Mycena subpiligera, a new taxon in sect. Fragilipedes that can strongly enhance the germination efficiency of Gastrodia elata seeds, was discovered in subtropical areas of China. As revealed by a morphological comparison with related Mycena species as well as maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the large subunit (LSU) regions of nuclear ribosomal RNA, the new taxon can be distinguished from phenotypically similar and phylogenetically related species. Optimal cultural conditions for M. subpiligera basidiomata are reported, and the germination rate of the new species is compared with that of M. citrinomarginata.

Autistic Disorder ; genetics ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15 ; Humans ; Infant ; Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of sodium metavanadate (SMV) on blood sugar and glucose phosphorylation in mice, and to discuss the possible mechanism of its hypoglycemic effects.

METHODSDiabetic mice (D) and control mice (V) were randomly allocated to drink SMV (0.2 mg/ml) (CV and DV groups) or NaCl (80 mmol/L) (C and V groups) respectively. The study lasted for 5 weeks. Liver glucokinase, muscle hexokinase, blood glucose and insulin were assayed at the end of each week.

RESULTSBlood glucose was higher in the diabetic groups before the administration of SMV, and the blood glucose level of group DV decreased from (18.77 +/- 1.28) to (8.94 +/- 0.94) mmol/L (P < 0.01) after oral administration of SMV for one week. While liver glucokinase increased from (1.29 +/- 0.64) to (15.36 +/- 1.57) mIU/min/mg protein and muscle hexokinase increased from (1.93 +/- 0.50) to (18.62 +/- 1.71) mIU/min/mg protein (P < 0.01) respectively. There was no continuous change of these parameters during the later weeks. No significant change of serum insulin was observed in the diabetic mice. There was a remarkable negative correlation of blood glucose level with liver glucokinase and muscle hexokinase levels.

CONCLUSIONThe hypoglycemic effects of SMV was independent of insulin level. In consideration of the close relations of the activities of liver glucokinase and muscle hexokinase with diabetes, and the improving of impaired glucose phosphorylation in diabetic mice by oral sodium metavanadate, which might be the mechanism of hypoglycemic effects of SMV.

Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; Female ; Glucokinase ; metabolism ; Hexokinase ; metabolism ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; blood ; Liver ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Random Allocation ; Vanadates ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo analyze the prevalence of asthma and asthma related symptoms among children aged 0-14 years in three Chinese cities and to obtain a crude estimation of the trend of childhood asthma prevalence in China.

METHODSA cross-sectional, population-based survey of prevalence of asthma was conducted in children aged from 0 to 14 years in 3 major cities of China (Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou) with different geographic locations. All the subjects were randomly selected by a multi-stage sampling method. Three to five schools and kindergartens in 2 urban districts in each city were randomly selected for the survey, and a validated questionnaire that included the core questions of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood, Phase III questionnaire and several additional questions were used. All questionnaires were completed by parents or guardians of the selected children. Children whose parents responded affirmatively to the question "Has your child ever been diagnosed as asthma by a doctor" were recognized as victims of asthma.

RESULTSThe prevalence of asthma in Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou was 3.15%, 7.45%, and 2.09%, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those obtained 10 years ago in the national epidemiological survey in 2000 which used the same method of investigation and the same diagnotic criteria (χ²=3.938, P=0.047; χ²=73.506, P≤0.001; χ²=11.956, P=0.001, in each city). Of the asthmatic children 57.21%, 69.91%, and 60.00% had their first attack before the age of 3 in Beijing, Chongqing, and Guangzhou, respectively. Wheezing was the primary clinical manifestation for all asthmatic children, followed by persistent cough and repeated respiratory infections. Both the prevalence of asthma and asthma-related symptoms were statistically higher in males than in females.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of childhood asthma is statistically higher than that 10 years ago in the three Chinese cities.

Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Prevalence

This study was aimed to investigate the efficiency of nested methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (nMS-PCR) for detecting the APC gene promoter methylation and to clarify the roles of methylation in genesis and development of hematologic malignancies, as well as to screen the hematologic malignant cell lines with hypermethylation of APC gene promoter to use as an ideal cell model for exploring the relationship between gen methylation and gene expression. The genome DNA of 10 cell lines modified with bisulfide was amplified and the methylation status of APC gene promoter was detected by using nMS-PCR. The results showed that the methylation of APC gene promoter was detected in Jurkat cells, while could not be detected in CA46, U266, Molt4, K562, HL-60, CEM, AKR, U937 and Raji cell lines. In conclusion, APC gene methylation in hematological malignant cell lines can be accurately detected by nMS-PCP method, which is simple method for detecting methylation status of various hematological malignant cell lines.
DNA Methylation ; Genes, APC ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

The study was aimed to explore the relationship between patterns of methylation or deletion and the development of acute leukemia, and further to clarify the possible mechanism in the development of adult acute leukemia. Nested methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (n-MSP) was adopted to analyze p16 gene methylation or deletion patterns in 82 adult acute leukemia patients with different subtypes and stages. The results indicated that rate of p16 gene methylation was 39.0% in 82 adult acute leukemia patients, among them, 41.4% in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) and 33.3% in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It were found that 36.6% of de novo AL patients and 54.5% of relapsed AL patients developed the hypermethylation of p16 gene. Out of the 82 patients, 6 seemed to have deletion of p16 gene, including 1 AML (1.7%) and 5 ALL (20.8%). There were no hypermethylation or deletion of p16 gene in the 16 controls. It is concluded that methylation of p16 gene may play a more important role than homozygous deletion of p16 gene in the leukemogenesis and progression of adult acute leukemia.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Base Sequence ; CpG Islands ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; DNA, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of epigallocatechin-3-galate (EGCG) on acute monocytic leukemia cell line U937 and its relevant mechanism. The viability of U937 cells were assayed by SRB method. The cell cycle of U937 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein expression of p16 gene were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. Methylation level of U937 cells was analyzed by n-MSP. The mRNA expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), DNMT3A and DNMT3B genes were analyzed by RT-PCR. The results showed that EGCG could inhibit the growth of U937 cells significantly in dose-and time-dependent manners (r=0.71), and induce the G0/G1 arrest of U937 cells in dose-dependent manner. EGCG could up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of P16 gene in U937 cells in dose-dependent manner. EGCG could down-regulate the methylation level of p16 gene in U937 cells in dose-dependent manner. EGCG could down-regulate the mRNA expression of DNMT3A, DNMT3B genes, while did not influence the mRNA expression of DNMT1 gene. It is concluded that EGCG can up-regulate the mRNA and protein expression of p16 gene by demethylation or/and by inhibiting DNMT3A and DNMT3B genes, leading, in turn, to G0/G1 arrest and growth inhibition of U937 cells.
Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Genes, p16 ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; genetics ; U937 Cells

BACKGROUNDFamilial pulmonary arterial hypertension (FPAH) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by plexiform lesions of endothelial cells in pulmonary arterioles which leads to elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, right-sided heart failure and death. Heterozygous mutations in the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor gene (BMPR2) have been found to underlie a majority of FPAH cases. More than 140 distinct mutations have been identified in FPAH cases and in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) cases, but only one mutation has been reported in Chinese patients.

METHODSA three-generation pedigree of FPAH and another 10 patients with IPAH were collected. In the family, two of the 9 surviving and one deceased family member were diagnosed as FPAH. The entire protein-coding region and intron/exon boundaries of the BMPR2 gene were amplified by PCR using DNA samples from affected individuals. Direct sequencing of PCR products was performed on both the sense and antisense strands. To confirm the segregation of the mutation within the family and exclude the presence of the mutation in normal subjects, the relevant exon was amplified by PCR, followed by mutation-specific RPLP analysis.

RESULTSIn the Chinese pedigree with FPAH an A-to-T transition at position 1157 in exon 9 of the BMPR2 gene was identified which resulted in a Glu386Val mutation. We confirmed the segregation of the mutation within the family and excluded the presence of the mutation in a panel of 200 chromosomes from normal subjects. No mutation was detected in BMPR2 in the other 10 patients with IPAH.

CONCLUSIONSThis amino acid substitution occurs at a glutamic acid that is highly conserved in all type II TGF-beta receptors. The nearly invariant Glu forms an ion pair with an invariant Arg at position 491 thereby helping to stabilize the large lobe. Substitution of Arg at position 491 is the most frequently observed missense mutation in FPAH, but until now no mutations at position 386 have been found in FPAH. The predicted functional impact of the Glu386Val mutation and its absence in healthy controls support the mutation as the cause of FPAH.

Adolescent ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type II ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; genetics ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree

BACKGROUNDIn cardiology, it is controversial whether different therapy strategies influence prognosis after acute coronary syndrome. We examined and compared the long-term outcomes of invasive and conservative strategies in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and characterized the patients selected for an invasive approach.

METHODSA total of 976 patients with acute NSTEMI were collected from December 2006 to October 2012 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University Hospital. They are divided into conservative strategy (586 patients) and invasive strategy (390 patients) group. Unified follow-up questionnaire was performed by telephone contact (cut-off date was November, 2013). The long-term clinical events were analyzed and related to the different treatment strategies.

RESULTSThe median follow-up time was 29 months. Mortality was 28.7% (n = 168) in the conservative group and 2.1% (n = 8) in the invasive management at long-term clinical follow-up. The secondary endpoint (the composite endpoint) was 59.0% (n = 346) in the conservative group and 30.3% (n = 118) in the invasive management. Multivariate analysis showed that patients in the conservative group had higher all-cause mortality rates than those who had the invasive management (adjusted risk ratio [RR] = 7.795; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.796-16.006, P < 0.001), and the similar result was also seen in the secondary endpoint (adjusted RR = 2.102; 95% CI: 1.694-2.610, P < 0.001). In the subgroup analysis according to each Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction risk score (TRS), log-rank analysis showed lower mortality and secondary endpoint rates in the invasive group with the intermediate and high-risk patients (TRS 3-7).

CONCLUSIONSAn invasive strategy could improve long-term outcomes for NSTEMI patients, especially for intermediate and high-risk ones (TRS 3-7).

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEIn recent years, the incidence of allergic diseases in China is increasing. With serious influence on the patients' quality of life and even life-threatening, now allergic diseases have become an important public health problem in our country. This survey aimed to obtain a general epidemic outline of children's major allergic diseases, i.e., childhood asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in the downtown of Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou.

METHODChildhood asthma questionnaire was established by Delphi method based on guidelines for childhood asthma diagnosis and prevention made by Chinese medical association in 2008 with reference to the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire (ISAAC). This study was carried out from Oct. 2008-Mar. 2009, in Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou by a multi-stage sampling method, covering a sample of 24 290 children aged 0 - 14 years by a multi-stage sampling method, the population of children surveyed in the downtown of Beijing Chongqing and Guangzhou was 10 372, 9874 and 4072 respectively; of whom males were 5545, 5258, 2159, and females were 4917, 4588, 1877; the ratio of males to females in the three cities were 1.11:1, 1.15:1, 1.15:1; the average age of surveyed children were 7.63, 8.74 and 8.30 years old. All the questionnaire was filled in by the parents of children or other guardian of children.

RESULTThe self-reported prevalence of asthma in Beijing, Chongqing and Guangzhou was 3.15%, 7.45%, 2.09%, the self-reported prevalence of allergic rhinitis was 14.46%, 20.42%, 7.83%, and the prevalence of eczema was 20.64%, 10.02%, 7.22%. In the survey, asthma combined with allergic rhinitis had the highest rate, 49.54%, 50.14%, 34.83%, respectively in the 3 cities. The self-reported prevalence of asthma and allergic rhinitis was significantly higher in male than female. Besides, the self-reported prevalences of asthma and allergic rhinitis were relatively lower in children under 1 year and over 10 years of age.

CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema and other allergic diseases in children 0 - 14 years of age in the three cities gradually increased, and the prevalence of allergic diseases in Chongqing was relatively higher.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Cities ; Eczema ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; epidemiology ; Incidence ; Infant ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires