Objective To investigate the role of Ro52 antigen fragment from amino acid (AA) 119 to 264 that contains leucine zipper motif in forming the epitopes of Ro52 autoantigen. Methods cDNA encoding Ro52 antigen fragment from aa 119 to 264 was amplified by PCR from human heart cDNA first strand. The obtained cDNA fragment was inserted into vector pMTY4 and transformed into E. coli pop2136 for fusion protein expression. The recombinant fusion protein was then purified, and the antigenicity was determined by immunoblotting. Results A 28 000 Dalton fusion protein was obtained. It was highly expressed in host E. coli pop2136. 61.90% of the anti-full-length Ro52 positive sera reacted with the fusion protein in immunoblotting. Conclusion The results suggest that the antigen fragment from the 119 AA to 264 AA that contains the leucine zipper motif represents an important epitope region in Ro52 autoantigen.

Objective To detect the possible epitopes of 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA autoantigen and selectively clone the antigen fragment containing the leucine zipper motif. Methods The structure of 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA autoantigen was analyzed by protein structure analysis system. The cDNA encoding the antigen fragments from amino acid (aa) 119 to 264 was amplified from cDNA first strands of human heart by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR product was inserted into the vector pMTY4, and transfected E. coli pop 2136 for fusion protein production. Results Computer analysis showed that the 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA antigen had alpha helixes in its structure, and had good antigenicity, moderate flexibility and poor surface probability. The PCR product was 440bp in length. The recombinant fusion protein was 28 000 dalton. DNA sequencing proved the accuracy of the research. Conclusion The 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA autoantigen has good antigenicity. The cloning of the antigen fragment will help to elucidate the possible role of leucine zipper motif in forming the epitope of the antigen.

OBJECTIVETo screen for mutations of deafness-related genes among ethic Chinese women of child-bearing age.

METHODSIn 324 women, 9 mutational sites in 4 deafness-related genes (SLC26A4, GJB3, GJB2 and mtDNA 12s rRNA) were screened using a gene chip.

RESULTSTwenty women (6.17%) have carried mutations. These included 11 (3.40%) carrying a GJB2 gene mutation, 7 (2.16%) carrying a SLC26A4 gene mutation, 1 (0.31%) simultaneously carrying GJB3 and GJB2 gene mutations, and 1 (0.31%) carrying a mtDNA 12s rRNA gene mutation.

CONCLUSIONWomen of child-bearing age have a high rate for carrying mutations of common deafness-related genes, among which 235delC in GJB2 was most common. Prenatal screening of couples with normal hearing is an effective way to prevent birth of affected children.

Adult ; Connexin 26 ; Connexins ; genetics ; Deafness ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation

OBJECTIVES: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a growing prevalence of racial and ethnic discrimination occurred when many Americans struggled to maintain healthy lifestyles. This study investigated the associations of racial and ethnic discrimination with changes in exercise and screen time during the pandemic in the United States. METHODS: We included 2,613 adults who self-identified as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian, or Hispanic from the Health, Ethnicity, and Pandemic study, a cross-sectional survey conducted among a nationally representative sample of United States adults between October and November 2020. We assessed self-reported racial and ethnic discrimination by measuring COVID-19-related racial and ethnic bias and examined its associations with changes in exercise and screen time using multivariable logistic regression models. We analyzed data between September 2021 and March 2022. RESULTS: COVID-19-related racial and ethnic bias was associated with decreased exercise time among non-Hispanic Asian (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13 to 1.89) and Hispanic people (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.32 to 2.77), and with increased screen time among non-Hispanic Black people (OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.85), adjusting for age, sex, education, marital status, annual household income, insurance, and employment status. CONCLUSIONS Racial and ethnic discrimination may have adversely influenced exercise and screen time changes among racial and ethnic minorities during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Further studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms through which racial and ethnic discrimination can impact lifestyles and to develop potential strategies to address racial and ethnic discrimination as a barrier to healthy lifestyles.