Genetic heterogeneity of oesophageal cancer in high-incidence areas of southern and northern China.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Oesophageal cancer is one of the most common and deadliest cancers worldwide. Our previous population-based study reported a high prevalence of oesophageal cancer in Chaoshan, Guangdong Province, China. Ancestors of the Chaoshan population migrated from the Taihang Mountain region of north-central China, which is another high-incidence area for oesophageal cancer. The purpose of the present study was to obtain evidence of inherited susceptibility to oesophageal cancer in the Chaoshan population, with reference to the Taihang Mountain population, with the eventual goal of molecular identification of the disease genes. METHODS: We conducted familial correlation, commingling, and complex segregation analyses of 224 families from the Chaoshan population and 403 families from the Taihang population using the FPMM program of S.A.G.E. version 5.3.0. A second analysis focused on specific families having large numbers of affected individuals or early onset of the disease. RESULTS: For the general population, moderate sib-sib correlation was noticed for esophageal cancer. Additionally, brother-brother correlation was even higher. Commingling analyses indicated that a three-component distribution model best accounts for the variation in age of onset of oesophageal cancer, and that a multifactorial model provides the best fit to the general population data. An autosomal dominant mode and a dominant or recessive major gene with polygenic inheritance were found to be the best models of inherited susceptibility to oesophageal cancer in some large families. CONCLUSIONS: The current results provide evidence for inherited susceptibility to oesophageal cancer in certain high-risk groups in China, and support efforts to identify the susceptibility genes.

The differentiation and induction of neural stem cells / 医学研究生学报

The differentiation and induction of neural stem cells (NSC), the most highlights in neuroscience at present is valuable application potency and great significance in theoretic study. The mechanism of the intrinsic (gene) and extrinsic factor (cytokine, microenvironment) affecting the NSC, and some progress on this field in the current years were reviewed.

Analysis of Iodine and Selenium Trace Elements in Umbilical Cord Blood in Cretinous Regions in Northwest China in 1999

Shaanxi Province located at Midwest inland of China was a typical iodine deficient disorders region. To investigate iodine and selenium levels of neonates in the Shaanxi sub-clinical cretinism region of China after supplement of iodine salt for nearly twenty years. We collected 56 umbilical cord blood samples from cretinous regions of Yijun County (a selenium deficient region) north of Shaanxi Province and Ziyang County (a selenium-enriched region) south of the province and from Lintong in Xi’an (a non-cretinous region for control). Among these samples 17 were collected from Ziyang, 20 from Lintong and 19 from Yijun. Seven trace elements of iodine, selenium, zinc, copper, iron, calcium and magnesium in the umbilical cord blood samples were measured and the results were processed statistically. There were no significant differences in the levels of iodine among all three counties. However, the level of selenium in Ziyang was the highest and in Yijun it was the lowest. The other trace elements such as Cu Zn Fe and Mg showed no significant difference among the three counties except for the Ca level which was lower in Yijun. The regression equation was established with the backward method of multiple regression was: Se = 0.180 + 0.00006654 Fe − 0.006 Cu − 0.005956 Mg + 0.1

Analysis of iodine and selenium trace elements in umbilical cord blood in cretinous regions in northwest China in 1999

Shaanxi Province located at Midwest inland of China was a typical iodine deficient disorders region. To investigate iodine and selenium levels of neonates in the Shaanxi sub-clinical cretinism region of China after supplement of iodine salt for nearly twenty years. We collected 56 umbilical cord blood samples from cretinous regions of Yijun County (a selenium deficient region) north of Shaanxi Province and Ziyang County (a selenium-enriched region) south of the province and from Lintong in Xi'an (a non-cretinous region for control). Among these samples 17 were collected from Ziyang, 20 from Lintong and 19 from Yijun. Seven trace elements of iodine, selenium, zinc, copper, iron, calcium and magnesium in the umbilical cord blood samples were measured and the results were processed statistically. There were no significant differences in the levels of iodine among all three counties. However, the level of selenium in Ziyang was the highest and in Yijun it was the lowest. The other trace elements such as Cu Zn Fe and Mg showed no significant difference among the three counties except for the Ca level which was lower in Yijun.The regression equation was established with the backward method of multiple regression was: Se=0.180+0.00006654 Fe-0.006 Cu-0.005956 Mg+0.1.

Effects of selenium and iodine on the expression of c-fos and c-jun mRNA and their proteins in cultured rat hippocampus neurons / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) and the compound of both on the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun mRNA and their protein expression in the cultured rat hippocampus neurons.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the technique of serum free hippocampus neuron culture, different doses of Se and I and Se + I compound were added into the medium. The expression of the mRNA of c-fos, c-jun in hippocampus neurons cultured for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 d were studied using both in situ hybridization and SABC immunohistochemical technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Both Se and I could enhance the expression of c-fos, c-jun mRNA and their proteins, especially the combination of I and Se able to give a remarkable effect on c-jun mRNA expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Se and I may effect the expression of both c-fos and c-jun mRNA, especially the c-jun mRNA and its protein of hippocampus neurons, and thus may effect the differentiation and development of neurons.</p>

Studies on survival and outgrowth of processes of cultured rat hippocampus neurons in containing selenium and free serum medium / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effect of selenium on cultured newborn rat's hippocampus neurons survival and outgrowth development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Using the technique of primary culture of hippocampal neurons of newborn rat. The different dose of Se (62.5 microgram/L, 125.0 microgram/L, 182.5 microgram/L) were added into the medium at same time. We not only investigated the number of survival of neurons on 1 - 14 d and 1d to 10 d in with and without serum containing-Se medium, but also observed the length outgrowth of the neurite at 16 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h during culture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Selenium could obviously enhance the outgrowth of early processed in 10% fetal serum medium and average length of neurite outgrowth is 15 - 20 micrometer more longer than control groups (P < 0.01) and selenium could also increase the livability of neurons and prolong survival time of cultured neurons in serum-free medium.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Selenium may play a very important role for early processed growth and development of hippocampal neurons.</p>