OBJECTIVEA R1210C mutation of complement factor H (CFH) gene has been associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Caucasian population. This study was to verify above association in Han Chinese population.

METHODSThe mutation was detected by direct sequencing in 258 patients with wet AMD and 426 matched controls.

RESULTSThe R1210C mutation has not been identified in either sample.

CONCLUSIONThe R1210C mutation in CFH gene is not associated with AMD in Han Chinese population.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Complement Factor H ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Macular Degeneration ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo construct and identify the stable expression system of NIH3T3 fibroblast with eukaryotic expression vector of human transforming growth factor beta3 (pcDNA3.1 (-)/TGFbeta3). So as to investigate the proliferation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts transfected with hTGFbeta3 gene stably.

METHODSThe stable transfection of NIH3T3 fibroblasts with recombinant plasmid expressing hTGFbeta3 was established by using LipofectamineTM2000 and G418 selection. The mRNA and protein expression of TGFbeta3 were detected by the RT-PCR and Western blot method, respectively. Microscope and MTT were adopted to examine the proliferation of the stable expression system of fibroblasts with hTGFbeta3.

RESULTSAfter G418 selection, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, 7 out of 10 cell lines transfected with pcDNA3.1 (-)/TGFbeta3 expressed with very high level of TGFbeta3, as compared with vector control transfectants that showed no expression, and compared with the other cell lines that expressed relatively low level. The stable transfection of NIH3T3 fibroblasts growth slowed down significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe stable expression system of NIH3T3 fibroblast with hTGFbeta3 were constructed successfully. The TGFbeta3 gene could inhibit the proliferation of NIH3T3 fibroblasts in vitro.

Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mice ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Plasmids ; Transfection ; Transforming Growth Factor beta3 ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the functional parameters of the small airways and clinical characteristics between patients with typical asthma (TA) and cough-variant asthma (CVA).

METHODSForty-three newly diagnosed asthmatic patients were enrolled, including 15 with TA and positive bronchial provocation test [TA BPT(+)], 12 with TA and positive bronchial dilation test [TA BDT(+)] and 16 with CVA, and 27 healthy subjects served as the control group. All the subjects were required to complete data acquisition, asthma control test, asthma control test scale, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, airway resistance and pulmonary function tests, BPT or BDT.

RESULTSThe interval from onset to a definite diagnosis of TA BDT(+) was longer than that of TA BPT(+), while that of CVA was the shortest (P=0.022). The pulmonary functional parameters of TA BDT (+) was significantly lower than those of the other 3 groups (P<0.05). MMEF, MEF, MEF, and MEFin patients with TA BDT(+), TA BPT(+) and CVA were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). The resonant frequency, respiratory impedance, resistance at 5 Hz, resistance at 20 Hz, and reactance at 5 Hz were significant higher in patients with TA BDT (+) than in the control subjects, while these parameters showed no significant differences among TA BPT (+), CVA and control groups. The airway resistance in TA BPT(+), CVA, and control groups increased after BPT, and the patients with TA BPT(+) showed greater changes in airway resistance than those in CVA and control groups. In CVA patients, FeNO showed a strong positive correlation with respiratory impedance (r=0.523, P=0.038), resistance at 5 Hz (r=0.542, P=0.030), and resistance at 20 Hz (r=0.524, P=0.037), and the airway responsiveness showed a strong positive correlation with resistance at 20 Hz (Rho=-0.512, P=0.043).

CONCLUSIONCVA is the early stage of TA, and CVA, TA BPT(+), and TA BDT(+) may represent different stages of asthma. Uncontrolled, prolonged CVA may evolve into TA BPT (+), whose further progression can cause damages of the pulmonary function and small airway function and leads eventually to TA BDT (+).

Objective: To establish a better near infrared quantitative model for quality control of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma of components (moisture,total ash,liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid) in liquorice,in order to realize rapid detection.Method: The contents of moisture,total ash,liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid were determined in 97 samples based on the methods set forth in Chinese Pharmacopoeia.Meanwhile,the near infrared spectrum was scanned using near infrared spectroscope.R software was used to screen out the spectral pretreatment and build the quantitative models.Result: The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of moisture and liquiritin was the first order derivative.For moisture,the correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.930 0 and 0.929 9,and the root mean square errors were 0.243 2 and 0.203 8,respectively.For liquiritin,the correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.930 3 and 0.907 6,and the root mean square errors were 0.093 9 and 0.128 9,respectively.The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of total ash was MSC.The correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.926 5 and 0.917 7,and the root mean square errors were 0.109 6 and 0.103 7,respectively.The optimum spectral pretreatment method for establishing the near infrared quantitative model of glycyrrhizic acid was SNV.The correlation coefficients of test and validation were 0.918 1 and 0.915 7,and the root mean square errors were 0.274 8 and 0.236 0,respectively.Conclusion: In this study,a better near infrared quantitative models for quality control of components of Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma were established,with a high accuracy,which laid a foundation for rapid detection of the components in Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma.