The gamma-secretase complex mediates the final cleavage of APP to generate the principal component of amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's disease patients.Four integral membrane proteins (PS,NCT,PEN-2 and APH-1) are essential and sufficient for gamma-secretase activity.To identify the promoter of human nicastrin gene (NCT),its 5' -flanking region has been characterized and a 270 bp fragment containing the TSS (transcription start site) for the promoter activity has been identified.EMSA assays confirmed that all four AP-1 binding sites and two NFAT sites in the NCT promoter region were able to bind relative transcription factors in vitro.Mutations,as well as treatment with PDTC,which adjust the regulatory effect of AP-1 and NFAT,altered NCT promoter activity in both HeLa cells and rat cortical neurons.The results demonstrated that AP-1 and NFAT are involved in the regulation of hNCT transcription and suggest that balanced activation of AP-1 and NFAT ensures a strict temporal and tissue-specific control of NCT transcription.

Student preparation for laboratory sessions is the first step of conducting laboratory experiments. It makes students maximize use of laboratory time and efficiently perform laboratory exercises in open labs. In view of teaching features and requirements of Microbiology experiment, we designed and developed ‘Online Student Preparation and Management System of Microbiology Experiment’, which integrated func- tions of student preparation for laboratory sessions and teacher management. In the system each experiment consists of six successive parts, viz., learning objectives, principle, materials and equipments, procedure video, manipulation simulation and online quiz. Teaching practices showed that the application of the system enhanced the preparing quality and makes the management of the experiment teaching more normalized and efficient. It was an effective measure in improving experimental teaching of Microbiology.

AIM: To investigate the association of osteoprotegerin ( OPG) gene single nucleotide polymor-phisms (SNPs), 163A/G (rs3102735) and 245T/G (rs3134069), with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese Han population .METHODS:A total of 205 patients with RA and 171 healthy control subjects were enrolled into this study.Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism and subsequently confirmed by DNA sequencing .Odds ratio ( OR) and 95%confidence intervals ( CI) were calculated for the risk genotypes and alleles .RESULTS: OPG gene polymorphisms 163A/G and 245T/G were conformed to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium .The statistical differences in the genotypes of AA , AG and GG at 163A/G locus were found in RA and controls.The G allele was associated with an increased risk of RA , with OR of 1.219 (95%CI:1.066~2.339).No significant difference was observed between RA group and control group with respect to genotypic and allelic frequencies of OPG gene 245T/G (P>0.05).CONCLUSION:The OPG gene 163A/G SNP may be associated with RA susceptibility , and G allele may be the risk factor for developing RA .

This article gives a profound exploration on the theoretical origin, prohibitions and mechanisms of moxibustion for heat syndrome. Based upon the ancient and modem literature, this article also gives a classified summarization on diseases of moxibustion for heat syndrome, in order to obtain a thorough understanding about the theory and clinical application of moxibustion for heat syndrome, hence to further perfect the theory of moxibustion and guide the clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the developmental feasibility of early human fetal testes (<3 months) using xenografting technique and to acquire an accessible donor derivation that is essential for studying human germ cell development. Methods Nine testes from 10-13 weeks aborted fetus were grafted under the back skin of 6 castrated nude mice. Grafts were collected at different time point according to the growth of the donor tissues and the health condition of the recipients. Morphological and histological analyses were performed for the observation of the development of grafted immature testicular tissues. Results The mass of grafts was increased from about 5-7mg to 84.1mg (the biggest). Six of 9 testes were to be in developing. Histological observations showed a significant expansion of seminiferous tubules from (44.26±3.14)μm to (77.69±7.47)μm. Cells dispersedly distributed in seminiferous cords at the time of grafting migrated towards the basal part of seminiferous epithelium. Some germ cells with spermatogonium-like characteristics located on the basement membrane. Sertoli cells were in stages from immature into matured with abundant cytoplasm which were orderly arranged around spermatogonia forming a niche-like structure. Conclusion Testes from early aborted human fetus grafted under the back skin of castrated nude mice showed further development and therefore could be used as an easier accessible donor tissues for the investigation of human spermatogenetic mechanism.

G mutation of SLC26A4, the parents and the second child were carriers of the same mutation, while the fetus had a wild-type form. Conclusion It is feasible to identify deafness related genes by screening for GJB2 and SLC26A4 mutation, thus providing correct prenatal diagnosis and avoiding deaf delivery of baby.

Objective To investigate the clinical and molecular genetic changes in a Chinese family with oculopha?ryngeal muscular dystrophy(OPMD). Methods We collected the clinical data of the familial members and blood sam?ples from all available 16 familial members, including the proband. The samples were analyzed using modified poly?merase chain reaction amplification and direct sequence analysis. Results Male OPMD patients initially presented with ptosis, followed by pronunciation difficulty, dysphagia and limb weakness whereas female OPMD patients initially pre?sented with swallowing difficulty. Genetic test revealed the abnormal expansions of the GCG trinucleotide repeat from GCG6 to GCG10 in PABPN1 gene in 10 familial members. Conclusions The genetic test and prenatal diagnosis is the key for the prevention treatment of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy. The ptosis of eyelid may be the initial symptom for the male patients of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy with (GCG)10 mutation.

Purpose To compare the distribution of 23 kinds of human papillomavirus ( HPV) genotypes in tissues of condyloma acu-minata ( CA) of cervix in 120 women and its clinical significance. Methods Polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) and gene-chips tech-nology were utilized for the detection of 23 kinds of HPV genotypes in tissue specimens from 120 cases of CA in cervix and related ma-terials of all subjects were conducted and analyzed. Results There were 115 positive cases in 120 women with CA in cervix and the rate of total HPV infection was 95. 83% (115/120). The rate of single type was 70. 83% (85/120) and multiple types was 25. 00%(30/120). The predominant type of single infection was HPV11 and the infective rate was 45. 00% (54/120), followed by HPV6 (22. 50%, 27/120). Otherwise, the predominant type of multiple infections was HPV6+11 with the infective rate of 20. 00% (6/30), and HPV11+16 infection accounted for 10. 00% (3/30). Conclusions HPV11, 6, 6+11 and 11+16 are the main genotypes in the pathogenesis of CA in cervix in 120 women. PCR and gene-chip technology can detect single and multiple HPV genotyping in tis-sues of CA in cervix with high sensitivity and specificity. Detection of HPV genotypes could be used to understand the prevalence situa-tion of HPV infection in tissues of CA and tumors of cervix and further to provide references for the research and development of HPV vaccine in women.

Objective To compare the distribution situation of human papillomavirus(HPV)infective genotypes in normal cells and atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASC-US)in uterine cervix and its clinical significance.Methods The pol-ymerase chain reaction(PCR)combined with the gene-chips technology were adopted to detect 23 kinds of HPV genotype from 1 000 cases of normal cells specimens and 229 cases of ASC-US specimens.Results 106 cases of HPV-positive infection were de-tected from 1 000 cases of normal cells with the total HPV infection rate of 10.60%(106/1 000),in which the single genotype in-fection rate was 9.30%(93/1 000)and the multiple genotypes infection rate was 1.30%(13/1 000);116 cases of HPV-positive in-fection were detected from 229 cases of cervial ASC-US specimens with the total HPV positive rate was 50.66% (116/229 ),in which the single genotype infection rate was 34.06%(78/229)and the multiple genotypes infection rate was 16.59%(38/229).The total HPV positive rates,single and multiple genotype infection had statistically significantly differences between the two groups(P<0.05).Conclusion The HPV types 16,18,33,42,43,52,58 are the predominant genotypes in normal cervical cells and ASC-US. PCR combined with the gene-chip technology can be used in the HPV genotype detect in cervical cells,conduces to perform the fur-ther distribution management on ASC-US and has the important significance to prevention and control of cervical cancer.

Objective To investigate the distribution of 39 kinds of human papillomavirus(HPV)infection genotypes in female cervical cells and its clinical significance.Methods 39 types of HPV DNA were extracted from 434 samples of female cervical cells. The gene amplification combined with the gene chip technique was adopted to detect 39 kinds of HPV genotype.And the clinical da-ta of the patients were analyzed.Results Among 434 samples of female cervical cell,175 cases were HPV positive,the total HPV infection rate was 40.32%(175/434).Among them,105 cases were the single type HPV infection with the positive detection rate of 24.19%(105/434)and 70 cases were the multiple types HPV infection with the positive detection rate of 16.13%(70/434).Among single type HPV infection,31 cases were the HPV18 infection with the positive detection rate of 17.71%(31/175),which was the main HPV infection type;followed by HPV16 in 12 cases with the positive detection rate of 6.86%(12/175)and HPV52 in 11 cases with the positive detection rate of 6.29%(11/175).Among the multi-type HPV infection,each 2 cases were HPV 6+54,HPV 18+52,HPV 51+68 infection respectively,each accounted for 2.86% of the multi-type HPV infection,which were the main infection types.Conclusion HPV 16,18,52 and HPV 6+54,HPV 18 +52 and HPV 51 +68 are the main HPV infection genotypes of fe-male cervical cells.The gene amplification combined with the gene chips technique is a method suitable for clinically conducting the HPV genotyping diagnosis and the molecular epidemiologic research of HPV infection.Along with the increase of detected HPV genotypes,the HPV infection rate is also increased,its genotypes combinations trend towards diversification.