Objective To study the relationship between ischemic stroke (IS) and both gene polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and cigarette smoking. Methods Four hundred and fifty-four patients with IS and 334 controls were recruited in our study; their gene polymorphisms of MTHFR were detected by PCR and denaturing high performance liquid chromatogram (DHPLC). The patients were further divided into different subgroups based on TOAST criteria and scores of neurological impairments and the distribution of MTHFR genotypes were analyzed accordingly. The relationships between IS and both cigarette smoking and these genotypes were measured by odds ratios (ORs) and 95％ confidence intervals (95％CIs). The ORs and 95％ Cls were calculated by unconditional logistic regression. Results TT genotype and T allele were associated with LAA type and CE type,moderate type and severe type of IS. OR of TT genotype and T allele in smoking patients with IS were 4.393 and 2.359, respectively; but the OR ofCC genotype in smoking patients with IS was 0.353. On the other hand, the OR of all genotypes and alleles in non-smoking patients with IS were not significantly different as compared with those in controls. Conclusion Cigarette smokers with T alleles are likely to suffer IS, but those cigarette smokers with C alleles are not; and there exist interactions between cigarette smoking and MTHFR gene in the pathogenesis of IS.

This study was aimed to investigate the clinical value of detecting BCR/ABL fusion gene by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The conventional cytogenetic test and detection of BCR/ABL fusion gene by FISH for bone marrow of patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloproliferative disease or myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders, acute lymphocytic leukemia and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were carried out. The results showed that (1) out of 46 newly diagnosed as chronic myeloproliferative disease or myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders, 22 cases were diagnosed as CML, the FISH detection showed all positive (100%), while cytogenetic test showed 86.4% (19/22) positive, in the other 24 patients who were diagnosed as other chronic myeloproliferative disease or myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders, BCR/ABL fusion gene all were be detected as negative 100% by FISH, while the cytogenetic test of bone marrow in 3 cases supported the diagnosis of CML, and the diagnosis of myelodysplastic disorder in 1 case; (2) in 3 out of 7 acute lymphocytic leukemia cases the BCR/ABL fusion gene could not be detected by FISH; (3) the BCR/ABL fusion gene could be detected by FISH in 2 cases of CML received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with abnormal threshold 6.5% and 1.2% respectively. It is concluded that the detection of BCR/ABL fusion gene by FISH is sensitive and reliable, which is very important for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of chronic myeloproliferative disorders, myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disease, as well as definite diagnosis of Ph(+) acute lymphoblastic leukemia. This method also has an important significance for monitor of minimal residual disease in CML patients received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; Genes, abl ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Leukemia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myeloproliferative Disorders ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEMutation in the heavy chain micro (microHC) gene causes a rare type of autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemia. Here we report the molecular and clinical characterization of a compound heterozygous mutation in the microHC gene in a patient with autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemia firstly from China.

METHODA one-year and ten-month-old male patient and his parents were enrolled in this study. No mutation was found in BTK gene. The microHC gene of the patient and his parents were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from genomic DNA. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify the microHC transcripts. Sequencing was performed directly on the PCR products bidirectionally.

RESULTSSince 8 months of age, the patient had had recurrent fever and persistent cough. He suffered an acute right hemiplegia at 11 months of age and swelling and pain of left hip joint and right knee joint at one year and eight months of age. Cerebrospinal fluid routine examination showed that total cell count was 18 x 10(6)/L [normal range (0 - 15) x 10(6)/L], leukocyte count 7 x 10(6)/L [(0 - 15) x 10(6)/L] and biochemical examination showed protein 0.14 g/L (0.15 - 0.45 g/L), glucose 4.68 mmol/L (2.44 - 4.44 mmol/L) and chloride 116.3 mmol/L (120 - 132 mmol/L). Mycobacterium bovis was identified negative by cerebrospinal fluid smear examination. No obvious abnormity was detected on skull CT examination. Hydrothorax examination showed that total cell count was 848 x 10(6)/L, leukocyte count 785 x 10(6)/L and protein 30.8 g/L (< 30 g/L). Poliovirus isolation from stool sample of the patient was negative. The serum immunoglobulin (Ig) profile was IgG 181 mg/L (normal range, 5.09 - 10.09 g/L); IgM 28.8 mg/dl (400 - 1260 mg/dl) and IgA 22 mg/dl (310 - 670 mg/dl), IgE 4.6 U/ml (normal range < 150 U/ml). There were no B-cells but normal percentage of T-cells (67%) and NK cells (32%) were present in the peripheral blood. The patient had a compound heterozygous mutation in the microHC gene:on one allele, there was an alternative splice site mutation in exon 4 (1956 G > A), for which the patient's father was a carrier. Whereas on the other allele, an insert mutation between 170 and 175 in exon 1 with a premature stop codon (170 - 175 insert C, L11fs60X) was identified, for which the patient's mother was a carrier. The insert mutation in exon 1 of microHC gene was firstly reported. To detect the effect of the splice site mutation in exon 4, microHC cDNA of the patient was amplified by semi-nested PCR. The PCR products were purified and sequenced directly. A 136 bp of intron 4 was found in the transcripts and only the secreted isoform with a missense substitution is present in the patient, while synthesis of the membrane isoform is completely abolished.

CONCLUSIONThis is the first case with autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemia with compound heterozygous mutation in the microHC gene reported from China. A novel mutation in exon 1 was found.

Agammaglobulinemia ; congenital ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA ; genetics ; DNA, Complementary ; genetics ; Exons ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin mu-Chains ; genetics ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo study a possible association between the three functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of dopamine D4 receptor (DRD4) gene and chronic tic disorder.

METHODSGenomic DNA was isolated from the venous blood leukocytes of 84 unrelated patients with chronic tic disorder (Study group) and 100 healthy unrelated individuals (Control group). Polymorphisms of DRD4, 1240L/S, 616C/G and 521C/T, were genotyped by the allele-specific primer (ASP) PCR. Genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies were analysed by SHEsis online.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in both allele and genotype frequencies (chi(2) = 8.419, P < 0.01; chi(2) = 7.860, P < 0.05 respectively) of DRD4-616C/G between the Study and the Control groups. Haplotypic frequencies of LCT (1240L/S, 616C/G, 521C/T) in the Study group were noticeably higher than in the Control group (chi(2) = 6.371, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThere is an association between the DRD4-616C/G polymorphism and chronic tic disorder. The individuals with haplotype LCT (1240L/S, 616C/G, 521C/T) are susceptible to this disorder.

Adolescent ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Male ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Receptors, Dopamine D4 ; genetics ; Tic Disorders ; genetics

Objective To investigate the effect of 12-O-tetradecanoylophorbol-13-decanoate(TPD)on protection against acute intestinal radiation injury of mice and the possible mechanism.Methods Twenty female BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided by random number table method into the control group and TPD groups(25,50,and 100 μg/kg). A radiation-damaged model of mice was irradiated by 10 Gy 60Co γ-rays,while the TPD groups were pretreated for 3 d with caudal vein injection before irradiation.The survival time of 20 days and the number of crypts at 3.5 days after irradiation were detected.Rat intestinal epithelial cells(IEC-6)were treated with 1 nmol/L TPD for 12 h before irradiation with 10 Gy 60Co γ-rays,and CCK-8 was used to detect the capability of cell proliferation at 0,1,2,3 and 4 d after irradiation. Results The mice in the control group survived for an average of 4.2 days,compared to 10 days in the optimal TPD group (100 μg/kg).The average number of crypts in the control group and the best TPD group was 11.0 ±1.3 and 35.1 ±1.9 respectively.The proliferation activity of IEC-6 was measured for four consecutive days.The average D value of the TPD groups was significantly higher than that of control.Conclusion TPD has a protective effect against acute intestinal radiation injury, and its protective mechanism may be achieved by promoting intestinal crypt cell proliferation and increasing the number of crypts in the intestine.

Objective: To investigate the incidence of chromosome polymorphisms and their influence on semen quality and sperm DNA integrity in male patients receiving in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the chromosomal karyotypes and the types and incidence rate of chromosome polymorphisms in 2 370 male patients undergoing IVF/ICSI between June 2016 and June 2018. We classified the patients into groups A (with variation in the secondary constriction region in the autosomal long arm), B (with variation in the short arm of the D/G group chromosomes), C (with interbrachial inversion of chromosome 9) and D (with Y chromosome polymorphisms), and compared the semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation indexes (DFI) between the patients with chromosome polymorphisms and those with normal chromosomes. RESULTS: Totally, 154 (6.50%) of the patients undergoing IVF/ICSI were found with chromosome polymorphisms, including 34 cases of secondary constriction variation in the long arm of the autosome (1.43% ［34/2 370］, 22.08% ［34/154］), 82 cases of short arm polymorphisms of the D/G group chromosomes (3.46% ［82/2 370］, 53.25% ［82/154］), 26 cases of interbrachial inversion of chromosome 9 (1.10% ［26/2 370］, 16.88% ［26/154］), 10 cases of Y chromosome polymorphisms (0.42% ［10/2 370］, 6.50% ［10/154］), and 2 cases of mixed chromosome polymorphisms (0.08% ［2/2 370］, 1.42% ［2/154］). The total sperm count was lower in group D than in the other polymorphism groups and the normal chromosome group, but with no statistically significant difference among the five groups (P > 0.05). The sperm progressive motility was also lower in group D than in the other five groups, with statistically significant difference from group B (27.5 ± 13.5 vs. 41.5 ± 21.1, P = 0.027), but not from the other groups (P > 0.05). No statistically significant difference was observed in the sperm DFI between the polymorphism groups and the normal chromosome group (P > 0.05), or among the polymorphism groups (P > 0.05). The proportion of normal semen was lower in group D than in the other four groups, but with no statistically significant difference among the five groups (P > 0.05). The incidence rate of asthenospermia was higher in group D than in the other four groups, but with no statistically significant difference among the five groups (P > 0.05), and so was that of oligoasthenospermia, with statistically significant difference from the normal chromosome group (30.0% vs 8.0%, P = 0.041), but not from the other polymorphism groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Short arm polymorphisms of the D/G group chromosomes are the most common type of chromosome polymorphisms in male patients undergoing IVF/ICSI. Polymorphisms of the Y chromosome have a negative effect on semen quality, while those of the other chromosomes do not significantly affect semen quality and sperm DNA integrity.