Analysis of the p21 gene in gliomas

The p21 gene encodes a cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor protein (p21) which has a tumor suppressive activity in a variety of tumor cell lines. Since, the p21 gene is up-regulated by the p53 tumor suppressor gene, which is frequently mutated in gliomas, acting therefore in the same control pathway, it constitutes a good candidate gene to be also inactivated in these tumors. To test this hypothesis, DNAs from 81 gliomas (48 glioblastomas, 11 anaplastic astrocytomas, 10 low-grade astrocytomas, 12 oligodendrogliomas and mixed gliomas), were investigated for mutations in the p21 coding sequence by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis followed by sequencing. All these tumors have been previously screened for p53 mutations. Three different DNA variants were identified on codon 31 (17 cases), 27 (1 case) and 117 (1 case) and shown to be also present in matching constitutional DNA, suggesting they were polymorphisms. None of the tumors demonstrated a somatic mutation. No significant correlation between the presence of a p21 variant and the p53 mutation tumor status was observed. In conclusion, mutation in the p21 gene unlikely contributes to the development of gliomas.     

Detection of p21WAF1/Cip1 in brain metastases

The p21^WAF1/Cip1 (p21) protein, a negative regulator of G₁ checkpoint control, was overexpressed in the majority of human gliomas. To investigate whether p21 expression in brain metastases from various systemic origins is similar to that in gliomas and whether p21 expression is regulated differently in brain metastases and in corresponding primary tumors, we used immunohistochemical staining to examine the expression of p21 in paraffin-embedded sections prepared from primary colon and breast carcinomas and from metastatic brain tumors that originated from colon, breast, lung, and kidney cancers and from melanoma. Our results showed that 56% (28 of 50) of the brain metastases samples have more than 1% p21-positive staining cells compared with 87% of primary gliomas reported previously. Among the samples analyzed, p21 expression in brain metastases from breast carcinomas was much higher than in primary breast carcinomas. In contrast, p21 expression in brain metastases from colon carcinomas was less than primary colon carcinomas. The results from this pilot study suggest that p21 expression is regulated differently in metastatic and primary tumors.     

Fluorescence in situ Hybridization Analysis of 12;21 Translocation in Japanese Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was applied to detect t(12;21) using two yeast artificial chromosome probes and cosmid probes covering the TEL(ETV6) and the AML1 gene to clarify the incidence of abnormality of t(12;21) in Japanese childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We detected seven TEL/AML1 fusion positive patients (9.5%), all of whom were diagnosed as B-lineage ALL, among 74 childhood ALL. On the other hand, no TEL/AML1 fusion positive patients were found among 37 adult ALL. The incidence among Japanese seemed to be lower than that among other nations. Of the seven patients with the TEL/AML1 fusion, five exhibited normal karyotype, one was t(8;12)(q11;p13), i(21q) and the remaining one exhibited a near-triploid karyotype in conventional G-banding. The FISH method clearly demonstrated that all patients with the TEL/AML1 fusion had subpopulations of leukemic cells with deletion of the normal TEL allele, which is significant for understanding the progression of leukemia with t(12;21).     

Cyclin E、CDK2和p21WAF1在食管上皮癌变过程中的表达及意义

目的探讨食管上皮癌变过程中细胞周期调控因子cyclin E、CDK2和p21WAF1的表达状况及其意义.方法应用免疫组化SP法和原位杂交方法分别检测48例食管癌组织、31例非典型增生组织和17例正常食管粘膜中cyclin E、CDK2和p21WAF1蛋白及mRNA表达.应用半定量RT-PCR和Western blot检测22例新鲜食管癌及相应癌旁组织的mRNA和蛋白表达.结果从食管正常粘膜、非典型增生组织到癌组织,cyclin E和CDK2蛋白和mRNA阳性表达率逐渐上升,差异具有统计学意义(P＜0.01或P＜0.05).食管癌组织中cyclin E、CDK2和p21WAF1蛋白及mRNA高表达,与癌旁组织或切缘正常食管粘膜有显著性差异(P＜0.01).cyclin E、CDK2和p21WAF1基因表达显著正相关(P＜0.01或P＜0.05).结论食管上皮癌变过程中,细胞周期相关基因cyclin E和CDK2表达逐渐增强.cyclin E基因表达异常是食管癌变过程中的早期事件.p21WAF1基因在食管癌中高表达,可能与细胞周期调控的反馈机制有关.     

Xa21转基因大米对大鼠致畸作用的实验研究

目的　观察Xa2 1转基因大米对大鼠胚胎生长、发育的影响。方法　将初断乳Wistar大鼠按雌雄分别随机分为 4组 :转基因大米组、非转基因大米组、AIN93G对照组和敌枯双阳性对照组。单笼喂养 ,饲相应鼠料 ,喂满 90天 ,雌雄合笼。观察母鼠和胎鼠的生长发育情况。结果　转基因大米组孕鼠增重、活胎体重、身长、尾长均显著高于阳性对照组 ,而死胎数、吸收胎数、畸形率 (外观、内脏、骨骼 )均显著低于阳性对照组。转基因大米组与非转基因大米组、AIN93G对照组相比 ,所有观察指标均无统计学差异。结论　转Xa2 1基因大米与非转基因大米相比 ,对大鼠受孕率、胚胎生长发育无显著性差异。     

成纤维细胞生长因子21对缺氧复氧心肌细胞的保护作用及机制研究

【摘要】 目的 探讨成纤维细胞生长因子21（FGF21）对缺氧复氧（H/R）心肌细胞的保护作用及对PI3K/AKT通路的影响。方法 重组腺病毒载体Ad FGF21诱导原代心肌细胞过表达FGF21。腺病毒转染心肌细胞后构建H/R损伤模型（3h缺氧联合3h复氧）。实验分为对照组（Con组）、H/R组、H/R+Ad GFP组、H/R+Ad FGF21组4组。心肌细胞存活率评估细胞损伤程度;SOD/MDA检测联合DHE荧光染色评估氧化应激反应（ROS）;流式细胞术评估细胞凋亡;Western blot检测相关蛋白水平。在机制探讨实验中给予PI3K/AKT抑制剂（LY294002）进行干预。结果 与Con组相比,H/R损伤后FGF21蛋白表达显著下调,并伴随心肌细胞活性降低、ROS与凋亡反应激活。腺病毒介导的心肌细胞过表达FGF21能够明显抑制H/R损伤,表现为细胞活力、ROS与凋亡反应均有不同程度改善。FGF21心肌细胞过表达能够增加PI3K/AKT磷酸化水平,而抑制PI3K/AKT通路后FGF21过表达介导的细胞保护功能被逆转。结论 FGF21主要通过PI3K/AKT依赖性途径改善心肌细胞H/R损伤。     

通光藤皂苷B的2D—NMR研究

目的研究通光藤（Caulis Marsdeniae Tenacissimac）藤茎的化学成分。方法用色谱方法分离通光藤的乙醇提取物并用2D-NMR法鉴定一个C21甾体苷类化合物I。结果归属了该化合物的全部核磁信号。结论化合物I的结构是通光藤皂苷B。     

CEA、CYFRA 21-1对肺非小细胞性恶性胸腔积液诊断价值的研究

目的观察胸水及血清CEA、CYFRA21—1测定值对非小细胞性恶性胸腔积液的诊断价值。方法测定本院145例胸腔积液病人的血清及胸水CEA、CYFRA21—1,按良恶性分为两组,并行统计分析。结果胸水及血清CEA、CYFRA21-1测定值,在两组之间有非常显著差异。结论血及胸水肿瘤标记物测定可作为胸腔积液病人检测的一个常规项目,对恶性胸腔积液有较高的诊断价值。     

Catechins as a Potential Dietary Supplementation in Prevention of Comorbidities Linked with Down Syndrome

Plant-derived polyphenols flavonoids are increasingly being recognized for their medicinal potential. These bioactive compounds derived from plants are gaining more interest in ameliorating adverse health risks because of their low toxicity and few side effects. Among them, therapeutic approaches demonstrated the efficacy of catechins, a major group of flavonoids, in reverting several aspects of Down syndrome, the most common genomic disorder that causes intellectual disability. Down syndrome is characterized by increased incidence of developing Alzheimer’s disease, obesity, and subsequent metabolic disorders. In this focused review, we examine the main effects of catechins on comorbidities linked with Down syndrome. We also provide evidence of catechin effects on DYRK1A, a dosage-sensitive gene encoding a protein kinase involved in brain defects and metabolic disease associated with Down syndrome.