Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphate Poisoning ; Pesticides ; poisoning ; Young Adult

Child ; Humans ; Plasma Exchange ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies ; therapy

Objective To assess the molecular biological characteristics of occult hepatitis B virus ( HBV ) infected blood donors in Shaoxing.Methods 8692 blood donors were screened using ELISA.The occult HBV infection was determined by DNA analysis among the HBsAg negative subjects.DNA sequencing and mutational analysis were further performed in the HBV DNA positive samples.The overall situation of occult HBV infection was hereby evaluated and the possible underlying mechanisms discussed.Results Among the 8644 HBsAg negative subjects out of 8692 blood donors,8 were HBV DNA positive.The occult HBV infection rate was 0.92‰(8/8692).Among the 8 samples,6 were genotype C (75％) and 2 genotype B (25％).In addition,a specific mutation in "a" epitope was observed in 7OBI virus strains by amino acid analysis.Conclusion There were occult HBV infected among blood donors in Shaoxing,which is probably associated with the gene mutation of HBV virus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical features and genetic diagnostic method of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).

METHODSA systematic study on the clinical manifestations, neuroimaging characteristics, therapeutic measures and molecular genetics was performed. An investigation on the onset and hereditary pattern of the family was also done.

RESULTSThe main clinical features including poor memory and history of stroke were found. And no risk factors of hypertension and arteriosclerosis were found. A positive family history was confirmed. Neuroimaging examination showed multiinfarct lesions and leukoencephalopathy. All these features are in conformity with those of CADASIL. A mutation in the third and fourth exon of the NOTCH3 gene was identified in the 10 cases of 4 generations. The clinical or subclinical onset in the 10 cases was consistent with classical autosomal dominant inheritance.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical and molecular genetic features of the family accord with CADASIL.

Adult ; CADASIL ; genetics ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cognition Disorders ; etiology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Infarction ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Neuromuscular Diseases ; etiology ; Receptors, Notch ; genetics ; Stroke ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of NPAS2 in colorectal cancer (CRC) and analyze its relationship with the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of the patients.

METHODSReal-time q-PCR was used to detect the expression of NPAS2 mRNA in 40 fresh CRC tissues and paired adjacent tissues; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of NPAS2 protein in 120 paraffin-embedded tumor and adjacent tissues. The relationship between NPAS2 expression level and the 5-year survival rate of 78 CRC patients with follow-up data were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.

RESULTSCompared with the adjacent tissues, fresh CRC tissue expressed significantly lower NPAS2 mRNA levels (P<0.01). Among the paraffin-embedded CRC tissues, 19.2% were positive for NPAS2 expression, as compared to a much higher rate of 62.5% in the adjacent tissues (P<0.05). The expression of NPAS2 was correlated with the tumor size, lymph node metastasis and TNM stages (P<0.05) but not with the patients' gender, age, distant tumor metastasis, differentiation, or invasion. Patients with high NPAS2 expression levels had a significantly higher 5-year survival rate than those with low NPAS2 expressions (P=0.0001).

CONCLUSIONNPAS2 is down-regulated in CRC and closely correlated with the malignant biological behavior of the tumor and 5-year survival of the patients, suggesting its value in predicting the prognosis of the CRC patients.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Down-Regulation ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Nerve Tissue Proteins ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Survival Rate

This study was undertaken to establish a murine model for unrelated allogeneic umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT). The characteristics and percentage of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells between near-term fetal and neonatal murine peripheral blood (FNPB) and bone marrow (BM) were evaluated by flow cytometry and semisolid methylcellulose culture. BABL/c (H-2(d)) recipient mice conditioned with high dose CTX were transplanted with FNPB form C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) mice and the survival rate, hematopoietic and immunological reconstruction, graft versus host disease (GVHD) and engraftment level were observed. The results showed that the numbers of day 14 CFU-GM and CFU-GEMM in FNPB (176.40 +/- 78.39)% and (141.40 +/- 56.57)%, respectively were much higher than those in BM (75.20 +/- 26.41)% and (68.80 +/- 23.95)%, respectively. Moreover the percentage of Sca-1(+) CD34(+) cell subsets in FNPB (3.63 +/- 1.13)% was also higher than that in BM (1.41 +/- 0.8 7)%. FNPB transplantation improved survival rate and reconstituted hematopoietic and immune function in recipients. There was no evidence of GVHD. Chimeric analysis showed that the proportion of donor cells in BM of recipients was 27.94% at 21 days after transplantation. It was concluded that FNPB contains more hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells with high expansion ability and weak allogeneic immunity, which was similar to human UCB. The murine model for allogeneic UCBT (C57BL/6-->BALB/c) was established successfully.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Flow Cytometry ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Immunity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Models, Animal ; Transplantation, Homologous

The sialyl Lewis X (SLex) antigen encoded by the FUT7 gene is the ligand of endotheliam-selectin (E-selectin).The combination of SLex antigen and E-selectin represents an important way for malignant tumor metastasis.In the present study,the effect of the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer on the adhesion and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in vitro was investigated.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to detect the expression of FUT7 at both transcriptional and translational levels.The SLex expression in HepG2 cells treated with different concentrations of SLeX-binding DNA aptamer was detected by flow cytometry.Besides,the adhesion,migration,and invasion of HepG2 cells were measured by cell adhesion assay,and the Transwell migration and invasion assay.The results showed that the FUT7 expression was up-regulated at both mRNA and protein levels in HepG2 cells.SLeX-binding DNA aptamer could significantly decrease the expression of SLex in HepG2 cells.The cell adhesion assay revealed that the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer could effectively inhibit the interactions between E-selectin and SLex in the HepG2 cells.Additionally,SLeX-binding DNA aptamers at 20 nmol/L were found to have the similar effect to the monoclonal antibody CSLEX-1.The Transwell migration and invasion assay revealed that the number of penetrating cells on the down-side of Transwell membrane was significantly less in cells treated with 5,10,20 nmol/L SLeX-binding DNA aptamer than those in the negative control group (P＜0.01).Our study demonstrated that the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer could significantly inhibit the in vitro adhesion,migration,and invasion of HepG2 cells,suggesting that the SLeX-binding DNA aptamer may be used as a potential molecular targeted drug against metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

The Grainyhead-like 3 (GRHL3) is involved in epidermal barrier formation,neural tube closure and wound repair.Previous studies have suggested that GRHL3 has been linked to many different types of cancers.However,to date,its effects on human colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been clarified yet.Our microarray analysis has indicated predominant GRHL3 expression in CRC.The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and significance of GRHL3 in CRC tumorigenesis using CRC tissues and paired paracancerous tissues,as well as using distinct CRC cell lines (HT29 and DLD1).We observed increased GRHL3 expression at both mRNA and protein levels in CRC tissues and CRC cell lines using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting.Moreover,silencing GRHL3 with siRNA could suppress CRC cell proliferation,viability and migration in vitro.We also found that knockdown of GRHL3 could promote cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase in HT29 cells and DLD1 cells,and induce cell apoptosis in HT29 cells.Together,our study revealed the down-regulation of GRHL3 in vitro could inhibit CRC cell activity and trigger cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) on the engraftment of unrelated umbilical cord blood stem/progenitor cell transplantation (UCBT) in murine model.

METHODS1 x 10(6) and 0.5 x 10(6) nucleated cells (NC) from C57BL/6 (H-2(b)) fetal and neonatal peripheral blood (FNPB) were separately transfused into lethally cyclophosphamide (380 mg/kg, ip) treated BALB/C (H-2(d)) recipients, 15 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) and 5 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) RA (15 mg and 5 mg RA) were administrated respectively 2 days before and after UCBT. Hematopoiesis and immune recovery, graft versus host disease (GVHD), engraftment and survival rates were then observed.

RESULTSHematopoiesis and immune recovery occurred faster in RA treated than in untreated mice (P < 0.05). Acute GVHD was absent. The levels of engraftment were higher in both 15 mg and 5 mg RA treated mice than those in untreated controls (P < 0.05). In 1 x 10(6) NC transfused mice, 15 mg and 5 mg RA could significantly increased the 30 and 60 days survival rates from 41.67% (without RA) to 72.23% and 70.83%, respectively (P < 0.05). In 0.5 x 10(6) cells transfused mice, 15 mg and 5 mg RA increased the survival rate from 14.29% (without RA) to 42.86% and 43.48%, respectively (P < 0.05), which were comparable to that of being transfused 1 x 10(6) cells without RA treatment (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRA enhances the engraftment of umbilical cord blood stem/progenitor cells in murine model for UCBT. This might provide an experimental evidence of RA in clinical UCBT.

Animals ; Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Female ; Graft Survival ; drug effects ; Graft vs Host Disease ; prevention & control ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between birth defects and dietary nutrient intake in a high risk area of China.

METHODSA dietary survey was performed and serum folic acid was measured in women whose pregnancy was affected by neural tube defects (NTDs) or unaffected by any birth defects (BDs) in Zhongyang and Jiaokou Counties in Shanxi Province of China.

RESULTSThe local average consumption of foods including dark green vegetables, fruits, fat and meat, and nutrient intake (e.g., energy, protein, retinol, riboflavin, vitamin E, and selenium) were lower than the national average level. In women of childbearing age, these regions, the intake of nutrients was much lower than the recommended nutrient intake (9%-77%). The case-control dietary nutrition study of women whose pregnancy was affected by BDs (including NTDs and congenital heart defects) demonstrated that, in early pregnancy, adequate nutrition (i.e., eating meat, fresh vegetables, fruit more than once a week) was a protective factor, while eating germinated potatoes was a risk factor. The geometrical mean (p5-p95) of serum folic acid in women with NTD birth defects was 9.6 nmol/L (3.6, 23.03), which was significantly lower than that in normal women (14.03 nmol/L).

CONCLUSIONWomen of childbearing age in the two counties of Shanxi Province, China, have a marked insufficient intake of some nutrients, especially folic acid, zinc, vitamins A and B12. This nutrient deficiency may be an important risk factor for the high prevalence of birth defects in these regions. Therefore, adequate dietary nutrition in early pregnancy can prevent BDs.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Folic Acid ; blood ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Neural Tube Defects ; epidemiology ; Nutritional Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires