Methodological Research on Rapid Detection and Genotyping of NPM1 Gene Mutations in Leukemia / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To establish a method for rapid detection and typing of NPM1 mutations in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by fluorescence melting curve analysis technology.@*METHODS@#A pair of primers and a fluorescent single-stranded probe (molecule beacon) were designed for the mutant genes mutA, mutB, mutD in exon 12 of nucleopsin (NPM1) and wild type. With a real-time qPCR, the A, B, and D gene mutations of NPM1 were detected and typed by different-melting curve peak value of the probe through RT-PCR.@*RESULTS@#This method could detected the mutations of A, B, and D in NPM1 effectively with a sensitivity of 1%. Furthermore, 62 AML clinical samples were evaluated by the method. In the results, the detection rate and typing of NPM1 mutations were consistent with the sequencing results of clinical samples.@*CONCLUSION@#There are three features in the method of fluorescence melting curve analysis: stable PCR system, easy to operate, and the easily distinguishable results. The method might meet the demand for rapid typing of NPM1 gene mutation in early diagnosis or concomitant diagnosis of AML.

Relationship between fasting plasma glucose and severity of coronary artery disease in non-diabetic Kazakh population in Xinjiang / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To investigate the relationship between the fasting blood glucose level and the severity of coronary artery disease among the Kazakh population in Xinjiang. Methods A total of 411 Kazakh patients with no known history of diabetes mellitus were enrolled in this study for highly suspected of coronary artery disease(CAD) and subesquently underwent coronary artery angiography. Coronary artery disease was diagnosed in 280 patients after coronary artery argiography. The severity of the disease was expressed in terms of Gensini score. All subjects were classified into 4 groups according to the level of fasting plasma glucose (FPG)< 5.6 mmol / L, 5.6-6.1 mmol / L, 6.1-7.0 mmol / L and ≥7.0 mmol / L. All the biochemical parameters, clinical data and coronary artery angiographic data were compared, and the possible risk factors related to the severity of coronary artery disease were studied. Results Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that FPG was significantly associated with coronary artery disease(OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.25-1.87,P<0.001).The results showed that the prevalence of angiographic CAD and the Gensini score increased with the increasing FPG levels among the four groups.The FPG level was significantly correlated with the Gensini score (P<0.001). Conclusions FPG is significantly associated with coronary artery disease and its severity in the Kazakh population in Xinjiang.

TGF-β1 signal pathway in the regulation of inflammation in patients with atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the expression changes of inflammatory markers TGF-β1, Smad3 and IL-6 in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), and to explore the significance of TGF-β1 signaling pathway in the structural remodeling of AF.@*METHODS@#The expression of TGF-β1, Smad3 and IL-6 in 50 cases with AF and 30 normal cases were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA.@*RESULTS@#The TGF-β1, Smad3 and IL-6 mRNA and protein expression levels in patients with AF were significantly higher than that in the control group (P0.05). The TGF-β1mRNA expression in the ⩾ 50 years subgroup was significantly higher than that in the <50 years subgroups, and it was higher in the NYHA III subgroup than in the I/II grade subgroup. It was also higher in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% subgroup than in LVEF ⩾ 50% group, and it was significantly higher in the AF time ⩾ 36 months subgroup than that in <36 months subgroup (P<0.05). The Smad3 and IL-6 expressions in the in the LVEF <50% subgroup were both high that than that in LVEF ⩾ 50% group, and higher in the AF time ⩾ 36 months subgroup than that in <36 months subgroup (P<0.05). There were a positive correlation between TGF-β1, Smad3 and IL-6 (r=0.687, r=0.547). There were also a positive correlation between Smad3 and IL-6 mRNA (r=0.823).@*CONCLUSIONS@#AF is associated with inflammation, and the inflammation is also involved in the fibrillation and sustain of AF. The TGF-β1 signal pathway may be involved in the process of atrial structural remodeling in patients with AF, and iss related with the occurrence and maintenance of AF.

Viable myocardium detecting by CARTO voltage mapping in swine model of acute myocardial infarction / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the accuracy and practicability of detecting viable myocardium by CARTO voltage mapping in swine model of acute myocardial infarction (MI).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>MI was induced in 13 anesthetized swines via occluding the distal of left anterior descending coronary arteries by angioplasty balloon for 60-90 minutes. The viable myocardium detection by CARTO voltage mapping was made after reconstruction of the left ventricle using CARTO and the results were compared with TTC staining. The standard of CARTO voltage to detect viable myocardium was 0.5 - 1.5 mV while viable myocardium showed pink color by TTC staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Eleven out of 13 swines survived the operation and 2 swines died of ventricular fibrillation at 45 and 65 minutes post ischemia. Left ventricle was divided into 16 segments and 176 segments from 11 swines were analyzed. Viable myocardium detected by CARTO voltage mapping was identical as identified by TTC staining (Kappa = 0.816, P < 0.001). Taken the TTC result as standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy rate of CARTO voltage mapping are 71.8%, 96.5% and 90.9% respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CARTO voltage mapping could be used as a reliable tool to detect viable myocardium in this model.</p>