OBJECTIVETo analysis the genetic mode of Rh DEL phenotype and RHD 1227A allele in Zhejiang Han population through family investigations.

METHODSRh DEL phenotypes were identified by a serologic adsorption-elution method. Two polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific prime (PCR-SSP) methods which detectED RHD 1227A allele and Rhesus hybrid box, respectively, and a nucleotide sequencing method focused on the exon 9 of RHD 1227A allele were employed to determine the zygosity of RHD allele.

RESULTSAll five probands with Rh DEL phenotype harbored a RHD 1227A allele and had a RHD allele deletion, and they were RHD 1227A/RHd heterozygote. One of the parent members was found to contain a RHD 1227A allele and a normal RHD allele in pedigree 1, 2 and 3, respectively. Thus, they were RHD 1227A/RHD heterozygotes and presented normal D positive phenotype. The son of proband No 1. inherited the RHD 1227A allele and presented a normal D positive phenotype due to a RHD 1227A/RHD heterozygote; The offsprings of proband No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 did not inherit RHD 1227A allele and presented a normal D positive phenotype.

CONCLUSIONRHD 1227A allele is an important genetic marker of Rh DEL phenotype; RHD 1227A is recessive to normal RHD allele and dominant to RHd allele; RHD 1227A allele is an ancestral, but not a spontaneously mutated allele.

Alleles ; China ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Rh-Hr Blood-Group System ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo construct pPICZalphaA-soluble interleukin-1 receptor type I (sIL-1RI) recombinant expression vector containing the gene fragment encoding the extracellular domain of sIL-1RI for its expression in Pichia pastoris.

METHODSsIL-1RI gene was amplified by RT-PCR and inserted into the yeast expression vector pPICZalphaA by digestion ligation. The recombinant plasmid pPICZalphaA-sIL1RI was transformed into E.coli Stb13, and the positive clones were analyzed by PCR and DNA sequencing. The pPICZalphaA-sIL1RI recombinant plasmid was electroporated into GS115 cells and the transformants were analyzed by PCR. After phenotype identification, the recombinant strains were induced by methanol to express the target protein, which was analyzed by Western blotting of the cell extract and supernatant.

RESULTSThe recombinant plasmid pPICZalphaA-sIL-1RI was constructed successfully, and the results of Western blotting showed that yeast induced by methanol expressed a protein of about 39 kD.

CONCLUSIONsIL-1RI protein has been successfully expressed in P.pastoris expression system, which provides the basis for further study of sIL-1RI.

Escherichia coli ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Pichia ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; Receptors, Interleukin-1 Type I ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo establish a method of indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) to measure DNA (mDNA)-associated autoantibodies to cell membrane, and to evaluate diagnostic value of the anti-mDNA antibodies in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in comparison with anti-dsDNA antibody.

METHODSForty-four children with SLE were enrolled in this study. As a control group, 30 children with other rheumatic diseases were also enrolled. Anti-mDNA and anti-dsDNA antibodies were measured by IIF. Anti-smooth muscle (Sm) antibodies were measured by immuno-double diffusion (ID) and IIF.

RESULTSOut of 44 juvenile SLE patients, 34 (77.27%) were seropositive for anti-mDNA, which was significantly higher than that of patients with other rheumatic diseases (20.00%, P<0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of anti-mDNA for juvenile SLE diagnosis were 77.27% and 80.00%, respectively. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 85.00% and 70.59%, respectively. The positive rate of anti-mDNA in SLE lacking of anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm antibodies were 68.00% (17/25) and 79.49% (31/39), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of anti-mDNA antibodies is useful for diagnosis of juvenile SLE, especially in patients who are negative for anti-dsDNA antibodies and anti-Sm antibodies.

Adolescent ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; analysis ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Membrane ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; methods ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; immunology ; Male ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Sensitivity and Specificity

OBJECTIVETo explore the epidemic characteristics of bacterial dysentery in Jinan municipality, and to provide scientific basis for effective strategy for bacterial dysentery control.

METHODSThe epidemiological characteristics of bacillary dysentery in Jinan from 1951 to 2005 were analyzed. A total of 485,333 cases in the span of 50 years were recorded, while the population-based case distribution was less than the total cases due to the data incompleteness during the Cultural Revolution.

RESULTSThe incidence of bacillary dysentery in Jinan has been decreasing by years with average incidence rate of 283.10/100,000. The significant differences were observed among the incidence rates of various ages(chi2 = 14.99, P < 0.05). There were four epidemic peaks, and all the incidence rates were about 1000/100,000. Age of onset mainly concentrated in the 0-4 years old, 20-years old and 30-years old. In terms of occupational distribution, workers accounted for 30.31%, the living-scattered children accounted for 22.71%, and the farmers accounted for 17.90%. The incidence focus was from July to September, which accounted for 71.57%. The peak of incidence emerged in August. The highest incidence in urban was 550.94/100,000.

CONCLUSIONThrough the efforts of several generations of health workers, the incidence of bacillary dysentery in Jinan has been basically brought under control. Further step should be taken for the control of bacterial dysentery in urban areas and the management of bacterial dysentery in rural areas. Moreover, the biological characteristics of F2a should be a focus for the future study.

China ; epidemiology ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Shigella dysenteriae ; Shigella flexneri ; Shigella sonnei

BACKGROUNDStatins and ezetimibe have been reported to change the balance of cholesterol metabolism, but few studies have been performed on Chinese patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in cholesterol metabolism markers in patients with coronary heart disease.

METHODSForty-five patients with coronary heart disease were treated with 20 mg/d of simvastatin for four weeks. Subjects were then divided into two different therapy groups according to whether they reached the target values for total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Patients who reached the target values remained on simvastatin and those who did not reach the target values took a combination of simvastatin plus 10 mg/d ezetimibe until the 12th week. The concentrations of cholesterol synthesis markers (lathosterol and desmosterol) and absorption markers (campesterol and sitosterol) were measured on the 1st, 4th, and 12th week of the study by gas chromatography.

RESULTSAfter treatment with simvastatin for four weeks, the levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased significantly compared to levels measured during the 1st week (P < 0.05). On the 12th week the levels of total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol had decreased significantly (P < 0.001) compared to levels during the 4th week. By the 12th week the levels of campesterol and sitosterol in the combination group had decreased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with levels measured during the 4th week.

CONCLUSIONSCoronary heart disease patients with high cholesterol synthesis at baseline might gain a greater benefit from simvastatin treatment. Combination therapy with simvastatin plus ezetimibe in patients with low cholesterol synthesis at baseline might increase the success rate of lipid-lowering through decreasing the absorption of cholesterol.

Adult ; Aged ; Azetidines ; administration & dosage ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Coronary Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Ezetimibe ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Simvastatin ; administration & dosage

To analyze killer immunoglobulin (Ig)-like receptor (KIR) gene content and allelic polymorphism in Zhejiang Han population, samples were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). The results demonstrated that all 17 KIR genes could be observed in the population. All individuals contained 2DL4, 3DL2 and 3DL3 genes. The frequencies of these genes was 1.00. 2DL1, 2DL3, 2DP1, 3DP1*003, 3DL1, 2DS4*001/002 loci were more common, their frequencies were 0.902, 0.902, 0.902, 0.902, 0.7598, 0.5615 respectively, while the frequencies of 2DL2, 2DL5A, 2DL5B, 2DS1, 2DS2, 2DS3, 2DS4*003, 2DS5, 3DS1 and 3DP1*001/002 were relatively lower. The A KIR haplotype was the most prevalent (74.7%) in Zhejiang Han population and there were 12 different KIR haplotypes in total, the most common was 2 (53.0%). Twenty six different genotypes have been found in the population, AJ (2, 2) and AF (1, 2) showed higher frequencies, followed by AH (2, 5), NN2 (2, 6), AI (1, 5) and AG (1, 1). Fifteen of these genotypes have not been found in Caucasians so far and four new KIR profiles could not be assigned to the haplotypes according to standard assign method. In conclusion, there are distinctive frequencies of KIR gene content, haplotype as well as genotype in Zhejiang Han population.
China ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, KIR ; genetics

The purpose of this study was to establish beta block matching technique. DNA was extracted from whole blood by salting-out method, beta block matching was performed by PCR and GeneScan technique. The results showed that the length of fragments amplificated in 100 samples was different and the range of them was 91-197 bp. Amplification fragments could be divided into four regions: 91-93, 105-113, 125-139 and 177-197 bp respectively. 91 bp DNA fragments could be found in all of samples. The numbers of DNA fragments with different length have been shown high polymorphism and they focused on the range of seven to twenty four. In conclusion, the beta block matching technique is reliable and applicable to the selection of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation donors.
DNA ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-C Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Histocompatibility Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role and significance of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway regulating GSK-3beta, STAT3, Smad3 and TERT in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSThe HCC cell line HepG2 was transfected with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against beta-catenin. Proteins were extracted and the expressions of beta-catenin, GSK-3beta, p-GSK-3beta, STAT3, Smad3 and TERT were detected by Western blot at 72 h and 96 h respectively after transfection.

RESULTSbeta-catenin expression was inhibited at both time points and the expression at 96 h was higher than that at 72 h (t = 4.43, P < 0.05). Interestingly, GSK-3beta and p-GSK-3beta expressions increased gradually at 72 and 96 h (tGSK-3beta= 4.98, tp-GSK-3beta= 29.83, P < 0.05) respectively, and STAT3 expression showed no alteration after transfection (F = 0.49, P > 0.05). Smad3 expression was increased at 72 h (t = 10.67, P < 0.05) and decreased to normal at 96 h (t = 1.26, P < 0.05), while TERT expression decreased at 72 h (t = 4.18, P is less than 0.05) and increased to normal at 96 h (t = 1.26, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSWnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway is related to the expressions of GSK-3beta, Smad3 and TERT, but perhaps not related to STAT3 protein expression in HCC. It suggested that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway might participate in HCC genesis and development through regulating the above three factors.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Signal Transduction ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

Objective:To study the role of endoplasmic reticulum stress(ERS)on ecdysterone(EDS)influenced protective effect in H2O2induced myocardial injury.Methods: The H9c2 cells were randomly divided into control group(normal cells),H2O2 groups(the cells treated with H2O2at concentrations of 1×10-3,1×10-4,1×10-5mol/L,respectively);EDS group(the cells were exposed to H2O2and treated with EDS at concentrations of 25,50,100 μmol/L respectively).The cell activity and apoptosis were measured by MTT assay and flow cytometry,respectively.The protein levels of Bcl-2,Bax,cleaved-caspase-3,caspase-4,caspase-7, caspase-12,GRP78 and CHOP were deter mined by Western blot.The MDA content and SOD activity were detected by the MDA and SOD detection kits.Results:The cell activity was decreased,cell apoptosis was increased,the content of MDA was elevated,the activity of SOD was inhibited and the protein expression of GRP78 and CHOP were increased in H2O2group as compared with control group, which were all significantly reversed by EDS treatment(P<0.05).Conclusion: Ecdysterone exhibits a protective effect on the cardiomyocytes with H2O2induced injury by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Objective · To assess the usefulness of contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in locating the testicular area to guide microdissection testicular sperm extraction (M-TESE) for patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Methods · CEUS was performed in 95 NOA patients. M-TESE was performed in the best and poorest perfusion areas on CEUS and in the conventional area. Sperm retrieval rates (SRR) of the three areas were compared. Results · M-TESE was performed in 147 testicles (95 patients). SRRs in best perfusion area, poorest perfusion area and conventional area were 66.3%, 32.6% and 47.3% respectively, and the differences between groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The arriving time (AT), time to peak intensity (TTP), peak intensity (PI) and area under the curve (AUC) showed statistical significance (all P<0.05)between the successful retrieval group (94 points) and unsuccessful retrieval group (200 points). And the SRR showed statistical difference among the three pathological groups. In maturation arrest group and Sertoli cell only group, the SRR in the best perfusion area was higher than that in the conventional area (both P<0.05). Conclusion · SRR was different in different pathological groups. The locating of the best perfusion area could guide M-TESE so as to improve the SRRs of maturation arrest group and Sertoli cell only group.