OBJECTIVETo investigate trichorhinophalangeal syndrome 1 gene (TRPS-1) expression patterns in different subtypes of breast cancer and its correlations with other genes and survival using microarray data sets.

METHODSThe transcripts of TRPS-1 and its role in survival in breast cancer were analyzed using published microarray data sets#x02014;Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) cohort and Wang cohort.

RESULTSTRPS-1 expression was lower in basal-like breast cancer. The mRNA levels of TRPS-1 negatively correlated with Slug (Pearson correlation coefficient=-0.1366, P=0.0189 in NKI data set and Pearson correlation coefficient=-0.1571, P=0.0078 in Wang data set), FOXC1 (Pearson correlation coefficient=-0.1211, P=0.0376 in NKI data set and Pearson correlation coefficient=-0.1709, P=0.0037 in Wang data set), and CXCL1 (Pearson correlation coefficient=-0.1197, P=0.0399 in NKI data set and Pearson correlation coefficient=-0.3436, P<0.0001 in Wang data set), but positively correlated with BRCA1 (Pearson correlation coefficient=0.1728, P=0.0029 in NKI data set and Pearson correlation coefficient=0.1805, P=0.0022 in Wang data set). Low TRPS-1 expression associated with poor overall survival (hazard ratio 1.79, 95% CI of ratio 0.9894 to 3.238, P=0.054) and relapse-free survival (hazard ratio 1.913, 95% CI of ratio 1.159 to 3.156, P<0.05). The low TRPS-1 mRNA levels predicted poor outcome in breast cancer patients by the 70-gene signature.

CONCLUSIONThe strong expression of TRPS-1 may serve as a good prognostic marker in breast cancer.

Adult ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; biosynthesis ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cohort Studies ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; RNA, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; Survival Rate ; Transcription Factors ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of maternal deprivation on the activity of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, acute stress response and the sex hormone receptors expression in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in female rats.

METHODSMaternal deprivation model was induced in female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Foot shock was given at different stages of estrus cycle during the adulthood. Plasma estradiol, testosterone and adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay; and plasma corticosterone level was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of androgen receptor (AR) and estrogen receptor (ER-β) in the hypothalamic PVN was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSDecreased plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels were found in the proestrus of female rats with maternal deprivation (P=0.012 and P=0.019, respectively). A significant down-regulation (P=0.008) of PVN-AR, but not PVN-ER-β expression was found in female rats with maternal deprivation.

CONCLUSIONMaternal deprivation may reduce the HPA axis activity in female SD rats, which is closely correlated with the fluctuation of the circulating sex hormones. The androgen in the hypothalamus seems to play a more important role than the estrogen in this procedure.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; blood ; Animals ; Corticosterone ; blood ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; physiopathology ; Maternal Deprivation ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus ; metabolism ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; physiopathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Androgen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Stress, Physiological ; Testosterone ; blood

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL4 ; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte ; drug effects ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Homocysteine ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Macrophage Inflammatory Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Monocytes ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Umbilical Veins ; cytology

Objective To understand the current situation of iodine deficiency diserders(IDD) in Longyan City and to evaluate the effect of prevention and control measures of IDD in order to provide evidence for formulating prevention and control tactics. Methods During the year of 2006 and 2007, the 30 primary schools were screened by population proportion survey(PPS) from the 7 counties of Longyan City. Forty children aged 8-10 years in each school were randomly selected as a group to examine thyroid, and 7 children in each group were selected to measure the urine iodine and the salt iodine at the same time. The goiter rote, the median urinary iodine, the consumption rate of qualified iodized salt, the iodine salt coverage rate, the rate of qualified iodized salt and the non-iodized rate were detected. Results The goiter rate of children aged 8-10 years old in Longyan City was 0.94%(79/8438). The median urinary iodine was 259.12 μg/L. The consumption rate of qualified iodized salt was 97.86% (1462/1494). The iodine salt coverage rate was 99.46%(1486/1494). The rate of qualified iodized salt was 98.38 (1462/1486), and the non-iodized rate was 0.54% (8/1494). Conclusions All indicators have reached the national standard of eliminating IDD in Longyan City.

OBJECTIVETo determine the antigen characteristics of different fragments of SARS-CoV N protein expressed in E. Coli and their application in the serological diagnosis.

METHODSBased on preliminary analysis of 39 different segments of the N protein, We choosed six purified N protein for further antigenicity characterization in this study, including that PN360 (1 -360aa), PN301 (1-301aa), PN199 (30-228aa), PN185 (30-214aa), PN155b (60-214aa), and PN125 (90-214aa). We developed Western-Bolt and ELISA to detect antibody reactivity between truncated N fragments with sera from SARS-CoV-negative normal adults or SARS-CoV patient convalescent sera.

RESULTSWestern-Bolt results show that all the six fragments have reacted with the SARS patient convalescent sera, but the PN360 and PN301 showed obvious cross-reaction with sera from SARS-CoV-negative normal adults; sensitivity analysis using an ELISA coating with PN199, PN185, PN155b, PN125 as antigen showed that the PN185 and PN155b are better than PN125.

CONCLUSIONTruncated N protein PN185 and PN155b expressed in E. Coli are better antigen candidates used for detection of SARS-CoV specific antibody.

Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; immunology ; Peptide Fragments ; immunology ; Recombinant Proteins ; immunology ; Serologic Tests ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; diagnosis

To study IgG antibody persistence and temporal change in SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infected patients, 22 patients recovered from SARS in Beijing were recruited and followed-up from 2004 to 2008, serum samples from patients were collected every year. We checked and analyzed the SARS-CoV IgG antibody (Ab) for five consecutive years using the commercial ELISA test kit. The results showed that: all of the serum were SARS-IgG antibody-positive the first year after recovery, the titer of most serum remained at high levels at the 2ed and 3rd year post infection. The Ab titers significantly declined at 4th year post infection. The IgG Ab was almost undetectable after 5 years post infection. In conclusion, SARS-CoV IgG Ab can be maintained for more than 3 years post infection, however, the titer of IgG Ab has declined markedly 4 years later. These data provide a useful reference for diagnosis and control of SARS infection, the evaluation of immune response and vaccine efficacy.
Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; SARS Virus ; immunology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; blood ; immunology ; virology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the incidence of wheezing and chronic cough in children aged 3-14 years in different living areas of Zhongshan, China.

METHODSAccording to the unified program of the 2010 national epidemiological survey of asthmatic children aged 0-14 years, a questionnaire survey of the children aged 3-14 years in rural and urban areas of Zhongshan was conducted.

RESULTSA total of 15 763 children were included in the survey. Among all participants, 8 248 were from the urban area, and 7 515 from the rual area; 8 306 were boys, and 7 457 were girls. The percentage of children with a history of wheezing was significantly higher in the urban group than in the rural group (6.6% vs 3.2%; P<0.05), and it was significantly higher in boys than in girls for each group (P<0.05). The urban group had a significantly higher percentage of individuals who had wheezing in the past one year than the rural group (2.8% vs 1.5%; P<0.05), and this percentage was significantly higher in boys than in girls for each group (P<0.05). Compared with the rural group, the urban group had a significantly higher percentage of individuals who had chronic cough (duration 1 year) (7.9% vs 3.1%; P<0.05). The above indices were relatively high in children under 6 years of age, and all but the percentage of girls who had wheezing in the past one year in both rural and urban areas showed significant differences between all age groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe incidence of wheezing and chronic cough varies with age, sex, and living area for children aged 3-14 years in Zhongshan, and it is relatively high under 6 years of age, in the urban area, and among boys.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Respiratory Sounds ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease, among children aged 0-14 years in 2010 in urban Zhongshan, China.

METHODSA total of 10 336 children aged 0-14 years were selected from urban Zhongshan by cluster random sampling. The Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010 was used to analyze the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of childhood asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease.

RESULTSAsthma was diagnosed in 179 cases (1.73%). The prevalence of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (2.25% vs 1.16%; P<0.01). Of the 179 patients, severe attacks were common in 104 cases (58.1%), 110 cases (61.5%) had slow onset, 102 cases (57.0%) had gradually relieved conditions, 61 cases (34.1%) suffered from asthma during seasonal transition, and 150 cases (83.8%) developed asthma due to respiratory tract infection. Among all asthmatic children, 71.5% had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids, and 71.5% had been treated with bronchodilator. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of penicillin allergy, a family history of allergy, food allergy, eczema, allergic rhinitis, cesarean delivery, family mould, and perinatal passive smoking were independent risk factors for childhood asthma.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of childhood asthma in urban Zhongshan is on a high level, and is associated with gender. The treatment of asthma has been standardized, but still needs further improvement. The onset of asthma attack is influenced by various factors.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Time Factors

Humans ; Factor XIII/genetics* ; Factor XIII Deficiency/genetics* ; Mutation ; Pedigree