Objective To identify the mutation of human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) and analyze the clinical characteristics of a Chinese family with long ST syndrome (LQTS). Methods The electrocardiogram and DNA samples were obtained from a Chinese LQTS family of 26 members. Genotype was performed with polymorphic short tandem repeat (STR) markers at the known LQT1, LQT2, and LQT3 loci. SSCP analysis was used to find aberrant conformers. hERG mutation was confirmed by cloning and sequencing. Results Three gene carriers were linked to chromosome 7q35-36, where the potassium channel gene hERG was encoded. A 19-base pair deletion was identified. The mutation was located at nucleotide position 1 619-1 637 between transmembrane domains S4 and S5. Furthermore, A1692G polymorphism was found both in the normal control and patients. Conclusion A novel 19 bp deletion mutation of hERG is identified in a Chinese family. All gene carriers are demonstrated to be typical LQT2 ECG phenotype.

OBJECTIVETo perform mutation analysis in a family with long QT syndrome.

METHODSThe medical record of the affected child and his parents were collected. The locus of gene associated with the long QT syndrome was mapped by linkage analysis. Mutation analysis was done by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) and direct sequencing.

RESULTSA mutation (L539fs/47) and a SNP (L564L) were found in exon 7 of the KCNH2 gene of the proband. The mutation was from the father.

CONCLUSIONA novel mutation of L539fs/47 in the KCNH2 gene was identified in the LQTS family, which might be the disease-causing mutation for the family.

Base Sequence ; ERG1 Potassium Channel ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; genetics ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Humans ; Long QT Syndrome ; congenital ; genetics ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

Objective To explore the effects of mild-warm moxibustion on PICC-related upper extremity deep vein thrombosis in gastrointestinal cancer patients.Methods Totally 117 patients with PICC were randomly assigned into the experimental group and the control group.All patients received routine PICC care,the control group was given normal saline for sealing tubes,the experimental group was given mild-warm moxibustion and normal saline.Incidence of thrombosis and indicators of hemorheology were compared between two groups.Results For incidence of thrombosis:7 days after placement,incidence of thrombosis in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P＜0.05).For indicators of hemorheology:the whole blood viscosity at low shear and high shear,erythrocyte aggregation index,whole blood viscosity,and hematocrit were significantly lower in the experimental group than the control group.Conclusion Mild-warm moxibustion can effectively prevent thrombotic formation in gastrointestinal cancer patients with PICC by influencing hemorheology.

OBJECTIVETo ascertain the genetic characterization and genotype of measles viruses isolated in Shanghai region, in 2005.

METHODSMeasles virus was isolated from throat swab specimens collected from suspected measles cases and 450 bp fragment of C terminus of nucleprotein (N) gene was amplified by RT-PCR. Sequence analysis was conducted to ascertain the genotype and to compare the difference of nucleotide with other measles virus strain published in GenBank.

RESULTS4 measles viruses were isolated from 10 throat swab specimens, and the sequence analysis indicated that they belonged to H1 genotype. The homogeneity of 450 nucleotides in the C terminal of the N gene was at 98%-98.2% as compared to H1 genotype (China93-7). They differed from genotype H2 (China94-1) at 6.4%-6.9% and from genotype A (Edmonston) at 6.7%-6.9%, from measles vaccine (Shanghail91) at 7.6%-8.0%. They differed from the other measles viral strain isolated in China in 1993 - 2005 at 0.2%-3.7%. The variation within 4 isolated measles viruses was at 0.7%-1.3%.

CONCLUSIONIt was H1 genotype measles viruses,which are the native viruses in China that led to the outbreak of measles in Shanghai, in 2005.

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Genotype ; Humans ; Measles ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Measles virus ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological features of the Chinese hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer and its germline mutation of hMLH(1) and hMSH(2).

METHODSThirteen typical Chinese hereditary non-polyposis colorectal carcinoma (HNPC)C kindreds and 19 non-typical HNPCC families were registered and followed up. The germline mutation of the hMLH(1) and hMSH(2) of 12 index cases of 6 typical and 6 non-typical HNPCC were screened by PCR-SSCP. Samples with abnormal mobility were sequenced directly.

RESULTSThe average age of typical HNPCC was 47, no difference existed between sexes. Location of the tumors of typical HNPCC represented 44.7% on the right half colon and non-typical HNPCC 65.8% on the rectum. The rate of the metachronos cancer was 11.5%. The 3-, 5-and 10-year survival rate was 64.0%, 45.3% and 31.2% respectively. Among 12 cases, 8 showed abnormal mobility. Except for an intron polymorphism, six exons abnormalities were found in 5 of 12 proband. Sequencing showed 4 missense, 7 insertion and a nonsense mutations.

CONCLUSIONSChinese HNPCC is early onset, more common on proximal colon and better prognosis. Mutation of hMSH(2) is dominant in the Chinese typical HNPCC, but mutation of hMLH(1) is more common in the non-typical group.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; genetics ; pathology ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Germ-Line Mutation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; genetics ; Mutation, Missense ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

In order to investigate the roles of Wnt signal pathway in transformation of cardiac valvular myofibroblasts to the osteoblast-like phenotype, the primary cultured porcine aortic valve myofibroblasts were incubated with oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL, 50 mg/L), and divided into four groups according to the ox-LDL treatment time: control group, ox-LDL 24-h group, ox-LDL 48-h group, and ox-LDL 72-h group. Wnt signal pathway blocker Dickkopf-1 (DDK-1, 100 μg/L) was added in ox-LDL 72-h group. The expression of a-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteogenic transcription factor Cbfa-1 was detected by Western blotting, and that of β-catenin, a key mediator of Wnt signal pathway by immunocytochemical staining method. The Wnt/β-catenin was observed and the transformation of myofibroblasts to the osteoblast-like phenotype was examined. The expression of α-SMA, BMP2, ALP and Cbfa-1 proteins in the control group was weaker than in the ox-LDL-treated groups. In ox-LDL-treated groups, the protein expression of a-SMA, BMP2, ALP, and Cbfa-1 was significantly increased in a time-dependent manner as compared with the control group, and there was significant difference among the three ox-LDL-treated groups (P<0.05 for all); β-catenin protein was also up-regulated in the ox-LDL-treated groups in a time-dependent manner as compared with the control group (P<0.05), and its transfer from cytoplasm to nucleus and accumulation in the nucleus were increased in the same fashion (P<0.05). After addition of DKK-1, the expression of α-SMA, bone-related proteins and β-catenin protein was significantly reduced as compared with ox-LDL 72-h group (P<0.05). The Wnt/ β-catenin signaling pathway may play an important role in transformation of valvular myofibroblasts to the osteoblast-like phenotype.
Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aortic Valve ; cytology ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; pharmacology ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; pharmacology ; Myofibroblasts ; drug effects ; Osteoblasts ; physiology ; Phenotype ; Swine ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; drug effects ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics and potential mechanisms relevant to pathological proteins in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients who experience fatigue. METHODS: PD patients (n=102) were evaluated using a fatigue severity scale and scales for motor and nonmotor symptoms. The levels of three pathological proteins-α-synuclein oligomer, β-amyloid (Aβ)(1-42), and tau-were measured in 102 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from these PD patients. Linear regression analyses were performed between fatigue score and the CSF levels of the above-listed pathological proteins in PD patients. RESULTS: The frequency of fatigue in the PD patients was 62.75%. The fatigue group had worse motor symptoms and anxiety, depression, and autonomic dysfunction. The CSF level of α-synuclein oligomer was higher and that of Aβ1-42 was lower in the fatigue group than in the non-fatigue group. In multiple linear regression analyses, fatigue severity was significantly and positively correlated with the α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF of PD patients, after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients experience a high frequency of fatigue. PD patients with fatigue have worse motor and part nonmotor symptoms. Fatigue in PD patients is associated with an increased α-synuclein oligomer level in the CSF.
Anxiety ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Depression ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Parkinson Disease* ; Weights and Measures

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and survivin proteins in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) and there clinical significance.

METHODSThe morphologic characteristics were studied by routine light microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining for ALK and survivin proteins was performed using LSAB method.

RESULTSALK protein was positive in 51 cases (63%) and negative in 30 cases (37%) of the 81 cases of ALCL studied. The prognosis of patients with ALK protein expression was better than those without ALK expression (P < 0.05). As for survivin protein, there were various degrees of expression in all the 77 ALCL cases studied. High level of survivin protein expression was observed in 33 cases (42.9%), while low level of expression was seen in 44 cases (57.1%). The expression of survivin protein did not correlate with that of ALK protein (P > 0.05). The survival rate was significantly lower in patients with high survivin protein expression (P < 0.05). In cases with ALK protein expression, the prognosis was less favorable if there was also high co-expression of survivin protein (P < 0.05). In ALK protein negative cases, prognosis did not significantly correlate with the expression of survivin protein (P > 0.05). In addition, multivariate analysis confirmed the prognosis value of ALK protein expression, survivin protein expression and constitutional symptoms.

CONCLUSIONSurvivin protein expression can serve as an independent prognostic predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome in patients with ALCL, especially when ALK protein is positive.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Survival Analysis ; Young Adult

To study the epidemic characteristics of human rhinovirus (HRV) in children with acute respiratory infections in Gansu Province. 286 throat swabs were collected from children with acute respiratory in fections in Gansu Province during 2011. Multiplex reverse transcription-PCR (multiplex RT-PCR) assay was used to screen those specimens for detection of common respiratory tract pathogens. For HRV-positive samples, nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) was performed to amplify VP1 and VP4/VP2 gene fragments of HRV. The VP4/VP2 and VP1 regions of HRV-positive samples were sequenced and performed genotype analysis. Of 286 specimens fested, 27 were positive for HRV by multiplex RT-PCR and nested RT-PCR, of which 16 children were made (16/185), 8.64%) and 11 female (11/101,10.89%). The positive rate was 9.44% (27/286). The mean age of HRV-positive children was 3 years in this study, children less than one year old had the highest proportion 44.4% (12/ 27, 44.4%). The highest HRV positive rate fell on May, 2011 (6/27, 22.2%). Common cold accounted for the highest proportion, 12.24% (12/98) followed by pneumonia, 8.50% (13/153). The remaining 2 cases were bronchitis. Sequence analysis showed HRV A was the predominant genotype in Gansu Province in 2011, accounting for 84.62% (22/26) of positive cases, followed by HRV C (11.54%, 3/26) and only one HRV B was detected (3.85%, 1/26). HRV could be detected throughout the year in Gansu Province and primarily infected children under one year old. The group A was the epidemic genotype of HRV and move than one genotype existed in Gansu Province during 2011.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Picornaviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Rhinovirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Seasons

It is of great significance to carry out scientific investigation of threatened species and assess their in-situ conservation status in order to guide the conservation and management of these species within a region. In this study, we explored and assessed the biodiversity and in-situ conservation status of the threatened medicinal vascular plants(TMVPs) in central China. The results showed that there were 276 TMVPs in central China, including 18 critically endangered(CR), 77 endangered(EN), and 181 vulnerable(VU) species. Of which, 222 TMVPs were distributed in 49 national nature reserves, with an in-situ conservation rate of 80.43%. And the in-situ conservation rate of CR, EN and NR species were 83.33%, 77.92% and 81.22%, respectively. The complementary algorithm was used to select the nine national nature reserves with the highest protection and complementary contribution to the TMVPs. The cumulative protection contribution rate of these nine nature reserves was 81.98%. Fifty-four TMVPs were distributed outside of national nature reserves, while mainly distributed within 10 hotspot counties including Badong county, Hubei province, Sangzhi county, Hunan province, Jianghua Yao Autonomous county, Hunan province and so on. In general, TMVPs are well protected by the national nature reserves in central China. However, there are still some conservation gaps. It is necessary to carry out further field investigation on the species with conservation gaps and identify the gap areas, so as to provide scientific guidance for the optimization of the conservation of TMVPs in this region.
Biodiversity ; China ; Conservation of Natural Resources ; Endangered Species ; Plants, Medicinal ; Tracheophyta