Objective To investigate the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes, KIR2DS4 and its variant KIR1D for an association with syphilis in the comparison between syphilis patients and unrelated healthy subjects. Methods One hundred and ninety syphilis patients and 192 unrelated healthy subjects were performed to determine the KIR genotypes by PCR-SSP method. The gene frequencies of KIR2DS4 and KIR1D were analyzed for an association with syphilis in the patients and healthy people who belonged to KIR gene haplotype A. Results Of 192 healthy individuals, 187 were identified with a KIR2DS4 gene. And 91 individuals were classified as homozygous haplotype A with the percent of 48.7% (91/187) in 187 KIR2DS4 positive individuals. Of 190 syphilis patients, 181 were identified with a KIR2DS4 gene. And 89 individuals were classified as homozygous haplotype A with the percent of 49.2% (89/181) in 181 KIR2DS4 positive individuals. The frequency of KIR1D/KIR1D in syphilis patients classified as haplotype A was 16.9%, and was significantly higher than that in the control group (6.6%, P=0.032). However, there was no significant difference for the frequencies of KIR2DS4/KIR2DS4 and KIR2DS4/KIR1D between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion KIR1D/KIR1D might be associated with syphilis in the comparison between syphilis patients and unrelated healthy controls who were classified as homozygous haplotype A.

Objective To analyze the distribution of HLA-C alleles in Shandong Han population of China.Methods One hundred and fifty unrelated potential donors,self-claimed as Han population from Shandong province,were selected from China Marrow Donor Program.Genotypes of HLA-C with the donors were identified by PCR-SBT.The frequencies of allele were calculated with direct counting method and the differences with other populations were analyzed with SPSS16.0 x2 software.Results A total of 25 alleles of HLA-C were observed and the most common alleles were C * 06:02 and C * 07:02 with the frequency of more than 10.00％.Moreover,there were 16 kinds of alleles with the frequency of more than 1.00％ accounting for 95.33％ of the total alleles.The distribution of HLA-C alleles in Shandong Han population was similar to that in northern Han population,but had some differences with that in southern Han population.In addition,the distribution of HLA-C alleles in Shandong Han population significantly differed from that of German/African American.Conclusion This study on the distribution of HLA-C alleles in Shandong Han population provides valuable references for further studies on the genetics of HLA,cross-match for organ transplantation and other genetic-associated diseases in this population.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the blood type of a family with B(A) blood type. METHODS: The serological blood type of the family was determined by routine tube method. Exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were amplified by PCR and subjected to Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Serological testing of the proband and her elder son showed a discrepancy which was initially identified as B(A) subtype. Her husband and second son were identified as blood type O. Sequencing of the proband and her elder son has identified an O allele and a 640A>G mutation compared with the B gene. Her husband and second son possessed the same genotype of O/O. CONCLUSION The 640A>G mutation of ABO gene probably underlies the B(A) subtype.
ABO Blood-Group System ; Alleles ; Exons ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Phenotype

Objective: To study the hepatitis E virus(HEV) infection in pregnant women and the healthy blood donors in Jinan. Methods: A total of 651 blood samples from pregnant women who came for screening of hemolytic disease of newborn and 600 blood samples from blood donors were collected during June 2015 to October 2016. All the blood samples were tested for anti-HEV IgG and anti-HEV IgM antibodies by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Anti-HEV IgG was positive in 2.61% (17/651) of the blood samples from the pregnant women, and none of the samples were positive for anti-HEV IgM. The serum positive rates for anti-HEV IgG and IgM in blood donors were 16.33% (98/600) and 0.83% (5/600) respectively. The seroprevalence of the two groups was significantly different(χ²=70.43, P<0.0001). Conclusions The HEV infection rate in pregnant women was much lower compared with that in blood donors in Jinan; however, in view of the high mortality of HEV infection in pregnant women, it still cannot be neglected. The infection of HEV in blood donors of Jinan was confirmed, suggesting the potential risk of transfusion-transmitted HEV infection.

OBJECTIVETo identify a rare subtype of the ABO blood group system and explore its molecular basis.

METHODSBased on a standard serological assay, ABO subtype and haplotype were analyzed through PCR amplification of the 7 exons and adjacent introns of the ABO gene and TA clone sequencing.

RESULTSForward typing showed a B type, while reverse typing demonstrated an extremely weak anti-B on routine gel analysis, which indicated a forward and reverse typing discrepancy. Absorption-elution testing confirmed that there was no A antigen on the surface of patient's red blood cells. Sequencing of the ABO gene showed a G>A exchange at position 523 in exon 7, which resulted in a Val to Met substitution at codon 175. Clone sequencing of the amplificons of the ABO gene showed an ABO* Bw14/O01 heterozygote genotype.

CONCLUSIONMolecular method is useful for the identification of ambiguous blood groups. A 523G>A substitution of the ABO gene resulting in a Bw14 subtype probably underlies the weak B phenotype noted in the patient.

ABO Blood-Group System ; genetics ; Exons ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the action of miRNA-326 on its target gene BCL-XL and the molecular mechanism of platelet apoptosis regulated by miRNAs. METHODS: Dual-luciferase vectors containing respectively the wild-type and mutant 3'-untranslated region (3'UTR) fragments of the BCL-XL gene were constructed with firefly and renilla luciferases and transfected into 293T cells. Relative fluorescence intensities of the transfected cells were measured. RESULTS: Dual-luciferase reporter gene vectors for PsiCHECK- BCL-XL -3'UTR-WT (wild-type) and PsiCHECK- BCL-XL -3' UTR-MT (variant) were respectively constructed. Relative fluorescence intensities of the 293T cells co-transfected by miRNA-326 and PsiCHECK- BCL-XL -3'UTR-WT plasmid were significantly lower compared with the control group (co-transfected by a miRNA-326 negative sequence and PsiCHECK- BCL-XL -3' UTR-WT plasmid) ( P = 0.034). The relative fluorescence intensity was also significantly reduced in cells co-transfected by miRNA-326 and PsiCHECK- BCL-XL -3' UTR-WT plasmid compared with the mutant control group co-transfected by miRNA-326 and PsiCHECK- BCL-XL -3'UTR-MT plasmid (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION miRNA-326 may participate in the regulation of platelet apoptosis by acting on the 3'-UTR of the BCL-XL gene.

OBJECTIVETo confirm 17 rare HLA alleles detected during routine HLA typing and deduce their haplotypes.

METHODSBi-allelic sequence-based typing and Luminex DNA PCR-SSOP assay were applied for the initial or repeat HLA typing, respectively. The rare HLA alleles were confirmed with mono-allelic sequence-based typing. Predicted haplotypes of the rare alleles were inferred based on the frequencies of HLA alleles and haplotypes in Han population.

RESULTSThe authenticity of the total 17 rare HLA alleles was proven, and 18 predicted haplotypes associated with the rare alleles were recognized. A*11:12 and DRB1*13:19 were detected twice among unrelated individuals.

CONCLUSIONStudy of rare HLA alleles and predicted haplotype can provide useful information for donor searching and transplantation, and enrich polymorphisms of HLA in this population.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; genetics ; Haplotypes ; Humans

Objective:To study the impact of simultaneous ligation of splenic artery on prognosis of patients with severe hypersplenism in liver transplantation.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 206 patients who underwent liver transplantation in the Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital from December 2016 to February 2019. There were 180 males and 26 females, aged (51.0±9.0) years old. Fifty-one patients underwent splenic artery ligation during liver transplantation and they were enrolled into the observation group, and 155 patients without splenic artery ligation were enrolled into the control group. The changes in white blood cells (WBC), platelets, alanine aminotransferase, total bilirubin and serum creatinine as well as the incidence of postoperative complications were compared between the two groups.Results:The platelet count of the observation group was significantly lower than those of the control group before operation and on days 1, 3, 7, 30 and 90 after operation, (all P<0.05). The WBC counts in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group before operation and on days 1 and 3 after operation (all P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in the WBC counts between the two groups on days 5, 7, 30 and 90 after operation (all P>0.05). There were also no significant differences in alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin indexes between the two groups after surgery (all P>0.05), but the serum creatinine levels in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group on days 3, 5, 7 and 30 after surgery (all P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the rates of infection, severe acute rejection, biliary tract complications, arterial/portal thrombosis and mental complications between the two groups (all P>0.05). The rate of renal replacement therapy for acute kidney injury in the observation group (9.8%, 5/55) was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.3%, 2/155) ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Ligation of splenic artery during liver transplantation was safe and it had a significant advantage in the early postoperative recovery of WBC count and creatinine without increasing the incidence of complications in patients with severe hypersplenism.

A 65-year-old male patient was admitted for recurrent lymph node enlargement for 5 years and elevated creatinine for 6 months. This patient was diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma 5 years ago and underwent multiple lines of anti-tumor therapy, including cytotoxic chemotherapy; epigenetic modifying drugs such as chidamide and azacitidine; the immunomodulator lenalidomide; and targeted therapy such as rituximab, a CD20-targeting antibody, and brentuximab vedotin, which targets CD30. Although the tumor was considered stable, multiple virus activation (including BK virus, JC virus, and cytomegalovirus) accompanied by the corresponding organ damage (polyomavirus nephropathy, cytomegalovirus retinitis, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy) occurred during anti-tumor treatment. Anti-tumor therapy was suspended and ganciclovir was used. The serum viral load decreased and organ functions were stabilized. The purpose of this report was to raise clinicians′ awareness of opportunistic virus reactivation during anti-tumor treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of N- Arachidonoylethanolamine (ANA) on inhibiting platelets (PLT) apoptosis under standard blood bank storage conditions.

METHODSSamples taken from collected apheresis PLT by the Amicus instrument were split into three parts. An aliquot of 0.5 μmol/L ANA were added to one part of storage PLT as the ANA group; an aliquot of 0.5 μmol/L ANA and 1 μmol/L SR141716 was added to the another part as the ANA + SR141716 group; and the third part without ANA and SR141716 as the control group. These samples were stored on a flat-bed shaker at (22 ± 2) ⁰C for 7 days. The expression of phosphatidyl serine (PS) positive, phospho (p)-Akt, Akt, p-Bad, Bad, caspase-3, caspase-9, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and BCL-XL interaction with Bak were detected.

RESULTSThe rate of PLT PS positive in ANA group decreased significantly than that in control group[ (8.29 ± 1.44) % vs (14.24 ± 2.47) %, P<0.05]. The release of Cyt-C from mitochondria to cytosol in ANA group decreased significantly compared with control group[ (3.29 ± 1.44) % vs (15.24 ± 3.40) %, P<0.05]. Also the expressions of p-Akt and p-Bad in ANA group increased significantly than those in control group[ (71.33 ± 10.26) % vs (35.00 ± 6.00) %, P<0.05; (39.00 ± 9.64) % vs (10.33 ± 1.53) %, P<0.05, respectively]. Higher amounts of Bak protein were co-precipitated with BCL-XL in ANA group than that in control group (about 2.6 fold, P<0.05). The expressions of cleaved caspase- 9 and caspase- 3 in ANA group decreased significantly than those in control group[ (9.63 ± 1.47) % vs (23.24 ± 2.47) %, P<0.05; (6.30 ± 1.40) % vs (13.20 ± 2.50) %, P<0.05, respectively]. There were no significantly changes between ANA+SR141716 and control groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONANA protected PLTs from apoptosis as a result of inhibiting the release of Cyt-C from mitochondria to cytosol by modifying the expressions of apoptosis-relative proteins.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blood Platelets ; cytology ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; Caspase 9 ; Cytochromes c ; Endocannabinoids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mitochondria ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt