Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Leptin ; blood ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; blood ; RNA, Messenger ; blood

The purpose of this study was to detect the serum PTK7 level of patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia, and to reveal its clinical value for diagnosis of diseases. A total of 136 patients diagnosed as acute lymphocytic leukemia from May 2012 to April 2014 in our hospital were enroled in this study and were divided into the L1 group (n = 42), L2 (n = 45) and L3 group (n = 49) according cytomorphology, and 48 normal children were selected as control group. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect mRNA level of PTK7 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and Western blot was used to detect PTK7 protein expression. The results showed that the PTK7 mRNA level in L1 group was significantly higher than that in normal group (P = 0.000) . The PTK7 mRNA level in L2 group was significantly higher than that in the L1 group (P = 0.000). The PTK7 mRNA level in L3 group and L2 group had not significantly different between each other (P = 0.123). Serum PTK7 protein level in L1 group was very significantly higher than that in normal group (P = 0.000) . The serum PTK7 protein level in L2 group were very significantly higher than that in the L1 group (P = 0.003) and serum PTK7 protein level in L3 and L2 group had no significance difference (P = 0.312) . It is concluded that the expression level of serum PTK7 protein has a potential clinical value for the diagnosis of acute lymphocytic leukemia, but without specificity for ALL subsets.
Cell Adhesion Molecules ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; blood ; diagnosis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; blood ; genetics ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; blood ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of pravastatin on platelet-derived nitric oxide system in hypercholesterolemia (HC) and atherosclerosis (AS) in rabbits, and the relationship between these changes and atherosclerosis courses.

METHODSThirty male New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, 12 in group A, 12 in group B, and 6 in group C. All of them were fed daily with cholesterol-rich food during the first 12 weeks. In addition, in group A, pravastatin (10 mg) was orally administered daily. At the end of the 12th week, 6 in group A and B were killed randomly and their aortas were removed and the pathologic changes were observed. In the following 12 weeks, food enriched with cholesterol was substituted with normal food in all three groups. Pravastatin treatment was continued or started in the remaining members of group A and group B, but not in group C. At the end 24th week, all rabbits were killed and their aortas were examined for the fatty-streaks or atherosclerotic plaques. The expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) mRNA and inducible NOS (iNOS ) mRNA, NOS activity, NO production and the level of the serum lipids were measured at 0, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th week.

RESULTSThe expression levels of platelet-derived NOS mRNA, eNOS mRNA ratio in group A had no difference at above time points, while in group B were reduced significantly at 6th week and 12th week compared with at 0 week (P <0.01), and increased at 18th week and 24th week compared with 12th week (P <0.05). The expression levels of eNOS mRNA in group C were reduced at 6th, 12th and 18th, 24th week compared with 0 week (P <0.05 and P <0.01, respectively), and were reduced in groups B and C compared with group A at 6th ,12th week (P < 0.05) and increased in group A and B compared with group C at 18th, 24th week (P <0.01). The expression levels of iNOS/mRNA among the three groups had no difference. Pathologic finding of the arteries: AS was not found in group A from the 12th to 24th week. While in group B, there were a lot of fatty-streaks on the entire intima of all large arteries at the 12th week. There were also fatty-streaks in the ascending aorta, but were improved at the 24th week. In group C, there were marked plaques in the entire aorta at the 24th week.

CONCLUSIONSThe expressions of platelet-derived eNOS mRNA, NOS activity, NO production are decreased in HC or AS rabbits. Pravastatin can up-regulate expressions of platelet-derived eNOS mRNA, NOS activity, leading to preventing or improving the pathological courses of AS.

Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; blood ; pathology ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; genetics ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; blood ; genetics ; Pravastatin ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the expression of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) oncogene and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in childhood.

METHODSThirty-one cases of NHL were enrolled in this study as patient group and 8 cases of lymphadenitis as control group. (1) Immunohistochemistry ultrasensitive S-P assay was used to detect the expression of MDM2 protein in pathological tissues in all cases. Positive cells were dyed yellow or brown in nuclei. MDM2 positive cell was defined as >/= 10% of the tumor cells were positive, which was overexpression of MDM2 protein. (2) RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) was performed to value the overexpression of MDM2 mRNA in the pathological tissues and mononuclear cells in peripheral blood. While the ratio of MDM2/beta-actin was >16% was defined as overexpression of MDM2 mRNA.

RESULTS(1) Rates of overexpression of MDM2 protein and MDM2 mRNA were 64.5% and 61.3%, respectively, which were significantly different as compared to that of control group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). (2) The relationship analysis among subgroups in the experiment group showed that the overexpression of MDM2 protein did not correlate with classifications of working formulation, cellular origin, sex, clinical stage and involved extranodal sites (P > 0.05), but significantly correlated with classifications of B status and the increased serum LDH level (P < 0.05). It was shown that the overexpression of MDM2 mRNA did not correlate with classifications of working formulation, cellular origin, sex and clinical stage (P > 0.05), significantly correlated with B status (P < 0.05), and was remarkably significantly correlated with the involved extranodal sites and the increased serum LDH level (P < 0.01). (3) It was demonstrated that the overexpression of MDM2 mRNA in the pathological tissues was similar to the overexpression of MDM2 protein in the pathological tissues and MDM2 mRNA in peripheral blood (P > 0.05, kappa = 0.655 and 0.571), and the overexpression of MDM2 protein in the pathological tissues was similar to that of MDM2 mRNA in peripheral blood (P > 0.05, kappa = 0.609).

CONCLUSIONS(1) The rate of MDM2 oncogene overexpression was quite high. (2) The overexpression of MDM2 protein in pathological tissues determined by using immunohistochemistry ultrasensitive S-P assay was similar to that of MDM2 mRNA in pathological tissues detected by using RT-PCR method. Both methods might be used to detect the overexpression of MDM2 oncogene in the cases of childhood NHL. (3) The overexpression of MDM2 oncogene related to the poor status and poor prognosis of patients with childhood NHL.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; blood ; Child ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; genetics ; Oncogenes ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-mdm2 ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVETraditional prenatal diagnosis for congenital diseases were villus sampling and amniocentesis. These invasive diagnosis methods are not only technical complicated, but also harmful to mother or fetus. Fetus in its different gestational age has its different type of hemoglobin or different amount of hemoglobin, especially epsilon hemoglobin exiting in the body of 10 weeks gestation fetal, however gamma hemoglobin has its high amount before baby to be born. But epsilon and gamma hemoglobin did not exist in the bodies of adults bodies. It is possible to use advanced molecular biological technique to extract the fetal hemoglobin gene from maternal peripheral blood. In articles from domestic and abroad, no report related to fetal hemoglobin extraction from maternal peripheral blood was found. We tried to use non-invasive method to detect fetal hemoglobin epsilon/gamma gene from maternal peripheral blood by molecular biological technique. The purpose was to establish a convenient, sensitive and special method to be a basis of screening prenatal diseases in the population and lay a basis for family planning and clinical application.

METHODSBlood samples were collected and the fetal mRNA extracted from the pregnant women with the use of random primer. We used ultraviolet spectrophotometer to test the concentration and purity of extracted mRNA are suitable for reverse transcription. Reverse transcription of mRNA into cDNA was carried out and cDNA by PCR with the special epsilon/gamma primer being used. Via 1.2% EB in agarose gel electrophoresis, we used "Gel Works System" to scan the electrophoresis image to detect epsilon/gamma gene band.

RESULTSThe peripheral blood of pregnant women was collected. With RT-PCR and agarose gel electrophoresis method, we detected epsilon/gamma gene successfully in 7 samples with 6 positive and 1 negative.

CONCLUSIONThis was the first time that we used non-invasive way to detect expression of fetal epsilon/gamma gene in maternal blood to have found that this was a simple method to separate fetal cells from maternal blood, and could easily be accepted by pregnant women. Success of RT-PCR to detect fetal specific mRNA gave the hint that this method could be used in the field of prenatal diagnosis of hemoglobin disease, predicting fetal gender, predicting Rh blood type and single gene disease and be used widespread in prenatal diagnosis.

Female ; Globins ; genetics ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; blood ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between UNC5b gene expression and angiogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSIn situ hybridization was performed to detect the expression of UNC5b mRNA in HCC samples, paracarcinomatous liver tissues samples and normal liver samples. The relationship between UNC5b mRNA expression and the HCC clinicopathological features were also analyzed. Human umbilical artery endothelial cells were isolated and stimulated with HCC tissues homogenate, vascular endothelial growth factor and basic fibroblast growth factor. Then RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of UNC5b mRNA in normal HUAEC as well as activated HUAEC.

RESULTSIn situ hybridization results showed that UNC5b mRNA expression was detected majorly in endothelial cells of all normal liver tissues, and partial PCLTs but was weak or even undetectable in endothelial cells of the corresponding HCC tissues. The expression levels of UNC5b gene in PCLTs were significantly correlated with capsular formation of HCC. Furthermore, RT-PCR results showed that the expression levels of UNC5b mRNA in activated HUAEC were significantly higher than those in normal HUAEC.

CONCLUSIONSDown-regulation of UNC5b gene expression is related to angiogenesis of HCC, which may be associated with the progression of HCC.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; genetics ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of small interference RNA (siRNA) targeting nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) on endometriosis.

METHODThe eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis were transplanted into the nonvascular region of 8-day-old chicken embryo chorioallantocic membrane (CAM), and the effects of NF-kappaB p65 siRNA on the vascularization and endometriotic lesion formation were tested with proper controls.

RESULTSTransplantation of the endometrium onto the CAM resulted in a strong angiogenic response in the chicken tissue. The angiogenesis was significantly reduced and endometriotic lesion formation significantly suppressed with siRNA targeting NF-kappaB in comparison with the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThe NF-kappaB pathway is involved in the development of endometriotic lesions in vitro, and NF-kappaB gene silencing reduces endometriotic angiogenesis and promotes cell apoptosis in the endometriotic lesions, suggesting that NF-kappaB might be a good target for endometriosis treatment.

Animals ; Chick Embryo ; Chorioallantoic Membrane ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Endometriosis ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; deficiency ; genetics ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics

This study was purposed to identify endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA in human RBCs during storage and to investigate the relationship of its changing profile and preservation time at 4°C. RT-PCR and gene sequencing were applied to identify eNOS-mRNA in banked RBC. Real time PCR was used to study the relationship of eNOS-mRNA expression and preservation time. The results showed that eNOS mRNA was detected in RBC. Compared with fresh RBC, the content of eNOS mRNA in RBC was 0.868 ± 0.119 stored for 1 week, which was 0.379 ± 0.289, 0.108 ± 0.134, 0.141 ± 0.141, 0.125 ± 0.12 stored for 2, 3, 4 and 5 weeks respectively. It is concluded that eNOS mRNA exists in human RBC and its content is decreasing gradually along with the prolongation of storage time in banked RBC. Stored for 3 weeks, the content of eNOS-mRNA remains to be at lower level of concentration in human RBC.
Blood Donors ; Blood Preservation ; Erythrocytes ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

With the development of molecular biology, the evidences of genetics has been used widely in forensic sciences. DNA technology has played an important role in individual identification and paternity testing, RNA technology is showing more and more wide application in prospect. This article reviews the application and progress of RNA in forensic science including estimation of postmortem interval, bloodstain age, wound age, as well as determination of cause of death and the source of body fluids.
Actins/metabolism* ; Animals ; Blood Stains ; Body Fluids/metabolism* ; Cause of Death ; Forensic Medicine/methods* ; Gene Expression ; Genetic Markers/genetics* ; Humans ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods* ; Postmortem Changes ; RNA/genetics* ; RNA Stability ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in gastric adenocarcinoma, and to evaluate the correlation of VIP level with clinical pathologic parameters.

METHODSThe level of VIP in sera from gastric adenocarcinoma patients and healthy people was investigated by ELISA. Moreover, the differential gene expression between gastric adenocarcinoma, gastric dysplasia, and the corresponding normal gastric mucosa were determined by RT-PCR. Western Blot was also used to measure the expression of VIP in the gastric adenocarcinoma and the normal gastric mucosa.

RESULTSThe serum level of VIP was (5.794 +/- 0.014) ng/ ml in normal control and was (14.437 +/- 0.825) ng/ml in gastric adenocarcinoma patients, showing significant difference (P < 0.05). Meanwhile,the V/B of gastric adenocarcinoma tissues was greater than that of gastric dysplasia and the corresponding normal gastric mucosa (P <0.01), the values of V/B were 1.5261 +/- 0.3028, 0.9334 +/- 0.2872,and 0.9051 +/- 0.2794, respectively. The values of V/B between normal gastric mucosa and gastric dysplasia were not different significantly (P > 0.05). There were significantly negative correlation between the VIP mRNA expression of the differentiation degree of tumor (P < 0.05). The VIP mRNA expression was higher in gastric adenocarcinoma with lymph node metastasis than that without lymph node matastsis (P < 0.05). The VIP protein expression of the gastric adenocarcinoma tissues was greater than that of normal control.

CONCLUSIONThis findings provide a direct evidence to support the possibility that VIP play a cofactor role in the pathogenesis of gastric adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; blood ; genetics ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide ; blood ; genetics