PURPOSE: The expression of natriuretic peptides in the neural bundles of the anterior portion of the optic nerves and their functions in regulating vessel tone and blood flow may suggest a possible role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between normal-tension glaucoma and the genetic variations of atrial natriuretic peptide (Nppa) and natriuretic peptide receptor A (Npr1) gene. METHODS: Sixty-seven Korean normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients and 100 healthy subjects (as normal controls) were enrolled. DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes was extracted, and the genotypes of five polymorphisms (c.94G>A, c.454T>C, IVS1+16C>T, IVS2+701G>A, and c.-764C>G) in the Nppa gene and one polymorphism (c.1023G>C) in the Npr1 gene were determined using the restriction fragment length polymorphism and the SNaPshot methods. The genotype and allele frequencies of these polymorphisms in patients with NTG and normal controls were compared using the Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test. RESULTS: In both groups, the genotype distributions were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. There was no significant difference in the frequency of the Nppa and Npr1 alleles or genotypes in the normal-tension glaucoma group as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Nppa and Npr1 gene polymorphisms are not associated with normal-tension glaucoma, suggesting that this gene does not have an important role in the pathogenesis of optic neuropathy in this disease.
Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor/*genetics ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Middle Aged ; Male ; *Intraocular Pressure ; Humans ; Guanylate Cyclase/*genetics ; Glaucoma/genetics/*physiopathology ; Genotype ; Gene Frequency ; Female ; Atrial Natriuretic Factor/*genetics ; Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the associations of guanylate cyclase C (GC-C) mRNA and cytokeratin 20 (CK20) mRNA with metastasis and prognosis in early to moderate colorectal cancer patients.

METHODSGC-C mRNA and CK 20 mRNA in peripheral blood of 74 colorectal cancer patients without distant metastasis were detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR (FQ-PCR). Based on their clinicopathological and postoperative follow-up data, the relationship and clinical significance of these data with metastasis hazards and prognosis factors were analyzed.

RESULTSThe positive rate of GC-C mRNA in 74 colorectal cancer patients was 33.8% (25/74), and CK20 mRNA was 31.1% (23/74). The 1-, 2-, 3- year disease-free survival rates of patients were 94.6%, 82.4% and 78.4% respectively. There were significant differences in positive rates of GC-C mRNA and CK20 mRNA, tumor differentiation, mesentery lymph node metastasis, tumor embolus in vessel and postoperative chemotherapy associated with 3-year disease free survival rate by Kaplan-Meier analysis (all P<0.05). While mesentery lymph node metastasis and tumor embolus in vessel were independent risk factors of 3-year disease-free survival (P<0.05). CK20 mRNA and tumor embolus in vessel were independent risk factors of 3-year disease-free survival by analysis stratified with clinical stage (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDetection of CK20 mRNA and GC-C mRNA in peripheral blood may be important for early detection of early metastasis of colorectal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Keratin-20 ; blood ; genetics ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; genetics ; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; blood ; genetics ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of C-type natriuretic peptides (CNP) and natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B) receptor in diabetic rats renal cortex, and the regulation by Tongluo Recipe (TLR).

METHODSSixty male SD rats were divided into 3 groups: the normal control group, diabetic model group and diabetic TLR group. Each group was further divided into two subgroups of ten in each, according to 4-week or 12-week observation period. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were treated with TLR (1.0 g·kg(-1)·d(-1)) for 4 and 12 weeks, respectively. (1) The essential information was collected for comparing renal mass, serum creatinine and 24 h urine albumen on each group was calculated. (2) CNP mRNA and NPR-B mRNA were detected by realtime-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on rats renal cortex. (3) Concentration of CNP on renal cortex or serum were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (4) Pathological evaluation and NPR-B immunostaining for renal tissue were also performed.

RESULTS(1) CNP and NPR-B mRNA levels were detected in each treated or untreated group, with slight elevated in untreated diabetes rats administrated with STZ after 4-week and CNP mRNA level remarkable elevated at 39.21 times higher than normal control group after 12 weeks, but NPR-B mRNA level showed a remarkably down-regulation at 98.07% after 12 weeks. CNP mRNA of TLR-treated group was also elevated after 12-week treatment, but less than untreated group. (2) Concentrations of CNP in renal cortex were obviously increased in treated or untreated diabetes rats, within these groups the treatment of TLR was found more significantly on prompting CNP concentration. Comparing to normal group, serum concentrations of CNP were also increased in treated or untreated diabetic groups, but there was no difference between these diabetic groups. (3) Renal lesions like glomerular volume increased are observed mostly in the relative early stage after 4 weeks. Although TLR treated group had no significant difference in their glomerular volume, the degrees of injury of glomerulus were ameliorated, as well as the NPR-B immunostaining enhanced in glomerulus. Weakly positive immunostaining of NPR-B are observed in glomerulus of normal control, and negative in glomerulus of untreated diabetes rats administrated with STZ after 12 weeks, whereas TLR-treatment groups showed a little enhancement.

CONCLUSIONCNP and NPR-B showed different characteristic on renal cortex at different pathological period in diabetes rats, and TLR regulated their expression.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; complications ; drug therapy ; genetics ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Hematuria ; complications ; genetics ; pathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Cortex ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Glomerulus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type ; genetics ; metabolism ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Atrial Natriuretic Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Staining and Labeling ; Streptozocin