Association of DAAO with schizophrenia in the Chinese population

Recently, the gene called DAAO was reported to be associated with schizophrenia in the French Canadian populations. Here, we report a result obtained in the study of our large collection of 547 schizophrenia cases and 536 controls in the Chinese population. Six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped at and around the DAAO locus, covering a 10-kb region entirely encompassing the complementary DNA sequences of DAAO. We found statistically significant differences in allele distributions on one marker: SNP rs3741775 (P = 0.0000001). In the haplotype analysis based on the information of linkage-disequilibrium block across this gene locus, we demonstrated a highly significant association between schizophrenia and a DAAO haplotype (P = 2.0173 x 10(-21)), which therefore provides an independent statistical support for association of the DAAO gene with schizophrenia and indicates that the DAAO gene may play a significant role in the etiology of schizophrenia in the Han Chinese.     

E. coli-expressed recombinant norovirus capsid proteins maintain authentic antigenicity and receptor binding capability

The baculovirus expression system has been widely used to produce the capsid proteins of Norovirus (NV) and the proteins form virus-like particles (VLPs) that are useful in many studies, such as immunology, diagnosis, and host-receptor interaction. We report here the application of the E. coli expression system in the production of recombinant NV capsid proteins. In a direct comparison of a previous well-characterized NV strain (VA387), we have demonstrated that the E. coli-expressed capsid proteins maintain the same antigenicity and receptor binding specificity as that of the baculovirus-expressed capsid, although the E. coli-expressed VA387 proteins did not form VLPs. Using the E. coli-expression system, we characterized the receptor-binding patterns of three additional NV strains (OIF1998, Parris Island and VA115), in which OIF1998 binds to HBGA of nonsecretors but did not bind or binds weakly to the HBGA of secretors, as seen in strain VA207. Parris Island binds to HBGA of types A and B but not type O secretors and nonsecretors. VA115 did not show specific binding to any A, B, O secretor nor nonsecretor, which is also observed when the capsid protein of this strain was expressed in baculovirus. Our data indicate that VLP formation is not required for receptor binding, and that the bacteria expression system offers a simple alternative for large production of NV capsid protein for various research purposes, particularly for strains generating low yields in the insect cells.     

Expression of Wnt ligands and Frizzled receptors in colonic mucosa and in colon carcinoma.

AIMS: Signalling through the Wnt pathway is integrally associated with colon carcinogenesis. Although activating mutations in the genes for adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and beta-catenin are clearly associated with colon cancer, less is understood about the role of the upstream secreted ligands (Wnts) and their receptors (frizzled, Fz) in this process. In other systems, increased Wnt signalling has been shown to alter the expression of components of this pathway. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that colon cancer is characterised by aberrant expression of specific Wnt genes and Fz receptors. METHODS: The expression of Wnt genes was assessed by in situ, antisense RNA hybridisation in paraffin wax embedded samples of normal and malignant human colon tissues with probes specific for the individual Wnt genes. The expression of Fz1 and Fz2 was determined by immunoperoxidase based antibody staining on human tissues. RESULTS: Changes in the expression of some ligands and receptors were seen in colon cancer. For example, Wnt2 mRNA was detected in colon cancer but was undetectable in normal colonic mucosa. Differential expression of Wnt5a in normal mucosa was also noted, with increased expression at the base of the crypts compared with the luminal villi and slightly increased expression in colon cancer. Wnt7a exhibited minimal expression in both normal and malignant colon tissues, whereas other Wnt ligands including Wnts 1, 4, 5b, 6, 7b, and 10b were expressed equally and strongly in both normal and malignant colon tissues. In defining cellular responses and phenotype, the type and distribution of Fz receptors may be as important as the pattern of Wnt ligand expression. No expression of Fz receptor 1 and 2 was seen in normal colonic mucosa and in well differentiated tumours. However, poorly differentiated tumours exhibited a high degree of Fz receptor expression, especially at the margin of cellular invasion. CONCLUSIONS: These data indicate that the expression of members of the Wnt signal transduction pathway, distinct from APC and beta-catenin, is integrally associated with the process of colon carcinogenesis. Wnt2, and possibly Wnt5a, may be involved in the progression from normal mucosa to cancer and the expression of Fz1/2 receptors may be involved in processes associated with tumour invasion. Altered expression of these Wnts and Fz receptors may prove useful as prognostic or diagnostic markers for patients with colon cancer.     

体外反搏对心肌缺血犬血流动力学的影响及内皮素机制的探讨

目的：探讨体外反搏改善心肌缺血犬血流动力学的作用和内皮素机制。 方法： 19只健康杂种犬随机分为对照组、缺血组和反搏组，分别于冠状动脉左前降支结扎前和结扎后60 min、120 min、180 min记录以下指标：①主动脉根部血压；②左心室收缩和舒张末压、+dp/dtmax和-dp/dtmax；③头臂干血流量；④放免法检测血浆和心肌内皮素-1（ET-1）的含量。 结果： 冠脉结扎1 h，缺血组和反搏组犬血压、左心室收缩和舒张功能、头臂干血流量明显低于正常组（P<0.05），而血浆ET-1水平明显高于正常组（P<0.05）。经过体外反搏2 h，反搏组犬的收缩压、舒张压和平均压、左心室收缩和舒张功能、头臂干血流量明显高于缺血组（P<0.05）；而反搏组犬的血浆和心肌ET-1水平明显低于缺血组（P<0.05）。 结论： 体外反搏可改善心肌缺血犬血流动力学指标，其机制可能与降低ET-1的产生有关。     

Cytochrome P450 1A1 and manganese superoxide dismutase genes polymorphisms in ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the associations of cytochrome p450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) genes polymorphisms with the susceptibility to AS in Taiwan. METHODS: The polymorphisms of CYP1A1 and MnSOD genes were determined in 70 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and 93 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) methods. RESULTS: The genotype frequency of CYP1A1 4887C/A was significantly lower in patients with AS than in controls. The phenotype frequency of CYP1A1 4887A also tended to be decreased in patients with AS. There were no significant differences in the genotype, allele, and phenotype frequencies of MnSOD gene polymorphisms between patients with AS and controls. CONCLUSION: CYP1A1 4887A may be a protective factor for the development of AS in Taiwan. However, MnSOD gene polymorphisms are not associated with the susceptibility to AS.     

Functional morphology and physiological properties of bronchopulmonary C-fiber afferents

Nonmyelinated (C-) fibers represent the majority of vagal afferents innervating the airways and lung, and play an important role in regulating the respiratory and cardiovascular functions under both normal and abnormal physiologic conditions. Studies of the relationship between the conduction velocities of the vagal afferents and their sensitivities to capsaicin and other chemical irritants reveal that C-fibers are the primary type of chemosensitive afferents in the rat lung. Furthermore, a distinct sensitivity to capsaicin and a weak response to lung inflation are the defining characteristics of these afferents. In cultured rat nodose and jugular ganglion neurons, capsaicin-sensitive cells were identified by measurement of the capsaicin-evoked calcium transients using the Fura-2-based ratiometric imaging technique. The percentage of capsaicin-sensitive neurons gradually decreases as the cell diameter increases. However, the capsaicin-sensitive neurons cannot be precisely identified solely on the basis of the cell size. Anandamide, an endogenous cannabinoid released from leukocytes and epithelial cells, consistently evokes a stimulatory effect on pulmonary C-fiber endings by activating vanilloid receptor type 1 (VR1). The discharge pattern of pulmonary C-fibers evoked by anandamide closely resembles that produced by a much lower ( approximately 1/600) dose of capsaicin in the same fibers. Whether anandamide acts as a potential endogenous ligand to VR1 at the C-fiber terminals is unclear, and the physiological role of VR1 in modulating the transduction properties of these afferents also remains to be determined.     

男性抗精子抗体对体外受精一胚胎移植的影响

目的;评价男性抗精子抗体对体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)的影响。方法:以ELISA方法测定施行IVF-ET的150对不育夫妇中男方精浆抗精子抗体(AsAb)并分组:AsAb阳性组22例,AsAb阴性组128例。对比分析抗精子抗体及抗体类型对体外受精、卵裂和早期胚胎发育的影响,同时对移植后的妊娠率和流产率进行分析。结果:AsAb阳性组体外受精数明显低于AsAb阴性组(P<0.01),两组的卵裂数则无明显差异(P>0.05),而在阳性组中,不同抗体类型间体外受精、卵裂及胚胎质量无明显差异(P>0.05)。在移植日,AsAb阳性组的I级胚胎较阴性组低,而ⅢⅣ级胚胎和2原核受精细胞(2PN)明显增加(P<0.01)。两组移植后临床妊娠流产率无显著差异(P>0.05)。结论:AsAb能明显降低精子体外受精能力,对早期胚胎发育有损害。精子体处理不能完全清除AsAb对IVF影响。     

纤维蛋白原与吸附白蛋白、肝素的新型血管支架材料氧化钛的血液相容性

探索纤维蛋白原(Fibrinogen,FIG)与吸附白蛋白、肝素的新型血管支架材料氧化钛(Titanium Oxide,Ti-O)的血液相容性。(1)研制Ti-O,切割成薄膜;(2)Ti-O薄膜涂层白蛋白和肝素;(3)血小板(platelet,PL)吸附试验;(4)酶联免疫试验测FIG吸附量;(5)动物犬股动脉内植入涂层的Ti-O薄膜与对照试片Ti-O和不锈钢(Stainless steel,SS)薄膜。结果发现:Ti-O完全具有固定白蛋白和肝素的结构与性能,比未涂层的Ti-O能更一步减少PL和FIG的吸附,实验动物体内薄膜6个月后取出扫描电镜观察黏附的PL少,形态无改变,血管内无血栓,优于未涂层的Ti-O,更明显优于SS。Ti-O为N型半导体,不易接受FIG的电荷,并且与血细胞有相似的界面张力,决定生物材料Ti-O有较好的血液相容性。Ti-O对白蛋白、肝素有极好的亲和力是因以化学键相结合,在血中进一步减少FIG和PL被涂层的Ti-O吸附。实验证明涂层的Ti-O有持久和稳定的抗凝血性能。