Mutations in the cationic trypsinogen gene and evidence for genetic heterogeneity in hereditary pancreatitis

Hereditary pancreatitis (HP) is a rare inherited disorder, characterised by recurrent episodes of pancreatitis often beginning in early childhood. The mode of inheritance suggests an autosomal dominant trait with incomplete penetrance. The gene, or at least one of the genes, responsible for hereditary pancreatitis has been mapped to the long arm of chromosome 7 and a missense mutation, an arginine to histidine substitution at residue 117 in the trypsinogen cationic gene (try4) has been shown to segregate with the HP phenotype. The aim of this work was to investigate the molecular basis of hereditary pancreatitis. This study was performed on 14 HP families. The five exons of the trypsinogen cationic gene were studied using a specific gene amplification assay combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The present paper describes three novel mutations, namely K23R and N29I and a deletion -28delTCC in the promoter region. We also found a polymorphism in exon 4, D162D. In eight of these families we found a mutation which segregates with the disease. A segregation analysis using microsatellite markers carried out on the other families suggests genetic heterogeneity in at least one of them. Our findings confirm the implication of the cationic trypsinogen gene in HP and highlight allelic diversity associated with this phenotype. We also show that the pattern of inheritance of HP is probably complex and that other genes may be involved in this genetic disease.     

ADA活性紫外吸收测定法的改良及复感儿淋巴细胞该酶活性的检测

检测了42例健康儿童和17例反复上呼吸道感染患儿（复感儿）的血淋巴细胞腺苷脱氨酶（ADA）活性，结果表明：复感儿的血淋巴细胞中ADA活性较健康儿童低下，且大多同样伴有不同程度的免疫功能低下；从复感儿组中筛选了两侧ADA活性和免疫功能明显低下的患儿，拟采用这两例患儿的血淋巴细胞进行ADA－SCID基因治疗的实验研究。     

成年大鼠胰岛的体外基因转染

目的 探讨携带外源基因的慢病毒在体外有效感染胰岛及外源基因在胰岛中的表达，为通过移植前向胰岛细胞转入特定的免疫调节分子基因诱导胰岛移植物耐受奠定基础。方法 将目的基因CTLA4Ig导入慢病毒载体pWPTS，构建成pWPTS-CTLA4Ig载体。用磷酸钙沉淀法将pWPTS-EGFP、pWPTS-CTLA4Ig分别和其辅助载体pMD2．G、pCMVΔ8．92共转染293T细胞，收获病毒上清液，测定病毒滴度后感染新分离的胰岛。通过Western Blot测定胰岛培养上清液中CTLA4Ig蛋白的表达。结果 ①成功构建了携带CTLA4Ig基因的慢病毒载体pWPTS-CTLA4Ig；②包装产生的慢病毒Lenti-EGFP、Lenti-CTLA4Ig在体外可以感染胰岛，其中在Lenti-EGFP慢病毒感染的胰岛观察到了绿色荧光，及在Lenti-CTLA4Ig慢病毒感染的胰岛培养上清液中检测到了CTLA4Ig蛋白的表达。结论 慢病毒在体外可以有效感染大鼠胰岛，且携带的外源基因可以在胰岛细胞中稳定表达，其中Lenti-CTLA4Ig慢病毒感染的胰岛为进行胰岛移植并诱导体内特异的胰岛移植物耐受奠定了基础。     

The central pattern generator for vomiting may exist in the reticular area dorsomedial to the retrofacial nucleus in dogs

There is some controversy over whether or not a discrete site that integrates vomiting activities in somatic and autonomic nerves is present in the medulla oblongata. On the basis of our previous studies, we hypothesized that the temporal patterns of muscle contractions in vomiting are generated by a central pattern generator in the retrofacial area of the rostral medulla. To investigate this hypothesis further, the effects of electrical and chemical lesions of the medullary area were observed in decerebrate paralyzed dogs. Efferent activities of the phrenic and abdominal muscle nerves were recorded to recognize fictive vomiting. The right half of the medulla oblongata was transversely severed about 3 mm rostral to the obex. Fictive vomiting responses to vagal stimulation still appeared after hemisection in all 11 dogs. In addition, stimulation of the contralateral reticular area dorsomedial to the retrofacial nucleus produced fictive vomiting even after hemisection. An electrical lesion or injection of kainic acid (0.5–1.0 μl) was applied at the point where reticular stimulation induced fictive vomiting. After this destruction, no activities that corresponded to fictive vomiting could be induced by stimulation of vagal afferents or the reticular site. Salivation was decreased by hemisection, and decreased further, but was not completely abolished, with destruction of the reticular area. Kainic acid is known to selectively destroy neural cell bodies. Therefore, we concluded that neuronal somata in the reticular formation dorsomedial to the retrofacial nucleus play an essential role in the central patterning of vomiting activities in peripheral motor nerves. Received: 10 September 1996 / Accepted: 2 July 1997     

Adaptive motor unit action potential clustering using shape and temporal information

An adaptive algorithm is described that groups motor unit action potentials (MUAPs), detected in a composite EMG signal during signal decomposition, and creates partial motor unit action potential trains (MUAPTs). Data-driven MUAP shape and motor unit firing-pattern based criteria are used to form the clusters. An algorithm for estimating MUAPT temporal parameter, which provides accurate estimates even for partially defined trains, is used to obtain firing-pattern information. No a priori knowledge is required regarding the number of clusters or the distribution of their template shapes. The clustering algorithm when applied to real concentric-needle detected MUAP data provides accurate and useful clustering results. Compared to a classical leader-based algorithm, it provides more robust performance, is better able to estimate the true number of motor units represented in a set of detected MUAPs, and obtains more complete and accurate MUAPTs.     

Genetic dissection of the complex pathological manifestations of collagen disease in MRL/lpr mice

An MRL strain of mice bearing a Fas-deletion mutant gene, lpr, MRL/MpJ-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) develops collagen disease involving vasculitis, glomerulonephritis, arthritis and sialoadenitis, each of which has been studied as a model for polyarteritis, lupus nephritis, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome, respectively. Development of such lesions seems dependent on host genetic background since the congenic C3H/HeJ-lpr/lpr (C3H/lpr) mice rarely develop them. To identify the gene loci affecting each lesion, a genetic dissection of these complex pathological manifestations was carried out. First, histopathological features in MRL/lpr, C3H/lpr, (MRL/lpr × C3H/lpr) F1 intercross, and MRL/lpr × (MRL/lpr × C3H/lpr) F1 backcross mice were analyzed. Genomic DNA of the backcross mice were subjected to association studies by Chi-squared analysis for determining which polymorphic microsatellite locus occurs at higher frequency among affected compared to unaffected individuals for each lesion. As a result, gene loci recessively associated with each lesion were mapped on different chromosomal positions. We concluded that each of these lesions in MRL/lpr mice is under the control of a different set of genes, suggesting that the complex pathological manifestations of collagen disease result from polygenic inheritance.     

Circadian clock and cell cycle gene expression in mouse mammary epithelial cells and in the developing mouse mammary gland.

Mouse mammary epithelial cells (HC-11) and mammary tissues were analyzed for developmental changes in circadian clock, cellular proliferation, and differentiation marker genes. Expression of the clock genes Per1 and Bmal1 were elevated in differentiated HC-11 cells, whereas Per2 mRNA levels were higher in undifferentiated cells. This differentiation-dependent profile of clock gene expression was consistent with that observed in mouse mammary glands, as Per1 and Bmal1 mRNA levels were elevated in late pregnant and lactating mammary tissues, whereas Per2 expression was higher in proliferating virgin and early pregnant glands. In both HC-11 cells and mammary glands, elevated Per2 expression was positively correlated with c-Myc and Cyclin D1 mRNA levels, whereas Per1 and Bmal1 expression changed in conjunction with beta-casein mRNA levels. Interestingly, developmental stage had differential effects on rhythms of clock gene expression in the mammary gland. These data suggest that circadian clock genes may play a role in mouse mammary gland development and differentiation.     

基于3D Shepp-Logan头部模型的三维医学图像重建仿真

Shepp-Logan头部模型是计算机断层图像重建(CT)领域仿真计算普遍采用的经典模型。我们提出一种新思路—以3D Shepp-Logan头部模型作为三维医学图像重建领域进行仿真实验和算法性能评测的基本参考模型。首先介绍了3D Shepp-Logan头部模型的设计与实现以及仿真投影数据的计算,进而描述了所设计的三维医学图像重建仿真计算过程。数值实验部分给出了基于3D Shepp-Logan头部模型的三维医学图像重建仿真实验。实验结果表明了新思路的可行性和模型计算的准确性。