Objective To test amyloid beta protein(Aβ)40 and Aβ42 levels in CSF and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype in patients with Alzheimer's disease(AD) and study whether or not the Aβ is related to the severity of dementia and the genotypes of ApoE.Methods 48 AD patients including 27 cases of mild type and 21 cases of serious type and 35 normal controls were selected.Aβ40 and Aβ42 in CSF and ApoE genotype were analyzed.Results Aβ40 levels were ( 12.3 ±4.6) μg/L,( 11.7 ±4.1 ) μg/L,( 12.6 ±4.9) μg/L and ( 11.0 ±3.7) μg/L(t = 1.377,0.705 and 1.385 ,all the p values were greater than 0.05) and Aβ42 levels were ( 105.3 ±25.4) ng/L,(110.7 ±21.7) ng/L,(96.9 ±23.9) ng/L and (123.5 ±29.6) ng/L(t=3.006,2.832,and 3.488,all the p values less than 0.01 ),in AD group,mild AD group,moderate to serious AD group and normal controls,respectively.Aβ40 levels were (11.9 ± 5.2) μg/L vs.(10.5 ± 3.8) μg/L in AD and controls with ApoEε4(t=0.696,P＞0.05) and (12.6 ±4.5) μg/L vs.(11.4 ±3.4) μg/L without ApoEε4(t = 1.008,P＞0.05).Aβ42 levels were (99.7 ± 23.8) ng/L vs.( 129.6 ± 31.0) ng/L in AD and controls with ApoEε4( t =1.632,P ＞ 0.05 ) and ( 110.4 ± 28.4) ng/L vs.( 129.6 ± 31.0) ng/L in those without ApoEε4 ( t = 2.110,P ＜0.05 ).Conclusions The CSF level of Aβ is abnormal in AD,and it is related to the severity of the disease and the ApoE genotypes.

The high production inulase strain was screened from the soil sample where burdock planted in Qin Village,Bayou Town,Pei County,Xuzhou.Inulase activity were determined which produced by 40 strains separated from soil.Three mold stains,C122803、D081506 and D081513,which had higher ability of producing inulase were obtained by using transparent circle method as initial screening and rocker method as re-screening.Enzyme activity of the three strains were 1.411U/ml,1.895U/ml,1.792U/ml,separately.Enzyme activity of D081506,1.895U/ml,was the highest.The fermentation conditions of D081506 were studied and the optimized conditions were lappa juice 2.0%,yeast extraction 1.6%,(NH4)2SO4 0.5%,NaCl 0.5%,K2HPO4 0.5% and pH 5.0.Inulase activity of D081506 was 2.9578U/ml which increased 56.09% under the condition of 27℃,140r/min,24h.

Objective:To validate the clinical value of CT-guided curve-needle percutaneous ethanol injection (CNPEI) for celiac plexus block analgesia. Methods: Thirty-two patients with end-stage cancer, including 13 complicated with extensive retroperitoneal lymph node enlargement and fusion, were enrolled in this study. All patients complained of refractory upper abdominal pain and had received narcotic analgesics and radiotherapy, but the analgesic effect was not good. CT-guided CNPEI was therefore prescribed. Results: The effective rates of CT-guided CNPEI were 100%, 100%, 96.9%, 90.6%, 87.5%, and 84.4% immediately,and at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks after treatment, respectively. All enlarged lymph nodes had obvious necrosis and became shrunk. Conclusion: Combined application of bilateral anterior and posterior diaphragmatic crura block and trans-lymph node block can produce good analgesic effects, and curve-needle puncture make the above technique simpler.

Objective:To validate the therapeutic value of CT-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) in the treatment of metastatic adrenal tumors. Methods: Thirty-one foci (diameter ranging from 1.5 cm to 7.2 cm) in 25 patients with metastatic adrenal tumors were treated with CT-guided PEI for more than twice. Plain and enhanced CT scans were performed 1-2 months after PEI to observe the size and necrosis of the tumors. Results: Post-PEI enhanced CT scan showed that 18 of the 20 foci with diameters less than 3 cm completely necrotized; 11 foci with diameters between 3 cm and 7.2 cm necrotized partially, and 2 foci completely necrotized after another 2-3 courses of PEI treatment. Conclusion: CT-guided PEI is a simple and minimally invasive means for treatment of metastatic adrenal tumors, and the therapeutic effect is satisfactory.

Objective: To identify the functional domain of ?-Synuclein in affecting mitochondrial function and how the function to be impaired,especially,the mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of Cytochrome c.Methods: Harvest of ?-Syn-N and ?-Syn-△N by PCR,then subcloned into the pCMV-Myc mammalian expression vector.The recombinant plasmids were transfected into HEK293T cells by Lipofectamine 2000.After detecting the protein expression by Western blot,the functional domain was detected by co-immunoprecipitation.The mitochondrial membrane potential through flow cytometry and immunofluorescence,at the same time,the release of Cytochrome c through flow cytometry to detect.Results: The recombinant plasmids were constructed successfully.CO-IP has proved that N-terminal may be the functional domain of ?-Synuclein in affecting mitochondria.Over-expression of N-terminal could depolarize the mitochondrial membrane potential and induce the Cytochrome c releasing in MN9D cells.Conclusion: N-terminal may be the functional domain of ?-synuclein and over-expression of N-terminal could decrease mitochondrial activity.

OBJECTIVETo shorten the duration of seed germinating, improve seed emergence and eventurally to establish a practical method for seeding of Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis seed.

METHODTo study the effect of some factors (temperature, sowing time, covering-soil depth, plastic film ) on seed emergence of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

RESULTThe most suitable temperature for embryonic post-maturity and seed germinating is 18-20 degrees C. Paris seed could emerge in April when it was transfer to a low temperature 0-10 degrees C for 2-4 months after being treated under 18-20 degrees C for 3-4 months. For seed emergence, the best sowing time was before April. The suitable soil depth was about 1 cm. It is a better way to cover the seedling bed with black plastic film for improving the emergence percentage.

CONCLUSIONAbove results provide seedling techniques of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis.

Agriculture ; methods ; Germination ; Liliaceae ; growth & development ; Plants, Medicinal ; growth & development ; Seasons ; Seedlings ; growth & development ; Seeds ; growth & development ; Soil ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the SNP rs11614913 on miR196a-2 gene and the treatment effects of Peg-IFN-a plus Ribavirin on chronic hepatitis C patients.

METHODSThe total 139 patients of chronic hepatitis C infection who received the treatment of Peg-IFN-alpha-2a or Peg-IFN-alpha-2b plus Ribavirin were enrolled in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: sustained virological response (SVR) (n = 82) group and non virological response (NVR) or recurrence (n = 57) group. Blood samples were collected and chromosomal DNA was extracted. The miR-196a-2 polymorphism was determined with the method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).

RESULTSIn our study, there was statistically association between miR-196a-2 polymorphism and the antiviral therapy efficacy of hepatitis C patients. There was statistically significance in the CT genotype and the TT genotype of miR-196a-2 between the two groups [P = 0.009, A = 2.924 (1.285 -6.652)]. There was statistically significance in the CC genotype and the TT genotype between the two groups [P = 0.036, A = 3.091(1.052 -9.078)]. There was statistically significance in the C allele and the T allele between the two groups [P = 0.036, A = 3.091 (1.052 - 9.078)].

CONCLUSIONThese findings suggested that the rs11614913 SNP in miR - 196a-2 be associated with the antiviral therapy efficacy of hepatitis C patients, and the TT genotype or T alleles be associated with the SVR while the CC genotype or C allele could be related to the NVR or recurrence.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; therapeutic use ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; therapeutic use ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Recombinant Proteins ; Ribavirin ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo report the clinical, genetic, and molecular characterization of two Chinese families with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON).

METHODSOphthalmological examinations showed that only probands in two families exhibited visual loss at the age of 10 and 17 years respectively. The entire mitochondrial genome of two probands was PCR amplified in 24 overlapping fragments using sets of oligonucleotide primers.

RESULTSMutational analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in these pedigrees revealed the absence of three common LHON associated G11778A, G3460A and T144484 mutations but the presence of homoplastic LHON associated ND4 G11696A mutation, which was present in one out of 167 Chinese healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONSequence analysis of the complete mitochondrial genomes in two pedigrees showed the distinct sets of mtDNA polymorphisms, belonging to Eastern Asian haplogroup D4. The incomplete penetrance of visual loss and the presence of one in 167 controls suggested that this mutation itself is insufficient to produce a clinical phenotype and other modifier factors play a role in the phenotypic manifestation. The lack of functional mtDNA variants in these pedigrees ruled out the role of mitochondrial background in the phenotypic expression of visual loss. Therefore, nuclear modifier gene(s) or environmental factor(s) may play a role in the phenotypic expression of the LHON-associated G11696A mutation in two Chinese pedigrees.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Child ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Family ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Phenotype

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether progesterone receptor B (PRB) can be sumoylated by SUMO-2/3 and the effect of sumoylation on PRB transcriptional activity.

METHODSSUMO-2/3 cDNA was amplified from MCF-7 cDNA and cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3-FLAG. The plasmid pXJ40-myc-PRB was cotransfected with pcDNA3FLAG-SUMO2, pcDNA3FLAG-SUMO3 or the mock control into 293T cells, and PRB sumoylation was detected by immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. The effect of PRB sumoylation on its transcriptional activity was determined using reporter luciferase assay.

RESULTSpcDNA3FLAG-SUMO2 and pcDNA3FLAG-SUMO3 vectors were successfully constructed. SUMO-2/3 could bind covalently to PRB and increase its transcriptional dependent on the presence of progesterone.

CONCLUSIONPRB can be sumoylated by SUMO-2/3 and its function is regulated by this modification.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Humans ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Receptors, Progesterone ; genetics ; metabolism ; Small Ubiquitin-Related Modifier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection ; Ubiquitination ; Ubiquitins ; genetics ; metabolism