Genome-wide profiling of oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignancy, the incidence of which is particularly high in some Asian countries due to the geographically linked areca quid (AQ) chewing habit. In this study, array-based comparative genomic hybridization was used to screen microdissected OSCCs for genome-wide alterations. The highest frequencies of gene gain were detected for TP63, Serpine1, FGF4/FGF3, c-Myc and DMD. The highest frequencies of deletion were detected for Caspase8 and MTAP. Gained genes, classified by hierarchical clustering, were mainly on 17q21-tel; 20q; 11q13; 3q27-29 and the X chromosome. Among these, gains of EGFR at 7p, FGF4/FGF3, CCND1 and EMS1 at 11q13, and AIB1 at 20q were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. The genomic profiles of FHIT and EXT1 in AQ-associated and non-AQ-associated OSCCs exhibited the most prominent differences. RT-PCR confirmed the significant increase of TP63 and Serpine1 mRNA expression in OSCC relative to non-malignant matched tissue. A significant increase in Serpine1 immunoreactivity was observed from non-malignant matched tissue to OSCC. However, there was no correlation between the frequent genomic loss of Caspase 8 and a significant decrease in Caspase8 expression. These data demonstrate that genomic profiling can be useful in analysing pathogenetic events involved in the genesis or progression of OSCC.     

Will the new cytogenetics replace the old cytogenetics?

With the advent of array-based comparative genomic hybridization technology, the analog cytogenetic analysis that has been used for the past 100 years could be replaced by the quantitative, microarray-based molecular analysis. Major advantages of the new array-based cytogenetic technologies are the high resolution and the high throughput. This technology is the first to offer an autonomous whole-chromosome analysis in one hybridization reaction for the detection of submicroscopic gains/losses. However, as with any new technology, it needs to be validated with regard to its performance in various applications (e.g. clinical genetic testing and cancer applications), comparative cost, and the data interpretation.     

Application of a comprehensive subtelomere array in clinical diagnosis of mental retardation

In 2-8% of patients with mental retardation, small copy number changes in the subtelomeric region are thought to be the underlying cause. As detection of these genomic rearrangements is labour intensive using FISH, we constructed and validated a high-density BAC/PAC array covering the first 5 Mb of all subtelomeric regions and applied it in our routine screening of patients with idiopathic mental retardation for submicroscopic telomeric rearrangements. The present study shows the efficiency of this comprehensive subtelomere array in detecting terminal deletions and duplications but also small interstitial subtelomeric rearrangements, starting from small amounts of DNA. With our array, the size of the affected segments, at least those smaller than 5 Mb, can be determined simultaneously in the same experiment. In the first 100 patient samples analysed in our diagnostic practice by the use of this comprehensive telomere array, we found three patients with deletions in 3p, 10q and 15q, respectively, four patients with duplications in 9p, 12p, 21q and Xp, respectively, and one patient with a del 6q/dup 16q. The patients with del 3p and 10q and dup 12p had interstitial rearrangements that would have been missed with techniques using one probe per subtelomeric region chosen close to the telomere.     

Mammalian cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity analysis of drinking water disinfection by-products

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays were used to analyze drinking water disinfection by-products (DBPs) in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) AS52 cells. The DBPs were chosen because they are common in drinking water, resulting from conventional disinfection using chlorination and chloramination. Data were also available to compare these results with cytotoxicity and mutagenicity studies in Salmonella typhimurium. The rank order in decreasing chronic cytotoxicity measured in a microplate-based assay was bromoacetic acid (BA) > 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone (MX) > dibromoacetic acid (DBA) > chloroacetic acid (CA) > KBrO(3) > tribromoacetic acid (TBA) > EMS (ethylmethanesulfonate, positive control) > dichloroacetic acid (DCA) > trichloroacetic acid (TCA). The induction of DNA strand breaks by these agents was measured by alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE, comet assay) and the rank order in decreasing genotoxicity was BA > MX > CA > DBA > TBA > EMS > KBrO(3), while DCA and TCA were refractory. BA was more cytotoxic (31x) and genotoxic (14x) than MX in CHO cells. BA was over 400x more genotoxic than potassium bromate. The brominated haloacetic acids (HAAs) were more cytotoxic and genotoxic than their chlorinated analogs. The HAAs expressed a statistically significant inverse relationship in CHO cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity as a function of increased numbers of halogen atoms per molecule. A quantitative comparison was conducted with results from a previous study with cytotoxicity and mutagenicity in S. typhimurium. There was no correlation between chronic CHO cell and bacterial cell cytotoxicity. DBP-induced CHO cell cytotoxicity was not related to mutagenic potency in S. typhimurium. Cytotoxicity in CHO cells was statistically significant and highly correlated to CHO cell genotoxicity. Finally, we determined that the DBP genotoxic potency in CHO cells and the mutagenic potency in S. typhimurium were not related. This suggests that toxicity data in S. typhimurium did not quantitatively predict the toxic effects of DBPs in mammalian cell systems. The microplate CHO cell cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assays were well suited for the analysis of DBPs, especially when the quantity of test material is limited.     

Chromosomal evolution of Arvicolinae (Cricetidae, Rodentia). II. The genome homology of two mole voles (genus Ellobius), the field vole and golden hamster revealed by comparative chromosome painting

Using cross-species chromosome painting, we have carried out a comprehensive comparison of the karyotypes of two Ellobius species with unusual sex determination systems: the Transcaucasian mole vole, Ellobius lutescens (2n = 17, X in both sexes), and the northern mole vole, Ellobius talpinus (2n = 54, XX in both sexes). Both Ellobius species have highly rearranged karyotypes. The chromosomal paints from the field vole (Microtus agrestis) detected, in total, 34 and 32 homologous autosomal regions in E. lutescens and E. talpinus karyotypes, respectively. No difference in hybridization pattern of the X paint (as well as Y paint) probes on male and female chromosomes was discovered. The set of golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) chromosomal painting probes revealed 44 and 43 homologous autosomal regions in E. lutescens and E. talpinus karyotypes, respectively. A comparative chromosome map was established based on the results of cross-species chromosome painting and a hypothetical ancestral Ellobius karyotype was reconstructed. A considerable number of rearrangements were detected; 31 and 7 fusion/fission rearrangements differentiated the karyotypes of E. lutescens and E. talpinus from the ancestral Ellobius karyotype. It seems that inversions have played a minor role in the genome evolution of these Ellobius species.     

组态视角下的新冠疫情防控成效研究——基于22个国家的定性比较分析*

目的 识别影响疫情防控的关键要素和路径组合,探求影响各国防控差异的机制,为疫情常态化防控提供理论指导。方法 运用清晰集定性比较分析(csQCA)方法,以世界22个典型国家为案例对象,主要从Our World in Data网站获取新冠疫情相关数据,对案例各条件变量及其非集进行必要性分析,对条件组态进行充分性分析。结果 必要性检验一致性水平均低于0.9; 输出5种组态,且单个解(组态)和总体解的一致性均为1,实现了完全一致性。结论 单个要素影响力较弱; 国家低确诊人数存在5条驱动路径,可归纳为资源丰富-弱疫苗型、信任驱动-强疫苗型、经济发达-地理优势型3种模式; 较高的人均GDP、人均床位数和信任度是影响新冠确诊人数的核心要素。     

品管圈对精神分裂症患者约束率及护理满意度的影响

目的总结和分析精神分裂症患者的护理中采用品管圈活动的临床效果。方法以本院于2017年8月—2019年6月收治的122例精神分裂症患者为研究对象,随机分为品管圈组和常规护理组,各61例。其中常规护理组患者选择传统的常规护理方法,而品管圈组患者则采取品管圈活动。比较两组患者的护理效果,对比指标主要有患者的约束率和护理满意度。结果品管圈组患者各项评价指标均优于常规护理组,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论精神分裂症患者采用品管圈活动的总体临床效果较好,可提高患者的约束率,总体满意度高。     

胃镜治疗与内科治疗对消化性溃疡出血的应用效果比较分析

目的:探究胃镜治疗与内科治疗对消化性溃疡出血的应用效果对比。方法:在2018年9月~2019年9月这个时间段中,选取本院收治的45例消化性溃疡出血患者作为本次研究的观察组,给予胃镜治疗;同期选取本院收治的45例消化性溃疡出血患者作为本次研究的对照组,给予内科治疗;对两组疗效进行对比。结果:观察组治疗总有效率(95.6%)显著高于对照组(77.8%),有统计学意义,P<0.05。观察组住院时间、止血时间与再次出血率均优于对照组,P<0.05。结论:在消化性溃疡出血患者中采用胃镜治疗的效果优于内科治疗效果,且止血效果较好,促使患者尽早康复,在临床上的应用价值较高。     

女性与男性强直性脊柱炎对比研究

目的：了解不同性别的强直性脊柱炎的临床特点。方法：对比性地分析57例女性AS（FAS）患者和114例病程相同的男性AS（MAS）患者（1：2配对）的临床表现及实验室检查结果。结果：平均发病年龄,首发症状,腰椎的X线受累和病情活动指标在两组无差异（P＞0．05）;贫血,外周关节炎和颈椎的受累在女性明显多于男性（P＜0．05）,而全身症状,虹膜睫状体炎,严重的骶髂关节及髂关节的X线受累和HLA－B27的阳性率在女性明显少于男性（P＜0．05）。结论：FAS患者病情发展较慢,预后较好,这与B27阳性率低有一定的关系。     

中药毒性相关数据库的研究现状及对比研究

中药毒性研究是中药安全性研究的重要议题,将具有毒性的中药成分及其作用机制进行整理是进行中药毒性研究的基础。因此,通过当前国内外中药毒性研究相关的数据库进行综述,总结中药毒性研究相关数据库的研究现状,突出中药毒性研究相关数据库在科学研究中的重要性,为中药毒性研究工作提供参考,促进中药毒性研究的进一步发展。