Relationship of p21WAF1 gene polymorphisms with protein expression in breast carcinomas

AIM: To investigate the relationship between p21^WAF1gene polymorphisms and protein expression in breast carcinoma. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphisms technique (PCR-SSCP) and immunohistochemical assay of S-P immunostaining technique were used to study polymorphisms of p21^WAF1 and protein expression respectively on the specimen of paraffin-embedded tissues in 100 cases of breast carcinomas and 40 benign breast diseases as control. RESULTS: Two p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms were found in 18% (18/100) of breast carcinomas and 5% (2/40) of control samples. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=3.94, P＜0.05). The positive immunohistochemical reaction of p21^WAF1 protein were found in 50% (50/100) of breast carcinomas and 12.5% (5/40) of control samples. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (χ²=16.84, P＜0.01). The positive immunohistochemical reaction of p21^WAF1 protein were found in 100% (18/18) of breast carcinomas with p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms and 39% (32/82) of no p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms. The difference between two groups was statistically significant (χ²=21.95, P＜0.01). The p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms were correlated with the protein expression in breast carcinomas (r=0.576, P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: p21^WAF1 gene polymorphisms may create the different copies of mRNA and may make relevant protein molecules.     

Effects of changing PKC activity on proliferation and telomerase expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AIM: To investigate whether protein kinase C (PKC) is involved in the proliferation and the telomerase expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (BEL-7402) were treated with exogenous phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, PKC activator) and staurosporine (SP, PKC inhibitor) for 48 hours. The techniques of cell culture and the telomeric repeat amplification protocol silver staining in combination with computer image scanning system in vitro were used to observe the variations of the growth and the telomerase expression. RESULTS: The proliferative potential of BEL-7402 cells was decreased by the action of PMA as well as SP, and the telomerase expression was also inhibited by PMA and SP. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and the telomerase expression may be related to PKC.     

Changes of MAPKs expression in rat hippocampal neurons after sleep deprivation

AIM: To explore the change and the possible role of MAPKs in rat hippocampus neuron after sleep deprivation. METHODS: The morphology of hippocampus neuron after sleep derivation was observed by TUNEL and HE staining, the activity of ERK was assayed by β-liquid scintillation counting and the expression of JNK was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: In paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) group, the number of apoptotic cells in hippocampus was increased. The scores of ERK activity were 1 764.00±941.56. Compared with control groups, the ERK activity was obviously decreased (P<0.05). The JNK expression was 87.5%, which was higher than that in control group. CONCLUSION: These results provide some important evidences that the sleep deprivation could cause changes in MAPKs activity, which may be related to the mechanism of hippocampus neuron apoptosis.     

利用血液蛋白及酶多态性分析技术鉴定山羊亲缘关系的研究

选择血红蛋白(Hb)、运铁蛋白(Tf)、亮氨酸胺肽酶(LAP)、前白蛋白3(Pa3)、淀粉酶(Amy)对可能为同卵双生波尔山羊的亲缘关系鉴定。结果发现，除淀粉酶(Amy)和亮氨酸胺肽酶(Lap)外，其余位点均有多态性。由蛋白位点的基因型判定羔1、羔2基因型完全一致，是供体后代的概率为75G，受体后代的概率为22．8％，从而确认羔1、羔2的双亲为供体公羊和供体母羊。     

Comparison of Single,Averaged, and Pooled Urine Protein:Creatinine Ratios in Proteinuric Dogs Undergoing Medical Treatment

Background

Monitoring urine protein:creatinine ratios (UPC ) in dogs with protein‐losing nephropathy (PLN ) is challenging because of day‐to‐day variation in UPC results.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Determine whether single, averaged, or pooled samples from PLN dogs receiving medical treatment yield comparable UPC s, regardless of degree of proteinuria.

Animals

Twenty‐five client‐owned PLN dogs receiving medical treatment.

Methods

UPC ratios were prospectively measured in each dog utilizing 3 methods: single in‐hospital sample (day 3), average sample (days 1–3), and pooled sample (equal pooling of urine from days 1–3). Bland‐Altman analysis was performed to evaluate agreement between methods for all dogs, as well as in subgroups of dogs (UPC ≤4 or UPC >4).

Results

For all dogs, Bland‐Altman log‐transformed 95% limits of agreement were ?0.07–0.18 (single versus pooled UPC ), ?0.06–0.16 (single versus average UPC ), and ?0.06–0.04 (pooled versus average UPC ). For dogs with UPC ≤4, Bland‐Altman 95% limits of agreement were ?0.42–0.82 (single versus pooled UPC ), ?0.38–0.76 (single versus average UPC ), and ?0.27–0.25 (pooled versus average UPC ). For dogs with UPC >4, Bland‐Altman 95% limits of agreement were ?0.17–2.4 (single versus pooled UPC ), ?0.40–2.2 (single versus average UPC ), and ?0.85–0.43 (pooled versus average UPC ).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

UPC ratios from all methods were comparable in PLN dogs receiving medical treatment. In PLN dogs with UPC >4, more variability between methods exists likely because of higher in‐hospital results, but whether this finding is clinically relevant is unknown.

     

Abnormally modified tau and hypoxic-ischemic brain damage

Tau is the most abundant microtubule-associated protein in the brain. If tau protein lost the normal function, the toxic effect should be showed and plays an important role in various central nervous system lesions. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is an important cause of mortality in the neonatal period and it is mainly characterized by neurological deficits such as cognitive limitations. However, the mechanism still needs further study, and the underlying relationship between tau protein and HIE lacks direct evidence. Some recent clinical study reported that tau protein expression elevated in the serum of asphyxia children and had a high correlation with behavior deficient. In this review, we focus on 3 key points to provide new insights to understand the tau protein-related pathogenesis of HIE as followed: (1) tau protein and its phosphorylation change during central nervous system development; (2) comparison of tau protein expression in developing brain and adult brain under some neurological disorders; (3) potential pathological change of tau in HIE related pathological conditions, such as dysmyelination, inflammation response and glutamate metabolism.     

辣椒抗番茄斑萎病毒病研究进展及展望

番茄斑萎病毒（Tomato spotted wilt virus，TSWV）自19 世纪发现以来，在全世界各地蔓延，对多种作物造成重大经济损失。本文以辣椒为例，从TSWV 的发生与分布、病害症状检测、传播方式、防治方法、抗TSWV 育种及展望等6 个方面对国内外辣椒TSWV 的研究现状进行综述。     

氨氮胁迫对四鼻须鲤鱼肝脏GST酶活力的影响

实验采用生态毒理学方法,以NH4Cl为实验药物,设置0、50、150和250mg/L实验浓度。通过对野生和养殖群体的四鼻须鲤鱼氨氮对肝脏谷胱甘肽巯基转移酶（GST）活力的影响,比较两个群体抗氨氮能力。结果表明：在相同的氨氮浓度和胁迫时间下,四鼻须鲤鱼养殖群体GST酶活力的变化趋势与野生群体大致相同。除250mg/L浓度组在胁迫5d和10d时,野生群体酶活性略低于养殖群体外,在其余时间点的野生群体酶活性均高于养殖群体,而且,在高浓度氨氮胁迫下,野生群体肝脏的GST酶活性达到峰值的时间比养殖群体更短,显示出较强的抗氨氮能力。     

玉米籽粒早期发育相关蛋白的差异表达特性

玉米籽粒发育早期,代谢活动旺盛,细胞分裂与增大活跃,为后续贮藏物质的合成形成充足库容。为阐明籽粒早期发育的蛋白合成、积累与调控过程,本研究以夏玉米品种登海661为试验材料,在开花期人工饱和授粉后第3、第5、第10天取果穗中部籽粒,利用同位素标记相对定量(iTRAQ)技术分析其蛋白差异表达特性。玉米籽粒早期发育阶段总计鉴定及定量2639种蛋白,这些蛋白涉及多种生物过程与分子功能,其中代谢过程和分子过程是最主要的2个生物过程;催化活性和绑定功能是最主要的2个分子功能,这些生物过程与分子功能对籽粒早期发育具有重要作用。定量分析结果表明137种蛋白在籽粒发育早期显著差异表达,其功能涉及蛋白代谢、胁迫响应、细胞生长与分裂、碳水化合物与能量代谢、转运、次生物质代谢、淀粉合成、转录、油脂代谢、信号转导、氨基酸代谢等。其中,表达差异较大的是与蛋白代谢、胁迫响应、细胞生长与分裂以及碳水化合物与能量代谢相关的蛋白。表达模式聚类结果显示这些不同功能类别的蛋白协同表达,共同调控玉米籽粒的早期发育。     

苦瓜对8种蔬菜的化感作用

以8种海南主要栽培的蔬菜为受体,采用室内生测法研究苦瓜(Momordica charantiaL.)茎叶水浸提液对其化感作用。结果表明:苦瓜茎叶水浸提液对8种受体植物的种子萌发和幼苗生长均有一定的化感效应,且化感作用方式和强度在受体间及指标间存在显著差异;化感作用综合效应的平均值大小顺序为:辣椒黄瓜豇豆菜豆萝卜樱桃番茄胡萝卜番茄。试验结果为建立合理的栽培制度提供了理论和试验依据。