Study on serum level of HTR1A promoter methylation in manic episode of bipolar disorder type Ⅰ / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

Objective To explore the correlation between the methylation level of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1A(HTR1A) gene promoter region and severity of symptom in the manic epi-sode patients with bipolar disorder type Ⅰ(BD-Ⅰ). Methods Fifty six manic episode patients with BD-Ⅰand fifty nine healthy controls were randomly included in the study. The level of HTR1A gene promoter meth-ylation was measured with pyrosequencing technique in both manic episode patients with BD-Ⅰ and the healthy controls. The severity of symptoms was assessed with score of Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale (BRMS) in patients with BD-Ⅰ. Pearson correlation analysis was employed to explore the correlation be-tween the serum level of HTR1A promoter methylation and score of BRMS in BD-Ⅰgroup. Results In-creased serum level of HTR1A gene promoter methylation was found in manic episode patients with BD-Ⅰ((66. 55±10. 55)%) compared with that in healthy controls((54. 03±8. 85)%)(P<0. 01). Positive corre-lation was found between the serum level of HTR1A gene promoter methylation and total score of BRMS in manic patient with BD-Ⅰ(r=0. 534,P<0. 01). Conclusion The current findings suggest that the serum level of HTR1A gene promoter methylation can be an epigenetic indicator for severity of manic symptom in BD-Ⅰ.

Differences of genome-wide methylation level and methylated genes be-tween nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in same genetic background but different radiation resistance / 中国病理生理杂志

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To compare the differences of the genome-wide methylation levels and methylated regions be-tween nasopharyngeal carcinoma ( NPC) cells in the same genetic background but different radiation resistance ( CNE-2 cells and CNE-2R cells).METHODS:Using the method which was developed by Doctor Zhao Cun-you, based on using methyl-sensitive restriction enzyme to measure the genome-wide methylation levels.In addition, MeDIP-Seq was used to analyze the methylated regions in 6 gene functional elements, including the upstream 2k sequence, 5’ UTR, coding se-quence, intron, 3’UTR and downstream 2k sequence, between CNE-2 cells and CNE-2R cells.RESULTS:The genome-wide methylation level was approximately 30%lower in CNE-2R cells than that in CNE-2 cells.No obvious difference on the amount of genes and the coverage of the peak in the 6 gene functional elements was observed.However, the methylation pattern of plentiful genes had altered in the gene function elements.CONCLUSION:The genome-wide methylation levels and methylated regions between NPC cells in the same genetic background but different radiation resistance were quite dif-ferent, indicating that the DNA methylation may be associated with NPC radioresistance.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter of GABAA receptor β2 subunit gene with schizophrenia / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the genetic association between schizophrenia and the polymorphism of GABA(A) receptor β2 subunit (GABRB2) gene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A population association analysis was performed of 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the proximal promoter of GABRB2 gene by PCR and sequencing of the genomic DNA in a cohort of 172 schizophrenics and 167 controls of Chinese Han nationality.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>One out of the 5 SNPs, namely rs3811996, was found to be significantly associated with schizophrenia especially in the male cohorts, where the heterozygous genotypes (A/G) and minor allele G displayed lower frequencies in case group than in the controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>We found a new risk, SNP rs3811996, for paranoia schizophrenia, which further supports the importance of genetic variations of GABRB2 in the etiology of schizophrenia.</p>

Expression and clinical significance of phosphorylation of mammalian target protein of rapamycin in human glioma / 中国医师进修杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of phosphorylation of mammalian target protein of rapamycin (pmTOR) expression with glioma malignancy grades,and the correlation of pmTOR expression with Survivin and Ki-67,which represent tumor cell anti-apoptosis ability and reproductive activity.MethodsImmunohistochemistry EliVision method was employed to detect the expression of pmTOR,Survivin and Ki-67 in paraffin tissues from 87 patients with glioma (grade Ⅰ - Ⅱ 27 cases,grade Ⅲ24 cases and grade Ⅳ 36 cases).The association between positive expression rate,level of pmTOR and malignancy grades,and the correlation of its expression level with Survivin and Ki-67 were further evaluated.Results There was no significant difference in the positive expression rate of pmTOR among grade Ⅰ - Ⅱ(77.8％,21/27),grade Ⅲ(75.0％,18/24) and grade Ⅳ (72.2％,23/36) (P ＞ 0.05).However,the significant association between pmTOR expression level and malignancy grades was observed.The expression from 87 patients with glioma was significantly positively correlated with Survivin and Ki-67 expression level (r =0.858,P ＜ 0.01 ;r =0.708,P ＜ 0.01 ).ConclusionsThe expression level of pmTOR is associated with malignancy grades,tumor cell anti-apoptosis ability and reproductive activity.pmTOR may be served as a useful marker for predicting the biological behavior of glioma and a useful target for gene therapy.

Simultaneous detection of influenza virus type B and influenza A virus subtypes H1N1, H3N2, and H5N1 using multiplex real-time RT-PCR.

Use of multiplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the simultaneous detection of influenza type B virus and influenza A virus subtypes H5N1, H3N2, and H1N1 has been described. The method exhibited a high specificity and sensitivity of approximately 10(1)-10(2) copies per microliter or 10(-3)-10(-2) TCID50/L for each subtype, as well as a high reproducibility with coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 0.27% to 4.20%. The assays can be performed commendably on various models of real-time PCR instruments; including ABI7500, ROCH 2.0, and Mx3005p. In an analysis of 436 clinical samples from patients during the year 2009, this detection method has successfully identified 261 positive samples, as compared to only 189 positive samples using the conventional cell culture systems, and at the same time further differentiated them as 35 type B, 21 subtype H1N1, and 205 subtype H3N2. The results indicate that the multiplex real-time RT-PCR method is a potential tool for rapid screening of influenza virus from a large pool of clinical samples during flu pandemics and facilitates early influenza virus identification in most public health laboratories around the world.