Objective To construct the short hairpin RNA(shRNA) expression vector of survivin and down-regulate the expression of survivin through RNA interference in neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. Methods Two pairs of oligonucleotide sequences specific for human survivin mRNA were designed and synthesized. The annealed oligonucleotide fragments were subcloned into pBSHH1 plasmid. After being identified by restriction enzyme digestion and sequencing, the recombinant plasmids pBSHH1-S1 and pBSHH1-S2 were transfected into SH-SY5Y cells, respectively. Survivin expression in the transfected cells was assayed by both RT-PCR and western blot. Results Enzyme digestion analysis and DNA sequencing showed that the oligonucleotide fragments were correctly inserted into pBSHH1 plasmid, and survivin expression in the transfected cells was knocked down significantly by pBSHH1-S1 or pBSHH1-S2 at both the protein and mRNA level. Conclusion The shRNA expression vectors of survivin were successfully constructed, and could down-regulate survivin expression in SH-SY5Y cells, which lay a foundation for further research on gene therapy for tumors such as neuroblastoma.

Objective To explore parkin gene deletion mutations at exons 3 to 7 in Chinese familial patients with Parkinson's disease as well as the association with the clinical features.Methods DNA was extracted from 6 unrelated families of PD patients; the deletion mutations of parkin gene at exons 3 to 7 were identified by PCR amplification, agarose gel electrophoresis. and the clinical data were analyzed together with the above information.Results In the 6 unrelated families of PD patients, 1 case had exon 5 deletion, its hereditary manner was autosomal recessive inheritance,the patient's age at the onset was 60 years old,clinical feature was tremor,rigidity and bradykinesia,but no athetosis.In addition the deletion mutations of parkin gene at exons 3,4,6,7 were not found.Conclusion There are deletion mutations of parkin gene at exons 5 in families PD of Chinese patients.

Objective To explore the clinical characteristics of hereditary spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum(HSP TCC).Methods Clinical data of 4 patients with HSP TCC were analysed retrospectively.Results 4 patients were at the onset during youngsters,they revealed mental impairment,walk of spasticity,spasticity of the lower extremities,slowly progressive weakness and hyperreflexia, extensor plantar responses and morbid indication for positive. Sensory impairment was not observed. 2 cases showed ataxia and sphincter disturbance;1 case showed upper limb spasticity and muscular atrophy. Cranial MRI revealed an extremely thin corpus callosum on sagittal image.Conclusion Main clinical characterizations of HSP TCC were slowly progressive spastic paraparesis, mental impairment during youngsters, cranial MRI showed extremely thin corpus callosum.

Objective To investigate the clinical and genetic characteristics of hereditary spastic paraplegia(HSP).Methods The clinical material of 113 patients in 39 families with HSP was analyzed retrospectively.Results The ratio of male to female was 1:1.17.The age at HSP onset was from 2 to 58 years old, the mean age was 21.4 years old, and 81.7% of the patients had HSP before 30. 89.4% of the patients had positive family history and they showed mostly autosomal dominant inheritance. The rate of consanguinity was 28.2%. 24 cases had pure while 89 cases had complicated spastic paraplegia. In the HSP group, we could found the weakness of legs in 65.5% patients, spasticity and hyperreflexia of lower limbs in 96.5%, extensor plantar responses in 68.1%, ataxia in 46.9%, muscular atrophy in 32.7% and dementia in 18.6%.Conclusion In the HSP group, the year of onset was mostly before 30. The female HSP cases were more than the male's, and the complicated cases were more often than the pure. Autosomal dominant was the mostly frequent inheritance, and there were more chances of HSP in the consanguineous families.

Objective To make the gene mapping of one Chinese benign familial infantile convulsion (BFIC )pedigree on chromosome 19q12 13 1 Methods Five microsatellite DNA markers (D19S49, D19S250, D19S414, D19S416, D19S245) were chosen to make haplotype and linkage analysis of this BFIC family Results Among the 3 markers D19S49,D19S416,D19S245, the maximum LODs was located on D19S416 When the recombinant rate was 0 3, the maximum LOD score was 0 52; when the recombinant rate was 0, the LOD score was ∞; when the recombinant rate was 0 1, the LOD score was less than 0 The D19S414 and D19S250 could not provide information Conclusion BFIC gene of the family was not linked between D19S49 and D19S245, which suggested that there was heterogeneity in BFIC

Objective To investigate the influence of nicotine on the metabolism of dopamine (DA) in the striatum and on the spontaneous locomotor activity of MPTP-induced PD mice. Methods 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD model in mice was prepared. The effects of MPTP and nicotine on the levels of dopamine, its metabolites of 3,4-dihydroxyphenlacetic acid (DOPAC) and hemovanillic acid (HVA) were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detection(HPLC-EC); also, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive nerve fibers were measured by immunohistochemical analysis. Results After injection of Nicotine, the spontaneous locomotor activity of MPTP-treated C57BL mice was significantly lower than that of the control mice, suggesting the nicotine's inhibiting effects ( 44.86?8.51 vs. 57.28?3.27, P

Objectives To investigate the DRD 2 genetic susceptibility to essential tremor(ET) in Chinese.Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) was used to determine the DRD 2 Taq ⅠA genotypes of 80 unrelated ET patients and 100 healthy controls.Results No significant differences in Taq ⅠA genotype and distributions of allele frequencies of Taq ⅠA loci at the DRD 2 gene were observed between ET and controls.Conclusions Taq ⅠA loci polymorphism at DRD 2 gene may be not associated to genetic susceptibility to ET,but the Taq ⅠA polymorphism at DRD gene could contribute the disorder of central dopaminergic neural system in ET.

Objective To investigate the mutation characteristics of paraplegin gene in Chinese patients with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) and establish the base of the gene diagnosis of HSP.Methods Mutation analysis of paraplegin gene was carried out by use of polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) combined with DNA direct sequencing in 22 unrelated affected HSP individuals in China, in which 8 probands were from autosomal recessive families and 14 cases were sporadic.Results All of the exons could be detected by PCR. 2 probands were found to have abnormal SSCP bands in exon 15 and 2 substitutes (G2063A, G2066A in exon 15) were found by DNA direct sequencing. But there were no changes in other patients of families.!The same abnormal SSCP bands and G→A substitutes were revealed in control individuals. So these changes were two polymorphisms, in which G2066A was not reported previously.Conclusion Mutations of paraplegin gene may be rare in Chinese patients with HSP. G2063A and G2066A are two polymorphisms, in which G2066A has not been reported previously.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of essential tremor (ET).Methods The clinical materials of 80 patients with ET was analysed.Results In 80 patients with ET, 50 cases for the male, 30 cases for the female,the age at tremor onset was from 3 to 70 years old,the mean age was 34.6?16.3 years old,the course of disease was 6 months to 60 years,the mean 14.2?9.9 years. 45 patients (56 3%) had postive family history,they showed mostly autosomal dominant inheritance.The postural tremor was the main manifestation of essential tremor,tremor affected hand in 92.5% patients,throat in 21.3%,head in 20%,chin in 17.5%. Functional disability and impairment in 17.5% patients because of tremor.91 2% patients had the effect of alcohol occurred in 34 cases who had performed alcohol test.6 3% patients accompanied parkinson’s disease.A small dose of propranolol was effective in 61% patients.Conclusion In the ET group,the patients were mostly young,single model,the number of the male ET cases was more than the female,sole postural tremor,part of patients might accompany PD,a small dose of propranolol was effective.

Objective To study the clinical, neuro-electrophysiology features of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) and its gene mutation analysis.Methods 9 members of the family with CMT1A underwent detailed clinical examinations and gene mutation analysis was carried out in 7 of them. The probands accepted electromyography and nerve, muscle biopsy.Results Five patients of the family were attacked and consistent with autosomal dominant inheritance type. Except one asymptomatic patient, age at onset was in the first or second decade. The clinical features were slowly progressive distal muscle weakness, atrophy and end-brush form sensory decrement, diminished or absent tendon reflexes, foot deformity(pes cavus).The probands showed highly decreased sensory and motor conduction velocities. Gene mutation analysis showed large fragment tandem duplication containing peripheral myelin protein 22(PMP22) gene in all four patients out of the seven family members who attended the gene diagnosis.Conclusion CMT1A is the most common form of CMT. The disease usually begins in childhood or adolescence. Clinical featurs include progressive distal muscle weekness and atrophy, diminished or absent tendon reflexes. The motor nerve conduction velocity is slowed below the limit of 38 m/s. Tandem duplication on chromosome 17p11.2, encompassing the PMP22 gene is the main mutation type of CMT1A.