'Fat mass and obesity associated' gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">FTO</Emphasis>): No significant association of variant rs9939609 with weight loss in a lifestyle intervention and lipid metabolism markers in German obese children and adolescents

Background  

We have previously identified strong association of six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FTO (fat mass and obesity associated gene) to early onset extreme obesity within the first genome wide association study (GWA) for this phenotype. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the obesity risk allele of one of these SNPs (rs9939609) is associated with weight loss in a lifestyle intervention program. Additionally, we tested for association of rs9939609 alleles with fasting blood parameters indicative of glucose and lipid metabolism.     

Trabecular Shear Stresses Predict <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vivo</Emphasis> Linear Microcrack Density but not Diffuse Damage in Human Vertebral Cancellous Bone

Linear microcracks and diffuse damage (staining over a broad region) are two types of microscopic damage known to occur in vivo in human vertebral trabecular bone. These damage types might be associated with vertebral failure. Using microcomputed tomography and finite element analysis for specimens of cancellous bone, we estimated the stresses in the trabeculae of human vertebral tissue for inferosuperior loading. Microdamage was quantified histologically. The density of in vivo linear microcracks was, but the diffuse damage area was not, related to the estimates of von Mises stress distribution in the tissue. In vivo linear microcrack density increased with increasing coefficient of variation of the trabecular von Mises stress and with increasing average trabecular von Mises stress generated per superoinferior apparent axial stress. Nonlinear increase in linear crack density, similar to the increase of the coefficient of variation of trabecular shear stresses, with decreasing bone stiffness and bone volume fraction suggests that damage may accumulate rather rapidly in diseases associated with low bone density due to the dramatic increase of shear stresses in the tissue. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2003: 8719Rr, 8719Xx, 8759Ls, 8759Fm, 8710+e     

临床分离产IMP-1型金属酶非发酵菌的耐药机制研究

从临床收集耐亚胺培南的铜绿假单胞菌和鲍曼不动杆菌共50株,进行头孢他啶和2-巯基乙醇的表型协同试验(CAZ ME),然后进行金属酶IMP-1基因的PCR检测。选取IMP-1阳性株测序,用PCR方法检测有无一类整合子基因(IntI1)。表型的检测发现有28株为协同阳性,其中铜绿假单胞菌27株,鲍曼不动杆菌1株。PCR和测序检测出其中一株铜绿假单胞菌含有IMP-1基因,同时也含有IntI1基因。首次在中国西部地区发现产IMP-1型金属酶、同时也含有一类整合子的铜绿假单胞菌,对于临床上研究细菌的耐药性传播具有重要意义。     

中药心康口服液抗柯萨奇B3病毒RNA复制作用的研究

目的研究探讨中药心康口服液对感染心肌中柯萨奇B3病毒RNA复制的影响。方法小鼠感染柯萨奇病毒B3(CVB3)诱发急性病毒性心肌炎,于急性期治疗后提取鼠心肌总RNA,用逆转录-聚合酶链反应技术检测心肌CVB3RNA含量,经琼脂糖凝胶电泳后,在凝胶成像系统下观察。结果中药心康口服液能明显降低心肌CVB3-RNA的含量,与病毒对照组比较差异有统计学意义,P<0.01;感染期不同阶段心肌病毒RNA含量的检测显示,心康口服液2个治疗组的病毒含量的检出,并没有随着用药时间的延长而显著降低。结论中药心康口服液能有效地影响心肌CVB3RNA的复制,其对病毒的作用是抑制复制而非杀灭。     

The impact of the Catechol-O-methyltransferase Val158Met polymorphism on survival in the general population – the HUNT study

Background  

The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene contains a functional polymorphism, Val158Met which has been related to common diseases like cancer, psychiatric illness and myocardial infarction. Whether the Val158Met polymorphism is associated with survival has not been evaluated in the general population. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the impact of codon 158 COMT gene polymorphism on survival in a population-based cohort.     

湖北地区汉滩病毒与普马拉病毒及多布拉伐病毒的血清学交叉反应研究

目的 研究湖北地区汉滩病毒(hantaan virus,HTNV)与普马拉病毒(Puumaa virus,PUUV)、多布拉伐病毒(Dobrava virus,DOBV)血清学交叉反应.方法 以酵母菌表达的PUUV、DOBV、HTNV重组核衣壳蛋白(recombinant nucleocapsidprotein,rNP)为包被抗原,ELISA法定性、定量分析湖北地区HTN型急性,恢复期血清中IgA、IgG、IgM抗体,比较疾病早晚期血清学交叉反应变化.结果 DOB-rNP与HTN型血清中IgA、IgG、IgM抗体交叉反应性较高,PUU-rNp对HTN型血清交叉反应很低;IgA、IgG抗体交叉反应在恢复期血清中均增高,且IgA抗体交叉反应更多更强.结论 湖北地区HTN型血清与DOBV存在广泛交叉反应,与PUUV交叉反应少.各交叉反应在恢复期增高对汉滩病毒血清学研究具重要意义.     

碱性MAGE家族新成员restin在大肠杆菌中的表达和抗体制备

目的:从维甲酸诱导的白血病细胞系HL60中,克隆编码219个氨基酸的新基因restin,构建原核表达载体、制备抗血清并进行初步应用。方法:采用PCR技术,以维甲酸诱导的白血病细胞的cDNA为模板,扩增出restin的编码区。将其克隆入大肠杆菌表达载体中。经过温度诱导获得restin表达蛋白。利用SDS-PAGE纯化的目的蛋白免疫新西兰大白兔,制备该蛋白的抗血清。以该抗体做间接免疫荧光,初步观察restin在COS-7细胞内的表达分布。结果:大肠杆菌中表达的restin蛋白的Mr为26000。将其初步纯化后免疫新西兰白兔制备的抗血清,用Westernblot检测其效价为1∶800。间接免疫荧光显示,restin蛋白主要分布在细胞核内。结论:成功地制备抗restin的抗体,为进一步研究restin蛋白在组织中的表达、细胞内亚定位以及信号转导通路提供了前提条件。     

应用单细胞多重PCR进行性别鉴定

目的建立一种准确、快速、简便的在单细胞水平进行性别鉴定的技术.方法应用多重 PCR同时扩增单个活检细胞的Y染色体特异重复序列(DYZ1)及X染色体特异重复序列(DXZ1).结果 40个淋巴细胞(XY)成功地扩增出DXZ1电泳带(316bp)和DYZ1电泳带(154bp),正确率为100%;40个淋巴细胞(XX)中有39个成功地扩增出一条DXZ1电泳带(316bp),正确率为98%.结论采用DYZ1和DXZ1引物对单个细胞同时扩增进行性别鉴定是一种简单可靠的方法,可用于胚胎种植前诊断及无创性产前诊断.     

Developing health science students into integrated health professionals: a practical tool for learning

Background  

An integrated sense of professionalism enables health professionals to draw on relevant knowledge in context and to apply a set of professional responsibilities and ethical principles in the midst of changing work environments [1, 2]. Inculcating professionalism is therefore a critical goal of health professional education. Two multi-professional courses for first year Health Science students at the University of Cape Town, South Africa aim to lay the foundation for becoming an integrated health professional [3]. In these courses a diagram depicting the domains of the integrated health professional is used to focus the content of small group experiential exercises towards an appreciation of professionalism. The diagram serves as an organising framework for conceptualising an emerging professional identity and for directing learning towards the domains of 'self as professional' [4, 5].