BACKGROUNDCystic fibrosis (CF) is rare in Chinese. We investigated the mutations in the gene of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in a Chinese CF patient and reviewed the clinical features, gene mutations in Chinese CF cases.

METHODSBlood samples were collected from a previously reported CF girl and her parents. The 24 coding exons of CFTR of the proband were amplified and sequenced.

RESULTSA Chinese girl of 16 years old was diagnosed as CF at the age of 14. She had recurrent productive cough with bronchiectasis in bilateral upper lobes, parasinusitis and otitis media, but without pancreatic involvement. Her sweat chloride was (108.9 +/- 3.3) mmol/L. A heterozygous novel missense mutation of 699 C --> A which results in the amino acid change of N189K was identified in exon 5. In addition, a heterozygous 3821 - 3823 delT mutation in exon 19 was found in CFTR. The mutation 699C --> A was inherited from her father, and the 3821 - 3823 delT mutation was from her mother. Twenty patients with CF in Chinese reported from 1974 to 2004 were also reviewed. DelF508 mutation was not found in the nine cases whose CFTR mutations were analyzed.

CONCLUSIONSThe CF proband carries two heterozygous mutations (699C --> A and 3821 - 3823 delT) in CFTR. 699C --> A mutation is a novel mutation which is not reported previously. Review of reported Chinese cases suggests that the genotype of Chinese CF may be different from those of white cases. More studies are needed to understand the spectra of CFTR and clinical CF features in Chinese.

Adolescent ; Cystic Fibrosis ; complications ; genetics ; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ; genetics ; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Mutation, Missense ; Respiratory Tract Diseases ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical feature and alpha II b beta 3 gene mutations of three Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) pedigrees.

METHODSPlatelet counts (BPC), blood film, bleeding time, platelet aggregation and flow cytometry were used for phenotype diagnosis of all the patients. All the exons of alpha II b and beta 3 genes were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing was performed for mutational screening. One hundred and three healthy blood donors were as normal controls.

RESULTSThree probands showed normal BPC, defective platelets aggregation, prolonged bleeding time and significantly reduced platelet aggregation to ADP, epinephrine, and collagen, while relatively normal aggregation to ristocetin. Flow cytometry showed platelet surface expressed alpha II b beta 3 was strongly reduced in proband 1 and proband 3 and mildly reduced in the amount of surface expressed alpha II b beta 3 (63%) in proband 2. Sequencing results showed that proband 1 had a G10A homozygous mutation in alpha II b, and a G1412T homozygous mutation in beta3. Compound heterozygous mutations in beta3, G1199A and 1525delC were identified in proband 2. No mutations in alpha II b beta 3 gene were identified in proband 3.

CONCLUSIONSCompound homozygous mutations, GI0A in alpha II b and G1412T in beta3, lead to GT in proband 1. Compound heterozygous mutations in beta3, G1199A and 1525delC, lead to GT in proband 2. The mutations of G10A, G1412T and 1525delC were reported for the first time in GT patients.

Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Platelet Membrane Glycoprotein IIb ; genetics ; Thrombasthenia ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo identify the relationship between coagulation factor V (FV) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and venous thromboembolism (VTE).

METHODSThe FV clotting activity (FV: C) and FV antigen (FV: Ag) in plasma of VTE group (111 patients) and normal control (110 patients) were detected using one-stage clotting assay and ELISA, respectively. Five pairs of primers of the F V polymorphisms including Asp79His, Arg306The, Arg306Gly, Arg506Gln and Ile359The/His1299 Arg were synthesized and amplified by PCR. The PCR products were digested by restriction enzyme using PCR-RFLP. The detected polymorphisms were confirmed by direct sequencing. The samples containing the polymorphisms were screened for coding regions of all F V exons with direct sequencing.

RESULTSThe plasma levels of F V: C and F V: Ag of VTE group and normal control were (106.9 +/- 28.0)%, (110.4 +/- 33.3)% and (102.4 +/- 30.9)%, (102.1 +/- 24.1)%, respectively. The plasma level of FV: Ag was significantly different between VTE group and normal control. However, there was no difference in F V: C levels. Polymorphisms for the fore mentioned 5 primer pairs were not found in either patients or normal controls. Polymorphism of His1299Arg was identified in 5 patients with VTE and 3 normal controls. And these 5 cases also combined Met1736Val polymorphism, 3 of them combined another Asp2194Gly polymorphism.

CONCLUSIONThe higher plasma level of F V: Ag contribute to venous thromboembolism. There is no relationship between polymorphisms of Asp79His, Arg306The, Arg306Gly, Arg506Gln, Ile359The and venous thromboembolism in Chinese studied. Polymorphism His1299Arg is higher in VTE group than in normal control, but has no statistical difference. Polymorphisms of His1299Arg, Met1736Val and Asp2194Gly are linked disequilibrium in Chinese Han population.

Factor V ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Venous Thromboembolism ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of casein kinase I gamma 2 (CSNK1G2) gene and children with familial febrile convulsions.

METHODSThe study samples were collected from unrelated Chinese Han population of Hebei province, including a cohort of 53 children with familial febrile convulsions(FC) and a control cohort of 101 individuals. Genotypes of SNPs rs2074882, rs740423, rs2277737, rs4806825, rs1059684 were typed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTSThe frequencies of the five SNPs complied well with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in FC group and normal group. The distribution of genotype and frequencies of alleles of the SNPs rs740423, rs2277737, rs1059684 in familial febrile convulsions group was significantly different from that in control group. No significant difference was observed in the distribution of genotypes and frequencies of alleles at SNP rs2074882 between two groups. Analysis on rs4806825 was not made owing to its less allele frequency.

CONCLUSIONThese data indicate that SNPs rs740423, rs2277737, rs1059684 of CSNK1G2 gene may contribute to familial febrile convulsions in children.

Casein Kinase I ; genetics ; Child, Preschool ; Family Health ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Genotype ; Humans ; Infant ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Seizures, Febrile ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical value of glycosylated G-CSF combined with middle-high dose cyclophosphamide (Cy) or conventional chemotherapy with increased dose of Cy for mobilizing peripheral blood progenitor cells in patients with tumor.

METHODSThirty patients from four hospitals in Beijing region were enrolled in this clinical study. Diagnoses of the patients were non-Hodgkin' lymphoma (n = 21), Hodgkin disease (n = 1), breast cancer (n = 7) and ovary cancer (n = 1). Autologous peripheral blood progenitor cells (APBPC) were mobilized by middle-high dose Cy or conventional chemotherapy with increased dose of Cy combined with G-CSF. G-CSF was given subcutaneously from the nadir of the white blood cell (WBC) count to the end of PBPC collection. The dosage of G-CSF was 250 microg/d in 29 patients and 500 microg/d in 1 patient. When WBC count was > 5 x 10(9)/L, APBPC were harvested with CS 3000 plus/COBE Spectra.

RESULTSThe average dosage of Cy was 3.95 g (2.3 g/m(2)). The doses of G-CSF were 3.1 approximately 6.4 microg x kg(-1) x d(-1). Thirteen patients (43%) were collected twice, 14 patients (47%) three times and 3 patients (10%) four times. All of the patients could tolerate the treatment regimens. Seven patients had bone pain after G-CSF injection and one was severe, one patient had headache and one had nausea and vomiting.

CONCLUSION250 microg glycosylated G-CSF combined with middle-high Cy or conventional chemotherapy with increased dose of Cy combined G-CSF is an optimal method for APBPC mobilization in tumor patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Colony-Forming Units Assay ; Cyclophosphamide ; administration & dosage ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; administration & dosage ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Platelet Count ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Aged ; Creatinine ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; methods ; Lasers, Semiconductor ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Renal Artery ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

AIM:To investigate the mechanism of angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ)/angiotensinⅡ type 1 receptor (AT1R)pathway activating protein phosphatase 2A(PP2A)which leads to down-regulation endothelial nitric oxide syn-thase(eNOS)phosphorylation level in mesenteric arteries of rats.METHODS: METHODS: The mesenteric arteries of adult male SD rats(weighing 160~180 g;n=90)were isolated under aseptic conditions.Firstly,to determine the effect of angiotensinⅡdown-regulated eNOS(Ser1177)phosphorylation level,the mesenteric arteries were randomly divided into normal control(control)group and AngⅡgroup.The mesenteric arteries in AngⅡgroup were incubated with AngⅡat 1×10 -7mol/L,1×10 -6mol/L and 1×10 -5mol/L for 6 h,12 h and 24 h,respectively.Secondly,to investigate the mo-lecular mechanism by which angiotensinⅡ activated PP2A leading to down-regulation eNOS(Ser1177)phosphorylation level,the mesenteric arteries were randomly divided into control group, AngⅡ group and candesartan(CAN; a specific AT1R blocker)+AngⅡgroup.The mesenteric arteries were pretreated with 1×10 -5mol /L CAN for 1 h,then incubated with 1×10 -7mol/L AngⅡfor 12 h in CAN+AngⅡgroup.The protein levels of eNOS,p-eNOS(Ser1177),PP2Ac,p-PP2Ac(Tyr307)and protein phosphatase 2A inhibitor 2(IPP2A2 )in the arteries were determined by Western blot.The ac-tivity of PP2A in the arteries was detected by PP2A activity kit.RESULTS:Compared with the control group,the protein level of p-eNOS(Ser1177)in the mesenteric arteries was decreased after incubated with AngⅡfor 6 h,12 h and 24 h(P<0.05).The decreasing tendency of p-eNOS(Ser1177)showed concentration-dependently,especially in 12 h and 24 h groups.The expression of eNOS protein showed no significant difference in each group.Compared with the control group, the mesenteric arteries of the rats were incubated with AngⅡ at 1×10-7mol/L for 12 h in vitro, the protein levels of p-eNOS(Ser1177)were down-regulated(P<0.05); pretreatment with CAN significantly increased the protein level of p-eNOS(Ser1177)(P<0.05);the protein levels of eNOS showed no significant difference in each group.Compared with the control group,the protein levels of p-PP2Ac(Tyr307)and IPP2A2 were decreased after the mesenteric arteries were trea-ted with AngⅡat 1×10 -7mol/L for 12 h(P<0.05).Candesartan pretreatment restored the protein levels of p-PP2Ac (Tyr307)and IPP2A2 (P<0.05),however the expression of PP2Ac protein showed no significant difference in each group. Compared with the control group,the activity of PP2A was increased in the mesenteric arteries incubated with AngⅡat 1× 10-7mol/L for 12 h(P<0.05).Candesarten pretreatment inhibited the activity of PP 2A significantly(P<0.05).CON-CLUSION:AngⅡincreases PP2A activity via AT1R pathway,thus leading to down-regulation eNOS(Ser1177)phospho-rylation level in mesenteric arteries.The molecular mechanism of PP2A activation may be associated with decreasing the protein levels of p-PP2Ac(Tyr307)and IPP2A2.

The aim of current study was to detect intron 22 inversion of factor VIII gene in severe hemophilia A (HA) patients and screen the carriers of the gene inversion. Fifty-five cases of severe HA were involved and factor VIII gene inversion was detected and identified by long distance-PCR (LD-PCR) and 0.6% agarose gel electrophoresis. The 11 kb and 12 kb bands indicate the factor VIII gene inversion and non-inversion, respectively. Occurring of both 11 kb and 12 kb bands indicates a carrier of the inversion. The results showed that factor VIII gene inversion existed in 22 out of 55 cases, which accounted for about 40% of total detected patients. Five carriers of factor VIII gene inversion were diagnosed from the members in 15 families. In conclusion, LD-PCR assay is a simple, rapid and accurate method for detection of factor VIII gene inversion, and this approach is helpful in screening, carrier testing, and prenatal diagnosis of severe hemophilia A.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antigens ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Inversion ; Factor VIII ; genetics ; Hemophilia A ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; von Willebrand Factor ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of Bacteroides spp. as fecal contamination indicator bacteria with real-time quantitative PCR (RT-PCR) assay through analyzing the correlation between Bacteroides spp. and coliform group in external environment.

METHODSQuantity of coliform group and Bacteroides in water samples were detected by most-probable-number method (MPN) and RT-PCR, respectively, and their detection correlation was evaluated with linear correlation analysis. Both methods were also applied to detect the contaminated time limits and river water samples collected at four sampling sites in three different times.

RESULTSSeventy two hours were needed for the numeration of coliform group with MPN method, while RT-PCR could detect Bacteroides within 3 hours. The contaminated time limit of indoor and outdoor water samples of coliform group was more than 40 days and 9 days, and Bacteroides 13 days and 5 days, respectively. Also, the positive correlation between the quantity of Bacteroides and coliform group in outdoor water samples was obtained, the quantity of Bacteroides was from 8.3 × 10(6) copies/ml to less than 10(4) copies/ml during the first day to the fifth day, while coliform group was 4.3 × 10(6) MPN/100 ml to 2.4 × 10(3) MPN/100 ml. A 100% coincidence rate of the detection results with both methods was also observed. These results indicated that the detection results of both methods had perfect consistency.

CONCLUSIONBacteroides spp. can be potentially used as fecal contamination indicator bacteria with RT-PCR rapid detection.

Bacteroides ; Environmental Microbiology ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Escherichia coli ; Feces ; microbiology ; Rivers ; microbiology ; Water Pollutants ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo establish an effective laboratory examination system for carrier detection and prenatal diagnosis of haemophilia A (HA).

METHODSTwenty-five carriers of severe HA were directly detected by long-distance PCR (LD-PCR) in search of the factor FVIII (FVIII) gene inversion. Prenatal diagnosis was carried out using pregnant woman's venous blood sample, husband's venous blood sample and fetal navel venous sample at 20-24 weeks of gestation. The plasma coagulation factor VIII activity (FVIII:C) was detected by one-stage method. The concentration of von Willbrand factor (Vwf) was assayed by ELISA. Prenatal diagnosis was finally made by LD-PCR. The results of LD-PCR were proved by DNA sequencing.

RESULTSEight out of 25 cases were diagnosed as having FVIII geneinversion. Four of these 8 carriers underwent the LD-PCR for prenatal diagnosis, and 2 of them had to terminate pregnancy because their fetuses were diagnosed as having HA. The other two carriers were finally diagnosed to have normal fetuses by combined use of LD-PCR with plasma FVIII:C, vWF in pregnant woman's venous blood, husband's venous blood and fetal navel venous blood, and the one-year follow-up study demonstrated that the babies were normal and living well.

CONCLUSIONLD-PCR technique was adopted in this study to detect the factor VIII gene inversion; it could accurately and rapidly diagnose the severe cases of HA and could be used for the HA carriers in need of pregnant diagnosis.

Factor VIII ; genetics ; Female ; Hemophilia A ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results