OBJECTIVETo study genetic polymorphisms of the KIR2DS4 gene among ethnic Hans from southern China.

METHODSGenomic DNA was isolated from 306 unrelated individuals and amplified with KIR2DS4-specific PCR primers. KIR2DS4-positive samples were genotyped for the entire coding sequence by sequencing-based typing (SBT). Assignment of allelic genotypes was accomplished by using Assign 3.5 software. For samples with inconclusive SBT results, RT-PCR products covering the entire coding sequence of the KIR2DS4 gene were subjected to cloning and haplotype sequencing.

RESULTSAmong all tested samples, 297 were demonstrated to have carried the KIR2DS4 framework gene. For KIR2DS4-positive samples subjected to SBT for the entire coding sequences, no background was observed with the obtained sequences. Three of the seven identified alleles were of novel types, which were officially named by the KIR subcommittee of the World Health Organization Nomenclature Committee for Factors of HLA System. The observed frequencies for the 7 alleles were KIR2DS4*00101 (78.8%), *003 (10.5%), *004 (16.0%), *010 (23.2%), *017 (0.3%), *00105 (0.3%) and *018 (0.7%), respectively. Allele KIR2DS4*007 was not found. The overall frequency for normal cell-surface expression KIR2DS4 alleles including 2DS4*00101, *017 and *00105 was 79.4%, and that for non cell-surface expression alleles including 2DS4*003, *004, *010 and *018 was 50.4%. The ratio between the two was 1.6:1.

CONCLUSIONThe present study has elucidated the allelic diversity of KIR2DS4 among ethnic Hans from southern China, which may provide valuable data for transplantation as well as studies on KIR-associated disease and evolution.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; China ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Genotyping Techniques ; methods ; Haplotypes ; Humans ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Receptors, KIR ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; methods

Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of matrine on K-ras gene mutation colon cancer, and to clarify the inhibitory mechanism. Methods SW480 cells were treated with different concentrations of matrine. MTS method was used to detect the proliferation of SW480 cell lines. The apoptosis of SW480 cells was measured by flow cytometry. The migration of SW480 cells was examined by the scratch test. The expression of MEK1/2 protein was detected by Western blotting method. Results Compared with the blank control group, matrine (0.125-1 mg/mL) could inhibit the growth and proliferation of human colorectal cancer SW480 cell lines, promote the apoptosis, restrain the migration of SW480 cells, and inhibit the expression of MEK1/2 protein(P < 0.05), the effect showing a dose-dependent trend. Conclusion Matrine can effectively inhibit the proliferation and migration of SW480 cells, and promote SW480 cell apoptosis through the down-regulation of MEK1/2 protein expression in MAPK signal pathway system.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the associations between birth order, maternal abortion and mode of delivery and childhood acute leukemia risk.

METHODMultiple electronic databases were searched to identify relevant studies up to March 2013 using the search terms "childhood leukemia", "acute lymphoblastic leukemia", "acute myeloid leukemia","birth order", "abortion", "miscarriage", "cesarean", "birth characteristics" and "prenatal risk factor". Data from cohort and case-control studies were analyzed using the Stata software.

RESULTTwenty-three studies were included in this meta-analysis according to the selection criteria. No significant associations were identified for birth order and mode of delivery (birth order = 2: OR = 0.97, 95%CI: 0.89-1.05; birth order = 3: OR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.91-1.11; birth order ≥ 4: OR = 1.02, 95%CI: 0.87-1.20; mode of delivery: OR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.96-1.15). However, there was a significant association between maternal abortion and childhood acute leukemia risk (spontaneous abortion: OR = 1.21, 95%CI: 1.05-1.41; induced abortion: OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.07-1.43). Furthermore, the stratified analysis by disease subtypes showed that spontaneous and induced abortions were significantly associated with the risks of childhood acute myeloid leukemia (OR = 1.71, 95%CI: 1.09-2.70) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (OR = 1.23, 95%CI: 1.05-1.42), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThis meta-analysis revealed that maternal abortion might contribute to the childhood acute leukemia risk.

Abortion, Induced ; adverse effects ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Birth Order ; Birth Weight ; Cesarean Section ; adverse effects ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Pregnancy ; Regression Analysis ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is becoming a global social problem. It is important to slow down the progression of CKD for economic and social concerns. In recent years, it has been found that colon is one of the vital organs which produce uremic toxins. And enterogenous uremic toxins are closely related to the prognosis of CKD. Theory of gut-kidney axis for the slowdown of CKD progression was raised by foreign scholars and became the research hot spot. Colon therapy with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used in clinical practice and is believed to slow down the progression of CKD by numerous clinical reports. However, low re-search quality and ambiguous results limited its further application. Under the guidance of senior TCM Professor Huang Chunlin, who emphasized the method of draining turbidity through bowels in the management of CKD, from the Nephrology Center, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, as well as the modern theory of gut-kidney axis, we had carried out a series of exploratory researches which will provide data and methodology support for further confirmatory studies and improve its effectiveness.

Objective:To investigate the utilization and its influence factors of medical records in non-hospital staffs. Methods:Though the registration of the record copy and consult for non-hospital staffs from Sept.2002.to Aug.2006,the patients' personal information,case number,discharge date,utilization date,user persons,purpose and the copy contents,etc.were investigated.And the information was statistically analyzed by EXCEL.Results:51.55% of the utilization were for the medical insurance purpose.In which 54.61% of the total users were the patients themselves and 44.17% of which were the insurance organizations.Admission record was the most frequently copied item(22.79%) and record utilization was mostly occurred within one month after the discharge(35.08%).Conclusion:It should be emphasized that ①the medical staffs' legal consciousness be further wakened;②the management of medical records be strengthened;③the copy processes of the medical records be standardized;④the service be further improved.