HLA-B44 subtyping in a Spanish population: further evidence of Caucasian population diversity

HLA-B44 is the most frequent HLA-B allele in Caucasian populations. Several B44 subtypes, B*4402-B*4406, have been identified in individuals with this ethnic origin. Mismatches among B44 subtypes have been described as major targets for allogeneic responses in bone marrow transplantation. We have developed a PCR-SSO method, based on a B12- specific DNA amplification of exon 2 through exon 3 and subsequent non radioactive hybridization with eight probes, which allow us to discriminate all B12 homozygous combinations. We applied this method to determine the frequency of B44 subtypes in a Spanish population, as well as their HLA-A.-C.-DRB1,-DRB3/DRB4/DRB5.-DQA1 and -DQB1 associated haplotypes. A total of 141 healthy unrelated Spanish individuals and 31 B44-bearing haplotypes were investigated. Four B44 alleles were identified, B*4402 (33%), B*4403 (66%), B*4404 (0.7%), and B*4405 (0.7%). Haplotype analysis showed a clear differentiated distribution pattern for the two major B44 subtypes. B*4402 is associated with Cw5 (11/13) and A2 antigens (10/13). In contrast, B*4403 is mainly found together with DRB1*0701 (14/16). An inverted B*4402/B*4403 frequency in comparison with other European and North American Caucasian populations, revealed the existence of an extended haplotype diversity between populations of the same ethnic origin. Apart from anthropological studies, high resolution typing for HLA class I antigens presenting molecular polymorphism will be of great relevance in unrelated bone marrow transplantation.     

Estimates of global research productivity in virology

The quantity and quality of published research in the field of Virology by different world regions was estimated in this study. Using the PubMed database, articles from journals included in the "Virology" category of the "Journal Citation Reports" database of the Institute for Scientific Information for the period 1995-2003 were retrieved. The world was divided into nine regions based on geographic, economic, and scientific criteria. Data on the country of origin of the research was available for 33,425 out of 33,712 articles (99.2% of all articles from the included journals). USA exceeds all other world regions in research production for the period studied (42% of total articles), with Western Europe ranking second (35.7%). The mean impact factor in articles published in Virology journals was highest for the USA (4.60), while it was 3.90 for Western Europe and 3.22 for the rest of the world (seven regions combined). USA and Canada ranked first in research productivity when both gross national income per capita (GNIPC) and population were taken into account. The results of this analysis show a distressing fact; the absolute and relative production of research in the field of Virology by the developing regions is very low, although viral diseases cause considerable morbidity and mortality in these areas. It is evident from this study that developing regions need more help from the developed regions to enhance research infrastructure.     

Fluid Flow through Filtering Appendages of Insects

Many organisms use structures composed of arrays of cylindersto capture particulate food or molecules form the water or airaround them. The performance of such filters depends on thevelocity of fluid movement through them; hence, mathematicalmodels of flow through fibrous structures can provide insightsabout the functional morphology of biological filters. In thispaper, the authors address the case of feather-like biologicalfilters of finite width and assess several possible models forfluid motion through them by comparing model predictions withobservational data. Two examples of insect appendages are considered:the cephalic fans of black fly aquatic larvae that capture particulatefood and the antennae of adult male moths that catch sex-attractantmolecules released by female moths. The results suggest thatflow through such structures can be much slower than ambientcurrents, that the finest hairs in the structure are the morphologicalfeatures with the greatest effect on leakiness, and that thevelocity of movement (or of ambient flow), as well as the morphologyof such filters, can be critical in determining their performance.     

Polymorphism of the ABO blood group genes in Han, Kazak and Uygur populations in the Silk Route of northwestern China

Genetic polymorphism in the ABO blood group gene of Han, Kazak and Uygur populations inhabiting the most northwestern part of China was investigated using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques. The present study enrolled 43 healthy unrelated Han, 37 Kazak and 59 Uygur volunteers. The allele in A1 blood group is distinguished A0101 and A0102 in difference of nucleotide position 467. The A0101 allele is more frequent in Caucasian and the A0102 allele is characteristic in Mongoloid. It must be notable that A0201 in the A2 group (with a single base deletion at nucleotides 1059 to 1061) which was characteristic of Caucasian was observed in Kazak and Uygur populations but not in Han. Further, 00201 (with no nucleotide deletion at 261 and three nucleotide differences), which is frequent in different races including Caucasian except for Mongoloid, was detected also in Kazak and Uygur populations. The frequencies of B0101 in Kazak, Uygur and Han were comparable to those of other Asian populations but higher than those of Caucasian populations. Collectively, these results reveal that the allele frequencies of Kazak and Uygur at the ABO blood group locus are an intermediate between those of Mongoloid and Caucasian, suggesting the admixed feature of Kazak and Uygur with Mongoloid and Caucasian.     

Prevalence, geographical distribution and genealogical investigations of mutation 188 of lipoprotein lipase gene in the French Canadian population of Québec

Familial lipoprotein lipase deficiency (FLD) is of particular interest to the French Canadian population of Québec since the largest concentration of homozygotes and carriers of this genetic disease in the world resides in this area. We have previously described a missense mutation (M-188) in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene which was present in FLD patients belonging to different ancestries, including a number of French Canadians (Monsalve MV et al. J Clin Invest 1990: 86: 728-734). In the present report, we show that this mutation, although found in largest absolute numbers among French Canadians as compared to other groups in the world, accounts for only a small proportion (24%) of all the LPL mutant alleles in this population. The M-188 occurs either in the homozygote state or as a compound heterozygote with another LPL mutation. Analysis of geographic distribution indicates that the M-188 is more prevalent in western Québec, with the highest carrier rate in the Mauricie region. Genealogical reconstruction leads to the recognition of four founders for M-188, all emigrants from France to Québec in the 17th century.     

一般人群中人格维度与心身症状的相关研究

目的：探讨在健康人群中稳定的人格特点与某一时期心身症状的测量之间的关系。方法：对721名被试施测人格量表（QZPS）和SCL-90，通过回归和相关分析探讨两者之间的关系。结果：严谨、沉稳、决断、淡泊和情绪性等人格因素与SCL-90的因子分数正相关，其它人格因素则与SCL-90的因子分数负相关。控制人格因素间的相关之后，进入每个预测心身症状回归方程的人格因素分别为3-5个,其中严谨、自制、沉稳、重感情和热情的回归系数是正值，其它为负值，表明行事严谨、自我克制以及对人热情和重感情等人格特点与心身症状的出现是一致的。结论：人格维度对心身症状有一定的预测能力。     

中国人群DXS102座位多态性鉴定及其应用

目的探讨中国人群中ＤＸＳ１０２座位的多态分布。方法应用ＰＣＲ扩增片段长度多态性（Ａｍｐ－ＦＬＰ）研究了无亲缘关系的２３４条Ｘ染色体。结果ＤＸＳ１０２座位等位片段有８个，核心单元ＡＣ二核苷酸重复数为１３～２１，频率分布在０．０１３～０．１５６之间，杂合度观察值和无偏估测值分别为０．８７和０．８０，多态信息含量（ＰＩＣ）０．８０，女性基因型数为２２个，男性基因型数为８个，该座位多态分布符合Ｈａｒｄｙ－Ｗｅｉｎｂｅｒｇ平衡定律。ＤＸＳ１０２座位在中国人群和欧洲人群的分布有明显的种族差异，在中国人群中发现了两个新的等位片段。应用ＤＸＳ１０２座位的短串联重复序列多态性对一接受基因治疗的血友病Ｂ家系进行分析和携带者筛查。结论ＤＸＳ１０２座位连锁分析有望成为一种有效的血友病Ｂ基因诊断的方法。     

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.