Establishment and evaluation of a rat model of inhalation lung injury induced by ship smog / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To establish and evaluate a rat model of inhalation lung injury induced by ship smog.Methods A rat model of inhalation lung injury was established by analyzing the composition of ship materials after combustion.Fortytwo healthy male Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group and 2,6,12,24,48 and 72h groups (6 each)after inhalation,these rats were killed at each time point,and the changes of arterial blood gas,coagulation function,the lung water content (％) were detected.Macroscopic and microscopic changes in lung tissues were observed to judge the degree of lung injury.Results The main components after combustion of 7 kinds of nonmetal materials on ship included CO,CO2,H2S,NOx and other harmful gases in this study,AIKE in one gas detector was used to monitor O2,CO,CO2 and H2S,and their concentrations remained relatively stable within 15 minutes,and the injury time was 15 minutes.The rats presented with shortness of breath and mouth breathing.Smoke inhalation caused a significant hypoxemia,the concentration of blood COHb reached a peak value 2h and the lung water content (％) did 6h after inhalation (P＜0.05).It is metabolic acidosis in the early stage after inhalation,but metabolic acidosis combined with respiratory acidosis in the later period.Histopathological observation showed diffuse hemorrhage,edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue as manifestations of lung injury,and the injury did not recover at 72h after inhalation,the change of blood coagulation function was not statistically significant.Conclusion A rat model of inhalation lung injury induced by ship smog has been successfully established,and has the advantages of easy replication,stability and reliability,thus can be used to research and treat inhalation lung injury induced by ship smog in naval war environment and other cases.

Observation on the efficacy and safety of Gukang capsule combinedwithsodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of Gukang capsule combined with sodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods 94 osteoarthritis patients selected from December 2015 to March 2017 were randomly divided into study group (n=47) and control group (n=47). The control group were given sodium hyaluronate injection, the study group were received local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule. The changes of knee joint function (HSS scale score) and adverse reaction rate were recorded and compared before and after treatment in the two groups. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in HSS scores between the two groups. After treatment, the HSS score in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the adverse reactions between the 2 groups during the treatment. Conclusion Local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule on the treatment of osteoarthritis, which can significantly improve the clinical efficacy, the security is higher. .

Observation on the efficacy and safety of Gukang capsule combinedwithsodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis / 中国生化药物杂志

Objective To investigate the effect and safety of Gukang capsule combined with sodium hyaluronate injection on the treatment of the patients with osteoarthritis. Methods 94 osteoarthritis patients selected from December 2015 to March 2017 were randomly divided into study group (n=47) and control group (n=47). The control group were given sodium hyaluronate injection, the study group were received local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule. The changes of knee joint function (HSS scale score) and adverse reaction rate were recorded and compared before and after treatment in the two groups. Results Before treatment, there was no significant difference in HSS scores between the two groups. After treatment, the HSS score in the study group was significantly better than that in the control group (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the adverse reactions between the 2 groups during the treatment. Conclusion Local injection of sodium hyaluronate combined with Gukang capsule on the treatment of osteoarthritis, which can significantly improve the clinical efficacy, the security is higher. .

Virological impact of stalk region of neuraminidase in influenza A/Anhui/1/05 (H5N1) and A/Ohio/07/2009 (H1N1) viruses / 病毒学报

This study aims to investigate the virological impact of the stalk region and cysteine (C) in neuraminidase (NA) of influenza A/Anhui/1/05 (H5N1) and A/Ohio/07/2009 (H1N1) viruses. The NA of A/ Anhui/1/05 (H5N1), defined as AH N1, lacked 20 amino acids (including C, defined as s20) as compared with NA of A/Ohio/07/2009 (H1N1) (defined as 09N1). We deleted s20 of 09N1 to construct 09N1-s20, and inserted s20 into AH N1 to construct AH N1+s20. To investigate the impact of C on the biological function of NA, we deleted C in 09N1 to construct 09N1-C and inserted C into AH N1 to construct AH N1-C. The pseudo-type viral particle (pp) system was used to evaluate the impact of these mutants on virology. The combination of 09N1-C and 09H1 (defined as 09H1::09N1-C) showed an infectivity 8 times that of the wild type 09H1::09N1, while the infectivity of the combination of AH N1+C and AH H5 (defined as AH H5::AH N1+C) was much lower than that of the wild type AH H5::AH N1. The infectivity of the combination of 09N1-s20 and 09H1 (defined as 09H1::09N1-s20) was 4 times that of the wild type 09H1::09N1; the infectivity of the combination of AH N1+s20 and AH H5 (defined as AH H5:: AH N1+s20) was 1/7 that of the wild type AH H5::AH N1. The co-existence of 09N1-C and AH H5 displayed 6 times the infectivity of AH H5::09N1, while the infectivity of 09H1::AH N1+C was very low. Multimer analysis showed that in the wild type 09N1, the forms of NA were dimer > tetramer > monomer; the major component of NA in 09N1-C was monomer; in 09N1-s20, the forms of NA were monomer > dimer. AH N1 was mainly composed of monomer; in AH N1+s20, the forms of NA were dimer > monomer > tetramer; in AH N1+C, the forms of NA were dimer > tetramer. Deletion of C or s20 from 09N1 did not change the expression of NA. The study suggested that deletion of C from the stalk region of NA in A/Ohio/07/2009 (H1N1) increases infectivity. Insertion of C into NA's stalk region of A/ Anhui/1/05 (H5N1) significantly decreases infectivity. Cysteine deletion in the stalk region is important for the infectivity of A/Anhui/1/05 (H5N1) and A/Ohio/07/2009 (H1N1). It may interfere with the infectivity via changes in NA polymerization.

HIV-1 infection changes miRNA expression profile in the whole blood / 病毒学报

To describe the unique miRNA profiles for HIV seropositive individuals and identify significantly differently expressed miRNAs, we determined the expression level of 754 miRNAs of 10 HIV seropositive individuals and 10 HIV seronegative individuals by using the Taqman low density microRNA array. BRB-Array Tool was used to conduct the significance analysis, and the DIANA online tool was used to perform the miRNA target prediction and pathway analysis. A total of 56 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by microarray between HIV seropositive and seronegative individuals. Among them, 49 miRNAs were down-regulated and 7 were up-regulated, partially overlapped with reported data. Predicted target genes were mainly involved in MAPK, TGF-beta and Wnt pathways. The results shows that miRNA profile changes in HIV-1 seropositive individuals, and the 56 differentially expressed miRNAs may play important role during HIV infection. Further studies on these miRNAs may be helpful for identify key molecules involved in HIV infection and potential diagnostic markers.

A primary investigation on the isoniazid-induced alterations in efflux gene expression among the isoniazid resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To detect the changes on the expression of putative drug effiux genes caused by isoniazid-inducement in single resistance to the isoniazid Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis) clinical isolates,for exploring the putative effiux genes which causing M.tuberculosis isoniazid resistance as well as the mechanism related to high expression of the putative effiux genes.Methods We selected 35 M.tuberculosis clinical isolates which were only resistant to isoniazid as well as 10 sensitive M.tuberculosis clinical isolates and using H37Rv as control.Each strain was cultured in 7H9 liquid medium without isoniazid and with subinhibitory isoniazid concentration (1/4 MIC) induction.After RNA extraction and reverse transcription,real-time PCR was conducted to assess the expression changes of 27 putative drug effiux pump genes with formula 2-△△CT to calculate the expression of each putative drug efflux pump genes.Results Of the 27 putative genes,13 of them were expressed at high level.High expression of Rv1258c gene had the maximum number of 6strains,followed by high expression of Rv0849 and Rv2265 which both had 5 strains.Fourteen strains (40.00％) out of the 35 strains had high expression pump genes.Six strains (17.14％) had only one highly expressed putative efflux pump gene.Eight strains (22.86％) had two or more highly expressed putative effiux pump genes,including two,four,five,seven genes that highly expressed in 4,2,1,1strains respectively.For the 27 putative genes,ten sensitive strains and H37Rv did not show highly expressed genes.Conclusion Rv1258c,Rv2265,Rv0849,etc.genes might be the putative effiux pumps genes of M.tuberculosis resistant to isoniazid.Isoniazid might serve as the inducer of M.tuberculosis part putative effiux pump genes,inducing activation and causing high expression of these putative effiux pump genes.

SNP-chip technology for identification of origins for prenatally detected marker chromosomes / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the origin of 1 prenatally detected small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) using SNP-chip technology, and to deduce the underlying mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The fetal sample was subjected to karyotype analysis. The identified sSMC was subjected to genom wide scan using a SNP microarray chip. The results were validated with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The karyotype of the fetus was determined as 46, X, +mar, which was verified by SNP microarray chip analysis as Yp11.2-11.3 duplication, along with loss of Yq11.2 region, FISH analysis has confirmed that the sSMC has derived from the Y chromosome.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The karyotype of the fetus was determined as 46, X, idic(Y) (pter→ p11.2::11.2→ pter). Regional deletion of Yq11.2 has been associated with male azoospermia. SNP chip analysis can exclude minor deletions and duplications with a size of more than 1 Mb, which may be applied for verifying difficult cases as well as microdeletion and duplication syndromes upon prenatal diagnosis.</p>

Development and identification of polyclonal antibodies against HIV-1 Vpr-derived polypeptides / 病毒学报

To develop polyclonal antibodies against predicted B cell epitopes in HIV-1 accessory protein Vpr, the prepared consensus Vpr amino acid sequence was used to predict potential B cell epitopes by online softwares (ABCpred and Bcepred), the synthesized polypeptides of B-cell epitopes were subsequently conjugated with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and then used to immunize rabbits. The antibody titers were determined by ELISA, and antibody specifity was analyzed by Western-Blotting and immunoprecipitation, respectively. Amino acid residues 3-19 (N) and 82-95 (C) of Vpr were predicted as the potential B cell epitopes. After inoculation of the conjugation of synthesized peptide to KLH, the antibody titers in rabbit sera against N and C peptides reached more than 1:100000 by ELISA. Western-Blotting analysis showed that the polyclonal antibodies reacted with both wild Vpr and fusion protein of GFP with Vpr, no matter Vpr was derived from HIV-1 B subtype or CRF07_BC recombinant form; Immunoprecipitation analysis showed similar reactions to Western-Blotting results. Two B cell epitopes of Vpr were successfully predicted by Bio-informatics methods and polyclonal antibodies against those peptides could be successfully prepared.

Detection of WU polyomavirus in children with low respiratory tract infections using real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Development and application of a real time fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR) assay for detecting WU polyomavirus in children with low respiratory tract infections.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The VP2 gene of WU polyomavirus was selected as the detection target, from which the real time primers and probes were designed. The standard curve was established by using recombinant plasmid as template. And the FQ-PCR assay for specific detection of WU polyomavirus was established. The specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility of the method were evaluated. Furthermore, the clinical specimens from children with respiratory tract infections collected in Wenling First People's Hospital were quantitatively detected using this method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In this study, the FQ-PCR method was established to detect a specific fragment in VP2gene of WU polyomavirus. The standard curve coefficient R2 was 0.998. And this method can detect as low as 50 copies recombinant plasmid. The clinical specimens of sputum and throat swab from children with respiratory tract infections were quantitatively detected using this method. 7 sputum specimens were detected as WU polyomavirus positive in 700 sputum specimens, the positive ratio was 1.00%. No positive specimens were detected in 146 specimens of throat swabs and 846 blood samples from same patient population.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results indicated that the FQ-PCR assay method established in this study was specific, rapid and sensitive for detecting WU polyomavirus in children with lower respiratory tract infections. The sputum specimen is more suitable to be used for gene detection of WU polyomavirus than throat swab or blood.</p>

Characterization of two Chinese families with aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss both carrying a mitochondrial 12S rRNA 1494C>T mutation / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effect of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) secondary mutations, haplotypes, GJB2 gene mutations on phenotype of 1494C>T mutation, and to study the molecular pathogenic mechanism of maternally transmitted aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two Chinese Han pedigrees of maternally transmitted aminoglycoside induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss were collected. The two probands and their family members underwent clinical, genetic and molecular evaluations including audiological examinations and mutational analysis of mitochondrial genome and GJB2 gene.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical evaluation revealed wide range of severity, age-at-onset and audiometric configuration of hearing impairment in matrilineal relatives in both families, for which the penetrance of hearing loss was respectively 42.9% and 28.6% when aminoglycoside-induced deafness was included. When the effect of aminoglycosides was excluded, the penetrances of hearing loss were 14.3% and 14.3%. Sequence analysis of mitochondrial genomes identified a known 12S rRNA 1494C>T mutation, in addition with distinct sets of mtDNA polymorphisms belonging to Eastern Asian haplogroups C4a1a and B4b1c, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mitochondrial 12S rRNA 1494C>T mutation probably underlie the deafness in both families. Lack of significant mutation in the GJB2 gene ruled out involvement of GJB2 in the phenotypic expression. However, aminoglycosides and other nuclear modifier genes may still modify the phenotype of the 1494C>T mutation in these families. The B4b1c is a newly identified haplogroup in aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss family carrying the 1494C>T mutation. The 1494C>T mutation seems to have occurred sporadically through evolution.</p>

Effects of Lin28a and Lin28b on let-7 family activity / 病毒学报

In this report, we study the effects of over-expression of Lin28a and Lin28b on let-7 family activity in HeLaS3. Firstly, we constructed pAAV2neo-Lin28a and pAAV2neo-Lin28b to express Lin28a and Lin28b, respectively. Then, pAAV2neo-Lin28a and pAAV2neo-Lin28b were transfected into HeLaS3, selected with G418 and obtained cell lines, HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a and HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b, to express Lin28a and Lin28b stably. Thereafter, we constructed eight plasmid vectors for detection of let-7 family activity based on pAAV2neo-Gluc-(Fluc). These vectors were further packaged into recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) which were used as sensors, nominated as Asensors, to detect inhibition activity of miRNA at post-transcriptional level. Subsequently, with HeLaS3 as a control, we assayed expression levels of Lin28a and Lin28b by Western blot, detected expression levels of let-7 family by QRT-PCR, and tested let-7 family activity by Asensors in HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a and HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b. Results demonstrated that both HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a and HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28b could express Lin28a and Lin28b effectively. Compared with HeLaS3, the expression level of let-7 family except let-7e declined in HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a. But declining extent among members of let-7 family was different. The let-7 family activity also decreased while the decreasing extent varied among members. Furthermore, the activity level was not consistent with its expression level for the same member in let-7 family. Compared with HeLaS3, both expression level and activity level of let-7 family in HeLaS3/ pAAV2neo-Lin28b were decreased. However, the decreasing extent of let-7 family expression changes was larger than that of HeLaS3/pAAV2neo-Lin28a while the decreasing extent of activity changes was similar. In this study, we established a method to detect and compare post-transcriptional inhibition level mediated by miRNA complementary targets. We firstly clarified the effect of Lin28a and Lin28b on let-7 family activity profile and found that this effect was not the same as that at expression level of let-7 family, suggesting that it was more comprehensive to understand miRNA regulation roles to detect both miRNA expression and activity. This paves a way for further research on mechanism of regulation of let-7 family.

Modifier factors influencing the phenotypic manifestation of the deafness associated mitochondrial DNA mutations / 中华医学遗传学杂志

Mutations in the mitochondrial DNA have been found to be one of the most important causes of sensorineural hearing loss. In particular, these mutations often occur in the mitochondrial 12S rRNA and tRNA genes. Of these, the homoplasmic A1555G and C1494T mutations in the 12S rRNA have been associated with both aminoglycoside induced and nonsyndromic hearing impairment in many families worldwide. Children carrying the A1555G or C1494T mutation are susceptible to the exposure of ototoxic drugs, thereby inducing or worsening hearing loss. Individuals harboring A1555G or C1494T mutation can also develop hearing loss even in the absence of aminoglycoside exposure. However, matrilineal relatives of intra-families or inter-families carrying the A1555G or C1494T mutation exhibit a wide range of severity, age-at-onset, and audiometric configuration of hearing impairment. These indicate that the A1555G or C1494T mutation is a primary factor underlying the development of deafness but insufficient to produce the clinical phenotype.Thus, other modifier factors, such as aminoglycoside(s), mitochondria l DNA haplotype(s) or nuclear modifier gene(s), play a role in the phenotypic expression of the deafness-associated mitochondrial 12S rRNA A1555G or C1494T mutation. In this review, we summarize the modifier factors for the phenotypic expression of deafness-associated 12S rRNA A1555G and C1494T mutations and propose the molecular pathogenetic mechanism of maternally inherited deafness.

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>

Maternally inherited aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss in five Han Chinese pedigrees / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of the mitochondrial 12S rRNA mutations on aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss, to carry out the clinical and molecular characterization of five Han Chinese pedigrees with maternally transmitted aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Five pedigrees of maternally transmitted aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss were collected, genomic DNA was extracted, and complete mitochondrial genomes and the gap junction protein beta 2 (GJB2) gene were amplified and sequenced.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Clinical evaluation revealed a wide range of severity, age-at-onset and audiometric configuration of hearing impairment in the matrilineal relatives in these families. The penetrance rates of hearing loss in these pedigrees were 17.6%, 50.0%, 66.7%, 31.3% and 23.1%, with an average of 37.7%, when aminoglycoside-induced deafness was included. Sequence analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes in these pedigrees identified the known 1555A>G mutation and distinct sets of mitochondrial DNA(mtDNA) polymorphisms belonging to Eastern Asian haplogroups D4b2b, B4c1b1, F3, C1 and D5a, respectively. Of these variants, ND1 L89T and CO3 A200T mutations resided at the highly conservative regions. However, there were no functionally significant mutations in tRNAs and rRNAs or secondary known mutations. No hearing loss related GJB2 gene mutation was observed.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The lack of significant mutation in the ruled out the possible involvement of GJB2 in the phenotypic expression of the 1555A>G mutation in those affected subjects. However, aminoglycosides, mtDNA variations and other nuclear modifier genes may play an important role in the phenotypic manifestation of the 1555A>G mutation in these Chinese families.</p>

Preparation and characterization of reference samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate protein-10 for time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To prepare reference samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) and CFP10-streptavidin fusion proteins (CFP10/SA) for time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CFP10 gene was amplified by PCR from Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv and cloned into pET24b, pET24b-streptavidin (SA) or pET21a-SA expression vectors. The recombinant proteins CFP10, CFP10-SA and SA-CFP10 were expressed in Rosetta cells, purified via nickel affinity chromatography and refolded by dialysis. The sensitivity and stability of the resultant proteins as reference samples were evaluated by double-antibody sandwich TRFIA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CFP10-SA and SA-CFP10 fusion proteins were expressed as inclusion bodies, whereas CFP10 was expressed in a soluble form. The resultant purity of the 3 recombinant proteins all exceeded 95%. TRFIA results showed that CFP-SA fusion protein possessed the best sensitivity (0.02 µg/L) and stability.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The reference samples of CFP10 for TRFIA detection have been successfully prepared and can be used in the development of a diagnostic kit for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.</p>

No association of K469E polymorphism of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 with rheumatoid arthritis / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene (ICAM-1) K469E polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and seventy-five patients with RA and 254 healthy individuals were collected and enrolled in the study. The K469E polymorphism of ICAM-1 gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype frequencies of KK, KE and EE of K469E polymorphism were 0.535,0.411 and 0.054 respectively in the RA patients, and 0.512,0.437 and 0.051 respectively in the healthy individuals, and there was no significant difference between the two groups (chi² = 0.371, P = 0.831). The frequencies of the K469 allele were 0.74 and 0.73 in the RA patients and the controls respectively (chi² = 0.127, P = 0.721, OR = 1.051, 95%CI:0.800-1.381). No significant difference was observed in KK + KE genotype frequencies between the two groups (P = 0.863), with an odds ratio of 0.935 (95%CI:0.436-2.005).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The K469E polymorphism of the ICAM-1 gene was not associated with the susceptibility of rheumatoid arthritis.</p>

Association study on the mitochondrial genome region np16181-16193 variation with type 2 diabetes mellitus / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of the mitochondrial DNA region np16181-16193 variations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples of 199 unrelated T2DM patients and 205 normal controls were collected to detect the mitochondrial DNA region np16181-16193 variations by PCR and sequencing, and to analyze the association of the variations with the major clinical symptoms.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mitochondrial DNA np16181-16193 region is a hypervariable area, with several polymorphisms. Four types of np16181-16193 region variations were found only in T2DM. The 1-hour postprandial blood glucose (P1BG) in the T2DM individuals with np16181-16193 region variations was significantly higher than those without variations (P<0.05), while there was no significant difference in other biochemical parameters (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The mitochondrial DNA np16181-16193 variations could not be regarded as a risk factor for T2DM.</p>

Detection of adenoviruses in feces of infants with diarrhea by Real-time PCR / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective A Real-time PCR method was established to study the infection of adenovirus (Ad) in infants with sporadic diarrhea in Wenzhou. Methods According to hexon gene of adenovirus, one prime pair was designed as universal primes and applied to detect adenovirus DNA by Real-time PCR. It was also compared with immunochromatographic assay. 157 fecal specimens from diarrhea infants were tested while positive specimens were sequenced and identified by isolate culture and restriction endonucleases. Results A rapid and specific Real-time PCR assay for detection adenovirns was set up. The positive rates of adenovirns in fecal specimens by immunochromatographic assay and Real-time PCR were 1.91% (3/157) and 3.18% (5/157), respectively. Out of the 154 specimens with negative result from immunochromatographic assay, 2 showed positive by Real-time PCR. 5 positive specimens, identified by Real-time PCR, were sequenced as Ad3 (3/157, 1.91% ) and Ad7 (2/157, 1.27% ). 2 of the 5 positive specimens were proved to be Ad3 by cell culture and restriction endonucleases.Conclusion Real-time PCR combined with sequence analysis seemed more sensitive and specific so could be used for identifying types of adenovirus in clinical specimens. Ad3 and Ad7 were important pathogens which caused infant sporadic diarrhea in Wenzhou during February and April in 2008.

Regulating effects of Paecilomyces cicadae polysaccharides on immunity of aged rats / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Paecilomyces cicadae polysaccharide (PCPS) on the immunological function of aged rats in vivo.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The young and old rats were administered with normal saline as control groups, and the rats from test group were sc given 50, 100, 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) dosage of PCPS for 3 weeks. The phagocytizing rate and index of PMphi, AMphi to S. aureas were observed, and the colorimetric MTI was used to analyze the proliferative activity of spleenocytes which had been stimulated with ConA or LPS. We also inspected the ability varing of ACP, LDH, ARG of spleen, and observed the ultramicro structure of spleen under the SEM.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The phagocytosis of Mphi was lower in aged group than that in young' s group, and the proliferative activity of spleenocytes was lower too. The activities of ACP, LDH, ARG of spleen were extremely decreased (P < 0.01) in aged rats as well. The proliferative activity and phagocytotic rate were both extremely increased in PCPS groups (P < 0.01), and the mitochondrion and endoplasmic reticulum of spleen were accrementition as well (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PCPS could enhance the phagocytizing function of PMphi, AMphi of aged rats in vivo, and strengthen the immune function of spleen and its proliferative activity as well. Then the immunity of aged rats could be improved. The PCPS may be an anti-aging agent.</p>

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy is associated with the mitochondrial G11696A mutation in two Chinese families / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To report the clinical, genetic, and molecular characterization of two Chinese families with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ophthalmological examinations showed that only probands in two families exhibited visual loss at the age of 10 and 17 years respectively. The entire mitochondrial genome of two probands was PCR amplified in 24 overlapping fragments using sets of oligonucleotide primers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Mutational analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in these pedigrees revealed the absence of three common LHON associated G11778A, G3460A and T144484 mutations but the presence of homoplastic LHON associated ND4 G11696A mutation, which was present in one out of 167 Chinese healthy controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Sequence analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes in two pedigrees showed the distinct sets of mtDNA polymorphisms, belonging to Eastern Asian haplogroup D4. The incomplete penetrance of visual loss and the presence of one in 167 controls suggested that this mutation itself is insufficient to produce a clinical phenotype and other modifier factors play a role in the phenotypic manifestation. The lack of functional mtDNA variants in these pedigrees ruled out the role of mitochondrial background in the phenotypic expression of visual loss. Therefore, nuclear modifier gene(s) or environmental factor(s) may play a role in the phenotypic expression of the LHON-associated G11696A mutation in two Chinese pedigrees.</p>