Expression of Epstein-Barr Virus DNA in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and Plasma in Patients with EBV-Associated Diseases / 现代检验医学杂志

Objective To explore the expression of Epstein-Barr virus DNA(EBV DNA)in the peripheral blood lymphocytes and plasma of patients with EBV-associated diseases.Methods The whole blood samples were collected from 112 patients with suspected EB virus infection diseases,including 14 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma(NPC),16 cases of infectious mononucleosis(IM),22 cases of lymphoma,23 cases of autoimmune disease,26 cases of upper respiratory tract infection, and 11 cases of abnormal liver function.The levels of EBV DNA in lymphocytes and plasma of the same sample were detec-ted by fluorescence quantitative PCR(FQ-PCR).Results The EBV DNA positive rates in lymphocytes and plasma of all 112 patients were 83.0%(93/112)and 27.7%(31/112)respectively,with statistically significant difference(χ2=60.02,P<0.01).The positive rate and the load of EB virus DNA in lymphocytes and plasma of 14 patients with nasopharyngeal car-cinoma(NPC)had no statistical difference(χ2=2.25,t=-1.04,all P>0.05).However,patients with lymphoma,infec-tious mononucleosis,upper respiratory tract infection,autoimmune disease or abnormal liver function,the positive rates and the concentration of EBV DNA in the plasma were dramatically lower than those in the peripheral blood lymphocytes,and the difference was statistically significant(χ2=4.17~15.06,all P<0.05;t=3.94~10.45,all P<0.01).Conclusion The detection of EB DNA in peripheral blood lymphocytes of non NPC patients by FQ-PCR might be better than that in plasma. There was no statistical difference between the detection of EBV DNA in lymphocytes and plasma of patients with nasopha-ryngeal carcinoma.Appropriate specimen type could be selected according to clinical consideration.

Expression of FLICE-inhibitory protein in synovial tissue and its association with synovial inflammation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the expression of FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and analyze its correlation with synovial inflammation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of FLIP was assessed in 11 JIA and 3 normal synovial tissue samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The cell types expressing FLIP were further characterized, and the correlation of FLIP expression with the degree of synovial inflammation, as well as the activity of caspase 8 was then analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR revealed the expression of FLIP mRNA in all 11 JIA samples, but not in 3 normal synovial tissues. In JIA, FLIP expression could be found in both the lining and sublining layers, mainly in the macrophage-like cells. Moreover, the expression of FLIP in JIA synovial tissues was positively correlated with the degree of synovial inflammation (r = 0.563, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of antiapoptotic FLIP in JIA synovial tissue and its correlation to accumulation of inflammatory cells in synovial tissue suggests that FLIP potentially extends the lifespan of synovial cells and thus contributes to the progression of joint destruction.</p>

Detection of a copy number mutation on chromosome 7q36 using the Affymetrix SNP Array 6.0 / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To refine the extent of a 7q36 duplication in a Chinese family with triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome and syndactyly type IV using the Affymetrix SNP Array combined with quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA was extracted and genotyped with the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0. Copy number analysis was performed on the raw data using the Affymetrix Genotyping Console 3.0. The qPCR assay was carried out using the DeltaDeltaCT method to validate the duplication.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>With use of the combined approach, we were able to narrow down the breakpoint intervals from 113 kb and 33 kb to 5.4 kb and 1.8 kb, respectively. These allowed us to refine the extent of the 7q36 duplication from 291-437 kb to 379-387 kb.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Screening with the Affymetrix Genome-Wide Human SNP Array 6.0 followed by the validation using qPCR is a reliable approach for high-resolution detection of copy number mutations.</p>

Expression of CC chemokine ligand 5 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity and medication / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the levels of CC chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) in serum and synovial fluid (SF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their relations with disease activity and medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CCL5 in serum and SF was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 28 RA patients and 21 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In RA patients, the correlations of CCL5 levels in serum and SF with disease activity were analyzed. Meanwhile, the serum CCL5 levels among RA patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), Tripterygium Glucosides, and other Chinese herbs without disease-modifying effects were also compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CCL5 levels in both serum and SF of RA patients were significantly higher than those of OA patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, the level of CCL5 was higher in SF than that in serum of RA patients (P < 0.01). Serum CCL5 level was correlated significantly with the number of swollen joints (r = 0.3329, P < 0.05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.4001, P < 0.05), and C reactive protein (r = 0.3735, P < 0.01). In addition, the level of CCL5 had a trend of lower in patients treated with DMARDs or Tripterygium Glucosides than those treated with other Chinese herbs, although the difference was not significant among those patients due to the small number of patients in each group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In RA patients, the expression of CCL5 increases and correlates with some clinical and laboratory parameters of RA, which indicate that CCL5 plays an important role in RA and may serve as a useful marker of disease activity. DMARDs and Tripterygium Glucosides might exert their clinical effects through reducing CCL5 production in RA.</p>