Administration, Oral ; Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-18 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Warts ; blood ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

Autopsy ; China ; epidemiology ; Congenital Abnormalities ; epidemiology ; etiology ; mortality ; Folic Acid ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Survival Rate ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution of the tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) gene-T457C locus polymorphism in Han ethnic group in northern China and to find its applicable value in forensic science. METHODS: Genomic DNA samples, extracted from 180 unrelated individuals in northern Chinese Han population, were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The discrimination power (DP) value and the power of exclusion (PE) value of the TPH gene-T457C locus were 0.624 and 0.187, respectively. The allele frequency showed significant difference from that of French people (P=0.04). CONCLUSION Polymorphism of the TPH gene-T457C locus could show ethnic and regional differences. It has a potential to be used in forensic science.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; China/ethnology* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tryptophan Hydroxylase/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the sequence features of FUT2/01 locus and its polymorphic distribution in Chinese population, and to discuss its application potential in forensic medicine. METHODS: The alleles on FUT2/01 locus were amplified by PCR and then were sequenced. Furthermore, polymorphic distribution of the locus was analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The genotypes were characterized with fluorescence labeling followed by automatic detection system. RESULTS: The sequencing results only showed the length differences which were determined by the tandem repeats variance of the core sequence. There were 9 alleles and 28 genotypes identified from 162 individuals. The discrimination power and excluding probability of paternity were 0.9639 and 0.6266, respectively. In addition, the locus could be genotyped by automatic analysis very well. CONCLUSION The FUT2/01 locus exhibits high heterozygosity and individual identification power in Chinese Han population, and may be a valuable STR system for application in forensic medicine.
Alleles ; Asian People ; Base Sequence ; China/ethnology* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Fucosyltransferases/genetics* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetics, Population ; Genotype ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the polymorphism of cholecystokinin (CCK) gene -45C/T of schizophrenia and its application in forensic medicine. METHODS: Bidirectional allele specific PCR was used to detect CCK gene -45C/T polymorphisms in 207 schizophrenic patients (case group) and 202 healthy individuals (control group) of the Han population in northern China. The chi2 test was used to identify Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of the genotype distribution in control group. The differences of genotype and allele frequencies distributions were compared between two groups. RESULTS: Distributions of the genotype frequencies satisfied the law of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in control group. The differences between genotypic frequencies and allele frequencies were not statistical significance in case group and control groups (P > 0.05). Gender-stratified analysis showed that frequency of allele T in female case group was statistically higher than that in female control group (P = 0.044). CONCLUSION CCK gene -45C/T locus T allele may be positively associated with schizophrenia in female population and useful in schizophrenia identification.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Cholecystokinin/genetics* ; Female ; Forensic Genetics ; Forensic Psychiatry ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Schizophrenia/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the polymorphisms of rs4906902 and rs8179184 loci in the promoter of the gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) receptor A, beta3 subunit gene (GABRB3), and their relevance with schizophrenia. METHODS: PCR and DNA sequencing were used to detect the polymorphisms of rs4906902 and rs8179184 loci in 210 healthy individuals (control group) and 206 schizophrenic patients (case group) of the Han population in northern China. The chi2 test was used to identify Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium of the genotype distribution in the control group followed by comparing differences in genotype and haplotype frequency distributions between two groups. RESULTS: Distributions of the genotype frequencies fit the law of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the control group. rs4906902 and rs8179184 loci were in linkage disequilibrium and showed two haplotypes which were T-G and C-A. The differences of genotypic frequencies and haplotype frequencies were statistically significant between the two groups (P < 0.05). The frequency of haplotype C-A in the case group was significantly higher than in the control group. Genotypic and haplotype frequencies in the maternal line and paternal line were statistically significant in the case group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The haplotype of C-A in rs4906902 and rs8179184 loci in the promoter of GABRB3 gene may be maternally inherited and positively associated with schizophrenia and may be a useful tool in the forensic identification of schizophrenia.
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; China/epidemiology* ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Inheritance Patterns ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptors, GABA-A/genetics* ; Schizophrenia/genetics* ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the population genetic data of 3 SNP loci (rs25533, rs34388196 and rs1042173) of 5-hydroxytryptamine transporter (5-HTT) gene and the association with paranoid schizophrenia. METHODS: Three SNP loci of 5-HTT gene were examined in 132 paranoid schizophrenia patients and 150 unrelated healthy individuals of Northern Chinese Han population by PCR-RFLP technique. The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium test was performed using the chi-square test and the data of haplotype frequency and population genetics parameters were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Among these three SNP loci, four haplotypes were obtained. There were no statistically significant differences between the patient group and the control group (P > 0.05). The DP values of the 3 SNP loci were 0.276, 0.502 and 0.502. The PIC of them were 0.151, 0.281 and 0.281. The PE of them were 0.014, 0.072 and 0.072. CONCLUSION The three SNP loci and four haplotypes of 5-HTT gene have no association with paranoid schizophrenia, while the polymorphism still have high potential application in forensic practice.
Adult ; Asian People/genetics* ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics* ; Schizophrenia, Paranoid/genetics* ; Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics*

PURPOSE: Insufficient sensitivity and specificity prevent the use of most existing biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer. Recently, it was reported that serum microRNAs (miRNAs) may be potential biomarkers in many cancer diseases. In this study, we investigated whether serum levels of 5 miRNAs including miR-21, miR-125b, miR-145, miR-155, and miR-365 could discriminate breast cancer patients and healthy controls. METHODS: Serum levels of miRNAs were measured by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in 99 breast cancer patients and 21 healthy controls. The abundance change of serum miRNAs were also evaluated following surgical resection in 20 breast cancer patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of miRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers. RESULTS: Serum levels of miR-21 and miR-155 was significantly higher, while miR-365 was significantly lower in breast cancer as compared with healthy controls. The serum levels of miR-21 and miR-155 significantly decreased following surgical resection. Additionally, the serum level of miR-155 at stages I and II was significantly higher compared to stage III. The serum miR-145 level was remarkably higher in progesterone receptor (PR)-positive patients than PR-negative. The positivity of miR-21, miR-155, and miR-365 was high compared to CA 153 and CEA in breast cancer. ROC curve analyses of a combination of miR-21, miR-155, and miR-365 yielded much higher area under curve and enhanced sensitivity and specificity in comparison to each miRNA alone. CONCLUSION: The combination of serum miR-21/miR-155/miR-365 may potentially serve as a sensitive and specific biomarker that enables differentiation of breast cancer from healthy controls.
Area Under Curve ; Biomarkers ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Progesterone ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Objective To investigate the modulatory effect of substance P (SP) on proton-gated current in the membrane of rat trgeminal ganglion (TG) neurons and its underlying mechanism. Methods Neurons were isolated mechanically and enzymatically from TG of rat. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used for recording the proton-gated current in freshly isolated neurons. Results Proton-gated currents recorded from rat TG neurons could be classified into 4 distinct types: T-type, S-type, B-type and O-type in the present study. Co-application of SP and proton potentiated S-type proton-gated currents in a concentration-dependent manner, and the potentiation was not blocked by SP receptor antagonist, GR82334; co-application of SP and proton potentiated B-type proton-gated currents, and GR82334 and intracellular dialysis of GDP-β-S blocked the potentiation of SP. Pre-application of SP inhibited B-type proton-gated current, especially the transient component. The inhibition could not be reversed by pretreatment wit-h GR82334. Conclusions The mechanisms of modulation of proton-gated current by SP is associated with the difference of their makeup of subunits of acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), and there may be an allosteric position of SP in the outside framework of ASICs in neuronal membrane.

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene encodes catechol-O-methyltransferase, the variant of this gene may affect the expression and metabolic activity of COMT. As the result of the changes of the effective concentration of the catecholamine neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, central nervous system dysfunctions associated with schizophrenia. This review summarizes genetic polymorphism and diversity of COMT gene. It also elaborates the relation between SNP and haplotype of COMT gene and three aspects, which including schizophrenia, attacking and violent tendency, and the frontal cognitive function of the schizophreniac. The correlativity study between genetic variation of the COMT gene and schizophrenia in patients with attacking and violent tendency may be helpful for the assessment of forensic psychiatry.
Aggression/psychology* ; Brain/pathology* ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase/genetics* ; Cognition/physiology* ; Dopamine/metabolism* ; Forensic Genetics ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Prefrontal Cortex/pathology* ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Schizophrenia/genetics* ; Violence/psychology*