Genetic polymorphisms of twelve X-STRs of the investigator Argus X-12 kit and additional six X-STR centromere region loci in an Egyptian population sample

Recently, many researchers have focused on analysis of different X-chromosomal STRs as they bear the potential to efficiently complement the analysis of autosomal and Y-chromosomal STRs in solving special complex kinship deficiency cases. In the current study we examined a sample of 250 unrelated Egyptian males with the Investigator Argus X-12 kit (Qiagen GmbH, Hilden, Germany) which detects 12 X-STR markers distributed over the entire X-chromosome as four closely linked clusters. Microvariant off ladder alleles as well as null alleles have been detected in some loci. Furthermore, discordant results were observed between the Investigator Argus X-12 and the Mentype^® Argus X-8 kits (Biotype AG, Dresden, Germany). New primers were designed for loci DXS10101, DXS10146 and DXS10148 to correct the allele drop outs observed in these loci with the Investigator Argus X-12 kit. Additionally, DNA sequence analysis revealed the polymorphisms responsible for the allele drop outs. Furthermore, six additional X-STRs (DXS10161, DXS10159, DXS10162, DXS10163, DXS10164 and DXS10165) located in the centromere region at Xp11.21–Xq11.1 were examined in a single multiplex reaction. Allele and haplotype frequencies as well as different forensic statistical parameters of the 18 X-STR loci tested indicated that they are highly informative in different forensic applications in the Egyptian population. However, some modifications still need to be performed on the Investigator Argus X-12 kit before its use in forensic casework is validated.     

Designing and Implementing a 5-Year Transfusion Medicine Diploma Program in China

The need for physicians and technical consultants specialized in transfusion medicine is urgent in China, as there are 20 000 hospitals and 500 blood centers in need of staff with this expertise. The progress made in transfusion medicine as a specialty has been relatively slow in China. Current Chinese medical education and service systems have not developed transfusion medicine as a stand-alone medical specialty. Most physicians receive only minimal training in transfusion medicine in medical school. This training is usually integrated into surgical training and addresses the most common technologies. In 2008, a 5-year bachelor's diploma program in transfusion medicine was established as an undergraduate specialty in Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. This article intends to summarize the 8 years of experience educating undergraduates in the specialty of transfusion medicine.     

Morphological and functional changes of chronic pancreatitis in patients with dyspepsia: A prospective,observational, cross-sectional study

ObjectiveWhether chronic pancreatitis (CP) may present with dyspepsia is controversial. We aimed at evaluating the frequency and risk factors of changes of CP in patients presenting with epigastric pain syndrome (EPS)-like symptoms.DesignA prospective, observational, cross-sectional study was carried out in patients with EPS-like symptoms. Patients underwent endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) evaluation of the pancreas, and changes of CP were defined as the presence of five or more EUS criteria of the disease. In patients with 3 or 4 EUS criteria, magnetic resonance dynamic evaluation of the pancreas (MRI/sMRCP) and endoscopic pancreatic function test (ePFT) were carried out to confirm or exclude the presence of changes of CP. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate factors associated with CP findings, and results are shown as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI).Results213 patients were included. Changes of CP were confirmed by EUS (≥5 criteria) in 18 patients (8.4%). Thirty-four patients had 3-4 EUS criteria, and changes of CP were confirmed in 27 of them by MRI/sMRCP and ePFT (12.7%). Morphological and functional findings of CP were then present in 45 patients (21.1%). Male gender (OR 2.97; 95%CI 1.39–6.37) and alcohol and tobacco consumption (OR 6.56; 95%CI 1.97–21.85) were associated with the presence of changes of CP.ConclusionMorphological and functional changes of CP are frequent in patients with EPS-like symptoms. Whether these pancreatic changes explain EPS-like symptoms requires further investigation.     

肿瘤相关巨噬细胞相关性miR-99a对子宫内膜癌细胞生长和侵袭的调控作用

背景与目的：肿瘤相关巨噬细胞（tumor-associated macrophage，TAM）浸润与肿瘤进展密切相关，但作用机制尚不明确，因此，探索miR-99a对单核巨噬细胞极化的影响及其对子宫内膜癌（endometrial cancer，EC）细胞生长、侵袭的影响。方法：检测EC组织中巨噬唾液酸蛋白（macrosialin）CD68表达并分析其与临床病理学特征之间的关系；运用人EC细胞系HEC-1B、RL95-2培养上清液诱导人单核细胞U937向TAM（M2型巨噬细胞）分化；将人工合成的miR-99a模拟物片段转染至诱导后的巨噬细胞，转染后运用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应（real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction，RTFQ-PCR）及流式细胞术检测巨噬细胞相关因子CD68、CD163以及巨噬细胞甘露糖受体（mcrophage mannose receptor）CD206表达量变化，并运用酶联免疫吸附法（enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay，ELISA）检测巨噬细胞分泌相关细胞因子IL-12、IL-4和IL-10分泌量变化；将转染miR-99a的诱导后巨噬细胞与EC细胞共培养，运用细胞计数试剂盒（cell counting kit-8，CCK-8）和transwell法检测其对EC细胞增殖和侵袭能力的影响，并初步分析其可能的作用机制。结果：EC组织CD68高表达并与肿瘤肌层浸润及血管生成呈正相关；肿瘤细胞培养上清液成功诱导单核细胞向M2型TAM极化。转染miR-99a后单核细胞组CD68及CD163表达较对照组下降（P＜0.01），而CD206表达差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05），流式细胞术进一步证实上述表达变化；ELISA结果发现，转染miR-99a诱导后巨噬细胞中IL-12分泌增多（P＜0.01），而IL-4、IL-10分泌减少（P＜0.01），提示巨噬细胞向M2型极化受抑制。将诱导后巨噬细胞与EC细胞共培养，共培养后EC细胞增殖侵袭能力较对照组增加，而转染miR-99a模拟片段至诱导后巨噬细胞能够抑制其对增殖（P＜0.01）及侵袭能力的促进作用（P＜0.05）。诱导后巨噬细胞中过表达miR-99a后细胞中mTOR及其通路受到抑制。结论：EC间质巨噬细胞浸润与肿瘤肌层浸润及血管新生相关，miR-99a能够逆转单核细胞向M2表型极化，并抑制EC细胞介导TAM的促EC细胞生长和侵袭作用，其作用可能通过调控mTOR通路产生。     

Overexpression of IL-8 promotes cell migration via PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and EMT in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of malignant and heterogeneous tumor in premenopausal females with ineffective therapeutic targets. IL-8 is one of the earliest discovered chemotaxis cytokines which expression is closely related to the progress of various cancers. Previous studies showed that IL-8 determines the prognosis of TNBC patients, nevertheless how IL-8 influences the progress of TNBC is unclear. In our studies, we discovered that overexpression of IL-8 promotes TNBC cells (TNBCs) migration and tumor growth via the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathway. Cell-cycle of TNBCs arrest at S phase by overexpression of IL-8, however, there is no significant variation on the cell viability and cell apoptosis of TNBCs. Besides, overexpression of IL-8 result in the downregulation of E-cadherin and the upregulation of Cyclin B1 in MDA-MB-231 cells. Taken together, our results suggest that IL-8 performs a crucial role in the progress of TNBC, and it could be a novel therapeutic target of TNBC.     

土木香内酯对人骨肉瘤143B细胞恶性生物学行为的影响

目的：探讨土木香内酯（alantolactone，ALT）对人骨肉瘤143B细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭和凋亡的影响及其作用机制。方法：用不同浓度（0、4、6、8、10 μmol/L）的ALT处理人骨肉瘤143B细胞后，用结晶紫染色法和MTT实验检测细胞的增殖能力，用划痕愈合实验、Transwell 小室法、Hoechst33258 染色法分别检测细胞的迁移、侵袭和凋亡水平，用qPCR及Western blotting（WB）分别检测细胞中E-cadherin 和N-cadherin、caspase-3、cleaved-caspase-3（c-caspase-3）、PARP和cleaved-PARP（c-PARP）mRNA和蛋白表达水平。用荧光素酶报告基因实验检测T细胞淋巴因子或淋巴增强因子（T cell lymphocyte factor/lymphoid enhancer factor,TCF/LEF）转录活性，qPCR及WB检测β-catenin 及MMP-7、c-Myc mRNA和蛋白表达水平。结果：ALT能够抑制骨肉瘤143B 细胞的增殖、迁移和侵袭，同时促进细胞凋亡（P<0.05 或P<0.01）。经8、10 μmol/L ALT处理后，143B细胞中PARP mRNA和蛋白水平显著上调，c-caspase-3 和c-PARP 蛋白水平表达增加（均P<0.05）；E-cadherin mRNA 和蛋白水平表达上调、N-cadherin mRNA 和蛋白表达水平下调，同时TCF/LEF 转录活性明显下降（P<0.05 或P<0.01），β-catenin、MMP-7 和c-Myc mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著下调（P<0.05 或P<0.01）。结论：ALT通过抑制Wnt/β-catenin 信号通路的活性从而抑制人骨肉瘤143B细胞增殖、迁移和侵袭，并促进其凋亡。