Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of calreticulin ( CRT) transcription induced by HBV and its viral proteins. Methods The human hepatocellular cell line, HepG2, was trans-fected with pHBV1. 3 and eukaryotic expression plasmids of HBV viral proteins, respectively. The expres-sion of CRT was measured after transfection. A reporter plasmid of CRT promoter was constructed to analyze the induction of CRT promoter by pHBV1. 3 and HBV viral proteins. Furthermore, two truncated and one C/EBPα site deficient mutants were constructed to evaluate the regulatory effects of HBx on CRT promoter. Fi-nally, HepG2 cells were transfected with HBx expression plasmids and the cellular localization of C/EBPαwas analyzed. Results In this study, pHBV1. 3 could significantly up-regulate the expression of CRT at mRNA and protein levels as well as enhancing the activity of CRT promoter. Among the seven HBV viral proteins, HBx could enhance the activity of CRT promoter and the expression of CRT at mRNA and protein levels. HBx could not induce the transcription of CRT when the C/EBPα binding site was deleted from the CRT promoter. The expression of HBx could promote the nuclear translocation of C/EBPα. Conclusion HBV and its viral protein HBx could up-regulate the CRT expression at transcriptional level. The transcrip-tional factor C/EBPα played a critical role in HBx-induced transcriptional activation of CRT.

Objective To analyze the clinical features and gene mutation in mthylmalonic acidemia (MMA) accompanied by homocysteinemia (cblC), and review the relevant literatures. Methods The clinical features of 3 cases of MMA diagnosed by gene detection were retrospectively analyzed, and meanwhile the pertinent literatures of pathogenesis of MMA, especially combined with late-onset cblC and its gene detection, were reviewed. Results Patient 1 (26 days old) suffered from intermittent convulsions for 3 days, with isosuccinic acid 175.8 μmol/L, C3/C2 rate 1.363, homocysteine >?65 μmol/L and abnormal EEG. MMACHC gene detection found an exon deficiency (delEXON1), which has not been reported. Patient 2 ( 12 year old) was hospitalized for limb shaking, hyperspasmia and vomiting. His isosuccinic acid level was 334.3 μmol/L, C3/?C2 rate was 0.37, homocysteine >?65 μmol/L, and had abnormal EEG. MMACHC gene detection found the mutations of c.482G?>?A and c.609G?>?A. Patient 3 was hospitalized for intermittent convulsions for 20 days, whose isosuccinic acid, C3/?C2 rate, and homocysteine were increased. MMACHC gene detection found the mutations of c.394C?>?T and c.540del8 and c.540del8 had not been reported. Review of literatures discovered that MMA was combined with epileptic seizure in some patents, which further validate that the mutation in MMACHC gene c.482G?>?A may be related to the late-onset of cblC. Conclusions Gene detection contributes to the diagnosis of MMA; the mutation of MMACHC gene c.482G>A may be related to the late-onset of cblC; delEXON1 and c.540del8 are new mutations which have not been reported.

Objective To explore the three ultrasonic technologies of two -dimensional ultrasound(2D -US),ultrasonic elastography(UE) and contrast -enhanced ultrasound(CEUS) for the measurement error in breast cancer and the correlation with the expression of ER,PR,VEGF.Methods 50 patients with breast cancer were meas-ured by 2D -US,UE,CEUS preoperatively,and the pathological specimen were measured postoperatively.Then used the immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of ER,PR,VEGF in tumor,and analyzed the correlation with the measurement errors.Results The results of differences between 2D -US,UE,CEUS and pathology were respectively as follows:( -0.59 ±-0.34)cm,( -0.20 ±-0.14)cm,( -0.40 ±-0.31)cm,and the differences were statistically significant(F =20.497,P <0.001).The positive expression rate of ER and PR was high if the difference between UE and 2D -US was less than or equal to 0.44cm.And the positive expression rate of VEGF was low if the difference between CEUS and 2D -US was less than or equal to 0.19cm.Three ultrasonic technologies in the measurement of breast cancer were different,the trend of difference between UE and 2D -US was smaller if the ER and PR were positively expression,and the trend of difference between CEUS and 2D -US was bigger if the VEGF was positively expression.Conclusion There is correlation between different immunohistochemical expression of breast cancer with measurement error in three different ultrasonic imaging technologies.The results suggest that the molecular pathology difference of breast cancer can impact on ultrasonic imaging,which contributes to know the reason and regulation of measurement error in different ultrasonic imaging technology.

Objectives To explore the association between the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2239669 in makorin ring-finger protein 3 (MKRN3) gene and the susceptibility to central precocious puberty (CPP). Methods A case-control study including 246 children with CPP and 269 healthy children was performed.The genotype and MKRN3 expression levels of patients were analyzed by PCR-HRM and RT-PCR,respectively. Results SNP rs2239669 genotype (TT,TC,CC) and allele frequencies (T and C) were different between cases and controls,with higher CC genotype in CPP patients. Under recessive model (CC/TT+TC),CC genotype was higher in CPP group and associated with higher risk of CPP (95%CI:1.062-2.143,P=0.021). MKRN3 expression levels were different among patients with different genotypes,of which TT genotype had the highest level followed by TC and CC (0.376±0.094, 0.330±0.068, 0.250±0.072, P=0.041). Conclusions MKRN3 SNP rs2239669 was associated with increased risk of CPP, and patients with TT genotype had higher MKRN3 levels.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and genomic abnormality of a patient with Coffin-Siris syndrome.

METHODSMicrodeletion and microduplication were detected with chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) and verified with real-time quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThe patient, a 6-month-old boy, featured global development delay, thick eyebrows, low frontal hairline, long eyelash, flat nasal bridge, hypotonia, difficulty in turning over, over stretching of head, and hypoplatic nails. He could not stand stability or actively grasp. He also has characteristics of rickets. Chromosome karyotype of the patient was normal. Genomic analysis has detected a 1.3 Mb deletion in 6q25.3 region encompassing the ARID1B gene. Neither of his parents was found to harbor the same deletion.

CONCLUSIONThe 6q25.3 microdeletion probably underlies the Coffin-Siris syndrome in this patient, and rickets may be part of its clinical spectrum.

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations and motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1 (MNX1) gene mutation features of Currarino syndrome.Methods Microdeletion and microduplication of the patients were detected by chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA),and literature review was performed for the clinical syndrome of Currarino syndrome with similar genotype.Results Two patients with Currarino syndrome were recruited in this study.Patient 1,a 7-day girl,came to hospital because of recurrent vomiting.Physical examinations showed coarse facial features,vision problems,serious abdominal flatulence and anal stenosis.Bowel imaging revealed malrotation of the midgut;and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed tethered spinal cord and malformation of sacrococcygeal vertebra.A 7.89 Mb deletion in chromosome 7 q36.lq36.3 region including MNX1 gene and a 2.20 Mb duplication in 14q32.33 area was found by using CMA.Patient 2,a 1 year and 3 months girl,came to hospital with global development delay.Clinical examination showed facial dysmorphic,growth retardation,intellectural disability,ptosis in right eye and anal stenosis.This patient had developmental retardation in language and movement.MRI showed spina bifida occulta.And a 15.00 Mb deletion in chromosome 7 q35q36.3 region was found including MNX1 gene.Literature review revealed that deletions in MNX1 gene led to Currarino syndrome with coarse facial features,growth retardation and intellectural disability,and this type of Currarino syndrome had not been reported in China.Conclusions Two cases of Currarino syndrome caused by microdeletion in 7q36 are reported for the first time in China,and this study can help clinicians to have a better understanding of this disease.

OBJECTIVE: To carry out genome-wide copy number variations (CNVs) analysis for a boy with autism by using single nucleotide polymorphism array (SNP array). METHODS: SNP array analysis was conducted for the boy and his parents, and the data was validated by real-time PCR. Correlation between the deleted genes and the phenotype was analyzed by reviewing the literature. RESULTS: The patient was found to carry a terminal deletion of 18q22.3q23 (7.1 Mb), which involved FBXO15, ZNF407, ZADH2, TSHZ1, MBP and ADNP2 genes. No pathogenic CNVs were found in the parents. Comparison of the patient with cases reported in the literature suggested that the ZNF407 gene probably accounts for the autistic phenotype in these patients. CONCLUSION The autistic phenotype of the patient may be attributed to the 18q deletion, for which ZNF407 may be a critical candidate. SNP array has provided an useful tool for the study of molecular mechanism underlying autism.
Autistic Disorder ; genetics ; DNA Copy Number Variations ; Humans ; Male ; Microarray Analysis ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide