Effects of folic and kainic acids on synaptic responses of hippocampal neurones

The actions of the neurotoxic amino acids folate and kainate have been compared on ortho-and antidromic responses evoked in CA1, CA3 and the dentate gyrus of slices of rat hippocampus maintained in vitro. Both in CA1 and the dentate gyrus superfusion of these acids caused an increase in amplitude of the population spike discharging from an excitatory postsynaptic potential which either remained unaffected or was reduced. In the CA3 region kainate and folate had broadly similar actions to enhance the probability of cell firing to synaptic excitation, and also caused epileptiform discharges to occur spontaneously or in response to electrical stimulation. Spontaneous and evoked population bursts in CA3 did not persist in low calcium/high magnesium medium indicating their dependence on intact synaptic transmission; spontaneously occurring bursts in CA1 were eliminated with the latter treatment or when the axonal connections between it and CA3 were cut. Following folate superfusion the commissural-evoked response in CA3 showed large and variable shifts of the latency which were dependent on the stimulus intensity and its timing after a spontaneous population discharge. Although all of the effects of folate were reproduced by bicuculline, no evidence for a decreased recurrent inhibition in CA1 was obtained although this was observed with kainate. The finding that folate and kainate produced their effects in the absence of a detectable effect on the antidromic population spike suggests a mechanism of action other than neuronal depolarization. The implications of these data for the neurotoxic mechanism(s) and the receptor homologies of folate and kainate are discussed.     

云南省傣族G6PD一个家系的突变型研究

在调查云南少数民族Ｇ６ＰＤ缺乏症时，采用Ｇ６ＰＤ硝基四氮唑蓝纸片法筛查，按ＷＨＯ标准化方法进行生化变异型鉴定，再用错配碱基ＰＣＲ引入酶切位点法进行ＤＮＡ突变型研究，首次在傣族中发现Ｇ６ＰＤｃＤＮＡ突变型：１３８８Ｇ→Ａ。     

Novel single nucleotide polymorphisms of the human nuclear factor kappa-B 2 gene identified by sequencing the entire gene

The nuclear factor kappa-B 2 (NFKB2) gene is a member of the NFKB/Rel gene family, which is known to be a pivotal regulator of the acute phase of the inflammatory response and of immune responses. We identified three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and determined their allelic frequencies, as determined by the sequencing of 48 alleles of the entire gene in a Japanese population sample. Two of the three polymorphisms were identified at nucleotide (nt) position 1837 (T/C) and nt position, 1867 (GG/G) in the upstream region of the gene. The other polymorphism was identified at nt position 2584 (G/T) within intron 1. These polymorphisms will be useful in genetic studies of the processes involved in inflammatory responses and in bone differentiation. Received: October 17, 2000 / Accepted: October 23, 2000     

79例广东汉族人群HLA-Cw及其KIR分析

目的：了解HLA—Cw与相应刺激性KIR（杀伤细胞免疫球蛋白样受体）和抑制性KIR在广东汉族人群中的分布。方法：对79例广东汉族骨髓移植供者，以DNA技术检测HLA-Cw和KIR表型。根据对KIR识别的特异性，将HLA-Cw分为HLA-Cw^lys.HLA-Cw^asn，分析个体HLA-Cw与相应刺激性或抑制性KIR的识别情况。结果：本组人群中，HLA-Cw^lys、HLA-Cw^asn的频率分别为26．6％、97．5％。表达KIR2DL1而无栩应配体者62．0％，表达2DS1而无相应配体者15．1％。27．8％表达HLA-Cw^asn而不表达相应KIR。25．3％、55．6％有抑制性HLA-Cw^lys或HLA-Cw^asn配体受体对，1．3％和14．0％的个体单独表达刺激性HLA-Cw^lys扣或HLA-Cw^asn配体受体对。15．1％的个体表达KIR2DS1而不表达HLA-Cw^lys。结论：在广东汉族人群中，存在KIR表型与自身HIA表型分离现象。抑制性HIA-Cw-KIR配对表达高于刺激性配对，约1／5单独表达刺激性HLA-Cw—KIR配对。     

Reciprocal effects of apolipoprotein E alleles (ε2 AND ε4) on plasma lipid levels in normolipidemic subjects

A significantly lower frequency of the epsilon 2 allele and a significantly higher frequency of the epsilon 3 allele were found in the normolipidemic Japanese population than those in the normolipidemic Caucasian populations. We have compared plasma lipid variables among the apolipoprotein (apo) E phenotype groups and estimated the average effects of the three common alleles (epsilon 2, epsilon 3 and epsilon 4) on plasma lipid levels in normolipidemic subjects. Plasma triglyceride (TG), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-TG, VLDL-cholesterol (C) and apo E levels were high in the apo E3/2 group, intermediate in the apo E3/3 group and low in the apo E4/3 group, whereas plasma total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL)-C and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-C levels were low in the apo E3/2 group, intermediate in the apo E3/3 group and high in the apo E4/3 group. Furthermore, the epsilon 2 allele had an effect to increase the TG, VLDL-TG, VLDL-C and apo E levels and decrease the TC, LDL-C and HDL-C levels, whereas the epsilon 4 allele had an effect opposite to the epsilon 2 allele. These results indicate that the epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 alleles have the reciprocal effects on plasma lipid, lipoprotein and apo E levels.     

用分子克隆技术构建D12S391基因座等位基因分型标准物及群体遗传学研究

目的 解决长期困扰短串联重复序列（short tandem repeat,STR）分型上存在的准确性和标准化问题。方法 先用PCR扩增出D12S391基因座的9个等位基因片段，将其插入pUC重组质粒中，经DNA测序分析证实插入片段的结构及大小，用国际标准将插入的等位基因片段进行命名，最后经转染、扩大培养、扩增及再鉴定后，制备出标准的D12S391等位基因分型标准物。结果 应用此法制备出大量的D12S391基因座等位基因分型标准物，并将其用于调查该基因座在德国Mainz地区、日本Miyazaki地区及中国成都汉族、北京汉族、新疆维吾尔族和甘肃回族6个群体中的基因型分布频率。D12S391基因座在各群体中均有较高的多态性，其非父排除概念及个人识别能力分别为0.609-0.786和0.940-0.952。结论 该法制备的STR基因座等位基因分型标准物在法医科学实践中应用价值极高，D12S391基因座是一个非常适合于群体遗传学研究和法医科学应用的遗传标记。     

Stature estimation based on hand length and foot length

This study was carried out to estimate the relationship between hand length, foot length and stature using multiple linear regression analyses based on a sample of male and female adult Turks residing in Adana. Measurements of hand length, foot length and stature were taken from 155 adult Turks (80 male, 75 female) aged 17-23 years. The participants were students of the Medical Faculty of Cukurova University. A multiple linear regression model was fitted to the observed data. Stature was taken as the response or dependent variable, hand length and foot length were taken as explanatory variables or regressors. All possible (simple and multiple) linear regression models for each of males, females and both genders together were tested for the best model. The multiple linear regression model for both genders together was found to be the best model with the highest values for the coefficients of determination R2 = 0.861 and R2adjusted = 0.859, and multiple correlation coefficient R = 0.928.     

Frequency and ethnic distribution of the common DHCR7 mutation in Smith‐Lemli‐Opitz syndrome

Smith‐Lemli‐Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is an inherited multiple malformation syndrome caused by enzymatic deficiency of 3β‐hydroxysterol‐Δ⁷‐reductase (DHCR7). SLOS is thought to be most common among European Caucasians, with an incidence of 1 in 20,000 to 1 in 30,000 births. To define the carrier rate and ethnic distribution of SLOS, we screened DNA samples from 2,978 unrelated individuals for the most common SLOS mutation (IVS8‐1G→C). Twenty‐four heterozygotes of the IVS8‐1G→C mutation were detected in 2,978 individuals of European Caucasian and Black backgrounds. For European Caucasians, the carrier rate for SLOS may be as high as 1 in 30, suggesting an incidence of 1 in 1,700 to 1 in 13,400. This high number is supported by the recent observation of newborn and prenatal incidence of 1 in 22,000 in the Caucasian population. Ours is the first report of the IVS8‐1G→C mutation in persons of African ancestry. Published 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

湖南某镇农村居民自杀意念影响因素

目的:探讨农村居民自杀意念的影响因素,为自杀干预提供依据。方法:对湖南浏阳市永安镇常住农村居民,采用分层随机整群抽样法确定样本人群,使用自行设计的调查表,采取入户、单独面谈的方式进行调查。结果:共851名调查对象接受了面谈并完成调查问卷。终生自杀意念发生率为23．6％,经多因素logistic嘲归分析,自评心理健康状况、自评经济水平、性别、自评躯体健康状况为自杀意念的影响因素(OR值分别为2．107、1．910、1．630、1．596)。结论:农村常住居民自杀意念发生率处于较高水平。自评心理健康状况差、自评经济水平低、女性、自评躯体健康状况差是产生自杀意念的危险因素。应针对危险因素予以积极的干预。     

Using linked markers to infer the age of a mutation

Advances in sequencing and genotyping technologies over the last decade have enabled geneticists to easily characterize genetic variation at the nucleotide level. Hundreds of genes harboring mutations associated with genetic disease have now been identified by positional cloning. Using variation at closely linked genetic markers, it is possible to predict the times in the past at which particular mutations arose. Such studies suggest that many of the rare mutations underlying human genetic disorders are relatively young. Studies of variation at genetic markers linked to particular mutations can provide insights into human geographic history, and historical patterns of natural selection and disease, that are not available from other sources. We review two approaches for estimating allele age using variation at linked genetic markers. A phylogenetic approach aims to reconstruct the gene tree underlying a sample of chromosomes carrying a particular mutation, obtaining a “direct” estimate of allele age from the age of the root of this tree. A population genetic approach relies on models of demography, mutation, and/or recombination to estimate allele age without explicitly reconstructing the gene tree. Phylogenetic methods are best suited for studies of ancient mutations, while population genetic methods are better suited for studies of recent mutations. Methods that rely on recombination to infer the ages of alleles can be fine‐tuned by choosing linked markers at optimal map distances to maximize the information available about allele age. A limitation of methods that rely on recombination is the frequent lack of a fine‐scale linkage map. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods for estimating allele age that rely on intensive numerical computation are described, as well as “composite” likelihood and moment‐based methods that lead to simple estimators. The former provide more accurate estimates (particularly for large samples of chromosomes) and should be employed if computationally practical. Hum Mutat 18:87–100, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.