Objective The aim of this study was to explore the association of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)promoter-308A/G polymorphism with rheumatoid arthritis(RA)susceptibility in East Asian population based on the meta-analysis. Methods We searched all the publications about the association between TNF-α promoter -308A/G polymorphism and RA in East Asian population from PubMed, Ebsco, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database(CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), and Wanfang (Chinese). Meta-analysis was performed for genotypes AA versus GG, GA versus GG, AA versus GG+GA,GA+AA versus GG, and A allele versus G allele in a fixed/random effect model. Results A total of 4 studies (957 cases and 1196 controls)were included in the current meta-analysis(three Chinese and one Japanese studies). When all groups were pooled, significant association of A allele and decreased RA risk was found (OR=0.36, 95%CI=0.16～0.80, P=0.01). When analyses were limited to race homogeneous population,significant association of A allele and decreased RA risk was found in Chinese population(OR=0.40, 95%CI=0.16～1.01, P=0.05). Conclusion This meta-analysis demonstrates significant negative association between TNF-α promoter-308A/G polymorphism and RA in East Asian and Chinese population.

Objective To observe the efficacy and adverse effects of MRC UKALL Ⅻ/ECOG E2993 regimen in inducing remission of Chinese adults with acute iymphoblastic leukemia(ALL). Methods 11 cases of previously untreated ALL patients were treated with MRC UKALL Ⅻ/ECOG E2993 regimen, then observe the efficacy and adverse effects. Results All of the 11 patients achieved complete rcmission(CR), the CR rate was 100 %. Among the 11 patients,8 patients achieved CR after the first course of chemotherapy. In the 8 patients which could be followed up, 5 patients achieved durative CR, among that the longest survival time was 30 months, and 3 patients had relapses. This regimen has a severe myelosuppression. There was an effect on liver function, mostly in the increase of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase.After the symptomatic treatment, liver function could return to normal. No treatment-related deaths occurred. Conclusion MRC UKALL Ⅻ/ECOG E2993 regimen can be used as inducing remission therapy for Chinese adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Objective To analyze the genetic quality of 24 domestic inbred strains mice using microsatellite loci panel.Methods Previously selected 30 microsatellite loci of mouse with high polymorphism and more allele numbers were used to synthesize corresponding fluorescently-labeled primers.Then the genomic DNA samples of each mouse were amplified by PCR and the products were analyzed by STR scanning to genotype the inbred strains of mice.Results Out of the 24 inbred strains, 15 inbred strains showed the same genotype within one strain at 30 loci.Among different strains, microsatellite loci indicated polymorphism which could be used to distinguish different strains.However, the rest 9 strains demonstrated polymorphism within strains.Conclusions Our stuoly provides a useful microsatellite panel to detect genetic quality of inbred mice and distinguish different strains with the optimized microsatellite loci.

Bicyclol is a synthetic drug for hepatoprotection in clinic since 2004. Preliminary clinical observations suggest that bicyclol might be active against hepatitis C virus (HCV) with unknown mechanism. Here, we showed that bicyclol significantly inhibited HCV replication and in hepatitis C patients. Using bicyclol as a probe, we identified glycolipid transfer protein (GLTP) to be a novel restrictive factor for HCV replication. The GLTP preferentially bound host vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein-A (VAP-A) in competition with the HCV NS5A, causing an interruption of the complex formation between VAP-A and HCV NS5A. As the formation of VAP-A/NS5A complex is essential for viral RNA replication, up-regulation of GLTP by bicyclol reduced the level of VAP-A/NS5A complex and thus inhibited HCV replication. Bicyclol also exhibited an inhibition on HCV variants resistant to direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) with an efficacy identical to that on wild type HCV. In combination with bicyclol, DAAs inhibited HCV replication in a synergistic fashion. GLTP appears to be a newly discovered host restrictive factor for HCV replication, Up-regulation of GLTP causes spontaneous restriction of HCV replication.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2019.01.013.].