Objective To investigate the serum IL-33 level and its association with TH1,TH2,TH17 and Treg cells in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion(URSA).Methods Forty-six URSA patients and 40 healthy controls were enrolled.The proportions of TH1,TH2,TH17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood samples were determined by flow cytometry,and serum IL-33 levels by ELISA.Results The levels of serum IL-33 in URSA patients were significantly lower than that in healthy controls.The proportions of TH2 and Treg cells in URSA patients were significantly lower than that in healthy controls (P ＜ 0.05),while the proportions of TH 1 and TH 17 cells in URSA patients were significantly higher than that in healthy controls.Serum IL-33 levels were negatively correlated with the proportions of TH 1 and TH17 cells,and positively with that of TH2 cells,while no correlation with Treg cells.Conclusion Serum IL-33 levels decrease significantly in URSA patients,and are correlated with the proportions of TH1,TH2 and TH17 cells,indicating that IL-33 may be associated with TH1,TH2 and TH17 cells in URSA patients.

Objective: To explore the effects of miR-124-ROCK1 signal pathway in the damages of glomerular endothelial cells (GEnCs) induced by high glucose. Methods: Rat glomerular endothelial cells were cultured in different glucose concentrations: normal control group (NG: 5.5 mmol/L), high glucose group (HG: 30.0 mmol/L), and cells were treated with ROCK1 inhibitor Y27632, miR-124-3p mimic, miR-124-3p inhibitor. The expressions of ROCK1 activity, cell apotosis and tight junction proteins were detected by Western blot. The cell tight junction protein ZO-1 in those groups were assessed by laser scanning confocal microscope. Results: High glucose significantly decreased miR-124 expression (P<0.01), ROCK1 activity (P-MYPT1/MYPT1), and cell apoptosis (Cleaved-Caspase3/pro-Caspase3) were found increased while the tight junction proteins ZO-1and Occludin were found decreased in these cells (P<0.05 all P<0.01), However, when pretreated cells with ROCK1 inhibitor Y27632, these injuries were significantly reversed. In cells transfected with miR-124-3p mimic, p-MYPT1/MYPT1 was decreased. p-MYPT1/MYPT1 was however increased in cells transfected with miR-124-3p inhibitor (P<0.05), indicating that miR-124 could directly inhibit ROCK1 activity. The increased ROCK1 activity and apoptosis, as well as the decreased tight junction proteins induced by high glucose were significantly suppressed as miR-124-3p mimic transfected in GEnCs. Conclusions According to our experiments, high glucose suppressed miR-124 in glomerular endothelial cells, consequenctly activating ROCK1 activity to damage endothelial cells. MiR-124 overexpression could ameliorate these damages induced by high glucose, suggesting that miR-124 might be a new therapeutic target to prevent glomerular endothelial cells injuries in diabetic nephropathy.

Free fatty acid profiles of wild type and fatty acyl-ACP synthase deletion mutant strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 indicated that one origin of these fatty acids is the process of lipid remodeling or lipid degradation. Lipase is the key enzyme involved in this process. The gene sll1969 is the sole gene encodes a putative lipase in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. To identify the function of this gene and its role in fatty acid metabolism, we cloned the sll1969 from genomic DNA, overexpressed it in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) using pET expression system and purified this recombinant enzyme with Nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid affinity chromatography. The enzyme activity was assayed by spectrophotometric with p-nitro-phenylbutyrate as substrate. The K(m) and k(cat) of the enzyme is (1.16 +/- 0.01) mmol/L and (332.8 +/- 10.0)/min, respectively toward p-nitro-phenylbutyrate at 30 degrees C. The optimal temperature of the enzyme is 55 degrees C. To investigate the biological role of Sll1969 in fatty acid metabolism in cyanobacteria, we constructed sll1969 deletion and overexpression mutant strains in the background of fatty acyl-ACP synthase deletion mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The analyses of the content of free fatty acids in different mutant strains showed that the contents of Sll1969 and free fatty acid are positively correlated. The free fatty acid profiles of the sll1969 mutant strains suggested this enzyme is not the sole enzyme for degrading lipid in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.
Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; metabolism ; Lipase ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Membrane Lipids ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Synechocystis ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo use a hospital-based case-control study design to investigate the relationship between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the interaction of polymorphisms in the human mismatch repair gene,hMSH2,with environmental factors.

METHODSCases of new-onset,histopathology-diagnosed,and untreated (no chemotherapy or radiation therapy) HCC were enrolled between September 2009 and September 2012.A non-HCC healthy control group was also enrolled and was composed of individuals living in the same region as the cases for more than 10 years and age-/sex-matched with similar socioeconomic characteristics.All enrollees underwent hMSH2 genotyping by real-time PCR.T-test,chi-square test and unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the difference in allele frequencies among the case and control groups and the relationship between hMSH2 polymorphisms and environmental factors.

RESULTSFrequencies of hMSH2 rs2303428 CC,CT and TT genotypes in the HCC group were significantly different than in the control group (14.13% vs.8.21%,47.02% vs.49.47%,and 38.85% vs.42.32%;x 2=8.289,P =0.016).Individuals carrying the hMSH2 rs2303428 T allelic gene had a significantly increased risk compared to those with the hMSH2 rs2303428 C allelic gene (adjusted OR=1.228).Interactions were found between the hMSH2 genotype and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive hepatitis infection (adjusted OR=1.865) and history of cancer (adjusted OR=5.634).There was no relation between hMSH2 gene rs4952887 and rs2059520 and liver cancer development or interaction with environmental factors.

CONCLUSIONThe hMSH2 rs2303428 genotype is positively related to risk of HCC in Chinese,with HBsAg-positive hepatitis infection starus and history of cancer increasing the risk.

Alleles ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

Objective To isolate and identify 3 flavonoids (taxifolin, orobol and quercetin) from Cudrania tricuspidata, and develop a method for determining 3 flavonoid constituents in Cudrania tricuspidata. Methods Three flavonoids was isolated from ethanol extract of Cudrania tricuspidata by chromatography, and its structure was identified by nuclear magnetic resonance. The analysis was conducted on an Aglient C18 column (4.6 mm ×250 mm, 5 μm) eluted with 1％ acetic acid and methanol as mobile phases in gradient mode. The flow rate was 1 ml/min and the detection wavelength was set at 310 nm. The column temperature was 25 ℃. Results Taxifolin, orobol and quercetin were isolated from ethanol extract of Cudrania tricuspidata by chromatography. The content of taxifolin, orobol and quercetin were 0.850 mg/g, 0.518 mg/g, 0.103 mg/g. Conclusion The method can be used for the quality control of Cudrania tricuspidata as a reference.

Objective To analyze the HLA-A ,B and DRB1 alleles high-resolution polymorphism in Chongqing Han population . Methods The PCR-SSOP and PCR-SBT methods were applied for the HLA high-resolution genotyping of 2 067 unrelated healthy donors in the registry of Chongqing branch of Chinese National Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) .The allele frequencies of HLA-A , B and DRB1 were estimated by the direct counting method and the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium inspection was performed by using the Arlequin software 3 .1 .Results 168 high-resolution alleles were detected out ,in which 42 alleles of A*11 :01 ,A*24:02 ,A*02:07 ,A*02 :01 and A*33:03 at the HLA-A locus were observed with the frequencies greater than 0 .05 ;81 alleles were detected at HLA-B locus ,including B*46 :01 ,B*40:01 ,B*58 :01 ,B*13 :01 and B*15 :02 with the frequencies greater than 0 .05 ;45 al-leles of DRB1*09:01 ,DRB1*15 :01 ,DRB1*12 :02 ,DRB1*08 :03 and DRB1*11 :01 at the HLA-DR locus were observed with the frequencies greater than 0 .05 .Conclusion The data of the HLA-A ,B and DRB1allelic frequencies at high-resolution level in Chongqing Han population are obtained ,which provides the reliable reference data for the studies of anthropology ,forensic medi-cine ,transplantation matching and disease association .

Objective: To establish a method for detection of human antibodies against monkeypox virus. Mothds: The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) plates were coasted with two monkeypox virus peptides from B21R protein, to establish an indirect ELISA for detecting monkeypox virus IgG antibody. The healthy individuals serum samples, monkeypox virus infected patient serum samples and other virus infected patient sera samples were applied to evaluate specificity of the peptides antigen. The reaction conditions were optimized. Results: Synthesized two peptides from monkeypox virus BR21R protein did not cross react obviously with healthy person serum and other virus infected serum. It was shown that the reaction condition was best with sera dilution at 1∶50 when two combined peptides were coated at 100 ng /well, and second-antibody was diluted at 1∶20 000. At this condition the cut off value of IgG antibody in serum samples for ELISA were A450 reading of 0.393. The detected results of two serum samples collected from the monkeypox patient in Sierra Leone were strongly positive, the titers of IgG antibody in two sera were both 1∶6 400. Conclusions The indirect ELISA for detection of monkeypox virus infection was established preliminarily which provided useful tools for epidemiological study and diagnosis.

Objective: To generate monkeypox virus specific monoclonal antibodies for further establishing monkeypox virus immunofluorescence assay. Methods: Monkeypox virus A29 protein, vaccinia ortholog A27 protein and cowpox ortholog 162 protein were expressed in E. coli BL21 to screen antibodies. Synthetic monkeypox virus A29_{17 ~ 49} polypeptide was used to immune BALB/c mice. Monkeypox virus monoclonal antibodies were generated through fusion, cloning and screening techniques. Indirect ELISA was performed to test antibodies specificity and subtype. Results: A29, A27 and 162 proteins were highly expressed in E. coli and detected by Western blot. The three his-tagged proteins were purified using His-Bind affinity chromatography column. The purity of the proteins was all more than 90%. And 8 strains monkeypox virus specific monoclonal antibodies were screened by the three purified proteins. Two mAbs of 8 were IgG3 subtype and the rest were IgG1 subtype. Conclusions Eight strains of monkeypox virus specific monoclonal antibodies were generated, they can be used to further establish monkeypox virus immune immunofluorescence assay.

OBJECTIVE: To identify pathogenic mutation in a pedigree affected with brachydactyly and obesity. METHODS: Peripheral blood sample was collected for extraction of genomic DNA. Exons capture combined with next generation sequencing (NGS) was carried out to identify potential mutation. Sanger sequencing was used to verify the results. RESULTS: NGS has identified a novel heterozygous missense mutation (c.125A>C, p.Gln42Pro) in the exon 1 of PTHLH gene. The result was verified by Sanger sequencing. The mutations was derived from his mother. His uncle and sister have also carried the same heterozygous mutation. CONCLUSION A novel mutation of the PTHLH gene has been identified in a pedigree affected with brachydactyly type E2 and obesity.
Brachydactyly ; complications ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Humans ; Mutation ; Obesity ; complications ; Pedigree

Objective:To establish the normal reference range of neurotransmitters in Han-nationality children aged 3-12 in Hubei province.Methods:A prospective study was conducted on healthy Han-nationality children aged 3-12 who took physical examination in Wuhan Children′s Hospital, Hubei province from January to August 2021.The children were asked for their medical histories, and those with neurological diseases, psychiatric diseases, infection, trauma, and a drug history in the past 2 weeks were excluded.The plasma of 324 children (262 males, 62 females; 217 cases in the 3-7 years old, 107 cases in the 8-12 years old) and urine of 391 children (302 males, 89 females; 266 cases in the 3-7 years old, 125 cases in the 8-12 years old) were collected.They ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry multiple techniques (UPLC-MS/MS) were used to detect 10 kinds of neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, epinephrine, glutamic acid, etc.) in plasma and 8 kinds of neurotransmitters (e.g., dopamine, epinephrine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, etc.) in random urine.The normal reference range of neurotransmitters in Han-nationality children aged 3-12 in Hubei province was established.The Kruskal- Wallis H test was made for statistical analysis of the differences in neurotransmitter levels among different age groups and gender groups.The neurotransmitter levels between different groups were compared by the Nemenyi test. Results:There were no significant differences in the levels of various neurotransmitters in children of different genders(all P>0.05). There were significant differences in the levels of dopamine, methoxy-norepinephrine, tryptophan and γ-aminobutyric acid in the plasma of children aged 3-7 years and 8-12 years.There were significant differences in the levels of dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, methoxy-norepinephrine, high vanillic acid and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the random urine between the 3-7 years old group and the 8-12 years old group. Conclusions:The normal reference range of neurotransmitters in Han-nationality children aged 3-12 in Hubei province is established.This study provides reference for clinical practice and lays a foundation for the study of neurotransmitter-related diseases in children.