Objective To investigate the mecA gene expression lvevl in clinically isolated Staphylococcus aureus (SA) strains and its correlation with drug resistance .Methods Clinically isolated 186 SA strains were collected .The K-P method was adopted to conduct the durg sensitivity test .Then DNA of these strains was extracted and the mecA gene was amplified by using PCR .Results The detection rate of methicillin-resistant SA(MRSA) was 30 .65% (57/186) ,the positive mecA gene was detected in 56 strains of MRSA and 10 strains of methicillin susceptible S .aureus(MSSA) among 129 strains of MSSA ;except susceptible to vancomycin and linezolid ,the resistance rate of MRSA to ther antibacterial durgs were higher than that of MSSA ,the resistance rate to antibac-terial durgs in the strains carrying mecA gene was higher than that in the strains without carrying mecA gene ,ther difference be-tween them had statistical significance (P<0 .05) .Conclusion Clinically isolated SA strains carrying mecA gene are resistant to multiple antibacterial drugs ,which indicating that mecA gene play an important role in SA drug-resistance mechanism .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the methylation status of miR-378 promoter in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and to analyze its clinical significance.

METHODSThe unmethylation level of miR-378 gene promoter in bone marrow mononuclear cells of 25 healthy donors and 53 patients with CML was detected by using real-time quantitative methylation-specific PCR (RQ-MSP).

RESULTSThe hypomethylation of miR-378 gene promoter was found in 17/53 (32.1%) patients, but only in 1/25 (4.0%) of controls. The difference between the two groups was very statistically significant (P < 0.01). The frequency of miR-378 unmethylation in CML patients at chronic phase (CP), accelerated phase (AP) and blastic phase (BP) was 35.0% (14/40), 40.0% (2/5), and 12.5% (1/8), respectively. However, there were no significant differences in the unmethylation level of miR-378 among CML patients at different sexes, stages and karyotypes. No significant differences could be observed in age, white blood cell counts, platelet count, hemoglobin level and BCR/ABL1 transcript level (P > 0.05). CONCLUDSION: The miR-378 hypomethylation is a common molecular event in CML, especially at chronic or accelerated phases.

Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; DNA Methylation ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; metabolism ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo study the methylation status of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene promoter in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and its clinical relevance.

METHODSMethylation-specific PCR (MSP) was used to detect FHIT promoter methylation in bone marrow samples from 54 MDS cases.

RESULTSHypermethylation of FHIT promoter was detected in 26 cases (48.1%). Association was not found between FHIT gene hypermethylation and sex, hematologic parameters and chromosomal abnormalities of MDS patients, but found between FHIT gene hypermethylation and age of the MDS cases. Although significant difference was not observed in the frequencies of FHIT gene hypermethylation among patients with refractory anemia/refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RA/RAS) (1/6, 16.7%), refractory anemia/refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RCMD) and refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia with ringed blasts (RCMD-RS) (6/19, 31.6%), refractory anemia with excess blasts-1 (RAEB-1) (7/11, 63.6%), refractory anemia with excess blasts-2 (RAEB-2) (4/7, 57.1%) and refractory anemia with excess blasts in transformation/acute myeloid leukemia (RAEBt/AML) (8/11, 72.7%)(chi-square=8.417, P=0.077), it was observed in patients in early stages (RA/RAS and RCMD) (7/25, 28.0%), advanced stages (RAEB-1 and RAEB-2)(11/18, 61.1%) and RAEBt/AML (8/11, 72.7%) (chi-square=7.938, P=0.019). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the frequency of FHIT gene hypermethylation and different IPSS groups (chi-square=10.110, P=0.018).

CONCLUSIONFHIT gene hypermethylation might be one of the molecular events involved in the disease progression of MDS.

Acid Anhydride Hydrolases ; genetics ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Base Sequence ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; classification ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics