Length polymorphism of thymidylate synthase regulatory region in Chinese populations and evolution of the novel alleles

The tandemly repeated 28-bp sequence in the 5'-terminal regulatory, region of human thymidylate synthase (TSER), which has been reported to be polymorphic in different populations, was surveyed in 668 Chinese from 9 Han groups, 8 ethnic populations, and 3

mtDNA mutation C1494T, haplogroup A, and hearing loss in Chinese

Mutation C1494T in mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene was recently reported in two large Chinese families with aminoglycoside-induced and nonsyndromic hearing loss (AINHL) and was claimed to be pathogenic. This mutation, however, was first reported in a sample f

Association of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 gene polymorphisms with asthma and atopy in Chinese children

Background: Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) plays essential roles in inflammation. Previous studies have suggested associations between prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) polymorphisms and prostaglandins production in asthma. Objective: We have invest

Association of pro staglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease in Chinese

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2, encoded by the gene prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2, PTGS2) is a key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. The prostaglandins produced by COX-2 are involved in inflammation and pain response in diff

The indel polymorphisms of the prion protein gene (PRNP ) in Chinese yak

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Mitochondrial DNA Haplogroups M7b1 ' 2 and M8a Affect Clinical Expression of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy in Chinese Families with the m.11778G -> A Mutation

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is the most extensively studied mitochondrial disease, with the majority of the cases being caused by one of three primary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations. Incomplete disease penetrance and gender bias are two

Identification of major histocompatibility complex class I alleles in Chinese rhesus macaques

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I information is vital for understanding variance of immune responses in HIV vaccination and biomedical models. In this study, 9 Mamu-A and 13 Mamu-B alleles were identified from the cDNA products of 10 Chinese

The Influence of Age and Sex on the Cell Counts of Peripheral Blood Leukocyte Subpopulations in Chinese Rhesus Macaques

Non-human primates such as Chinese rhesus macaques are the favorable models for preclinical study of potential therapeutic drugs, vaccines and mechanisms of human diseases. Little is known about the normal levels of leukocyte subpopulations of Chinese rhe

Differential cognitive responses to guqin music and piano music in Chinese subjects: an event-related potential study

目的 研究古琴(一种古老的中国乐器)和钢琴音乐对认知的影响.方法 记录和分析了中国被试在两种音乐背景(古琴音乐,钢琴音乐)下完成听觉oddball任务的行为和事件相关电位(event-related potential,ERP)数据.结果 中国被试在本土文化的音乐环境(古琴音乐)下,前额区诱导出更大的P300,这一结果和已有的相关研究是相符的.同时,不同音乐背景对ERP产生的影响在N1和LPC(包括P300和P500)上也表现出差别:中国被试在古琴音乐背景下比钢琴音乐背景下表现出更多的右前侧颞叶的参与.结论 因为古琴音乐的五声调式和汉语发音的音调具有对应关系,因此我们推断在古琴音乐下所表现出的这种特性与被试的汉语环境有关.

mtDNA haplogroup distribution in Chinese patients with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy and G11778A mutation

Mitochondrial DNA background has been shown to be involved in the penetrance of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in western Eurasian populations. To analyze mtDNA haplogroup distribution pattern in Han Chinese patients with LHON and G11778A muta

Mitochondrial DNA mutation m.3635G > A may be associated with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in Chinese

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) was the first disease to be linked to the presence of a mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation. Nowadays over 95% of LHON cases are known to be caused by one of three primary mutations (m.11778G>A, m.14484T>C, and m.34

Non-microcystin producing Microcystis wesenbergii (Komarek) Komarek (Cyanobacteria) representing a main waterbloom-forming species in Chinese waters

It is well known that several morphospecies of Microcystis, such as Microcystis aeruginosa (Kutzing) Lemmermann and Microcystis viridis (A. Brown) Lemmermann can produce hepatotoxic microcystins. However, previous studies gave contradictory conclusions about microcystin production of Microcystis wesenbergii (Komarek) Komarek. In the present study, ten Microcystis morphospecies were identified in waterblooms of seven Chinese waterbodies, and Microcystis wesenbergii was shown as the dominant species in these waters. More than 250 single colonies of M. wesenbergii were chosen, under morphological identification, to examine whether M. wesenbergii produce hepatotoxic microcystin by using multiplex PCR for molecular detection of a region (mcyA) of microcystin synthesis genes, and chemical analyses of microcystin content by ELISA and HPLC for 21 isolated strains of M. wesenbergii from these waters were also performed. Both molecular and chemical methods demonstrated that M. wesenbergii from Chinese waters did not produce microcystin. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Identification of differentially expressed immune-relevant genes in Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx sinensis) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis is an efficient tool for gene discovery and profiling gene expression. Aeromonas hydrophila, a ubiquitous waterborne bacterium, is one of the most frequent pathogens isolated from diseased aquatic organisms. In order to understand the molecular mechanism of anti-bacteria immune response in reptile, we have investigated the differentially expressed genes in Chinese soft-shelled turtle (Trionyx sinensis) experimentally infected with A. hydrophila by suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). Forty-two genes were identified from more than 200 clones, of which 25 genes are found for the first time in reptiles, and classified into 6 categories: 18 in defense/immunity. 4 in catalysis, 2 in retrotransposon; 2 in cell signal transduction, 5 in cell metabolism, 10 in protein expression, and 1 in cell structure. Of the 42 differentially expressed genes, 6 genes, IL-8, serum amyloid A (SAA), CD9, CD59, activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) and cathepsin L genes, were further observed to be up-regulated in the infected turtles by virtual Northern hybridization and RT-PCR assays. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Induction of hepatic enzymes and oxidative stress in Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus) exposed to waterborne hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the sub-lethal toxicity of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD) in fish. Adult Chinese rare minnows as in vivo models were exposed to waterborne HBCDD from 1 to 500 mu g/l for 14, 28 and 42 days. Hepatic CYP1A1 (ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase, EROD) and CYP2B1 (pentaoxyresorufin-O-depentylase, PROD) activities were measured. At the same time, molecular biomarkers of oxidative stress were also assayed in the brain, including reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation products (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, TBARS), DNA damage and protein carbonyl, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) content. DNA damage was evaluated using the Comet assay on erythrocytes. Besides, the content of HBCDD in whole fish was determined after 42 days exposure. The results show that HBCDD could induce EROD and PROD at 500 mu g/l after 28 days exposure, and at 100 to 500 mu g/l after 42 days exposure (P < 0.05), respectively. ROS formation in fish brain was observed to be increased in both time- and dose-dependent manner due to HBCDD exposure. The significant increases in TBARS and protein carbonyl contents occurred in fish brain after 28 and 42 days exposure (P < 0.05). Significant DNA damage in erythrocytes by Comet assay was also found in the 100-500 mu g/l exposure groups (P < 0.05) after 42 days exposure. Moreover, significant depletion in brain GSH content occurred in all treated groups (P < 0.05) and apparent inhibition in SOD activity in brain was observed in the groups of 10-500 mu g/l concentrations during 42 days exposure. The results demonstrate that increasing duration of HBCDD exposure induced EROD and PROD activities, caused excess ROS formation, finally resulted in oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA and decreased antioxidant capacities in fish. Chemical analysis of HBCDD in whole fish showed accumulation up to 654 mu g/g wet weight. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.