OBJECTIVETo investigate genetic polymorphisms of 12 X chromosome short tandem repeat (X-STR) loci in ethnic Hebei Han population using an Investigator Argus X-12 amplification kit.

METHODSDNA was extracted for 198 unrelated individuals (96 males and 102 females) and amplified with a fluorescence labeled multiplex PCR system. PCR products were separated and genotyped with capillary array electrophoresis.

RESULTSOnly DXS10103 and DXS10101 showed significant linkage disequilibrium at the 12 X-STR loci. One hundred and forty-eight alleles, including 22 off-ladder (OL) alleles, were observed at the 12 X-STR loci in the population. The heterozygosity and polymorphic information content (PIC) were 0.5074-0.9143 and 0.4377-0.9079, respectively. The power of discrimination (PD) was 0.5074-0.9143 in males and 0.6876-0.9863 in females. The mean exclusion chance was 0.4377-0.9079 in the trios cases and 0.2984-0.8373 in the duo cases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe Investigator Argus X12 amplification system is highly polymorphic in ethnic Han population from Hebei and is useful for personal identification and paternity testing.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; ethnology ; genetics ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, X ; genetics ; Female ; Genetics, Population ; Humans ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of rosiglitazone on the content of cholesterol and expressions of Acy-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 1 (ACAT-1) and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) in RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells and explore the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of rosiglitazone.

METHODSRAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL) or with both ox-LDL and rosiglitazone (5, 10, or 20 µmol/L). Oil red O staining was used to observe the formation of foam cells, and cholesterol oxidase was used to determine the content of cellular cholesterol contents. Western blotting was used observe the expressions of ACAT-1 and SR-BI in RAW264.7 foam cells.

RESULTSCompared with the control cells, RAW264.7 macrophage-derived foam cells showed significantly increased contents of total cholesterol and free cholesterol (P<0.01) and ACAT-1 expressions (P<0.05) with mildly increased SR-BI expression (P>0.05). Rosiglitazone treatments significantly lowered the contents of total cholesterol and free cholesterol (P<0.05), decreased the expression of ACAT-1 (P<0.05), and increased SR-BI expression (P<0.05) in the foam cells in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONRosiglitazone can decrease the contents of total and free cholesterol, down-regulate ACAT-1 expression and up-regulate SR-BI expression in the foam cells produce the anti-atherosclerotic effect.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Cholesterol ; metabolism ; Foam Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Scavenger Receptors, Class B ; metabolism ; Thiazolidinediones ; pharmacology