Objective To analyse MMACHC mutations for 45 pedigrees with combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocyctinuria by Sanger sequencing, and to discuss the utility of prenatal genetic diagnosis for these pedigrees.Method Peripheral blood was collected from 45 probands and their parents from 2012-2015 in Genetic Counselling Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, and the DNA were extracted from the blood.Then the coding sequence of MMACHC gene was amplified by PCR, and the PCR products were further sequenced to detect mutations for each pedigree.For 12 families, chorionic villus sampling was performed on the pregnant women to make prenatal genetic diagnosis.Result There were 14 distinct mutations detected in the 45 pedigrees, and the most frequent mutations are c.609G>A(W203X),c.658-660delAAG(K220del)and c.80A>G (Q27A).Two of those mutations have not been reported before:one is a splicing site mutation c.81+1G>A;while the other is a missense mutation c.665A>G,p.Y222C.Most mutations were found in exon 4.Among the 12 pedigrees who received prenatal diagnosis, 2 fetuses were normal, 7 fetuses were carriers of heterozygous mutation, and the other 3 fetuses were patients with compound heterozygous mutation or homozygous mutation.The couples whose fetuses were normal or carriers continued the gestation, while the couples whose fetuses were patients decided to terminate the pregnancy.After delivery, the outcome of the fetuses was the same as the prenatal diagnose results.Conclusion Two novel mutations of MMACHC were identified and prenatal genetic diagnosis helps to avoid the delivery of combined methylmalonic aciduria and homocyctinuria patients.

Objective To analyze the mutation of MUT with Sanger sequencing technology to explore the feasibility of its application in prenatal diagnosis.Methods MUT sequencing was performed in 24 pedigrees who had history of isolated methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) babies and came to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Newborn Screening Center of Maternal and Child Health Hospital of He'nan Province between October 2012 and June 2015 for genetic counseling.Meanwhile,another 100 cases of normal controls also had their MUT gene sequence analyzed.After confirming the genotype of each pedigree,we collected the villi of nine high-risk fetuses in nine pedigrees whose parents were prepared for prenatal diagnosis.Results Totally,25 kinds of MUT gene mutations were identified among the 24 isolated MMA pedigrees,in which 11 were novel mutations including one nonsense mutation [c.616C＞T(p.Q206X)],six missense mutations [c.613G＞A(p.E205K),c.894T＞G(p.1298N),c.1009T＞C(p.F337L),c.1154G＞T(p.L385W),c.1663G＞A(p.A555T) and c.1675G＞A(p.R559G) and four frame shift mutations [c.626-627insC(p.P209Pfs*2),c.755-756insA(p.H252Qfs*6),c.756-757insA(p.M253Nfs*5) and c.1581-1582insA(p.A528Ifs*4)].None of the above mutations was detected in the controls.Finally,among the nine pedigrees for prenatal diagnosis,two were determined to have normal MUT gene,four were found to be heterozygous mutation carriers of MUT gene and three were confirmed as complex heterozygous or homozygous mutation carriers.Families of fetus who had normal MUT gene or fetuses who were carriers chose to continue the pregnancy,while those who had heterozygous mutation of MUT gene chose termination.The results of follow-up of newborns were consistent with that of prenatal diagnosis.Conclusions We found two novel mutations in MUT gene that might lead to isolated MMA.And Sanger sequencing technology for MUT gene sequencing analysis might effectively avoid the birth of isolated MMA children.

Both sides of the picornavirus genome have 5'-untranslated region (5'UTR) and 3'- untranslated region (3'UTR). This study demontrated that both the 5'-and 3'-UTR can form complex structures, such as stem-loop, clover and pseudoknot structure, These structures play an important role in the regulaton of the replication and translation of the viruses. This article reviewed the progress of research on the structure and function of picornavirus' 3'-UTR over recent years.
3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Humans ; Nucleic Acid Conformation ; Picornaviridae ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Picornaviridae Infections ; virology ; RNA, Viral ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism

To study the chemical constituents of Periplocae Cortex, the separation and purification of 70% alcohol extract were carried out by column chromatographies on AB-8 macroporous resin, silica gel and preparative HPLC. The structure of the compounds were identified by NMR and TOF-MS. A new compound was isolated and identified as 21-O-methyl-Δ5-pregnene-3β, 14β, 17β, 21-tetraol-20-one-3-O-β-D-oleandropyranosyl(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl (1), named as periplocoside P.
Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Periploca ; chemistry ; Pregnenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Saponins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

Acremonium ; chemistry ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; classification ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Objective To explore effect of fetal lymphocyte on pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP).Methods Twenty pregnant women with ICP and 20 normal pregnant women were enrolled in the study.The single mixed lymphocyte culture/reaction(MLC/MLR)was conducted using inactive lymphocyte obtained from maternal peripheral blood and lymphocyte of cord blood from fetus.Antigen-induced-lymphocyte-proliferation-reaction was used for dermic soluble antigen and decidual soluble antigen obtained from maternal blood and cord blood from fetus.The intense of proliferation was calculated and compared between normal and ICP-complicated pregnancies.Results(1)The level of intense of proliferation of fetal lymphocyte was significantly increased in ICP group 2.75?0.36 than those of normal control group 1.45?0.19 in single mixed lymphocyte culture(P＜0.05).(2)The level of intense of proliferation of fetal lymphocyte was significantly increased in ICP group 1.45?0.19 than those of normal control group 0.67?0.24 in decidual soluble antigen induced lymphocyte proliferation reaction(P＜0.05). (3)The level of intense of proliferation of fetal lymphocyte was significantly increased in ICP group(1.22?0.44)than those of normal control group(0.66?0.27)in dermic soluble antigen induced lymphocyte proliferation reaction.Conclusions(1)The fetal lymphocyte may be one of the effector cells in pathogenesis of ICP.(2)The disturbance of fatal-maternal immune-tolerance is one of the important mechanisms underlying ICP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate the cytotoxic mechanism of cadmium (Cd) on cerebral cortical neurons.

METHODSThe primary cultures of rat cerebral cortical neurons were treated with different concentrations of cadmium acetate (0, 5, 10, and 20 micromol/L), and then the cell viability, apoptosis, ultrastructure, intracellular [Ca2+], and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi), activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured.

RESULTSA progressive loss in cell viability and an increased number of apoptotic cells were observed. In addition, Cd-induced apoptotic morphological changes in cerebral cortical neurons were also demonstrated by Hoechst 33258 staining. Meanwhile, ultrastructural changes were distortion of mitochondrial cristae and an unusual arrangement. Simultaneously, elevation of intracellular [Ca2+]i and ROS levels, depletion of Delta Psi were revealed in a dose-dependent manner during the exposure. Moreover, CAT and SOD activities in the living cells increased significantly.

CONCLUSIONExposure of cortical neurons to different doses of Cd led to cellular death, mediated by an apoptotic mechanism, and the apoptotic death induced by oxidative stress may be a potential reason. And the disorder of intracellular homeostasis caused by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction may be a trigger for apoptosis in cortical neurons.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the content and activity of M-phase promoting factor (MPF) in pleomorphic adenoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, buccal carcinoma and normal tissue, in order to evaluate the role of MPF in the development of tumor and the relationship between MPF and malignant degree.

METHODSThe content and activity of MPF were assessed by immunobloting and Gollicano method.

RESULTSThe cdc2 and cyclinB (two subunits of MPF) were found both in normal and tumor tissues, and their content in tumor was higher than normal tissues. Buccal carcinoma was 64% higher than normal tissues. The activity of MPF in carcinoma was higher than normal tissue and had positive relation with the malignant extent.

CONCLUSIONSThe content and activity of MPF in tumor are higher than normal tissue. PKC can activate MPF. These results show PKC may promote tumor proliferation by activating MPF and also, the activity of MPF has some relation with malignant extent.

CDC2 Protein Kinase ; analysis ; Cyclin B ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Maturation-Promoting Factor ; analysis ; Mouth ; chemistry ; Mouth Neoplasms ; chemistry ; Protein Kinase C ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the resuscitation promoting role of resuscitation promoting factor and the initial bacteria amount of dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

METHODSMycobacterium tuberculosis (dormant bacteria) was cultured for 100 days, then diluted into 1 mg/ml concentration with 7H9, and further diluted into 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.0625, and 0.03125 mg/ml. Twelve new tubes added with 5 ml 7H9 and divided into two groups: the first group was added with the resuscitation-promoting factor protein, and the second group as control was added with 7H9. In each group the above diluted solutions were added. The tubes were located at 37 degrees C for culture. Optical density (OD) was detected on day 15, 25, 30, and 35. From each tube 1 microl culture solution was plated on 7H11 medium for colony counting.

RESULTSOD detection showed that bacteria proliferation in each group had positive linear correlation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), indicating that the resuscitation-promoting factor played a similiar role in solutions with different dilution concentrations. 7H11 results and the OD results show that these two detection methods in each group had linear correlation (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), indicating that these two methods showed consistent test results.

CONCLUSIONThe resuscitation-promoting factor has no effect on the resuscitation of dormant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its initial bacteria amount.

Bacterial Proteins ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; physiology ; Resuscitation