A bioinformatics analysis of the susceptibility genes in Stanford type A aortic dissection.

Background: The expression levels of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and mRNAs in human acute Stanford type A aortic dissecting aneurysm and normal active vascular tissues were compared using the array lncRNA/mRNA expression profile chip technology. Methods: The tissue samples of 5 patients who presented with Stanford type A aortic dissections and the normal ascending aorta tissues from 5 donor heart transplantation patients receiving surgical treatment in Ganzhou People's Hospital were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining were performed to investigate the structural features of the ascending aortic vascular tissue. Nanodropnd-100 was used to detect the surface level of RNA in 10 samples included in the experiment, to ensure that the quality of the standard was consistent with the core plate detection. NanoDrop ND-1000 was used to detect the RNA expression levels in 10 specimens included in the experiment to ensure that the quality of specimens satisfied the requirements of the microarray detection experiment. The Arraystar Human LncRNA/mRNAV3.0 expression profile chip (8×60K, Arraystar) was used to detect the expression levels of lncRNAs and mRNAs in the tissue samples. Results: A total of 29,198 lncRNAs and 22,959 mRNA target genes could be detected in the above tissue samples after the initial data were standardized and low-expression information was filtered. The data in the middle of the range of 50% value consistency was higher. The scatterplot results preliminarily suggested that there were large numbers of lncRNAs with increased and decreased expression in Stanford type A aortic dissection tissues compared with normal aortic tissues. The differentially expressed lncRNAs were enriched in BPs including apoptosis, nitric oxide synthesis, estradiol response, angiogenesis, inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and acute response; cell components (CCs) including cytoplasm, nucleus, cytoplasmic matrix, extracellular space, protein complex, and platelet α granule lumen; and MFs including protease binding, zinc ion binding, steroid compound binding, steroid hormone receptor activity, heme binding, protein kinase, cytokine, superoxide dismutase, and nitric oxide synthase activities. Conclusions: Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that many genes in Stanford type A aortic dissection were involved in cell biological functions, cell components, and molecular functions through upregulating and downregulating the levels of expression.

Daidzein-rich isoflavones aglycone inhibits lung cancer growth through inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

To develop anti-tumor agents for lung cancer, we aim to characterize a herbal compound, daidzein-rich isoflavones aglycone (DRIA), in inhibiting the proliferation and NF-κB signaling pathway of lung cancer. MTT and colony formation assays were used to analyze the proliferation of lung cancer cells in presence of DRIA treatment, which showed that DRIA dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of lung cancer cells. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay revealed that interleukin-6 (IL6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels were reduced by DRIA. p65-NFκB expression and activation, which was enhanced by TNF-α and C/EBPß treatment, were attenuated by DRIA. Exogenous tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBPß) were used to enhance NF-κB signaling in cells, and the effects of DRIA in attenuating NF-κB signaling were assessed by analyzing p65-NFκB expression in mRNA and protein levels, using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), western blot and immunofluorescence staining. immunohistochemical staining revealed that Ki-67 and p65-NF-κB levels in A594 tumor xenografts of A594 tumors were also reduced by DRIA treatment in mice. Our data indicates that DRIA is effective in inhibiting the proliferation and NFκB signaling of lung cancer both in vitro and in vivo.

[Identification of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in small mammals from Hengduan Mountains of Southwest China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum in small mammals from the forest area of Hengduan Mountains in southwestern China. METHODS: Small mammals captured from Gaoligong and Xianggelila mountainous area of Yunnan province were detected by PCR amplification. The sequences of 16S rRNA and Msp4 gene fragments from positive samples were compared with corresponding sequences deposited in GenBank. RESULTS: A total number of 436 small animals, which belongs to 5 orders 18 genera 35 species were tested, 32 (7.34%) were positive in 6 genera 11 species. There were 8.64% (26/301) positive in 25 species at Goligong mountainous areas, and 4.44% (6/135) were positive in 19 species at the Xianggelila mountainous areas. Positive small mammals were most rodents. The nucleotide sequences of A.phagocytophilum 16S rRNA gene amplified from small mammals varied from 99% - 100% and were 99% - 100% similar with the corresponding segments of A. phagocytophilum from Jilin deposited in GeneBank. The sequences of A. phagocytophilum Msp4 gene showed that there was 95% - 97% similarity with the corresponding sequences registered in GenBank. CONCLUSION: A. phagocytophilum was firstly identified in 6 genera 11 species small mammals from a forest area of Hengduan Mountainous areas in southwestern China. Rodents might serve as the primary hosts indicating the potential risk to the domestic animals and human beings in this area.

[Application and results of Robicsek procedure for dilated ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease].

OBJECTIVE: To introduce the Robicsek procedure and summarize its short to mid-term results for patients with dilatation of the ascending aorta associated with aortic valve disease. METHODS: From December 2002 to June 2006, 30 patients with a moderately dilated ascending aorta [mean diameter, (46.7+/-3.1) mm] underwent concomitant aortic valve replacement (AVR) or repairing and reinforced aortoplasty with a well-tailored Dacron vascular graft. Follow-up was obtained on all patients with ultrasonic cardiography (UCG) or computed tomography (CT) scan and was (18.0+/-10.5) months. RESULTS: The total average cardio-pulmonary bypass (CPB) time was (103.4+/-21.7) min (80-151 min), and aortic arrest time was (73.0+/-21.6) min (48-120 min), whereas the average CPB time and aortic arrest time of 19 patients who underwent the isolated Robicsek procedure were only (91.3+/-8.9) min (80-118 min) and (61.6+/-11.3) min (48-82 min). No mortality occurred in the hospital. During follow-up of 18 months, no recurrent ascending aortic dilatation and dissection were observed, and the average aortic diameter was reduced to (33.7+/-2.5) mm. Sixteen of the 30 patients were diagnosed as bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). The ascending aortic media were histologically abnormal in 23 patients. CONCLUSION: Considering the underlying wall deficiency and the homodynamic stress, the Robicsek operation should be an optimal choice to those patients with a mild to moderate dilated ascending aorta caused by aortic valve lesion. Compared with the Bentall and David procedures, the Robicsek procedure could achieve the same or even better clinical results with less operative time and risks.