Molecular characterization of a patient with del(1)(q23–q25)

Summary We report a patient (S.T.) with multiple congenital anomalies and developmental delay associated with an interstitial deletion of 1q23–1q25. Molecular analysis of the deletion was performed using DNA markers that map to 1q. Five DNA markers, MLAJ-1 (D1S61), CRI-L1054 (D1S42), HBI40 (D1S66), OS-6 (D1S75), and BH516 (D1S110), were demonstrated to be deleted. Informative polymorphisms demonstrated this to be a de novo deletion of the maternally derived chromosome. Deletion status was determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis supplemented with densitometry in the experiments where RFLP analysis was not fully informative. Deletions were confirmed by Southern analysis using genomic DNA from a somatic cell hybrid retaining the del(1)(q23–q25) chromosome that was constructed from patient S.T. Flow karyotyping confirmed the deletion and estimated that the deletion encompassed 11,000–16,000 kb. The clinical and cytogenetic characteristics of S.T. are compared with those of ten previously described patients with monosomy 1q21–1q25.     

阿加曲班抗凝对连续血液净化患儿凝血功能及单核细胞TLR2rMnX、TLR4rMnX表达水平的影响

目的:探讨阿加曲班抗凝治疗连续血液净化患儿的疗效及对凝血功能及单核细胞TLR2rMnX、TLR4rMnX表达水平的影响。方法:选取从2017年3月至2018年10月于我院儿童重症医学科接受连续血液净化治疗的患儿86例进行研究,将其按照随机抽签法分成研究组与对照组。对照组予以普通肝素抗凝治疗,研究组予以阿加曲班抗凝治疗。分别比较两组的28 d死亡率、治疗前后凝血功能血小板计数(PLT)、活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT)、纤维蛋白原(FIB)和单核细胞TLR2rMnX、TLR4rMnX表达水平、治疗过程中滤器与管路凝血程度、使用寿命以及穿刺部位出血情况的差异。结果:研究组28d死亡率(2.33%)比对照组(9.30%)低,但差异无统计学意义(x2=0.849,P=0.357)。治疗后研究组APTT(31.61±1.26)s、FIB水平(6.61±1.80)g/L较对照组的(27.92±1.44)s、(5.58±1.72)g/L明显更高(t=12.646、2.713,P=0.000、0.008)。研究组治疗过程中滤器与管路凝血程度0级人数占比(93.02%)相比对照组(76.74%)较高,而Ⅱ级人数占比(0.00%)相比对照组(9.30%)较低(x2=4.440、4.195,P=0.035,0.041)。研究组穿刺部位出血等级为0级人数占比(93.02%)高于对照组(74.42%),而Ⅱ级人数占比(0.00%)低于对照组(9.30%)(x2=5.460,4.195;P=0.019,0.041)。研究组管路、滤器使用寿命(18.73±7.74)h、(20.84±8.01)h相比对照组的(14.57±6.88)h、(16.20±7.15)h均较长(t=2.634、2.834,P=0.010,0.006)。治疗后研究组单核细胞TLR2rMnX、TLR4rMnX表达水平为(4.72±1.39)、(3.22±0.82),均低于对照组的(8.30±1.44)、(5.11±0.94)(t=11.729、9.936,P=0.000、0.000)。结论:阿加曲班抗凝应用于连续血液净化患儿中的疗效相比普通肝素抗凝更佳,且有利于改善凝血功能和单核细胞TLR2rMnX、TLR4rMnX表达水平,能够降低滤器或管路凝血发生风险,同时有效降低穿刺部位出血风险,增加管路、滤器使用寿命。     

Pyrosequencing to Identify Homogeneous Phenomenon When Using Recipients/Donors with Different CYP3A5*3 Genotypes in Living Donor Liver Transplantation

This study used pyrosequencing to determine the proportional distribution of CYP3A5*3 genotypes to further confirm the homogeneous phenomenon that is observed when recipients and donors in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) have a different single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype. We enrolled 42 recipient/living donor pairs and the SNPs of CYP3A5*3 were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. We performed 120 liver graft biopsies as part of clinical investigations after LDLT. Pyrosequencing of the CYP3A5*3 SNPs revealed that among the 16 recipients with the G/G genotype, 94.68% had the G and 5.32% the A allele. Among the 14 recipients with the A/G genotype, 78.08% had the G and 21.92% the A allele, and among the 12 recipients with the A/A genotype, 18.45% had the G and 81.55% the A allele. Among the 12 donors with the G/G genotype, 93.85% had the G and 6.14% the A allele. Among the 26 donors with the A/G genotype, 75.73% had the G and 24.27% the A allele, and among the 4 donors with the A/A genotype, 11.09% had the G and 88.91% the A allele. There were a total of 120 liver graft biopsy samples; among the 37 recipients with the G/G genotype, 89.74% had the G and 10.26% the A allele, among the 70 recipients with the A/G genotype, 71.57% had the G and 28.43% the A allele, and among the 13 recipients with the A/A genotype, 48.25% had the G and 51.75% the A allele. The proportional distribution of G and A alleles of the CYP3A5*3 SNP between recipients/donors and liver grafts after LDLT was significantly different (p<0.001). Pyrosequencing was useful in identifying detailed proportional changes of the CYP3A5*3 SNP allele distribution, and to confirm the homogeneous phenomenon when recipients and donors in LDLT have a different genotype.     

不同时期深施重肥对沙田柚生长结果的影响

比较了夏季深施重肥与冬季深施重肥对沙田柚春梢、根系生长及产量、果实品质、叶片与土壤营养含量的影响。结果表明,夏季深施重肥可在一定程度上提高沙田柚叶片钙、铁、硼、全氮、全磷、全钾、0~40cm土壤速效磷与有机质含量,以及20~40cm土壤的全氮、速效钾和pH值,为根系的生长创造良好的土壤环境条件,进而提高叶片三要素的含量,显著促进新根和春梢的生长;夏季深施重肥的单株产量、单果重量与果实品质与冬季深施重肥间无显著差异。     

Pathogenesis of renal ischemia/reperfusion injury: lessons from knockout mice

Ischemia/reperfusion-induced acute renal failure is a common clinical problem associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Upon hypoxic injury, the depletion of ATP causes mitochondrial dysfunction, and accumulation of intracellular sodium, calcium and reactive oxygen species. Subsequently, multiple enzyme systems including proteases, nitric oxide synthases, phospholipases and endonuclease are activated and responsible for cytoskeleton disruption, membrane damage, and DNA degradation, and eventually cell death. Ischemia/reperfusion injury also activates complement, cytokines, and chemokines, which are cytotoxic themselves, but also attract leukocytes into the ischemic area to cause further damage. The vascular endothelial cell injury and dysfunction prolong ischemia and induce vascular congestion, edema, and further infiltration of inflammatory cells. Many players in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury and their mechanisms have been investigated using genetically manipulated mouse models. In this review, we focus on the information gathered from these studies. Deficiency of the Na/Ca exchanger, inducible nitric oxide synthase, Caspase-1, A3 adenosine receptor, C3, C5, C6, Factor B, or midkine protects the kidney against I/R injury. Conversely, deficiency of the interleukin-1 receptor, osteopontin, C4, or recombination activation gene-1 is not protective, while the absence of adrenomedullin or endothelin receptor B delays the recovery of ischemia/reperfusion injury. The knowledge obtained from these studies provides new direction for designing potential therapeutic agents for treating ischemia/reperfusion injury.     

八氢番茄红素合成酶(PSY)的生物信息学分析

目的:通过生物信息学方法对八氢番茄红素合成酶基因(PSY)及氨基酸序列分析,并构建三维结构。方法:运用生物信息学方法对八氢番茄红素合成酶基因及其蛋白质序列的理化性质、亲/疏水性、信号肽、跨膜结构域、糖基化位点,磷酸化位点,二级结构,功能结构域和三级结构进行预测分析。结果:PSY基因含1239bp的开放阅读框,编码氨基酸数为412,为碱性不稳定蛋白;八氢番茄红素合成酶富含Arg、Leu、Ala、Ser、Val等氨基酸,为亲水性蛋白质;PSY为非跨膜蛋白,不含信号肽,具有多个磷酸化位点,α螺旋和无规卷曲是其主要结构元件。结论:用同源建模的方法构建其三维结构,得到合理模型,为采用生物工程提高番茄红素产量提供理论依据。     

Widespread Recombination,Reassortment, and Transmission of Unbalanced Compound Viral Genotypes in Natural Arenavirus Infections

Arenaviruses are one of the largest families of human hemorrhagic fever viruses and are known to infect both mammals and snakes. Arenaviruses package a large (L) and small (S) genome segment in their virions. For segmented RNA viruses like these, novel genotypes can be generated through mutation, recombination, and reassortment. Although it is believed that an ancient recombination event led to the emergence of a new lineage of mammalian arenaviruses, neither recombination nor reassortment has been definitively documented in natural arenavirus infections. Here, we used metagenomic sequencing to survey the viral diversity present in captive arenavirus-infected snakes. From 48 infected animals, we determined the complete or near complete sequence of 210 genome segments that grouped into 23 L and 11 S genotypes. The majority of snakes were multiply infected, with up to 4 distinct S and 11 distinct L segment genotypes in individual animals. This S/L imbalance was typical: in all cases intrahost L segment genotypes outnumbered S genotypes, and a particular S segment genotype dominated in individual animals and at a population level. We corroborated sequencing results by qRT-PCR and virus isolation, and isolates replicated as ensembles in culture. Numerous instances of recombination and reassortment were detected, including recombinant segments with unusual organizations featuring 2 intergenic regions and superfluous content, which were capable of stable replication and transmission despite their atypical structures. Overall, this represents intrahost diversity of an extent and form that goes well beyond what has been observed for arenaviruses or for viruses in general. This diversity can be plausibly attributed to the captive intermingling of sub-clinically infected wild-caught snakes. Thus, beyond providing a unique opportunity to study arenavirus evolution and adaptation, these findings allow the investigation of unintended anthropogenic impacts on viral ecology, diversity, and disease potential.     

3D Topography of the Young Adult Anal Sphincter Complex Reconstructed from Undeformed Serial Anatomical Sections

Background

Pelvic-floor anatomy is usually studied by artifact-prone dissection or imaging, which requires prior anatomical knowledge. We used the serial-section approach to settle contentious issues and an interactive 3D-pdf to make the results widely accessible.

Method

3D reconstructions of undeformed thin serial anatomical sections of 4 females and 2 males (21–35y) of the Chinese Visible Human database.

Findings

Based on tendinous septa and muscle-fiber orientation as segmentation guides, the anal-sphincter complex (ASC) comprised the subcutaneous external anal sphincter (EAS) and the U-shaped puborectal muscle, a part of the levator ani muscle (LAM). The anococcygeal ligament fixed the EAS to the coccygeal bone. The puborectal-muscle loops, which define the levator hiatus, passed around the anorectal junction and inserted anteriorly on the perineal body and pubic bone. The LAM had a common anterior attachment to the pubic bone, but separated posteriorly into puborectal and “pubovisceral” muscles. This pubovisceral muscle was bilayered: its internal layer attached to the conjoint longitudinal muscle of the rectum and the rectococcygeal fascia, while its outer, patchy layer reinforced the inner layer. ASC contraction makes the ano-rectal bend more acute and lifts the pelvic floor. Extensions of the rectal longitudinal smooth muscle to the coccygeal bone (rectococcygeal muscle), perineal body (rectoperineal muscle), and endopelvic fascia (conjoint longitudinal and pubovisceral muscles) formed a “diaphragm” at the inferior boundary of the mesorectum that suspended the anorectal junction. Its contraction should straighten the anorectal bend.

Conclusion

The serial-section approach settled contentious topographic issues of the pelvic floor. We propose that the ASC is involved in continence and the rectal diaphragm in defecation.     

与成纤维细胞共培养的肺泡II型上皮细胞的生物学特性

建立胎鼠肺泡II型上皮细胞(AECII)与肺成纤维细胞(LF)共培养模型,观察与LF共培养下AECII的生物学特性。倒置相差显微镜观察AECII形态和基本生长情况;RT-PCR和流式细胞术分别检测肺泡表面活性蛋白-C(SP-C)、水通道蛋白5(AQP5)mRNA及蛋白质表达;流式细胞术检测细胞周期及Ki67表达。结果显示,与LF共培养时,AECII能较好地保留其细胞形态,SP-CmRNA及其蛋白质表达明显增加,而AQP5mRNA及其蛋白质表达则明显减少;LF促进AECII增殖,使G2/M、S期细胞及表达Ki67 细胞的比率明显增多。结果提示,AECII与LF共培养时,能更好地保留其细胞形态、分化及增殖特性。