Gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement can be used to modify gene sequence in genomic background without position effect or insertion inactivation in transgenic plants. Targeted mutagenesis organism has little biosafety concerns free of transgenes or marker genes. Gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement in high plants now appears to be a potential tool for gene functional analysis in situ, crops genetic improvement and molecular design. Zinc finger nuclease(ZFN)is most important and would be widely used in gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement through introducing double-strand breaks in genome. Strategies for gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement in plants is discussed. ZFN is described in detail from its structure, operation model and application in plants. Developmental prospect of ZFN in plant gene targeted mutagenesis and replacement is also discussed.

Objective To study the effect of different concentration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3[1,25(OH)2D3] on cell proliferation,differentiation and the expression of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in mouse MC3T3E1 osteoblast.Methods Osteoblast were cultured in medium with different concentrations of 1,25(OH)2D3.Incubated for 48 h,cell proliferation of osteoblast were examined by MTT reduction assay (mono-nuclear cell direc cytotoxicity assay),the osteocalcin (OC) levels in cell medium were detected by ELISA,and the expression of VDR mRNA and protein were examined by using SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.Results 1.After incubation with 1,25(OH)2D3 for 48 h,the number of MC3T3E1 osteoblast was significantly less than that in control group(P0.05).3.SYBR Green real-time PCR and Western blot results showed that the expression of VDR mRNA as well as VDR protein of osteoblast in 10-8,10-9 mol/L experimental groups were significantly higher than those in control group (Pa0.05).Conclusions Cell proliferation of mouse osteoblast can be inhibited,while the cell differentiation was promoted by 1,25(OH)2D3.1,25(OH)2D3 up-regulated the expression of VDR in mouse osteoblast,which suggested that the VDR signal pathway may play some role in proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peroxidase ; blood

Numerous interpolation-based methods have been described for reducing metal artifacts in CT images, but due to the limit of the interpolation methods, interpolation alone often fails to meet the clinical demands. In this paper, we describe the use of quartic polynomial interpolation in reconstruction of the images of the metal implant followed by linear interpolation to eliminate the streaks. The two interpolation methods are combined according to their given weights to achieve good results.
Algorithms ; Artifacts ; Dental Prosthesis ; Humans ; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

Objective To study the expression of CD269 and CD317 antigens in bone marrow cells of patients with multiple myeloma (MM),analyze its correlation with the laboratory indexes reflecting the progression of MM and evaluate its value in clinical diagnosis and treatment.Methods 63 newly diagnosed MM patients were selected as the study group by a casecontrol study.The expression rate of CD269 and CD317 in bone marrow blood of 35 patients with iron deficiency anemia and other antigens in bone marrow blood of 63 patients with MM were detected by flow cytometry.The levels of serum hemoglo bin (Hb),serumβ2-MG(β2-MG) and lactatedehydrogenase (LDH) in patients with MM were dctectcd,and the levels of CD269 and CD317 were analyzed statistically.Results The positive rates of CD269 in the study group and control group were (86.6±2.35)％ vs (4.33±l.69)％,rcspectivcly (t =4.256,P＜0.05)).The positive rate of CD317 was (71.42+ 0.62)％ vs (8.32+ 3.89)％,the difference was statistically significant (t=3.102,P＜0.05).In other expression,the expression level of CD269 and CD317 in CD56 positive group was significantly higher than that of negative group (t=4.032,P＜0.05),while the expression of CD117 the level of positive group was significantly lower than that of the negative group (t 2.832,P＜0.05),CD19,CD20 expression was not statistically significant difference between the two groups (P＞ 0.05).The levels of CD269 and CD317 in patients with MM were positively correlated with the level of CD56 expression (r =0.392,P＜0.05),and negatively correlated with the level of CD117 expression (r=-0.210,P＜0.05).The levels of CD269 and CD317 in patients with MM were significantly lower than those in the negative group (t=3.012,P＜0.05) and the levels of serum LDH in the positive group were lower than those in the negative group (t=2.024,P＜0.05).There was a negative correlation between Hb content (r=-0.212,P＜0.05) and negatively correlated with serum β2-MG (r=-0.312,P＜0.05).Conclusion The high expression of CD269 and CD317 in bone marrow cells in MM patients is related to the increase of CD56 and decrease of CD117 in patients with MM.

In order to solve the problem of selection and in vivo delivery problem in siRNA treatment, hepatitis B virus (HBV) HBx gene which could be targeted by siRNA was studied. The siRNA expression plasmid which specific inhibits HBx expression was obtained by in vitro selection via a dual-luciferase plasmid including HBx-Fluc fusion protein expression domain. The selected siRNA expression plasmid was then encapsulated in PEG-modified cationic liposome, which was devoted into pharmacodynamic studies at both cellular and animal level. The results illustrated that the cationic liposome which encapsulated siRNA expression plasmid could effectively inhibit HBx gene expression both in vitro and in vivo.
Cations ; Gene Expression Regulation, Viral ; drug effects ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Liposomes ; chemistry ; Plasmids ; RNA, Small Interfering ; chemistry ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore several numerical methods of ordinal variable in one-way ordinal contingency table and their interrelationship, and to compare corresponding statistical analysis methods such as Ridit analysis and rank sum test.

METHODSFormula deduction was based on five simplified grading approaches including rank_r(i), ridit_r(i), ridit_r(ci), ridit_r(mi), and table scores. Practical data set was verified by SAS8.2 in clinical practice (to test the effect of Shiwei solution in treatment for chronic tracheitis).

RESULTSBecause of the linear relationship of rank_r(i) = N ridit_r(i) + 1/2 = N ridit_r(ci) = (N + 1) ridit_r(mi), the exact chi2 values in Ridit analysis based on ridit_r(i), ridit_r(ci), and ridit_r(mi), were completely the same, and they were equivalent to the Kruskal-Wallis H test. Traditional Ridit analysis was based on ridit_r(i), and its corresponding chi2 value calculated with an approximate variance (1/12) was conservative. The exact chi2 test of Ridit analysis should be used when comparing multiple groups in the clinical researches because of its special merits such as distribution of mean ridit value on (0,1) and clear graph expression. The exact chi2 test of Ridit analysis can be output directly by proc freq of SAS8.2 with ridit and modridit option (SCORES =).

CONCLUSIONThe exact chi2 test of Ridit analysis is equivalent to the Kruskal-Wallis H test, and should be used when comparing multiple groups in the clinical researches.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between nutritional status and cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD),and to provide rationale for clinicians in nutrition intervention of AD patients.Methods:Sixty cases of elderly AD patients and 50 cases with normal elderly control were enrolled from the neurological department.Nutritional status and cognitive function were assessed using the laboratory parameters,mini nutritional assessment method (short-form Mini-Nutritional fine assessment,MNA-SF) and MMSE (Mini-Mental State,Examination,MMSE) survey.Results:Compared with control group,the AD group had significantly different laboratory index and MNA-SF score (P ＜ 0.05).MNA-SF scores were positively correlated with MMSE scores in patients with AD (r =0.59,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion:The incidence of malnutrition in AD patients is high,and it is related to their cognitive function.The nutritional knowledge should be strengthened among doctors and nurses treating patients with AD.

Objective To understand the awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge and characteristics of sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Changsha City. Methods By a snowball sampling method, volunteers were recruited in two social public welfare organizations in Changsha (Qingcai and Zhongda Sunshine) and interviewed by anonymous electronic questionnaires. Data were analyzed using software SPSS 19.0. Results Among 150 MSM, the overall awareness rate of HIV/ AIDS-related knowledge was 86.0% (129/150). For different demographic characteristics, higher age group, higher education level and higher income groups had significantly higher rates of awareness about HIV/AIDS related knowledge, compared with the reference groups, respectively. For the sexual behaviors, 32.7% of the investigated MSM population had their first MSM sexual intercourse at age of <18 years old, the rate of ≥18 years old group was significantly higher than the <18 years old group (2=4.315, P=0.038), 46.7% of the MSM population had more than 1 sexual partner during the past six months, the ratio of MSM used condoms in the sexual intercourse occasionally or never was 29.3% and 6.7%, respectively. Conclusions Young age, relatively low educational level and low income MSM in Changsha had a relative low awareness of HIV/AIDS-related knowledge. MSM in Changsha City had first MSM sexual intercourse at a very younger age. There is an urgent need to take well-targeted measures to improve the HIV/AIDS-related knowledge with special MSM population, and develop effective intervention measures for the high-risk sexual behaviors among MSM.

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical manifestations and multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) findings of afferent loop syndrome (ALS) and to determine the role of MDCT on treatment decisions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2004 to December 2008, 1,100 patients had undergone gastroenterostomy reconstruction in our institution. Of these, 22 (2%) patients were diagnosed as ALS after surgery that included Roux-en-Y gastroenterotomy (n=9), Billroth-II gastrojejunostomy (n=7), and Whipple's operation (n=6). Clinical manifestations and MDCT features of these patients were recorded and statistically analyzed. The presumed etiologies of obstruction shown on the MDCT were correlated with clinical information and confirmed by surgery or endoscopic biopsy. RESULTS: The most common clinical symptom was acute abdominal pain, presenting in 18 patients (82%). We found that a fluid-filled C-shaped afferent loop in combination with valvulae conniventes projecting into the lumen was the most common MDCT features of ALS. Malignant causes of ALS, such as local recurrence and carcinomatosis, are the most common etiologies of obstruction. These etiologies and associated complications can be predicted 100% by MDCT. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that MDCT is a reliable modality for assessing the etiologies of ALS and guiding treatment decisions.
Adult ; Afferent Loop Syndrome/*radiography ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Gastroenterostomy/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods