DNA vaccine plays an important role in the treatment of cancer, infectious disease and self-immune disease. Further enhancement of immune responses to DNA vaccines is one of the hot spots in the vaccine development. Among the research combining the electroporation with DNA vaccination improves plasmid gene expression in vivo and significantly enhances the immune responses. This review gives an overview of the application, effectiveness and prospect of electroporation in improving the efficacy of DNA vaccine.

Objective To observe the effects of White Mange Mixture on the content of VEGF and the genetic and protein expressions of VEGFR-2 of HaCaT cells;To explore its mechanism. Methods HaCaT cells were cultured in vitro to establish psoriasis experimental model. SD rats were randomly divided into the blank serum group, white mange mixture of low-, medium- and high- dose groups and acitretin group, meanwhile to set up blank control group. Cultured HaCaT cells model were intervened with different medicine serum. ELISA was applied to detect the content of VEGF. RT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the genetic and protein expressions of VEGFR-2.Results Compared with the blank control group, White Mange Mixture of low-, medium- and high-dose groups interventing HaCaT cells could obviously inhibit the secretion of VEGF and decrease the genetic and protein expression of VEGFR-2 in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion White Mange Mixture plays a role in the treatment of psoriasis possibly through inhibiting the content of VEGF and decreasing the genetic and protein expressions of VEGFR-2.

Objective To observe the action ofFu Liu Zhen (acupuncture at the six abdominal points) plus moxa-box moxibustion at umbilicus on a community population of qi and yang deficiency.Method Two hundred subjects diagnosed with qi deficiency and/or yang deficiency were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 100 cases in each group. The two groups both received constitution-associated health education, and the treatment group was additionally intervened byFu Liu Zhen plus moxa-box moxibustion at umbilicus, while the control group didn’t receive any other intervention. The Score of Constitution in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and the number of people of each constitution were observed prior to the intervention, right after the intervention, 6 months after the intervention and 12 months after the intervention.Result In the treatment group, the scores of qi deficiency and yang deficiency after the intervention, 6 months after the intervention and 12 months after the intervention were significantly different from that prior to the intervention (P<0.01). The scores of the corresponding constitution types (qi deficiency, yang deficiency) after the intervention, 6 months after the intervention and 12 months after the intervention were significantly different from that before the intervention (P<0.01). The proportions of subjects with harmonious constitution, qi deficiency, and yang deficiency in the treatment group after the intervention, 6 months and 12 months after the intervention were significantly different from that prior to the intervention (P<0.01). The proportions of subjects with harmonious constitution, qi deficiency, and yang deficiency in the treatment group after the intervention, 6 months and 12 months after the intervention were significantly different from that in the control group (P<0.01).ConclusionFu Liu Zhen plus moxa-box moxibustion at umbilicus can improve the qi-deficiency and yang-deficiency constitutions in the community population.

Objective To investigate the significantly elevated incidence of hepatitis C and mortality of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Jianping county, and to explore the epidemiological features. Methods The data from database of death registry and infectious disease surveillance in Jianping county, Liaoning Province were analyzed. The distributions of incidence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C, mortality of cirrhosis and HCC in 23 villages and towns were investigated.Spearman's correlation was used to explore the correlations between hepatitis, cirrhosis and HCC.Results The standardized mortality of HCC in males and females in Jianping county were 77. 6/10~5and 22. 0/10~5, respectively, which were 2. 0 and 1. 7 times, respectively of the average levels of Liaoning rural areas. The incidence of hepatitis C was 58. 0/10~5 , which was 9. 5 times of the averagelevel of Liaoning Province. There were positive correlations between incidence of hepatitis C and mortality of cirrhosis (r=0. 495, P = 0. 008), and mortality of cirrhosis and HCC (r=0. 646, P<0.01). Conclusions The incidence of hepatitis C and mortality of cirrhosis and HCC in Jianping county are significantly higher than the average levels of Liaoning Province. Further investigations of the suspected causes are needed.

ObjectiveTo explore the effects of social isolation on the cognition and expression of 5-HT2C receptor(5-HT2CR) and adenosine deaminase that act on RNA 1(ADAR1) in BALB/c mice.MethodsThe healthy BALB/c mice were isolated for 2,4,and 8 weeks individually since postnatal 21 days respectively to set up isolation mice model,the same age mice without isolation were regarded as control group.The new object location and the new object recognition tests were used to measure the spatial and non-spatial cognitive function,and western blot was used to measure the protein expression of 5-HT2CR and ADAR1.ResultsThe new object location test showed that the spatial discrimination index (DI) of BALB/c mice isolated for 2 weeks was decreased significantly compared with the control group(control group was (0.075±0.340),isolation group was (-0.653±0.308),P<0.05),and no obvious difference was found for the group isolated for 4 and 8 weeks.The new object recognition test showed that the non-spatial DI of BALB/c mice isolated for 2 and 4 weeks were decreased significantly compared with the control group(control 2 weeks group was (0.088±0.210),isolation 2 weeks group was (-0.945±0.194),P<0.05;control 4 weeks group was (0.105±0.267),isolation 4 weeks group was (-0.506±0.215),P<0.05),and no obvious difference was found for the group isolated for 8 weeks.Compared with the control group the expression of 5-HT2CR and ADAR1 in the hippocampus were decreased significantly for the group isolated for 2 weeks.(5-HT2CR:control group was (1.025±0.144),isolation group was (0.891±0.026),P<0.05.ADAR1: control group was (0.839±0.120),isolation group was (0.629±0.094),P<0.05).ConclusionsTwo week social isolation results in the decrease of spatial and non-spatial cognitive function in BALB/c mice,in the meanwhile,social isolation stress results in the obvious decrease of 5-HT2C receptor and ADAR1 protein expression in the hippocampus of BALB/c mice.

OBJECTIVETo identify pathogenic mutation of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes in a patient with tuberous sclerosis.

METHODSPeripheral venous blood samples and clinical data of a pregnant woman with tuberous sclerosis and 4 family members (parents, uncle and husband) were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted. All coding exons of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes and their flanking intronic sequences were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe patient has presented facial angiofibroma and prefrons fibrous plaque for 20 years, and lumbar connective tissue nevus for 10 years. She also had mental retardation but no epilepsy. A novel frame-shift mutation c.4258-4261delTCAG was detected in exon 34 of the TSC2 gene, which had led to a premature stop codon TAG after the 55th amino acids. The same mutation was not found in the unaffected family members and 100 unrelated healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe novel frame-shifting mutation c.4258-4261delTCAG (p.Ser1420GlyfsX55) in the TSC2 gene may be responsible for the disease in the patient.

Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Pregnancy ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo detect pathogenic mutation of the SLC39A4 gene in a male patient with acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE).

METHODSPeripheral venous blood sample and clinical data from the patient and his parents were collected. One hundred unrelated healthy individuals were recruited as controls. All coding exons and flanking exon-intron sequences of the SLC39A4 gene were analyzed by PCR and direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe results revealed that the patient and his mother have both carried a novel frame-shift mutation c.1110InsG (p.Gly370GlyfsX47 to TGA) in exon 6. A novel nonsense mutation c.958C to T (p.Q320X) in exon 5 was also detected in the patient and his father and grandmother. This novel mutation was not detected in the unaffected family members and 100 unrelated healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe novel frame-shift mutation c.1110InsG (p.Gly370GlyfsX47 to TGA) derived from the mother and nonsense mutation c.958C to T (p.Q320X) of the SLC39A4 gene derived from the father may underlie the disease in the patient.

Acrodermatitis ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Base Sequence ; Cation Transport Proteins ; genetics ; Exons ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Zinc ; deficiency

OBJECTIVETo identify pathogenic mutations of TSC1 and TSC2 genes in two familial and one sporadic cases with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

METHODSFor five patients and their family members, potential mutations of the TSC1 and TSC2 genes were detected by direct sequencing.

RESULTSFor one family, a novel missense mutation c.1964C>T (p.S655F) was detected in the exon 19 of the TSC2 gene. For the sporadic patient, a repeat substitution with deletion mutation c.5238-5255delCATCAAGCGGCTCCGCCA (p.His1746GlnfsX56) was detected in the exon 40 of the TSC2 gene, which led to a stop codon TGA after the 56th amino acids. No mutation was found in another family.

CONCLUSIONThe missense mutation c.1964C>T(P.S655F) and the substitution with deletion mutation 5238-5255delCATCAAGCGGCTCCGCCA(p.His1746GlnfsX56) of the TSC2 gene probably underlie the disease in the first family and the sporadic case.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Base Sequence ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation, Missense ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Tuberous Sclerosis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo identify potential mutation of the ADAR1 gene in a Chinese family and a sporadic case affected with dyschromatosis symmetrica hereditaria(DSH).

METHODSClinical data and peripheral blood samples from the pedigree and the sporadic patient were collected. Following extraction of genomic DNA, all 15 exons and exon-intron flanking sequences of the ADAR1 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct sequencing.

RESULTSA novel frame-shift mutation c.2638delG (p.Asp880ThrfsX15) from the patients of the pedigree was detected in exon 8 of the ADAR1 gene. And a novel nonsense mutation c.2867C>A (p.Ser956X) was detected in exon 10 of the ADAR1 gene from the sporadic case. Neither mutation was identified among the unaffected family members nor 100 unrelated healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONThe frame-shift mutation c.2638delG (p.Asp880ThrfsX15) and the nonsense mutation c.2867C>A (p.Ser956X) in the ADAR1 gene probably underlie the DSH in our patients.

Adenosine Deaminase ; genetics ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Codon, Nonsense ; Exons ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Humans ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Pigmentation Disorders ; congenital ; enzymology ; genetics ; RNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics

Objective:To investigate the effect of miRNA (miR) -193b-5p on melanogenesis and its possible mechanisms.Methods:Human primary melanocytes were isolated from discarded normal foreskin tissues of healthy males after circumcision, and cultured in vitro. miR-NC mimics (miR-NC mimic group) and miR-193b-5p mimics (miR-193b-5p mimic group) were transfected into human primary melanocytes and human MNT1 melanoma cells, separately. After transfection, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to determine the overexpression efficiency of miR-193b-5p at 48 hours, Western blot analysis to determine the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins tyrosinase (TYR) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in human primary melanocytes and human MNT1 melanoma cells at 72 hours, and the melanin content in the above cells was determined by a sodium hydroxide solubilization method at 1 week. The target gene of miR-193b-5p was predicted by using Targetscan algorithms and verified by dual-luciferase reporter assay, and RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis were performed to analyze changes in mRNA and protein expression of the target gene respectively after the overexpression of miR-193b-5p. Two-independent-samples t test was used for comparisons between two groups. Results:In human primary melanocytes and human MNT1 melanoma cells, the miR-193b-5p expression levels were significantly higher in the miR-193b-5p mimic groups than in the miR-NC mimic groups ( t = 65.57, 22.49, respectively, both P < 0.001) , and the melanin content was significantly lower in the miR-193b-5p mimic groups (0.091 ± 0.007, 0.130 ± 0.004, respectively) than in the miR-NC mimic groups (0.117 ± 0.002, 0.188 ± 0.032, t = 5.98, 3.24, P < 0.01, < 0.05, respectively) . Western blot analysis showed that the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins TYR and MITF in both human primary melanocytes and human MNT1 melanoma cells was significantly lower in the miR-193b-5p mimic groups than in the miR-NC mimic groups (all P < 0.01) . TargetScan analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed a binding site for miR-193b-5p in the 3′ untranslated region of the transcriptional regulator CITED2. After up-regulation of miR-193b-5p expression in human primary melanocytes and human MNT1 melanoma cells, the CITED2 mRNA and protein expression levels significantly decreased compared with the miR-NC mimic groups (all P < 0.05) . Conclusion:miR-193b-5p overexpression can down-regulate the expression of melanogenesis-related proteins TYR and MITF, and then inhibit melanogenesis, which may be related to the targeted inhibition of CITED2 expression.