Objective To explore the application value of anhydrous ethanol as an alternative to methanol in the preparation of chromosomal specimens from peripheral blood lymphocytes, and to establish a set of quantitative analytical methods for objectively evaluating the effectiveness of specimen preparation. Methods Residual blood samples from routine laboratory slide preparation were used for lymphocyte culture. The standard slide preparation method was employed. The fixative in the control group was methanol and glacial acetic acid (3∶1). Four experimental groups were set up based on the ratio of anhydrous ethanol to glacial acetic acid in the fixative (volume ratios of 3∶1, 5∶1, 7∶1, and 9∶1 for experimental groups 1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively). A chromosomal analysis was conducted using an automated chromosome scanning/image analysis system to evaluate the morphology and dispersion of metaphase chromosomes in both control and experimental groups. Comparisons were made between the control and experimental groups regarding the dic + r aberration rate, ace aberration rate, chromosomal aberration rate, chromosome dispersion index, chromosome overlapping ratio, and dispersion index/overlapping ratio. Results Microscopic evaluation revealed that the preparation quality of experimental groups 1 and 2 was comparable to the control group. No statistically significant differences were observed in dic + r aberration rate between each of the experimental groups and the control (P > 0.05). All experimental groups except group 4 showed no significant differences in ace aberration rate and chromosome aberration rate compared with the control group (P > 0.05). Experimental groups 1 and 2 showed no significant differences in chromosome dispersion index, overlapping ratio, and dispersion index/overlapping ratio compared with the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion A mixture of anhydrous ethanol and glacial acetic acid at a 5∶1 ratio is recommended for use as a fixative in the preparation of chromosomal specimens from peripheral blood lymphocytes. A quantitative index system for assessing the quality of chromosomal specimens was established, enabling objective evaluation of slide preparation effectiveness.

Objective To report two cases of Nagashima-type palmoplantar keratoderma(NPPK), and to identify mutations in the SERPINB7 gene. Methods Clinical data were collected from two patients with NPPK and their parents, and peripheral blood samples were obtained from the two patients, their parents and 200 unrelated healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from these blood samples. PCR was performed to amplify 8 exons and their flanking sequences of the SERPINB7 gene followed by DNA sequencing. Results A homozygous mutation (c.796C > T), which led to the formation of a premature termination codon at amino acid position 266 (p.R266*), was identified in both of the two patients. However, the patients′ healthy parents were heterozygous carriers of the mutation(c.796C > T). No mutation was found in the unrelated healthy controls. Conclusion The mutation c.796C > T in the SERPINB7 gene may be responsible for NPPK in the two patients.

Background Corneal biomechanical properties is important in the safety assessment of corneal refractive surgery.Corvis is a new device for measuring corneal biomechanics properties.Objective This study was to observe the correlation among corneal thickness, Corvis intraocular pressure and corneal biomechanical properties with Corvis.Methods A prospective observational study was performed.One hundred and fifty eyes of 75 patients with corneal thickness from 501 μm to 590 μm were divided into three groups according to the corneal thickness:low corneal thickness group (corneal thickness range from 501 μm to 530 μm), middle corneal thickness group (corneal thickness range from 531 μm to 560 μm) ,and high corneal thickness group (corneal thickness range from 561 μm to 590 μm);and 50 eyes of 25 patients for each group.The difference of intraocular pressure, corneal thickness and deformation amplitude (DA) among the three groups were analyzed by one-way ANOVA and the correlation among the groups were analyzed by liner regression.Results The DA in the low corneal thickness group and middle corneal thickness group were significantly higher than that in the high corneal thickness group (P ＜ 0.05).The intraocular pressure was statistically different among the 3 groups (F =9.98, P＜0.05).DA was negatively correlated with intraocular pressure and corneal thickness (r=-0.84,-0.33;both at P＜0.01), with the linear regression DA =1.69-0.04×IOP (F=366.19, t=-19.14,P＜0.01).Conclusions Corneal thickness cannot simply represent the corneal biomechanical properties in the safety assessment of corneal refractive surgery,IOP should be considered.

Objective To determine whether macrophages can behave as antigen presenting cells participating the formation of immunological synapse in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and whether this process can affect the apoptosis. Moreover, this study was aimed to observe the function of cyclophilin A (CypA) in immunological synapse formation and its role in regulating the apoptosis of macrophages. Methods human acute monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1) induced macrophages were coated with staphylococcal enterotoxin B(SEB) (100 ng/ml) and co-cultured with activated Jurkat T cells (human acute T-cell leukemia cell line), then incubated in the RPMI-1640 for 16 hours to induce apoptosis. The apoptosis of the macrophages were analyzed by flow cytometry by Annexin V-PI staining. The macrophages cultured in the RPMI-1640 alone were used as control. Meanwhile, CypA (200 ng/ml) were added to or not added in order to observe the apoptosis of macrophages. The function of CypA and the apoptosis of macrophages isolated from RA peripheral blood were also investigated through co-culture with CD4+T cells isolated by immunomagnetic beads. Comparisons between groups were performed by two-sample t-tests. Results In the peripheral blood of healthy people and RA patients, the apoptosis of macrophages which participated immunological synapse was (32.9±2.8)%, (24.7±1.6)%, (14.5±1.2)% respectively, which was significantly lower than the apoptosis of macrophages cultured alone [ respectively for (61.4±2.4)%, (45.5±2.6)%, (22.9±1.5)%, (P<0.05) ]. After CypA was added, the apoptosis of macrophages in cell lines, healthy people and RA patients decreased to (27.2±2.1)%, (20.1±1.1)%, (12.9±1.0)%, lower than the apoptosis of macrophages which participated immunological synapse formation (P<0.05). Conclusion In RA, the macrophages participate in the formation of immunological synapse by interacting with CD4+ T cells. They can significantly reduce the apoptosis on themselves. CypA can enhance this effect. These results provide a new theoretical foundation for prolonged survival of macrophages in RA, which can secrete a variety of cytokines to enhance inflammation and joint destruction.

Objective To study the effects of serum on anticancer activity of DHA and its antitumor mechanism. Method The growth inhibition of DHA on lung cancer A549 cells,and the effect of DHA on serum-induced protein kinase B(Akt)activation were assessed by MTT and Western blot respectively. Results DHA markedly induced growth inhibition of A549 cells in low concentration of serum,but promoted growth of A549 cells in high concentration of serum. DHA significantly blocked serum-induced activation of Akt in serum-free medium. Conclusion Serum is obviously against DHA-mediated growth inhibition of A549 cells,and DHA inhibits activation of Akt by lipid peroxidation and blocks growth of A549 cells.