By using ~3H—TdR incorporation and CTLL—2 cell line,we observed effects of RU486,anantagonist of type Ⅱ glucocorticoid receptor,on dexamethasone inhibition of lymphocyte prolifer-ation and interleukin—2(IL—2)production in rat spleen.It was shown that RU486 obviouslyantagonized the inhibitory actions of dexamethasone on lymphocyte proliferation and IL—2 pro-duction.By means of dot hybridization and Northern blot analysis,effects of dexamethasone andRU486 on IL—2 gene expression were investigated in lymphocytes of rat spleen.The datademonstrated that dexamethasone markedly decreased IL—2 mRNA production,RU486 alonedidn't affect IL-2 mRNA levels,but obviously reversed dexamethasone-mediated downregala-tion of IL—2 mRNA production in ConA—activated lymphocytes.These results suggest thatthe above effects of dexamethasone may be mediated by glucocorticoid receptor in lymphocytesof rat spleen.

AIM: To investigate the relationship among MCP-1 and monocyte chemoattract protein activity (MCA) and pathogenesis of lung cancer. METHODS: 173 patients were involved in the study and divided into three groups: group A: lung cancer group (60 patients); group B: benign lung disease group (55 patients) and group C: healthy control group (58 patients). MCP-1 level and MCA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured. RESULTS: The concentration of MCP-1 and MCA in BALF in group A were much higher than those in group B and group C (P

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of PC-1 gene knockdown on the biological action of prostate cancer cell line C4-2.

METHODSRecombinant plasmids of expressing short hairpin RNA targeting PC-1 mRNA were constructed using DNA recombinant technology and transfected into C4-2 cells via liposome. The positive cell clones were selected by G418. The expression of PC-1 gene was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting technology. MTT and soft agar cloning formation were applied to observe the changes of the growth rate and independent anchor ability of C4-2 cells.

RESULTSPC-1 RNA interference severely affected the expression of PC-1 gene and reduced the growth and colony formation ability of C4-2 cells.

CONCLUSIONRNA interference-mediated PC-1 gene knockdown can decrease the growth and cloning formation ability of C4-2 cells.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Male ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Pyrophosphatases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo analyze the gene mutation in two pedigrees of inherited coagulation factor VII (FVII) deficiency, and investigate the relationship between the genotype and phenotype.

METHODThe coagulation function and coagulation factors activity of probands were detected for phenotype diagnosis, all exons and junctions of FVII gene from the family members' genomic DNA were amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and detected the gene mutation by direct sequencing. Mutations were confirmed by reverse sequencing.

RESULTThe prothrombin time (PT) of proband 1 was 265.2 s, FVII:C was 22% and the PT of proband 2 was > 120 s, FVII:C was 1%. Homozygous 17844G→A mutation in No. 8 exon of FVII gene was identified in the proband 1 resulting in Gly343Ser, and heterozygosity for the same mutations were confirmed in his parents and a sister. The proband 2 was compound heterozygous, one mutation was the same as the proband 1 but was a heterozygosity that can also found in his mother and brother; the other heterozygosity mutation was located on No. 8 exon 18055G→A that resulted in Gln413Arg which was inherited from his father.

CONCLUSIONNo. 8 exon of FVII gene encodes catalytic domain. Mutation found in those domain could change the FVII catalytic domain spatial structure, affected FVII function and stability, and the sufferer of homozygote and compound heterozygous may have clinical bleeding tendency. Almost no clinical findings in simple heterozygotes, however, a few of heterozygotes could have a tendency of bleeding because of genetic polymorphism which would reduce the FVII:C.

Blood Coagulation Disorders ; blood ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Factor VII ; genetics ; Factor VII Deficiency ; blood ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prothrombin Time

BACKGROUNDEpidemiologic studies have shown an independent and definite association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and hypertension. This study aimed to define the association between daytime blood pressure and severity of OSA in Chinese population in mainland of China.

METHODSTwenty university hospital sleep centers in mainland of China were invited by the Chinese Medical Association (CMA) to participate in this epidemiologic study and 2297 consecutive patients (aged 18 - 85 years; 1981 males and 316 females) referred to these twenty sleep centers for evaluation of OSA between January 2004 and April 2006 were prospectively enrolled. Nocturnal polysomnography was performed in each patient, and disease severity was assessed based on the apneahypopnea index (AHI). These patients were classfied into four groups: nonapneic control (control, n = 257) with AHI < or = 5 episodes/hour; mild sleep apnea (mild, n = 402) with AHI > 5 and < or = 15 episodes/hour; moderate sleep apnea (moderate, n = 460) with AHI > 15 and < or = 30 episodes/hour and severe sleep apnea (severe, n = 1178) with AHI > 30 episodes/hour. Daytime blood pressure measurements were performed under standardized conditions in each patient at 10 a.m. in office on the day of referring to sleep centers for getting average value. All the patients were requested to quit medications related to blood pressure for three days before the day of assessing.

RESULTSBoth daytime systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure values were significantly related to AHI positively (r = 0.201 and 0.276, respectively; both P values < 0.001) and to nadir nocturnal oxygen saturation negatively (r = -0.215 and -0.277, respectively; both P values < 0.001), which were the parameters of OSA severity. In two special designed mean plots, means of daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased gradually with increasing AHI. Beyond AHI of 61 - 65, this increasing trend reached a plateau.

CONCLUSIONSThe results showed that OSA severity was associated with daytime blood pressure until AHI of 61 - 65, providing evidence for early OSA management, especially in OSA patients with concomitant hypertension.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; pathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe nocturnal nondipping and elevated morning blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) have not yet been well investigated in Chinese patients. This study aimed to describe the BP profile, and to elucidate the relationships between daytime BP and nighttime BP, and between evening BP and morning BP in patients with OSAS.

METHODSTwenty teaching hospital sleep centers in China were organized by the Chinese Medical Association to participate in this study and 2297 patients were recruited between January 2004 and April 2006. BP assessments were made at four time points (daytime, evening, nighttime and morning) and polysomnography (PSG) was performed and subjects were classified into four groups by their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI): control, n = 213 with AHI < 5; mild, n = 420 with AHI ≥ 5 and < 15; moderate, n = 460 with AHI ≥ 15 and < 30; and severe, n = 1204 with AHI ≥ 30. SPSS 11.5 software package was used for statistical analysis and figure drawing.

RESULTSAll the average daytime, nighttime, evening and morning BPs were positively correlated with AHI and negatively correlated with nadir nocturnal oxygen saturation. The ratios of nighttime/daytime and morning/evening average BP were positively correlated with AHI. The ratio of nighttime/daytime systolic BP became a "reversed BP dipping" pattern until the classification reached severe, while the ratio of nighttime/daytime diastolic BP became reversed at moderate. Similarly, the ratio of morning/evening diastolic BP becomes reversed even at mild.

CONCLUSIONSOSAS may result in higher BP levels at all four time points. The ratios of nighttime/daytime and morning/evening BP increase with increased AHI. The increasing of diastolic BP, which is inclined to rise more quickly, is not parallel with increasing systolic BP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anthropometry ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDChromosomal abnormalities have been shown to play an important prognostic role in multiple myeloma (MM). Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (i-FISH) has been much more effective to identify cytogenetic aberrations in MM than conventional cytogenetic technique (CC). To clearly determine the cytogenetic features of Chinese MM patients and identify their prognostic implications, we designed a multicenter study based on i-FISH including 672 patients from 52 hospitals in China.

METHODSAll 672 patients were systematically screened for the following genomic aberrations: del(13q), IgH rearrangement, del(p53) and 1q21 amplifications.

RESULTSThe analysis showed that the chromosomal changes were detected in 22.1% patients by CC and in 82.3% patients by i-FISH. The most common abnormalities by CC were chromosome 1 aberrations (48.4%), -13/13q- (37.6%), hyperdiploidy (36.6%), hypodiploidy (30.1%) and IgH rearrangements (23.7%). The most frequent abnormalities by FISH was del(13q), which was found in 60.4% patients, whereas IgH rearrangement, 1q21 amplification and p53 deletions were detected in 57.6%, 49.0% and 34.7% cases, respectively. By statistical analysis, -13/13q- by CC was associated with low level of platelet (P = 0.015), hyperdiploidy was associated with low level of serum albumin (P = 0.028), and IgH rearrangement by FISH was associated with high level of β2 microglobulin (P = 0.019). Moreover, 1q21 amplification and del(p53) by FISH conferred a high incidence of progressive disease (PD) after initial therapy. Metaphase detection of IgH rearrangements and chromosome 1 aberrations concurrently was associated with a short progression free survival (PFS) (P = 0.036). No significant prognostic implications of other cytogenetic abnormalities were found associated with overall survival and PFS.

CONCLUSIONSChinese MM patients had similar cytogenetic abnormalities compared with the previous reported studies. However, the prognostic significance of FISH aberrations were not clearly determined and further study is required.

Adult ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1 ; genetics ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; pathology