基于核核糖体DNA ITS序列的真藓科系统发育新证据

主要是利用核基因组的核糖体DNA内转录间隔区（nrDNA ITS）序列数据探讨了Buck和Goffinet（2000）限定的真藓科内各属间及属内种间的系统发育关系。ITS序列的最大简约法（MP）及贝叶斯推论（BI）分析结果显示：不支持Cox（1999）利用rps4/trnL-trnF数据分析将丝瓜藓属移至提灯藓科的结论。ITS数据分析与Holyoak（2007）利用trnL-F,trnG和atpB-rbcL序列数据分析将Bryum algovicum、B.caespiticium、B.capillare、B.pseudotriquetrum和Plagiobryum zierii划归Ptychostomum的结论一致,同时,为Spence(2005)依据形态学特征将B.pallescen、B.pallens、B.uliginosum、B.amblyodon和B.lonchocaulon划归Ptychostomum提供ITS分子证据支持。基于以上研究,建议将以上提到的真藓属种和平蒴藓移至Ptychostomum。     

Molecular epidemiology of Bordetella pertussis in Taiwan, 1993-2004: suggests one possible explanation for the outbreak of pertussis in 1997

Pertussis reemerges periodically despite high pertussis vaccination coverage in many countries. We used prn and fim3 gene sequences and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to analyze the molecular epidemiology of 168 clinical isolates of Bordetella pertussis during 1993-2004, and deduced possible reasons for an outbreak in 1997 in Taiwan. In Taiwan, during 1996-1997, a shift of prn1 to prn2 was reflected in a transition of PFGE group I to group IIIa; during 2000-2001, the change from fim3A to fim3B was displayed in transition of PFGE group IIIa to group IIIb. These changes were also consistent with the two peaks of pertussis incidence in 1997 and 2000. In 1997, a larger than expected increase in the incidence of pertussis occurred and isolates were characterized by complicated pulsotypes, appearance of many new profiles and an unusual presence of prn3. Based on a high resemblance of PFGE profiles and the same virulence genes, a similar shift of circulating strains was observed in European countries as well as Taiwan; thus, the high incidence of pertussis in 1997 may be due to an international expansion of B. pertussis strains from a similar source. This study provides further elucidation of the global molecular epidemiology of B. pertussis.     

人CD55基因的克隆及其转基因构件的组装

本实验采用人肝组织作为RNA的来源 ,经RT -PCR扩增得到CD55基因的cDNA片段。与人α -珠蛋白启动子及其polyA序列重组 ,插入质粒载体pGEM - 5zf,获得了可用于受精卵原核显微注射的基因构件 ,为建立人CD55转基因动物模型奠定了基础。     

应用PAMAM dendrimers作为DNA运送载体的体外研究

Starburst^TM PAMAM dendrimers分子是一类新型的高分枝、辐射状对称的树状高分子,在生理条件下其表面具有高密度的正电荷,可以通过静电相互作用与核酸形成复合物后,介导遗传物质进入细胞.研究了G3, G3.5, G5, G7, G7.5, G9各代dendrimers分子与DNA结合后介导其转染细胞的能力,并初步评价这种复合物转染对细胞活力的影响.实验证实,全代的PAMAM dendrmers皆可与DNA结合,并可在体外培养的细胞中介导高效的DNA转染.PAMAM dendrimer/DNA复合物很稳定,在较大的pH值变化范围内(pH 2～10)不解离.PAMAM dendrimers可保护与之复合的DNA分子免受限制性内切酶的降解.在一定的电荷比范围内,高代数的dendrimers分子与DNA形成的复合物对培养细胞的转染效率高于低代数dendrimer分子,复合物所介导的转染效率在不同的细胞系之间也有差异.在有效作用浓度范围内（≤1.3×10^-1 g/L）,PAMAM dendrimers/DNA复合物对被转染细胞无毒性.但是,未与DNA复合的dendrimers分子在较低浓度时则表现出毒性,表明Starburst^TM PAMAM dendrimers分子可作为新型的低毒非病毒DNA载体,用于介导DNA对体外培养细胞的转染. 这些前期观察,为将纳米级高分子聚合物dendrimers分子作为基因转运载体应用于体内提供了初步的实验依据.     

丝瓜藓属(Pohlia Hedw.)的系统位置及属内种间关系探讨

丝瓜藓属的系统地位及属内种间关系存在争议。本研究首次利用核糖体DNA内转录间区(ITS)序列数据对丝瓜藓属及相关科属植物进行系统发育分析。最大简约法,最大似然法及贝叶斯推论法构建的系统树均表明,ITS序列数据不支持将丝瓜藓属划归提灯藓科。丝瓜藓属植物与缺齿藓属植物构成一个单系分支。Brotherus(1903),Ochi(1959),Shaw(1984)及Hill等(2006)等学者提出的丝瓜藓属属下分类均不是单系类群。     

利用线粒体膜电位测定筛选参与细胞凋亡的人类新基因

细胞凋亡(apoptosis)属于细胞程序化死亡(programmed cell death),是细胞内涉及到许多生化反应的复杂过程.建立了基于细胞水平的凋亡筛选模型,用于筛选人类基因组中功能未知的序列,以发现与细胞凋亡相关的新基因.通过构建人类未知基因的表达文库,并将未知基因表达载体瞬时转染HeLa细胞,用阳离子染料JC-1标记HeLa细胞线粒体内膜并检测线粒体跨膜电位,用流式细胞术进行阳性结果的验证.经过对未知基因表达文库内600个新基因的筛选,得到7个线粒体跨膜电位下降相关新基因(CHMP6、CGI-38、hCAP-H2、NUDT16L1、ARMC1、PHF17和FLJ21103),经实验验证,其中3个基因(CHMP6、CGI-38和hCAP-H2)与细胞凋亡相关.结果表明,所建立的基于细胞的凋亡筛选模型稳定高效,3个细胞凋亡相关基因将被进行深入研究.     

Targeted disruption of neuronal 19S proteasome subunits induces the formation of ubiquitinated inclusions in the absence of cell death

Proteasome-mediated proteolysis is a major protein degradation mechanism in cells and its dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases, each with the common features of neuronal death and formation of ubiquitinated inclusions found within neurites, the cell body, or nucleus. Previous models of proteasome dysfunction have employed pharmacological inhibition of the catalytic subunits of the 20S proteasome core, or the genetic manipulation of specific subunits resulting in altered proteasome assembly. In this study, we report the use of dominant negative subunits of the 19S regulatory proteasome complex that mediate the recognition of ubiquitinated substrates as well as the removal of the poly-ubiquitin chain. Interestingly, while each mutant subunit-induced inclusion formation, like that seen with pharmacological inhibition of the 20S proteasome, none was able to induce apoptotic death, or trigger activation of macroautophagy, in either dopaminergic cell lines or primary cortical neurons. This finding highlights the dissociation between the mechanisms of neuronal inclusion formation and the induction of cell death, and represents a novel cellular model for Lewy body-like inclusion formation in neurons.     

Resistant Hypertension,Patient Characteristics,and Risk of Stroke

Background

Little is known about the prognosis of resistant hypertension (RH) in Asian population. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of RH in Taiwanese patients with hypertension, and to ascertain whether patient characteristics influence the association of RH with adverse outcomes.

Methods and Results

Patients aged ≥45 years with hypertension were identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Medical records of 111,986 patients were reviewed in this study, and 16,402 (14.6%) patients were recognized as having RH (continuously concomitant use of ≥3 anti-hypertensive medications, including a diuretic, for ≥2 years). Risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE, a composite of all-cause mortality, acute coronary syndrome, and stroke [included both fatal and nonfatal events]) in patients with RH and non-RH was analyzed. A total of 11,856 patients experienced MACE in the follow-up period (average 7.1±3.0 years). There was a higher proportion of females in the RH group, they were older than the non-RH (63.1 vs. 60.5 years) patients, and had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular co-morbidities. Overall, patients with RH had higher risks of MACE (adjusted HR 1.17; 95%CI 1.09–1.26; p<0.001). Significantly elevated risks of stroke (10,211 events; adjusted HR 1.17; 95%CI 1.08–1.27; p<0.001), especially ischemic stroke (6,235 events; adjusted HR 1.34; 95%CI 1.20–1.48; p<0.001), but not all-cause mortality (4,594 events; adjusted HR 1.06; 95%CI 0.95–1.19; p = 0.312) or acute coronary syndrome (2,145 events; adjusted HR 1.17; 95%CI 0.99–1.39; p = 0.070) were noted in patients with RH compared to those with non-RH. Subgroup analysis showed that RH increased the risks of stroke in female and elderly patients. However, no significant influence was noted in young or male patients.

Conclusions

Patients with RH were associated with higher risks of MACE and stroke, especially ischemic stroke. The risks were greater in female and elderly patients than in male or young patients.