Genetic diagnosis of Liddle's syndrome by mutation analysis of SCNN1B and SCNN1G in a Chinese family / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Liddle's syndrome is a rare autosomal-dominant monogenic form of salt-sensitive hypertension. This study aimed to screen the gene mutation in β and γ subunits of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) of a Chinese family with Liddle's syndrome, an autosomal dominant form of hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DNA samples from the proband with early-onset, treatment-resistant hypertension and suppressed plasma renin activity were initially screened for mutations in the C-terminal exons of the ENaC β or γ subunit genes, using amplification by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing. We also screened the C-terminus of SCNN1B and SCNN1G in family members, and screened for the mutation in 150 controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genetic analysis of the β ENaC gene revealed a missense mutation of CCC to TCC at codon 616 in the proband, her mother and her grandmother. One hundred and fifty randomly selected controls had not the mutation, indicating that this is not a common genetic polymorphism. There was no mutation of the γ ENaC gene in any of the individuals examined.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Through direct DNA sequencing analysis, we established the diagnosis of Liddle's syndrome for the proband and her families, and provided tailored therapies to this abnormality. These results provide further evidence that Pro616Ser is a critical amino acid that has a key role in the inhibition of sodium channel activity.</p>

Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on apoptosis of neuronal cells and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in rat brain tissue / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effects of Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on apoptosis of neuronal cells and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins and to explore the mechanism of neurotoxicity induced by BaP in rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 32 SD rats were divided randomly into 4 groups, i.e. 3 BaP (126.2, 63.1 and 31.5 µg/kg) groups and a solvent control (50 µg/kg olive oil) group. All rats were exposed to BaP or olive oil by lateral cerebral ventricle micro-injection 1 time a week for 3 weeks. The apoptosis of neuronal cells was detected with TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nicked labeling (TUNEL) assay and the expression levels of Bcl-2 and Bax were measured with SABC immunohistochemistry in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus tissues of rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of TUNEL assay showed that apoptosis bodies on the surface of the neurons in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were clearly observed and the number of apoptosis bodies increased with BaP. Apoptosis indexes (AIs) of the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus in high exposure group were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The analysis of immunohistochemistry showed that the Bcl-2 expression levels significantly decreased, the Bax expression levels obviously increased and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax decreased in the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus of medium and high exposure groups, as compared with control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). In the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus, there were the negative correlation (r = -0.927, P < 0.01; r = -0.934, P < 0.01) between AI and Bcl-2, the positive correlation (r = 0.858, P < 0.01; r = 0.847, P < 0.01) between AI and Bax and the negative correlation (r = -0.939, P < 0.01; r = -0.942, P < 0.01) between AI and Bcl-2/Bax.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>BaP could induce the apoptosis of neuronal cells in the rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Bcl-2 and Bax protein expression may play an important role in the apoptosis of neuronal cells induced by BaP.</p>

Establishment of B lymphoblastoid cell lines of Miao pedigree with Bardet-Biedl syndrome / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines of a Miao core pedigree with Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS), in order to provide a long-term source of material for research.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With Epstein-Barr virus transformation of B cells and addition of cyclosporine A to inhibit the activity of T cells, fresh anticoagulated blood samples with heparin were collected from 12 members of the core pedigree, and were used to establish the immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines of B lymphocytes.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twelve immortalized lymphoblastoid cell lines of the core BBS pedigree were obtained successfully.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The immortalized B lymphoblastoid cell lines of the Miao pedigree with BBS can preserve the whole genome information and provide long-term research materials for BBS study.</p>

Characteristic of the neurobehavioral functional changes in coke oven workers / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the neurobehavioral function of coke oven workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>200 healthy adult male coke oven workers were selected from a coke plant of a state-owned steel enterprise in Taiyuan City. 88 controls occupationally unexposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were selected from the same enterprise. All the subjects participated in this investigation voluntarily in their consent. Concentration of B(a)P in the working environment was monitored by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Urine samples were sampled immediately after working shifts. The level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was determined by HPLC. General information of workers correlated with the investigation was collected in a questionnaire according to the same criteria by well-trained investigators. Neurobehavioral core test battery (NCTB) recommended WHO was performed on coke oven workers and controls to test the neurobehavioral changes and the mood state.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>the concentration of B(a)P at oven bottom,oven side and oven top were 0.0195 microg/m3, 0.186 microg/m3 and 1.624 microg/m3 respectively, that at oven side and oven top being higher than the one stipulated by the occupational hygiene criterion. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was significantly different between the exposure group (3.42 +/- 0.98 micromol/mol creatinine) and control group (2.75 +/- 1.09 micromol/mol creatinine). No significant differences were found between exposure group and control group of age, working years, smoking, drinking and unhealthy food consumption; however, compared to the controls, the scores of total digital span, the forward digital span, and right dotting in the coke oven workers were lower, but that of total dotting was higher, with a statistical significance. According to urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration, all the subjects were divided into three groups. (<3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, 3.10 micromol/mol creatinine, >3.87 micromol/mol creatinine). Significant differences of the total digital span, the forward digital span, backward digital span, digit symbol and Benton visual retentions existed in different urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration groups and showed a dose-response tendency. Results of multiple stepwise regression analysis and correlation analysis showed that the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene affected memory and perception of coke oven workers and negative correlations between the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and changes in neurobehavioral function were found.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>PAHs mainly causes decrease of memory and perception in coke oven workers.</p>

Lipid peroxidation injury and endoplasmic reticulum stress in Al-induced apoptosis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of lipid peroxidation injury and endoplasmic reticulum stress in Al-induced apoptosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Neurons from 0-3 day rats were cultured and treated with different concentrations of AlCl3.6H2O. Morphologic changes of neurons and endoplasmic reticulum were observed under fluorescent and transmission electron microscope; activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and ATP enzymes were detected.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Typical morphologic changes in neurons apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum were found under fluorescent and transmission electron microscope; SOD enzyme viability and ATP enzyme viability were significantly increased in the low-dosage group, but reduced in mid and high-dosage group (P < 0.01), whereas MDA levels decreased in the low-dosage group, but increased in mid and high-dosage group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Aluminum may induce neurons apoptosis, and lipid peroxidation injury in endoplasmic reticulum plays an important role in the apoptosis progression.</p>

Effect of 1, 2-dichloroethane on blood brain barrier / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of 1, 2-dichloroethane (1, 2-DCE) on blood brain barrier.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Acute toxic encephalopathy model was copied with the consecutive static inhalation of 1, 2-DCE. The water content of brain tissue was measured, and the blood brain barrier permeability was detected with lanthanum nitrate. The brain microvascular endothelial cells and neuroglial cells were cultured in vitro, which were administrated with 1, 2-DCE. The cell morphologic structures were observed under light microscope and electron microscope.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The extracellular edema was most found in the cerebral tissue and the leakage of lanthanum particles through the barrier were found with the lanthanum tracking method. (2) The water content in cerebral cortex in the moderate and high dose groups was significantly higher than that in the control group and became severer with the increases of the intoxicated time. The water content in cerebral medulla was significantly increased only at 6 hours after the intoxication. (3) The normal morphological structure of brain microvascular endothelial cells and neuroglial cells could be injured by 1, 2-DCE, and the injury to neuroglial cells caused by 1, 2-DCE occurred earlier and severer than that to brain microvascular endothelial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>1, 2-DCE can damage blood brain barrier and induce cerebral edema.</p>