Polymorphism in PGLYRP-1 gene by PCR-RFLP and its association with somatic cell score in Chinese Holstein

Bovine peptidoglycan recognition protein 1 (PGLYRP-1), an important pattern recognition molecule (PRM) of the innate immune system, is an effector molecule in killing different microorganisms directly. To investigate whether the PGLYRP-1 gene was associated with mastitis and milk production traits in dairy cattle, the polymorphism of this gene was analyzed by PCR-RFLP in a population of 524 Chinese Holstein. A total of ten single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci were identified. The association analysis of single SNP locus showed that T-35A, T-12G and G+102C were significantly associated (P<0.05) with somatic cell score (SCS), while G+102C and G+649C were significantly associated (P<0.05) with 305-day milk yield. Association analysis between combined haplotypes and SCS, milk production traits indicated that H3H3 was associated with the lower SCS (P<0.01), and H2H2 was associated with the lower 305-day milk yield (P<0.01). These findings demonstrated that polymorphisms in PGLYRP-1 gene associated with mastitis resistance and 305-day milk yield, and the H3H3 would provide a useful genetic marker of combined haplotypes for mastitis resistance selection and breeding in Chinese Holstein.

Characterization of large deletions in the F8 gene using multiple competitive amplification and the genome walking technique

BACKGROUND

Large deletions in the F8 gene are responsible for approximately 3% of severe hemophilia A (HA) cases. However, only a few breakpoints in large deletions have been characterized.

OBJECTIVES

To identify large deletions in the F8 gene and to characterize the molecular mechanisms leading to these deletions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We used AccuCopy technology, a copy number variation (CNV) genotyping method based on multiplex competitive amplification, to confirm deletions in index patients and to screen potential female carriers in 10 HA families. Also, breakpoints of these large deletions were characterized by a primer walking strategy and genome walking technique.

RESULTS

Ten large deletions and four female carriers were identified by AccuCopy. The extents of deleted regions ranged from 1.3 to 68.5 kb. Exact breakpoints of these deletions were successfully characterized. Eight of them presented microhomologies at breakpoint junctions and several recombination-associated elements (repetitive elements, non-B conformation forming motifs and sequence motifs) were also observed in close proximity to the junctions.

CONCLUSIONS

AccuCopy technology is a reliable and efficient tool for detecting large deletions in the F8 gene and identifying HA female carriers. The genome walking technique is a highly specific, efficient and versatile method for characterizing the deletion breakpoints. Molecular characterization of deletion breakpoints revealed that non-homologous end joining and microhomology-mediated replication-dependent recombination were the major causative mechanisms of the 10 large deletions in the F8 gene.

Involvement of serotonin mechanism in methamphetamine-induced chronic pulmonary toxicity in rats

The widest distribution and the highest uptake of methamphetamine (MA) in the human body occurred in the lungs, so that more and more attention should be paid to MA-induced pulmonary toxicity. MA induces the release of serotonin, which is an important mediator in pulmonary disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the chronic response of the lung to MA and its potential mechanism in rats. Models of the chronic toxicity of MA were established with MA of 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg (intraperitoneally, twice per day) for 5 weeks. It was found that the high dose of MA induced rat pulmonary toxicity: crowded lung parenchyma, thickened septum, reduced number of alveolar sacs, inflammatory cell infiltration, and pulmonary arteriolar remodeling. In addition, MA resulted in a significant increase in the lung serotonin concentration and the marked upregulation of tryptophan hydroxylase 1, vesicular monoamine transporter 2, serotonin transporter, and downregulation of monoamine oxidase-A. These findings suggest that MA induced chronic pulmonary toxicity, which is concerned with the elevated serotonin concentration in rat lungs by increased synthesis, reduced metabolism, augmented accumulation, and promoted release of serotonin.

Lymph node retrieval from colorectal resection specimens for adenocarcinoma: is it worth the extra effort to find at least 12 nodes?

AIM

Retrieval of a minimum of 12 lymph nodes has been recommended for adequately staging a node-negative colorectal cancer (CRC). This study was designed to determine whether the extra effort expended to recover more nodes for histological examination improves the accuracy of staging.

METHOD

Pathology reports, histology worklists, and haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides of 334 CRC resections were reviewed. The total number of nodes and the number of positive nodes harvested from the first and additional searches were recorded for each patient.

RESULTS

The number of nodes retrieved from the 334 resections at the first search ranged from 0 to 57 (mean: 14.2), with 195 patients (58.4%) having ≥ 12 nodes. Nodal metastasis was found in 122 (33.6%) patients. Additional searches were performed on 115 patients, including 91 with < 12 nodes. The mean number of nodes recovered in these patients increased significantly, from 9.1 to 14.2 (P < 0.0001). Thirty-one additional positive nodes were found in 19 patients following the further searches, and 12 (63.2%) of the 19 patients were upstaged using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 6th edition (2002) staging criteria. The total number of nodes retrieved and the probability of obtaining ≥ 12 nodes correlated negatively with the age of the patient and the rectosigmoid location of the tumours, but positively with the specimen length, the pericolic/perirectal fat width, female gender and tumour size.

CONCLUSION

Although a number of patient and specimen variables influence the number of lymph nodes retrieved, our observations support the importance of a thorough search for nodes in CRC specimens in order to achieve accurate tumour staging.

Metastatic endometrial stromal sarcoma of the lung: importance of immunohistochemical staining, clinical history and imaging studies

Proper evaluation of lung nodules is a difficult issue for clinical management of patients. Discriminating metastatic endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) from other primary spindle cell neoplasms of the lung using histological analysis can be challenging. This is particularly true when an adequate clinical history is lacking, because ESS metastasis can be delayed by a couple of decades. To emphasize the importance of the correlation of pathological findings with clinical history and imaging studies, we investigated 11 cases of ESS (seven low grade and four high grade) metastatic to the lung. All cases presented with one to multiple unilateral or bilateral lung nodules that were detected by chest computed tomography. Primary ESS was diagnosed from hysterectomy specimens except for one by endometrial biopsy, 0.5 to 23 years prior to metastasis. Immunohistochemical studies showed that all ESS cases were moderately to strongly positive for Bcl-2 and CD10 with >50% of tumor cells stained, except for one high grade ESS that was negative for CD10. Eight (72.7%) and seven (63.6) of the 11 cases showed positive estrogen and progesterone receptors, respectively, with a majority of positive cases showing diffuse and moderate to strong staining. Strong but patchy staining for CD34 was detected in one (9.1%) case with smooth muscle differentiation. CK7 and TTF-1 were negative in all cases. Two (18.2%) cases exhibited patchy and strong positivity for caldesmon. Two (18.2%) low grade ESS cases showed moderate to strong AE1/AE3 positivity in >50% of tumor cells, one of which also showed moderate CK19 and Cam 5.2 staining in >30% of tumor cells. One should be cautious when assessing spindle cell neoplasms of the lung in women with a history of hysterectomy. Correlation of clinical history and imaging studies with histological and immunohistochemical findings is essential to diagnosis of metastatic ESS to the lung.

Clinical significance of tumor suppressor PTEN in colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

It has been demonstrated that the deletion, mutation, hypermethylation and subcellular location of the tumor suppressor phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) are closely correlated with carcinogenesis, progression and prognosis of malignancy. Both mutation and the microsatellite instability of the PTEN gene influence regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. This study investigated whether loss of nuclear PTEN is correlated with chemosensitivity, clinicopathological parameters and survival.

METHODS

Intracellular levels of PTEN of multiple cell lines of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) were evaluated by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. The chemosensitivity of cell lines with various expression levels of PTEN was evaluated using 5-flurouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin and irinotecan (CPT), and clinical significance was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis of 133 CRC specimens.

RESULTS

Colon cancer cell lines HT-29, LoVo and SW480 differed in expression of PTEN, with high, moderate and low levels, respectively. HT-29 and LoVo PTEN expression was suppressed by a low concentration of 5-FU and oxaliplatin; however, SW480 was insensitive to these chemotherapeutic agents. Nuclear PTEN was overexpressed in most (>80%) normal colon mucosa samples, but the incidence significantly decreased (89.2% → 53.4%) in the CRC group. PTEN in the nucleus was negatively correlated with tumor size and vascular invasion in CRC, and CRC patients with negative PTEN expression in the nucleus exhibited poor survival.

CONCLUSION

Cell lines with a high expression of PTEN are sensitive to chemotherapy with 5-FU and oxaliplatin. Nuclear PTEN expression gradually decreases after malignant transformation, and loss of PTEN expression in the nucleus is associated with tumor progression and poor clinical outcome in CRC.

Redefining the role of lymphocytes in gastroesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic esophagitis

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and reflux esophagitis (RE) overlap clinically and histologically. RE is characterized by epithelial infiltration with small numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils, EoE by a prominent eosinophilic infiltrate. Lymphocytic esophagitis (LE), a new entity characterized by peripapillary lymphocytosis, questions the role lymphocytes play in esophageal inflammation. We test the hypothesis that lymphocyte infiltration in RE differs from EoE. One blinded pathologist read esophageal biopsies from 39 RE and 39 EoE patients. Both groups demonstrated significant numbers of lymphocytes (RE 22.7 +/- 2.2/HPF, EoE 19.8 +/- 1.8/HPF). Eosinophils/HPF in RE and EoE were 2.8 +/- 0.7 and 74.9 +/- 8.2, respectively (P < 0.001). Neutrophils were uncommon in RE (0.26 +/- 0.16/HPF) and EoE (0.09 +/- 0.04; P = 0.07). Eight of the 39 RE specimens had >or=50 lymphocytes in >or=1 HPF. Two were consistent with LE. There was an inverse correlation between numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes in EoE (R = -0.47; P = 0.002), and no correlation between them in RE (R = 0.18; P = 0.36). The patients with EoE who used antireflux medications had fewer lymphocytes (16.3 +/- 1.3 vs 22.2 +/- 2.3/HPF; P = 0.030) and eosinophils (55.6 +/- 5.2 vs 76.0 +/- 8.7/HPF; P = 0.042) than those who did not. The pathological role of lymphocytes in RE and EoE may be underestimated. Our observation that 5% of the RE specimens meet histopathological criteria for LE potentially blurs the line between these entities. The observation that eosinophil counts are lower in EoE when antireflux meds are used supports the notion that reflux plays a role in the clinical expression of EoE.

Size-effect induced short-range magnetic ordering in germanium nanostructures

Formation of ordered magnetic states in germanium nanostructures embedded in SiO2 has been investigated. Samples with the nanostructures were prepared by sputtering deposition on Si(100) substrates, followed by thermal annealing in vacuum. Transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and Raman spectroscopy have been used to characterize the samples. Magnetic measurements were performed using a superconducting quantum interference device. Size-effect induced magnetic orderings in the germanium nanostructures were found to be present at room temperatures and below. Superparamagnetic behavior was observed at temperatures above 230 K, whereas thermal excitation of spin reorientation and magnetic coupling has been revealed at temperatures below 60 K. Inverted hysteresis loops with negative remanences and multiple plateaus revealed the ferri- or antiferromagnetic nature of the coupling. Inter-domain coupling and effect of magnetic anisotropy will be discussed based on the experimental results and simulations with a spin reorientation model.

Nocistatin excites rostral agranular insular cortex-periaqueductal gray projection neurons by enhancing transient receptor potential cation conductance via G(alphaq/11)-PLC-protein kinase C pathway

Rostral agranular insular cortex (RAIC) projects to periaqueductal gray (PAG) and inhibits spinal nociceptive transmission by activating PAG-rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) descending antinociceptive circuitry. Despite being generated from the same precursor prepronociceptin, nocistatin (NST) and nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) produce supraspinal analgesic and hyperalgesic effects, respectively. Prepronociceptin is highly expressed in the RAIC. In the present study, we hypothesized that NST and N/OFQ modulate spinal pain transmission by regulating the activity of RAIC neurons projecting to ventrolateral PAG (RAIC-PAG). This hypothesis was tested by investigating electrophysiological effects of N/OFQ and NST on RAIC-PAG projection neurons in brain slice. Retrogradely labeled RAIC-PAG projection neurons are layer V pyramidal cells and express mRNA of vesicular glutamate transporter subtype 1, a marker for glutamatergic neurons. N/OFQ hyperpolarized 25% of RAIC-PAG pyramidal neurons by enhancing inwardly rectifying potassium conductance via pertussis toxin-sensitive G(alphai/o). In contrast, NST depolarized 33% of RAIC-PAG glutamatergic neurons by causing the opening of canonical transient receptor potential (TRPC) cation channels through G(alphaq/11)-phospholipase C-protein kinase C pathway. There were two separate populations of RAIC-PAG pyramidal neurons, one responding to NST and the other one to N/OFQ. Our results suggest that G(alphaq/11)-coupled NST receptor mediates NST excitation of RAIC-PAG glutamatergic neurons, which is expected to cause the supraspinal analgesia by enhancing the activity of RAIC-PAG-RVM antinociceptive pathway. Opposite effects of NST and N/OFQ on supraspinal pain regulation are likely to result from their opposing effects on RAIC-PAG pyramidal neurons.

Sperm mediated human coagulation factor VIII gene transfer and expression in transgenic mice

PRINCIPLES

B-domain deleted human coagulation factor VIII cDNA (BDD-hFVIIIcDNA) transgenic mice were produced by using sperm mediated gene transfer (SMGT). The transcription and expression of human FVIII in transgenic mice were also investigated.

METHODS

Sperm were isolated from caudae epididymides of male C57BL/6 mice and transfected with linearized RC/RSV-BDDhFVIIIcDNA plasmid, and subsequently used to fertilize female mice via artificial insemination in vivo. After birth, F0 progeny were identified by PCR and Southern blotting for BDD-hFVIIIcDNA transgenic mice. F1 progeny were subsequently derived from a male transgenic F0 mouse and a normal C57BL/6 female mouse. The F1 progeny were then identified as BDD-hFVIIIcDNA transgenic mice by Southern blotting. The transcription and expression of BDDhFVIIIcDNA in transgenic mice were determined by northern blotting, western blotting and immunohistochemical staining. Blood was also collected from both F0 and F1 progeny to detect hFVIII:Ag and anti-hFVIII inhibitors.

RESULTS

A total of 9 F0 and 8 F1 progeny were delivered, in which 3 F0 and 2 F1 progeny were identified to have BDD-hFVIIIcDNA. The transcription and expression of BDD-hFVIIIcDNA were found to exist in the liver and kidneys of all transgenic mice. HFVIII:Ag in plasma of the transgenic F0 progeny was 31.95 ng/ml, 23.52 ng/ml and 26.36 ng/ml respectively, whilst the F1 transgenic mice showed results of 18.82 ng/ml and 12.16 ng/ml. Anti-hFVIII inhibitors were negative in both F0 and F1 progeny.

CONCLUSIONS

Human FVIII gene transgenic mice can be produced by the SMGT technique and express human FVIII protein in their bodies.

Stimuli-responsive multifunctional membranes of controllable morphology from poly(vinylidene fluoride)-graft-poly[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate] prepared via atom transfer radical polymerization

Poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with poly[2-(N,N-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) side chains were synthesized via vinylidene fluoride-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-(N,N-dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA). The graft copolymer can be readily cast into porous pH- and thermo-responsive microfiltration (MF) membranes with enriched "living" PDMAEMA graft chains on the surface (including the pore surfaces) by phase inversion in an aqueous medium. The morphology and surface composition of the membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The pH and temperature of the aqueous media for phase inversion and the PDMAEMA content in the PVDF-g-PDMAEMA copolymers can be used to adjust the pore size of the membranes. In addition to having pH and temperature-responsive permeability, the PVDF-g-PDMAEMA MF membranes also exhibit both good antifouling and antibacterial properties, making the membrane potentially useful for biorelated applications. Furthermore, the dormant PDMAEMA chain ends on the PVDF-g-PDMAEMA membrane can be reactivated for the consecutive surface-initiated ATRP of other functional monomers, such as 2-naphthyl methacrylate (2NM), to produce fluorescent PDMAEMA-b-P2NM diblock copolymer brushes on the PVDF membrane.

Strain-dependent twist-stretch elasticity in chiral filaments

Coupling between axial and torsional degrees of freedom often modifies the conformation and expression of natural and synthetic filamentous aggregates. Recent studies on chiral single-walled carbon nanotubes and B-DNA reveal a reversal in the sign of the twist-stretch coupling at large strains. The similarity in the response in these two distinct supramolecular assemblies and at high strains suggests a fundamental, chirality-dependent nonlinear elastic behaviour. Here we seek the link between the microscopic origin of the nonlinearities and the effective twist-stretch coupling using energy-based theoretical frameworks and model simulations. Our analysis reveals a sensitive interplay between the deformation energetics and the sign of the coupling, highlighting robust design principles that determine both the sign and extent of these couplings. These design principles have already been exploited by nature to dynamically engineer such couplings, and have broad implications in mechanically coupled actuation, propulsion and transport in biology and technology.

Inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity of hepatitis B virus polymerase by β-l-D4A-TP

β-L-enantiomer of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine-5'-triphosphate (β-L-D4A-TP) has previously been proven to inhibit the replication of viral DNA in the Hep G2 2.2.15 cells and in transgenic mouse harboring 1.3-fold-overlength genome of Hepatitis B virus (HBV). To study the inhibition mechanism of the nucleoside analog β-L-D4A-TP, a polymerase reaction in vitro with the recombinant HBV nucleocapsids was conducted to determine the exact mode of inhibition of the HBV replication by β-L-D4A-TP. The HBV viral DNA and viral DNA-polymerase complex formed in the polymerase reaction were assayed. The results of this study showed that β-L-D4A-TP inhibited the replication of HBV DNA by inactivating the reverse transcriptase (RT) activity in a concentration-dependent manner. The kinetics of β-L-D4A-TP inhibition of the RT activity was the result of an apparent competitive inhibition with dATP.

Activated carbon with excellent chromium(VI) adsorption performance prepared by acid-base surface modification

In the present work, activated carbon (AC) with excellent Cr(VI) adsorption performance especially at low concentrations was prepared by an acid-base surface modification method. Raw activated carbon (AC(0)) was first oxidized in boiling HNO(3) (AC(1)), then treated with a mixture of NaOH and NaCl (AC(2)). Batch equilibrium and continuous column adsorption were conducted to evaluate the adsorption performance. Boehm titration, elemental analysis, and N(2)/77K adsorption isotherm methods were used to characterize the surface properties and pore structure of modified ACs. The results revealed that the modified AC exhibited excellent Cr(VI) adsorption performance in terms of adsorption capacity and adsorption rate: AC(2)>AC(1)>AC(0). Modification caused S(BET) to decrease and the total number of surface oxygen acidic groups to increase. HNO(3) oxidization produced positive acid groups, and subsequently NaOH treatment replaced H(+) of surface acid groups by Na(+), and the acidity of AC decreased. The main cause of higher Cr(VI) adsorption capacity and rate for AC(2) was the presence of more oxygen surface acidic groups and suitable surface acidity. HNO(3)-NaOH modification shows potential for the preparation of high quality AC for the effective removal of low concentrations of Cr(VI).

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.

Genomic organization, localization and polymorphism of porcine PSMB10, a gene encoding the third beta-type proteasome subunit of 26S proteasome complex

The proteasome subunit, beta type 10 (PSMB10) gene regulated by interferon-gamma is a core part of the 26S proteasome complex, which is an important protein degrading system. Isolation and characterization of swine PSMB10 revealed a conserved structure with other mammalian PSMB10 genes. An A/G nucleotide polymorphism in PSMB10 intron 2 and a C/T single nucleotide polymorphism in exon 5 were detected by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. The allele frequencies were significantly different among Tongcheng, Landrace, Large White and Duroc. The porcine PSMB10 was mapped by somatic cell hybrid panel and radiation hybrid mapping on SSC6p14-p15, which is in good agreement with human-pig comparative maps.

Molecular characterization and association analysis of porcine CA3

Carbonic anhydrase 3 (CA3) is a member of the carbonic anhydrase family, which plays an important role in various cell processes. In this paper, molecular characterization revealed that CA3 genomic DNA consists of seven exons and six introns, spans about 10.5 kb and maps to porcine chromosome 4q11-->q14. Results of expression profiles showed that the expression levels of CA3 increased in skeletal muscles from prenatal 33- to 65-day-old Chinese Tongcheng pigs. These levels subsequently decreased to a steady state in prenatal 90-day-old, postnatal 2-day-old, postnatal 28-day-old, and pregnant 65-day-old pigs. The expression patterns of Chinese Tongcheng pig embryos were different from that of Landrace pig embryos. CA3 was expressed at higher levels in skeletal muscle and liver than in kidney, lung, stomach, intestine, and brain, but was not detected in heart and spleen. Statistical analysis showed the CA3 gene polymorphism was different between Chinese indigenous and introduced commercial western pig breeds, and was associated with intramuscular fat content and percentage of ham of pigs.