating. The test failure rate was 3%. The results confirmed that for the 38 detectable aneuploid samples, the probe reliability weighted mean ratio values were more than 4SD compared to normal diploids and the 2 suspected trisomy samples were more than 2SD. In this study, authors analyzed hybridization efficiencies of 8 probes for chromosome 21, and the presence of a trisomy was considered if at least 4 of the 8 probes gave probe ratio of >1.3.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Thedata suggested that MLPA is a rapid, simple and reliable method for large scale testing for aneuploidy of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, or Y in AF. The MLPA technology is complementary to AF culture and valuable for prenatal diagnosis.</p>

Protective and antioxidant properties of wasp (Vespa magnifica) honeycomb extract: a potential inhibitor against acidified ethanol-induced gastric lesions / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the protective effects of wasp (Vespa magnifica) honeycomb extract (WCE) against gastric lesions in rats induced by 60% acidified ethanol, and evaluate its capacity to suppress oxidative stress in the gastric tissue.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Wistar rats were subjected to intragastric administration of 60% acidified ethanol to induce gastric lesions following an 8-day oral pretreatment with WCE at 0, 25, 100 and 150 mg/kg or with saline. The levels of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and total antioxidant capacity in the gastric tissues were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Oral administration of 25, 100 and 150 mg/kg WCE prior to 60% acidified ethanol administration significantly inhibited the formation of gastric lesions (with a reduction by 44.2%-87.1%), decreased the mucosal MPO activity (by 16.4%-56.6%) and increased the total antioxidant capacity of the gastric tissue (by 0.5, 1.47 and 1.83 folds, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner. At a high concentration (above 1 mg/ml), WCE also exhibited a stronger DPPH radical scavenging activity than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The ethanol extract of wasp honeycombs can suppress the formation of acidified ethanol-induced gastric lesions by reducing free radical oxidation and neutrophils infiltration in the gastric tissue in rats.</p>

Effect of targeted therapy with cisplatin-loaded magnetic nanoparticles combined with radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in nude mice / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of target therapy with cisplatin (CDDP)-loaded magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) in combination with chemoradiotherapy against nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell growth in nude mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six BALB/c mice with implanted tumor of CNE-2 cells were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=6), including the control group, radiotherapy group, CDDP group, CDDP plus radiotherapy group, CDDP-MNP group, and CDDP-MNP plus radiotherapy group. The mice were given 0.3 ml normal saline (control) or corresponding agents (3 mg/kg) via the tail vein, and 0.5 ml saline was administered intragastrically before the injections. Before and after the treatment, the body weight, tumor volume and weight, and the tumor inhibition rates were measured. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index was calculated on the basis of immunohistochemical staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Except for the cisplatin group, all the treated groups showed significantly reduced tumor volume as compared with that in the control group (P<0.05) with lowered body weight. Compared with the cisplatin group, the combined treatment groups showed significantly higher tumor inhibition rate (P<0.05), but the effect showed no significant difference from that in the radiotherapy group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Targeted therapy with CDDP-loaded MNP alone or in combination with radiotherapy can effectively inhibit the growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in nude mice without increasing the toxicity.</p>

A case-control family study of gastric cancer in Henan province / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the risk factors of gastric cancer in the rural area of Henan province.@*METHODS@#Three hundred and twenty-five families with gastric cancer and 325 control families (1010 persons in each group) were selected among the rural residents in 4 counties of Henan province. Totally 2020 people were surveyed and assessed using population-based case-control family study.@*RESULTS@#Gastric cancer was related to stomach upset, irregular dietary, hobby for salty taste, residual food, and history of mental stimulus.@*CONCLUSION@#Stomach upset, irregular dietary, hobby for salty taste, residual food, and history of mental stimulus are the risk factors of gastric cancer.

Gene modification and high prokaryotic expression of porcine interferon alpha-1 / 生物工程学报

There are many E. coli rare codons in the gene of porcine interferon alpha-1. In order to obtain high expression of poIFN-alpha1 in E. coli, the cDNA encoded poIFN-alpha1 mature protein was synthesized using biased codons of E. coli without changing the original amino acid sequence and the terminator was changed as TAA. At the same time, Adenine and Thymine were used to the largest extent near the 5' terminus of poIFN-alpha1 mature protein gene. The synthesized gene was inserted into the Eco RI and Sal I site of the expression vector pRLC resulting pRLC-poIFN-alpha1. The poIFN-alpha1 is highly expressed in E. coli DH5alpha when the induction was carried out at 42 degrees C . The expressed poIFN-alpha1 account for 24.5% of the total cellular proteins and existed as inclusion body. The poIFN-alpha1 inclusion body was dissolved in 6mol/L guanidine chloride contained DTT and subsequently the denatured poIFN-alpha1 was re-natured by dilution in refolding buffer containing GSH and GSSH. In the present study it was found that the denatured poIFN-alpha1 was most efficiently re-natured in refolding buffer containing 1 mol/L guanidine chloride. In order to obtain pure protein, the concentrated re-natured poIFN-alpha1 was purified by Sephacryl S-200 chromatography. As a result, the purified poIFN-alpha1 is verified to be of high cytokine activity by inhibiting the cytopathic effect of vesicular stomatitis virus in MDBK cells, which is about 6.4 x 10(6) u/mg. This study paved the way for large-scale production of recombinant poIFN-alpha1 and its usage in virus disease control of pigs.