Eukaryotic DNA element called Matrix Attachment Regions (MARs) can function on regulating the structure and activity of chromosome. Traditional quantitation in vitro and indirect functional analysis can not always reflect MAR-involved physiological state. In order to study transcription regulation and make a try in methodism,? 1-antitrypsin MAR (?1-AT MAR) is cloned and incorporated into pEGFP-C1 vector. Non-MAR-containing and MAR-containing plasmids were then transfected into HEK-293 cells with LipofectamineTM 2000 respectively. Positive cell clones were assayed after 20 days of selection by G418. Semiquantitative RT-PCR and fluorescence microscope analysis show that this MAR has a positive effect on modulating nearby gene expression. Further, co-localization with newly CMV promoter and RNA polymeraseⅡ(RNAPⅡ) was detected by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), The PCR result demonstrates that more RNAPⅡwas recruited to the CMV promoter to initiate transcription in presence of MAR. ChIP can be used to confirm the MAR-mediated transcriptional activation and provide more reliable information than RT-PCR in real time. The technology is also providing a platform for our research in gene expression regulation.

A total of 104 marine bacterial strains were isolated from Stelletta tennui around Sanya area of South China Sea by dilution-plate method and were screened for anti-microbial activity on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureu, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Pacecilomyces variotii by agar diffusion, paper disc diffusion assay and cell concentration counts methods. It was found that 23 strains, which are 22.2% of the total isolated strains, have anti-microbial activities. Among the 23 strains, A05, A08, A72 and A75 were morphologically, physiologically and biochemically characterized and identified to be the genus Bacillus. At the same time, it was proved that there are positive and negative synergistic effects between or among active strains, e.g., as for A72-75 combination, an obvious enhanced anti-microbial activities on inhibiting Candida albicans and Pseudomomas fluorescens growth was observed than A72 or A75.

Research on post-marketing Chinese medicine should be the systematic study from application to mechanism. Clinical evaluation is the basis of mechanism study, we can find the clue from clinical evaluation, then make a mechanism study to find the reason, then apply the results to clinic. So it is a virtuous circle. In order to achieve it, we cannot be limited to traditional Chinese medicine, we should form multi-disciplinary team under the direction of grand science thinking, try hard to put industry-university-research institute collaboration association to use, and if necessary, explore the new model of the whole nation system. An appropriate operation mechanism is very important.
Biomedical Research ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Atherosclerosis ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Biomarkers ; Humans ; Proteomics

Objective To characterize the systolic torsion in dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) by velocity vector imaging(VVI).Methods Eighty-seven subjects were studied using VVI:27 patients with DCM and 60 healthy control subjects.Left ventricular short-axis acoustic images were acquired at base and apex levels.The rotation angle and rotation velocity of endocardium and epicardium were measured.Results LVEF of DCM group was significantly lower than that of control group ( P＜0.01).The basal and apical rotation angle, rotation velocity were significantly lower in DCM group.The endocardial and epicardial rotation angle, rotation velocity were also significantly lower in DCM group than those in control group (P＜0.01).Conclusions VVI is a rapid and noninvasive tool to quantitatively assess cardiac torsional deformation in DCM patients,which providing another useful modality for evaluating cardiac function.

Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Dermatitis Herpetiformis ; complications ; Esophageal Diseases ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; pathology

Child ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; diagnosis ; Myocarditis ; diagnosis ; virology

OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate prostate health index (PHI) in predicting the results of prostate biopsy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

METHODSWe retrieved the literature relevant to the value of PHI in predicting prostate cancer at prostate biopsy published from the inception to February 2014 in the databanks of PubMed (1966 - 2014), CNKI (1982 - 2014), VIP (1989 - 2014), and Cochrane Library (1999 - 2014). According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria and retrieval strategies, we extracted the data, evaluated the quality of the included literature, and performed meta-analysis using the Meta-Disc 1.4 software.

RESULTSTotally, 64 articles were identified, of which 52 were excluded and 12 included with 1 430 cases of prostate cancer and 2 159 normal or BPH controls. There was heterogeneity among the included studies. Based on the random effect model, in predicting the results of prostate biopsy in the diagnosis of prostate cancer, serum PHI exhibited a pooled sensitivity of 55.1% (95% CI: 0.525 - 0.577), a pooled specificity of 71.5% (95% CI: 0.695 - 0.734), a positive likelihood ratio (P-LR) of 2.379 (95% CI: 1.922 - 2.943), a negative likelihood ratio (N-LR) of 0.515 (95% CI: 0.428 - 0.619), a diagnosis odds ratio (DOR) of 5.268 (95% CI: 3.870 - 7.170), a summary receiver operating characteristic curve--area under the curve (SROC AUC) of 0.7578, and a Q * index of 0.6999.

CONCLUSIONSerum PHI plays a role of auxiliary diagnosis in detecting prostate cancer and can be used in the prediction of the results of prostate biopsy.

Aged ; Biopsy, Needle ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology

Objective To explore the importance of gene diagnosis and prenatal diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy(SMA),and improve the clinical diagnosis of SMA by analyzing the electrophysiological and gene characteristics of SMA.Methods Fifteen cases with SMA including 9 male and 6 female were enrolled in this study.The age was 5 months to 12 years.The 15 cases were subdivided into 3 clinical types,5 cases of type Ⅰ including 3 male and 2 female aging 5-18 months;7 cases of type Ⅱ including 4 males and 3 females aging 5 months-3 years;3 cases of type Ⅲ including 2 male and 1 female aging 3-12 years.They were all characterized by symmetric muscle weakness(more proximal than distal)associated with atrophy,absence or marked decrease of deep tendon reflexes,loss of voluntary movement and inability to sit or stand.The clinical characteristics and changes of electromyography(EMG)and nerve conduction velocity were assessed in all cases by using Danish Medoc Keypoint myoelectricity and evoked potentials inducer.The survival of motor neuron(SMN)gene was detected by PCR and restriction endonuclease spectrum analysis in 10 cases.Results EMG analysis found 94% patients had spontaneous potential,90% patients had increased duration of motor unit,and amplitude increased in 89% patients.Motor nerve conduction velocity was determined in 78 nerves.Motor nerve compound action potential wave amplitude decreased in 52 nerves,among them,distal latent period prolonged and motor conduction velocity reduced slightly in 36 nerves.Sensory nerve conduction velocity was determined in 45 nerves and remained normal.The SMN gene detection revealed deletion of exon 7 and 8 in 9 cases,deletion exon 7 in 1 case.The SMN gene detection in 10 patients and their parents didn't find any deletion of exon 7 and 8.Conclusions The definite diagnosis of SMA will rely on the typical clinical characteristics,changes of EMG and gene deletion analysis.Gene diagnosis of SMA lays a basis for prenatal diagnosis.