Herpes simplex virus-2 infection in male rural migrants in Shanghai, China

The overall herpes simplex virus (HSV)-2 seroprevalence was 5.5% among male rural migrants working in construction sites, markets and factories, 5.4% among those reporting having had sexual intercourse and 5.8% among those reporting no sexual intercourse. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicate that migrants having higher income were more likely to have HSV-2 infection. None of the HSV-2-positives realized their infection status. Future sexually transmitted disease (STD) intervention programmes should target migrants with higher income and migrant market vendors and should not exclude those who self-report no STDs or no history of sexual intercourse.

High resolution flat crystal spectrometer for the Shanghai EBIT

We report on a high resolution flat crystal spectrometer designed for the Shanghai EBIT. Its energy range is from 0.5 to 10 keV. Three crystals can be installed in the vacuum chamber simultaneously, and its effective Bragg angle can be covered from 15 degrees to 75 degrees . A vacuum version charge-coupled device detector is used for detection of photons. An energy resolution under 1 eV was reached in measurements of the 4.5 keV Kalpha(1) line by using an x-ray generator with a titanium anode. The spectrometer was also tested to operate well on the Shanghai EBIT by observing the lines of tungsten at around 3.2 keV.

A novel frameshift mutation of the EDA1 gene in a Chinese Han family with X-linked hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare skin disease characterized by hypotrichosis, hypodontia and hypohidrosis. HED can be autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive or X-linked. However, X-linked HED (XLHED; OMIM 305100) is the most common form. Mutations within the EDA1 gene, which encodes ectodysplasin-A, are responsible for XLHED. In this study, we investigated the EDA1 gene in a Chinese Han family with XLHED, and found a novel 1-bp deletion mutation (c.952delG) in exon 9 of the EDA1 gene, which results in a frameshift and premature termination codon. This result suggests that the c.952delG mutation of the EDA1 gene is likely to be the disease-causing mutation for XLHED in this family. Our study adds new data to the worldwide knowledge of the molecular basis of XLHED.

X-Ray structures and binding properties of molecular clips based on diethoxycarbonyl glycoluril

The crystal structures of two molecular clips derived from diethoxycarbonyl glycoluril were reported. Their unique binding behavior towards hydroquinone, which is different from Nolte's clips (high affinity for resorcinol), has been characterized through 1H NMR and IR. Job-plot analyses provide good evidence of a 1:1 stoichiometry for the complexes.Key words: crystal structure, molecular clips, binding properties

A novel missense mutation L468Q of keratin 6a in pachyonychia congenita type 1

BACKGROUND

Pachyonychia congenita is an autosomal dominant disorder that usually develops in early infancy. The major features of the syndrome are hypertrophic nail dystrophy, palmoplantar keratoderma and oral leucokeratosis, accompanied by other ectodermal defects, according to subtype.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the K6a gene mutation in a sporadic Chinese patient with pachyonychia congenita type 1 (PC-1) and to explore the relationship between the genotype and phenotype of PC-1.

METHODS

Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of the patient with PC-1 and 100 unrelated controls. The whole coding region of K6a gene was amplified using long-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR); nested PCR was then used to amplify the mutation 'hot-spot' of the K6a gene. The PCR products were directly sequenced to detect the mutation.

RESULTS

A novel missense mutation L468Q in the helix 2B domain of the K6a polypeptide was identified in the patient but not in the healthy individuals from the family and 100 unrelated control individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe this mutation for the first time, and provide further evidence that the helix boundary motif sequences of K6a are a mutation 'hot-spot'.

The familial risk of acne vulgaris in Chinese Hans ? a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous follicles. Recent studies bring us increasing evidences that hereditary factors play an important but indirect role in acne.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the possible role of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of acne vulgaris in Chinese Han ethnic group.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Volunteers of 975 acne cases and 580 controls were included, contributing 3009 and 1825 first-degree relatives, respectively. One thousand and eighty-five first-degree relatives of acne cases were affected with facial acne. This compared with 223 first-degree relatives of non-acne controls. The odds ratio was used to estimate the relative risk for acne vulgaris associated with having an affected first-degree relative.

RESULTS

The risk of acne vulgaris occurring in a relative of a patient with acne vulgaris was significantly greater than for the relative of an unaffected individual (odds ratio 4.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.45-4.76, P<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that familial factors are important in determining individual susceptibility to acne vulgaris.

Effects of seed migration on post-implant dosimetry of prostate brachytherapy

Brachytherapy using permanent seed implants has been an effective treatment for prostate cancer. However, seeds will migrate after implant, thus making the evaluation of post-implant dosimetry difficult. In this study, we developed a computer program to simulate seed migration and analyzed dosimetric changes due to seed migration at various migration amounts. The study was based on 14 patients treated with Pd-103 at the James Cancer Hospital. Modeling of seed migration, including direction, distance as well as day of migration, was based on clinical observations. Changes of commonly used dosimetric parameters as a function of migration amount (2, 4, 6 mm respectively), prostate size (from 20 to 90 cc), and prostate region (central vs peripheral) were studied. Change of biological outcome (tumor control probability) due to migration was also estimated. Migration reduced prostate D90 to 99+/-2% of original value in 2 mm migration, and the reduction increased to 94+/-6% in 6 mm migration. The reduction of prostate dose led to a 14% (40%) drop in the tumor control probability for 2 mm (6 mm) migration, assuming radiosensitive tumors. However, migration has less effect on a prostate implanted with a larger number of seeds. Prostate V100 was less sensitive to migration than D90 since its mean value was still 99% of original value even in 6 mm migration. Migration also showed a different effect in the peripheral region vs the central region of the prostate, where the peripheral mean dose tended to drop more significantly. Therefore, extra activity implanted in the peripheral region during pre-plan can be considered. The detrimental effects of migration were more severe in terms of increasing the dose to normal structures, as rectum V50 may be 70% higher and urethra V100 may be 50% higher in the case of 6 mm migration. Quantitative knowledge of these effects is helpful in treatment planning and post-implant evaluation.

Fibroblast growth factor-10 prevents H2O2-induced cell cycle arrest by regulation of G1 cyclins and cyclin dependent kinases

We studied the effects of fibroblast growth factor (FGF-10) on H2O2-induced alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) G1 arrest and the role of G1 cyclins. FGF-10 prevented H2O2-induced AEC G1 arrest. FGF-10 induced 2-4-fold increase in cyclin E, cyclin A and CDKs (2,4) alone and in AEC treated with H2O2. H2O2 downregulated cyclin D1; FGF-10 blocked these effects. FGF-10 prevented H2O2-induced upregulation of CDK inhibitor, p21. SiRNAp21 blocked H2O2-induced downregulation of cyclins, CDKs and AEC G1 arrest. Accordingly, we provide first evidence that FGF-10 regulates G1 cyclins and CDKs, and prevents H2O2-induced AEC G1 arrest.