Genetic epidemiological study of keratoconus: evidence for major gene determination

Keratoconus (KC) is a noninflammatory corneal thinning disorder and the major cause of cornea transplantation in the Western world. Genetic factors have been suggested in the cause of KC. We conducted a family study to investigate genetic contributions to the development of KC by evaluating familial aggregation and testing genetic models with segregation analysis. KC was diagnosed based on clinical criteria. Familial aggregation of KC was evaluated using both clinical status and three videokeratography indices generated by the Topographic Modeling System (TMS-1). The estimated KC prevalence in first-degree relatives was 3.34% (41/1,226, 95% CI: 3. 22-3.46%), which is 15 to 67 times higher than that in the general population (0.23-0.05%). For all three videokeratography indices, CK, IS, and KISA, KC propositi had significantly higher mean values than controls (all P < 0.0001). Clinically unaffected parents also had significantly higher values for these indices than controls (all P < 0.016). The correlation of KISA in sib and parent-offspring pairs (r = 0.30 and 0.22, respectively, both P < 0.0005) was significantly greater than that in marital pairs (r = 0.14), and the latter was not significantly different from zero. We performed segregation analysis on KISA in 95 families ascertained through KC propositi. Hypotheses of both sporadic and environmental models were rejected (P < 0.001); a major gene model was not rejected (P > 0.1). Additionally, the most parsimonious model was autosomal recessive. In conclusion, we observed strong evidence of familial aggregation in KC and its subclinical indices and this aggregation is likely due to a major gene effect.     

幽门螺杆菌对胎儿胃粘膜上皮细胞的粘附用研究

实验选用６至７个月龄的脑儿胃粘膜组织进行有关幽门螺杆菌（Ｈｐ）的粘附部位及菌株间粘附能力差异的研究，发现ＣＡＰＭＤ３２株与ＮＣＴＣ１１６３７株的粘附部位相似，Ｈｐ对胃窦及胃体下部粘膜组织具有很强的粘附能力，而对胃体上部及胃底部粘膜组织的粘附能力很差或不能粘附；而ＣＡＰＭ Ｚ－４株则对胃体、胃窦及胃底部粘膜上皮组织均表现出很强的粘附能力；表明Ｈｐ的粘附存在明显的部位特异性，不同Ｈｐ菌株间在粘附同一胎儿胃粘膜组织时表现出明显的差异，Ｈｐ与胃粘膜上皮细胞间的粘附过程比较复杂，至少包括两种类型，参与Ｈｐ粘附的粘附素和相应受体不止一种。结果提示Ｈｐ相关性慢性胃炎的好发部位及严重程度除与人胃粘膜组织不同部位细菌粘附受体的表达存在明显的差异外，还决定于Ｈｐ的粘附素的种类和粘附特性。不但首次在机体和细菌两个方面揭示了Ｈｐ相关性慢性胃炎的发病规律，也为进一步开展该菌疫苗的研制、开展对Ｈｐ感染及其相关疾病的防治提供了重要线索。     

壳聚糖纳米颗粒包裹对鼠白细胞介素2基因表达和调节小鼠免疫效应的影响

本实验制备壳聚糖纳米颗粒 (CNP) ,包裹小鼠白细胞介素 2基因 (mIL 2 )真核表达质粒 (VRMIL 2 ) ,肌注接种 2 1d昆明小鼠 ,观察mIL 2基因体内表达及其对免疫应答和免疫保护的影响。实验结果发现 :CNP包裹VRMIL 2注射小鼠血液中IgG、IgM和IgA不同程度地增多 ,均显著高于CNP包裹空白质粒组 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;其血清中IL 2、IL 4和IL 6的含量明显升高 ,与对照组差异显著 (P <0 .0 5 ) ;外周血液的白细胞和淋巴细胞数量也较对照组显著增加。免疫后 35d以大肠杆菌口服攻毒实验小鼠 ,检测发现 :CNP包裹VRMIL 2组小鼠的上述免疫指标除中性粒细胞外均显著多于对照小鼠 ,VRMIL 2接种小鼠均健康存活 ,而对照小鼠均发病 ;尽管CNP包裹VRMIL 2接种小鼠的体液和细胞免疫指标与未包裹VRMIL 2免疫鼠差异不显著 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,但剂量仅为后者的 1/ 5。这些结果表明 :壳聚糖纳米颗粒包裹VRMIL 2可显著提高外源IL 2基因体内表达水平 ,明显增强体液和细胞免疫水平的效应 ,增强对大肠杆菌的抗病力 ,提示壳聚糖纳米颗粒包裹IL 2基因可明显增强动物的体液和细胞免疫 ,可作为有效的抗感染免疫调节剂。     

甘草黄酮抗实验性心律失常的作用

甘草黄酮（ｇｌｙｃｙｒｒｈｅｉｃｂｒｓｓ．ＧＢ）２ｍｇ／ｋｇ能明显对抗乌头碱２０μｇ／ｋｇ，ＢａＣｌ２２ｍｇ／ｋｇ和结扎左冠状动脉前降支诱发大鼠的室性心律失常。甘草黄酮也能明显对抗ＣａＣｌ２－Ａｃｈ（ＣａＣｌ２０．６％＋Ａｃｈ０．００２５％）混合液诱发小鼠心房纤颤或扑动，ＧＢ对大鼠心电图实验，证明了有负性频率作用，负性传导作用，这些作用可能是ＧＢ抗心律失常作用的药理基础。     

抗T细胞单克隆抗体对再生障碍性贫血患者TNF和IL—2水平的影响

为探讨抗Ｔ淋巴细胞克隆抗体对再生障碍性贫血患者免疫功能的调节作用，采用放射免疫检测２５例ＡＡ患者ＭｃＡｂ－Ｔ治疗前后血清肿瘤坏死因子和白细胞介素－２（ＩＬ－２）水平及其中１０例周围血单个核细胞体外诱生ＴＮＦ和ＩＬ－２水平的变化。     

Cyr61 protects against hyperoxia-induced cell death via Akt pathway in pulmonary epithelial cells

We have used gene expression profiling approaches to identify new molecular targets in various models of lung injury and human lung diseases. Among the many genes that are significantly induced in these studies, cysteine-rich61 (Cyr61) consistently ranks as one of the most significant genes. Here, we use the well-established model of hyperoxia to better understand the function of Cyr61 in acute lung injury. Cyr61, a stress-related immediate-early response gene, has known diverse functions involving angiogenesis, tumorigenesis, and wound repair. It belongs to the newly discovered "CCN" family containing six growth and regulatory factors. We showed that hyperoxia induces Cyr61 expression in a variety of pulmonary cells and in lung tissue in vivo. Loss of function studies, by suppressing Cyr61 expression by siRNA, accelerated lung epithelial cell death after hyperoxia. Gain of function studies, by overexpressing Cyr61, significantly conferred increased resistance to hyperoxia-induced cell death. Moreover, cells overexpressing Cyr61 induce Akt activation. Inhibition of Akt by siRNA abrogated the protective effects of Cyr61-overexpressing cells in response to hyperoxia. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Cyr61 expression provides cytoprotection in hyperoxia-induced pulmonary epithelial cell death and that this effect was in part mediated via the Akt signaling pathway.     

Studies on planar orientation and trap depth of poly(ethylene terephthalate) film

Poly(ethylene terephthalate) films with various degrees of planar orientation of the macromolecules were prepared by uniaxial and biaxial stretching. Fourier transform infrared spectra indicate that the content of gauche conformation decreases linearly with the degree of planar orientation, while the content of trans conformation increases linearly. A linear relationship between the trap depth calculated from Thermally Stimulated Current spectra and the degree of planar orientation was observed.     

Partial response to biotin therapy in a patient with holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency: clinical,biochemical, and molecular genetic aspects

We report the clinical course and biochemical findings of a 10-year-old, mentally retarded girl with late-onset holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS, gene symbol HLCS) deficiency and only partial response to biotin. On treatment, even with an unusually high dose of 200mg/day, activities of the biotin-dependent mitochondrial carboxylases in lymphocytes remained below 50% of the mean control values. Not only urinary 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid excretion has been persistently elevated, but also plasma and, with even higher concentrations, cerebrospinal fluid 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid have not normalized. The unusual and insufficient response of this patient to biotin treatment can be explained by the effect of the combination of the common HLCS allele IVS10 +5 g>a on one chromosome and a truncating mutation on the other. This case illustrates mechanisms involved in the genotype-phenotype correlation that unequivocally exists in HCS deficiency.