OBJECTIVE: To assess the patterns of linkage disequilibrium (LD) of 16 STR loci on X chromo- some and investigate the genetic stability. METHODS: Genomic DNA samples extracted from blood stains from 500 unrelated individuals and 885 lineage members from Eastern Chinese Han population were genotyped through multiplex amplification using IDtyperX-16 kit by our independent research followed by capillary electrophoresis. LD was assessed by PowerMarker v3.25 software and mutation rate of every locus was analyzed. RESULTS: LD were not found at the 16 X-STR loci. Allele mutations were observed at 10 loci. Among them, mutation rates of DXS6809 and DXS7132 were both up to 0.0048. CONCLUSION When the 16 X-STR loci included in IDtyperX-16 kit were used for parentage testing, product princi- ples can be applied to calculate the likelihood, but mutation should be taken into consideration in the case that the genotypes do not meet the genetic law (especially at DXS6809 and DXS7132).
Alleles ; Asian People/genetics* ; Blood Stains ; China ; Chromosomes, Human, X/genetics* ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Female ; Forensic Genetics/methods* ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Loci/genetics* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium/genetics* ; Microsatellite Repeats/genetics* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Mutation ; Mutation Rate

We isolated 61 endophyte isolates from the bark of 4 plants, Ginkgo biloba L, Albizzia julibrissin Durazz, Ailanthus sltissima (Mill) Swingle and Melia azedarach L. At the test concentration of 200 ?g/mL, higher than 50% of antitumor activities were demonstrated with crude extracts from 45.9% of fungal culture in MTT assay. Six isolates, YX5, YX17, YX36, KL1, CC1 and CC5, still showed higher cytotoxicity at 50 ?g/mL. No isolates from A. julibrissin had inhibitory effect towards EC109 at the test concentration of 50 ?g/mL; while about 15.8% of isolates from G. biloba were active. IC50 of the extract from the most active isolate YX5 against EC109, HONE1 and HeLa were 18.3 ?g/mL, 3.6 ?g/mL and 6.5 ?g/mL, respectively. Our results indicate that endophytes from G. biloba could be regarded as a potent source of antitumor drugs.

Objective To elucidate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of human metapneumovirus(hMPV)in hospital- ized children with respiratory infection.Methods A total of 452 hospitalized children with lower respiratory tract infection were observed from Aug 2004 to Jan 2005.Respiratory tract aspirates were collected from all patients within 48 hours after admis sion.The specimens were routinely tested for respiratory syncytial virus,influenza virus A and B,parainfluenza virus 1 to 3 and adenovirus by direct fluorescent assay(DFA).The 245 specimens negative by DFA were tested for hMPV by RT-PCR. PCR products of hMPV M gene from some patients were randomly selected for sequencing analysis.Results hMPV was identi- fied in 59(24.1%)of the 245 specimens tested,hMPV infection alone accounted for 13.1% of the infections in the 452 chil- dren under study,The prevalence of hMPV was higher than other respiratory viruses in winter.The mean age of hMPV-infec- ted children(n=59)was 27.7 months.There was no significant difference between age groups in terms of the prevalence of hMPV(P＞0.05).There were no statistically significant difference in demographics and clinical symptoms between hMPV in- fection and other common respiratory virus infection.Genotyping for the hMPV M gene from 23 Shanghai patients showed two distinct hMPV genotypes.Sequence analysis of these hMPV M genes showed 82.8%-100% homology to the registered se- quence in GenBank.There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics between the 2 genotypes.Conclusions hMPV plays an important pathogenic role in lower respiratory tract infection of children,hMPV prevailed in the winter of 2004.Clini- cally,hMPV infection can not be discriminated from the infection of other respiratory viruses.Clinical manifestation is similar between the two hMPV genotypes.

Melanoblasts, the precursors to melanocytes, originate in the neural crest. Some melanoblasts can travel to the hair follicle and further differentiate into pigment melanin-producing melanocytes. Hair follicles contain a pool of undifferentiated melanocyte stem cells (MSCs), which are sources of differentiated melanocytes, and functional melanocytes exhist in the hair bulb. The volume, life, and activity of melanocytes in a hair follicle is closely related with the growth cycle of follicle. Appearance of gray hair gray results from incomplete MSCs maintenance.
Aging ; physiology ; Cell Differentiation ; Hair Follicle ; cytology ; physiology ; Humans ; Melanocytes ; physiology ; Stem Cells ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism of learning and memory dysfuction in the transgenic mouse expressing human tau 40 isoform with P301L mutation (F10).

METHODSThe human tau protein expression and phosphor-tau protein levels were detected with Western blot method. The neurofibrillary tangles were observed with Bielshowsky silver stain. The behavior changes of learning and memory were observed by open field test and passive avoidance test. Acetyleholine level, activities of acetycholinesterase and choline acetyltransferase of whole brain was detected by colorimetry method. The nitric oxide level of whole brain was detected by nitrate enzyme reduction method.

RESULTSExogenous human tau gene was expressed and an elevation of phosphor-tau protein level in 7 and 3-month transgenic mice's hippocampus andcerebrocortex was observed. The neurofibrillary tangles were observed in cerebrocortex of 7-month transgenic mice; the 7-month transgenic mice also presented an evident reduction of learning and memory ability and nitric oxide level of the whole brain, but not changes in acetylcholine level, acetycholinesterase activity, choline acetyltransferase activity and expression in whole brain.

CONCLUSIONTau transgenic mice (F10) can still inherit their parents' biologiccal characters, and develop learning and memory dysfunction awnodh san obvious decrease in nitric oxide level of whole brain in the 7-month old mice, suggesting a decrease of nitric oxide level of whole brain would be involved in the mechanism of learning and memory dysfunction in these transgenic mice.

Acetylcholine ; metabolism ; Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Animals ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Choline O-Acetyltransferase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Memory Disorders ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Mutation ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism

Shikonin, the main active ingredient of Lithospermum, and its derivatives have been proved to have antitumor effects, and the anti-tumor mechanisms involve multiple targets. Based on recent literatures, this review focuses on the antitumor effects and its mechanisms. More emphases are given on the aspects of induction of apoptosis, induction of necrosis, acting on matrix metalloproteinase, acting on the protein tyrosine kinase and antiangiogenesis. The current status and problems of shikonin derivatives in antitumor effects are simply summarized and lookout for the development of antitumor drugs with shikonin as leading compounds.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lithospermum ; chemistry ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Naphthoquinones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Necrosis ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; prevention & control ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Stress cardiomyopathy is an atypical myocardial disease induced by emotional or physical stress, with the characteristic of left ventricular systolic dysfunction, transient imaging and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes. Sudden cardiac death can occur in severe cases. Clinical symptoms are likely to appear on acute myocardial infarction, but the exact pathological mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we perform a systematic review of the literature on the clinical manifestations, epidemiological characteristics, ECG, imaging and laboratory tests of stress cardiomyopathy, in order to provide the values for forensic pathology diagnosis.
Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Diagnostic Imaging ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction ; Stress, Psychological ; Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy/physiopathology*

Aim To evaluate the effects of salvianolic acid B ( Sal B ) on bone metabolism and its potential mechanism in high fat diet ( HFD) mice.Methods Thirty C57BL/6J male mice were divided into three groups with 10 mice each, namely normal , HFD and HFD+Sal B.HFD and HFD+Sal B mice were treated with HFD, and HFD+Sal B group mice were also with Sal B (125 mg· kg -1· d-1).After 12 weeks' treat-ment, femurs were harvested .The effects of Sal B on biomechanical strength were evaluated by biomechani-cal tests, and the effects of Sal B on bone microstruc-ture were evaluated by Safranin O/fast green staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining .The expression of nuclear factor-kappa B ( NF-κB)-p65 and NADPH ox-idase 4 ( Nox4 ) and cathepsin K in femurs was deter-mined by immunohistochemical staining . Results Maximum load and elastic load significantly decreased ,and the trabeculae became thinner and irregular in the femurs of HFD mice , while Sal B treatment could re-verse the descending biomechanical strength and the disorganized femurs bone micro-structures in HFD mice.In addition, the expressions of Nox4, NF-κB-p65 and cathepsin Kmarkedly increased in HFD mice , and Sal B possessed the ability to down-regulate the ex-pression of Nox4, NF-κB-p65, and cathepsin K in the femurs triggered by HFD .Conclusions Sal B treat-ment improves bone metabolism via regulating Nox 4/NF-κB/cathepsin K signaling pathway in HFD mice . The findings contribute to the understanding and exten-sion of the applications of Salvia miltiorrhiza and its constituents on osteoporosis .

OBJECTIVETo develop a rapid, sensitive and specific method in identifying and typing on adenovirus from clinical specimens.

METHODSPrimers were designed using hexon gene of adenovirus as target. One primer pair was designed as universal primers for amplifying a 1278 bp gene fragment located at the hexon gene of adenovirus from all types. Four primer pairs located within the region of this 1278 bp were specifically designed for amplifying types 3, 7, 11 and 21 of adenoviruses, which were used for multiplex nest-PCR in a single tube. The products from this multiplex nest-PCR were 502 bp (for type 3), 311 bp (for type 7), 880 bp (for type 11) and 237 bp (for type 21), respectively. Type of the adenovirus tested could then be determined after agarose electrophoresis analysis of the PCR products.

RESULTSPCR products with predicted sizes were visualized in the agarose gel for prototype strains of adenovirus types 3, 7, 11 and 21, but not for other respiratory viruses, indicating that the technique was specific without cross reaction with other viruses. Out of the 118 clinical specimens which had been proved to be adenovirus positive by tissue culture and/or immunofluerescence assay, 76 belonged to adenovirus type 3 (76/118, 64.4%), 37 to adenovirus type 7 (37/118, 31.4%), 3 to adenovirus type 11 (3/118, 2.5%) but no adenovirus type 21 was detected. Two of the 118 positive specimens which were positive by both tissue culture and immunofluerescence could not be identified, suggesting that these 2 strains (1.7%) were with the types other than types 3, 7, 11 and 21. Out of the 33 specimens which were negative by both tissue culture and immunofluerescence, 3 showed positive by this multiplex PCR (2 of type 3 and 1 of type 7), suggesting this method was more sensitive than tissue culture and immunofluerescence.

CONCLUSIONThis multiplex nest-PCR method had the benefit of rapid,sensitive and specific nature so could be used for identifying types of adenoviruses in the clinical specimens.

Adenoviridae ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Adenovirus Infections, Human ; virology ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

OBJECTIVETo understand the relationship between human rhinovirus (HRV) and acute respiratory infections in infants and young children in Beijing.

METHODSThroat swab/nasopharyngeal aspirates were collected from 3292 infants and young children with acute respiratory tract infections in Beijing from November 2002 to November 2006. Primers derived from the highly conserved 5'-noncoding region of human rhinovirus were used to detect HRV from clinical specimens by nested RT-PCR for which the sensitivity and specificity had been determined previously.

RESULTSOut of these 3292 specimens, 507 were (15.4%, 507/3292) HRV positive with RT-PCR method. HRV were detected from 220 out of 1315 outpatients and 287 out of 1977 inpatients with positive rates as 16.7% and 14.5% respectively. HRV was detected from 50.0% (8/16) of the patients with pharyngitis. Among 280 specimens collected from patients with acute bronchitis, 43 (15.4%) were HRV positive, including 14 from 80 patients with wheezy bronchitis (17.5%). High positive rates were also found in specimens from patients with pneumonia (12.6%, 150/1189), bronchiolitis (16.0%, 42/262) and asthma (12.8%, 10/78). In 53 patients with initial diagnosis as hematic disease or other complicate respiratory infections, 14 were HRV (26.4%, 14/53) positive. As for the seasonal distribution, HRV were detected in most of the months during thie period of research. The highest positive rate of HRV in each year fell in September (32.6%), February (24.2%) of 2004, February of 2005 (35.3%) and March (31.3%) from 2003 to 2006, respectively. Among these HRV positive patients, 44.8% were under 1 year of age (227/507), 15.4% (78/507) were 1 to 2 years old and 12.4% (63/507) were 2 to 3 years old.

CONCLUSIONHRV was associated with acute upper respiratory infections and lower respiratory infections including bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchiolitis in pediatric patients. Patients with lower immunity such as those with hematic diseases, were more susceptible to be infected by HRV. HRV could be detected in all age groups in this study, but the positive rates were decreasing with the increase of patients' age. Infants under 1 year of age seemed to be more likely to get HRV infection.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Picornaviridae Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; epidemiology ; virology ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rhinovirus ; classification ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Seasons