Analysis of β-thalassemia mutations in Fujian province / 中国地方病学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the prevalence and spectrum of β-thalassemia mutations in Fujian province,and to provide a reference for prenatal diagnosis and genetic counseling in this population.Methods Two thousand three hundred and one blood samples were randomly selected from 9 different areas of Fujian province from May 2008 to December 2010.PCR and reverse dot blot hybridization (RDB) were adopted for detection of the 17 common types of mutation,and the frequency of each genotype of β-thalassemia mutations was calculated.The β-globin gene of unknown positive samples were analyzed directly with DNA sequencing.Results Three hundred and fifty-nine cases were detected with β-thalassemia mutations of the 2301 copy blood samples submitted,and the detection rate was 15.60％ (359/2301).Of the mutated genes,12 different mutations were identified,namely IVS-2-654(C→T),CD41-42(-TCTT),CD17(A→T),-28(A→G),CD27-28(+C),CD26(G→A),CD71-72(+A),IVS-1-1(G→T),CD43(G→T),-29(A→G),initiation codon ATG→AGG and CD36(-C).Mutation frequencies were 46.54％ (175/376),33.24％ (125/376),9.31％ (35/376),5.05％ (19/376),2.13％(8/376),1.33％(5/376),0.80％(3/376),0.27％(1/376),0.27％(1/376),0.27％(1/376),0.53％(2/376),and 0.27％(1/376),respectively.The most common mutations were IVS-2-654 (C→T) and CD41-42 (-TCTT),which accounted for 79.78％(300/376) of total genetic mutations.In addition,a novel β-globin gene mutation CD36 (-C) allele was detected for the first time,the deletion of a nucleotide C at code 36 within exon 2 lead to a frameshift mutation that could result in a premature termination at code 60.Conclusions β-thalassemia mutations in Fujian province are complex with significant genetic heterogeneity.We present for the first time the detection of a new β-thalassemia mutation in the population:CD36(-C),which provides valuable information for genetic counseling and prenatal diagnosis in Fujian province.

Copy-number variations of SHANK3 and related clinical phenotypes in children with autism / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore possible relationship between copy-number variations (CNVs) in 15q11-13, 16p11 and SHANK3 gene by using multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and the phenotypes in children with autism and to further explore the clinical application of MLPA to make an etiological diagnosis of Autism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The diagnosed of autism was made according to the criteria of the ICD-10 and DSM-IV, with typical cluster of symptoms comprise social disability, communication impairments and repetitious behaviors. MLPA KIT P343-C1 AUTISM-1 was used to detect and describe the incidence of CNVs in these three domains.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among 109 cases collected from 102 autistic pedigrees, 2 individuals had SHANK3 microdeletion, accounting for approximately 2% (2/109) of cases, suggesting the proportion of SHANK3 microdeletion might contribute to typical autism. The phenotypic traits of patients with SHANK3 microdeletions showed homogenicity in severe core symptoms and mental retardation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SHANK3 microdeletion is an important genetics component for autism, which may explain 2% typical autism cases. SHANK3 microdeletion might explain autistic core symptoms and mental retardation. MLPA is a sensitive and a high throughput technique to detect CNVs in specific DNA segments, which is beneficial for further investigation of etiology of autism.</p>

Effect of supplemented Taoren Chengqi decoction on NIT-1, a pancreatic beta-cell from a transgenic NOD/Lt mouse / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of Supplemented Taoren Chengqi decoction (STCD) on the secretion of insulin and proliferation of NIT-1.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The effect of STCD and the serum of rat after orally administrating of STCD on the secretion of insulin and proliferation of NIT-1 were studied. The proliferation of NIT-1 was measured by 3H-TdR incorporation and cell counting methods, while the secretion of insulin was measured from the cultured medium by the ultra sensitive rat insulin ELISIA kit.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Both the STCD and the serum of rat after orally administrating of STCD significantly could increased the secretion of insulin and proliferation of NIT-1.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The treatment of the diabetic patients by STCD might be through with its improvement of secretion of insulin and proliferation on pancreatic beta-cell.</p>

Flow cytometry analysis and differentiation study of selected nestin positive cells / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To verify the hypothesis that selected nestin positive cells derived from human fetal pancreas (according as medical ethnics) have surface markers similar to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and that these cells have multilineage potential.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The cell surface markers were determined by flow cytometry, and then the potential that these cells might be differentiated into adipocytes and osteoplasts were explored.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>These cells have similar surface markers as MSCs of bone marrow origin. These cells was induced to differentiate into adipocytes and osteoplasts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Selected nestin positive cells derived from human fetal pancreas have certain characteristics of MSCs.</p>