OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of polymorphisms in the apolipoprotein B gene (APOB) 3'variable number of tandem repeat with natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uighur nationality people.

METHODSTotally 191 healthy individuals over 90 years and 53 individuals aged 65-70 years were recruited among Xinjiang Uighur population, the nationality, gender and living area were matched. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer(PCR-SSP) and PCR-sequencing.

RESULTSFourteen alleles were found in the Xinjiang Uighur nationality population. The frequency of HVE36 and HVE42 in the natural longevity group were significantly higher than that in the control group (both P<0.05) and HVE44, HVE46, HVE48 and HVE58 were only found in the natural longevity group. However, the frequency of HVE26, HVE30 and HVE34 were markedly lower in the natural longevity group compared to the control group. Logistic regression analyses revealed that allele L and the genotypes LL were positively associated with age, whereas the allele S and genotype SS were negatively associated with age (both P<0.05). Each allele consists of 15 bp tandem repeats with rich-AT by PCR-sequencing.

CONCLUSIONThese results indicate that the S allele, and SS genotype are frail factors in China Uighur natural longevity people, whereas allele L and genotypes LL are protective factors.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apolipoproteins B ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Longevity ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Minisatellite Repeats ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution of polymorphisms of apolipoprotein E(apoE) gene and its relation to natural longevity in the Xinjiang Uighur people.

METHODSUsing polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP), the authors obtained data from centenarians(n=42), 90-year-old people (n=102), 65-70-year-old people (n=70) and controls(n=53).

RESULTSThe frequencies of apoE genotypes epsilon 3/4, epsilon 3/3 and epsilon 2/3 were 2.4%, 69.0% and 23.8% respectively in the centenarian group, and the frequencies of their epsilon 4, epsilon 3 and epsilon 2 alleles were 1.2%, 82.1% and 16.7%. The frequencies of genotype epsilon 3/4 and epsilon 4, epsilon 3 allele in the centenarian group were significantly lower than those in controls(P< 0.01), whereas the frequencies of genotype epsilon 2/3 and epsilon 2 allele in the centenarian group were significantly higher than those in controls(P< 0.01). Longevity was noted to be positively correlated with epsilon 2 and negatively correlated with epsilon 4.

CONCLUSIONThis relationship reflects a genetic influence on differential survival and may point to pleiotropic age-dependent effects on longevity.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apolipoproteins E ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Longevity ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length

BACKGROUNDHuman epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) has been proved to be a promising novel biomarker for the detection of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Compared with CA125, HE4 assay demonstrated an improved ability to discriminate between pelvic mass with malignant and benign disease. Though it is well known that HE4 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer, however, the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer remains unkown.

METHODSIn this study, we explored the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer. We screened nine ovarian cancer cell lines for HE4 expression, and using RNA interference (RNAi), we silenced HE4 gene expression in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 ovarian cancer cell lines. We assessed the effect of HE4 gene silencing on the transformed phenotype by examining the cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation and transwell migration/invasion in vitro.

RESULTSHE4 gene silencing induces G0/G1 arrest and blocks the progression from the G1 to S phase in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 cells. HE4 knockdown also inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in SKOV3.ip1 cells in vitro.

CONCLUSIONHE4 may be involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and promote ovarian cancer migration and invasion.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Progression ; Epididymal Secretory Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Gene Silencing ; physiology ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; RNA Interference

OBJECTIVETo discuss the role of calcium-overloading in initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF).

METHODSThe right atrial appendages were obtained from 14 patients with AF and 12 patients with sinus rhythm. The mRNA expression of proteins influencing the calcium homeostasis was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and normalized to the mRNA level of glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate dehydrogenase. The left atrial diameter (LAD), mitral valvular area (MVOA), and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure were obtained by echocardiography before surgery.

RESULTSCompared to sinus rhythm group, the mRNA levels of L-type calcium channel alc, sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), calcium adenosine triphosphatase (Ca2+ -ATPase), and ryanodine receptor type-2 (R(Y) R2) were significantly decreased (P < 0.01); the mRNA level of inositol triphosphate receptor type-1 (IP3R1) was significantly increased (P < 0.05). No changes in the mRNA expression of phospholamban and calsequestrin were observed between two groups (P > 0.05). Correlations were found between MVOA and mRNA levels of LVDC-Calc, SR Ca2+ -ATPase (r = 0.719, P = 0.004; r = 0.625, P = 0.017). The mRNA level of SR Ca2+ -ATPase was negatively correlated with LAD (r = -0.573, P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONSCalcium loading may be responsible for the occurrence and maintenance of AF, and abnormal regulation in the mRNA expression may be the molecular mechanism of intracellular Ca2+ overload. The progressive nature of AF involves structural change.

Arrhythmia, Sinus ; metabolism ; Atrial Fibrillation ; metabolism ; pathology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Calcium Channels ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Calcium-Transporting ATPases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Chronic Disease ; Heart Atria ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; pathology ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the insertion/deletion(I/D) polymorphism in the angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) gene is associated with essential hypertension in Xinjiang Kazakh isolated population.

METHODSThe study covered 201 hypertensives and 151 normotensive controls in Xinjiang Barlikun Kazakh population. The I/D polymorphism of ACE gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTSThe frequencies of D and I in the hypertensive group (0.44 and 0.56, respectively) were not significantly different from the controls(0.39 and 0.61, respectively, P=0.16). The frequencies of ACE genotypes of DD, ID, and II were 0.18, 0.52, 0.30 in hypertensives respectively and 0.17, 0.43, 0.40 in control group respectively. There was no significant difference in genotypes between hypertensive group and normotensive group (P=0.14).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested that the I/D polymorphism of ACE gene might not be associated with hypertension in the Kazakh population of Xinjiang Barlikun area.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Blood Pressure ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; INDEL Mutation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Population Groups

OBJECTIVETo study the potential risk factors of human infecting with Streptococcus suis.

METHODS1: M matched case-control study was conducted. 29 human cases of Streptococcus suis infection in the early phase were included in the case group, Patients' family members, neighbors and peoples who had worked together with patients to handle deceased or sick pigs in the last week were recruited as matched controls. There were 147 controls in total. Both cases and controls received questionnaire investigation including the ways to contact sick/dead pigs. Conditional logistic regression was employed to analyze matching data.

RESULTSAccording to the results of multivariate analysis, slaughtering (OR = 11.978, 95% CI: 3.355-42.756), carcasses cutting and processing (OR = 3.008, 95% CI: 1.022-8.849) sick/dead pigs were associated with cases related to human Streptococcus suis infection. The attributable risk proportion were 91.65% and 66.76% respectively. The other types of exposures to sick/ dead pigs, including feeding, selling, burying and eating, were not associated with the human Streptococcus suis infection in our study population.

CONCLUSIONSlaughtering, carcasses cutting and processing sick/dead pigs were important risky behavior for humans to be infected by Streptococcus suis.

Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; statistics & numerical data ; Risk Factors ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; etiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcus suis ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo describe the clinical and epidemiological features of dead cases with human Streptococcus suis infections, and to find the target population for preventing death and the related indicators.

METHODSEpidemiological investigation on human Streptococcus suis infections was implemented used unified questionnaires. Analysis on dead cases and survival cases (as contrast) was done.

RESULTSThe population with highest fatality rate was in 40-49 age group. 97.37% of dead cases had toxic shock syndrome. The mean interval from onset to admission was 0.76 days, and the mean course was 2.11 days. The progression among dead cases was faster than that among survival cases. Chief clinical manifestations of dead cases that are more frequent than survival cases are purpura (73.68%), diarrhea (50.0%), dyspnea (21.05%), conjunctival congestion (34.21%), etc. Renal impairment and liver involvement in dead cases were more significant than that in survival cases. No significant difference between mean incubation period, exposure rates of main risk factors in dead cases and in survival cases was found.

CONCLUSIONPreventing toxic shock syndrome might reduce the fatality rate. The target population for preventing death is aged > or = 40. Liver function and renal function testing might be indicators for monitoring the progression of human Streptococcus suis infections.

Adult ; Aged ; China ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Streptococcal Infections ; blood ; microbiology ; mortality ; pathology ; Streptococcus suis ; physiology ; Young Adult

Pituitary adenomas (PAs) are well known as a common intracranial benign tumor, and a portion of PAs are refractory to current therapeutic methods. ErbB receptors family signaling pathway regulates the expression of PAs activation associated gene. Inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) can inhibit proliferation of PAs. Leucine-rich repeats and immunoglobulin-like domains protein 1 ( LRIG1), a negative mediated gene of ErbB receptors family, plays a role in many tumors. However, there are seldom researches about the functional role of LRIG1 in PAs. The aim of this study is to explore the potential effect of LRIG1 and its regulating mechanism in PAs. First, we investigated the role of LRIG1 in cell migration, invasion of PAs with transfected LRIG1 or control. Then, we explored its impact on cell proliferation and apoptosis of PAs in vivo. To study the regulating mechanism of LRIG1, we examined the expression of molecular factor of PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/ERK pathway using Western blotting in vitro and RT-PCR in vitro and in vivo. It was found that LRIG1 over-expression inhibited cell migration, invasion and proliferation, and promoted apoptosis of PAs in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, LRIG1 suppressed the expression of signaling of PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/ERK pathways in PAs. LRIG1, as a negative mediated gene of tumor, can inhibit biological function of PAs via inhibiting PI3K/AKT and Ras/Raf/ERK pathways, and it might be a new target for gene therapy of PAs.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; genetics ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Mice ; Oncogene Protein v-akt ; biosynthesis ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; genetics ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; raf Kinases ; biosynthesis ; genetics