Female ; Humans ; Laser Therapy ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Semicircular Canals ; surgery ; Vertigo ; etiology ; surgery

Growth suitability as assessment indicators for medicinal plants cultivation was proposed based on chemical quality determination and ecological factors analysis by Maxent and ArcGIS model. Notopterygium incisum, an endangered Chinese medicinal plant, was analyzed as a case, its potential distribution areas at different suitability grade and regionalization map were formulated based on growth suitability theory. The results showed that the most suitable habitats is Sichuan province, and more than 60% of the most suitable areawas located in the western Sichuan such as Aba and Ganzi prefectures for N. incisum. The results indicated that habitat altitude, average air temperature in September, and vegetation types were the dominant factors contributing to the grade of plant growth, precipitation and slope were the major factors contributing to notopterol accumulation in its underground parts, while isoimperatorin in its underground parts was negatively corelated with precipitation and slope of its habitat. However, slope as a factor influencing chemical components seemed to be a pseudo corelationship. Therefore, there were distinguishing differences between growth suitability and quality suitability for medicinal plants, which was helpful to further research and practice of cultivation regionalization, wild resource monitoring and large-scale cultivation of traditional Chinese medicine plants.
Apiaceae ; growth & development ; China ; Ecosystem ; Environment ; Geographic Information Systems ; Soil ; chemistry ; Temperature

OBJECTIVETo investigate the splice variants of the calpain 3 gene existing in human skeletal muscle tissue and white blood cells, and to explore the feasibility of gene diagnosis using CAPN3 mRNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes.

METHODSTotal RNA was extracted from peripheral blood and skeletal muscle tissue in healthy individuals. CAPN3 cDNAs were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. CAPN3 cDNAs from peripheral leukocytes were compared with sequences obtained from skeletal muscle tissue.

RESULTSRT-PCR and DNA sequencing showed that the CAPN3 cDNAs comprised 24 exons in human skeletal muscle tissue, while the number of exons was 23 in white blood cells. Exon 15 was spliced out in human white blood cells.

CONCLUSIONSplice variants exist in human skeletal muscle tissue and white blood cells. Gene diagnosis may omit the mutations of exon 15 using mRNA extracted from peripheral leukocytes. These findings suggest that mutation analysis of the CAPN3 cDNA should use skeletal muscle tissue as materials instead of peripheral blood.

Calpain ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Exons ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; metabolism ; Muscle Proteins ; genetics ; Muscle, Skeletal ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and other lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were obtained from 64 patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma (case group) and analyzed by flow cytometry. The ratios of CD4+CD25+Treg T cells and other T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were compared with those from 33 healthy controls (control group).

RESULTSThe percentages of CD3+ and CD3+CD4+ were (66.5±11.0)% and (37.7±10.6)% respectively in the peripheral blood of the case group, which were significantly lower than those [(72.0±6.0)% and (42.0±6.4)%] in the control group (t=-3.2,-2.4; P=0.020, 0.015, respectively). The ratio of CD4+ CD25+ Treg cells in case group (10.5±4.0)% was significantly higher than that [(8.4±3.5)%] in the control group (t=-2.2, P=0.013). CD4+/CD8+ value of case group (1.4±0.8) was significantly lower than that (1.8±0.7) in control group(t=-2.2, P=0.029). CD3+CD8+, CD8+CD28-, and CD8+CD28+ showed no significant differences (all P>0.05). Smoking, differentiation grade, and size of the tumor showed no association with the function damage of T lymphocyte subsets, while the carcino-embryonic antigen level did.

CONCLUSIONSIn patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma, Treg increases and CD4+/CD8+ decreases, suggesting remarkably suppressed immune functions. However, more research is warranted to validate the association of T cells subset dysfunction with smoking, differentiation grade, and size of tumor.

Adenocarcinoma ; immunology ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology

OBJECTIVEDuchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) usually occurs prior to 3 years old. The value of serum creatine kinase changes with clinical progression and age in patients with DMD. This study aimed to investigate the regularity in the changes of serum creatine kinase activities in children with DMD.

METHODSPeripheral blood samples were obtained from 40 children with DMD (ranged from 3-14 years). Serum creatine kinase levels were assayed by kinetic UV test.

RESULTSSerum creatine kinase level in the 40 DMD patients (ranged from 2 595- 45 495 U/L) was remarkably higher than the reference value (35-174 U/L). The highest serum creatine kinase level (average: 27750-31173 U/L) was found in 3-5 years old patients. Afterwards, serum creatine kinase level decreased with clinical progression and age, with a yearly average rate of decline was 8.7%.

CONCLUSIONSSerum creatine kinase level reaches a peak between 3 and 5 years old and then reduces with increasing age in children with DMD. The characteristic changes of serum creatine kinase are suspected to reflect the rate of muscle decay.

Adolescent ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Creatine Kinase ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; blood ; drug therapy ; genetics

This study was aimed to explore the effect of BCL11A gene on transcription of γ-globin gene in K562 cells. B-cell lymphoma/leukemia 11A (BCL11A) gene was silenced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) expression vectors in K562 cells (human erythroblastic leukemia cell line). Gamma-globin mRNA level in K562 cells was determined by RT-PCR. Association between the BCL11A gene and γ-globin gene transcription was explored by comparison of mRNA levels. The results indicated that the silence rate of the BCL11A gene in K562 cells by 4 siRNA expression vectors was 49.7%, 55.4%, 78.2%, and 84.1%, respectively. The siRNA expression vector with 84.1% silence rate was transfected into K562 cells, transcription level of γ-globin mRNA in K562 cells transfected with siRNA expression vector increased 2.4 times as compared with control K562 cells. It is concluded that level of γ-globin mRNA increases when the BCL11A gene is silenced. It indicates that the BCL11A gene may be a negative regulator for γ-globin gene expression.
Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Genes, Regulator ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection ; gamma-Globins ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the antitumor effect of natural killer (NK) cells on human colorectal cancer cells HT-29 in vitro by blocking transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling in NK cells transfected with vector containing dominant negative TGF-β type 2 receptor (DNTβR2).

METHODSTGF-β1 was added at the final concentration of 10 ng/ml for HT-29 cells. Primary NK cells were transfected with recombinant plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP-DNTβR2 and control plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP using Amaxa Nucleofector technology respectively. The cytotoxicity of these two types of NK cells to HT-29 cells was detected and analyzed by cell counting kit-8.

RESULTSThe transfection efficiency of primary NK cells was 18.85% for the plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP-DNTβR2 and 35.28% for the control plasmid pIRES2-AcGFP. The expression of DNTβR2 in NK cells was confirmed by Western blotting and RT-PCR. Primary NK cells displayed significantly lower cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells incubated with TGF-β1 than that without TGF-β1 (effect-target cell ratio 10:1,14.40%∓ 2.00% vs. 26.14% ∓ 2.50%, P > 0.05; effect-target cell ratio 20:1, 19.18% ∓ 2.49% vs. 40.81% ∓ 3.50%, P > 0.05). The cytotoxicity of NK cells transfected with DNTβR2 vector was significantly higher than that with control vector against HT-29 cells cultured with 10 ng/ml TGF-β1 (effect-target cell ratio 10:1, 21.17% ∓ 2.49% vs. 11.48% ∓ 1.11% ,P > 0.05; and effect-target cell ratio 20:1, 35.30% ∓ 3.78% vs. 17.19% ∓ 2.29%, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONNK cells transfected with DNTβR2 vector show better antitumor effect, which may provide new method for NK-based adoptive immunotherapy for cancer.

HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; metabolism ; pharmacology

This study was aimed to analyze hemoglobin F (HbF) level and single nucleotide polymorphisms at rs11886868 locus of BCL11A gene in β-thalassemia patients, and to explore correlation between them. 89 mild β-thalassemia patients with known mutations were registered, and HbF levels were determined by capillary electrophoresis. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral leukocytes, fragment including rs11886868 locus in BCL11A gene was amplified by PCR, and polymorphism was determined by DNA sequencing. The results showed that 2 polymorphisms including C and T were found at rs11886868 locus in BCL11A gene among 89 mild β-thalassemia patients. HbF levels in red blood cells were (4.47 ± 3.42)% and (2.79 ± 2.21)% for β-thalassemia patients carrying C/C and C/T haplotypes, respectively. There was difference between 2 haplotype groups. It is concluded that the C and T polymorphisms are found at rs11886868 locus in the BCL11A gene for β-thalassemia patients. C polymorphism may be related to high HbF expression in red blood cells.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Child ; Female ; Fetal Hemoglobin ; metabolism ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult ; beta-Thalassemia ; blood ; genetics

This study was aimed to analyze the β-globin gene mutations in a patient with β-thalassemia minor. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells of the patient. The full-length DNA sequence coding for β-globin was amplified by polymerase chain reaction, and the gene mutation was determined by DNA sequencing. The results indicated that a heterogeneous A→G mutation was found at position 129 in intron 1 of the β-thalassemia minor patient. It is concluded that the IVS-I-129(A→G) mutation is a splicing site mutation leading to a splicing error in immature messenger RNA and a protein translation error for the β-globin gene. Thus, the IVS-I-129(A→G) is a novel mutation.
Adult ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Introns ; Point Mutation ; Protein Biosynthesis ; RNA Splice Sites ; beta-Globins ; genetics ; beta-Thalassemia ; genetics

Objective To explore the associations of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist height ratio (WHtR) and the prevalence of hypertension in elderly residents over 60 years in Baodi district, Tianjin. Methods Residents over 60 who underwent medical examinations in the Koudong Health Center, Baodi district, Tianjin, were all invited to participate in the study from April to May, 2018. Participants were asked to fill out structured questionnaires and undergo physical examinations. Stratified analysis and logistic regression analysis were applied to examine joint effects and interactions of BMI and WC (or WHtR) on the risk of hypertension. Results A total of 1 417 residents (83.75%) out of 1 692 residents participated in the study. The prevalence of hypertension in the participants was 46.36%. 66.50% of the participants were BMI overweight or obese. Participants with central obesity accounted for 74.66% (measured by the WC) and 75.38% (by the WHtR). Compared to the normal weight measured by the BMI or the WC, BMI overweight (OR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.19-2.30) or obesity (OR=3.41, 95%CI: 2.23-5.20) and WC central obesity (OR: 1.49, 95%CI: 1.00-2.23) were associated with increased risk of hypertension. The joint effects of BMI and WC (OR=2.49, 95%CI: 1.78-3.46), or BMI and WHtR (WHtR overweight: OR=2.05, 95%CI: 1.41-2.99; WHtR obesity: OR=2.37, 95%CI: 1.50-3.76) were greater than the single effect of the latter (WC overweight/obesity: OR=1.39, 95%CI: 0.90-2.15; WHtR overweight: OR=1.02, 95%CI: 0.62-1.66; WHtR obesity: OR=1.44, 95%CI：0.55-3.81). Conclusions Of the three indices, BMI is strongly correlated with the risk of hypertension. BMI overweight or obesity has enhanced the association of WC or WHtR and the risk of hypertension, suggesting that weight control in the normal range, especially measured by the BMI index, may prevent and control hypertension.