Microarray has become a popular biotechnology in biological and medical research.However, systematic and stochastic variabilities in microarray data are expected and unavoidable, resulting in the problem that the raw measurements have inherent "noise" within microarray experiments. Currently, logarithmic ratios are usually analyzed by various clustering methods directly, which may introduce bias interpretation in identifying groups of genes or samples. In this paper, a statistical method based on mixed model approaches was proposed for microarray data cluster analysis. The underlying rationale of this method is to partition the observed total gene expression level into various variations caused by different factors using an ANOVA model, and to predict the differential effects of G V (gene by variety)interaction using the adjusted unbiased prediction (AUP) method. The predicted G V interaction effects can then be used as the inputs of cluster analysis. We illustrated the application of our method with a gene expression dataset and elucidated the utility of our approach using an external validation.

Objective To examine the relationships between the level of serum visfatin and obesity,nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)in children and adolescents. Methods Serum visfatin levels of 106 obese children/adolescents (including 49 non-NAFLD children and adolescents and 57 NAFLD children/adolescents in which consisting of 42 mild ones,15 moderate-to-severe ones)with another 69 lean children/adolescents as their controls,were examined by indirect sandwich ELISA.Results When comparing the serum visfatin levels,there was no significant difference noticed between the obese group ( 1.71 ± 0.37) ng/ml and the lean group ( 1.75 ± 0.37) ng/ml (P=0.455).With the severity of NAFLD,the serum visfatin level showed an elevation in obese children and adolescents [ obese without NAFLD ( 1.59 ± 0.36) ng/ml,obese with mild NAFLD ( 1.74 ± 0.36) ng/ml,obese with moderate-to-severe NAFLD (1.97 ± 0.36) ng/ml,P＜0.05].In the obese group,serum visfatin levels seemed to be related to age (^β=-0.326,P=0.000),alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (^β =0.286,P=0.004) and the degree of NAFLD (^β =0.246,P＝0.014).Conclusion The level of serum visfatin was related to non-alcoholic fatty liver in obese children and adolescent.

OBJECTIVE: To extract sperm DNA from mixed stain by the modified differential lysis method combined with silicon bead method and to evaluate its application value. METHODS: Fifty-two mixed stains containing female STR genotypes detected by differential lysis method were collected. The sperm DNA was extracted by the modified method combined with silicon bead method, then genotyped with the Identifiler Kit, and compared with the results of genotyping by the conventional differential lysis method as control. RESULTS: Of the 52 samples, 38 samples with sole male STR genotypes in all loci were detected. The detection rate of male STR genotypes was 98.08% through the modified method combined with silicon bead method. CONCLUSION The modified differential lysis method combined with silicon bead method can be used in extraction of sperm DNA from mixed stain.
DNA/isolation & purification* ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Silicon ; Spermatozoa

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps, as well as the management of donor site defects.

METHODS17 free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps were applied for the traumatic defects or deformities on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg, respectively. The donor site defects were closed directly or covered by paraumbilical island flaps.

RESULTSThe 17 flap size ranged from 5 cm x 3 cm to 19 cm x 14 cm. 16 flaps survived completely except 1 flap with partial necrosis, which was closed by free skin graft. The donor site defects were closed directly in 10 cases, and covered by paraumbilical island flaps in 7 flaps without no flap necrosis. The abdomen had a good appearance.

CONCLUSIONSGood appearance can be achieved with free superficial iliac circumflex artery skin flaps for the defects on face, neck, foot, hand, ankle and lower leg. Paraumbilical island flap can be used for the donor site defects.

Arteries ; Foot ; Free Tissue Flaps ; blood supply ; transplantation ; Humans ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Transplant Donor Site ; surgery ; Wounds and Injuries ; surgery

0.05).There was significant difference between normal control group and group A and B(P0.05 ).Neuron counting was significantly higher in group B than that in group A 4 weeks after treatment(P

Objective To assessed the expression of inducible costimulator(ICOS)on peripheral blood and joint fluid CD4,CDS,CD45RO T cells and B cells in rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods Expression of ICOS and ICOS/CD45RO on peripheral blood and joint fluid CD4~+CD8~+T cells and ICOS ligand(ICOSL)on CD19 B cells from RA patients and healthy volunteers were determind by three-color flow cytometry.Compar- ision with active and inactive RA,initial and relapsed RA had been done.Results Joint fluid CD4 and CD8 T cells expressing ICOS,ICOS/CD45RO were significantly increased than peripheral blood in RA patients and healthy subjects.Joint fluid B cells expressing ICOSL were significantly reduced than peripheral blood in RA patients.Meanwhile,peripheral blood B cells expressing ICOSL were significantly reduced in active RA than inactive RA patients.Conclusion Hyperexpression of ICOS and ICOS/CD45RO on joint fluid CD4 and CD8 T cells and lowexpression of ICOSL in B cells from RA patients,expecially in active RA may contribute to the local immunopathological roles and joint destructions in the pathogenesis of RA.

The protoplasts of original Aspergillus niger strain Uco-3 were treated with the cooperation of UV and ?-ray to obtain the high-yielding strain producing the thermostable ?-galactosidase. Under the optimum conditions of formation and regeneration protoplasts were prepared. According to the interaction of positive mutation rate and radiation dose,the optimum condition was determined. The optimum dose of UV was 4 minutes and the optimum dose of ?-ray was 500 Gy. After mutagenetic treatment of protoplasts and selection from a lot of mutants,a mutant DL116 producing the thermostable ?-galactosidase was obtained. The ?-galactosidase activity of DL116 was increased from 16.27 U/mL to 44.37 U/mL,which was higher than that of strain Uco-3.

As an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), mineral medicine plays an irreplaceable role. However, little has been reported on its species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements, and also the relevance to pharmacological effect and toxicology. The present paper, in a new perspective, summarized the determination of the species and valence state of heavy metals and deleterious elements in recent years, discussed the progress of the pharmacological effect and toxicology, and prospected for future study which might provide reference for mineral medicine.
Animals ; Drug Contamination ; statistics & numerical data ; Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Metals, Heavy ; analysis ; toxicity ; Minerals ; analysis ; pharmacology

Objective To construct the Neisseria surface protein A (NspA) DNA vaccine of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and evaluate the humoral and cellular immune responses induced by this vaccine in mice model.Methods The recombinant expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA was constructed by inserting NspA gene into the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1 (+) and confirmed by poly merase chain reaction (PCR),restriction enzymes HindⅢ,XbaⅠand DNA sequencing.NspA mR- NA in transfected RAW264.7 cells and NspA protein expression in transfected COS-7 cells were de- tected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemical stai- ning,respectively.Forty-five male BALB/c mice were immunized with pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA recom binant plasmid.The level of serum anti-Neisseria gonorrhoeae antibody of the immunized mice was detected by tube agglutination test,and the level of interieron (IFN)-?was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The proliferation of splenocytes was determined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colormetry.The NspA gene in BALB/c mice was identified by PCR with the total DNA extracted from quadriceps femoris in immunized sites.Results Restriction enzymes digestion a- nalysis and DNA sequencing results revealed that the pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA had been constructed successfully.NspA gene had been transcripted and expressed in mammalian cells.The peak titer of specific antibody was 1:640 in pcDNA3.1(+)/NspA immunized group and there was no specific an- tibody detected in both pcDNA3.1 (+) immunized group and PBS group.The IFN-?level in pcD NA3.1 (+) immunized group was (23.79?11.85)pg/mL and that in pcDNA3.1 (+)/NspA immu- nized group was(169.71?30.52)pg/mL (P

Cinobufacino injection is purified from water extraction of the skin of Bufo bufo gargarizans, which has been widely used for various cancers in clinic with significant anti-tumor effects. Bufadienolides were regarded as the main active constituents of cinobufacino injection in previous reports. In present study, 6 bufadienolides were isolated and purified from Cinobufacino injection. Their structures were identified as 3-epi-ψ-bufarenogin (1), ψ-bufarenogin (2), 3-epi-arenobufagin (3), arenobufagin (4), 3-epi-gamabufotalin (5), and 3-oxo-arenobufagin (6), separately. Among them, 1 and 3 were new compounds, 5 and 6 were new natural products. Compounds 1, 2 and compounds 3, 4 were two pairs configuration isomers at C-3, separately.
Animals ; Bufanolides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Bufo bufo ; Injections ; Skin ; chemistry