OBJECTIVETo establish a method for rapid differential diagnosis of thalassemia trait (TT) and iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) using stepwise regression analysis.

METHODSStepwise regression equation was established for differential diagnosis of TT and IDA according to the red cell index, and the accuracy of the differential diagnosis was evaluated using blind analysis.

RESULTSThe accuracy of this equation for differential diagnosis of TT and IDA was 86.82%. The sensitivity, specificity and Youden's index in prediction of TT and IDA were 94.29%, 79.66%, 73.9 and 76.92%, 90.52%, and 67.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe stepwise regression equation using the red cell index is concise, rapid, and sensitive in differential diagnosis of TT and IDA, and can be well applicable in clinical practice.

Adult ; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; blood ; diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Regression Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thalassemia ; blood ; diagnosis

The elucidation of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) of the halogenated silane was necessary for the production of silicon derivatives, especially for methylvinyldichlorosilane, due to the lack of the relevant reports. Isobaric VLE for the system methyldichlorosilane-dimethyldichlorosilane-benzene and isobaric VLE of the three binary systems were measured with a new pump-ebulliometer at the pressure of 101.325 kPa. These binary compositions of the equilibrium vapor were calculated according to the Q function of molar excess Gibbs energy by the indirect method and the resulted VLE data agreed well with the thermodynamic consistency. Moreover, the experimental data were correlated with the Wilson, NRTL, Margules and van Laar equations by means of the least-squares fit, the acquired optimal interaction parameters were fitted to experimental vapor-liquid equilibrium data for binary systems. The binary parameters of Wilson equation were also used to calculate the bubble point temperature and the vapor phase composition for the ternary mixtures without any additional adjustment. The predicted vapor-liquid equilibrium for the ternary system was in a good agreement with the experimental results. The VLE of binary and multilateral systems provided essential theory for the production of the halogenated silane.

OBJECTIVETo study the strategy of applying molecular genetic methods and techniques in the diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA).

METHODSThis study included 43 patients with SCA from 36 families, 38 sporadic SCA patients, 60 healthy individuals from the SCA families and 44 normal controls. The trinucleotide repeats were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining technique. The repeat numbers were calculated by software.

RESULTSSCA3 was the most common type in the Hans of south China, accounting for 42.0%, followed by SCA2 (7.4%), SCA1 (4.9%), SCA7 (3.7%), SCA6 (2.5%) and SCA12 (1.2%). No patient was found to have SCA8, SCA10, SCA17, and dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy(DRPLA).

CONCLUSIONMolecular genetic detection is an effective way to confirmation of SCA subtype diagnosis and presymptomatic genetic diagnosis.

Adult ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Trinucleotide Repeats ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo design and synthesize ribozymes targeting 138 and 218 sites of the mRNA nucleotide of mouse caspase-12, a key intermedium of ER stress mediated apoptosis, and to identify their activities through in vitro transcription and cleavage.

METHODSThe mouse caspase-12 gene fragment was obtained by RT-PCR and cloned into the PGEM-T vector under the control of T7 RNA polymerase promoter. The transcription product of the target was labeled with a-32P UTP, while ribozymes were not labeled. Ribozyme and target RNA were incubated for 90 min at 37 degree C in a reaction buffer to perform the cleavage reaction.

RESULTSIt was found that under a condition of 37 degree C, pH 7.5 and with Mg2+ in a concentration of 10 mmol/L, Rz138 and Rz218 both cleaved targets at predicted sites, and the cleavage efficiency of Rz138 was 100%.

CONCLUSIONRz138 and Rz218 prepared in vitro possess the perfect specific catalytic cleavage activity. Rz138 has excellent cleavage efficiency. It may be a promising tool to prevent ER stress induced apoptosis through catalytic cleavage of caspase-12 mRNA in vivo. It also can be used to verify whether caspase-12 is necessary in ER stress induced apoptosis.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Caspase 12 ; genetics ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Oxidative Stress ; genetics ; RNA, Catalytic ; chemistry ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo design hammerhead ribozymes against mouse caspase-7 and to study their expression and cleavage activity in vitro.

METHODSThe secondary structures of ribozyme and caspase-7 genes were analyzed and simulated by computer. Ribozymes DNA sequences were synthesized by automatic synthetic apparatus. Caspase-7 DNA sequence was acquired by reverse transcription PCR. Ribozymes and caspase-7 DNA sequences were separately cloned into pBSKneo U6 and pGEM-T vectors. Ribozymes and caspase-7 mRNA were obtained by transcription in vitro, and ribozymes cleavage activity was identified by cleavage experiment in vitro.

RESULTSTwo ribozymes named Rz333 and Rz394 targeting 333 and 394 sites in caspase-7 mRNA were designed by computer software, and their DNA sequences were synthesized. The expression vector of caspase-7 and plasmids containing Rz333 and Rz394 were reconstructed successfully. Ribozymes and caspase-7 mRNA were expressed by in vitro transcription. In vitro cleavage experiments showed that Rz333 cleaved caspase-7 mRNA and produced 243nt and 744nt segments. The cleavage efficiency is 67.98%, while Rz394 cannot cleave caspase-7 mRNA.

CONCLUSIONSRz333 can site-specifically cleave caspase-7 mRNA.

Animals ; Base Sequence ; Caspase 7 ; Caspase Inhibitors ; Caspases ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data ; RNA, Catalytic ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To construct a specific small interfering double-stranded RNA(siRNA) expression vector of Caspase-12 and to evaluate inhibitory effect of this siRNA on caspase-12 mRNA activity.Methods Three groups of siRNA targeting different gene sites of caspase-12 were designed and synthesized chemically.Mouse hepatoma cell line,Hepa1-6,was transfected with the siRNA by 24 h.Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)was performed to analyze the inhibi- tion of caspase-12.Then the most effective siRNA was selected and the two template sequences for the siRNA were inserted into pRNAT-H1.1Neo expression vector.The recombinant plasmid, referred to as pRNAT-casp12,was verified by PCR analysis and sequencing.The expression of caspase-12 at mRNA and protein level,after transfection with pRNAT-casp12 by 48 h and 72 h respectively,were analyzed by using real-time PCR and Western blotting.Results The chemically synthesized siRNA*1 and siRNA*3 could inhibit mouse hepatoma cell caspase-12 mRNA by 59.9% and 39.6%(P

OBJECTIVESTo study the inhibition of primary mouse hepatocyte apoptosis by small interfering RNA (siRNAs) against caspase-12.

METHODSThe Balb/c mouse primary hepatocytes were isolated in situ with two-step liver perfusion with 0.5 g/L collagenase type IV, and apoptosis were induced with 4 micromol/L thapsigargin (TG). The three kingds of siRNAs targeting different gene sites (130, 214, 521) were synthetized chemically. The single-stranded RNAs were annealed to produce double-stranded siRNAs, then the mouse primary hepatocytes were transfected by oligofectamine package. The inhibition of caspase-12 was analyzed with RT-PCR and Western-blot. The viable hepatocytes following the induction of apoptosis were evaluated with MTT.

RESULTSAll the three kinds of siRNAs could obviously inhibit normal mouse hepatocyte caspase-12 mRNA. The siRNA (214) were more effective than the other two when the concentration was 100 nmol/L. The caspase-12 mRNA expression was inhibited by 52.08%, while that of siRNA (521) was 30.73% (t=4.30, P <0.05). However when the concentration was 200 nmol/L, the inhibitions were similar (88.07%, 86.22% and 89.41% respectively). siRNA (214) could downregulate the expression of apoptotic hepatocytes procaspase-12 by 51.43% ( t=4.30, P <0.01). Contrasted with apoptotic hepatocytes, the cell activity, which was analyzed with MTT, increased by 48.76% (t=2.23, P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONsiRNAs could effectively downregulate the expression of caspase-12 at mRNA and protein levels and prevent mouse primary hepatocytes from apoptosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Caspase 12 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

OBJECTIVETo explore the factors that affect the recovery of consciousness in patients with disorders of consciousness following brain trauma.

METHODSWe analyzed the data of 114 patients with disorders of consciousness following brain trauma admitted for rehabilitation. Bilateral logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors that affected the recovery of the patients' consciousness. A logistic regression model was established and the ROC curve was drawn to obtain the optimal threshold of the prognostic model.

RESULTSUnivariate analysis showed that vegetative state duration (P<0.001), CRS-R scores (P<0.001), hydrocephalus (P=0.037), hypertonia (P=0.034), central fever (P=0.035), paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) (P=0.004), and epilepsy seizures were correlated with the recovery of consciousness. Logistic multivariate analysis showed that central fever (OR=3.493, P=0.044), vegetative state duration (OR=1.016, P=0.008), PSH (OR=4.223, P=0.034) and CRS-R scores (OR=0.640, P=0.002) all significantly affected the recovery of consciousness. The χvalue of the Hosmer-Lemeshow test was 10.214 (P=0.250), and the goodness of fit of this model indicated an outstanding fitting (c=0.91).

CONCLUSIONSThe presence of PSH is the one of the most important factor followed by centric fever to affect the outcome of patients with disorders of consciousness. A lower CRS-R score and a longer duration of vegetative state also predict a poor recovery of consciousness in these patients.

OBJECTIVETo provide right time points in selection of right aged animals and the normal physiological data of TX mice.

METHODS7-12 months old TX and DL mice were studied, each group contained 3 female and 3 male mice of TX or DL mice. The concentration of copper in the serum, dry tissues (liver, brain and kidney), together with copper biochemistry indexes were measured. The liver histopathology was observed under light microscopy and electron microscope.

RESULTSTransaminase increased significantly only in 10 and 11-month- old (AST(TX10) = 218.3 U/L, AST(TX11) = 197.5 U/L, AST(DL10) = 171.5 U/L, AST(DL11) = 165.0 U/L, P(10) less than 0.001, P(11) = 0.022), but the copper concentration of liver, brain and kidney was significantly increased during 7-12 month old (the average concentration of copper, Liver(TX) = (750.0 +/- 85.5) mg/kg, Brain(TX) = (39.7 +/- 2.2)mg/kg, Kidney(TX) = (29.8 +/- 5.0) mg/kg, Liver(DL) = (11.6 +/- 1.5) mg/kg, Brain(DL) = (16.8 +/- 0.9) mg/kg, Kidney(DL) = (14.2 +/- 1.0) mg/kg, t = 21.16, 23.60, 7.47, for all these organs P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTX mice is a suitable model of liver disease with natural recovery, so selecting animal model of suitable time point is very important.

Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Brain ; metabolism ; Ceruloplasmin ; metabolism ; Copper ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Time Factors