OBJECTIVETo identify and characterize laryngeal cancer related novel genes located on chromosome 6q25.

METHODSElectric hybridization was performed in human genome database using EST (expression sequence tag) as probe. Novel genes were deduced by software from positive DNA clones and their cDNAs were amplified by RT-PCR using primers designed according to the sequence of the putative genes.

RESULTSA novel gene was cloned successfully. The full length of this gene was about 21 kb. It contained two exons and produced a 1006 bp transcript coding a protein with 235 amino acid residues. It's 5'flanking sequence contained two binding sites of oncoprotein c-Myc, thus it was named MTLC (c-Myc target from laryngeal cancer cells). Homologous assay showed that MTLC exhibited little overall homology to known human proteins but it exhibited good overall homology to mouse MT-MC1 protein with an identity of 78%. The primary structure of MTLC protein contained a nuclear location signal motif, but it did not have other conserved domains. The results of subcellular location experiment showed that MTLC expressed in nuclei of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel7402 cells, while a wide distribution of MTLC in various tissues was demonstrated by Northern blotting.

CONCLUSIONMTLC may play an important role as a target gene of c-Myc and as a transcription factor in keeping the normal physiological process of cells.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Base Sequence ; Blotting, Northern ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 6 ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; DNA, Complementary ; chemistry ; genetics ; Gene Expression ; Green Fluorescent Proteins ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Luminescent Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Microscopy, Fluorescence ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Sequence Alignment ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Sequence Homology, Amino Acid ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective To explore the effects of periesophagogastric vascular ligation on free portal pressure (FPP) and incidence of rebleeding for patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension. Methods A total of 60 patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension who were admitted to our hospital from October 2008 to October 2011 were selected and were allo-cated to observation group and control group according to their surgical methods, with 30 patients in each group. The observation group received periesophagogastric vascular ligation, while the control group received periesophagogastric devascularization. The curative effects of two different surgical methods in the two groups were compared. Results Vol-ume of bleeding during surgery, surgical time and other clinical indices in the observation group were all significantly smaller or shorter than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05);incidence of rebleeding and hepatic encephalopathy in the observation group were significantly lower than that in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); FPP in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Periesophagogastric vascular ligation helps effectively lower FPP induced by cirrhotic portal hypertension, reduce incidence of rebleeding, and lower postoperative mortality and incidence of complications.

Dopamine D₃ receptor (D₃R) is implicated in multiple psychotic symptoms. Increasing the D₃R selectivity over dopamine D₂ receptor (D₂R) would facilitate the antipsychotic treatments. Herein, novel carbazole and tetrahydro-carboline derivatives were reported as D₃R selective ligands. Through a structure-based virtual screen, ZLG-25 (D₃R K_i = 685 nmol/L; D₂R K_i > 10,000 nmol/L) was identified as a novel D₃R selective bitopic ligand with a carbazole scaffold. Scaffolds hopping led to the discovery of novel D₃R-selective analogs with tetrahydro-β-carboline or tetrahydro-γ-carboline core. Further functional studies showed that most derivatives acted as hD₃R-selective antagonists. Several lead compounds could dose-dependently inhibit the MK-801-induced hyperactivity. Additional investigation revealed that 23j and 36b could decrease the apomorphine-induced climbing without cataleptic reaction. Furthermore, 36b demonstrated unusual antidepressant-like activity in the forced swimming tests and the tail suspension tests, and alleviated the MK-801-induced disruption of novel object recognition in mice. Additionally, preliminary studies confirmed the favorable PK/PD profiles, no weight gain and limited serum prolactin levels in mice. These results revealed that 36b provided potential opportunities to new antipsychotic drugs with the multiple antipsychotic-like properties.